[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 576

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

There are three messages

1 Chartered bus involved in accident

Copenhagen, Denmark - At 18:30 on 13 June, a chartered bus carrying 
more than 40 Rotary convention goers was involved in a collision with 
a truck outside of Malmö, Sweden.

According to police, the truck driver and approximately 20 Rotarians 
were injured. They were immediately rushed to two area hospitals for 
treatment. So far, all but one have been released.

After hearing the news, RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar and RI 
General Secretary Ed Futa rushed to the scene and traveled with 
Rotarians to the hospitals to ensure that all involved received 
timely treatment and returned to their hotels safely. 

Source: R I Website
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

2 Rotary, partners keep polio on the run 

By Joseph Derr
Rotary International News

Copenhagen, Denmark - Today, as Rotary and its polio eradication 
partners stand at the brink of their goal, new tools and strategies 
are keeping polio on the run. 

On 13 June, hundreds of Rotarians attended a special PolioPlus update 
session at the 2006 Rotary International Convention at Copenhagen's 
Bella Center. Guest speaker Dr. David Heymann, of the World Health 
Organization, reported new developments in the fight to eradicate 
polio. 

"Progress in the last 12 months has been extraordinary," said 
Heymann. "Two new vaccines have been developed and are in wide use, 
along with a whole new strategic approach to attack type 1 polio." 

A powerful new vaccine, developed and licensed within six months to 
meet the challenge of eradicating the disease in Egypt and India, is 
more effective than previous ones. This vaccine was the key to 
success earlier this year when Egypt and Niger were removed from the 
list of polio-endemic countries. 

In January 2006, global polio eradication partners announced a new 
strategic approach of targeting type 1 polio, the most difficult to 
control. Thanks to Rotary's assistance, polio campaigns also are now 
looking at ways to incorporate a strategy for immunizing people on 
mass public transportation, which in large cities can account for 
hundreds of thousands of people at a time. 

"We develop the tools, but it is the Rotarians who are key to getting 
this vaccine in kids," said Heymann. "No vaccine works unless it's in 
a child." 

International commitment also has been renewed, Heymann said. 
Countries where outbreaks occur will see greater international 
pressure to act fast because of a new resolution passed by the World 
Health Assembly that dictates how countries should respond. At the 
World Health Assembly in May, the European Union recently encouraged 
governments to do their part to help eradicate polio. 

Heymann encouraged Rotarians to continue visiting and supporting 
fellow Rotarians from the endemic areas during National Immunization 
Days (NID). David Groner, of the Rotary Club of Dowagiac, Michigan, 
USA, agreed. 

"We're all in this together, they [Rotarians in endemic countries] 
are the front line, and we're the cheerleaders," Groner said. "For 
club members who can't go to vaccinate, send a check for $100. It's 
the easiest thing you can do." 

The challenges of overcoming technical, operational, and security 
challenges in the remaining polio-endemic countries of Afghanistan, 
Pakistan, India, and Nigeria remain. Yet Heymann stressed that the 
progress made during the last 12 months has put Rotary closer than 
ever to success, and he thanked Rotarians for their leadership and 
continued support. 

The primary challenge to polio eradication is the ongoing 
transmission of the poliovirus in the remaining endemic countries. 
It's from these areas that polio can continue to be exported into 
polio-free areas. Health experts agree that stopping the spread of 
polio can be done this year, except in Nigeria, where at least an 
additional 12 months will be required to finish the job. 

In conclusion, Heymann told Rotarians, "Thank you for what you've 
done for global health and for setting an extraordinary standard by 
which international partnerships are measured." 

Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

3.Ed Futa, General Secretary, Rotary International
Report to the RI Convention, Malmö, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark
June 2006
Marking the first year of Rotary's second century of service, 2005-06 
presented both challenges and opportunities for Rotary. A devastating Atlantic 
hurricane season created new humanitarian needs and necessitated a change of venue for the 
2007 convention. We capitalized on the wealth of positive publicity generated by the 
Rotary Centennial to stimulate interest in Rotary membership. And buoyed by the 
celebration of Rotary's past, Rotary's senior leadership focused much of its energy on planning for 
an even more successful future.

