Roti bb jan 2016

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Using information technology to enhance Rotary service, fellowship and knowledge

JANUARY 2016

ROTI

ROTARIANS ON THE INTERNET

What ROTIans

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VISIT US AT

ROTIan Doug Vincent with kid beneficiary of Project Shoebox at Nogales, Mexico

www.roti.org


BOARD 2O15-2017 Glo Nethercutt, Chair RC Mabalacat, D3790, Philippines Tris Tristram, Vice Chair RC Four Marks and Medstead, D1110, UK Marilyn Axler, Secretary South Jersey Rotary Eclub, D7640, USA Eugene Beil, Treasurer RC Hudson, D6950, Fl, USA Norm Winterbottom, Sgt at Arms RC Milford,D9910, Aukland, New Zealand DIRECTORS Chris Sweeney, Webmaster RC Conwy, D1180, North Wales Don Higgins, ROTI FB RC Pinellas Park, D6950, Florida, USA John Buchanan, Boardlist moderator RC South St.Paul/Inver Grove Heights D5960, USA Madhumita Bishnu RC Calcutta Uptown, D3291, India Subhash Saraf Rotary Aundh Pune, D3131, India Chip Ross RC Strathcona Sunrise, D5020, Canada Jesse Tanchangco RC Loyola Heights, D3780, Philippines Patrick Coleman RC Luanshya, D9210, Zambia Robin Chapple RC Sedona, D5490, Australia Marco Kappenberger Eclub of Apia/Samoa/Polynesia District 9920, Samoa Deborah Perrone-Guelfi RC Estancia Centro, D4420, Brazil COUNCIL OF ADVISERS All past chairs BREADBASKET Editorial Board G. A. Nethercutt, Mabalacat 3790 Phils Subash Saraf, D3131 India G N Sivaramakrishna, D3230 India RC Madras North

from the

CHAIR Glo Nethercutt Rotary Club of Mabalacat D3790, Philippines

ROTI Board Resolutions

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he board had been pretty active these past weeks, discussed and approved a number of resolutions, to wit:

“RESOLVED, Ÿ Creation of a ROTI Facebook, exclusively for

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registered members, to be administered by Don Higgins; ROTI Tower to remain as hub for ROTIans and board-authorized guests; https://www.facebook.com/RotariansOnTheI nternet/ Inclusion of Don Higgins as technical support, and additional member of the board; Creation of ROTI Whatsapp, mobile app, ROTI on the ROAD, to be administered by Reinaldo Vicini. (Moving to Telegram on hold.) Creation of ROTI Tweeter account; Revamp of ROTI website by Chris Sweens; Confirmation of ROTI Annual Meeting on 30 May 2016, 5 to 7pm, at Dodam Dodam of Kintex 2 Bldg, Seoul, Korea, US$35 each person at cost; 8 members of the board and at least 2 past chairs will constitute a decision vote for any board motion;

The board is motivated in making this fellowship a continuing success by using the Internet as tool in making us grow. We are now building our membership on every social media that is available (and friendly). We appreciate the work of ROTIans, like Reinaldo Vicini, in creating tools for our communication and bonding. The best app that we all need is called Consistency. We have the means to be counted - it is called the website. A volunteer spends hours to make it look very good and easy for every ROTIan to log in. It will be launched soon. We need you to be in.


BOARD DECISIONS, continued/

Recently, after thorough discussion on ROTI membership, the board approved to Ÿ Allow Rotary Alumni to be members of

ROTI, provided (a) that the alumnus be sponsored or endorsed by a current member of ROTI; that the sponsor submit the alumnus' credentials; or (b) that the alumnus submit his/her own credentials, verification by ROTI membership committee; ALUMNI defined as - “including (but not limited to) Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Yo u t h E x c h a n g e , R o t a r y Yo u t h Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotary Peace Fellowships, Global Grant Scholarships, Vocational Training Teams (members and leaders), District Grant Scholarships, New Generations Service Exchange and Rotary Foundation awards to individuals in former TRF programs, such as: Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, Group Study Exchange, Rotary Volunteers.” ROTI board vice chair Tris Tristram declared the board resolution to ROTI general membership, further confirming Ÿ There will be a vote to change the bylaws shortly. The vote will be online at roti.org by members This vote will take place shortly. Ÿ Members need to verify their membership to vote. Verification is achieved by visiting roti.org, logging in and updating your details and you are requested to do so. Note that only verified members can vote. WEBSITE The website will be launched in a few days for LOG IN and update of data by ROTI members. www.roti.org will be more of a member-initiated function. Long live this great cyber fellowship!

JANUARY

celebrates VOCATIONAL SERVICE What is vocational service?

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f you are an active, engaged Rotarian, you probably view vocational service as a way of life, even if you find it difficult to articulate a clear definition. The handbook can help you gain a better understanding of vocational service and equip you with ideas to help you practice it through your club activities and in your career.

The concept of vocational service The Object of Rotary is a philosophical statement of Rotary’s purpose and the responsibilities of Rotarians. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the Second Object, which calls on Rotarians to “encourage and foster”: Ÿ High ethical standards in business and professions Ÿ The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations Ÿ The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society As a Rotarian, how can you put these ideals into action? Consider these suggestions: Ÿ Talk about your vocation in your club, and take time to

learn about fellow members’vocations. Ÿ Use your professional skills to serve a community. Ÿ Practice your profession with integrity, and inspire

others to behave ethically through your own words and actions. Ÿ Help a young person achieve his or her career aspirations. Ÿ Guide and encourage others in their professional development. Ÿ

If you do any of these things, you are performing vocational service. And if vocational service motivates and energizes you, then you’re in the right place, because vocational service is the very essence of Rotary. It is what sets Rotary apart from other service organizations.


COVER STORY

What ROTIansD0 Doug Vincent AND

Project Shoebox “The smile is our reward “ - Doug

NOGALES, MEXICO

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oug Vincent of RC Woodstock Oxford, Canada, is perhaps the most traveled ROTIan in the world. After a lecture stint at recent Zone Institute held in Manila, Doug is now again on the road, this time, participating in Project Shoebox at Nogales, Mexico. January 16 at 1:10pm, he wrote: We've been enjoying our Roadtrek as we travel across USA and into Mexico. Good to have Rotary friends driving us in Mexico so we do not risk taking our vehicle into a very remote place >>> with rough dirt roads. >>> A good Rotary project in Nogales, Mexico. Water fountains sponsored by Rotarians at local schools. Otherwise, no water for the children to drink. This has developed through our annual shoebox distribution project. The crowd has already gathered for our arrival. In all, overf 1200 families were served. — in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico.


Chip Ross wrote: Good work, Doug Vincent. There is so much to do. Our club, Strathcona Sunrise Rotary is very involved with Cabo Corrientes, just south of Puerto Vallarta. Check out our page at Mexican Schools Project-2015.

