Scott announces Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge

Foundation Trustee Chair Robert S. Scott presented Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge to incoming district governors at Wednesday's plenary session at the International Assembly in San Diego.

17 January, 2008 - Foundation Trustee Chair Robert S. Scott presented Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge to incoming district governors at Wednesday's plenary session at the International Assembly in San Diego. "Rotary promised the children of the world that we would eradicate polio. We must not forget our promise," Foundation Trustee Chair Robert S. Scott reminded incoming governors at Wednesday's International Assembly plenary session.

Scott told the future district leaders that Rotary must make PolioPlus fundraising a priority. He outlined Rotary's US$100 Million Challenge, a three-year fundraising commitment. It is the Foundation’s response to a $100 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, awarded in November, to help the fight of polio eradication. Every dollar given to PolioPlus during the next three years will be allocated to the $100 million match, said Scott.

Using a PowerPoint presentation, Scott showed the audience the tremendous progress Rotary has made to polio eradication since 1985, emphasizing their role to finishing the job. "There is no question, we know how to eradicate polio," he said.

In separate video messages, Gates Foundation cochair Bill Gates Sr. and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged Rotarians to continue the fight for global eradication. “Rotary’s leadership is more critical than ever," Ban said. Gates told the audience that Rotary is on the right path to a “stunning achievement."

"It is crazy not to finish what we started," said Anne Walker, governor-elect from District 7770 (South Carolina, USA), after Scott’s presentation. "It’s important we eradicate polio."

Ogugua Nwankwu, governor-elect from District 9140 (Nigeria), said the challenges given by Scott will truly Make Dreams Real. "We are almost there," Nwankwu said. "We can make it and finally put polio into the history books.".

Clear vision, proper ethics strengthen Foundation’s future

Rotary Foundation Trustee Vice Chair Mark Daniel Maloney spoke about stewardship and proper reporting on Foundation programs during the sixth plenary session at the 2008 International Assembly.

17 January, 2008 - Rotary Foundation Trustee Vice Chair Mark Daniel Maloney spoke about stewardship and proper reporting on Foundation programs during the sixth plenary session at the 2008 International Assembly. Rotary’s leaders will impact the future success of The Rotary Foundation, keynote speakers Past RI Director Ray Klinginsmith and Foundation Trustee Vice Chair Mark Daniel Maloney told incoming district governors at the International Assembly.

Klinginsmith opened the sixth plenary session by highlighting the concepts of the Foundation’s Future Vision Plan .

“The Future Vision Plan is going to move us into the Foundation’s second century of service in a simpler and streamlined method of operation,” said Klinginsmith.

The plan aims to
* Simplify Foundation programs and sharpen the focus on measurability.
* Balance program options between those with global goals and those with local objectives.
* Increase the sense of ownership among districts and clubs by transferring more decisions to the districts.

Governors-elect are the “bidders and builders” for the new models of the plan, Klinginsmith said. “It’s an opportunity to unleash the creativity of Rotarians in your respective districts.”

Proper stewardship leads to Foundation success

Maloney reminded governors-elect that the Foundation’s “outstanding reputation” is based on the integrity of Rotarians. When using Foundation funds, it’s the leader’s duty to ensure proper stewardship, he said.

“Reporting by Rotarians is the backbone of stewardship for humanitarian grants,” Maloney said. He noted that concerns about irregular reporting in some districts led the Trustees to revise the grant process and procedures. The Trustees shortened the time periods for providing the information needed for completion of grant applications and also set minimum reporting standards for districts.

Proper stewardship is also crucial to the success of the Foundation’s educational and PolioPlus programs, Maloney said, asking incoming governors to be vigilant. “As district governors, you are the principal guardians of the Foundation’s reputation.”

Keeping Our Promise & Looking to the Vision

President Wilkinson (second from left) and RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee (second from right) stand for the Rotary anthem during the opening plenary session

As the 2008 International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, drew to a close, 532 district governors-elect learned at this weeklong training event what challenges they may face in the 2008-09 Rotary year and how to meet those challenges, which includes keeping a promise to eradicate polio and becoming catalysts for RI President-elect Dong Kurn Lee's emphasis on reducing the child mortality rate.

To accomplish his focus on reducing preventable deaths of children, Lee told the incoming governors that Rotary will keep the service emphases of recent years -- water, health and hunger, and literacy. To go along with his presidential emphases, Lee announced the 2008-09 RI theme of Make Dreams Real. (Watch a video of Lee's speech.) "We will give children hope and a chance at a future," said Lee. "We will bring clean water to their communities and create sanitation projects that keep children health."

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