Rotary International President-elect Mark Maloney has explained his vision for building a stronger Rotary, calling on leaders to expand connections to their communities and to embrace innovative membership models.
RI President-elect Mark Maloney announced the 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World, to incoming district governors at the International Assembly in San Diego, California.
Mark, a member of the Rotary Decatur in Alabama, focused his address on boosting membership to enable Rotary to flourish.
He said: “The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service; to grow the impact of our projects; but, most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more.”
Mark believes that connection is at the heart of the Rotary experience.
“[Rotary] allows us to connect with each other, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences,” he explained.
“It connects us to people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us to our communities, to professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.”
Mark called on every Rotary and Rotaract club to identify segments of their community not represented in their club by creating a membership committee with diverse members.
“Through Rotary, we connect to the incredible diversity of humanity on a truly unique footing, forging deep and lasting ties in pursuit of a common goal,” he added.
“In this ever more divided world, Rotary connects us all.”
Rotary International President-elect Mark Maloney
Mark urged leaders to offer alternative meeting experiences and service opportunities to make it easier for busy professionals and people with many family obligations to serve in leadership roles.
“We need to foster a culture where Rotary does not compete with the family, but rather complements it,” Mark said.
“That means taking real, practical steps to change the existing culture: being realistic in our expectations, considerate in our scheduling, and welcoming of children at Rotary events on every level.”
Mark pointed out how many of the barriers which prevent people from serving as leaders in Rotary are based on expectations that are no longer relevant.
He said: “It is time to adapt, to change our culture, and to convey the message that you can be a great district governor without visiting every club individually, and a great president without doing everything yourself.”
During 2019-20, Rotary will host a series of presidential conferences around the world, focusing on Rotary’s relationship with the United Nations and the UN’s sustainable development goals that many Rotary service projects support.
More information will be available in July.
In 2020, the United Nations will celebrate the 75th anniversary of its charter and its mission of promoting peace.
Rotary was one of 42 organisations the United States invited to serve as consultants to its delegation at the 1945 San Francisco conference, which led to the UN’s charter.
For decades, Rotary has worked alongside the United Nations to address humanitarian issues around the world.
Today, Rotary holds the highest consultative status that the UN offers to nongovernmental organisations.
“Rotary shares the United Nations’ enduring commitment to a healthier, more peaceful, and more sustainable world,” Mark said.
“And Rotary offers something no other organisation can match: an existing infrastructure that allows people from all over the world to connect in a spirit of service and peace and take meaningful action toward that goal.”
