RI nominates RI President for 2015-2016

Dedicated and passionate Rotarian, KR "Ravi" Ravindran is the selection of the Nominating Committee for the office of President of Rotary International in 2015-2016. Ravi from Sri Lanka received the nod to lead our organisation in two years time. We congratulate Ravi and Vanathy and wish them every success to the run up of their year of Presidency. Read the full article 

Ever wondered what the strategy is for the success of a Rotary Club? Let me share the thoughts and wisdom of RI Presidents, past, present and future. In this article read the ideas proposed by PRIP Sakuji Tanaka, RI President Ron Burton and RIPE Gary Huang. Click here for the full article.

September is Young Generations month. Here is an interesting article on how you can attract younger members into your club. Click here for the article and read the 5 strategies to attracting younger members.

You are the power

         behind Rotary…Share it

The month of July heralds in a new Rotary year and all around the world leadership is changing. From Rotary’s top post at Rotary International to Club Presidents and officers, new leaders take the helm as it ushers in a new Rotary theme… Engage Rotary…Change Lives.

I feel humbled and privileged to assume my new role as Rotary Co-ordinator for Zone 20(A) South. It is a task I feel ready for and look forward to engaging with District Governors and the Rotary family within the Zone. I also welcome PDG Patrick Coleman (Rotary Club of Luanshya, Zambi) who would continue as an Assistant Rotary Co-ordinator in D9210.     

I think that it would be remiss of me not to dedicate a paragraph to my predecessor, PDG Nick Phillips. He is a trail blazer in Rotary and he has executed his role as Rotary Co-ordinator (and others) with great passion, dedication and immense commitment in developing a stronger Southern Africa. Nick, you have served us with great dignity and professionalism and you have in your imitable style left an indelible mark on Rotary in Southern Africa. Thank you for your dedication.

It is my intention to write a month in advance of the Rotary focus month as this allows us time to plan and execute programmes and projects that are aligned to our overall strategic plan. Membership is the engine that powers Rotary. Without it, we have no one to do the work; we have no money to support the worthwhile projects that so desperately need to be done and we have no creative ideas for solving problems. Since the mid-1990s, membership in Rotary and other service clubs has been declining. The vexing question is why do members leave Rotary?

·       We may bring in the wrong members. In some cases, as soon as someone shows up at our doorstep, we invite them to join. That’s like hiring every job applicant.

·       When we do bring in the right member, we often don’t give them a reason to stay.

·       We don’t involve them and fail to make them feel a part of our organisation.

Rotarians who feel that they are a valuable part of the organisation, who are contributing to our projects and feel appreciated, do not leave. While one can argue that recruitment and retention in a volunteer organisation can be different than in a business, the goals are similar:

·       Bring in the individuals who are the most qualified to advance your organisation (RECRUITMENT)

·       Do what you can to keep them satisfied (RETENTION)

Of course, the biggest difference is that in Rotary the reward is not financial, it is personal gratification. The family of Rotary extends beyond individual Rotarians and Rotary clubs to include other service minded people who help with the organisation's work. Groups such as Rotaract, Interact, and Rotary Community Corps serve side by side with sponsor clubs, using their diverse skills to improve the quality of life in their communities. A further component in our Zone is the Anns' Clubs, who undeniably make a huge difference and adds to the success of our Rotary Clubs. Look around you and one finds more successful Rotary Clubs when the Anns’ Clubs are vibrant and successful.

During the past few months District Governors and their membership teams were tasked with the responsibility of developing a three year membership plan for the Zone. Africa continues to be an enigma for Rotary. With a population exceeding 1 billion people we have in our 54 countries in Africa, a Rotary membership of just over 26000. The goal to grow Africa to enable it to have a permanent Director is 35000 and it is the responsibility of each one of us to Engage Rotary with our friends, families and like-minded individuals and bring in a new member. And yes there will be those who will be called to higher service and then those who will be disgruntled with someone in Rotary (not the organisation) and will then leave but there will be many of us who will take pride in our organisation and roll up our sleeves and get the job done.  

As we start this new Rotary year two Districts in our Zone would have merged into one District. Districts 9270 and 9320 have merged to create a new District 9370 and under the leadership of DG Greg Cryer, the new district will continue to create opportunities of expanding it’s membership base through Club Extension and Club expansion through increased membership. Other Districts within the zone have put together plans to grow too. As at date of writing (15^th June 2013) the membership statistics for Districts within our Zone were:

          D9210          1457

          D9370          2143

          D9350          1313

          D9400          1577

A few months ago at my training in Chicago a fellow Co-ordinator spoke of his own District’s initiative to bring in the younger generation. I have posted this full article on my blog page and invite you to check this out there. It makes great reading. Here are some of the lessons we learn from the San Antonio example:

(1)  We need to have a champion – the person who is going to drive the initiative and bring home the results

(2)  We need to think outside the box – conventional methods are not always working

(3)  We need to be more flexible…respect the MOP but make things flexible. What was relevant 10 years ago may not be relevant now. Become relevant with the times and technology

(4)  Prepare to roll up the sleeves and make it happen.

