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Lend a Hand in the world

by reaching out to people of all cultures, races, and religions. Through R.I. and Rotary Foundation programs, work to alleviate the abject poverty that afflicts so many people and obstructs the path to peace. Join with your twin club to develop projects that educate women, address population issues, establish microcredit programs, and help to meet the basic needs of the world’s poorest people..

Rotary Youth Exchange Program is a natural for the Twin Clubs Project being launched this Rotary year.

In 2003-04, R.I. will launch the Twin Clubs Project as part of the Rotary Centennial celebration. Through this project, clubs can work together to abate the misery that poverty produces in our world. Through World Community Service and Rotary Foundation Humanitarian Grants, we can reach across oceans and borders to relieve suffering and bring hope, stability and new opportunities for peace.

If Rotarians are to succeed in alleviating poverty and its many ill-effects, our organisation must be strong, our membership thriving.

I believe our primary membership focus in 2003-04 must be on retention. It does little good to recruit new members if we do nothing to keep them active and involved in meaningful projects. We should also make them feel at home in the club, a part of a close, supportive Rotary family.

We must not, however, ignore our obligation to share Rotary with qualified men and women. In this regard, I will especially encourage clubs to bring in more women members. Although the number of female business and professional leaders continues to grow at a rapid pace, women remain woefully under-represented in Rotary.

Lend a Hand in your club

by helping to strengthen and diversify its membership. Focus on retention by making all club members feel that they are an integral part of the group with an important contribution to make. Show concern for the well-being of members, and provide help and support if they are troubled by illness or other problems.

Keep in touch with the spouses of deceased members so that they remain part of the family of Rotary.

Women make up less than 10 per cent of our overall membership, and clubs in more than 20 countries have not yet invited any women to join. The women who have become Rotarians since 1989 have kept our membership numbers from plummeting, greatly enhanced club service efforts and made significant contributions to Rotary International as well.

Recognising the valuable role women Rotarians have played during the first decade of their membership, the 2001 Council on Legislation and the R.I. Board of Directors encouraged the promotion of dual-gender clubs.
The R.I. Bylaws specifically state that no club may limit membership in the club on the basis of gender. It is now up to Rotarians at the club level to actively seek out and invite qualified women to become members.

To guide us on our path of service in 2003-04, I am asking all Rotarians to Lend a Hand. This is a simple theme but one that I believe eloquently captures the essence of Rotary service. As Rotarians, we routinely Lend a Hand to our communities and to the world. We Lend a Hand to our fellow Rotarians, those who are members of our club and those abroad who need help in tackling problems in their community. Sometimes this simple gesture is all that is needed to transform a person’s life. In other cases, one hand can become many, as Rotarians work together to eradicate polio, raise literacy levels, provide low-cost shelters, resolve conflicts, and alleviate suffering for thousands of people. It is in our Rotarian nature to offer help wherever it is needed, and in 2003-04, I will ask Rotarians to actively seek out even more opportunities to Lend a Hand.

Let us begin the 2003-04 Rotary year with our hands outstretched, ready to help our brothers and sisters in need. Working together, there is no limit to what the helping hands of Rotary can accomplish.

Jonathan B. Majiyagbe

President, Rotary International,
2003-04