WELL, that was a challenging year as we all experienced life under lockdown and the difficulties the pandemic caused. However, it proved our ability to adapt, which is one of our core principles.
I would like to thank all of you for having the foresight to vote for change at our recent Annual Business Meeting. It was an overwhelming result with over 90% voting for the new Board.
The Board will become a reality in July 2022. In the meantime, we cannot afford to stand still, and a new style Executive will be in place for the next Rotary year as a forerunner to the Board, which I will chair.
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Rotary International Director, Nicki Scott, has put together a three-year action plan with input from all the Co-ordinator Team Leaders. This has been a mammoth task.
All the Co-ordinator Teams have embraced the action plan. It has taken time and effort to remove the stranglehold of one-year strategies. Our thanks go to all of them for planning for change.
We are in exciting times. All I ask is that you embrace these changes, get on board and enjoy the ride as our communities need Rotary more than they ever have.”
So, what will these changes achieve and how will they affect the clubs?
To support clubs and districts we have Co-ordinator Teams comprising Foundation, Membership, Public Image, Service (currently Humanitarian), Learning Development and Training. There are also specialists for Peace, End Polio Now, Diversity and Compliance, Endowment and Major Gift Advisers.
My role will be to lead and support all the Co-ordinator Teams, ensuring they are on track to meet their agreed action plans and that the districts and clubs are supported better than they have ever been.
Each district will have a dedicated group of co-ordinators and specialists who they will meet with regularly to share ideas, collaborate and give support and leadership.
We must take a hard look at ourselves and ask if our club is attractive to new members?”
The Co-ordinator Teams have already started to work together and are not just tied to their particular area of focus. Clubs will be provided with a complete list of the support available, along with direct contact details of each team member or specialist. This means the assistance is easily accessible.
As we come out of COVID restrictions, clubs will be rethinking the way they meet. Please don’t just revert back to what we always did, think of new and innovative forms of meetings.
I would ask you to think of this. Plan the style of your future club meetings; not for the current members, but for those members who have not yet joined. We must take a hard look at ourselves and ask if our club is attractive to new members?
Those that know me are aware that I am an advocate for change, not just for the sake of it, but because the clubs deserve better. I will also continue to work closely with Nicki Scott, our Director and Association Leader, as we have been for over the last year and a half.
We are in exciting times. All I ask is that you embrace these changes, get on board and enjoy the ride as our communities need Rotary more than they ever have.
