HOW TO Make a smooth transition for next year’s leaders

Helping club and district officers achieve success

May 2012 | Vol. 2, Issue 6

SERVICE ABOVE SELFGet support and expert advicefrom Rotarian Action Groups

ASK THE EXPERT Discover the benefits of the Foundation’s new grant model

CLUB CLINICFind tips for creating a strong strategic plan

• BeavailablethroughoutthenewRotaryyearto

answeryoursuccessor’squestions.

• Onceyou’reoutofoffice,directallinquiriesto

yourreplacement.

It’sespeciallyimportanttoworkcloselywithyour

successoronactivitiesthatlastmorethanoneRotary

year,suchasstrategicplanning,committeeappoint-

ments,andserviceprojects.

“Theworstthingwecandoismakenextyear’s

leadershipreinventthewheel,”saysSeitz.“Weneedto

beasefficientaspossible

withallourresources.One

easywaytodothatisto

bethinkingandplanning

aheadwithyoursuccessor.”

Find more in BeaVibrant

Club:YourClubLeadership

Plan(245-EN).

Act globally to extend Rotary’s reach The idea that we should “think globally, act locally” has been around for nearly a century. It’s a great phrase for motivating people to think beyond their immediate needs and environment; it urges us to consider our actions in their global context, and to begin by

making manageable changes in our own lives.

As Rotary leaders, I think it is time for us to move beyond this idea. We shouldn’t just be thinking glob-ally; we should also be reaching out globally. We should be acting in our communities, yes, but also beyond them — recognizing our unique abilities and our unique reach. Soon, we will achieve Rotary’s primary goal: the eradication of polio. It will be the towering achievement of our organization, and it will show the world the extent of Rotary’s potential. We must recognize that potential as well, and gauge our aspirations accordingly.

Binota and I thank you all for your support during this wonderful year of Rotary service. It has been a phenomenal experience, and we cherish every moment, every visit, and every new friend. We wish you all a successful end to the 2011-12 year, and a wonderful new year in which we will seek Peace Through Service.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Kalyan Banerjee

Make a smooth transition Help incoming club and district officers get off to a good start by following a solid succession plan

HOW TO…

ON THE COVER

District governors-elect Geeta Manek and Mike Klingbiel discuss ways to attract young Rotary leaders to district roles during the 2012 International Assembly in San Diego.

Areyouamongthe500districtgovernors,34,000club

presidents,andcountlesscommitteechairswhowillbe

wrappingupyourterminthenextfewmonths?Make

surethattheplansyou’vemadeandthesuccesses

you’veachievedcontinueintothenextRotaryyearby

workingcloselywithyoursuccessor.

Awell-plannedsuccessionnotonlyensuresconti-

nuity,italsohelpsnewleadersbeeffectiverightfrom

thestart.ForScottSeitz,presidentoftheRotaryClubof

TacomaNarrows,inWashington,USA,planningforhis

successionhasbeenayearlongprocess.

“Oneofmygoalswastoalertmysuccessorevery

timesomethingcaughtmebysurprise,”Seitzsays.

“Icreatedacalendarthatincludeskeydeadlines,

monthlythemes,importantcontactinformation,and

planningdates.I’veencouragedmysuccessortouse

thiscalendartoplanforhisyear.”

Herearemoretipstoensureasmoothtransition:

• Conduct“on-the-jobtraining”forincominglead-

ersatleastonemonthbeforethestartofthenew

Rotaryyear.

• Handoverimportantdocumentseitherinhard

copyorelectronically.

• Giveyoursuccessorasummary,inpersonaswell

asinwriting,ofthepreviousyear’swork,respon-

sibilities,andchallenges.

A well-planned succession not only ensures continuity, it also helps new leaders be effective.

May 2012 | www.rotary.org/rotaryleader | rotary.leader@rotary.org

CLUB CLINIC

Implementing your goals Follow these tips to create a strong strategic plan for your club

“Wereviewourplanatthestartofboardmeetings,and

formallyreviewtwiceayearandsetnewobjectivesannu-

ally,”saysDonEvansoftheRotaryClubofVancouver,British

Columbia,Canada.“It’sanembeddedprocess.”

Track results

Bykeepingyourplanup-to-dateyou’llbeabletomeasure

yourprogressandseewhereyouhavesucceededandwhere

youneedtodomore.Theideaistomakeyourplanworkfor

youandgetresults.

