Foundation’s achievements and future spotlighted at Korea convention

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By Rotary International In his address to convention attendees on Tuesday, 31 May, Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith proclaimed that The Rotary Foundation has never been stronger than it is today.
Bolstered by generous contributions from members and robust programs like PolioPlus and the Rotary Peace Centers, the Foundation’s good work is drawing public notice, Klinginsmith said: CNBC, a leading consumer and business news outlet in the U.S., ranked Rotary No. 5 among the top 10 charities changing the world in 2015.
“Isn’t it clear that our Foundation is truly better than ever before?” said Klinginsmith, who reported… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

UN chief Ban Ki-moon opens Korea convention

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By Rotary International United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was among the first to welcome Rotary members and friends to the 107th Rotary Convention, heralded as one of the largest-ever gatherings of Rotarians and the most multicultural assembly of nonprofit leaders in Korea.
He offered a message of gratitude: “Rotarians do remarkable work around the world,” Ban told the thousands of attendees gathered at KINTEX, the Korea International Exhibition and Convention Center in Goyang city, on the outskirts of Seoul. “You help the United Nations reach our goals, and you help the world understand the United… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Global movement needed to reverse water crisis

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By Rotary International This year’s World Water Summit on 27 May in Seoul highlighted the progress being made:
Over the last 25 years, more than 2.5 billion people gained access to improved drinking water, and 2 billion who didn’t have adequate sanitation now do.
Child deaths from water-related diseases dropped from 1.5 million to just over 600,000.
The UN Millennium Development Goals’ target for clean drinking water was met five years ahead of schedule.
But for the 1.8 billion people whose drinking water remains contaminated and the 2.4 billion without access to proper sanitation, progress is still too slow, said… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Building a better tomorrow for youth of Kenya

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By Rotary International

Class beside new bathrooms

The author with Kenyan students and their teacher in front of the new bathrooms provided by Rotary.

By Sarah Rolfing

No matter how many times I visit the slum in Nairobi or the poverty-stricken schools in the outskirts of the city, I’m not prepared for the feeling of despair that follows. Basic human rights, such as educational opportunity and access to healthcare, are constantly upended by poverty in many regions of Kenya. Children are often the most vulnerable, and the impact on education and the advancement of society is significant.

Lack of resources should not compromise the right to education, particularly in a society that has considerable disparities in wealth. Since 2013, the Rotary Club of Sumner, Washington, USA, has partnered with low-income schools in Southern Kenya to provide bathroom facilities for students with special needs. Lack of basic sanitation at schools across the region is common, negatively impacting health, hygiene, and attendance. Poor health makes education an afterthought, and Rotary’s investment in creating healthy environments for students in Kenya is impacting thousands on a daily basis.

The author with one of the students.

In April, my husband and I visited two primary schools that received Rotary funding for new latrines. In one school, 1,800 …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Advancing peace brings Rotary, U.S. Olympic athletes together

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By Rotary International On an evening in April, more than 50 representatives from the Rotary Peace Centers and members of the U.S. Olympic Committee who had gathered for an event in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA, were treated to a surprise: a pre-dinner performance by the U.S. men’s Olympic gymnastics team.
“They showcased their prowess in tumbling, the high bar, and the pommel horse. It was stunning!” says Rotary International Director Jennifer Jones, who served as the emcee for the April event at the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Sponsored by The Rotary Foundation, 1972 Olympic decathlon competitor Barry King,… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

Scholarship program is Rotary alum’s way of giving back

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By Rotary International

Keyla with diploma

Keyla receives her diploma through the program.

By Richard Hartwig, Rotary Club of Kingsville, Texas, USA

One day in 1964, during my junior year at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, USA, I was approached by Professor Frank Klingberg, who asked if I would like to be nominated for a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship (the predecessor of today’s global grant scholarships.) Two years later, I was off to Argentina, arriving just after a military coup, which was excellent training for a budding political scientist.

I owe much of my career as a political science professor to Rotary. The last few years, I have had a chance to give back as international services director for our Rotary Club. One of our two international projects is a scholarship program for poor students in Mexico.

