Our District Governor speaks...

Transcription

1 Page 1 September 2004 Our District Governor speaks... Past Rotary International president, Jonathan Majiyagbe, and the present president Glenn Estess have put strong emphasis on the world wide problem of illiteracy. That two administrations have made this situation a priority, stresses its deep importance. That the illiteracy rate is vast throughout all areas of the globe cannot be denied. No country, regardless of its wealth, political position, or standing in the world is exempt. Difficult financial times, especially, demand reading and writing skills for any type of gainful employment. Those who are unable to qualify are quickly left behind. In such cases then, how will a mother feed her children? How will a father protect and provide for his family? They will be forced to survive by any means, at a very low life style, often harmful to themselves as well as their community. Something has to be done. We, in District 7020, strongly support the position on literacy as put forth by the Presidents of Rotary International. We have adopted a Rotary type of slogan: Each Club a Child. In our communities, there are those children who will never have the op- portunity to learn the skills of reading and writing, this despite the obligation of public schools to teach all equally. The administrators of District 7020 are requesting that each club identify at least one child in its area, and take on the responsibility of basic education. If there is more than one child who needs help, then why not several children? Illiteracy has been shown to be a problem, most often, of opportunity and not of the lack of mental capacity. Reading and writing skills or the lack thereof, does not always indicate the level of intelligence or reasoning ability. Fellow Rotarians, make this a positive action. Each Club a Child. A gift, not only to our areas but to Rotary International on this its centennial year. This proposal will not conflict nor compete with any other actions proposed by our District Literacy Chair, nor other responsible members of the clubs. We would hope that all the clubs in Zone 34 could follow our suggestion. I will try to convey our feelings to our Zone Director. Each Club a Child, a Rotary District 7020 motto for all. Yours truly in Rotary Dr. Victor Gibbs District Governor, 7020 WELCOME We welcome all fellow Rotarians of District 7020 to this the first issue of our District newsletter for Rotary Year 2004/05. Initially, we encountered some technical difficulties in setting up the format; however, these have now been overcome, and the newsletter will be published on a monthly basis from hereon. But it is important to remember that this publication can only be worthwhile and interesting with your input and we are, therefore, depending on the clubs to provide us with a regular flow of material for publication. You may contact us by at cdavis@sintmaarten. net or at fax # We look forward to your full participation in this newsletter.

2 Page 2 Club news from the District Rotary Club of St. Thomas On the 24th October 2004 at 10:00 am, the Rotary Club of St. Thomas will hold its 3rd Annual Road Rally at the Tutu Park Mall. The event fee is set at $ This is the only SCCA sponsored Road Rally outside the continental USA. You are invited to join them for a fun rally driving around scenic St. Thomas, followed by a great party with food, music and fellowship at Bolong Bay Resort. Rotary Club Mandeville, Jamaica The Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Mandeville are hosting their annual fund raising event The Rotary Roast on 3rd October 2004 at 11:00 am. Venue is Alpert Farms, Spur Tree in Mandeville. Price for adults is JAD and JAD for children. There will be a gate prize of a weekend for two all inclusive at the prestigious Half Moon Club. Traveling Rotarians, if you are in the area at that time, you would be more than welcome. Rotary Club Charlotte - Amalie The pool restaurant at the Carib Beach Hotel is the venue for an International night to be hosted by Rotarians of the Charlotte - Amalie club on 9th October Time for this event is 7:00 pm and the fee is $ The Charlotte - Amalie Rotarians are going all out to make this a memorable occasion. There will be an International dinner with food from around the world as well as wine tasting. To maintain the international flavor, there will be an international quiz. You are welcome. Le 10 juillet notre nouveau Gouverneur de Dis trict a été officiellement "installé". Soirée féérique à l'hôtel Le Méridien de l'anse Marcel en présence de nombreuses personnalités dont Monsieur le Maire et Monsieur le Sous-Préfet et des représentants de tous les Rotary clubs de la région (Sint Maarten, Mid-Isle, Sunrise, Anguilla, St Barth et St Martin). Le lendemain un "fellowship lunch" avait lieu au restaurant "Le Boo Boo Jam". Le 29 juillet le Rotary Club de St Martin a donné à une conférence sur le thème: "Constat après une année de fonctionnement du nouvel hôpital de St Martin". Le 9 septembre le Rotary Club de St Martin Nord a remis un chèque à un jeune et brillant étudiant qui prépare (à Toulouse) une thèse sur les attentes de la nouvelle collectivité territoriale. En projet: Les 24 et 25 septembre: Don du sang à Marigot. Le 5 octobre: Dans le cadre du programme "Group Study Exchange" Paul Harmon, coordinateur, s'envolera pour le Minesotta avec cinq jeunes professionnels. Ed. Note: Future articles in the French language will carry translation in English for those of us who do not speak French. Rotary Club St. Martin Nord Le 12 juin dernier, le Rotary Club de St Martin Nord a mis en place sa nouvelle équipe dirigeante à l'hôtel Le Flamboyant de la Baie Nettlé. Etaient conviés les personnalités de l'île ainsi que les représentants des divers clubs services. Le nouveau bureau est confié à Michel Bonnet (Président), Anike Hansen (Secrétaire) et Yves Kinard (Trésorier). Le 3 juillet le Rotaract a organisé sa Soirée Promotionnelle Educative à l'hôtel Le Flamboyant au cours de laquelle les élèves les plus méritants de l'année ont été récompensés.

