DISTRICT GOVERNOR NEWSLETTER DATED JULY 2008
My dear fellow Rotarians,
The new Rotary year is here: MAKE DREAMS REAL for the children.
Rotary’s emphasis for this year will still be on water, literacy, health and hunger. Polio eradication will remain the top priority. This is most appropriate as polio usually strikes young children. Make Dreams Real for
the children that none will ever fall victim of this dreaded disease. Let’s not forget the USD100 million challenge!
For many of us, it is also the beginning of a ‘mission’ to do good in the community. But while the four avenues of service are ingrained in every one of us, lest we forget, we should first of all, examine our own club’s state of affairs.
Out of 66 Rotary clubs in our district, at least 27 clubs have fewer than 20 members. As an incentive to these clubs, RI will provide certificates of recognition (‘Recognition of Smaller Club Membership Growth Certificate’) for membership growth.
For clubs with fewer than 10 members, the membership goal is at least 10 members nett during the time frame of July 1, 2008 to May 15, 2009; clubs with between 10 – 14 members, at least 15 members; and between 15 – 19 members, at least 20 members. Each recognized club will receive a certificate signed by the RI President.
This is a very modest rise in membership growth. I am sure the clubs can do better than the proposed membership goal(The club with the best membership growth, percentage- wise, will receive the DG’s Award).
The District has emphasized the need to implement the Club Leadership Plan(CLP) as an effective and efficient way to ensure progress in clubs.
Do not be ‘intimidated’ by the committees under the CLP. No clubs are required to implement all the five committees of the CLP IMMEDIATELY.
This is one reason why the CLP is not ‘mandatory’.
Each club should look at its ‘strength and weaknesses’. For big clubs, implementing the CLP wholly will not be a problem. For small clubs, implementing one of the focuses of the CLP, i.e. membership, is a NECESSITY.
Among one of the main and most important purposes of the CLP is CONTINUITY. Under the MOP, the BOD is elected only for one year, but the Membership Chair and its committee under the CLP is for three years
at least. Thus, this particular committee will continue to function to carry out the club’s objective/goal of recruiting and retaining new members – despite the changes in the BOD – every year.
As I have emphasized in the PETS/DA in Kota Kinabalu, for small clubs, the stress is on the membership chair under the CLP. If each member is ‘assigned’ to bring in a new member, the club’s membership will definitely move way beyond RI’s proposed goal!
The District has decided that the Membership Seminars will be conducted early this year, in August, which is the Membership & Extension Month. The first seminar will be conducted in Melaka on August 2. Watch out for
the dates in your locality in the District website as well as in the e-group.
This year, the District will be applying for an Ambassadorial Scholar under the low-income countries. However, this will only be applicable to Malaysian citizens of District 3310. Applications should be forwarded to the District Chair as soon as possible.
Our SHARE funds(approximately USD41,000) available for humanitarian programs are open. Please do make your applications as soon as possible to the District Chair as our DDF(and DSG) are limited.
Until we meet again next month, MAKE DREAMS REAL…
Yours in Rotary,
DG Edward Sung Burongoh