State of the District Address
Every District Governor is faced with daunting challenges.
Organizing a District Conference was one of the most formidable tasks I had to face. Let me tell you why:
First, I had to make sure that we would have an effective and meaningful conference. This entailed my hands-on involvement in the program plans, technical requirements, physical arrangements and funding – and despite the actual costs, I wanted to make sure that the conference would be affordable to all.
Second, I feel that this conference is the most opportune time to let you know of what we have accomplished as Governor of District 3830 in the past 9 months. In short, I feel accountable to you, my fellow Rotarians, to make a report on the state of the District as of today.
It is in this context that I now have the task and the pleasure to share with you where we are at this time of the Rotary Year. My report will cover 10 major points of accomplishments.
FIRST: MEMBERSHIP GROWTH
At the beginning of our journey, we saw that many clubs had suffered a decline in membership in the past years.
Out of the district’s 76 clubs, there were 34 clubs – or 45% of the total clubs in the district – which had less than 20 members.
We chose to adopt innovative strategies in membership growth. First, we encouraged internal growth, rather than club extensions. Second, clubs that failed to function were encouraged to merge with other clubs.
Small clubs were closely monitored and given the confidence to grow their numbers and reach a minimum of 20. The other healthier clubs were not neglected in our drive to push the membership up; we likewise encouraged them to increase their membership by at least 10%.
What were the results of our innovative strategy?
In the spirit of transparency, let me share with you the bad news first:
Out of the 34 clubs that had less than 20 members:
1. Four (4) clubs failed to function despite our best efforts to revitalize them. One (1) club was persuaded to merge with other clubs. The three (3) others are being persuaded to look into this option.
2. While 4 clubs were able to finally hit a membership of 20 and beyond, 20 clubs still have less than 20 members.
But here’s the good news on membership growth:
1. The clubs with less than 20 members continue to gain new members. They may yet reach the 20-member mark before this Rotary year is over.
2. Overall, we exceeded our target net gain of 10% in membership growth. The District’s net gain of 272 as of March 05, 2008 represents a net increase of 14%, surpassing our target by 4%.
3. With almost all of the clubs having a net gain of 1 or better, 84% of District 3830 will be eligible for the R.I. Presidential Citation. Our target is that 100% of our functioning clubs should be eligible for the Presidential Citation.
4. Our Rotarian per club ratio of 26.79 as of July 1, 2007 has improved to 28.46 as of today. Although admittedly we are still below the worldwide ratio of 36.86 Rotarians per club, our district’s ratio is the highest in the whole Philippines.
5. There were clubs that showed amazing efforts to increase their membership. I am proud to present the Top 10 clubs in membership growth in our district:
1. RC Makati Buendia, with a net growth of 194%
2. RC Paranaque Palanyag, with a net growth of 100%
3. RC Makati Southwest, with a net growth of 92%
4. RC Makati Legazpi, with a net growth of 73%
5. RC Makati Northwest, with a net growth of 66%
6. RC Makati Rockwell, with a net growth of 60%
7. RC Makati Bonifactio, with a net growth of 52%
8. RC Makati South, with a net growth of 35%
9. RC Puerto Princesa, with a net growth of 28%
10. RC Makati Central, with a net growth of 16%
I would like to give exceptional recognition to RC Makati Buendia, RC Paranaque Palanyag, and RC Makati Legazpi which registered outstanding net gains in membership.
SECOND: TRF
I am very proud to report that as of end of December 2007, our district was included in the Top 10 listing of the Per Capita TRF District Contribution Summary.
I am also very proud to report that our district, District 3830, has the second biggest contribution in Zones 7 and 8 of $62.01 per capita. Let’s look at the listing.
New contributions to TRF after December are still unreported but the amount is substantial.
At the start of the year, we set our target TRF contribution at US$100 per capita or US$ 195,000 based on last July’s SAR. We will endeavor to reach our goal of US$100 per capita before the end of the year.
One of our most successful TRF programs year after year is the Group Study Exchange. In our midst today is the GSE Team from France. We welcome them to our district conference!
We expect to host another GSE team from the USA in May.
This year we opted to send two (2) GSE teams: one team went to France in late November. A second team is bound for Connecticut, USA in April. Our GSE team members were selected through a rigorous screening system. We selected high caliber young professionals, with unquestionable integrity and moral character.
