A NEW ROTARY YEAR!
Posted by Dianne Paron
The new Rotary Year starts on July 1st with a new Theme "The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands"...
The new President of Rotary International for the 2009-2010 Rotary year is John Kenny. John is a member of the Rotary Club of Grangemouth, Scotland which he joined back in 1970.
(We also have a new District 7080 Governor effective July 1st...Bob Palmateer, a member of the Rotary Club of Bolton. The new DG will visit our Club on October 1st.)
Here is how President Kenny introduced the 2009-2010 Theme:
The 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future of Rotary.
"The future of Rotary will not be shaped at RI headquarters -- it will be shaped in each and every Rotary club," Kenny said, "because it is for each of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is necessary to keep Rotary strong."
Kenny acknowledged the foundation established by past Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility for building upon that success on every Rotarian.
"Each one of us is standing on the shoulders of generations of Rotarians past, and it is our responsibility to determine Rotary's future," Kenny said.
"The goals we set, whatever our action plan, it is in our hands to accomplish or not," said Kazeem Mustapha, governor-elect of District 9125 (Nigeria). "Everybody has to be involved."
Chuck Cicchella, governor-elect of District 6710 (Kentucky, USA), likes the theme's emphasis on the future. "I have always had a strong desire to nurture along young people. It's vital to us."
Kenny emphasized that every Rotary club is and must be autonomous.
"Everything begins and ends with our clubs," he said. "Our clubs can and do work together; they work through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and with the support of our Foundation.
"But at the end of the day, everything that we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs. And so each club must have autonomy to serve where and how it can serve best."
At the same time, Kenny highlighted the importance of the RI Strategic Plan , adopted by the RI Board of Directors, as an essential tool in providing continuity.
"The plan is designed to strengthen and proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership," Kenny said.
Kenny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from his homeland, Scotland: "We must look beyond our own parish pump."
"It means that we must look beyond our own home and our own community," Kenny said. "We must look beyond our own needs, and we must be aware that ours is only one community, of one country, of the many communities and countries in this world."
(We also have a new District 7080 Governor effective July 1st...Bob Palmateer, a member of the Rotary Club of Bolton. The new DG will visit our Club on October 1st.)
Here is how President Kenny introduced the 2009-2010 Theme:
The 2009-10 RI theme acknowledges the important role individual Rotary clubs will play in shaping the future of Rotary.
"The future of Rotary will not be shaped at RI headquarters -- it will be shaped in each and every Rotary club," Kenny said, "because it is for each of us -- as Rotarians -- to do what is necessary to keep Rotary strong."
Kenny acknowledged the foundation established by past Rotary leaders and laid the responsibility for building upon that success on every Rotarian.
"Each one of us is standing on the shoulders of generations of Rotarians past, and it is our responsibility to determine Rotary's future," Kenny said.
"The goals we set, whatever our action plan, it is in our hands to accomplish or not," said Kazeem Mustapha, governor-elect of District 9125 (Nigeria). "Everybody has to be involved."
Chuck Cicchella, governor-elect of District 6710 (Kentucky, USA), likes the theme's emphasis on the future. "I have always had a strong desire to nurture along young people. It's vital to us."
Kenny emphasized that every Rotary club is and must be autonomous.
"Everything begins and ends with our clubs," he said. "Our clubs can and do work together; they work through their own districts, in cooperation with other clubs and districts, and with the support of our Foundation.
"But at the end of the day, everything that we accomplish is done through the strength of our clubs. And so each club must have autonomy to serve where and how it can serve best."
At the same time, Kenny highlighted the importance of the RI Strategic Plan , adopted by the RI Board of Directors, as an essential tool in providing continuity.
"The plan is designed to strengthen and proclaim the core values of Rotary: service, fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership," Kenny said.
Kenny concluded his remarks by sharing a favorite saying from his homeland, Scotland: "We must look beyond our own parish pump."
"It means that we must look beyond our own home and our own community," Kenny said. "We must look beyond our own needs, and we must be aware that ours is only one community, of one country, of the many communities and countries in this world."