Going back to basics in year of OPPORTUNITIES
Not so long after I was elected to serve as the District Rotaract Representative did I get to reevaluate the reason why I chose to present my name for candidature. An opportunity that helped me further understand what we could achieve in the Rotary new year.
Five months into the planning year, I joined a group of amazing Rotaractors in an exciting anniversary ceremony. To get there, I had to travel over a hundred and fifty kilometers, this was after a long and exhausting morning in the office. I was looking forward to having a fun session. Oh my! I was not disappointed. An evening event turned into an all-nighter. The well-planned program, great audience, and an innovative entertainment team. I could go on and on about it but that would mean we have to write a separate article. This night would become memorable to me because of a mind-opening conversation that I had with Rotaractor who would later become the club’s President-Elect.
While she was excited about leadership in the club, she was afraid that the enthusiasm around volunteering was quietly but quickly dwindling. Her concern was drawn from the apparent lack of a clear direction and vision for her club and, where there was, it was clouded by a sense of misplaced priorities. This rapidly began a common school of thought amongst different incoming club leaders as I expanded my research pool.
Those who came before us have done an extraordinary job getting us here. Their commitment and vision have seen our district grow in numbers and the magnitude of our impact in our communities. They have placed us at an opportune position to believe that we can achieve more. However, sometimes to take a step forward, it is important to indulge in a little introspection. This is what our Rotaract district theme Back to Basics is about.
Rotaract’s core goal is to develop leaders. To provide an enabling environment that allows young people to be able to put test their ideas, share insights, and make an impactful contribution in their communities. The new Rotary year promises to be one that will open unlimited opportunities. Great steps have been made to grow Rotaract. Most of these changes are now ready for implementation. This calls for us to rethink what we can do as Rotaractors and as Rotaract clubs. In the words of Helen Keller “Alone we can do so little: Together we can do so much”
We must reflect on the souls of our clubs to ensure we first understand where we are coming from. To relive our achievements and take note of our shortfalls. It is imperative that we reexamine the basic elements of our foundation and develop a vision of where we want to go. We need to have well-trained members who have a great understanding of Rotaract and of our clubs to help our guests and partners understand our passion. As a district leadership, we have developed a road map through our strategic plan to help us improve our club structures, retain and attract members and increase our impact
As we dive into the Year of Opportunities, I urge you to support your club to understand the value they create for their members and their community. This will help us grow our overall impact and bring onboard partners to help us make the world a better place. We must continue to be invigorated by the foundation of our diversity, the spirit of a unified vision, the desire to make our efforts count for something, and our faith in a better tomorrow. Be excited. Be unlimited. We are going Back to Basics in Year of Opportunities.
