ROTARY YEAR DGE Aatos Lahtinen Estonian PETS Pärnu

WHAT COULD A CHRYSTALL BALL TELL US ABOUT THE FUTURE, ABOUT THE ROTARY YEAR ?

THE FUTURE IS BUILDED ON THE PAST. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE PAST? 23. February 1905: Paul Harris, 36 years old lawyer, convenes the first Rotary meeting  Notice the age Principal ideas: Friendship  Friends meet often, every week Each member has different occupation  Mutual co-operarion, learning from each other Civic service  First Service Project a public comfort station

THE EXPANSION OF ROTARY 1908 Second Rotary club (in San Francisco) 1910 First Rotary convention with 16 clubs 1912 First Rotary Club outside USA (in Canada) 1917 The Rotary Foundation 1924 Rotary membership reaches Rotary in Estonia 1985 Rotary membership reaches one million 1985 Eradicate Polio program starts 1987 The first female Rotarian 1991 Rotary again in Estonia

ROTARY TODAY COL every 3.year Rotary International Board (2 pres + 17 dir) Rotary Foundation Trustees (15 members) Regional co-ordinators Chairman Gen. Sec. HQ/Evanston Administr. Zones 1-34 Districts (532) Clubs (33 000) 1.23 million members Regional offices

ON THE ROTARY FOUNDATION Eradication of polio is primary target The Future Vision Plan will alter the present situtation from 2013 Our District will not be a Pilot District for the Plan The economic depression affects also the Rotary Foundation to some extent Humanitarian Grants Budget for has been reduced by 16.3 million USD

SOME REFLECTIONS ON ROTARY Rotary International is the largest charity organisation in the world Rotary has initiated the Eradication of Polio –program, which is now in a critical state (4 difficult countries remain) RI has a large and stiff byrocracy RI has thousands very detailed rules and bylaws It is often difficult to experience the original philosophy of Rotary behind the forest of rules and rites

SOME THOUGHTS OF PAUL HARRIS The foundation upon which Rotary has been built is friendship; on no lesser firm foundation could it have stood. In the final analysis, Rotary exists for the purpose of developing the individual member and thereby increasing his capacity to serve. Whatever Rotary means to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.

10 ROTARY YEAR 2009 – 10 IN DISTRICT 1420 THE AIMS OF DISTRICT GOVERNOR More weight should be given to the original pilosophy of Rotary Especially, attention should be given to  Fellowship  Development of individual members  Service above self

THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS District founds a FUTURE COMMITTEE. It tries to find effective means to get young people to join Rotary. District gives information on Rotary and its ideology  In PETS  In District Conference  by District Trainer  by Assistant Governors  by Club Presidents

THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS Clubs are encouraged  to found new Rotaract clubs.  to join the Polio+ campaign and to answer the challenge of Bill Gates  to think on their future  to add members knowledge on Rotary and its ideology

THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR Visits all Estonian Clubs in August and September (The governor’s spouse (from Finlandia Hall Rotary Club) will accompany the governor at visits.) Encourages clubs to take care of their future Gives hand to clubs in their challenges

200 YEARS FROM THE BIRTH OF DARWIN Evolution has no direction, it produces random changes We cannot build the future of Rotary to evolution We must build the future of Rotary with planned actions and continuity Your building year starts soon. It is time to prepare for the important year.

Thank you for your attention