THIRD: CLUB LEADERSHIP PLAN
In terms of organization development, our most significant initiative was to vigorously encourage all Clubs to adopt the Club Leadership Plan as a “best practice” structure for effective club operations. The CLP was not known to most of the clubs in the district. We are happy to report that today, 90% of the clubs have adopted the CLP and its basic elements.
With the CLP in place, we believe we have laid the foundation for sustainable growth and continuous improvement in club operations over the next three to five years.
FOURTH: TRANSPARENCY ON FUNDS
Let me tell you now about funding items that have never before been discussed in any DISCON. Because I am an accountant by training, I feel obliged to be transparent to you on these matters.
First, let’s talk about the District Designated Fund or the DDF.
Our total District Designated Fund (DDF) available for District 3830 for the year 2007-2008 amounted to US$174,000. This includes unspent DDF carried forward from previous Rotary years of US$82,000.
As our total for the year is only $92,000 which represents approximately 50% of the general unrestricted TRF contributions during the centennial year, US$16,821 was transferred to the District Simplified Grant (DSG) and has been converted to Pesos at P45.88/US$1.00. Added to the DSG was the unspent DSG from last year of P172,000. To date, almost all of the DSG funds have been appropriated as 34 projects were approved and granted.
After deducting the amount transferred to DSG, the amount available for DDF matching grants, GSE and others amounted to US$157,000. RI has approved and funded a total of US$31,000 inclusive of one GSE team which has an allowance of US$11,000.
Pending/submitted matching grants of US$36,000 are for funding, leaving us with an unallocated amount of US$90,000 which if not used will be carried forward to the term of my successor.
However, the District responded to support the Polio Plus campaign this year and is allocating US$10,000 of this remaining balance to the Polio Plus campaign. We will sign this donation shortly.
Secondly, let’s talk about the GOVERNOR’S FUND.
As you know, an amount of P 300 per member, called the GOVERNOR’S FUND, is collected from each Rotarian. I wish to report that we received a total of P599,100, all of which have been plowed back principally in district affairs and subsidy to the clubs.
The third item I would like to make a report on is the DISASTER FUND.
The district collected a total of P 178,300 for Disaster Funds at P100 per member in the district. The amount is intact and should be used for disaster relief.
Fortunately, there has been no disaster to warrant the use of these funds. We are still building up the funds. You will recall that the Disaster Fund was scrapped a year ago. The funds remain intact. The full amount, if unused, shall be turned over to my successor.
Finally, allow me to make a report on the ADVANCE FUNDING ALLOCATED BY R.I. FOR THE DISTRICT GOVERNOR.
District Governors are given by RI an advance allocation, to be spent for running the Governor’s office.
This year, the District received an advance of P359,000 representing 70% of the District-approved allocation. This will be liquidated at the end of the Governor’s term in order to avail of the balance of 30%. As you know, the total RI-allocated amount is much less than our actual expenditures in running the Governor’s office.
FIFTH: INITIATIVE TO FUND CLUB PROJECTS
I am happy to let you know that even before the start of my term, I initiated an alliance of the 10 District Governors in the Philippines.
Together, we conceptualized a car raffle intended to provide seed funds for clubs’ projects.
Our District was able to cede to the clubs, raffle tickets in lots, which were in turn sold for cash, allowing each club to raise at least P100,000 for their respective projects. I’m happy to report that aside from a Paul Harris of US$2,000 which were raffled off to the clubs, consolation prizes amounting to P110, 000 were won by the clubs in the District with the 2nd Grand prize of “Toyota Fortuner” worth P1.2 million won by the RC Makati Jose P. Rizal.
SIXTH: SERVICE PROJECTS
In keeping with the major humanitarian issues espoused by RI President Wilfird I. Wilkinson, the district encouraged initiatives in the areas of Literacy, Health and Hunger, and Water.
Literacy
A Literacy project unique to our district is called the “Concentrated Language Encounter” or “CLE”, a program that has been proven to significantly improve the reading and comprehension skills of children. About 11,890 indigent children from public schools have benefited from the program.
Health and Hunger
Most of the clubs organized feeding programs that benefited thousands of malnourished children. A district-wide program to vaccinate indigent children against measles was successfully accomplished. RI’s continuous drive to eradicate polio is alive in this district.
