A Bright New Century for Rotary –
A Bold new Paradigm of Service
July 1, 2005
marks the first Rotary day in a new Century of Service. Our
beloved organization is poised to offer new and imaginative ways
to “do good in the world”.
The Board of
Directors under President Glenn Estess has provided the
launching pad for a new and creative service vehicle for which
President Stenhammar’s Board will provide the ignition and
guidance system for the early stages of this new and visionary
powerful policy engine.
For 100
years Rotary has recognized our clubs and districts as the means
of implementing RI policy and
world community service. The 2005
June meeting of the RI Board has called for a new and innovative
approach. For the first time in our history, Rotary will now
recognize a new program that relies on groups of individual
Rotarians – all sheltered under a registered service name, to
engage in international service programs in the name of Rotary.
These groups, while encouraged to work through the club and
district networks, are not club centered. They are made up of
knowledgeable and focused individual Rotarians who come together
under the name of a Rotary Action Group.
The
well-known RI Structured Program called Rotary Fellowship Groups
has been removed from that RI Program.
Henceforth,
Fellowships with a recreational and vocational focus will remain
under the current title of “Rotary Fellowships,” while those
with a service focus will now be referred to as “Rotarian Action
Groups.” Both Rotary Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups
will no longer be categorized under the RI Structured Programs
entity, but will exist under a new category called “Global
Networking Groups.” These organizational changes will take
effect 1 July 2005.
The central
rationale behind this change is to restore the focus of the
Rotary Fellowships program to its original emphasis on
fellowship, while providing the growing class of
service-oriented fellowships with an administrative structure
that will better support the work that is their primary focus.
Each Global Networking Group will have its own distinct set of
policies; however, these policies differ very little and are
meant to cater to the specific definitions of the respective
groups. The traditional and time-tested value of Vocational
Fellowship Groups and Recreational Fellowship Groups will remain
in the “Fellowship Groups” category.
The Code of
Policy describes the service programs of Rotary International.
Rotary
Code of Policies
40.10.
Program
Terminology
The following terminology and definitions shall
be used for RI Programs:
Special
Program of RI - Polio Plus is a special program of
Rotary International and has highest priority over all other
programs until the certification of eradication is achieved.
Structured
Programs
– organized activities recommended by the RI Board for clubs and
districts that include a policy framework and guideline. These
include: XE "Programs, RI: structured" Rotary
Community Corps,
Rotary Volunteers,
World Community Service,
Youth Exchange,
Interact,
Rotaract,
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards,
Rotary Friendship Exchange.
Menu of Service
Opportunities
-
issues and concerns identified by RI as recommended service
priorities for clubs and districts for a specified period of
time. These include: Children at Risk, Disabled Persons, Health
Care, International Understanding and Goodwill, Literacy and
Numeracy, Population Issues, Poverty and Hunger, Preserve Planet
Earth, Urban Concerns
XE "Programs, RI:menu of service opportunities"
The Code of
Policy was changed (effective July 1, 2005) to now allow for a
fourth Program Classification:
Global
Networking Groups
–
groups of individual Rotarians organized to focus on shared
topics of interest on an international basis.
This branch
of Rotary activity is broken into two channels.
1)
Recreational
and Vocational Fellowship Groups fall into one of the
categories. A Rotary Fellowship is a group of Rotarians who
unite themselves to pursue a vocational or recreational
activity. These groups of individuals will continue to carry on
their fellowship contact in the way in which they have been
successfully engaged for over 60 years.
2)
Rotarian
Action Groups is the new category of international networking
Rotarians who band together to perform world community service.
A Rotary Action Group is a voluntary association of Rotarians
from clubs in different countries formed for the purpose of
conducting international service projects that advance the
Object of Rotary.
The new
categories are not intended to discourage Rotary Fellowships
from engaging in incidental service activities, nor to
discourage Rotarian Action Groups from enjoying fellowship. Over
the next year, each group will be asked to consider what its
primary function is, and to identify itself as appropriate.
It will be in every group’s best interest to accurately assess
their classification, as each new policy is intended to serve
the specific needs of its respective group. Additional details
regarding these changes will be communicated to the existing
Fellowships in July. Rotarian Action Groups are defined in
Section 43.020 of the Code of Policies. Comments and
questions about the new Board-approved changes can be directed
by e-mail message to:
Rotaryfellowships@Rotaryintl.org.
