Rotary Tête-à-Tête from D9210

Potential Rotary Leadership Seminars – PRLS

pcoleman — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 06:50:18 +0000

A few years ago successive District Governors noted an increasing unwillingness among Rotarians to step into Club and District leadership positions. An informal survey revealed that there was a large decrease in numbers of those who had received basic leadership instruction. It was also determined that instruction in leadership skills was not available in most of the communities in which the majority of our Rotarians live. The PRLS sessions were designed to meet this need.

THE GOAL OF PRLS is to provide a set of training sessions wherein current and future Rotary leaders can learn to be more effective in their leadership roles. The program has been designed to encourage those whose goals include a basic comfort with a leadership position. Furthermore, most of the subject matter is deliberately designed to be generic, not just Rotary-specific.

PRLS is not designed to teach leaders everything there is to know about the leadership role. Rather, it encourages participants to seek out other sources of information which will, in turn, prepare them even better to carry out their leadership roles with more efficiency, charisma and effectiveness.

The Basic PRLS program includes five hours of classroom instruction split among five courses: Communications, Basic Leadership Principles, Leading a Meeting, Basic Public Speaking and Rotary, Your Club and You

Those Basic PRLS graduates who desire to continue their leadership training may participate in five more classes: Master PRLS 1 & 2 – Public Speaking is presented during two interdependent, full-day sessions spread three to four weeks apart. The classes include a rigorous program of evaluated practical public speaking exercises designed to improve almost anyone’s ability to present ideas to a group. The sessions are limited to 30 students each, and students must be Basic PRLS graduates.

Master PRLS 3 – Facilitation Skills is presented during the morning session preceding Master PRLS 5 (Communications). The instruction is designed to give students the training necessary to conduct more effective goal-setting meetings. The course has no pre-requisite.

Master PRLS 4 – Situational Leadership is presented during one full-day session. It deals with judging the leadership capabilities of associates, fitting the right people into the right jobs, and defining leadership principles. Students must be basic PRLS graduates.

Master PRLS 5 – Communications is presented during the afternoon session following Facilitation Skills (Master PRLS 3). The course deals with the advancement of effective communications using all types of media and all levels of communication. This course has no pre-requisite.

One Rotary Club, The Rotary Club of Luanshya, (my club) has made this a part of our personal training and almost every member has completed at least through MPRLS3 ond half have completed throught MPRLS4. We are planning to complete the entire programme by the end of this Rotary Year. It has revolutionised our Rotary Club!

There are other leadership programmes in the Rotary world. The advantage to PRLS is that the training is not limited to Rotary. The “graduates” of the PRLS programme are effectively using the information in the PRLS in their business, community and family life to make them not only more productive, but better leaders in their respective areas of responsibility.

For more information in Africa (Zone 20A) contact PDG Derrick McDiarmid at derrick.rotary@gmail.com.

Water Isn’t Everything, But Keep Reading!

pcoleman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:09:14 +0000

The statement above is quite true. We need food and all our food needs water to grow and cook. We need shelter and everything needed to build from concrete to timber needs water. We need clothing and both cotton and wool cannot be grown without water.

Therefore, physically speaking, everything we need begins with water. We drink it either as coffee, tea or “straight up” with ice – or not. We cook with it. We bathe in it. We wash our clothes in it. Without water the human race would simply cease to exist in less than a few weeks.

It is no wonder, then, that water is a major concern of Rotary International and individual Rotarians around the world. There are over 1,000 water and sanitation Matching Grants open at any moment totalling approximately US$20 million. Of these Matching Grants, one-third (currently 317) are based in Africa. This means that US$6,814,488.43 has been given by Rotarians from all parts of the globe to supply clean water and proper sanitation to the people with whom we live, work and play.

Numbers are important and we all study the statistics. However, the numbers do not say enough.

Each of these 317 projects has a story. For each project there is someone who saw a need, took that need to heart and said “I can do something to make things better.” Behind the statistics, figures and $-signs are the people who make these projects both necessary and feasible.