Water
New headways in water conservation and cleaning were developed in District 3830. Among these is the water purification device that RC Paseo de Roxas invented. It is a cost-effective system that can provide clean drinking water in indigent communities and public schools. The pilot sites of this unique project are a city jail, public schools and indigent communities. It is envisioned to serve at least 4,500 beneficiaries in the immediate future.
Fellowships
We held several sporting events. While golf proved once again to be the top sport in the District in terms of attendance, the billiards and badminton tournaments also had extensive participation.
Not to be outdone was the Rotary Family Olympics which brought together Rotarians, spouses, children and grandchildren, in a day-long activity of fun games.
The club inductions done in various themes freely expressed the creativeness of our Rotarians. We held an Oktoberfest where fun was as plentiful as the beer served. The district held its Christmas party at my residence. The rains failed to dampen the spirits of the Sharing Presidents and the District Officers. We held a post-Valentine dance which featured fun dance and musical numbers from the Sharing Presidents.
In the area of Vocational Service, the district help job fairs in two different areas, producing meaningful results with positive employment to a big number of job applicants.
In the area of Service to Youth, we posted a 27% increase in Rotaractors and Interactors.
We continue to encourage our clubs to continue forming new Interactor and Rotaractor clubs to increase our partners in service. We held multiple district activities focusing on youth empowerment including projects that are unique to this district, such as the Model United Nations Assembly (or MUNA) of RC Makati Jose P.Rizal. I also would like to cite the LEAP Leaders’ Congress (LEAP, meaning, League of Extraordinary and Admired Pilipinos) of RC Makati North for encouraging our youth to believe in the goodness of our country, and that we can build a better future. I was amazed at the quality of participation of our district’s Interactors and Rotaractors.
We salute our Youth and hope that our district can continuously guide them to hone their leadership skills and values as, indeed, they are our country’s future source of corporate and government leaders.
In International Service, we inspired clubs to look for international sisterhoods to get better exposure and reciprocal assistance, particularly among clubs coming from very mature districts which are looking for sister clubs to channel their resources. Many sister clubs were concluded in the past months.
SEVENTH: UPGRADED COMMUNICATION
At the start of my term, I was determined to upgrade the district’s communication network by harnessing available technology for more effective communication and coordination among and between the Sharing Presidents, the District Leadership Team, and the District Governor.
We established an interactive district website www.rotary3830.org which serves as the district’s community bulletin board that chronicles District and Club activities. The Governor’s Monthly Letter (GML) is published both in printed copies and electronic format (eGML) which is downloadable from the district website.
EIGHTH: CONTINUING ROTARY EDUCATION
In keeping with RI’s 3-yea-strategic plan which was started this year, we put in place a program for continuing Rotary education at both the district and club levels.
The district’s training arm, called the Rotary Academy, was mandated to reach out to clubs for their specific training needs.
We vigorously exerted efforts to bring the clubs and their leaders to “best practice” standards in club operations and governance.
NINTH: COOPERATION, NOT COMPETITION, IN SERVICE PROJECTS
Our Sharing Presidents know that from Day One, we strongly pushed for a spirit of cooperation among the clubs in carrying out their service projects. We continue to encourage these alliances and “big brother” support as these resulted in bigger accomplishments and a wider scope of coverage in service projects. Through these alliances, small clubs were given the opportunity to reach out to more beneficiaries. The atmosphere of bonding created among the Sharing Presidents is quite unprecedented.
In fact, the Sharing Presidents are so closely bonded through these alliances that they truly believe their period of service is too short!
TENTH: REINVENTION OF RATING SYSTEM
We reinvented the rating system of clubs to a new standard of excellence where performance is rated in terms of what each club can do to meet its objectives. The birth of the North Star was conceptualized to meet this objective of setting new standards of excellence among clubs.
The clubs in District 3830 are very much alive. The image of District 3830 as the premier district in the Philippines is revitalized.
As we continue to inspire our club leaders to make their journey “SAFE”, we are confident that District 3830’s road map is clear and every Sharing President aspires to reach the North Star, the club’s symbol of excellence.
In conclusion, I am proud to say that:
YES, DISTRICT 3830 IS HEALTHY !
YES, DISTRICT 3830 IS VIGOROUS !
YES, DISTRICT 3830 IS DYNAMIC !
YES….YES….YES….
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