ROTAMIRROR MARCH ISSUE RotaMirror, March Issue 2019, Rct Club of Kololo | Page 4

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
One of the things I appreciate most about serving as president of Rotary
International is the people I get to meet. Much of my time is spent
traveling and visiting Rotary clubs around the world. A Rotarian welcome
is something quite special. But let me tell you, there's nothing so warm as
the welcomes that have been rolled out for me by Rotaractors. These are
young people who are committed to Rotary ideals, who are pouring their
hearts into service, and who, in the process, don't forget to have fun.
Barry Rassin
President 2018-19
One of the highlights of my recent travels was a trip to Ghana, where I
visited a district that boasts some 60 Rotaract clubs. They aren't satisfied
with that number, though — in fact, they're excited about a plan to double
it. They'll do it, too.
Rotaractors are vaccinating children against polio. They're donating blood
where the supply is dangerously low. They're providing handwashing
facilities to schools where children previously had no way to get clean. In
short, they're all about transformational service: carrying out projects that
make a real difference in their communities.
In Nakivale, Uganda, one special Rotaract club is making a difference
in its community — which happens to be a refugee settlement. These
young leaders are turning what others might see as disadvantages
into opportunities for service, building community and opening up new
possibilities to those who are most in need of them.
In Turkey, Rotaractors are visiting children in the hospital every Wednesday
to lift their spirits by playing games with them. They also are mentoring
new students at their university and teaching them leadership skills.
Rotaractors are blazing the path for Rotary to be more relevant in this new
century of service. And World Rotaract Week, which we're celebrating 11-
17 March, is the perfect opportunity to get to know your local Rotaractors
and talk to them about how your clubs can work together. If your Rotary
club doesn't already sponsor a Rotaract club, know that you don't need to
be near a college or university to do it: Community-based Rotaract clubs
are a great option. And remember that Rotaractors are part of the Rotary
family.
When Rotaractors are ready to leave their Rotaract club, we don't want
them to leave that Rotary family behind. I'm asking all Rotarians to help
them make the transition into a Rotary club or to start a new one: I'm
happy to charter as many new clubs as we need to give everyone a place
where they feel at home while making the world a little better. Service
should be fun, it should be inspirational, and it should be open to all.
If there's one thing Rotary has always excelled at, it's diversity. In the past,
that often meant diversity of profession, nationality, and outlook. We've
made great strides when it comes to diversity of age and gender, and as
we welcome more Rotaractors into our organization, we'll become even
stronger.
Rotary is powerful. Together with Rotaract, it is unstoppable. Working side
by side, we have the potential to Be the Inspiration in every part of society,
to every person we meet.
ROTAMIRROR March Issue 2019
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