3 Page 3 Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions As another year rolls by and, especially in this our centennial year, we think it prudent to familiarize ourselves once again with the expectations of the Rotary Organization as far as our business and professional lives are concerned. In this respect, therefore, we bring to your attention the Declaration of Rotarians in Businesses and Professions as presented in Rotary s Basic Library A Commitment to Service. s a Rotarian engaged in a business or profession, I am expected to: 1) Consider my vocation to be another opportunity to serve; 2) Be faithful to the letter and to the spirit of the ethical codes of my vocation, to the laws of my country, and to the moral standards of my community; 3) Do all in my power to dignify my vocation and to promote the highest ethical standards in my chosen vocation; 4) Be fair to my employer, employees, associates, competitors, customers, the public and all those with whom I have a business or professional relationship; 5) Recognize the honor and respect due to all occupations which are useful to society; 6) Offer my vocational talents: to provide opportunities for young people, to work for the relief of the special needs of others, and to improve the quality of life in my community; 7) Adhere to honesty in my advertising and in all representations to the public concerning my business or profession; 8) Neither seek from nor grant to a fellow Rotarian a privilege or advantage not normally accorded others in a business or professional relationship. It is so important that we Rotarians conduct ourselves both privately and publicly in such a manner that our words and actions reflect in all ways the principles of Rotary, such as the Declaration above. In this respect, we are also to be mindful of the 4-Way Test. After all, the continued superior image of Rotary depends solely on us Rotarians today and we must keep in mind the examples set by past Rotarians who have lived Rotary both in spirit and in deeds. Indeed, our Founder, Paul Harris, would expect this of us. PLEASE. If any Rotarian has any comments or suggestions to improve this newsletter in future issues, please contact the District Newsletter editor at: cdavis@sintmaarten.net or at fax # DG s travel this month September 8-11 British Virgin Islands September Haiti September 30 - October 7 Cayman Islands All of us in the District wish him fruitful visits to those clubs and a safe return to St. Martin. From the Rotary calender 2004/05 The month of October highlights Vocational Service and it calls on Rotarians worldwide to apply high ethical standards to their businesses and professions, to recognize the inherent worthiness of all useful occupations and to view their respective occupations as an opportunity to serve society. Rotary Clubs also recognize those on the other end of the career ladder. They provide recognition to long term workers in the community for their professional accomplishments. We should be busy at this time identifying recipients for Vocational Awards next month.