Chip Ross AND

MEXICAN SCHOOL PROJECTS - 2015

A community street-cleaning project

Miles for Mexico - our campaign to raise gas money to take the next ambulance and bus to Mexico .... if you would like to help us we'd gladly let you!!

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few months ago our Mexican sister Rotary Club let us know that there was a lady who lived quite a long way out of town who needed a bicycle so she could take her child to school each day. We asked our club members if anyone had a bike that they weren't using that we could send when we sent the ambulance to Mexico. Sure enough someone did, it went south, and now we have a picture. Ignacio, President of El Tuito Rotary says "the senora send us her thanks - this photo was taken today I was going to work and I saw the lady taking her daughter to school riding the bike you donated. This lady is very poor. Every time she sees me she thanks me for the bike and I thank you Strathcona Sunrise Rotary!! - CHIP ROSS, Strathcona Sunrise Rotary


By G N Sivaramakrishna

DABBAWALA - Unique Vocation Who is a “Dabbawala” and what is his daily routine. The word Dabbawala is having a connotation of a Hindi word, meaning a person with a Dabba (a box). The inner meaning is dabba is referred to as a lunch box in colloquial language and hence this goes to add up to a person who carries a lunch box. Mumbai, the financial capital of India as a city is a longitudinal growing one. Thereby since the traversing angle is a straight crisscross if one has to move in and out of the CBD, is time consuming ; people who need to leave home to work, need to do so early in the day.

Now pan yourself back to Dabbawala delivery mechanism. It’s the same as above except the automobiles get replaced by men with cycles and other such modes, warehouses get replaced by vantage points in the city for a few minutes of storage and re-routing. There is no cooling period or storage delays. All transactions need to get done on the same day.

Hence someone who need to have a lunch should carry it early in the morning. This would make it not so fresh. It is at this need the vocation, Dabbawala started. The concept is a complete cycle when one person collects the lunch packed in a box from the household at 11 am and with a bunch of such collected ones getting into a relayed activity thereafter.

Activity Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ

Collection of the lunch box Transit points' movement Distribution Relay to user Reverse action to deliver back to the residence , the empty lunch box


The beauty of this transaction is the person who collects the dabba at the origin in the house is not the one who delivers to the destination person, nor does he know who it is. Similarly, the final delivery person does not know where this dabba has originated from. The Vocation part now. There has been no miss of a wrong box delivered to a wrong person and no single day there has been a miss of activity as well. This has been going on for more than 125 years. This vocation od lunch service started in the then calls Bombay in 1890. Studied by consultants and business schools for the secrets of their proclaimed near-flawless efficiency, the dabbawalas have been feted by British royals (Prince Charles) and titans of industry (Richard Branson) alike. Even FedEx, which supposedly knows something about logistics, has paid them a visit. In 2010, the Harvard Business Review published a study of the dabbawala system entitled “On-Time Delivery, Every Time”. In it, the authors asserted that the dabbawalas operate to Six Sigma standards even though they have few special skills, charge a minimal fee (around $10-$13 a month) and use no IT.

Transit ……….........Unloading….......................... Awaiting transfer

A Unique, Vocation indeed. Some Statistics

Another stage of the relay process….

Daily lunches ( 2015 ) – 130,000 Daily transactions – 260,000 Annual Delivery – 80 million transactions Annual failures record – less than 300 per year! Salary for the Dabbawala per month – USD 200 Cost per month for the lunch user for this service – USD 13 per month

For more information , please see http://mumbaidabba wala.in/


It's a great feel to have work/life balance. Priorities need to be lined up. It need to consider on what matters most to you. No rush. Just peace of mind. A calmness to life.

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How BALANCED is your LIFE?

alance will not just happen. We have to work on it and be intentional about establishing margin in our lives. Recovering balance to work and life takes awareness, courage, and might involve risk. Swenson suggests the following: Ÿ Learn to decline with gratitude. Before you

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agree to something, don't check your calendar—check your goals. Only say, “Yes,” out of genuine interest. Defend boundaries. Having clarity around our core priorities and what matters most gives us the courage needed to defend our boundaries. Have several gears. In many workplaces, there seems to be only one speed, and that is fast. There are times when we need to shift to “park” or “neutral” in order to be mindful, which can lead to better decisions and healthier relationships. Obey the speed limit. Everyone might be “speeding,” but you know yourself. When you are going “too fast,” you are likely to break down. Seek solitude. Find time to “unplug and disconnect” in order to remember your priorities. Consider a silent retreat to stop thinking about work. Maximize our energy. Energy, not time, is the main component of high performance. According to Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz in their book, “The Power of Full Engagement,” “Full engagement begins with feeling eager to get to work in the morning, equally happy to return home in the evening, and capable of setting clear boundaries between the two.” Take care of yourself. While it is common sense to get sufficient sleep, nutrition, and exercise, as a result of progress, this is not often the case. Our body is a system and just as with automobiles, we have to take care of maintenance if we want the vehicle to operate properly. Cherish the home. Swenson says it best: “If we wish to have a work/life balance, we first need a 'life' and 'home' to occupy that side of the equation.” While not everyone has a spouse and children, at the end of the day, we each have some type of family in broad terms—people who care about our wellbeing. “The family, traditionally, is the great shock absorber of society… The shock absorber itself has been shocked.”

Shared by

PDG Subhash Saraf, RID 3131, RLISA Recently I had the fine opportunity to read a thought provoking article on the possibility of a work/life balance written by Jann E. Freed, Ph.D. , Leadership Development and Change Management Consultant of The Genysys Group

BECOMING MORE RESILIENT Most of us have drained our margins instead of sustaining them. Tips on how to become more resilient and increase our margins: Ÿ Create a stop "doing list" and create a "learn

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list." Stop doing the things that add stress and start making time to learn new things. Build support for renewal. The higher we go in an organization, the more we tend to live in a “fishbowl,” where it feels as though everyone is watching us and we are all alone. Create or join peer groups to share best practices and to address common challenges. Plan a personal retreat. Find a place where you can get away from the pressures and tensions of daily life—both professional and personal. Develop a practice. Find a way to “break free” in order to stay grounded. Yoga, mindfulness meditation, and journaling are examples of practices to help you get in touch with your core values—with what matters most. Find a role model. Seek out someone who is living life in a way that appeals to you - a like of resilience and renewal. What are they doing to renew their spirit and to keep life in balance? The most important person to lead is yourself, so self-development is critical to leadership development. In order to have a sense of balance in your work and in your life, be a resilient leader by intentionally building your margin.


A MatC Journal

True

iGive.com

GIVING

iGive is a free service where shopping at any of 1617 stores like Amazon, Travelcity, Overstock, and many more, means a donation to your favorite cause.

And we all know those who give only for recognition. - Bob Shoemaker

TRUE GIVING is the MOST WONDERFUL of THINGS

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Shopping via iGive is essentially a store rebate program where iGive members have the opportunity to donate their rebate to their chosen cause

his poem came from a local woman of Sri Lanka who lost her family in the tsunami:

To give cleanly without debt To give without having taken first To give to their, not your need To give something you value without recourse To give without creating bitterness in another To give without offending cultures To give without leaving conditions To give silently and not take fame in giving To give without taking the dignity of the benefactor To not give truly is not to give To give with a plaque is to in-debt To give publicly is an exchange of value To give without empathy is to take dignity To give with conditions is to employ To give having taken is to trade To give unfairly is to divide To give hope that cannot be sustained is to disappoint To give without value is to dispose To give to your need is to profit To give a debt is to enslave

Only the WISEST have achieved TRUE GIVING, have learned to GIVE with TRUST and leave the greatest gift of DIGNITY.

iGive; an organization that provides a portion of your purchases to ROTI, or other organziations you choose. I buy a lot from Amazon and a percentage of my payments go to ROTI. This was set up by ROTIan Stan Khan and continued by ROTI Treasurer Gene Beil several years ago. - Ron Nethercutt

Your email address: gan3790@yahoo.com You are currently supporting : Rotarians on the Internet To date, you've raised $0.00 for your chosen cause(s). Please allow up to 30 days ( after the shipment/travel date ) for your purchase and resulting donation to be credited to your cause automatically. Your current cause has raised : $132.99

MAJOR DONOR RECEPTION

Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith and the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation encourage you to save the date for the 2016 Major Donor Reception at Rotary International’s Convention in Seoul, Korea. With your support, The Rotary Foundation continues to make the world a better place. We would be honored to commemorate your generosity and enjoy your company at this year’s reception event. 2016 Major Donor Reception Date: Tuesday, 31 May 2016 Time: 17:30-19:00 Location: Grand Ballroom, KINTEX 1 Exhibition Center


Benefits of Membership excerpts

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otary is growing. We have 1.23 million members, in more clubs than ever before. New members continue to join, and choose to stay; our numbers have grown by over 8,500 new members just since July first.

>>>But we know that in order to move forward, we have to be doing more to build Rotary’s greatest asset of all: our membership. By building clubs that are not only large, but diverse; not only skilled, but motivated; with not only the drive but the ability to succeed. At Rotary headquarters, we are working hard to find new and innovative ways to add more value to Rotary membership, such as our Rotary Global Rewards. In just over half a year, we’ve had over 44,000 visits to the site, from well over 12,000 users: more than half of them have redeemed one of the over 700 offers that are now available, saving money and strengthening the Rotary network. It’s still largely U.S.-centric but expanding and growing each day to other parts of the world. We’ve become more flexible than ever in our clubs, finding new ways to make Rotary membership a practical and appealing option to people at all stages of their lives, families, and careers. >>>When you hear these stories of Rotary, when your hearts are filled with wonder at the work that Rotary is doing, and with awe at the thought of what we could be doing, I ask you to remember that it does not begin with you or with me. It begins with our members, working in their communities, meeting in their clubs, enjoying their service, coming together through Rotary, because they know that Rotary is their best path to a life well lived.

>>>Rotary’s policy on gender equality is absolutely clear. Yet nearly one-fifth of our clubs today continue to exclude women, usually by claiming that they simply cannot find women who are qualified for membership. I would say that any Rotarian who makes this argument, or believes it, lacks the two most basic qualifications for Rotary membership: honesty and good sense. Let me tell those, who choose to live in a Jurassic Park era, that they should take a moment to remember what happened to the dinosaurs. They became extinct! Equality for women is not just a nice extra. It is absolutely essential to our service, to our future. If we don’t put it front and center, we are dead in the water before we even begin. A club that shuts out women shuts out much more than half the talent, half the ability, and half the connections it should have. It closes out the perspectives that are essential to serving families and communities effectively. It damages not only its own service, but our entire organization, by reinforcing the stereotypes that limit us the most. It makes our partners take us less seriously. And it makes all of Rotary less attractive to potential members, especially the younger people who are so crucial to our future.

>>>>>>>>>>>> I am pleased to announce that His Holiness Pope Francis will officiate at a Mass to Rotarians at St. Peter’s Square, Rome, on 30 April. The Jubilee of Rotarians is a special event hosted by Rotary District 2080 and the Vatican. We will have 8,000 seats reserved for Rotary club members, as well as friends and family. I believe this event is a tremendous honor that will raise Rotary’s status across so much of the world, and it should bring us all great happiness to be a part of it, regardless of our own religions and beliefs.


2015-2016

PRESIDENTIAL CONFERENCES

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o highlight Rotary’s work in its areas of focus, RI President K.R. Ravindran and Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Ray Klinginsmith are jointly convening a series of presidential conferences.

RI Presidents (L-R) John Germ 2016-17, Ravi Ravindran 2015-16, Ian Riseley 2017-18

The first of the series, the Rotary World Peace Conference, was held 15-16 January in Ontario, California, USA, just before the 2016 International Assembly. The two-day event brought together community and business leaders, Rotarians and non-Rotarians from all sectors of society to exchange ideas related to conflict prevention and resolution. Upcoming conferences: Ÿ Disease Prevention and Treat-

2016-2017 THEME

“I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary’s service to humanity,” said Rotary Presidentelect John Germ

ment Conference, Cannes, France, 19-20 February Ÿ Economic Development Conference, Cape Town, South Africa, 27 February Ÿ Literacy and Water, Sanitation, Hygiene (WASH) in Schools, Kolkata, India, 11-13 March Ÿ WASH in Schools, Pasay City, Philippines, 18-19 March

Enhancing Rotary’s image isn’t the only way to boost membership. “We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people.”


TRAITS of an

IDEAL

ROTARIAN By

jesse tanchangco LOYOLA HEIGHTS BULLETIN

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rom my more than 17 years in active Rotary service, I have learned that the most successful and highly respected Rotarians have something in common – They are generous, they share their talents and resources, they are worthy of trust, they are open to new ideas and opportunities, they can easily adapt to changes, sets realistic goals and they make themselves available wherever and whenever their presence is vital. In this regard, I would like to share with you excerpts from an article written by Bruce Kasanoff titled “The most powerful habit you can imagine” (which I believe best describes the traits of an “Ideal” Rotarian):

Generous means to start every personal interaction with three words in your head: help this person. When you answer the phone, when someone knocks on your door, when you get introduced to a new colleague, your first instinct should be to help that person.

