Rotary
International Ray Klinginsmith's November 2010 Message
November 2010
My fellow Rotarians,
"Reach Out
to Africa"
I was a Rotary Scholar
at the University of Cape Town in 1961. During my year there, I
traveled 16,000 miles through South Africa and the countries now
known as Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Namibia. I visited 35 Rotary clubs,
met countless Rotarians, and became immersed in the rich culture
of Southern Africa.
During my initial visit, I developed a deep
appreciation for both the traditions and the challenges of life
in Africa, and my respect and admiration for the land and people
have caused me to return several times as a Rotarian. Now –
almost amazingly – I have a unique opportunity to use my experience
as a Rotary Scholar to enhance the role of Rotary in Africa!
This is the fourth year of the Reach Out to
Africa (ROTA) initiative, and the ROTA Committee for this year has
been streamlined to move more quickly and efficiently to achieve
its goals. We need to increase the number of Rotarians in Africa!
I also hope to see a substantial increase in international service
projects for Africa, particularly those projects with assistance
from The Rotary Foundation. The ROTA Committee has an excellent
website, and I encourage all Rotarians to review it at www.reachouttoafrica.org
I have implemented two new activities this
year to make it easier for Rotarians to visit Africa and to increase
their involvement in international service projects. The first is
Ray's Rotary Reunions, to be held in Cape Town 3-5 February, and
I hope many Rotarians will join me in the Fairest Cape for that
event. The second, Rotary Project Safaris, will facilitate visits
by Rotarians to the areas of the world where poverty is prevalent,
and where local Rotarians have developed many beneficial projects
that need financial assistance. More information about the reunions
and the safaris is available on the RI president's pages at www.rotary.org/president.
Please contact elsa.sanabria@rotary.org for any needed assistance.
I am proud to be a product of The Rotary Foundation,
and it will be the most significant achievement of my presidency
if I can serve as a catalyst to enhance Rotary in Africa! So come
join me for the reunions and the safaris. Help me to complete the
circle from being a Rotary Foundation Scholar in Africa to helping
Rotary in Africa to be Bigger, Better, and Bolder!
Ray Klinginsmith
Building Communities
/ Bridging Continents
President, Rotary International, 2010-11
TRF Chairman's
November 2010 Message
Celebrate Rotary
Foundation Month
November is Rotary Foundation
Month. It all began in 1917 when then RI President Arch Klumph announced
the acceptance of endowments for doing good in the world –
The Rotary Foundation was born! Contributions took off in 1947 in
memory of our founder Paul Harris. Although The Rotary Foundation
originally sponsored only educational programs, it added humanitarian
programs in the late 1960s and has continued to evolve with the
addition of our famous PolioPlus program to our Permanent Fund,
the Rotary Centers for International Studies and, finally, the Future
Vision Plan.
Our 3-year Future Vision pilot took effect
on 1 July. The pilot is intended to teach us what is good –
or bad – in our plan, so that we can correct it, as the Future
Vision Plan is here to stay.
However, The Rotary Foundation's Future Vision
Plan is much more than just a plan for the Foundation. Rotary International's
Strategic Plan is a parallel plan which, to a large extent, joins
and supplements our plan. We are too small an organization for two
plans of this magnitude – they shall have to merge. Not necessarily
tomorrow, but some time after 2017 when The Rotary Foundation celebrates
its 100th anniversary. If I were to target a year for this merger,
I would pick 2025 – the year when our Permanent Fund is expected
to reach USD1,000,000,000 (one billion!).
How can we reach this goal? By Building Communities
– Bridging Continents through Service Above Self.
Carl-Wilhelm_Stenhammar
Foundation Trustee Chair, 2010-11
Source: Rotary International
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