Let me give you an example of a story from few years ago:

I serve as the Chairman of the Luanshya District Education Board. As a part of my duties I made a site visit with several board members to Kasongo Basic School in a small village about 15 kilometres from Luanshya. When we arrived I asked the head teacher, Mr Chileshe, “What is your biggest problem in the school?”

His answer was as immediate as it was urgent: “Dysentery.” I asked him how many students were in the school and he told me there were 756 students. When I asked him how many suffered from dysentery he again replied, “756.” He also explained that the teachers and staff were also suffering from this same ailment.

Mr Chileshe showed us the water source for the school and much of the village. It was a shallow, hand-dug well that was extremely polluted. He pulled up the bucket used to draw the water and I saw that it was a rusted paint tin. The problem was obvious…

So was the solution.

I approached my Rotary Club with the need and some of the Rotarians went with me to see the well. We approached in Rotary Club of Marietta Metro, Georgia, USA, about partnering with us and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. They wholeheartedly agreed and within a few months the village and school had a new 50-metre deep water well with an India Mark 2 hand pump.

Six weeks after the installation of the pump I returned to Kasongo Basic School and met with My Chileshe, his staff and the students. He proudly announced that there was not a single case of dysentery amongst the student body, teachers or school staff. The students cheered and sang praises to Rotary.

This is Rotary “Doing Good in the World”

Now… My story is, as I said, a few years old. We want to hear your story of today. How has a water and/or sanitation project in your district in Africa made a difference in your community? How many lives have you been able to impact through the generosity of Rotarians both locally and internationally?

Please send me your story in 250 words or less. (Brevity is a blessing.) If you have a picture that can be reduced to less than 200 kilobytes please send that as well. We want to share your victories. We also want to acknowledge those within your district who have been at the forefront of the battle for clean water and proper sanitation in your part of the Rotary World.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Yours in Rotary service,

PGC

The Challenge of 2010-11

pcoleman — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:41:17 +0000

Boys hate rules. I know this because I was a boy – many years ago – and I hated rules. There were rules in my parents’ home about when to get out of bed in the morning, how to keep my room in an orderly fashion, chores both in the house and in the garden and even on who took care of the needs of our dog. Someone had to feed him, clean him and clean-up after him. As the first-born in my family, I had a part in all of these rules growing up and even though I “grew out” of some of them (The youngest brother had the nasty job of cleaning up after the dog), I was still responsible as a member of the family and as the first-born child to make sure that all the rules were kept. My wife was also the first-born in her family so we know the responsibilities expected of us by virtue of birth order.

Nature also has certain, unbreakable and unchangeable rules. What goes up will always come down… Always. Never has anyone thrown a stone into the air and had it stay there. Even the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is bound by the rule of gravity. When NASA sends a space shuttle into space they know that the fuel storage units that get the rocket off the ground will fall back to earth someplace and they have to plan for that fact. When someone forgets or neglects this rule, tragedy happens.

In business there are rules: Buy low and sell high is an important rule in stock trading. Break this rule and you are not in business very long. Another rule is to treat your customers and clients well of they will find someone who will. Break the rules – Lose your wealth.

We have rules for driving. If you drive on the wrong side of the road you will be stopped – either by a police officer or by oncoming traffic. (This is especially important when driving in countries where the rules are different than your home.) If you drive faster than the posted speed limit, then you will pay a fine (not my favourite rule, actually). Break the rules – Lose your privilege to drive (or maybe even your life).

In sport we are all aware that rules make the games playable. Only one person on the football team can touch the ball with their hands. If this rule is broken, the ball changes possession. Break it in the wrong place and the penalty kick is almost always a point for the opposition. Imagine the chaos if everyone started catching the ball. Break the rules – Lose the game.

Not surprising, Rotary also has certain rules for how to operate at club, district and international level. There is a constitution and a set of by-laws for individual clubs as well as for the operation of Rotary districts, zones and all the way to the top office of Rotary. Rotary has a code of policies for both the operation of Rotary International as well as the Rotary Foundation. These rules help us to operate efficiently and productively.