OnegoalofthestrategicplanoftheRotaryClubofHout

Bay,SouthAfrica,wastoexpandtheclub’smembership.“We

nowhavearound20membersunder45,andtheyoungestis

23,”sayspastpresidentPatrickMcLaughlin.“Thatsectorhas

integratedintotheclubandistakingaleadershiprolethat

hashelpedtransformourclubandgiveitanewvibrancy.”

FOR CLUBS

DEADLINES

1 June For clubs to update membership data via Member Access for the July semiannual report

1 July For clubs to submit semiannual reports and club dues … For candidates to submit 2013 Rotary Peace Fellowship applications … For club presi-dents to submit the Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs (Future Vision pilot districts version available) to the assistant governor … For clubs to begin submitting Matching Grant applications

See the awards page for more deadlines.

OTHER NOTICES

Incoming presidents, secretaries, treasurers, and committee chairs should be registered for the dis-trict assembly. Incoming club presidents and mem-bership committee members should be registered for the district membership seminar.

Club presidents-elect are encouraged to complete the club assessment section and draft annual goals in the Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs before the presidents-elect training seminar. Presidents-elect and other incoming club leaders can further refine these goals at the district assembly.

See the RI calendar for additional dates.

Nowthatyou’velearnedwhyyourclubneedsastrategic

plan,it’stimetogetdowntothedirtyworkofcreatingand

implementingone.

Prioritize

Startbyfindingoutwhatyourclubmemberswantsothat

youcandetermineyourclub’spriorities.

TheRotaryClubofAshevilleDowntowninNorthCarolina,

USA,surveyeditsentiremembership“togetasenseofpriori-

ties,andalsotogivepeopleafeelingthateverymemberhad

asayinwhatwasgoingon,”saysMeridithElliottPowell,a

memberoftheclub’sstrategicplanningcommittee.Theclub

thenusedfocusgroupstofurtherdefineitsgoals,andheld

strategicplanningsessionswiththeclub’spastpresidents,

currentpresident,president-elect,andpresident-nominee.

Thegoalistodevelopasetofspecificobjectivesyoucan

workwith.“ItcouldbeassimpleasdevelopingaFacebook

pageorrevisingawebsite,”saysDeanRohrs,Rotarycoordi-

natorforZone24Westandastrategicplanningexpertfor

herregion.“It’swhatevertheclubfeelspassionateabout.”

Ensure accountability

Astrategicplanshouldbealivingdocument,notapieceof

paperthatsitsontheshelf.Revisittheplanoftentomake

sureyouareontrack.Ensurethatgoalsareaccomplishedby

assigningthemtospecificcommitteesorindividuals.

STRATEGIC PLANNING RESOURCES

Be a Vibrant Club: Your Club Leadership Plan (245-EN)

Club Assessment Tools

RI’s Strategic PlanBe a Vibrant ClubYour Club Leadership Plan

May 2012 | www.rotary.org/rotaryleader | rotary.leader@rotary.org

reportingprocessesareinplacetoensurethatbestpractices

arefollowed.

Increased contributions. Donorswhocanseethereturnon

theirinvestmentareinspiredtomakemorecontributions.

Forexample,District9940(NewZealand)hasexperienceda

40percentincreaseinRotaryFoundationgivingsinceitbe-

ganparticipatingintheFutureVisionpilot.

Greater impact.Rotarianscanfindopportunitiesforsustain-

ableinternationalprojectscenteredontheareasoffocus.For

example,aclubcanuseaglobalgranttosendavocational

trainingteamtoprovidehealthcaretrainingtoacommunity

inanothercountry,andenableateamofhealthcareworkers

fromtherecipientclubtotraveltothesendingclubfor

furthertraining.

The Rotary Foundation’s new Future Vision grant model is currently

being tested in a pilot and will become available to all districts in

July 2013.

Why is Rotary changing its grant model?Howard Tong, a Rotary public image coordinator and a past district governor, talks about the benefits of The Rotary Foundation’s new grant model, which will be launched in July 2013

Thenewgrantmodelhasmanyadvantages.Districtgrants

enableclubstouseRotaryFoundationfundstodirectly

servetheircommunityhowevertheyseefit,inlinewiththe

Foundation’smission.GlobalgrantshelpRotaryclubsand

districtspartnerwithoneanotheronlargeserviceprojects,

whilepackagedgrantsprovideopportunitiesforRotariansto

workwiththeFoundation’sstrategicpartners.

