Using their talents, expertise, and leadership, Rotary members worldwide are asked to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary year.
In mid January Rotary International President-elect K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran called his address to incoming district governors at San Diego the "most significant moment of my life."
"All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: one year to take all your talents, all your gifts, everything that you are and can become -- and Be a Gift to the World," said Ravindran, revealing his presidential theme at the annual five-day training meeting in San Diego, California, USA. "You have one year to take that potential and turn it into reality. One year to lead the clubs in your district and transform the lives of others. The time is so short, yet there is so much to be done."
Highlighting Rotary's biggest challenge, the eradication of polio, Ravindran said, "A future without polio is a gift that we have promised to the children of the world. And indeed it is a gift that we will give."
Ravindran, a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka, used
Rotary's successes in the fight to eradicate the disease as an
illustration of the impact Rotary members can have in the world. When
Rotary set a goal of eradicating polio 25 years ago, it was endemic in
125 countries, and more than 1,000 children were becoming paralyzed each
day. Today, polio remains endemic in just three countries, Afghanistan,
Nigeria, and Pakistan. And in all of 2014, only 333 cases were
reported. "We will battle on. We will prevail," he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment