Dear Rotarians and Guests
I express my sincere gratitude to you all, for your friendship, your devotion to service and for your expression of affection for me.
The Rotary Foundation has already celebrated its first century of service. It provides us with resources, communications, motivation, information and inspiration.
Perhaps even more important, our Foundation grants us with access to a worldwide network of dear friends, committed to improve the human condition of our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, religion, or political affiliation.
Every person who opted to accept the invitation to join Rotary would have first understood that Rotary is a Service Organisation and not a social club where people come only to spend time.
When you agreed to join Rotary International’s movement through a local Rotary club, you solemnly agreed,not only to serve the community where you live, but also all over the world.
This implies your willingness to support The Rotary Foundation, which is the only agency in Rotary that receives funds, distributes funds and helps you with all the needed resources to finish the service project however small or large it may be. The service wing of Rotary International is The Rotary Foundation.
I see that during the year 2017-2018 your district has contributed over US $1 Million to TRF. You have 6 AKS members who have made your district proud. I am sure that you can produce more such people and sustain the US $1 Million contribution every year. In fact, it should increase and not decrease.
Contributions to the Endowment Fund needs to be encouraged and I see that there is a potential for this. You crossed more than US $100,000 in contribution to Endowment Fund during 2017-2018.
Your district has been consistently getting over 7 grants from TRF every year and I am sure that if all the clubs participate in the programmes of TRF this can increase.
The Rotary Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation that receives contributions and distributes funds in support of approved humanitarian and educational activities that are implemented through Rotary clubs and districts.
The Mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty
The Rotary Foundation has spent over US $4.1 Billion on various Humanitarian and Educational Programs of the Foundation till now.
Rotary’s Financial Contribution Exceeds US $2 Billion for Polio eradication only. If we reach our goal of polio free world by 2023, our contribution will exceed US $2.5 Billion
.Bill Gates Foundation has spent nearly US $ 1.3 Billion for this cause and over
2.5 Billion children have been immunized. The US CDC has scientifically estimated that over 18 Million children have been saved from being crippled and probably death.
As we progress in our global quest, by the end of this year’s fantastic journey under the leadership of President Mark Maloney, we will be closer to seeing the end of illiteracy, hunger and we will move closer to a better, brighter and more peaceful future.
We will also be closer to achieving the goal of polio eradication from the world.
Since July 2013, The Foundation’s Future Vision Program offers a new potential of service. We now offer two types of grants:
District Grants and Global Grants, aimed at six areas of clear global priority.
But these wonderful humanitarian and educational programs of The Rotary Foundation depend upon one essential factor: the financial resources made available.
Together with this effort, we strongly aspire to strengthen the Foundation’s Endowment Fund.
The joy of giving to The Foundation should become a sacred habit, a routine for each one of us, a life-time commitment, lasting through the years to come, because we know that there is more joy in giving, than in receiving.
My fellow Rotarians we know that the world we inhabit is unfair, unstable, and non-sustainable.
This is a world, where terrible contradictions and shocking disparities continue to affect adversely the lives of millions of human beings, who are isolated and abandoned in their dark nights of sorrow.
Under the heavy winds of change that we are now facing, are we really able, eager and willing, to make a difference?
If we, the volunteers of peace, champions of friendship, agents of change, Rotarians of the world, do not take action: Who will? Who, my friends?
Each of us has the responsibility, to shape and carry forward our common future because in the path of selfless service, we welcome dreamers, but we also need doers.
There is no room for doubt: The world needs enthusiastic, motivated, inspired and hardworking Rotarians.
We seek volunteers, with generosity in their hearts, eager in harmonic unity, to nurture hope, volunteers who with clear convictions and tenacity who are never tired of serving and giving.
We seek men and women of passionate love and missionary fervour to serve others in need. We seek Rotarians, prepared in our multicultural and multi-polar world, to maintain their promises and commitments.
In Rotary there is no room for cowardice, pessimism or selfishness as we strongly reject the temptation of living a life of seclusion.
In Rotary we promote inclusive growth and that means everyone must grow to live a better and peaceful life.
Through exemplary leadership, eager and sensitive to the needs of others, we shall spread, with reckless abandon, our ideals, our core values and our love for humanity, symbolized in our dharma, our ultimate aim which is Service Above Self.
As Rotarians who share values and beliefs, we are all familiar with the saying: “The best time to give is when the gift is needed”. And every time we make a donation, inspired by the fire of love, we state, “I am a proud donor; this is my foundation and also my personal responsibility.”
My fellow Rotarians, builders of love and peace, harmony and international understanding: we do need more Paul Harris Fellows! We want to hear from additional members of the Paul Harris Society, in which, as you know, every participant pledges to contribute $ 1,000, every year.
We aspire to hear from new Major Donors, we dream of more Benefactors and more Bequest Society members and also from new members of the Arch C. Klumph Society, who will all, contribute to reach an Endowment Fund, of 2025 Million US dollar in net assets and expectancies, when We are in the year 2025.
We all recognize that it is impossible to sow new seeds of love, with closed fists. By opening our hands, with generosity and liberality, we shall conquer a new future, future which belongs to all of us , in our continuous and shared quest for peace.
If each one of us contributes with a bit of caring, hope, sharing and dreaming, we will make a positive and lasting difference in the world, as each one of us will effectively touch somebody else’s life.
This is, my friends, the function of love, this is the attainment true awakening.
We cannot ignore the distressful realities of today’s world.
We cannot wait in silence through the night of despair .
We cannot turn deaf ears to the plea of the outcasts, who lack the recognition of their dignity .
We cannot stand idle, turning a blind eye to the plight of the victims of hopelessness and loneliness.
This is the time for everyone, to roll up our sleeves guided by the light of love, to seek the well being of our brothers and sisters around our planet Earth.
Let’s march forward! Let’s start right now, under a star-filled sky as, in the joy of giving, we shall also enjoy the blessing of receiving!
Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, the recipient of the Nobel Price for Peace wrote: “Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”
As leaders with a global perspective, let’s all set our personal example, doing our little good every day. Let’s ask ourselves: are we a bit tired and pessimistic? Where is our vigour? Where is our thirst for doing good in the world?
Acting with vigour, determination and vision, we shall leave behind petty limitations and narrow perspectives. We will rise above selfish interests.
We will be sharing this world with others, for only a brief period of time. Nobody knows for sure, how much longer, we have left.
We are certain, however, that one of the best ways to make this a better world is serving mankind through our dear Rotary Foundation, the beating heart of Rotary.
It is my profound hope that each one of you, the leaders of Rotary’s will persevere with a heart full of faith, in our mission of doing good in the world, supporting our beloved Foundation.
I invite you all to act, with audacity and burning passion, to make our dreams a reality, allowing our Foundation grants to achieve the biggest impact possible on the vulnerable and needy communities of the world.
We keep in mind Martin Luther King Jr.’s often quoted statement:
“EVERYONE CAN BE GREAT BECAUSE EVERY ONE CAN SERVE “. and it is Mother Teresa who taught us: “SERVING IS REAL POWER , BECAUSE SERVICE IS LOVE IN ACTION “.
Let’s kindle the fire by spreading the message that Rotary Connects the World. Let each of you be the source , keeping hope alive.
Let the Rotary Foundation Serve the Humanity brightly around the world forever.
While concluding I am reminded of the golden words written by Stephen Grellet
“I expect to pass through this world but once . Any good things, therefore that I can do, any kindness that I can show a fellow being, let me do it now. Let me not deter or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again”
Rotary Foundation gives you an opportunity to do good in the world. Support The Rotary Foundation and be the inspiration to all and make them support our Foundation.Together, let us see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.
Thank You.