Sometimes we feel the rules “get in the way” of our success. We drive too fast; we spend too much; a player sticks out his hand to stop a ball. We try to find ways to get ahead by ignoring the rules and hoping that nobody will notice. Sometimes we get away with it. Sometimes we don’t. In every instance, however, we know that we broke the rule. Victory is never so sweet when we cheated to win.

The Rotary Four-Way Test of the Things we Think, Say and Do is our constant reminder that we – as leaders in our professions, communities and families – are responsible for making sure that rules of life and service are followed. We are the “first-born” among service organisations. We have a responsibility to be right, do right and act right.

So, here it is:

1. Is it the truth? Don’t lie… Ever!

2. Is it fair to all concerned? Don’t cheat anyone… Ever!

3. Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships? When I walk away from a situation – whether in business, community or family – be convinced that I have done all I can to leave the place better than I found it.

4. Is it Beneficial to all concerned? There are winners and losers in almost everything we do, but I want even those who lose today to learn how they can win tomorrow.

Is this an easy task? Certainly not. Only the best of the best can accomplish this. That is why Rotarians have taken on this task. We can do this because we must. It is our responsibility. It is our destiny.

President Ray Klinginsmith asked us in Montréal to be Bigger, Better and Bolder.

We know the rules. We have the playing field before us. Let’s Build Communities and Bridge Continents!

Fellowship is as Fellowship Does

pcoleman — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 18:39:15 +0000

My wife and I have been travelling in Southern California in the weeks just after the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles in June. It was, by the way, a great meeting with top-quality entertainment and logistical preparation. Well done to all who worked to make it happen!

As we have been moving up and down the coast we have had an opportunity to visit Rotarians both in their clubs and in their homes. We are ever reminded of the wonderful fellowship that exists in our close-knit “Family of Rotary.”

We have also been able to share the ideals of Rotary to a vast array of “not yet Rotarians” because we wear our Rotary Wheel on our clothing – both casual and business – and have had people ask us “What is Rotary?” Because we have identified ourselves as Rotarians we have the opportunity to share the fellowship of Rotary with others.

One of the greatest aspects of Rotary Fellowship is having complete strangers walk up to us and identify themselves as members of the local Rotary Club in their part of the Rotary World. Business executives, police officers, university professors and medical practitioners stop us in restaurants, shopping malls and even on the street and ask us which Rotary Club we represent. They are usually surprised to find that we are from Zambia, but all are eager to talk about Rotary and give us their business card so we can “talk water” when we return home.

This is a reminder to one and all that wearing the Rotary pin, badge, hat or any other indentifying mark is an important part of Rotary Fellowship. Let people know who you are and let’s all “Make Dreams Real!”

YIR,

PGC

“New Generations” Month – September

pcoleman — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 13:15:18 +0000

When most Rotarians think about the “new generation” they picture children – in our case, the Interact Clubs (The Rotary International Programme for high school aged children). I have come to realise, however, that for many of us the next generation is much older than 16-18.

For me, the next generation has already reached the “ripe old age” of 30+ and is looking for a place to call “home” in their society and culture. They are the doctors, lawyers, teachers and business people we see every day. They report the news on television, radio and in the newspaper. They teach in schools and they manage our town council offices. We forget, however, that they are the age of our own children. Why? Because we see them at work and not at home, in the garden, at the dinner table or in front of the television. Those young adults at home are “the kids.” That young adult in their office is “the grown up.”

One major focus of Rotary International for 2007-8 is membership recruitment – more bodies, more hands, more ideas and (face it) more money to do more projects! When most of us think about prospective members we think about our colleagues – the 50 to 60+ year olds with whom we have business connections or long-lasting friendships. What we tend to overlook is that “youngster” with whom we trust our money at the bank, our investments at the stockmarket and our health at the doctor’s offices.

So what can we do? Begin with a clean piece of paper and your favourite pen. (Mine is a Cross Pen given to me 20 years ago by my daughter who is now over 30 years of age.)

