Rotary Theme for 2015-2016. Be A Gift to the World.

RI President-elect K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran announces his presidential theme for 2015-16, Be a Gift to the World, at the opening session of the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.  P Using their talents, expertise, and leadership, Rotary members worldwide are asked to be gifts to the world this upcoming 2015-16 Rotary year.

“Ravi” Ravindran called Sunday’s address to incoming district governors the “most significant moment of my life.” “All of you have been given so many gifts. And you have now been given this great gift: one year to take all your talents, all your gifts, everything that you are and can become — and Be a Gift to the World,” said Ravindran, revealing his presidential theme at the annual five-day training meeting in San Diego, California, USA. “You have one year to take that potential and turn it into reality. One year to lead the clubs in your district and transform the lives of others. The time is so short, yet there is so much to be done.” Highlighting Rotary’s biggest challenge, the eradication of polio, Ravindran said, “A future without polio is a gift that we have promised to the children of the world. And indeed it is a gift that we will give.

” Ravindran, a member of the Rotary Club of Colombo, Sri Lanka, used Rotary’s successes in the fight to eradicate the disease as an illustration of the impact Rotary members can have in the world. When Rotary set a goal of eradicating polio 25 years ago, it was endemic in 125 countries, and more than 1,000 children were becoming paralyzed each day. Today, polio remains endemic in just three countries, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Pakistan. And in all of 2014, only 333 cases were reported. “We will battle on. We will prevail,” he said. Ravindran discussed some of Rotary’s other challenges, including membership.

“We have to find a way to bring back the fundamentals that built our organization: the emphasis on high ethical standards in all aspects of our lives, and the classification system that encourages a diversity of expertise in each club,” he said. “Too often these ideas are viewed as little more than inconvenient obstacles to increasing our membership. But they have been essential to Rotary’s success, and we ignore them at our own peril.” Ravindran told attendees that the focus on branding is essential to helping Rotary grow. “We need to reposition our image, which we recognize has faded in many parts of the world,” he said. Rotary also needs to continue to raise funds for The Rotary Foundation, attract new members, and encourage greater participation from current members, he added. “There are no easy answers to any of these questions. And yet the answers must somehow be found. We are the ones who must find them,” said Ravindran. The president-elect closed his speech emphasizing that now is the time to make real change. “You have one year to build monuments that will endure forever, not carved in granite or marble, but in the lives and hearts of generations. This is our time. It will not come again. Let us grasp it,” he said.

Rotary Club of Limuru In-Formation Meeting.

Incoming district governors excited to ‘be a gift’

rotaractlimuru:

Be a Gift to the World..

Originally posted on Rotary Voices:

By Ryan Hyland, Rotary editorial staff

Incoming district governors enthusiastically greeted the presidential theme for 2015-16, Be a Gift to the World, during a dinner 18 January at the International Assembly, Rotary’s annual training event for future district leaders. RI President-elect K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran is asking Rotary members to use their talents, expertise, and leadership in the coming year to transform the lives of others.

We caught up with incoming district governors after the theme was announced to get their thoughts.

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Rotary Peace Fellow: storytelling can build peace

rotaractlimuru:

Rotary Stories will be told for centuries to come..

Originally posted on Rotary Voices:

Kiran Sirah speaks at the International Assembly 22 January. Photo by Alyce Henson/Rotary International

Kiran Sirah is the executive director of the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough, Tennessee. He graduated from the Rotary Peace Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2013 with a Master of Arts in Folklore. The following is a excerpt from his speech 22 January at the International Assembly, a training event for incoming leaders in San Diego, California, USA.

There is a saying: The world is like a book, and those who do not travel will only ever have read the first page. For me storytelling is a way of traveling the world. Why? Because it enables us to be inspired, to follow our dreams, and to realize that our stories belong to a world full of stories just waiting to unfold.

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2014 of 2014/2015 Rotaract Limuru Year in 7D..

