Rotary International President Message

The RI president’s monthly message
July 2010

Winds of Change

What an amazing world! Advances in technology are happening so quickly that they cause constant changes in our businesses and professions. Yet about one-third of the world’s population is still living at a subsistence level with little change in their lives. It is a stark contrast and a cause for concern.

Rotary has both a distinguished heritage and a bright future. My primary task as president is to enhance the vitality and viability of Rotary clubs and to enable them to succeed in the midst of societal changes. This is an important task because it is the clubs that address and alleviate the root problems of society and thereby make the world a better place.

Wind of change was a new and significant phrase when I was a Rotary

Scholar in South Africa in the early 1960s. It is serendipitous that the phrase that was first publicized in my host city of Cape Town is now applicable to Rotary as we contemplate the changes in society that dictate some corresponding changes in our organization. The phrase is now better known as winds of change.

We are currently enjoying a culture of innovation at Rotary International. We have the ability to look at all of our programs and practices to see if they can be improved, even as we steadfastly maintain our core values. I hope many Rotarians will take advantage of this opportunity to identify and implement improvements in their clubs and districts as well.

Rotary lives and breathes in our 33,000 clubs, and it is the clubs that improve lives by Building Communities – Bridging Continents. If we succeed in helping clubs to become Bigger, Better, and Bolder in the next year, then it will be clear that the best days of Rotary are still ahead. We are fortunate to be Rotarians! Together, we can make the world a better place!

Ray Klinginsmith - After taking the stage to the tune of "California, Here I Come," RI President-elect Ray Klinginsmith announced the 2010-11 RI theme, Building Communities -- Bridging Continents, during the opening plenary session of the 2010 International Assembly .

Klinginsmith said he arrived at the theme after reviewing RI themes of years past. He noticed that only a few spoke to non-Rotarians.

"As a result, I decided to search for a briefly stated theme that would fulfill two objectives: the first to explain Rotary to non-Rotarians, and the second to validate our work for Rotarians," he said. "The words I have selected to describe Rotary's current mission and to highlight our achievements are what we do best: Building Communities -- Bridging Continents. "

The president-elect described how his 50 years of Rotary experience have contributed to his focus on communities at home and abroad. For example, as a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar, he studied for a year in South Africa, becoming the first student from his small town of Unionville, Missouri, USA, to study abroad.

The timing of the theme announcement, which took place in the evening, was a break in tradition from past assemblies and a reflection of Klinginsmith's willingness to embrace change. He encouraged district governors-elect to reexamine traditional procedures that were no longer best practices and to begin new traditions where appropriate.

He also paid homage to Rotarians of the past who helped raise Rotary to a place of prominence on the world stage. He urged district governors-elect to meet the past RI presidents and other former officers in attendance to deepen their connection to Rotary's past.

"I love it," says Governor-elect Robert Martin, of District 5020 (British Columbia, Canada; Washington, USA). "I'm going to be promoting Rotary pride in our district next year, and Building Communities -- Bridging Continents is something we can all be proud of."


Ray Klinginsmith
President, Rotary International