Make a list of your contacts this week:

Your lawyer

Your doctor

Your accountant

Your banker

Your business partner

Now, look for the person “in the wings” looking to take their place. Find that up and coming “youngster” with the drive and energy to fill the spot left when your lawyer, doctor, accountant, banker, etc. is ready to retire. Look at home (or wherever your children now live) and ask yourself if those “youngsters” you raised are ready for the big step up.

This may be hard to fathom, but you need to realise that those “kids” you overhear talking about “the old man” or “the old woman” as they look your way are not looking over your shoulder. We do not always need to look down the street for new Rotarians. Sometimes we just need to open our eyes and look around ourselves.

This week I proposed a new member to our Rotary Club. She manages an office for a multi-national organisation with an office here in Luanshya. She is the age of my children and is highly regarded by both her supervisors and employees. I almost overlooked her because she looks so young… then I remembered that I am looking much older these days.

The “New Generation” for Rotary is the “Now Generation.”

“Rotary Shares” so Share Rotary,

IPDG Patrick

Membership – The Annual Rotary Challenge

pcoleman — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 12:03:06 +0000

It seems that as August rolls around every year we, the Rotarians, try to find new and inventive ways to promote “membership” into Rotary. Perhaps we are going about this all wrong.

Rotary is, without dispute, the oldest service organisation in the world. It was recently pointed out to me that Rotary CREATED the concept of a “service organisation” like Rotary. There are other service organisations like us that have been created “in our image” over the past several years. They have club meetings, district governors, directors and trustees and even foundations. They have copied us in every possible way and we should be flattered that our Rotary model is their model. They are “clones” of Rotary.

Of course, the one aspect of Rotary they cannot copy is the fact that there is only one original!

Recently I was asked why Rotary had been passed in size by one of our “clones.” I thought about it for a few moments. We have to ask ourselves the question “Why join a copy with the original still in place?” Here are a few comparisons:

Rotary meets weekly (in most cases) while some of the other service clubs meet once or twice per month. Why is this important? We began for fellowship and we continue for service. The more we meet, the more we can fellowship and, quite frankly, the more we can serve.

Rotary is a bit more expensive. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for. The training programme in Rotary is second-to-none and Rotary leaders are exemplary in both integrity and example. From club presidents all the way to Rotary directors and The Rotary Foundation trustees, preparation for leadership is an integral part of the Rotary life. Training, of course, has a price tag.

Rotary requires participation. There are, in every club, the “RINOS” (Rotarians in name only) but the vast majority of Rotarians around the globe are busy people. They are busy in their vocation; busy with their family; busy in their faith and busy in Rotary. One club recently lost a member after many years of Rotary membership. He had sat on the sidelines for years watching other Rotarians participate in projects while he sent employees to “do his part” at a club project. When somebody handed him a shovel and suggested that he actually dig a hole to plant a tree, he became offended and ultimately resigned saying he was “too busy at work for Rotary.” The club members were sorry to see him go, but it did not affect the club activities in any way.

So, what do we DO about membership? Quite frankly, we should keep our focus on Rotary service and show our communities who we are and what we do. We should talk about our service to our community – local and international. We should make sure that Rotary projects have a BOLD Rotary identification. We should wear our Rotary pins, hats, shirts, badges etc with great pride and let people SEE who we are and what we do.

In high school our football coach put a sign above the locker-room door. It said:

“What you do speaks so loud I cannot hear a word you say.”

Well, my fellow Rotarians, let’s make sure our actions speak loudly and membership “problems” will be a thing of the past!

YIR,

IPDG Patrick Coleman

District 9210

Bidding 2006-7 “A Dieu”

pcoleman — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:42:24 +0000

That time of the year has arrived. The Rotary Year 2006-7 comes to an end at Midnight, 30^th June 2007. It has been a marvellous year.

Together we have achieved a number of goals. The Rotary District 9210 Website is now up and running after a two-year hiatus. Special thanks to Rtn Paul Brown and Rtn Mulumba Lwatula. The splash page looks great!

Obviously this will change with the new Rotary International theme and will be updated with new information from RI President Wilf Wilkinson and DG Nkole Bwalya adding messages and information.

