by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Rotary International District Governor Bill Griffin delivered a report on the state of the organization and its goals for the coming year when he visited the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville at the club’s meeting Tuesday.
He echoed the theme put forth for the year by Rotary International President Dong Kurn Lee, “Making Dreams Real.”
Griffin said the power of dreams “allows us to state our goals and also help us create a passion. Also, many dreams can’t be completed in just a year, so they can give our club continuity.”
He then shared some of his dreams for District 6970 which covers the area of Florida from Ocala to Fernandina Beach. He said all clubs should develop their own dreams because each club has its own projects and personality.
“When you invite guests to your meetings, they should be able to tell within an hour what your club is about,” said Griffin, who also encouraged the Rotarians to work with other area clubs on projects in order to “leverage your knowledge and create a larger volunteer base.”
Griffin also talked about the organization’s world-wide goal to eradicate polio.
“We have only parts of just four countries left,” he said, adding he’s confident Rotary International has the resources to finish the job thanks in large part to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a special agreement the foundation made with the club.
“They gave us $100 million for the project and told us we could spend it all this year if we need to and take as many as three years to raise the matching funds. That’s trust,” said Griffin.
Another focus for Rotary this year will be reducing childhood mortality. Griffin pointed out that 30,000 children die every day in the world and again echoed Lee’s words when he said, “Children do not die because nobody could help them, they die because nobody did.
“If we are able to succeed in this mission, the world will be a little more peaceful and at the end of the year we can take pride in knowing that we helped.”
That will take an increase in the club’s membership, he added after the meeting adjourned.
“Our membership has become stagnant,” said Griffin. “We must create awareness about who we are and what we as Rotarians stand for. I think we have been keeping our candle under the basket. For us to fulfill our objectives we must always be looking for quality members to join our cause.
“I also think there is a stigma that Rotary is just a bunch of old fogies who get together and have lunch once a week. We are much more than that.”
He also said, “Involving youth and their parents is also important because that involves the entire community. There are people who aren’t ready to afford our dues but that doesn’t mean they can’t contribute their sweat equity to our projects.”
It was also announced the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville’s program committee has been working. Future luncheon speakers include CSX Chairman Michael Ward, St. Joe Chairman and CEO Peter Rummel, Haskell President and CEO Steve Halverson and Michael Huyghue, a former Jacksonville Jaguars executive who is about to kick off a new football league.
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