Ara Rotary Club hosts past district governor Gary Moore

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Members of the Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties were recently updated on the new structure of the Rotary Foundation by Past District Governor Gary Moore.

The Rotary Foundation sets apart Rotary from other service clubs.  It is a separate business entity from Rotary International. The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation, supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world.  It is the financial engine of Rotary International, enabling Rotarians in any part of the world to “do good” around the world.

The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.  To accomplish this, The Rotary Foundation has changed, and narrowed, its focus going into its second century, which begins with the Atlanta International Convention in 2017.  

As Robert S. Scott, 2007-08 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, said: “Being everything to everyone has left the Foundation struggling to realize its mission. The new structure allows us to build on our strengths and realize more sustainable outcomes.”

 The “Future Vision” of the Rotary Foundation aims to:

• Simplify Foundation programs and processes

• Focus Rotarian service efforts where they will have the greatest impact by addressing priority world needs, relevant to Rotarians

• Offer program options to help achieve both global and local goals

• Increase the sense of ownership at the district and club levels by transferring more decisions to the districts

• Gain greater public understanding of The Rotary Foundation’s work and enhance Rotary’s public image

The six new areas of focus are:

• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution

• Disease prevention and treatment

• Water and sanitation

•   Maternal and child health

• Basic education and literacy

• Economic and community development

Rotary is an exemplary community organization of businessmen, women and professionals who seek to serve the communities in which they work and live. The mission of Rotary International, a worldwide association of Rotary clubs, is to provide service to others, to promote high ethical standards, and to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

For more information on Rotary of Greene and Putnam Counties, visit www.GreenePutnamRotary.org.