Expert means to be talented enough in certain areas that you can help others in a meaningful manner. This is where many people completely miss the mark. The main reason to become a expert is not so you can make more money; this attitude will limit your potential. The main reason is so you can help more people, more often. Trustworthy means to be someone others turn to both in times of need and of opportunity. In such moments, other people are especially vulnerable and they need to know you will not only respect their confidentiality but also deliver on your promises. Clear means that you fully understand your role is to be someone who helps with a purpose. You aren't just a Good Samaritan; although your first thought is to help others, you also have a set of goals to achieve for yourself, your family and your organization. You make it easy for others to understand these goals. In this way, you will have the time to help others and still be able to accomplish what you need to do. Here's a really tough one: open-minded means that you are willing to help people you initially might find unworthy of help. Adaptable means that you are not just a helpful person with a hammer, trying to pound everything into better shape. When one approach doesn't work, you are willing to try others. Don't just tell someone, "Here's what I'd do in this situation." Think hard about the best strategy for helping them, given their personality, preferences and position. Persistent means to be serious about helping others, and not just superficial. I'm not simply suggesting you start holding the door open for more people; I'm suggesting you become a force who helps other people in a substantive way. The people who need help the most won't be helped by a ten-second gesture. Present means to pay attention to the people around you so that you can spot those who are struggling, confused or uncertain. Most of us try to put on a good face, and you need to see past the superficial layer of daily life. ADD ALL THIS UP, and you become the type of person others love to have around them. You become someone who listens, who is genuinely interested in others, who is capable and dependable. Who you are - and how you approach the world - will change. And now comes the personal payoff: you will be dramatically more capable of achieving your own purpose.If you can remember and live by this sentence, you can achieve anything you set your mind to do. Anything. Be generous and expert, trustworthy and clear, open-minded and adaptable, persistent and present."


Each month, a special Rotarian is selected by ROTI, in recognition of their commitment and dedication to Rotary service. This month, ROTI is pleased to honour

Marco Kappenberger I f you want a good read about things that matter, with astute observation and which does not pull any punches then read Marco’s posts.

Marco is Swiss and was educated in Switzerland, Germany and USA. In 1995 he moved all the way to Samoa! He has been President Of RC Apia, Samoa District 4195, Founder and President of Rotary E-Club of Latinoamerica District 9920, and is also PP of International Fellowship of Wellness and Fitness Rotarians, PP Environmental Fellowship of Rotarians, PP Honorary Consuls Fellowship of Rotarians (he was the Honorary Consul of Switzerland to Samoa) and Vice-President of RAG Ethics and Citizenship (in formation). Not withstanding all this he has been a member of the Baha’I International Community and it’s Representative to the United Nations. On top of all of that Marco speaks 5 languages French, Spanish, German, Italian and English, truly an international person. His efforts on behalf of peace and the environment are superb and he works to improve all that and Rotary. We are lucky to have him as one of our Board members.

Thank you for your work in ROTI, Marco!

A Production of

TRIS TRISTRAM ROTI Vice Chair


WRITTEN BY A FORMER AMAZONIAN

At Amazon, Employees Treat the Bathroom as an Extension of the Office

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ecause Amazon is mostly men, the men’s bathrooms were usually crowded. I worked there for four years, in the midst of Amazon’s greatest expansion of headcount. Even though the company had just moved to its new office in the South Lake Union area of Seattle, there was barely enough space for everyone. There certainly weren’t enough desks. But more pressing, there weren’t enough toilets. Even more alarming was the bathroom culture. I can only speak to the men’s room, most of which each had two urinals and two stalls. I come from a background where a bathroom is a place where you do a certain kind of business, in silence, and you leave. At Amazon, the men’s room is an extension of the office. People chitchat about work in the bathroom, as if it is just another meeting room where you can piss everywhere. The most horrifying moment of my employment at Amazon was the time I was using the toilet and a coworker began talking from the stall next to me. He asked me why I had not responded to his very pressing email. I closed my eyes and pretended this wasn’t happening. What email could be so important that it could not wait five minutes for me to use the bathroom? He began tapping on the wall between our stalls, asking why I wouldn’t respond, as if inter-stall conversation should be a totally normal, not disgusting means of communication. He became more specific about what he needed—referencing a project I’d never heard of, nor would I ever have involvement in—and I realized he had misidentified me from my shoes. (Many brown dress shoes look alike, apparently.) We both exited our stalls around the same time, and he realized his mistake. He didn’t apologize, only explained that he thought I was someone else. As we washed our hands, he just laughed, and I vowed I would never use the stalls on that floor again. I regularly saw people bring their laptops into the bathroom, where they would sit on the toilet and write code From then on, whenever I needed to go to the bathroom, I went to the floors occupied by the rare teams that had more women than men. Amazon Apparel, Amazon Mom, Amazon Baby—these were the places where you had a better shot of getting a free stall in the men’s room. If you were really lucky, and your timing was right, you might even get the bathroom to yourself for a moment. It was a relief from the craziness of Amazon’s corporate culture. These were the best floors. The worst floors were the ones dominated by engineers. I regularly saw people bring their laptops into the bathroom, where they would sit on the toilet and write code. (I’ve never seen anyone clean their laptop after leaving the bathroom.) Engineers would talk to each other through stalls. On many occasions, I heard people take phone calls while mid-business. It was hard to tell if someone was groaning because it was difficult to code or difficult to poop. Another Amazon colleague once joked that this gave new meaning to the word “deploy.”


As with all jobs, you eventually get used to the things that make them difficult. The things that suck eventually become “quirks;” the culture just becomes “the way it is.” I had a role that took me to meetings across a number of buildings on campus. Over time, I memorized which teams were on what floors of which building, so I could strategize where I would stop in to use the restroom. One afternoon, I ran into an executive in the elevator. She was the rare person who had been at Amazon for over a decade. I didn’t have many friends outside of my own team, but in the few interactions we’d had, she had been encouraging and helpful. I suspected she was the happiest person at Amazon because she knew what to take seriously and what she could let slide. I was heading to the cafeteria, and I asked if she wanted to get lunch. She told me she’d already eaten. She was actually taking the elevator down to the first floor where her favorite bathroom was. Nobody knew about this bathroom, she explained, and she liked it because it was for a single person and it was never occupied. Later that day, I explored the first floor of the building in search of that bathroom. It was tucked away, hidden out of sight, waiting to be discovered by the most intrepid, most adventurous Amazonians. I wondered how many people knew about it, and whether I should tell anyone else. Knowing of its existence felt like a responsibility, a secret that must be closely guarded.

