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Questions
on exchange rate
Like many members in my club I am somewhat concerned at the disparity
between the exchange rate on the international money market and the
rate charged by Rotary International for the payment of dues to the
United States.
The former
is US77 cents (February 29, 2004), but the Rotary International rate
is US72 cents.
This means that for every subscription paid to the U.S., Rotary International
is making a profit of at least five per cent.
What happens
to this profit?
How often is the exchange rate for Rotary International dues established?
Does this practice conform with The 4-Way Test?
R.E. Impey
Rotary Club of Proserpine, Qld.
Sad
news . . . good news
In Mailbox (February, 2004) under the heading Don’t Mention Two
Things, the Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, N.S.W., advised that its
exchange student, Guillaume (Gui) Jamart, had returned to Belgium because
of the failing health of his father, Phillipe.
Sadly,
Phillipe passed away just before Christmas. Our hearts went out to Guillaume
and his family as did our prayers and special thoughts.
Although
optimistic, we did not expect Guillaume to return to Australia. However,
such was the desire of his father for Gui to undertake the Youth Exchange
Program (YEP), we were thrilled to learn that Gui would complete his
exchange. With the blessings of his family, Gui returned to Australia
and into the welcoming arms of his Rotary Family at Orange Daybreak.
Being a keen sportsman, Gui was eager to fulfil one of his dreams by
attending the Australian Open tennis in Melbourne, Vic.
Thanks
to efforts of his host mother, Catherine Hennessy, and Orange Daybreak’s
international service director, Nan Stevenson, and the willingness of
President-elect David Shave, of the Rotary Club of Melbourne LaTrobe,
Vic., to accommodate Gui and generally keep a watchful eye, a dream
was realised.
When asked how he enjoyed the experience, Gui’s response of “C’etait
magnifique”, plus a grin from ear to ear, said it all.
More recently,
Gui was keen to meet up with other students from Belgium, including
several YEP students currently hosted by Wollongong Rotary clubs. Again,
with the generosity of yet another Rotarian, Doctor Carol Jeffs, this
excursion became possible.
Through
the assistance of Rotarians, not formerly known to us, these special
trips became a reality for a very grateful exchange student. These are
indeed wonderful examples of Rotarians lending a hand to help others.
We thank you.
Nan Stevenson
Rotary Club of Orange Daybreak, N.S.W.
In the
red and happy about it
“I’ll take the red hat’’ . . . Rotary Club of Melbourne
South, Vic., members say this at every weekly meeting. Actually, it’s
a red cap, the club’s work cap.
By saying
this, it means that the cost of the meal ($A24) goes toward supporting
the three Foster Parents Plan children the club has sponsored.
The foregoing
of a meal is a small price to pay for looking after these children and
it means a nil cost to the club.
The club’s
caterers agreed to let two spaces be available for this purpose. Each
week the red hatters are recorded in The Swan, the club bulletin.
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FROM
THE R.I.
SOUTH PACIFIC & PHILIPPINES
OFFICE
with Manager Harley Tarrant
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Unwillingness
to change – a barrier to membership growth. One of the greatest
drawbacks to membership growth in Rotary clubs is unwillingness
to change. Each club develops a culture and tradition of its own
and this is a healthy thing.
However, too often the practices and customs of the club take
on a kind of biblical authority.
Because
many Rotarians rarely make up, at least beyond their home town,
they assume that the customs they observe are followed throughout
the world. In fact, customs and practices differ greatly from
country to country, state to state, and club to club.
When
Rotary began in U.S.A. in 1905 and in Australia in 1921 the practices
of the day were adopted. If Rotary were to begin now, we would
adopt practices compatible with modern society. Practices that
were once commonplace in our society may today be considered old-fashioned
and,
sometimes, embarrassing. Yet, many clubs cling to these outmoded
practices without ever examining their usefulness or relevance.
By insisting on maintaining old-fashioned practices a club can
make itself unattractive to others in the community, especially
to younger business people. As the members grow older, they may
cling more strongly to their outmoded ways and cut themselves
and their club off from their community. It is important to uphold
ethical principles, but it can be destructive to cling to meaningless
customs merely because a club has always done things that way.
All
clubs should periodically examine their procedures and customs
and ask whether they are still relevant or whether they have become
a barrier to membership growth. Senior members, like myself, must
be prepared to step back out of the limelight and allow younger
Rotarians some latitude in making their clubs more attractive
to potential Rotarians rather than insisting that things always
be done in the manner they are accustomed to and with which they
are comfortable.
All
organisations must be prepared to change with the times or they
risk becoming dinosaurs. Often, the greatest danger to a club’s
survival is the insistence on maintaining
meaningless and outmoded practices.
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