Speaking at the Rotary international Convention in Sao Paulo Brazil on June 7, RI President Ravi Ravindran asked members worldwide to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary Year. I was thrilled and honored to be in attendance with my husband John as we sat in the Pavilhao de Exposicoes Anhembi with 20,000 Rotarian’s listening to his inspirational words. The President said “ All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: take all your talents,all your gifts, everything that you are and can become and Be a Gift to the World”
As we contemplate this theme and how it relates to our club we need to ask ourselves questions about the gifts we have and how we can use them to reinvigorate and re-energize our club and members. Who,what,when,where, and why do we want to give gifts to our community and beyond our borders. How do we package the gift? Does our community see our club as a gift to the community? What does our community need and want from Rotary? How do we package our Rotary Club ? What do our members want ? We need to ask ourselves why did you join Rotary and why do you belong to Rotary now?
This is our time. The Rotary Leadership Plan describes how to be a vibrant club and says “Every member should feel empowered to shape our club’s future and make it outstanding.”
Building on the amazing history and achievements of our club over the past 102 years, I’m looking forward to working with all of you to move forward to set a new course for our club. I believe we have exciting opportunities ahead! This is our time to use our talents and our gifts together to help set our club on a path of growth and success.
Rosemary Knechtel
President 2015-16