Responding to Disaster
When a series of hurricanes hit the coasts of Central America, 
Mexico, and the United States, Rotarians responded immediately, providing donations of goods 
and money and hands-on service. The Rotary Foundation set up accounts to support 
long-term recovery efforts in these areas as well as in Afghanistan, India, and 
Pakistan, where an earthquake killed and injured thousands of people and left millions more 
homeless. The Trustees recently extended the deadline for District Designated Fund 
contributions to these accounts to 30 June. In addition, approximately half of the US$6 
million contributed to the Foundation's Solidarity in South Asia fund was distributed to the 
affected countries this year for tsunami recovery efforts.
Hurricane Katrina, which devastated much of the Louisiana and Mississippi coastlines,
hit just as the 2007 RI convention committee was meeting in New  Orleans. Realizing the
enormous challenge Rotarians would face in rebuilding their homes and 
businesses over the coming months and years, the RI Board and RI's International 
Meetings Division worked with local Rotarians and convention and visitors bureaus in 
New Orleans and Salt Lake City, Utah, to orchestrate a switch between the 2007 and 2011 
convention cities.
Given the scope of the disaster, postponing the New Orleans  convention until 2011
provides an opportunity for New Orleans-area Rotarians to rebuild  their lives and city
before taking on the enormous task of hosting RI's citywide convention. We're
encouraged by the positive reports that RI continues to receive from  local Rotarians and
the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau on plans for 2011.
Communicating the Rotary Story
Much of our work at the RI Secretariat involves communicating information about
Rotary and its work to our many different audiences: grassroots Rotarians, Rotary
leaders, other nongovernmental agencies, and the general public. In an ongoing effort to
enhance Rotary's public image, the second edition of the Humanity in  Motion public
image campaign was rolled out to all Rotary clubs. This multiuse CD- ROM features TV,
billboard, print, and Internet public service announcements on the theme "Rotary
promotes peace through education" that convey Rotary's strong commitment to
promoting international understanding and peace.I encourage clubs to work with local print and broadcast media to 
seek free placement of the Humanity in Motion PSAs, which will not only enhance Rotary's 
public image in your community but may help attract new members to your club. Over 
the past three years, we've seen a direct correlation between publicity of a club or 
district project and increased interest in Rotary membership in that community. Examples 
of this have occurred in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, 
Nicaragua, Nigeria, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Venezuela, where many 
prospective members have indicated that their interest in Rotary was piqued by 
newspaper, magazine, billboard, television, or radio coverage.
For many non-Rotarians, their point of introduction to Rotary is our 
Web site at www.rotary.org, which has also become the organization's most 
important communications vehicle in terms of timeliness, efficiency, and cost-
effectiveness. To ensure that we continually improve communication with Rotarians and 
make a good first impression on the rest of the world, the Web site will undergo a 
complete reconstruction during the coming year. Our plan is to greatly enhance our electronic 
public face and make it easier and faster for Rotarians to conduct business online 
and navigate through the many layers of Rotary information, most of which will ultimately 
be available in nine languages.
This process has begun within the Secretariat, where new technologies are opening up
lines of communication and helping staff perform more efficiently. Our new Secretariat
intranet allows staff to transfer information more easily, access forms and documents
more quickly, and share updates as needed. In the future, many of these technologies will
be extended to improve service to Rotarians through enhanced secure sites for
committees and other groups and an online photo library. During reconstruction,
Rotary.org will continue to provide the most up-to-date news about RI and The Rotary
Foundation. I encourage you to visit the site regularly.
Our focus on the Web site doesn't mean we've neglected our print and audiovisual
products. In fact, this year we debuted RVM: The Rotarian Video Magazine, which offers
a documentary-style look at some of Rotary's best service efforts.
Produced three times a year, each DVD tells the stories of Rotary service and humanitarian 
efforts worldwide.
The three editions produced in 2005-06 take viewers from Cambodia to Nicaragua to
Bosnia and other points, showcasing small and large-scale humanitarian efforts and the
committed Rotarians who make them happen. With individual segments running 5 to 15
minutes, RVM can provide an inspirational club program and an ideal introduction to
Rotary for prospective members.
You may notice some changes in our periodicals. Both The Rotarian magazine and
Rotary World have been redesigned to make them more attractive and inviting to the
reader. If you don't receive these publications in the mail, look for them at
www.rotary.org.
Strengthening Membership
RI is working to help clubs strengthen their membership by providing 
information to clubs on individuals who have expressed interest in joining Rotary, 
reporting best practices in recruitment and retention, and sharing the results of 
targeted membership surveys. This year, the Membership Development Division completed a 
major survey of RI and Rotary Foundation program alumni that yielded some instructive 
information.
Although most Rotarians agree that program alumni are an ideal source 
of prospective Rotarians, only 2.9 percent of Rotarians have actually been drawn 
from that pool. About 85 percent of current program participants and 66 percent of alumni 
surveyed expressed interest in joining Rotary, but only 42 percent of clubs say they 
recruit alumni for membership. Most of the alumni who are interested in joining and who 
hold the requisite business or professional position have not been pursued for 
membership. According to the survey, only 42 percent of GSE alumni, 33 percent of former 
Rotaractors, and 18 percent of scholarship alumni have been invited to join.
In 2004-05 alone, Rotary "graduated" more than 100,000 alumni, many of whom are
already well qualified for Rotary membership - if only someone asks them to join. You
can read more about the findings of the alumni survey and how clubs can tap into this
pool of prospective members at www.rotary.org/membership.
Other research on membership issues recommends increasing diversity in the club's
membership, getting new members actively involved in the club quickly, mentoring new
clubs so that they pass the critical two-year mark, and keeping small clubs vital by