A Great year it is… 2015 is here with us and its time to kick start our service projects for this last half of our Rotaract Year.
We are half way the Rotary Year 2014-2015, and so far so good.
Though the times have been tough, we have made it through and impacted lives in the best way possible.
As we drown ourselves into the remaining half of our Rotaract Year, may our spirits be gear up to making the perfect finish of year plans, and we can only Promise to be even much more better than the last half and impact more lives in an efficient sustained way.
Happy New Year 2015 ‪#‎TeamRCLimuru‬ .
What happened during the first half..??

It all started with the Ultimate Installation Party at Thayu Roundvales in Tigoni, Limuru where we had the Installation of the new 2014-2015 Board which was elected in one highly contested election. The new Board had the following in office-
• Mwangi Francis-President
• Ann Njeri – Vice president
• Sarah Njeri-Club secretly
• Simon N Muturi-Finance Director
• Yvette Kiratu-Community Service Director
• Chui Munga -Club Service Director
• Joshua Muregi -International Service Director
• Priscilla Njuguna-Publicity (Public Relation)
• Judy Wamaitha -Professional Development Director.
The Newly Installed President, Francis Mwangi having served in the board as a community service Director in the Year 2013-2014 was all ready to steer the club in a higher level with support from the Immediate Past President (IPP) Mr. Patrick Wangari and the members in the Group.
Every Director in the various committees had to have a a good plan of the projects and events they hoped  to organise

in order to achieve the Rotary Goals and Objectives.
After the Ultimate Meltdown Installation Party, the Club had to roll up its sleeves and get down to business.
Over the first half of the year 2014/2015 the club has held quite a number of Community Service projects, Club Service Projects, International Service Projects and Professional service events all with a notable success report.
Club service Projects headed by one able Club Service Director Mr. Chui Munga had projects ranging from great fellowships to fundraising within the club for our projects especially the ROTAREAD CAMPAIGN which involved selling of well crafted, edited, composed Poetic phrases hybridized to what we call a POEM.

Light Up Rotary Poem By Chui Munga the Poet

Club service events not to forget the Ultimate Meltdown Bush camp at the Aberdares were events that can never be erased from the minds of anyone who participated.

The Ultimate Meltdown Camp at the Aberdares
#TeamRCLimuru

The Professional service team was also on its high gear as we had a rich circulation of speakers and most notably from within the club. Inspirational, emotional, motivational talks from our Vice President #AnnAnneNjeri #ChuiMunga and talks from Rotarians the likes of Paula Nzisa from the Rotary Club of Karen and Marium Wangui from the Rotary Club of Milimani and Rotaractors from other clubs, has made the first half of the year have meetings that were not just about meeting as a group, but Fellowships that meant both professional and career growth for members.

Fellowship with the Rotary Club of milimani

This has also created a strong bond between members as we get to understand each other much more deeply.

Rotaract Club of Limuru Fellowship, Sometimes things get too deep ..

Professional growth is not a one sided sword, apart from getting knowledge from our seniors, we also “sambazad” our knowledge to those younger than us through our Mentorship programs in schools.

Life Chat session at Ngenia High School.

Visits to Ngenia High School and Ngarariga Sec. School both in Limuru for mentorship were avenues through which our talented, gifted team of speakers and motivators had a chance to share their life experiences, and offer guidance to the students in their studies and in their Life after school.
Rotaract Club of Limuru has always worked in partnership with Rotary Clubs, other Rotaract Clubs and even with other Youth groups with the same objective of community service. Our mother Club, the Rotary Club of Karen has been our greatest stronghold for support in our projects, their constant visits to our club, their talks to us and support has always kept us going. Other Rotary clubs notably the Rotary Clubs of Milimani, Muthaiga and Kikuyu, have also been our great partners in service. Their efforts to have their members visit us in our fellowships and our events, and their immense support, have always made us have a success story to write.
The strong bond and understanding between the Rotaract Club of Limuru and the Rotary Clubs has seen our dream of spear heading the formation of the Rotary Club of Limuru come to reality.

Rotary Club of Limuru in Formation… A Dream come True.

With the strides made so far, its our believe we will have the Rotary Club of Limuru-in Formation Chartered before the end of the year 2014-2015.

We are #ThisClose to End Polio in Kenya.