A Rotarian Action Group
is a voluntary
association of Rotarians who unite themselves for the purpose of
conducting international service projects that advance the
Object of Rotary. Rotarian Action Group activities must be
conducted independently of RI, but must be in harmony with RI
policy, including the use of the Rotary Marks. Rotarian Action
Groups may not be used to promote religious beliefs, political
issues, or other organizations.
Let it not
be said that Rotary does not act from time to time in a
revolutionary way that Paul Harris said was essential for the
growth and continuing relevance of our evolving organization.
This is a revolutionary and I dare say, visionary step for RI.
It will provide for a new paradigm of service delivery, to be
sure. It is consistent with Rotary’s strategic plan. RI and the
Foundation might take advantage of the recognition that RI has
given to the Action Group delivery vehicle in the context of the
Strategic Plan's objectives of:
-
Refining
our governance,
-
Sharpening our program focus,
-
Enhancing our Public Image and
-
Approaching a new corporate program.
But, great
care must be taken in the oversight of these emerging groups to
ensure consistency of the operational integrity and compliance
with the time tested Object of Rotary. The Board will
necessarily have to closely monitor the implementation and
recognition of each applicant Action Group to ensure a business
plan that understands the need to observe Rotary’s fund raising
and cooperative relationships policies as well as the principals
of high quality, effective international development.
The
Fellowship Groups that might comprise the list of service
activity Fellowship Groups that could migrate to the Rotary
Action Group category include:
-
Rotary
Fellowship for Fighting Aids
-
Rotary
Fellowship of Disaster Managers and Responders
-
Rotary
Fellowship of Environment
-
Rotary
Fellowship for Eye Care
-
International Fellowship of Rotarians Affected by Hearing
Loss
-
Humanitarian Service Resource Fellowship
-
Fellowship for Mine Action
-
Rotarian
Fellowship of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness
-
Rotarian
Fellowship for Population and Development
-
International Fellowship of Rotarian Dental Volunteers
-
International Fellowship for the Prevention of Drug Abuse
-
International Fellowship of Rotarian Dental Volunteers
-
Fellowship of Literacy Providers
-
Etc.
A discussion
will take place over the coming months with these and other
groups and the Programs Staff of the Secretariat to determine
which groups will be recommended to the Board to assume the
first of these new Action Groups.
There are
many other Rotary related groups that will now be able to find a
home under the RI policies. These include Non-Club organizations
that are not registered but functioning outside the policies of
Multi-district Activities or Administrative Groups. These
independent not-for-profit organizations with loose Rotary
affiliation (in many cases started by Rotarians) are often
incorporated in their own jurisdictions for tax and liability
reasons. Many have been benignly functioning for a long time and
may or may not wish to come under the umbrella of the official
R.I. Rotary Action Group program. Some of the many include:
-
RotoPlast
-
Interplast
-
Shelter
Box
-
Hunger
Plus
-
Free the
Children
-
The
Growing Connection
-
EarthBox
-
RADAR
-
Etc.
And then
there are multi-district organizations (some of which are
functioning pursuant to Board policy) but doing service work
similar to that in some of the service Fellowship Groups. They
may wish to take advantage of the new program classification and
become a RAG. Included in the group would be:
-
Australian Rotary Corporate Alliance Program
-
Australia WCS
-
Paul and
Jean Harris Home Foundation (Comely Bank initiative)
-
Disaster
relief programs
-
Programa
Rotablind del Rotary Club Santiago, Chile”
-
CRCID
-
Etc.
Perhaps the
day will come when some of the Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) will
catch the eye of the Foundation Trustees. Like a “Rag Rug” to
which many people and resources contribute to produce a
beautiful and functional mosaic, it is not inconceivable that
the service being done by a RAG is of such note as to think that
the Rotary Foundation will regard them as an attractive
potential service partner. A matching grant perhaps? A
restricted fund? A donor-advised fund? A policy that could allow
for funds raised in the name of Rotary by the RAG might flow
through the Foundation and allow for the engaging of staff
professionals who are tasked to manage or work on specific
programs initiated by the Action Group? Why not? This would be a
win-win for both and make the balance sheet of the Foundation
look that much better.
It has been
reported that the Shelter Box Program of Great Britain raised 11
million dollars in about 4 months in the name of Rotary to
contribute to Tsunami relief. The Fellowship for Fighting Aids
has raised over 9 million dollars to fight Aids in Africa. If
both of these groups had been recognized by the Rotary as
Rotarian Action Groups and supported by the Foundation, might these
publicly raised funds have gone through the Foundation? Whether
of not this would have happened, there is enormous potential for
similar success stories now to be incorporated directly in the
new Rotary program allowed by the Global Networking Groups. The
potential is unfathomable.