Inaddition,thenewgrantmodeloffers:

Simplified processes.Rotarianswillbeabletoapplyfor,obtain,

viewtheprogressof,andcompletetransactionsfortheirgrants

online—allstrongaspectsofthegrantmodel’sefficiency.

More collaboration.Districtsandclubsareencouragedto

sharetheirexpertiseandworktogetheroncriticalissues.

Forexample,apilotprojectbydistricts9940(NewZealand)

and9550(partsofAustraliaandTimor-Leste)willimprove

thequalityoflifeforpeopleinTimor-Lestewhofacelife-

threateningillnesses.

Better stewardship.Amemorandumofunderstandingfor

grantprojectsconfirmsthattherightproceduresand

ASK THE EXPERT DID YOU KNOW?

Share your project through Rotary Showcase. A new social media application makes it possible for you to share information about your club’s service projects with the Rotary community and your Face-book friends. Show photos and videos, list partner clubs, and indicate the funds you’ve raised and hours you’ve volunteered. Sign in to Member Access to start showcasing your club’s projects today.

Win US$2,500 for your literacy project. Rotary International and the International Reading Association have collaborated on an exciting new award that will give two deserving projects US$2,500 each on behalf of the Pearson Foundation. New literacy service projects jointly undertaken by Rotary clubs and IRA reading councils in 2011-12 are eligible. Apply by 15 June.

Get the new edition of The ABCs of Rotary. This popular publication about all things Rotary is an excellent resource for Rotary leaders as well as new and prospective members. Find information about The Rotary Foundation’s new grant model and Rotary’s six areas of focus in this newest rundown of Rotary essentials. Order your copy today.

Add your Foundation giving goals to the worldwide goal calculation being announced on 9 May at the RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand. Complete the 2012-13 Fund Development Club Goal Report Form and give it to your district governor-elect immediately, so he or she can submit it to The Rotary Foundation or enter it online through Member Access in time for the announcement.

Howard Tong

May 2012 | www.rotary.org/rotaryleader | rotary.leader@rotary.org

“WeseethisyoungmanasafutureRotaryleader,”Manek

says.“Bysupportinghimnow,wecanencouragehimtobe-

comeaRotarianandeventuallytakeupadistrictleadership

position.”

Collaboration:Klingbielseeshisroleasdistrictgovernoras

thatofafacilitator.“Iwanttobringpeopletogethersothey

cancollaborateonprojectsandactivities.”

Forexample,heplanstoswearinnewRotaryclubof-

ficersalongsideRotaractandInteractclubofficers.“Ihope

they’lltakeadvantageoftheoccasiontotalkaboutprojects

andhowtheycanhelponeanother,”saysKlingbiel.

For more tips, watch the webinarRe-energizeYourClub:

BestPracticestoEngageToday’sYoungProfessionals.

FOR DISTRICTS

DEADLINES

15 May For governors to receive Memo of Club Visit … For incoming governors to submit GETS and assistant governor training expenses … For governors to send governors reports to RI … For districts to meet all preconditions for approval for District Simplified Grants

1 June For incoming governors to submit their official visits itinerary to Club and District Support … For governors to submit Memo of Club Visit … For 2011-12 RI Public Relations Grants reimburse-ment requests (submit to RI World Headquarters)

15 June For incoming governors to inform the Foundation of Rotarian host counselors for 2012-13 scholars

30 June For district nominating committees to select governors-nominee for 2013-14 … For district governors-elect to submit the 2012-13 District Goal Form for Membership

1 July For 2012 Rotary Peace Fellowship applica-tions … For districts to begin submitting Matching Grant and District Simplified Grant requests

Notifications of PR Grant awards sent to applicants.

OTHER NOTICES

Help us go green! Starting in July, an electronic version of the semiannual report (SAR) will be sent to Rotary club and club officers’ email addresses. Encourage clubs to go paperless and increase efficiency by choosing to opt out of the standard paper SAR through Member Access.

Make way for younger district leadersDGEs share tips for attracting the next generation of leaders

AsmoreyoungprofessionalsjoinRotary,theirenergyand

enthusiasmarebeingsoughtatthedistrictlevel.Buthectic

schedulesandfamilyobligationscanmakedistrictinvolve-

mentatoughsell.Herearesomeideasforturningthenew

generationintothenextgenerationofdistrictleaders.