We are This Close…@UoN grounds

The End Polio Campaign was our main International Service project and the RCLimuru team was surely on point to make it a success. And as the world aims for Zero cases of Polio in the world, we will surely be part of the great team to celebrate the success.
Our Community Service team, led by the lovely, soft spoken Yvette Kiratu as the director, would undoubtedly be one of the greatest team we ever had. Their devotion to organising great, fun filled service projects has always be remarkable. Their great contribution to the #ROTAReadCampaign to donate books, and other school stationery and food stuff to children at St Edwins Childrens Home in Kimende made this project reach its highest top notch.

I

ROTAReadCampaign, donating School stationery, Clothes and food to St.Edwins Children’s Home in Kimende

n Limuru, we have found one great sister in Service, FRIENDS OF CHILD KENYA (FOCK). this is a group which has its main objective as community Service. With them we have managed to win a Gold Medal where we were meant to get a Silver medal. They have been our teachers in service projects, joining in their events has made us learn great lessons from them and also has made our year of service such a colorful one. Their visits to Seth Children’s Home and more recently to Msamaria Mwema Children’s Home were events we were honored to partner with this great team.

At Seth Childrens Home in Muchatha with #TeamFOCK

Withe Team FOCK at Msamaria Mwema Childre’s Home in Kikuyu

To FOCK, we surely appreciate for your partnership and really look forward to more and greater events even in years to  come.
Our long term Community Service project as a club initiated by the current Community Service Committe is the sponsorship of two pupils in Limuru.

Rotaract Limuru Angels getting Back to School with a Smile..

The two are from a humble background and with our support they have manged to attend school without any hiccups and we haope this will continue for as long as they need our help. With the start of this sponsorship we hope to sponsor even more kids to school in the coming years.

Rotaract is obviously never just about the soo called “Serious Stuff” Nooo.. We are young minds who want to take every opportunity we get and have the maximum fun in it.

Fun is in us, its what makes Rotaract Unik and Special..

Our Fellowships and  events are about socializing, having fun, getting to know each other and creating networks meant to last for centuries to come.

We know how to do it..

In this last half, we get ready to have a new board getting polished up for the

Rotary Year 2015/2016 in the horizon.
As we settle in to the last half of the year, so much still awaits. Our fellowship room is still not full to Capacity, we need more and more members to join us in both Rotary and Rotaract.

There is a space for Every One…

We need fresh ideas, we need hybridized opinions and above all committed members to join this group of Professionals ready to grow and develop as they serve their Community.

Are You the Missing Piece?

If you are interested in joining the ROTARACT CLUB OF LIMURU or get more details on the Club and our events, you are welcomed to our meetings or give this team a call and they will guide you through.
Rtr Mwangi Francis 0703 845 250
Simon N. Muturi 0724 223 189
Chui Munga 0720 037 499

Thank You for for Being Part of us. Its because of each one of that we made it this Far. The journey is still not yet to the end, but we are sure we will get there. We are always Blessed to have you, and if you are yet to join our great team, dont be left Out as We Light Up Rotary 2014/2015.

#RotaryRocks #TeamRCLimuru

Help Rotary make a positive difference on #GivingTuesday

Originally posted on Rotary Voices:

Thank You #GivingTuesday from Rotary International on Vimeo.

Every year, hundreds of thousands of people — children, families, and entire communities — benefit from projects funded by The Rotary Foundation. See how your generosity is making a positive difference in communities around the world. Then consider making a gift to The Rotary Foundation as part of #GivingTuesday.

#GivingTuesday was founded two years ago by 92ndStreet Y in partnership with the United Nations Foundation. The concept has been steadily growing since, with more than 10,000 charities and businesses taking part this year.

• See what your gift to the Foundation supports
  
• Help us create lasting change
• See other examples of Rotary’s work

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My life was forever changed by Rotary

Originally posted on Rotary Voices:

Pammy Godoy

By Pammy Godoy, Rotary Club of Mandaluyong-Pasig-San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines

In 2006, I took part in a Group Study Exchange (GSE) to Argentina. It was a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity funded by Rotary International which allowed me to travel outside of the Philippines for the first time, learn about Argentinian culture, and interact with Argentinian youth about their issues in relation to relationships, sexuality, and teen pregnancies.

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