19th District Conference of
Rotary International D3870

April 3-5, 2003
Cagayan de Oro City

Report to Rotary District 3870

At the District Conference

April 2003

Dens W. L. Shao

 RI President’s representative

Governor RUBEN A. VEGAFRIA, Past Governors, DGE, Guests and my dear Partners in Service 2002~2003.

It is an honor for me today to report on Rotary International to the annual district conference of District 3870. There are seven areas I wish to cover. I know they are not all inclusive. Secondly they are perforce those that interest me and also perhaps those that again in my opinion most affect this district.

1.  Since February 23, 1905, there has been a popular legend in Rotary, which says, “In heaven there is a more peaceful and more beautiful heaven what is called the Heaven of Rotary.” In that heaven, a group of good natured and happy angels live. They do not think they are perfect; but they do think they need to constantly learn and practice to be perfect. Though they each have one wing only. They are happy. Holding to each other, they can fly freely. And together they also can learn how to turn “I” into “We”, and to transform “Ego” to “Team Work”. They further know very well that the Heaven of Rotary is a school to create human being and a place to cultivate oneself and discipline one’s temperate. Therefore, they place a placard at the entrance of the Heaven with letters “Enter to Learn, Go Forth To Serve.” As for the road to the Heaven of Rotary, “My Road To Rotary.” They address the god, guarding the road Rotary’s Founder－ Paul Harris. According to the legend, if a Rotarian’s name appears in the book called My Road to Rotary, he or she then can go the Heaven of Rotary.

This legend has directed us in our efforts in new millennium and has been deeply engraved in our hearts. Under it we hold closely as Angels of Rotary to learn how to interact in understanding, and tolerance and to learn to change from “Ego” to “Team work”. How to strive ceaselessly and jointly to involve in pursuit in Service Above Self? How to live in Rotary? How to as 1990-91 RI President Paul V.C. Costa said“Rotary is a way of life, Rotary is a family affair.” It’s mean how to make Rotary way of life and Rotary part of family to be in line with the Consistency in identification? Over the year we have been encouraging each other and learn each other as we grow; we stick to and practice Rotary’s high ethical standards in business and professions in line with Credibility to maintain Rotary’s ideal of service. With our enhanced belief in Rotary and continued actions to fulfill our belief, Rotarians worldwide are united as one person forming to the Heart of Rotary movement and thus laid the solid foundation of District 3870. At the same time, you are strengthening that foundation of District that is your hope to be:

Ever Strong, Ever Serving.

2.  Our President Bhichai Rattakul has been working very hard in the name of Rotary. He has traveled extensively throughout the year and perhaps some of you caught up with him in Rotary International Meeting. He truly is an example to us all. President Bhichai Rattakul has impressed upon the Rotary world the theme of “Sow the Seeds of Love” However he also constantly reminds Rotarians “from bottom up” to address the important issues of Membership Development, Rotary’s Public Image, Rotary Education and Training, and Club Development and Improvement if Rotary is to continue to be viable. At the same time, all of these challenges are integral to ensuring the ability of Rotary to serve humanity into the future. It is of interest to me as President Bhichai Rattakul’s representative to learn whether District 3870 will discuss 2002~03”challenges”at this Conference.

3.  The first meeting of the 2002-03 RI Board of Directors was held in Lausanne, Switzerland, from 29 June to 1 July 2002. Some decisions of July 2002 Board Meeting as follows：

? The Board welcomed the appointment of Vice-President James R. Shamblin (USA) and Treasurer Dong-Kurn Lee (South Korea), and appointed Director Gerald A. Meigs (USA) as the Chairman of the Board's Executive Committee.

? The 2002-03 RI President’s appointment of Frank J. Devlyn, Ray E. Klinginsmith and Fumio Tamamura as Trustees of the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International received the Board’s formal ratification.

4.  The second meeting of the RI Board of Directors in 2002-03 was held at Rotary World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, from 2-7 November 2002. Some decisions of Nov. 2002 Board Meeting as follows：

? Board approved a Membership Retention pilot project. Designed to identify effective retention programs and activities for Rotary clubs, the pilot project will be conducted from 2003-04 through 2005-06 and will involve 102 clubs from RI's 34 zones.

? The Board approved a new Rotary Ethics and Dignity Award to recognize those Rotarians who have outstanding personal ethics and have conducted innovative vocational service projects on a sustained basis.

? The Board discontinued the Disaster Relief activities of RI, effective 1 January 2003.

? The Board adopted the following policy statement on working with youth: "Rotary International is committed to creating and maintaining the safest possible environment for all participants in Rotary activities. It is the duty of all Rotarians, Rotarians' spouses, partners, and other volunteers to safeguard to the best of their ability the welfare of and to prevent the physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of children and young people with whom they come into contact."

? The Rotarian and Rotary regional magazines shall now be known collectively as the "Rotary World Magazine Press."

5.   The Rotary Foundation continues to thrive and the generosity of Rotarians never ceases to amaze me. District 3870 is no exception. Last Rotary year donations in the amount of 29,158 US$ had been given. Congratulations and thank you on behalf of the many people you have helped. The very many people whom you will never know nor ever meet. I encourage you to continue and to add to the 400 Paul Harris recognitions, 2 Major Gifts and to the 6 benefactors.

6.   No report about Rotary International and its Foundation is complete without reminding all Rotarians of Rotary’s greatest project. PolioPlus is the first and only Rotary worldwide program. It has given Rotary entry into the corridors of power. Much more importantly, it has permitted at least 4 million children to run and play without the fear of a lifelong paralysis of one or more limbs or even death. The job however is not complete. There are still countries particularly India and Pakistan and in central Africa where the virus is still running wild. The virus has some strong allies. Lack of funds and civil strife are the two most difficult to combat. Rotarians can hold their heads high when they realize that to date donations amounting to very nearly 500 million have been given. Then add to that total the amounts raised by the advocacy committee that now reach very nearly one billion from Governments around the world. Then add to that the over 28 million in monies and in kind in the PolioPlus Partners program. The Partners program allows the many Rotarians who have joined Rotary since the initial campaign in 1987-88 to feel part of this great effort. Then add to all that the thousand upon thousand of volunteer hours given both in the Polio free countries as well as those where Polio is still endemic. It should always be remembered that our major partners, World Health Organization, WHO, United Nations International Children’s Fund, UNICEF, and the Center for Disease Control, CDC, in Atlanta have been and are extremely supportive of Rotary’s effort. I would go as far as stating that today we in Rotary need them more than ever but also that they need us more than ever. The job is not complete. I am sure that we can achieve complete eradication. I have been several times in the field and I know from my observations the dedication of the vaccinators. They want to succeed. So should every Rotarian here. We have come too far to give up now.

7.  Rotary Image and publicity is of such importance that I wish to emphasize it. Rotary must stop hiding in dark corner. If Rotary is to attract and retain members then Rotarians must create a public image that will result in a reaction among non Rotarians such as “ I would like to belong to an organization like that. I wonder who around my neighborhood will give me information” It is you and I in our own cities and towns who will develop the true image of Rotary as doers of good. Are you ready to tell the story?

Governor RUBEN A. VEGAFRIA I would like to thank you on behalf of President Bhichai Rattakul for your dedication to your duties as DG of the district. Please accept this report as a means for further discussion and as an attempt to follow President Bhichai Rattakul theme of “Sow the Seeds of Love” with your successor DG elect. We believe that “Sow the Seeds of Love” shall inspire us to dream of the world the way it ought to be –- a world of brotherhood, of service, of idealism, of peace, of harmony. A world of love.

Respectfully submitted

Dens W. L. Shao

RI President’s representative