Happy Holidays Family and Friends of Rotary!
We are about to close half the Rotary year 2020/21.
Rotary Foundation Month
November, the Rotary Foundation Month, is time of the year when we celebrate the milestones we have made in our giving to The Rotary Foundation and reflect on the impact that our giving has allowed us to make through service to the communities. Our giving to the foundation has consistently been returned to us manyfold. On average we donate US$ 300,000 per annum and have grants of US$ 10,000,000. We really need to give more to reflect our level of usage and to continue to unlock the tremendous opportunity that The Rotary Foundation presents to us.
My appreciation to ALL Rotarians who have given to the foundation so far. One hundred and fifty seven Rotarians have taken up the PHF challenge giving $500 which has been matched. The PHF challenge ended on 30th November 2020 except for the Rotaractors for whom it will end on January 31st.
We held a very successful TRF dinner where we recognized Rotarians and clubs who have given, Rotarians that have become Paul Harris Fellows and those who became Major Donors. We also celebrate PDG Eric and Margaret Kimani who have been inducted into the prestigious Arch Klumph Society in recognition of their generous contribution to The Rotary Foundation..
Your giving makes all the difference!
Each December month, we focus on Disease Prevention and Treatment.
I first want to salute and recognize the efforts of every Rotarian and all the medics who are selflessly working on the frontline in fighting COVID 19. For this, you remain our heroes and heroines.
Whilst Rotary’s top priority is the eradication of polio, we all take on far greater responsibilities to fight disease. We set up health camps and training facilities, we work with communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. We also design and build infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners and have reached one in six people in the world who can’t afford to pay for health care.
Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunize people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.
As we wind down the year 2020 and move into a very unusual Christmas holiday period, it’s a good time to think about how we can personalize our involvement in disease prevention and treatment. Let us spend time to enlighten all that we come into contact with about importance of handwashing and sanitizing. Whilst our key message will be to keep COVID19 at bay the same action will also do the following
- Reduce the number of people who get sick with diarrhea
- Reduce diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems
- Reduce respiratory illnesses, like colds, flu and pneumonia
- Reduce absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren
- Reduces eye and skin infections
- Reduces worm and other parasitic infections
Hand washing is one of the best and easiest proven ways of disease prevention.
District Governors’ Club Visits
In the last two months, I continued with the digimeets with clubs towards completing the board meetings and club assemblies. I also visited Mt. Kenya region and had a physical cluster meeting with five clubs hosted by RC Nyeri. I presented with and inducted twelve new members from those clubs and then had a COVID19 moderated swallowship at the White Rhino Hotel. This was followed the next day by RC Nithi who hosted me for lunch and inductions
The following week I had a grueling but also very successful circuit of physical cluster visits in Rift Valley and Western region. This started of with a breakfast meeting with all the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Kisumu then a drive to Charter RC Busia who hosted the mother club RC Kakamega and its Rotaract for a cluster fellowship. It was back to Kisumu for the night and then an early morning drive to make breakfast with Kitale, lunch with Kitale and then a mega induction of 26 new members with the Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in and around Bungoma followed by an early dinner and back to Kisumu for the night. After a day’s break to attend to other business, it was on to Charter RC Kisii Central who also hosted Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in Suna Migori, Mbita Mfangano and Kericho (in formation). The following day was the last leg with a drive to Nakuru for member inductions and a mega cluster visit with Rotary and Rotaract Clubs from Nakuru, Eldama Ravine, Kabarnet, Naivasha, Narok and Ololulunga.
I am invigorated by energy of the Rotarians in District 9212. I must confess that the interactions we have had at each club visit, whether virtual or physical has always left so much impact on my life. Seeing the lengths that clubs go to prepare for the visits is amazing.
I continue to impress on clubs and their leaderships to give club governance a priority so that we can together build sustainable clubs that will translate to more impact. I urge every sitting president to ensure that in your year, all previous year/s club accounts are audited and current year accounts audited not later than 90 days after the end of your year. If there any historical fiduciary or governance issues, then they must be sorted out this year so we can release the leaders in our clubs to focus on the future and what we must do to make a difference.
Unity and diligence in running clubs will translate to growth. I urge members to support your Club President and the leadership team in all ways possible.
I continue with my club visits in the next month and hope to have a physical visit to the northern parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and South Sudan in January. Let us keep Ethiopia in prayers that peace and tranquility shall prevail.
Membership Progress
We are going from strength to strength in matters of membership!
We now have a total of 4 strong new clubs chartered in this Rotary year. Our district now has a total of 123 active clubs and an additional three inactive clubs.
Our membership is at 3396 Rotarians up from 2952 as of 30th November 2020, which is a total increase of 15.04%.
The district has made substantial progress in membership recruitment in clubs spread across the district. I must commend the Rotary Club of Mombasa for inducting a record 26 new members, followed closely by Rotary Clubs of Ridgeways with 22 and Kikuyu at 21, Lavington Eco at 21and Thika with 18.
RC Limuru is making great strides with an 88% membership growth. I also note that RC Mombasa North Coast has grown by 60% and RC Wau at 33%.
Of great concern are clubs that have continued to operate with less than 25 members. The executive committee has come up with more stringent rules to minimize our risks as a district when it comes to grants. It is a worrying trend to have a club of three active members unable to pay club dues or prepare annual accounts yet holding high Rotary Global Grants. We shall roll out the new measures in the next few weeks.
My prayer is that we shall see the 75 clubs with less than 25 members grow substantially in the next few months.
I urge all cluster leaders and Assistant Governors who oversee such clubs to work together to grow such clubs. I recommend that such clubs that are within reasonable geographical proximities can merge for higher impact and easier management.
I am happy with how Rotaract and Interact clubs are actively playing their role in Rotary.
For the first time as a District, we held a virtual RYLA conference hosted by the Rotaractors.
Of praise is the meticulous planning and participation of both Rotarians and Rotaractors. I must extol the close relations and mentorships happening between them their sponsor clubs.
No doubt, we have a present and the future of Rotary in the District working very well together.
96th District Conference 2021
I invite you to register for the 96th District Conference scheduled to take place from 8th to 10th April 2021 at the Fairmont Mt. Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya.
The district organizing team is burning the midnight oil to give you an unprecedented experience at the foot of Mt. Kenya. This Conference will be an out of Africa experience beyond imagination! A quick dash away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to a most serene ambiance.
We have also engaged professional event organizers to take the District 9212 Conference a notch higher. We promise to feature top of the range of renowned guest speakers and activities for the whole family. The last night shall host a mega event that you do not want to miss. Details will be revealed ……slowly!
The second phase of registration is now at $200 and ends on 31st December, 2020. Take advantage of early registration, save a few dollars as well as help us prepare adequately for a world-class Conference with all COVID 19 precautions in place!
I encourage you to spread your Yuletide greetings. Write a ‘Thank You’ card to someone who made your project a success, introduced a new member to Rotary or made a significant contribution to our causes. It is these simple gestures that bring healing and a smile among people.
From my wife, Terry and I, wish you a Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!
Patrick Obath,
District Governor,
Rotary International District 9212.
