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DG Bernie's Weekly
Message
THE
ROTARY ARMY - ARE YOU READY?
In
visiting Clubs, I have been reminded that Rotary has always kept its
work close to its chest, fairly confidential, "we don't like to make too
much fuss about what we do", etc.
I have
read of a Rotary International President, when visiting our great
country, exhorted Rotarians to project a public image which would
properly reflect Rotary's service and its role in the world by paying
more attention to public relations. His intention, he said, was to
project a true image for the better promotion of Rotary Service.
This
doesn't sound like telling us to hide our light under a bushel, and it
was said 40 years ago by President C.P.H. Teenstra who led Rotary in
1965-66.
There
are many reasons why it is important that we let the world know about
Rotary.
Today,
Rotarians have never worked harder for the common good and the results
speak for themselves. You can be very proud of the work you are doing in
your local communities, in Timor Leste, in the Solomons, for the
disadvantaged all over. But, this work is going to peter out and fade
away if it is going to rely on just you and me. We need assistance,
someone to pick up the baton and carry on the tremendous service being
evidenced around the world. We are desperate for new blood, new ideas,
new energy, new friendships and larger teams so you do not have to carry
the burden on your own.
Membership promotion is certainly one of the reasons because today we
live in an age of instant communication - people want to know what's
going on, what happens if I join, what will I be asked to do, how will I
fit in? These and many more questions will be asked by prospective
members because they have been taught to ask "why", not necessarily to
dodge the challenge, but to seek knowledge so they can make reasonable
decisions.
Anyway,
what is Rotary?
You
certainly can answer the last question, can you? And here lies the crux
of the Rotary Awareness question. If we are to publicise our work in
Rotary and tell people what Rotary does, we need to instruct ourselves
first. Many Rotarians are found wanting when it comes to Rotary
knowledge and it is difficult to know where to start.
How
about a weekly or monthly quiz about Rotary in your Club in order to
spread the knowledge? It can be fun to do and it will certainly do no
harm.
Finally, we need to broadcast our work because we do need support from
those outside of Rotary who we look to for help with our projects, be it
for goods to raffle, products to help our building projects, financial
support to transfer those funds to those in need and the many other ways
businesses, firms and the like can assist. It is difficult to approach a
prospective donor and you are asked "what is Rotary?" Wouldn’t it be
much easier if they knew and had no hesitation in lending a hand.
The
Barmy Army came to support their team and everyone knew about them. Let
the Rotary Army Lead the Way and broadcast its existence
and about the good we do in the world.
Bernie Walshe
District Governor |