So here is my challenge for August, membership month (which in my humble opinion should be scrapped as everyday should be membership day). I challenge you to think of one under-40 person who would make a difference in your Club. Go on, invite them into your Club and you would be amazed how you would change their lives and yours.

Each one of you makes a difference in a positive way…YOU are the power behind Rotary, share it.

Natty Moodley

Rotary Africa

July 2013

Build stronger clubs with strategic planning

How to set goals that work for the long term

RI General Secretary John Hewko challenges new Rotary club presidents to

think strategically about the future of their club, not just the year ahead.

Some club presidents begin their year intent on making a splash with a once-in-a lifetime project or event. But such efforts can leave club members exhausted and disinterested the next year, when the new president steps up with yet another big idea. By creating club goals and projects that are based on long-term strategic planning, an incoming president can leave a lasting legacy: a successful club during his or her year and also in the following years.

“Presidents must realize that the days of ‘projects for my year’ are a thing of the past, and that the most successful clubs plan multiyear, sustainable projects,” says Michael Levitt, 2010-11 president of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman-Sunrise, Cayman Islands. “These projects engage members, especially new members,” he says. “And the best way to retain members is to keep them engaged.”

The Club Leadership Plan provides guidance for developing a strategic plan or long-range goals, which should address membership, service projects, support for The Rotary Foundation, and leadership development. Include the following:

·         Long-range strategic goals that cover the next three to five years, with updates as the club evolves

·         Shorter-term annual goals that align with your overall strategic goals

·         Strategies for maintaining clear communication among club leaders, club members, district leaders, and potential members, including regular updates to your club’s website

·         Continuity in leadership and training for future leaders

“We need to focus on projects that can grow over time, with our members, and that consequently allow us to increase our impact,” says Holly Ransom, president of the Rotary Club of Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. “We need to keep pace with the changing world and the changing demands of prospective Rotarians.”

“As club presidents, you are the most important officers in all of Rotary.”

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION

2019 - DURBAN

As chair of the Host Organising Committee for the proposed 2019 convention to be held in Durban I am thrilled to announce the release of our new logo.

“Africa Calling” refers to the fact that there has never been a Rotary International convention on the African continent since our organisation was founded in 1905 and we are calling on you to help us “complete the circle” of conventions around the world that have taken place on every other continent.

The Rotarians of Africa, representing 54 countries, are uniting to show their support and we are launching an interactive web site where you can catch up on the unfolding news and join the support group.

Obtaining the final approval of Rotary International for the convention is not without its difficulties but with your help we hope to achieve this by October 2013 when the RI board will make its final decision. 

After all, Africa is the world’s greatest receiver of humanitarian support from Rotarians the world over, supported by the Rotary Foundation, and we would like to have an opportunity to express our thanks, extend our hospitality and showcase the beautiful coastal city of Durban, the ICC venue, as well as our accommodation and attractions that are without equal in Africa. 

The convention will provide opportunities to network with Rotarians from across the globe, visit and promote projects, enjoy our special brand of fellowship and experience our spectacular scenery and game parks.

This convention will take place only six years from now and the planning and preparation required for us to receive some nineteen thousand Rotarians and partners will require all your support.

We invite YOU to join us now and “complete the circle”.

Nick Phillips

Straight shooter

Rotary International President Ron Burton

 Ron Burton made his mark on his alma mater, the University of Oklahoma, where he served as president of the school’s foundation for nearly three decades. Photo by Monika Lozinska/Rotary International

With his congenial manner and his inclination to keep things simple, Ron Burton has a natural ability to put people at ease. But don’t let the easygoing demeanor of Rotary International’s new president lull you into thinking that he doesn’t get serious when it’s time for business.

“If you ask my opinion, you’re going to get it,” Burton says, his neighborly look morphing into a solemn gaze. “When I feel strongly about something, I will argue like crazy for my position. I suppose that’s sort of an ego thing, but if I discern that someone has a vested interest or may be looking at a personal economic benefit, I have a simple suggestion: Apply The Four-Way Test.”   

An uncompromising sense of ethics may be the only personal quality that the former president of the University of Oklahoma Foundation Inc. is willing to wear on his sleeve. “Like most people, I don’t like to be told I’m wrong,” he says. “But I can be convinced that there’s another way to look at something, and sometimes I’ll change my mind. If it’s an ethical issue, though, you’re not going to tell me I’m wrong. It’s not going to happen. I’ve dealt with too many people over the years who wanted to misuse funds. I’ve looked them in the eye and said, ‘I’m not going to jail for you or anyone else.’”

Burton says most of his career success came from being “in the right place at the right time.” It started with growing up in a small town (Duncan, Okla., USA) in the postwar era and having a chance to operate his own business at age 13. “Delivering newspapers was a business back then,” he says, recalling his days as a Duncan Banner carrier. “You had to buy your papers, buy your rubber bands, buy your bag; you had to wait for the papers, roll them, and deliver them; you had to collect, you had to pay your bill. Anything left over was yours.”