At the
present time, the Foundation has no WCS program other than Polio
Plus on which it actually raises money. Indeed, the Foundation
is not structured to raise money for such programs. And until RI
adopts a new corporate program, there will be little interest in
private foundations or governments to simply give money to the
Rotary Foundation to support the educational and humanitarian
program delivery mechanism that Rotarians have been supporting
since 1917.
In the
interim, we all have the priority interest of insuring that
Polio Plus is successfully completed.
But, if and
when RI decides on a new corporate program to follow Polio Plus,
perhaps the Rotarian Action Groups will have evolved to an
operational quality that the trustees will see as being worthy
of support. Indeed, the Rotary World will be looking at them
with great interest. Should that happen, the Rotary Foundation’s
ability to raise funds from non-Rotarian sources will be
enhanced significantly. It is well known that it is far easier
to raise charitable dollars when a specific and worthy cause is
targeted.
Chairman
Carlo Ravizza has intelligently predicted that a new vision for
TRF must emerge. The “future planning committee” is a good
start. Through the strategic planning process, new ways of
identifying partners and indeed new ways of giving our Rotary
money away should be on the table for discussion. Rotarian
Action Groups can play a role in this vision. These groups of Rotarians
will be “on the ground” and capable of recognizing local needs
and priorities. These will be seen in the context of locally
recognized strategic interests and relationships with local
governments and NGO’s operating in the framework of Rotary’s
programmic interests. Accountability is built into the Action
Group Code of Policies requirements and these groups are already
seen as functioning at a high level of competence in program
writing, planning, transparent reporting and management skills.
The relationship with TRF may well be on the radar scope if the
trustees want to reach out and engage these groups as examples
of how the synergies of RAGS, Clubs and Districts can work with
other cooperating agencies in the delivery of larger and more
efficient world community service initiatives.
The degree
of guidance to be provided by the RI Board over the next few
years will be a function of the quality of organization that
develops in each Rotary Action Group. The level of acceptable
“behavior” and organizational integrity of these emerging groups
of Rotarians will predict the extent of the oversight required.
At a well-attended workshop at the recent Centennial Convention
participants cited a primary goal of having Action Groups
undertake WCS programs that are consistent with the Rotary areas
of emphasis and the Millennium Goals. Clearly the development of
organizational and managerial capacity is a necessary starting
point. Undertaking a programmatic approach to international
development is preferential to a project-by-project approach.
The measurable results must necessarily tie into the poverty
reduction strategies of the countries and the sectors in which
the Action Group is focusing its attention. The Rotarian Action
Groups have the potential to “behave” like operational NGO’s and
perform in a much more effective manner because of the
relationships that can be built through the club and district
networks.
In a way, we
are on the verge of re-inventing ourselves! Rotary is on the
cusp of a new adventure in service! But care and business
prudence is necessary as we move forward.
Rotary has
spent 100 years cultivating an internationally recognized
reputation for quality humanitarian projects and valuable
intellectual property. A Rotary Action Group will now be able to
use the Rotary Marks. While undertaking a major sectoral medical
action plan, for example, the Rotary leaders need to be mindful
that their RAG carries the reputation of all Rotarians with it.
It necessarily follows that each recognized RAG has an enormous
responsibility to bring the considerable business and
professional expertise that Rotarians apply in the “other lives”
to build the necessary credibility for their Action Groups. This
will take careful planning, hopefully under a corporate umbrella
(which is encouraged by the RI Board) to ensure consistency in
management, planning, implementation, accountability, evaluation
and reporting of the specific long-term sustainable program
activity for which the group is formed. Only in this way will
the Rotarian Action Groups acquire the reputation and credibility
that accompany the best known of the international NGO’s which
these groups have the potential of emulating.
A new dawn
of service delivery has risen on the Rotary world – a world on
which the sun never sets. The RI Board under the leadership of
President Glenn has indeed taken a giant leap of faith into the
future of Rotary Service delivery – perhaps his greatest legacy
as our Centennial President. We have set our course. It is now
up to the Rotary world to do its best with the tools it has and
don’t look back!
John Eberhard,
Director,
Rotary International
2003-2005
June 29,
2005
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