Message from our President

“Rotary Shares” is the theme for the 2007-2008 Rotary year. When we joined Rotary and were given our badge and the 4-Way Test, the club believed each of us had something to share. As Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson says, “Rotarians share their time, their talents, their expertise, and their money to successfully carry out projects that tackle a vast range of humanitarian and social issues. They share their compassion, their enthusiasm, and their commitment to help those in need and make the world better. And they share an unparalleled passion for service that has made Rotary the world’s premier service organization.”

Rotary is an international non-religious, non-political organization that can cut across barriers to deliver humanitarian service that alleviates hunger and promotes health around the globe. One such goal is to eradicate polio from the face of the earth. This has been mostly accomplished with only a few pockets of the disease left in the world. Another goal is to promote international peace and understanding. This is done through Rotary World Peace Fellowships, as well as joint projects where domestic and overseas clubs combine their resources.

There are two foundations that fund Rotary programs – one international and one local. The Rotary International Foundation is a $700 million foundation that provides funds for Ambassadorial Scholarships, Group Study Exchange Teams, and grants for both international and domestic projects. Our local foundation is controlled by our club’s foundation board and funds projects that are primarily local in nature. To be a balanced club, we need contributions to both foundations. The Rotary International Foundation is funded through Paul Harris Fellowships, Sustaining Memberships where individual members donate $100 per year, and bequests. Our local foundation raises funds through our annual chili supper, weekly door prizes, and VIT memberships.

While funding the foundations is critical to the Rotary mission, we also need hands-on help. One project that our district has worked on for several years is the water project in Nicaragua. Our district secured a drilling rig and provided the engineering to develop over 75 water wells in impoverished areas in Nicaragua. Using the old adage, “Teach a man to fish, and he can feed himself for the rest of his life,” this project hires indigenous labor to complete each project. The next phase is to secure a rig that can dig deeper wells and bring water to even more villages.

As we embark on this new Rotary year, I encourage each of you to find a way to share something of yourself with Rotary. As Reverend Mouzon Biggs said at the President-Elect Training Seminar, “That person profits most who serves the best.”

Mike Cowan, President