A few years later, as a student at the University of Oklahoma in the late ʼ60s, Burton worked part time in the accounting office. Between graduation and law school, he was hired to replace a close friend at the office who had been drafted into the military. (Burton did his own military service through advanced ROTC and the National Guard.)

“I ended up being the No. 2 accountant for the University of Oklahoma a week after I got out of school,” he says. He continued in the job during his first year in law school, but soon was recommended to replace the outgoing treasurer of the University of Oklahoma Foundation. “When I graduated, my boss, who was a past governor of our Rotary district, asked me to stay on, with the idea that I might be selected to succeed him when he retired. I took over his position as president in 1978 and retired in 2007. That’s my career at Oklahoma – storybook, really.”   

When it came to meeting his future wife, Jetta, Burton was initially in the right place, but his timing was a bit off. Both charter members of the baby boom generation, they were born in the same year and at the same overcrowded hospital, where dresser drawers substituted for basinets. But he arrived three months ahead of her. They had mutual friends growing up and finally met in high school, where they were members of the band. He was a junior and played trombone. She was a sophomore and played bassoon. Their first date was 18 September 1962. They tied the knot in college.

After 45 years of marriage, with a daughter, a son, and three grandchildren, Burton emphasizes that their life together has been a partnership, especially when it comes to Rotary.   

“Jetta is my best critic,” says Burton, a member of the Rotary Club of Norman. “She will level with me, on whether I made a natural and believable presentation – on all sorts of things. She’s been supportive all along the way, from presidents-elect training seminars to district assemblies and conferences. If she had not supported me in this, I wouldn’t be here today.”  

The vital role of the family in Rotary is at the core of Burton’s beliefs. “When we talk about the family of Rotary, I know public relations is a part of that,” he says. “But to me, it really is the family of Rotary. If you get your own family involved in this, with your own heart, and it expands to the world, that’s the family of Rotary – that’s community service.”

Throughout his time in Rotary, especially during this past year of traveling and meeting Rotarians from various countries, that perspective has helped Burton appreciate the diversity and ever-growing potential of the organization. “Speaking to Rotarians from around the world has made me more tolerant of different points of view,” he says. “You learn that there is another way to do things, that there are differences in cultures and differences in individuals. But the basic tenets come through for all of us, no matter where we are. I’d like to think there are no regional differences in the integrity aspect of the organization, but I believe we may need to do a better job of working on that and highlighting it.”

Burton is firm in his view of the relationship between Rotary International and Rotarians. “Rotary International is nothing more than an association of Rotary clubs, and the Secretariat is here to serve those clubs,” he says. “Rotary International’s job is to support the clubs, and Rotarians are the ones who do things. We need to keep that in mind. The Secretariat is a sacred place, and it should be respected, just like the office of the president. Our job is to inspire people, to act as an inspirational pivot point to bring the senior leadership in, to serve those clubs and districts so that we can make things happen. But Rotary International is not an end in itself.” 

Burton is enthusiastic about the success of his “first class” campaign, which aims to make the 2013-14 class of Rotary leaders the first in which every district governor and club president contributes to The Rotary Foundation. “We’ve already raised $3.6 million, and we’ve only got 8,128 club presidents so far,” he says. “All the governors are in, for the first time in history.” 

Success in fundraising was a hallmark of Burton’s three decades of service at the University of Oklahoma Foundation. During his tenure, he notes, the foundation’s assets grew from $17.5 million to $890 million. But that achievement is not on the short list of his proudest accomplishments.

“There are two things I take great pride in,” he says. “One is that there was never a penny out of place – every single cent was always accounted for. The other is that, more than five years after I’ve left, except for subsequent retirements, everyone who was working for me is still there. I think that’s a great testament that I did something right.”

The management style that led to that success is unlikely to change much, but Burton, whose reading pleasure runs toward biographies of American presidents, believes that his experience watching and working with past Rotary presidents will help him hone an effective approach.

“I don’t want to leave anyone out, but some of them do stick out in my mind,” he says. “Bill Boyd had a big impact on me – he’s a great communicator. I learned a lot about tolerance from Carlo Ravizza. Jim Lacy ran a great meeting and was businesslike in his approach. Jon Majiyagbe is a great role model as a gentle person with a steady manner. And then there’s Frank Devlyn. I’ll tell you what: If you don’t like Frank Devlyn, I don’t like you. It’s that simple.”

Seeing and expressing things in simple, straightforward terms is one of Burton’s most apparent strengths. “If I had one wish for the American people,” he says, “it’s that they could go to one of the impoverished countries that Rotarians do so much work in and see how good we have it here.”

For Burton, there’s no doubt about how good he’s had it. “I’ve had a blessed life,” he says. “I had a great family life growing up, and I look at our kids and our grandkids, and I think they’ve done pretty well too. You worry about things, of course, and you want the best for your family. I think Rotary gives me an opportunity to help make this world a little bit better and help give others a better life – not only my grandkids but other people’s grandkids too.”

A year from now, Burton will look back and measure his success by a standard that is pure Oklahoma: “At the end of the day, I hope to leave the woodpile just a little higher.”

Rotarian Magazine….July 2013