 The 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role
individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future of
Rotary. RI President-elect John Kenny unveiled the theme,
The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, on Monday during the
opening plenary session of the International Assembly, an
annual training event in San Diego, California, USA, for
incoming district governors. "The future of Rotary will
not be shaped at RI headquarters -- it will be shaped in each
and every Rotary club," Kenny said, "because it is for each
of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is necessary to keep
Rotary strong."
Kenny acknowledged the foundation
established by past Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility
for building upon that success on every Rotarian. "Each one of
us is standing on the shoulders of generations of Rotarians
past, and it is our responsibility to determine Rotary’s
future," Kenny said. Kenny emphasized that every Rotary club is
and must be autonomous. "Everything begins and ends with our
clubs," he said. "Our clubs can and do work together; they work
through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and
districts, and with the support of our Foundation.
OUR CLUBS CAN AND DO WORK TOGETHER;
THEY WORK THROUGH THEIR OWN DISTRICTS, IN
COOPERATION WITH OTHER CLUBS AND DISTRICTS AND WITH
THE SUPPORT OF OUR FOUNDATION. OUR THEME FOR 2009-2010
— THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS
"But at the end of the day, everything that
we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs.
And so each club must have autonomy to serve where and how
it can serve best." At the same time, Kenny highlighted
the importance of the RI Strategic Plan, adopted by the RI
Board of Directors, as an essential tool in providing
continuity. "The plan is designed to strengthen and
proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship,
diversity, integrity, and leadership," Kenny said. The
training sessions for incoming governors during the weeklong
assembly are all tied to some component of the strategic
plan, and a final group discussion on Saturday will seek to
tie all the pieces together and show the future district
leaders how to take the strategic plan to the club level.
Kenny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from
his homeland, Scotland: "We must look beyond our own parish
pump." "It means that we must look beyond our own home and
our own community," Kenny said. "We must look beyond our own
needs, and we must be aware that ours is only one community, of
one country, of the many communities and countries in this
world."
Report by Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International
News 2009
(from
www.ourfoundation.info 15 February) |