Amazon.com, Inc. is an American electronic commerce and cloud computing company with headquarters in Seattle, Washington. It is the largest Internet-based retailer in the United States. Amazon.com started as an online bookstore, later diversifying to sell DVDs, Blu-rays, CDs, video downloads/streaming, MP3 downloads/streaming, audiobook downloads/streaming, software, video games, electronics, apparel, furniture, food, toys and jewelry. The company also produces consumer electronics—notably, Amazon Kindle e-book readers, Fire tablets, Fire TV and Fire Phone—and is the world's largest provider of cloud infrastructure services (IaaS). Amazon also sells certain low-end products like USB cables under its in-house brand AmazonBasics.

This past weekend, the New York Times published a brutal portrait of Amazon’s corporate culture. I reflected on my time at Amazon. My experience had not been as bad as those quoted in the piece, but every story rang true. The kicker of the feature comes from Amazon’s own recruiting video: “You either fit here or you don’t. You love it or you don’t. There is no middle ground.” This is the perfect embodiment of Amazon’s corporate culture: If you don’t like it, you are the problem. Weirdly, I did like it. Despite the strangeness of the company’s bathroom culture, my experience at Amazon had been a positive one. I’d succeeded in my roles, been promoted once, given multiple raises, and worked on projects that I’ve been proud of. I left the company on good terms for an even better opportunity. This is rare at Amazon. And the truth is that I probably fit into the company’s competitive, aggressive work environment well because I am also that way too, at least more than I’m willing to openly admit. That’s probably the reason I never told anyone else about the secret bathroom. Inside Amazon: mind-boggling!


HELP SUPPORT RAGES DONATE NOW.

RAGES

The Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species “It is likely that some extinction is a consequence of world biological, climatological or systemic process beyond our immediate ability to control. However, extinctions caused by wanton greed, the harvesting of body parts for superstitious uses, and/or poaching for immediate needs can be stopped, particularly when the species at risk (particularly great cats, elephants, and rhinos) can be the focus of economic activity that generates income and livelihood through local stewardship.”

Chair John Glassford, Patron Dr. Jane Goodall and Susan Glassford

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he Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species or RAGES, operates in accordance with Rotary International policy but is not an agency of, or controlled by Rotary International. If you are a Rotarian, Rotaractor or family member of a Rotarian, then you are eligible to join our Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species or RAGES. If you are eligible and want to join we need you to please list below your name, the name of your Rotary club or Rotaractor club, Rotary District, and country. If you are a family member of a Rotarian, then list the Rotary club of your family member. There will be no membership dues. To register as a member go to: CONTACT US Dr. Jane Goodall has accepted our invitation to become the Patron of RAGES. The meeting in Sydney that we had with Jane on her 80th birthday tour of the world discussed a potential partnership with Rotary using RAGES and the Jane Goodall Institute Roots & Shoots programme in Kenya. We are excited about the potential for this partnership in all of the 138 countries that Roots & Shoots operate in.

“This is a mission worthy of Rotary”. Jon Deisher Jon Deisher is a member of the Rotary Club of Anchorage, Alaska (D5010) U.S.A. and a long time member of ROTI.

RISK Boxes Where can you help? Our first project is the supply of Rhino International Survival Kits for the rhino supported by the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea near Port Elizabeth in South Africa. Together with the Rotary Club of Kenton-on-Sea South Africa and our RAGES Projects Director Jo Wilmot, we are developing Rhino International Survival Kits or RISK Boxes. These boxes or kits will be available for Rotary and Rotaract Clubs and Districts to support. These RISK Boxes will contain equipment that will go to various projects engaged in the protection and survival of rhinos in areas of South Africa that are currently under attack by well organised poaching gangs and syndicates. RAGES is looking at sourcing these RISK Boxes in the area of most need so as to keep the economic benefits in that country. These RISK Boxes will start at $500 for the entry level. There are three other levels that will be available. We are also developing a K9 RISK Box to facilitate the training of tracker dogs like Sammy below.

Thank you! John Glassford, Chair 2014 -2016 Rotarian Action Group for Endangered Species Rotary Club of Coolamon District 9700 New South Wales, Australia


jocoe’s

COFFEE ON THE WALL

JOURNAL

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sat with my friend in a well-known coffee shop in a neighbouring town of Venice (Italy), the city of lights and water. As we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at an empty table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order, saying, "Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall." We heard this order with interest and observed that he was served with one cup of coffee but he paid for two. As soon as he left, the waiter pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, "A Cup of Coffee." While we were still there, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall.They had the two cups of coffee but paid for three and left. This time also, the waiter did the same - he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, "A Cup of Coffee." It was something unique and perplexing for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left. After a few days, we had a chance to go to this coffee shop again.While we were enjoying our coffee, a poorly-dressed man entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and said, "One cup of coffee from the wall." The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity.The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin. Now it was no surprise for us - the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town made our eyes well up in tears. Ponder upon the need of what this man wanted... He entered the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem. He had no need to ask for a free cup of coffee, without asking or knowing about the one who was giving this cup of coffee to him. He only looked at the wall, placed an order for himself, enjoyed his coffee, and left. Probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see anywhere!

COMPILATION BY TOM TELFER

THE CARDIOLOGIST

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Lexus mechanic was removing a cylinder head from the motor of a LS460 when he spotted a wellknown cardiologist in his shop. The cardiologist was there waiting for the service manager to come and take a look at his car when the mechanic shouted across the garage, "Hey Doc, want to take a look at this?" The cardiologist, a bit surprised, walked over to where the mechanic was working. The mechanic straightened up, wiped his hands on a rag, and said, "So Doc, look at this engine. I opened its heart, took the valves out, repaired or replaced anything damaged, and then put everything back in, and when I finished, it worked just like new. So how is it that I make $48,000 a year and you make $1.7M when you and I are doing basically the same work?" The cardiologist paused, leaned over, and then whispered to the mechanic. "Try doing it with the engine running."


The Changing Face of Shenzhen, the World’s Gadget Factory WRITTEN BY TIM MAUGHAN

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Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd., trading as Foxconn Technology Group, is a Taiwanese multinational electronics contract manufacturing company headquartered in Tucheng, New Taipei, Taiwan. It is the world's largest electronics contractor manufacturer, and the third-largest information technology company by revenue. Foxconn is primarily a contract manufacturer and its clients include major Chinese, American, Finnish, Japanese, and Canadian electronics and information technology companies. Notable products that the company manufactures include the BlackBerry, iPad, iPhone,Kindle, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nokia and Wii U. Foxconn has been involved in several controversies relating to how it manages employees in China. There has been a history of suicides at its factories blamed on working conditions. In January 2012, about 150 Foxconn employees threatened to commit mass-suicide in protest at their working conditions.