Another incredible accomplishment is the contribution of over US$150,000 to The Rotary Foundation for the Rotary Year. (Yes, the beard grew back.) This means a DDF of over US$75,000 in the Rotary Year 2010-2011. We did this TOGETHER and we are ALL to be congratulated!

At the beginning of this Rotary Year our District was placed in probation by The Rotary Foundation because of poor reporting on completed Matching Grant projects. While we were at the RI Convention we received word that we have been removed from probation because of the efforts of our District Grant Subcommittee Chair and her persistence in following up on these grant reports.

We have successfully sent and hosted three Group Study Exchange Teams. DGSE Chair Nimrod Kapwele said he has learned a great deal about working with both teams and clubs and we anticipate the success of two outgoing and incoming teams in the next Rotary Year.

District 9210 has gone from 49 clubs to 53 clubs with the addition of the Rotary Clubs of Bwaila-Lilongwe (Malawi), Mkushi (Zambia), Ruwa (Zimbabwe) and Gwanda (Zimbabwe). The Rotary Club of Chitungwiza is nearly there with final paperwork being processed.

Ambassadorial Scholarships were an unknown aspect of our District just a few years ago, but this year we have had several scholars – both incoming and outgoing. Near the end of the Rotary Year we were given two Ambassadorial Scholarships for the 2008-9 academic year. We have also had several World Peace Scholars and one student participated in the Rotary Peace and Conflict Study Program in Bangkok, Thailand.

There have been many challenges. Not everything we have tried has worked, but we have tried and tried hard to work with the Rotary Clubs in D9210 and around the world.

I am not disappearing from sight. DG Nkole has asked me to chair The Rotary Foundation Annual Giving Sub-Committee and 2007-8 RI President Wilf Wilkinson has asked me to be a part of the 2008 Los Angeles Convention Promotion Committee. You will be hearing from me from time to time.

The sun may be setting on 2006-7, but it is rising on 2007-8 and we look forward to even more successes as “Rotary Shares” the joys and privileges of “Service Above Self.”

YIR,

IPDG Patrick

Operation Razor – Mission Accomplished!

pcoleman — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:36:09 +0000

Some say it was a promise made in a moment of weakness while others may say it was a stroke of inspiration, but whatever you call it “Operation Razor” was successful in raising over US$ 150,000 for The Rotary Foundation in District 9210 during this Rotary Year!

During The Rotary Foundation Banquet in Lilongwe last October I sat and watched Rotarians talk about The Rotary Foundation as “our” foundation and how we needed to dig deeper to keep the life-blood of the foundation flowing. My personal theme for the year is “Whatever It Takes” and every president, assistant governor and committee chair was appointed with that thought in mind. Being one who believes in doing rather than talking I made a personal pledge to shave off my beard if – and only if – the Rotarians in D9210 could reach the stated goal of US$ 100 per Rotarian by 31^st March.

Sceptics abounded. “It will never happen,” remarked more than one PDG. “You’re dreaming,” said others. Perhaps, but if you want to accomplish the impossible you have to dream bigger than sceptics think possible! Of course, Sherry and I made our personal contribution as well. One cannot expect others to do more than their leaders.

The contributions were slow at first and I thought that the sceptics might be right. Not being one to admit defeat, I promoted “Operation Razor” every week when sending out the “Snippets” to the District starting in January 2007. There was actually a “count down” to 31^st March.

When the totals were tallied by TRF and the RI fiscal agent in Zimbabwe it topped US$ 150,000 and it is STILL GROWING even after the deadline!

A promise is a promise! During The Rotary Foundation Recognition Dinner on Thursday night of DisCon 2007 I pulled out the razor and “bared all” for The Rotary Foundation. (That is, I bared all my chin and cheeks.) There were calls for the moustache to go as well, but that is not technically a part of the beard! J

For those with enquiring minds… The beard will be back. Sherry prefers fur to smooth – and I LIKE her kisses!

Happy Reading!

DG Patrick

To Get What You Have Never Had, You Must Do What You Have Never Done!

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

pcoleman — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:22:01 +0000

WHY GOD MADE MOMS

Brilliant answers given by 2nd grade school children to the following questions:

Why did God make mothers?