keeping membership stable or growing. You'll find these and other best practices on the
RI Web site.
In a survey of district membership chairs, "weak club leadership" was cited as the leading
factor in membership loss. To this end, the 2004-05 RI Board approved the Club
Leadership Plan, the recommended administrative structure for Rotary clubs, which is
based on the best practices of effective Rotary clubs around the world. The plan
emphasizes consensus for decision making, continuity of leadership and project
management, and the involvement of all members in service, fellowship, and training.
Throughout this year, we have been working to publicize the plan and assist clubs in
implementing it. For more information about the plan, go to www.rotary.org/support or
ask your Club and District Support representative.
Supporting The Rotary Foundation
One piece of news you'll soon see on the Web site and in our publications is an
announcement of the one millionth Paul Harris Fellow. Actually, there will be 34 such
individuals, one from each Rotary zone, representing a historic milestone for The Rotary
Foundation's Annual Programs Fund. The millions of dollars contributed by Paul Harris
Fellows over the years have strengthened Foundation programs and enabled clubs and
districts to carry out their many humanitarian and goodwill efforts. The Foundation Trustees launched a special fundraising initiative 
this year to secure the future of the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and 
conflict resolution program. Recognizing the Rotary Centers' vital role in promoting 
world understanding and peace, The Rotary Foundation adopted it as a permanent program 
and approved a plan to raise $95 million in major gifts and estate commitments to 
fully endow 60 new two-year Rotary World Peace Fellowships annually. In addition to 
District Designated Fund allocations of more than $14 million, individual Rotarians and 
other supporters of the Foundation have contributed almost $12 million to this program. 
We're already beginning to see excellent returns on this investment. Working for 
multilateral institutions, the World Bank, and nongovernmental organizations 
around the world, Rotary World Peace Fellowship alumni are helping to write national 
constitutions, monitoring elections, prosecuting international criminals, and 
working alongside UN peacekeeping forces.
The success of the Rotary Centers inspired the launch of the Rotary Peace and Conflict
Studies program, a three-month program at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
Designed for established professionals, the program focuses on conflict resolution
through both academic study and field work. The first class of participants will begin
their studies in July. With an average age of 40, the 17 participants represent 13 countries
and nine different professions.
In other Rotary Foundation news, the Trustees lifted the moratorium on Individual Grants
and renamed them Volunteer Service Grants to more clearly reflect their purpose. Other
modifications were made to improve stewardship and the application process. The awards
are now flat grants of $3,000 for individual Rotarians or $6,000 for a team of up to five
members.
The Trustees also approved the first Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) grant
applications since the four-year moratorium on the program was lifted last year. The 11
grants totaling $2.9 million will address large-scale development needs, such as health
education and prevention in eastern and western Russia, state-of-the-art cardiac surgeries
and training for doctors and volunteers in China, a national program to improve the 
provision of dental care in Uganda, and a water and sanitation project to serve one of the
world's largest urban slums in Kenya.
Bringing Rotarians Together
Many Rotarians report that they first begin to understand the full scope of Rotary when
they attend an international meeting. Our convention in Malmö, Sweden, and
Copenhagen, Denmark, promises to be even more international than most 
because it is the first to be held in two countries. I hope that all of you who are 
attending will enjoy that special Rotary experience that only a convention can provide.
I encourage all Rotarians to consider attending the Salt Lake City convention in 2007. Set
in the heart of the American West, this venue will provide participants with an easy
opportunity to visit some of the most scenic vistas in the United States - or, for that
matter, in the world.
The switch of venues for 2007 presented challenges for all involved in convention planning,
but I'm happy to report that despite only 21 months for planning, the Salt Lake City Host
Organization Committee, Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, the local community,
and RI staff have worked together to quickly organize this large event. In the past nine
months, the international convention and host organization committees have met, the venue
and hotels have been contracted, the RI- and host-ticketed events have been confirmed, a
marketing plan has been established, and the convention program has been drafted.
Registration for Salt Lake City will begin at the 2006 convention in Malmö-Copenhagen.
Planning for the Future Throughout 2005-06, both the RI Board and the Foundation Trustees 
engaged in planning efforts led by RI's Strategic Planning Committee and the Foundation's 
Future Vision Committee.
On the RI side, the committee recommended that strategic planning responsibilities for
each of the seven established goals be transferred from the volunteer-staff action teams to
an appropriate RI committee as of 1 July 2006 to ensure that these goals remain a
priority.
For the Foundation, the Trustees approved a new mission statement along with four broad
priorities for the future. The Future Vision Committee developed goals to support those
priorities as well as a timeline for achieving the goals. Next on the agenda: a thorough
evaluation of Foundation programs.
Both committees have kept the Board and the Trustees informed of their plans, which are
based on input from Rotarians worldwide and together will provide a valuable blueprint
for Rotary's future.
Recognizing the role that our staff plays in supporting the work of clubs, districts, and the
Rotary leadership worldwide, the Board has called for the development of a Secretariat
strategic plan, which will work in tandem with the RI and Foundation plans. We have
begun to develop strategies for improving Secretariat operations and services to ensure
that the Secretariat can provide the needed support as Rotary moves forward. Over the
coming months, I will be sharing our progress with all of you on our Web site, in our
publications, and whenever I have the opportunity to meet with Rotarians in person. As
always, I welcome your input on how we can all work together to make Rotary an even
more powerful force for good in the world.

Source: eFlash_Rotary


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