PRESENTATION BY GRENVILLE W PHILLIPS AT HEALTHY CARIBBEAN COALITION

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Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen I am honoured to have been invited to this workshop but humbled to be addressing so distingu

Presentation by Grenville w Phillips
at
Healthy Caribbean Coalition Workshop
28 October 2010

Mr Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen I am honoured to have been invited to this workshop but humbled to be addressing so distinguished an audience. I am asked to share a Rotary International perspective as a contribution to the theme Effective Caribbean Civil Society Networking.

When my District Governor Mr Anthony Watkins asked me to deputise for him, I thought that he might perhaps have asked my grand-daughter since she is most adept at networking through the new medium called face book, but then on reflection I felt that perhaps the participants at this forum would have an interest that goes beyond just talking.

By your kind invitation I deduced that you are of the opinion that there may be something to learn from the networking of clubs within the world community of Rotary International. What is it that makes Rotary function? Are there lessons which may be relevant as we seek to build effective Caribbean civil society networks? These are the questions that will engage our attention in the time available.

Rotary International, the world's oldest service club organization,
is over a hundred years and made up of over 32,000 clubs in 168 countries. Its members form a global network of business and professional leaders who volunteer their time and talents to serve their communities and the world.

Rotary's motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of the organisation's more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Rotarians and meaningful community and international service projects characterise Rotary worldwide.

Membership is by invitation and is based upon a vocational classification. Attendance at meetings is a basic obligation and a member may attend a rotary meeting at any Rotary Club in the world.

There is a Rotary Foundation which was established in 1917 as an endowment fund. The fund is supported by annual giving from Rotarians around the world and from other foundations and philanthropists. It provides some $60 million yearly for international scholarships, cultural exchanges, and humanitarian projects large and small that improve the quality of life for millions of people.

Local clubs engage in fund raising as well and also undertake humanitarian projects in their respective communities but can receive assistance from other clubs overseas as well as grants from the Rotary Foundation.

The PolioPlus Rotary programme is a commitment to eradicate polio in the world. More than one-half billion children in developing nations have been immunized against polio and thank God 145 countries are now declared polio free.

Here in the Caribbean within Rotary District 7030, which encompasses 69 clubs in 14 countries including Barbados the district governor has selected and is promoting diabetes awareness across the district as his project for the year and has enjoined the clubs to participate. This initiative is being promoted under the able chairmanship of Rotarian Adrian Randall whom I am sure you will want to engage on the topic. Its success will be influenced by the extent of endorsements, sponsorships, cooperation at the state, business and medical communities level and networking among the clubs.

But what sustains this movement called rotary, you may ask, and how is it done.

My 35 years as a Rotarian leads me to believe that there are 7 fundamental elements that have contributed to and underpin the success of the clubs and their networking.

First is the selection process. People who are invited to join are those whom members feel will be a good fit and would contribute to the work of the club.

Second is fellowship among members to sustain their interest, which is why attendance at meetings and club events is important.

Third is acceptance of the common philosophy that binds us, i.e. to be of service, and there are many avenues of service within the club.

Fourth is enthusiasm to work together in fund raising and undertaking community projects.

Fifth is to expand ones knowledge about the movement called Rotary through attendance at conferences and workshops.

Sixth is the recognition of Rotarians by their clubs for work well done.

Seventh is the structural organisation that has developed to bind the movement together and to focus the clubs in the pathway of service. There is the manual of procedure that governs the organisation, the model constitution used for management of the clubs, and then the whole movement is organised throughout the world into zones, and zones are then sub-divided into districts and the districts by clubs with defined reporting functions. Yet! I must say it is organised in a manner that avoids a burdensome bureaucracy.

Rotary International is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA with seven international offices in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan, Korea and Switzerland. The office of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, located in England serves the clubs and districts in that region.

Lastly there is the sense of trust. We are not perfect but in our dealings we strive for fairness but the greatest bonding agent of the organisation is the sense of pride to be a Rotarian, to be involved, to feel you are doing something worthwhile to hold deeply to the belief and practice – that if I can help somebody as I pass along then my living would not be in vain.

One cannot lift the structure of one organisation and impose it upon another but you can shape the building blocks as befitting the structure that you wish to build and I hope that I have at least awaken your interest to ask the question – what do we wish to build, what should be its shape and purpose, and template should we use? If you leave it not to chance – you will succeed. Be clinical in setting up your networking model. Communications will be key. Give people something to do and they may surprise you!

Inactivity leads to boredom, boredom leads to a lack of interest and lack of interest leads to a loss of membership.

Ladies and gentlemen I am a Rotarian and proud to be so called. I thank you.


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