Technology: “Weneedtobebetterstewardsofourtime

throughtechnology,”saysMikeKlingbielofDistrict5450

(NorthernColorado,USA).Klingbielplanstousesocial

media,hisdistrictwebsite,andvideoconferencingto

communicatewithhisclubs.

“Bymeetingonline,wecangettheworkdoneinone

hourinsteadofthree.Plus,weeliminatetravelaltogether,”

Klingbielsays.“Ifwecanmakethejobeasier,thenwecan

getmorepeoplelikemetovolunteer.”

Mentoring:GeetaManekisincominggovernorofDistrict

9200(Eritrea,Ethiopia,Kenya,Tanzania,andUganda).

Shebelievesoneofthebestwaystoattractyoungdistrict

leadersistoprovideleadershipopportunitiesforthemin

theiryouth.

In2011,Manek’sclub,theRotaryClubofMuthaiga,spon-

soredCalvinJodisi,a21-year-oldRotaractor,torepresent

KenyaattheOneYoungWorldSummitinZurich.

DISTRICT CORNER

District governors-elect Geeta Manek and Mike Klingbiel

group’salreadysuccessfulproject.Togetheryoucanmakea

bettersolution.”

Thorneofferstipsforasuccessfulhungerormalnutrition

project.

“Thefirststepistobeveryclearonourgoals[for]solving

theidentifiedproblem—hungrychildrenandpoornutri-

tion,”Thornesays.

Fromthere,hesays,it’simportanttobeconfidentthat

theproposedsolutionmeetstheneeds.Thornestressesthat

projectorganizersshouldthinklongtermratherthanpro-

videaone-timefixforanemergencysituation.

Thesolutionshouldbe“sustainable,verylow-cost,

andseenas‘self-help’bythepeopleinneed,”

Thornesays.

Oncethesolutionhasbeenidentified,a

strongbaseoflocal,committedRotariansand

communitymembersiscrucial.Thebestwayto

developlocalsupportistoworkwiththecom-

munityasapartner,Thornesays.“It’simpera-

tivethatthedignityofthosebeingassistedbe

maintained.”

Want to find a RAG to help you with your next

service project? Download the directory.

Find support for your project through RAGsRotarian Action Groups can provide expert assistance for a variety of international service projects

DidyouknowthattherearedozensofRotarianAction

Groups(RAGs)madeupofexpertswhocanhelpadvance

Rotary’sworkworldwide?

TaketheRotarianActionGroupforFoodPlantSolutions,

whichhas186activemembersin29countries,including

certifiedexpertsintheareaoffoodplants.Thegroupaimsto

helppeopleindevelopingcountrieslearnhowtogrowfoods

locallyasasustainablesolutiontohungerandmalnutrition.

“InRotary,therearemanygroupsouttherealreadydo-

inggreatthings,”saysPastRIDirectorJohnG.Thorne,chair

ofFoodPlantSolutions.“Often,thereisnoneedtoactually

beginsomethingnew,andit’sbesttopiggybackonanother

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

Rotary Leader, an electronic publication for Rotary club and district officers, is offered in eight languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. Rotary Leader is published by Rotary International, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA.

Web www.rotary.org Fax 847-866-9732 Phone 847-866-3000

Subscriptions To subscribe to Rotary Leader, visit www.rotary.org /rotaryleader. There is no charge to subscribe.

Submissions Rotary Leader welcomes article ideas about club and district successes, including fundraisers, publicity efforts, service projects, and membership drives. Email a description, photos, and contact information to rotary.leader@rotary.org. Due to the high volume of submissions, we cannot promise to feature your story.

This is the May 2012 issue of Rotary Leader.

Editor Jennifer Lee Atkin Managing Editor Maureen Vaught Graphic Designer Megan Moulden Writers Megan Ferringer, Arnold Grahl, Susie Ma, Dan Nixon, Maureen Vaught Photographers Alyce Henson, Monika Lozinska-Lee Copy Editors Beth Duncan Proofreaders Kelly Doherty, Susan Hyland

Copyright © 2012 by Rotary International. The Rotary International and Rotary Leader logos are trademarks and intellectual property of Rotary International. All rights reserved. Editors of Rotary publica-tions and websites are welcome to reprint items.

March 2012 | www.rotary.org/rotaryleader | rotary.leader@rotary.org

Buz Green, board member of the Food Plant Solutions RAG, and Bruce French, an agricul-tural scientist, work with local leaders to help provide proper nutrition for the community.