A student enrolls in the program with the support check she received from the Rotary club.

Before coming to Kingsville in 1993, I taught for three years in Monterrey, Mexico, and attended an English-language Episcopal Church called The Holy Family. Once a year, Susan Moreira, Tati Duke, and other church members would organize a dinner-dance, Pub Night, to support a zero-overhead scholarship program called “Dar y Servir” (Give and Serve). About 250 poor students …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

Follow our full convention coverage

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By Rotary International Korea is playing host to Rotary’s largest event of the year, its annual convention. More than 42,000 Rotary members from over 100 countries will come together this month to celebrate service, exchange ideas, and relax among friends at unforgettable concerts and social events. The convention runs from 28 May to 1 June.
Attendees will hear from renowned experts in areas of peace, global health, and human rights.
Our full coverage will include photos, videos, a live blog, and social media pages
World Water Summit
Immediately before the convention, the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group… …read more

Source:: Rotary.org

What does a Rotary club designed by younger members look like?

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By Rotary International

Members of the Rotary Club of Metro Savannah

The leadership team of the Rotary Club of Metro Savannah with the author (seventh from left in white shirt).

By Gordon Matthews, past governor of District 6920 (Georgia, USA), Rotary Club of Savannah East

A panel of three young members spelled out for us the issues that block young people from joining Rotary during our spring assembly a few years ago — scheduling, cost of dues, and rules.

I’ve been active in developing leaders in our community and have worked with our Group Study Exchange teams in the past, so I know the energy and potential in this “under 40” generation that we need to tap for Rotary. But I’ve also seen several Rotary clubs try to do this with limited results, because they stayed too close to the traditional model and dues structure.

Breaking the mold
To break that mold, I asked the son of a fellow member to gather a group of young people in the metro area of Savannah to explore the idea of starting a new club. I told them their are really just a few rules – to meet weekly, pay dues, and train a president-elect. The rest are just a lot of traditions. They were directed to develop a …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

How to simplify club administration

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By Rotary International

Through Rotary's data integration, you can add new members, report club officers, and update membership information easier than ever.

Through Rotary’s data integration tools, you can add new members, report club officers, and update membership information easier than ever.

By Rotary staff

Does your club manage members and officer updates online? Do you have a website or app to keep your members connected and up-to-date? Over 10,000 clubs are already integrated directly with Rotary International’s membership database using tools provided by our licensed vendors. These tools help you keep your membership and club officer information up to date, connecting it to RI in real time.

The Community Marketplace is your one-stop-shop for digital tools that can help you streamline club administration, communication, and event management. Find tools to help you manage your club so you can spend less time on administrative tasks, and more time developing and taking part in service projects. You’ll also find our page for Marketplace apps that are helping Rotarians achieve more, from managing your club’s membership details on your smartphone with Roster on Wheels to event planning with AnyEvent.

“Data integration is about filling the need expressed by our membership: to create websites, mobile apps and functionalities that allow our members to be more effective, efficient, and agile.”

We have upgraded our integration services to …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

How to simplify club administration

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By Rotary International

Through Rotary's data integration, you can add new members, report club officers, and update membership information easier than ever.

Through Rotary’s data integration tools, you can add new members, report club officers, and update membership information easier than ever.

By Rotary staff

Does your club manage members and officer updates online? Do you have a website or app to keep your members connected and up-to-date? Over 10,000 clubs are already integrated directly with Rotary International’s membership database using tools provided by our licensed vendors. These tools help you keep your membership and club officer information up to date, connecting it to RI in real time.

The Community Marketplace is your one-stop-shop for digital tools that can help you streamline club administration, communication, and event management. Find tools to help you manage your club so you can spend less time on administrative tasks, and more time developing and taking part in service projects. You’ll also find our page for Marketplace apps that are helping Rotarians achieve more, from managing your club’s membership details on your smartphone with Roster on Wheels to event planning with AnyEvent.

We have upgraded our integration services to make club administration easier. No more forms to fill out or emails to send in with your club’s updates: our expanded services include adding new members, appointing club …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog