Programme for week commencing 21st June, 2012
President Tim says ‘For much of my Rotary life it has been emphasised over and over again that Rotary is not a Fund Raising or money giving organisation, but a Service organisation’. Should we be concerned that Fund Raising is becoming to some Clubs more important than anything else? So how can we as an eClub ensure Service above Self is the key to all we do?
The Object of Rotary states:
To encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise, and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
a) The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service.
b) High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of their occupation as an opportunity to serve society.
c) The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to their personal, business and community life.
d) The advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional men and women united in the idea of service.
Much is said in these Objects about SERVICE, without saying anything about the need to Fund Raise, perhaps in the coming months we need to consider what activities as an eClub we can achieve to encourage our 2012/13 Theme – Peace Through Service. The encouragement of people in our local communities, in the wider country and internationally to understand that giving Service to others can bring real satisfaction into ones own life and a joy of making a small difference.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWLseXlzin4&w=420&h=315]How do we ensure that the activities our eClub undertakes make ‘Peace through Service’ the central theme of all we do next year? Please comment below your ideas and thoughts about our Objects and Theme for 2012/13.
I think that Rotary clubs are most visible when they are shaking collecting buckets or helping with fundraising events. So the challenge is to make sure that service projects get a hugh profile with plenty of PR including local news features and people sharing and enthusing about their service projects through every possible forum.
GIVING MONEY can sometimes be an easy option. GIVING TIME is more personal and can be a more precious gift.
At the ‘old fashioned’ meeting I went to today, there were lots of ‘fundraising’ activities ocurring. A meal at £90 for a double ticket, golf day for £30, concert for £15 as well as other things. I couldn’t help but wonder how this was raising the profile of Rotary or empowering others.
I do totally appreciate that by people signing up they would then give money which could then be given to others, but it is incredibly insular and I thought we were going through a recession, that money was tight for people? Maybe only in my world. No way I could afford to be a member of that kind of Organisation.
I much prefer the statement about giving through service. Please excuse me but it seems kind of pompus to say I gave money to charity by enjoying a day of golf with the blokes and a good dinner. Thought that was more of a corporate thing. Rotary to me is about getting your hands dirty a bit and thinking out of the box. How much of that £30 would actually end up being donated to Rotary? Once you have taken out the green fees, cost of food, other over heads etc? Would the people involved have learnt anything about the charity or Rotary that the money would have gone to or is it just a ‘nice’ way of asking for money with a sweetner added of a game of golf?
No, Rotary to me is not about how much money we raise, but of supporting and empowering others to achieve their potential, whatever way I can. that may however involve raising money in order to purchase something that will encourage and support that aim.
Well said Shelley, unfortunately Rotary is too much about Fund Raising. I like the idea of collecting for the food bank, which our LA twin eClub has been doing as posted on Facebook. We need to remember money is short in most homes at the moment and therefore more Service Projects would be more appealling.
As a member of a “traditional/old fashioned” club I can confirm Shelley that Rotary is much much more than Fundraising. Clubs would and should do some fundraising to assist in projects or causes they are supporting. But, if they have a balanced programme of activities, a lot more activityshould be about delivering service through hands on Rotary work, or using skills and networks to assist others. And the programme and list of projects as set out in your club assembly do have a good mix,and great emphasis on service and use of skills.
Two last thoughts:
1)I always encouraged my club in my role as Treasurer to consider fundraising actvities that involved other peoples money, not club members dipping in to their own pockets.
2) Foundation grants can multiply your hard earned cash if the project meets suitable criteria, and District Simplified Grants can be used for smaller value and local projects, so its worth your club’s Foundation leads checking them out.