ention Shenzhen to most people, and they’ll probably think of the vast Foxconn manufacturing plant that churns out high-end phones, tablets, laptops, and gaming consoles for the likes of Apple, Microsoft, Dell, and Sony. The size of a small city —with an estimated half a million employees—Foxconn’s Shenzhen plant gets media attention not just because of its vast scale and brand-name clients, but also because of the numerous reports of atrocious working conditions it has engendered, and the stories of employee suicides, protests, and even riots within the campus walls. It might be the biggest and best-known, but Foxconn is only one of several hundred factories in and around Shenzhen. In fact, the megacity is responsible for producing an estimated 90 percent of the world’s consumer electronics, the vast majority of which are far less glamorous than iPhones and PlayStations. “It’s where all the electrical crap we buy comes from,” Kate Davies, an academic and architect who studies extreme places, tells me as we walk through Shenzen’s LED-lit streets. “The cheap toys, that box of chargers and adapters that you have, that you’ve no idea what they’re for anymore, the cemetery of old phones in your kitchen drawer… Shenzhen is one of those points on the planet where the world condenses in high density into one place, it’s an artifact of the contemporary global supply network that weaves matter and displaces earth across the planet.” And we’re standing on ground zero as she speaks. Davies focuses much of her work on how Western cities increasingly depend on vast global networks to survive, and she’s a regular here—over the years she has gained a unique insight into what makes the city tick. Along with fellow ‘speculative architect’ Liam Young, she runs Unknown Fields, the infamous nomadic design studio that explores the hidden zones of production and distribution that keep the world running. Now, she’s brought a small group of journalists and researchers—I’m one of them—to Shenzhen as part of an expedition to ride the global supply chain backwards to its source. We arrived here by container ship, and after two weeks of travelling we’ll end up at rare earth mines and refineries in Inner Mongolia, to see firsthand how all that electronic crap is dug out of the ground.


In many ways, Shenzhen is the birthplace of this vast, high-tech silk road. As China’s pioneering Special Economic Zone (SEZ) it was the experiment that gave the nation its first economic miracle. It proved that foreign investment and outsourced manufacturing could be attracted on vast scales if the taxes and labor costs were low enough, that an undemocratic Communist state could contain and control zones of

TCL LCD Industrial Park is a fraction of the size of Foxconn, but it’s still industrial manufacturing on a scale that has become alien to most of us in the West. This one facility has an incredible 10,000 employees, with 3,000 of them living in onsite dormitories. TCL is perhaps best known in the US as the manufacturer of the popular Roku streaming media players, but the company also makes 18 million TVs a year, as well as refrigerators, washers, dryers, air conditioners, and Blu-ray players, all labeled under a number of different brands. Here at LCD Industrial Park, they mainly assemble TVs, at a rate of 160 an hour, from components made in other Shenzhen factories—such as their $4 billion China Star LCD panel manufacturing plant, which theirUS website proudly boasts "costs 75 times more than Brangelina’s 35 bedroom castle in France."

hyper-capitalism within its own borders, and that whole cities could be built from scratch to fill a gap in the global manufacturing market. Shenzhen was recently declared China’s third largest city, after Shanghai and Beijing. But before it was given SEZ status in 1979 Shenzhen was a fishing port with a population of 300,000. Now it’s home to over 15 million—almost twice the population of NYC—and it continues to swell, constantly drawing workers from China’s countryside: the children of subsistence farmers hoping to carve out a better life for themselves in the city. If they’re lucky, they end up somewhere like TCL LCD Industrial Park, one of the world’s biggest television manufacturing plants. It takes about an hour to get here from Shenzhen’s financial center; the drive a glaring reminder that its futuristic, skyscraper-studded skyline doesn’t represent the city as a whole. Neon-lit towers, high-end electronics stores, and designer label-filled shopping malls give way to a seemingly endless sprawl of brutalist housing blocks and generic, low-rise industrial units. Out here in the manufacturing suburbs, you’re more likely to see signs for faceless factories than the familiar global brands, with laundry strewn balconies and retrofitted air conditioners replacing the better-known sleek glass building facades.

From the The LCD Industrial Park visitors center—one of the only locations on site we’re permitted to go—mainly consists of a Kubrick-white, blue neon-lit museum dedicated to the history of televisions. “In 2004 TCL bought Thompson,” our Chinese TCL spokesperson who goes only by Katherine, explains proudly, as she guides us around the glass cases full of antique TVs, “and Thompson owned the USA’s first TV company, RCA. Thus, TCL now owns the history of television.” We get a glimpse of the factory floor as we walk past the windows looking down on one of the production lines. Photography is strictly prohibited. “If you get caught taking photos, maybe I will get punished,” Katherine tells us. It’s hard to really understand what’s going on, but the production line appears semi-automated; there’s a dozen or so young workers wearing t-shirts with QR codes on their backs interacting with various machinery. Futuristic vertical conveyor belts lift TV panels from some unseen space beneath the floor. It’s clean, well lit, and the ceilings are high. The workers here are given at least two months training before they start, depending on where they’re placed. They work a minimum of one eight hour shift a day, but can do a second if they want—Katherine assures us this is optional—for six days a week. In return, they get paid, on average, about 3,000 yuan, or roughly $484, a month. “If production line employees work hard enough,” Katherine tells us, “then they can be promoted to work higher up in the company.”


“Is that how you started here?” asks Davies, “On the production line?” Katherine turns on a white leather stiletto that perfectly matches the jacket she wears over her pink lycra dress. Addressing her namesake with what seems initially to be disgusted surprise, a wry smile breaks across her face. “No,” she laughs. “Of course not.” Wages have gone up recently, we’re told, in order to encourage workers to stay in Shenzhen, or to return from visits to their families in the country. It seems concerns about food shortages have increased wages for agricultural workers in order to discourage them from leaving for the cities. It’s notoriously hard to get ahold of reliable figures in China, but according to a 2014 report from the Overseas Development Institute, a UK think tank, average earnings for male rural workers more than doubled between 1997 and 2007, rising from $3.02 to over $7 a day—numbers still shockingly low compared to wages in the US and Europe. Nonetheless, it’s an important reminder that rural areas are just as vital as cities, and that China’s industrial explosion is a complex balancing act between the two; these astronomical levels of growth are fuelled just as much by food as they are foreign investment and cheap labour. We see more proof of this as we’re invited to have lunch in one the factory’s three canteens: a huge three-level food court complex. Each canteen serves 3,000 workers a day. Watched over by CCTV cameras, hordes of teenage employees in short sleeved uniforms—color-coded depending on which line they work—sit at fast-food restaurant style tables, eating meat and rice and drinking garishly artificial looking fruit juices. Everyone is over 16; many appear in their early 20s, but it’s hard not to think of a busy high-school cafeteria as they talk, laugh, and gossip. But this isn’t a school—most of these kids will have had basic, minimal educations before they arrive—this is the powerhouse behind China’s economic boom, the workforce that keeps the world’s factory floor running. And, increasingly, that factory floor is expanding outside of China itself. Just as the government struggles to maintain the balance between the city and the country, it also has to balance aspirations and profits. The promise of a better quality of life is what draws workers to Shenzhen, but the the price is a rise in the once-low cost of labor that first gave the city its competitive edge.