1. She’s the only one who knows where the cellophane tape is.

2. Mostly to clean the house.

3. To help us out of “there” when we were getting born.

How did God make mothers?

1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us.

2. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring.

3. God made my mom just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.

What ingredients are mothers made of?

1. God makes mothers out of clouds and angel hair and everything nice in the world and one dab of mean.

2. They had to get their start from men’s bones. Then they mostly use string, I think.

Why did God give you your mother and not some other mom?

1. We’re related.

2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people’s moms like me.

What kind of little girl was your mom?

1. My mom has always been my mom and none of that other stuff.

2. I don’t know because I wasn’t there, but my guess would be pretty bossy.

3. They say she used to be nice.

What did Mom need to know about Dad before she married him?

1. His last name.

2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer?

3. Does he make at least $800 a year?

4. Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?

Why did your mom marry your dad?

1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mom eats a lot.

2. She got too old to do anything else with him.

3. My grandma says that mom didn’t have her thinking cap on.

Who’s the boss at your house?

1. Mom doesn’t want to be boss, but she has to because dad’s such a goof ball.

2. Mom. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed.

3. I guess Mom is, but only because she has a lot more to do than Dad.

What’s the difference between moms & dads?

1. Moms work at work and work at home & dads just go to work at work.

2. Moms know how to talk to teachers without scaring them.

3. Dads are taller & stronger, but moms have all the real power ’cause that’s who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friend’s.

4. Moms have magic; they make you feel better without medicine.

What does your mom do in her spare time?

1. My mom says she don’t do spare time.

2. Nothing. She pays bills all day long.

What would it take to make your mom perfect?

1. On the inside she’s already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery.

2. Diet. You know her hair. I’d diet, maybe blue.

If you could change one thing about your Mom, what would it be?

1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I’d get rid of that.

2. I’d make my Mom smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it and not me.

3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.

To all the Moms in our Family of Rotary:

Happy Mother’s Day

Tribute to the Ladies of Rotary!

pcoleman — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 16:13:52 +0000

The month of May is the only month without a specific Rotary theme. I don’t know why that is. I have always liked May. In fact, it is my favourite month. In our District we customarily have our District Conference in May. The weather is always comfortable in May. My birthday is in May! Face it, May is a great month!

In addition to the other great points about the month of May, we celebrate “Mothers’ Day” is during this best-of-all months. Mothers are pretty important. Without them we would not amount to much! In fact, we wouldn’t amount to anything because we wouldn’t be here. Mothers have that innate ability (even desire) to go through childbirth and be happy about it. I watched two of my children being born and I can attest to the fact that as much as I love my children, I would not endure childbirth to bring them into the world. If it was up to men to have the children, the race would completely die out. We are just not designed to do that. Mothers are indeed special people!

With that thought in mind, I have decided that this first “Snippet” of May is dedicated to the hard working ladies of the Family of Rotary – sometimes referred to as “ANNS.” There is a lot of speculation about where the term “Rotary Anns” originated. Some say it was on a train to a Rotary Convention when the wives of two Rotarians (both named Ann) were introduced when they arrived as “The Rotary Anns.” Another idea is that while members of Rotary Clubs are called Rotarians their wives could be called “Rotariannes” by feminising the word Rotarian. Whatever the origin, the ladies have had a remarkable impact on Rotary.

If you go to the Rotary website you will not find any mention of “Rotary Anns” or “Rotariannes” anywhere. There is some mention of “Inner Wheel” clubs, but even then there is little explanation of who they are, what they do or how they are organised.

For the past twenty years Rotary has welcomed ladies into Rotary Clubs as equal members of the clubs. In our District we have had several lady club president, committee chairs and even assistant governors. One of them is currently leading a GSE Team in New York. We have yet to have a lady DG because none of them have submitted their application, but it can’t be too far off in the future.

Nevertheless, we have some very active “Anns Clubs” and “Inner Wheel Clubs” in the District here are reports from four of them!

Happy Reading!

DG Patrick