4 Page 4 Of Petals and People By Max Lucado Suppose you dwell in a highrise apartment. On the windowsill of your room is a solitary daisy. This morning you picked the daisy and pinned it on your lapel. Since you have only one plant, this is a big event and a special daisy. But as soon as you re out the door, people start picking petals off your daisy. Someone snags your subway seat. Petal picked. You re blamed for the bad report of a co-worker. Three petals. The promotion is given to someone with less experience but with great looks. More petals. By the end of the day. You re down to one. Woe be to the soul who dares to draw near it. You re only one petal-snatching away from a blowup. What if the scenario was altered slightly? Let s add one character. The kind man in the apartment next door runs a flower shop on the corner. Every night on the way home he stops at your place with a fresh, undeserved, yet irresistible bouquet. There are not leftover flowers. They are top-of-the-line arrangements. You don t know why he thinks so highly of you, but you aren t complaining. Because of him, your apartment has a sweet fragrance, and your step has a happy bounce. Let someone mess with your flower, and you ve got a basket full to replace it! The difference is huge. God will load your world with flowers. He handdelivers a bouquet to your door every day. Open it! Take them! Then, when rejections come, you won t be left short-petaled. Humour Marriage Seminar While attending a Marriage Seminar dealing with communication, Tom and his wife, Grace listened to the instructor, It is essential that husbands and wives know the things that are important to each other. He addressed the man, Can you describe your wife s favorite flower? Tom leaned over, touched his wife s arm gently and whispered, It s Pillsbury, isn t it? The rest of the story gets ugly, so I ll stop right here. Here s what others are saying about Rotary "Rotary has the ability to organize campaigns to mobilize support for some of the worthiest causes that exist, and that makes Rotary a precious resource." Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations "I admire the Rotary promise to solve problems that destroy lives and trample dreams and human potential." Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein of Jordan "Long ago, you created awareness, and took action. If I could, I would give each of you who have been involved in this monumental campaign a Champion award. You who believe in, and continue to strive to save the world's children from the ravages of polio, are most definitely champions." Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General, World Health Organization Courtesy: Rotary website Quote of the Month When I despair, I remember that all through history the ways of the truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants, murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it...always. - Mahatma Gandhi

5 Page 5 How many of us have ever wondered why exactly WE ARE ROTARIANS! The following essay was taken from the volume Rotary Wisdom and gives insight into the thoughts and feelings of other Rotarians who, no doubt, one day did wonder why exactly THEY ARE ROTARIANS. Over the next nine months I propose to publish a series of these essays which may, in the end, tweek us to conclude why WE ARE ROTARIANS! Why I am a Rotarian I am a Rotarian because Rotary has made a great contribution towards the perfection of my personality in the field of human relations and has also inspired and trained me to put in my life Service above Self. On this point, I firmly believe that Rotary clubs are to Rotarians, schools for the perfection of human behavior. Having been a Rotarian for more than 40 years now, I have the experience that, due to the influence of their Rotary clubs, men known to be critical and sarcastic have become charitable and sympathetic; men who in their business have been known to cut corners have seen the light and become leaders in the promotion of higher standards; men who had no interest in their community affairs have contributed greatly towards improving conditions in their communities; and so on. Fellow Rotarians.. And this has happened, not because of any spiritual rebirth but because of the effect of FRIEND- SHIP, cultivated by good-hearted men in a spirit of tolerance and goodwill. Paul Harris, himself, recognized in this day that, in Rotary friendship, mountains of dissension can be reduced to the size of inconsequential molehills and that Rotary attracts men of different races, nationalities, religions or political ideas to the common cause of SERVICE. Now, by being a Rotarian, I feel that I do not only belong to my club, my district, my zone or to Rotary International, but to a great crusade of friendly and dedicated people who are helping to build for all, a BET- TER TOMMOROW. Aguiles Guerra Director, Rotary International Rotary Wisdom At this time, our thoughts and prayers are with our Fellow Rotarians in both Jamaica and Cayman Islands as they strive to overcome the destruction in their islands caused by hurricane Ivan. Our District Governor and all Clubs in the District wish you to know that we are with you in your struggle and hope to hear news from you soon that life on your islands is coming back to normal. In the meantime, strength and faith is our wish for you. Of course, we in District 7020, also extend our best wishes to all Rotary Clubs in the Caribbean who have suffered from devastation created by hurricane Ivan. Our thoughts and prayers are also with you. From the desk of our District Governor. Proposal for a new District Community Service Award We Rotarians have been fortunate to be able to count on the business communities of our district for help in completing our humanitarian projects. Without their assistance "Service Above Self" becomes a very difficult concept to perform. It is, therefore, natural that Rotary should wish to show its appreciation for such gifts. We propose creating a new award. For a one thousand dollar donation to a Rotary project, the contributor would be presented with "The Paul Harris Centennial District Community Service Award". This award would be the highest and noblest reward we can offer to both Rotarians and non- Rotarians for their commitment to world humanitarian fulfillment. Dr. Victor Gibbs District Governor