DISCURSOS - Rotary International
DISCURSOS - Rotary International
DISCURSOS - Rotary International
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<strong>Rotary</strong> has protected 2 billion children from polio and helped take it from a global scourge to a<br />
disease on the brink of eradication. Soon, the world will be polio-free because of what we have<br />
done.<br />
Rotarians give their time in their own communities to teach children to read, and their donations<br />
provide books to young people who might otherwise have none. What better way to kindle a<br />
dream? A book can be a window into another world.<br />
Through Youth Exchange, we show new generations how wide the world can be. By giving young<br />
people the opportunity to experience other cultures — to gain perspective and make new connections<br />
— we foster peace and compassion. And in our Rotaract and Interact clubs, we cultivate<br />
a passion for service.<br />
With each child we help, with each young person we mentor, we are changing a life, we are<br />
nurturing potential. Who knows what these children will grow up to do because of <strong>Rotary</strong>? Who<br />
knows how our gifts will echo into the future? We cannot know this. But we know that the things<br />
we do today will have a positive impact throughout their lives in the future.<br />
Yes, New Generations Service is an integral part of <strong>Rotary</strong>. But just as future generations depend<br />
on <strong>Rotary</strong>, <strong>Rotary</strong> depends on them. We must continue to grow, to create new Rotarians. After<br />
all, it is the next generation of Rotarians that will continue our good work. And while we have<br />
much to offer — our commitment, our wisdom, our experience — there is much we can learn<br />
from them as well.<br />
Many of the qualities we most need and value in <strong>Rotary</strong> are qualities associated with youth, like<br />
enthusiasm and a positive spirit. Young people have a natural optimism. They look for ways to accomplish<br />
things, not for excuses why they won’t work.<br />
This is an attitude many Rotarians can relate to, for we aim high in <strong>Rotary</strong>. We did not merely decide<br />
to immunize a few children against polio; we committed to eradicating the disease entirely.<br />
I believe that setting our goals high only motivates us to work that much harder and reach that<br />
much farther.<br />
Another quality of youth is flexibility, and in order to grow, <strong>Rotary</strong> must be flexible enough to<br />
change with a changing world. We must be open to new ideas and new perspectives. Ask your<br />
new members: What inspired you to join <strong>Rotary</strong>? What would you like to achieve? Ask everyone:<br />
What can we do better?<br />
I have always said that it is important to invite feedback and to listen to criticism. It may be tempting<br />
to dismiss our critics, but often they can teach us something. As a businessman, I know that<br />
you do not achieve success by ignoring your customers! If someone is telling you about a problem<br />
in your club or district, this is something to take seriously.<br />
If we demonstrate a willingness to listen and to engage with new members in our individual<br />
<strong>Rotary</strong> clubs, we can create a sense of shared ownership and shared responsibility for <strong>Rotary</strong>’s<br />
future.<br />
We send thousands of young people on Youth Exchange programs every year. There are hundreds<br />
of thousands of alumni in our <strong>Rotary</strong> community. How can we turn those alumni into members?<br />
We can host alumni events. We can harness the power of social media. We can start up new<br />
Interact and Rotaract clubs and cultivate connections between Interactors and Rotaractors. We<br />
can take the time to introduce a new generation to Service Above Self.<br />
14 <strong>International</strong> Assembly Speeches 2013