Shenzhen High-Tech Industrial Park

Many companies like TCL are now in fact outsourcing their manufacturing to other nations. As we leave the visitors center, Katharine shows us a bank of TV screens that display feeds from their other production lines around China and Asia and, to my surprise, their new factory in Poland. As an EU citizen, I was shocked to learn a Chinese TV manufacturer is outsourcing labor to a Eurozone country, but TCL is not the only one. Poland has an astonishing 14 SEZs, many of which house Chinese manufacturing. Reports claim that workers earn as little as €350 a month, far less than the average EU income of €1,916 a month. And it's not just Poland. Belarus has a huge SEZ, called the China-Belarus Industrial Park, and, recently, German industrial leaders suggested that Greece should open China-friendly SEZs in order to ease its ongoing financial crisis.

The global headquarters of Huawei is located in Longgang District, Shenzhen


Just as not all factories in Shenzhen are like Foxconn, neither are they all like TCL. For every plant on the scale of LCD Industrial, there are dozens of smaller operations in Shenzhen, grimy little startup factories tucked away in run-down warehouses or suburban trading estates. Shenzhen Yuwei Information and Technology Development Co., Ltd is one of these, a small factory with less than 200 workers that specializes in making GPS tracking devices for motor vehicles. Its main products are modules the size of car stereos that fit into bus dashboards. By combining feeds from CCTV cameras and sensors with GPS data, they can be used to retrofit existing public transport vehicles for the glorious new smart city era. I know all this because I sat through the company’s lengthy presentations and promotional videos, which were chock full of predictably dull explosions of lens-flare-drenched CGI cityscapes and contextless graphs charting skyward growth.

CHINA It’s little surprise that the factory floor itself doesn’t quite reflect those pristine computer generated futures. It’s incredibly hot on the Yuwei production line, despite the efforts of the industrial scale AC units to fill the room with cold, mildew scented air. It’s dark too, compared to TCL.

Rows of young workers— most of them look like teenagers—sit in rows along slowly moving conveyor belts. They all wear matching blue shirts, their faces pale and washed out by the fluorescent strip lighting that hangs above their workstations. They mainly seem to be testing components and products, silently taking the electronics from the belt as they pass by and plugging them into equipment on their desk to make sure their connections work. Functioning units go back to the belt to be tested again further up the line, and faulty ones are put in plastic crates on the floor. The work looks monotonous, the atmosphere feels oppressive, the air thick with the smell of sweat and solder. Here too workers log one or two eight hour shifts a day, but the pay here is even lower; most make just 2,000 yuan ($323) a month. Shenzhen is a major city in Guangdong Province, China, one of the most successful Special Economic Zones (SEZ). According to the Government report for 2014, Shenzhen had a population of 10,628,900 people in the city, and a metropolitan area population of over 18 million.In 2014, Shenzhen's GDP totaled $260.48 billion. Its total economic output is higher than that of Portugal, the Republic of Ireland, and Vietnam. Its per-capita GDP was ¥149,500 ($24,336) as of 2014, on par with some of the developed countries of the OECD.

And perhaps that’s one way to describe Shenzhen: as China’s loss of innocence. This birthplace of an accelerated industrial revolution has also given birth to a new urban class that—as is apparent when you walk its shopping malls and nighttime electronics markets—is demanding the same technological trinkets it exports to the rest of the world. It’s a loss of innocence that demands a rise in living standards, challenging the city’s cheap labor standards that have been its economic bedrock for decades. But Davies nonetheless believes Shenzhen will endure.

“I expect the factories will move on as property prices rise in the city, and the millions of migrant workers will move inland to new manufacturing. And Shenzhen will move into slightly different territory, a direction it is already starting to go.” For her, the city’s future lies more in the flexibility given by the small companies like Yuwei than the TCLs and Foxconns, the ones that are giving power to a new economic culture of startups, where every working day 100 new companies are registered. There’s no sign of the global desire for consumer electronics to slow anytime soon—especially with China’s investment push into Africa and South Asia opening up new markets—but the challenge for Shenzhen is changing. It’s becoming less about cheap manufacturing and more about technological innovation, about striving to become a global megacity rather than a sprawl of sweatshops, and about raising its population’s living standards while still retaining its flexibility. Shenzhen’s future “is entrepreneurial,” Davies says. “It sprung up parasitically because the manufacturing is here, but it’s becoming something more. Its a wild west of tech innovation, and it epitomizes the power of the many, the small, and the agile.”


Korea Must Change Its Education and Business Culture

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hat would happen if Apple founder Steve Jobs applied for a job in today's Korea? According to one human resources professional in a leading Korean company, he would not get it. The now-legendary entrepreneur was a college dropout, without credentials from a top or even minor university, which alone would have deep-sixed his application.

Korea faces rising income inequality and high levels of relative poverty. A significant portion of the labor force occupy precarious jobs and earn relatively low wages, often for their entire careers. Only 14 percent of Korean companies believe that the education system is suitable for fostering the creative talent they need to sustain their companies.

According to a recent OECD report, the Korean education system must be balanced with greater attention to fostering creativity and entrepreneurial skills, which are widely seen as the essential ingredients of a thriving business climate, if Korea's economy is to regain its once globally recognized vitality. University classrooms have far too long been devoid of discussion. There is, however, a significant bright spot in this otherwise disconcerting landscape. A teaching and learning approach, vastly different from the traditional lecture model that is so widely entrenched in Korean academia, is taking root in a handful of Korean universities. One of the leaders in this effort is Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, a school increasingly seen as perhaps the best university in Korea. The program, known as Education 3.0, is being offered in 100 classes that require professors not to give lectures. Teachers must shift from their traditional role as content experts in the classroom and become more like facilitators or symphony conductors. Students read content and view relevant media prior to class meetings and use class time for discussions, problem-solving, teamwork and projects. Many classrooms have been redesigned to support such engagement, with round tables and glass walls suitable for posting ideas, solving problems and encouraging teamwork. This approach to education teaches students the kinds of skills we now know are essential for building a more creative and entrepreneurial economy. This represents nothing less than a transformative shift in Korean education.

Steven Schuit

While Korea's traditions and culture helped power it to prosperity, sticking to the old ways in both classrooms and corporations is unlikely to help it move forward. Korea must change and create new models in its education and business sectors. A "Korea 3.0" will not be easy, but it is necessary if the country is to return to its heady days of economic leadership. Korea's future economy will rely less on which universities its youth graduate from and more on what skills they've learned along the way.

Corporations too have invested in training that targets the kinds of skill development that increases productivity for both current and future jobs of their employees.

