Governor's Monthly Report

 

Kouji Kaku
District 2750
RY 2001 - 2002
Greetings

We are entering the third month of this Rotary year. The regular meetings and club assemblies should be on track now.

On July 27 my first official visit was to Rotary Club Tokyo Nishi and I am continuing my official Rotary Club visits. In August I visited 15 clubs from the Keihin Group (within District 2750). The object of Rotary to foster acquaintance as an opportunity for service is well known. On the other hand, besides this common characteristic of service above self, each Rotary Club has its own personality. In my visits I heard many Rotarians speak of service and friendship and I gained much insight from listening to them.

When some Rotary Club is giving a good example, I share this information with other Clubs. For example, we have smile box donations. The revenue from smile box is normally used for Club operating expenses. In some cases this caused a reduction in donations and the Club then loses this revenue even for operating expenses. Smile box donations should go towards "service". In one case, a Rotary Club decided to earmark the smile box donations into a special fund for service projects, separate from the Club's general fund. The smile box account became very successful and as a result the financial position of this Rotary Club is in the black.

In my table talks in my official visits I emphasize the following points

 

 
  • RI President King's hot button is membership growth to promote the ideal of service among mankind.
  • In order to promote membership growth Rotary needs to be very attractive so that the younger generations become attracted to Rotary and consider joining our Rotary Clubs.
  • In District 2750 the average age of Rotarians is over 65 years old and increases each year. Therefore we should focus on increasing membership under 50 years of age.
  • If the average age in a club is over 65, those over 65 have the responsibility to activate their Rotary Club. That means that the atmosphere must be welcoming to younger members.
  • Newly established clubs and new members have to be educated in Rotary's general principles. I hope you can read page 1 of Rotary No Tomo Magazine and review the history and general principles of Rotary in that publication.
  • We need to interact with the Pacific Basin Group. We have to promote humanitarian assistance programs in the area and youth friendship projects through mutual exchange.
  • The new generation committee is at the center of the community to guide youth as a Rotary service activity. Rotary Clubs should look for good ways to implement these type of projects.

There are many more subjects to discuss. But I wish you to focus on the points I have mentioned above.

 

Governor's Monthly Report #3 - September, 2001


 

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