Working together...Lead by example

Chicago was cold. Colder than the year before and just three weeks before we arrived there, a new buzz word was noted...polar vortex. It is when the USA was plunged into a deep freeze that brought the temperature in Chicago to minus 21 degrees Fahrenheit or an unbelievable minus 29.5 degrees Celsius.

I arrived in Chicago late on Saturday afternoon for the meeting of coordinators from around the world. The temperature was minus 8 degrees Celsius. As a Durbanite that is extremely cold and the wind chill did not help the situation. As I walked out of the airport to the bus terminal to get the hotel transfer my brain began to register the cold, the extreme cold and then like a moment in time your body gets the shock and kicks into survival mode. The rest of the week was no better as the snow falls created a winter wonderland and continued to bring in the cold. Fortunately for us, it was all work and a little play so being "locked away" in your hotel for 7 days was welcomed with a smile.

Our purpose for the meeting was for engagement and strategic planning and an opportunity of working together with our fellow coordinators focusing on Public Image and Rotary Foundation matters. As a Rotary Coordinator my focus areas are membership development, strategic planning and new generations. We had come together for the second year and as we develop into our roles more lessons are learnt and experiences shared amongst the delegates. It is also a wonderful opportunity for us to network, to look at possible project opportunities in our respective countries and to build on the friendship and fellowship we have. Our theme for the week was " Working together...Lead by example"

And whilst this might be our theme it does resonate through our wonderful organisation in that it is necessary for all of us to work together to achieve the success we so desire for our clubs and for ourselves. Lead by example is also apt for it is the responsibility for each one of us, no matter our area of responsibility within the organisation to lead by example. To show that we care. To show that we want to share. Share in our friendship, our fellowship, our service activities and most especially share in the responsibility of growing the organisation.

April is Rotary's magazine month. It is the month in which we acknowledge and celebrate the regional magazines around the world that bring us our news from RI and our regions. Rotary Africa is one such magazine that serves most of sub-Saharan Africa. We have several regional magazines worldwide each providing readers with an update of International and local news and activities. Having had the privilege of serving at Rotary Africa it must be said that the board of Directors all of whom are volunteers work tirelessly in bringing to us a professional and well presented magazine. And whilst many may consider this a self praise I think that it is appropriate that we salute and acknowledge the efforts of this band of volunteers who receive articles, edit them, set out the magazine, proof read and arrange its printing under difficult circumstances and licence requirements from RI. So I believe that it is important to support our regional magazine for this is your opportunity for telling us your story. Use this magazine so that it can be your voice on Rotary matters.

As we round up our training sessions, club president-elects will be moving to the next step of their planning process and I want to take this opportunity to talk a little on the importance of a strategic plan in your club and in our Districts. One important consideration is that when we draw up this plan, we engage our members and notably our successors who are required to build on the goals and aspirations of the Club. To this end one would consider short term goals, those which can be completed within the same Rotary year and then long term goals which may take a year or more to execute and achieve. And then there are those goals which are very long term and sustainable.

What steps should you consider when doing a strategic plan? These will include:

(a) Forming a small strategic planning committee. This should preferably be the troika of your club presidents plus some key portfolios in your club

(b) Do a SWOT analysis for your club

(c) Identify your goals

(d) Prioritise the goals

(e) Determine action plans to achieve these goals

(f) Set up time frames in which to achieve these goals

(g) Evaluate your progress

 

Don't be afraid to modify your goals. There may be a number of reasons for this but don't be afraid to make theses changes that reflect the current situation for the club. Finally it is appropriate to end with the new slogan on the RI website....

Join leaders..Exchange ideas...Take action or "JET"

So let's fuel up the JET and take our clubs and districts to another level.

 

Natty Moodley

Rotary Africa

April 2014