Welcome to the final General Council (GC) newsletter of the 2016/17 Rotary year. The aim of this communication is to bring you up to date on the decisions made by your District Governors (DGs) during the meeting, which was also attended by the incoming DG group for the year 2017/18. We hope that by communicating in this way we continue to encourage openness and transparency throughout Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland (Rotary/RIBI) by informing members of the decisions which have been taken. Your DG and DGE will be able to inform you in more detail and you can also refer to the meeting minutes here (sign in required). Below are the brief details of the key points which were discussed: in 2016-17. One of the newest is the Rotary Club of Bentley Cheshire, which comprises employees of Bentley Motors. With two other clubs chartered this Rotary year, Wrexham Glyndwr and Marlow Bridge, not only are these new vibrant clubs gaining members but so are the clubs that started them off as satellite clubs, because Rotary is more visible in their community. Funding is available to clubs and districts for membership activities, however, it is important these projects encompass translating raising awareness of Rotary into potential membership growth with contact strategies and follow up plans. 60 NEW ROTARY SATELLITE CLUBS IN FORMATION General Council is a great platform to share success stories from across our districts, and that was certainly evident in the case of new Rotary satellite clubs. 60 new satellite clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are currently in formation and 13 e-clubs, demonstrating change is being embraced. A focus on retention, introduction of associate membership, engagement with university students in projects, club visioning and adding flexibility to meeting days and times are all contributing to this positive shift. A number of established satellite clubs have gone on to become fully chartered Rotary clubs PURPLE4POLIO BLOOMING SUCCESS AS RHS PARTNERSHIP CONTINUES The Purple4Polio campaign has proved to be a huge success in generating publicity for Rotary nationally and locally, with about 900 pieces of media coverage being obtained over the course of the Rotary year. We have worked closely with Wilkin and Sons Ltd (Tiptree Jam) and Typhoo Tea, as well as the 1 P age
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). We are delighted that the RHS partnership will be continuing for the next two years and look forward to hearing even more stories of Rotary clubs working with their Britain in Bloom and/or other RHS community gardening groups. During 2016, 7 million crocus corms were planted and for 2017, we are aiming to increase that to 10 million, making an even bigger purple splash in communities nationwide! Orders must be placed by 31 st July, so don t miss out. Click here for details Business Meeting and, at its peak, there were almost double the amount of online voters compared to 2016. During the General Council meeting, the proposed introduction of a Conference Treasurer was accepted. This role would be fulfilled by a member of the Finance Committee and would replace the Hon. Treasurer on the Conference Committee. REGIONAL AND LEADERSHIP ASSEMBLIES The Leadership, Development and Training Committee have reviewed both the Regional and Leadership Assemblies. In place of the Leadership Assembly, there will be a multi-district Governance and Leadership event. This event will be shorter and more focused with a strong emphasis on reducing duplication between RI and RIBI as well as reducing costs. ROTARY CONFERENCE DEVELOPMENTS After an exciting event in Manchester this April, including extensive BBC and other media coverage of the tenth anniversary of the Rotary Young Citizen Awards (you can see a highlights video about the Conference here), plans for the 2018 Rotary Conference in Torquay are well underway and it is on course to break even. Two key elements will be retained: the opportunity for DGE and DGN teams to share a session together to enable continuity, and a session for the governance team of the district to work collaboratively on strategy. For Regional Assemblies, engagement over the last three years from club level Rotarians had been higher than hoped, however the events have run their course. As part of the 2018 Conference, a hybrid Business Meeting will be run with increased online participation. Almost 1,000 members registered for online voting during the 2017 2 P age
PREPARING FOR LAUNCH The Rotary Support Centre communications department has been liaising closely with RI teams on the new worldwide People of Action campaign being launched by RI on 1 st July 2017. In order to keep Rotary branding, messaging and design consistent, the Support Centre team are developing new print and digital materials to help members, clubs and districts tell Rotary s story. We are excited to share these with you soon! ROTARY GO PHASE FOUR An update was given on Phase Four of the Rotary Growth Opportunities (GO) programme. 17 of the 25 districts have received funding from the 30,000 allocation for membership development activity, but again it was stressed that activities must outline a measurable membership outcome, rather than solely being focused on enhancing public image. Rotary Club Central training has continued and is proving to be working, as is the work being undertaken on the new alumni strategy; Reconnect with Rotary, which is already returning some membership interest. DIGNITY POLICY In order to bring Rotary s policies in line with best practice, there will be a Dignity Policy for Rotarians included within Rotary s compliance documents. EXHIBITING OUR SUCCESS A brand new polio exhibition has been opened at Bewdley Museum. Organised by the Rotary Club of Bewdley, the two-month exhibition about Rotary s campaign to eradicate polio (closes July 16 th 2017) includes ipads showing Rotary videos, an iron lung and a large exhibition display. To host the exhibition in other districts would cost approximately 2,000 per district. Click here for details This will reinforce Rotary s zero tolerance for bullying, harassment and discrimination and it is important that steps are taken for the policy to be implemented rather than just issued. SEWING THE SEEDS Earlier on this year, RI President Elect Ian Riseley set the challenge for every Rotarian to plant a tree between 1 st July 2017 and Earth Day on 22 nd April 2018. The seeds of a new partnership with the Woodland Trust are being sown in order for Rotarians in RIBI to have the chance to get involved with this challenge. 3 P age
PRESIDENT S MESSAGE What an inspiring year this Rotary year has been. As your President, I have attended 15 District Conferences and made district visits, meeting so many inspirational Rotarians doing amazing projects and truly making a difference to our local and global community. We have never been closer to achieving Rotary s goal of a polio-free world and our Purple4Polio campaign launched at the start of this Rotary year has really taken off generating publicity for Rotary with about 900 items of media coverage so far, with districts and clubs getting involved in the campaign. As a General Council, the Eve-olutionary team of District Governors have taken on the challenges and we are pleased to see that 60 new satellite clubs across Great Britain and Ireland are currently in formation, demonstrating change is being embraced. Our founder Paul Harris said: If Rotary is to realise its proper destiny, it must be evolutionary at all times, revolutionary on occasions and these words are as relevant now for our future, as when he said them. Thank you for electing me as your President this Rotary year. I have been inspired by you all! Wishing you all the best for the future. Eve Conway President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland 2016/17 4 P age
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