RI President's Message, December
2016
I joined Rotary as an engineer. There are
almost as many classifications in the profession of engineering
as there are in Rotary, but I happen to be a mechanical engineer.
A mechanical engineer calculates the heating
and cooling loads for a new building, makes sure the right lights
are in the right places, and plans the plumbing so your hot water
pipe doesn’t end in a drinking fountain.
Mechanical engineers don’t stand out in a
crowd, and they don’t call attention to themselves with what
they do. You probably haven’t thought much about the engineers
who designed the buildings you use, the car you drive, or the traffic
patterns you follow.
But every time you get in an elevator, turn
the key in your ignition, or cross the street when the light says
go, you are entrusting your life to an engineer somewhere whom you’ve
never met. You trust that your elevator will open at the floor you
want it to. You trust that your car will start and stop as it should.
You trust that the traffic light is going
to turn red before the walk light goes on. Every day, you put your
life in the hands of people whose names you do not know and whom
you might never meet. You might not think about them at all –
but they touch your lives every day.
I could draw the same parallel to any number of
other vocations – ordinary occupations with the same kind
of life-changing impact. In so many ways – some of which we
see and some we don’t – our vocations allow us to help
other people live better, safer, and healthier lives.
Just like the work we do in Rotary.
Through our vocations and in our clubs, in our communities, and
across continents, we are touching the lives of people we don’t
know and might never meet. And in every part of the world, every
single day, whether they know it or not, people are living better,
safer, and healthier lives because of the work of Rotary.
The people we help might not have met a single Rotarian. They might
not even know that Rotary exists. But they are drinking clean water
from a bore well that Rotary dug. They’re learning to read
with books that Rotary gave them. They’re living lives that
are better, happier, and healthier – because of Rotary
Serving Humanity. - John F Germ, President 2016-17
- John F Germ
President, Rotary International
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Dec.
2016 Trustee Chair's Message
Kalyan Banerjee
Trustee Chair 2016-17
Responsible investing for doing good
Rotarians frequently ask if The Rotary Foundation practices socially
responsible investing by screening or restricting certain investments
based on social, environmental, or political criteria. The answer
is yes – and no.
Yes, the Foundation considers both financial and social returns
when making an investment decision. Our Investment Committee encourages
our investment consultant and its managers to invest in companies
that comply with laws, regulations, ethical standards, and national
or international norms and are aligned with Rotary values.
We also consider how each of our investment
managers incorporates socially responsible investing as part of
their process. Currently seven of these managers, responsible for
about 36 percent of the Foundation's total assets, were signatories
to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investment.
These principles offer possible actions for
incorporating environmental, social, and governance issues –
such as climate change, public and workplace safety, and shareholder
rights – into investment practice. Following these principles
could reduce risk, improve returns, and better align our portfolio
with our mission.
Does this mean the Foundation will categorically
exclude specific companies or industries from investment? That's
where the "no" part of my answer comes in. Given Rotary's
diverse membership and its various cultural beliefs, agreeing on
such restrictions would be extremely difficult.
The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation and
the Rotarian financial experts on our Investment Committee take
their job very seriously. Rotarians have entrusted us with millions
of dollars that they have designated to do good in the world.
Our capacity to provide clean water and education,
improve health care and economic development, and promote peace
depends heavily on our investment income So it
is especially important that we invest your gifts wisely.
Because The Rotary Foundation belongs to all
of us, we believe strongly in transparency. To that end, we have
posted a wealth of information on www.rotary.org. You can find
audited statements for the Foundation for the past three years and
tax returns for the past six years, along with extensive material
on investment practices, philosophy, and historical returns. I hope
this detailed information will reinforce your confidence in our
Foundation and inspire your continued generosity
Trustee Chair's Message, November 2016
- Kalyan Banerjee, Trustee Chair 2016 - 17
