Fellow Rotarians, Dear Incoming Leaders, and My Friends,
As I stand before you today, I do not see Presidents, Secretaries, or Committee Chairs. I see torchbearers. I see men and women who have chosen to carry forward an idea that began more than a century ago—the idea that service, when done selflessly, can change the world.
Leadership in Rotary is not about position or authority. It is about responsibility. It is about caring deeply, even when no one is watching. Each one of you has said yes to service, and that single word carries immense meaning.
The theme for the coming year, Create Lasting Impact, is not a slogan for banners. It is a question we must ask ourselves again and again. When our Rotary year ends, when our term is over, when the applause fades—what will truly remain behind?
Rotary was never meant to be remembered for activities alone. Activities end. Impact lives on. Rotary is remembered for lives touched, hope restored, and communities strengthened.
If you ever wish to understand what lasting impact truly means, think of one word—Polio. Think of millions of children who today walk, run, and dream freely because Rotarians across the world refused to accept paralysis as destiny. Decades ago, Rotary took on a task many called impossible. There were no guarantees, no instant results, only belief, perseverance, and faith in humanity.
Polio eradication did not happen in one year, or under one leader. It happened because Rotarians stayed committed—year after year, generation after generation. When we vaccinated a child we would never meet again, we were not just giving medicine; we were giving a future. That is Rotary. That is lasting impact.
This same spirit must guide every project we take up.
As leaders, you will have many ideas and many opportunities. I urge you—choose meaning over numbers. Choose depth over display. Let your projects be such that even after your year ends, they continue to serve. Let the community feel that Rotary is always there—that Rotary cares, listens, and stands beside them. When people begin to trust Rotary, when they turn to Rotary in hope, then Rotary becomes not just an organisation, but a blessing.
What makes Rotarians special is not our resources, but our values. Our motto, Service Above Self, is not meant for display; it is meant for living. It asks us to place compassion above comfort and service above self-interest. When we serve with humility and sincerity, Rotary becomes powerful without being loud.
True service begins with listening. Communities do not need us to impose solutions; they need us to walk with them. The people we serve understand their pain and aspirations better than we ever can. When we empower instead of dominate, when we partner instead of dictate, we create change that lasts long after Rotary steps back.
Sustainability is the true test of leadership. Charity may touch the heart, but sustainability transforms lives. Design projects that communities can own, protect, and grow. Leadership changes every year, but the impact you create should live for decades.
Each one of you has the power to influence lives. Mentor a new Rotarian. Inspire a young student. Support a struggling family. Stand for ethics, peace, and compassion in your daily life. These small acts, repeated consistently, shape societies and strengthen the soul of Rotary.
Rotary is not self-executing. It depends on leaders like you—leaders who think beyond one year, beyond recognition, beyond convenience. Do not ask only, “What did we do this year?” Ask instead, “Whose life is better because Rotary was there?”
And now, my dear friends, let me end where the heart truly speaks.
Years from now, people may forget our names and our titles, but they will never forget how Rotary made them feel. They will remember the child who walked because Polio did not cripple her. They will remember the dignity restored to a family, the hope lit in a village, the hand that held them when no one else did.
When our Rotary year ends and the banners come down, let us be able to say with quiet pride that somewhere a life is better because we were there. If each one of us serves with empathy, plans with sincerity, and leads with humility, then we will not just complete a year—we will create a legacy.
Let us carry forward the spirit that defeated Polio, the spirit that refuses to give up on humanity. Let our actions say to the world that Rotary cares, Rotary serves, and Rotary stands beside those who need it most.
May Service Above Self not remain a motto, but become our way of life. Let us go forward and Create Lasting Impact—not for applause, not for recognition, but for the simple joy of making a difference.
Thank you, and God bless Rotary.