Making an Impact on Your Community Idea Exchange By PP V Venkatachalam District General Secretary

RI Mission Statement The mission of Rotary International is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders. 2 The mission of Rotary International is to: 1.Provide service to others, 2.Promote integrity, and 3.Advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Learning Objectives Identify new approaches your club could take to involve more Rotarians in service projects. Learn about ways to involve the community in planning and conducting a service project.

Making an Impact

Your Club’s Service Project How did your club know your community would benefit from the project? How did your club decide to do this project? Did your club partner with another club or organization? How long has your club been working on this project? What lessons have you learned that you can apply to other projects?

What makes a Service Project Effective? Respond to real issues Improve community members’ lives Incorporate the abilities of those who are served Recognize the contributions of all participants as important and necessary Are based on a realistic assessment of available resources Aim for specific goals and objectives with measurable results Build effective networks Empower people and communities 6

Consider Rotary’s Areas of Focus in Selecting Projects Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation have adopted six areas of focus as organizational priorities: 1.Peace and conflict prevention/resolution 2.Disease prevention and treatment 3.Water and sanitation 4.Maternal and child health 5.Basic education and literacy 6.Economic and community development 7

Disaster Relief and Recovery Rotarians have a long history of aiding victims of natural disasters. Through local club and district efforts, Rotarians donate to relief funds; send shipments of food, clothing, and medicine; collaborate with local organizations that offer emergency relief; and provide ongoing assistance during long-term reconstruction projects. To provide immediate disaster relief, clubs are encouraged to work with well-established international relief agencies that are equipped to quickly and effectively allocate aid. 8

Effective Projects are Shared – representing the aspirations of all involved Challenging – ambitious and exceeding what clubs have achieved in the past Achievable – based on a realistic assessment of materials, resources, and time Measurable – having a tangible, quantifiable point to pursue Time Specific – having a specific deadline or time frame for completion Realistic Budget – reduce cost overruns 9

Signature Projects

Your Club’s Signature Project What is your Club’s signature project? Do your Club service projects make you proud? Whom does your signature project benefit? How did your Club asses the needs of the community? How will you get the community involved? What type of media will be contacted and why? How could this project attract prospective members? How you will recognize those involved in your project?

Activities Participants to share a local service project their club has undertaken. Answer these questions: How did you know your community would benefit from this project? How did your club decide to take on this project? Did your club partner with another club or organization? How long has your club been working on this project? What lessons have you learned that you can apply to other projects?

Go Forth & Serve Be a gift to the community ! 13