Maybe Steve Jobs would not make the cut in today's Korean job market, but his management philosophy is well worth employing. "It doesn't make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do," he said. "We hire smart people so they can tell us what to do." A necessary slogan, perhaps, for Korea's next economic boom.

Confucian philosophy based on the importance of family and social hierarchy continues to hold sway in Korean businesses. This means acquiescence to the boss at all costs, perhaps best (or worst) exemplified when employees

By Steven Schuit, a professor of English at Yeungnam University

This has long been popular in both U.S. universities and corporate environments. Witness the Evergreen State College, part of Washington State's university system. According to its website the college "has earned a national reputation for innovative teaching and academic excellence." Its highly interactive classes encourage students "to experience a better way of learning with processes that explore the many sides of a theme or topic."


Korea International Exhibition Center (Hangul: 킨 텍 스 , commonly known as KINTEX) is a convention and exhibition center located in Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. It is a three-storey building on a 224,800m² plot of land between Ilsan's central road, Chungangno, and the Han River. It has a total indoor exhibition area of 108,049m². Shortly after opening, it hosted the 2005 Seoul Motor Show.

The 2016 Rotary International Seoul Convention held in Korea is the second time since 1989. This year’s convention will fully reflect Korea’s recent success and growth as a G20 nation within the international communities as a highly developed IT industrial nation with cultural and historical abundance. The 2016 Rotary International Seoul Convention will offer Rotarians from over 200 nations a perfect opportunity to celebrate their achievements in service within their own local communities and abroad. It will also be a chance for everyone to enjoy Korea’s culture and life filled with modern technology, thus showing the contemporary life in Korea to Rotarians from over 200 nations worldwide.

Smoking Ban Extended to Subway Exits

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mokers will be banned from lighting up within 10 m of subway exits in Seoul from next April. Those caught violating the new rules will be hit with a fine of W100,000 (US1=W1,184). Smoking will also be banned on the sidewalks of five major boulevards in Seoul. The Seoul Metropolitan Government says the new regulations are part of ongoing efforts to tackle secondhand smoke pollution.

KINTEX 2


Dear Gloria Nethercutt, Hope this finds you well. Please find the attached menu information which (I think) fits to your request. The place is located in 15th floor of KINTEX 2 building. Menu list can be modified upon your request so feel free to ask for further discussion. Guarantee fee of $200 for your reservation. Regards, Chorong Eli Kim 김초롱 드림 김초롱 Chorong Kim (Eli Kim) / 시설사업팀 Facility Business Team, Kintex

Dodam Dodam

15th Flr, KINTEX 2

35 USD per person Price includes Buffet menu(per person) and Main menu(per table)

BUUFET MENU LIST MAIN MENU LIST Hot Dish1. Guangzhou-style Sweet and Sour Pork 2. Stir-fried Rice with Assorted Seafood 3. Sweet and Sour Chicken 4. Braised Short Ribs 5. Tofu-Bacon Gratin 6. Chili Shrimp 7. Salmon Steak 8. Fried Pork Belly in Soy Sauce 9. Pork Rib Barbecue Cold Dish1. Smoked Duck Steak 2. Assorted Skewers 3. Spiced Roast Chicken 4. Croissant Sandwich 5. Tortilla 6. Five Spice Sliced Steamed Pork 7. Assorted Sushi 8. Assorted California Roll 9. Assorted Sliced Raw Fish 10. Tuna Sushi

OPTION 1. Assorted sliced raw fish

OPTION 2. Beef RibEye Steak (100g)

Korean Traditional Food. 1. Stir-fried Glass Noodles and Vegetables 2. Seasoned Skate 3. Beef Tartare 4. Steamed Octupus 5. Fruits preserved in honey 6. Vietnamese Spring Rolls 7. Soy Sauce Marinated Crab 8. Grilled Dried Pollack 9. Rice 10. Seaweed Soup Salad. 1. Salmon Salad 2. Cranberry Cereal Salad 3. Assorted Green Salad 4. Roasted-banana Baguette Salad 5. Assorted Fruit Salad 6. King crab Broccoli Salad 7. Mango Salad

ROTI

GET TOGETHER 30 MAY 2016, 5PM, DODAM DODAM The Party House 15th Floor, KINTEX 2 BUILDING, Seoul, Korea ROTARIANS ON THE INTERNET


ROTI HOTEL Total of 12 rooms. Double/twin room, US$495 per room, good for 2 persons for 5 days and 4 nights stay, breakfast included.

Holiday Inn Express Seoul Euljiro 61 Supyo-ro, Jung-gu Seoul 0000 South Korea

The booking was coursed thru a fellow Philippine Rotarian who owns the ANGELES INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL CENTER Angeles International Travel Center, Inc. 805 Don Juico Ave., Clarkview, Angeles City, Philippines; Telephone: (63 45) 322-5929; (63 45) 888-2175; (63 45) 625-6051/52 Facsimile: (63 45) 322-0801 Manila Line: (63 2) 994-9249 Mobile Nos. 0922 888-2175, 0917 533-9338 angtrav@mozcom.com, angtrav1@yahoo.com Office Hours: 08:30am - 05:30pm (Mon - Fri) 08:00am - 12:00nn (Sat) Due to heavy demand on good hotels, the agency requests that the total amount ($495 or peso equivalent of PhP23,760) be paid until 31 January 2016. Payment may be made by wire transfer to the following banks, in Philippine Pesos or US Dollar. Chinabank, SM Clark Branch US$ Account No: 2817006211 Swift Code: CHBKPHMM BDO , Clarkfield Branch US$ Account No.: 4340034447 Swift Code: BNORPHMM Bank of Philippine Islands, Clarkfield Branch PhPesos Account No: 8761004752

REGISTRATION FEES Before 15 Dec 2015 Rotarian $ 310 Rotary club or district employee Guest age 19 or older Spouse of deceased Rotarian Non-Rotarian Alumnus $ 70 Rotaractor Guest of alumnus or Rotaractor Youth Exchange Student Interactor Guest age 5-18

$ 10

Guest younger than 5 FREE

16 Dec to 31 Mar 2016

1 Apr 2016 and after

$375

$440

FUTURE

CONVENTIONS 2017 ATLANTA, GEORGIA, USA 10 to 14 June

$100

$130

$ 10

$ 10

2018 TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA 24 to 27 June 2019 HAMBURG, GERMANY 1 to 5 June

FREE

FREE

Register Online. All registration cancellations are subject to a $50 service fee. Requests to cancel registrations or tickets must be received by 30 April 2016. Cancellations caused by visa denial must be received by 1 June 2016.

2020 HONOLULU, HAWAII, USA 7 to 10 June


D

oes it seem like hotel costs just go up and up? It’s true that they rise each year, sometimes significantly. Projected rates for rooms in 2014 are over 25% more than 2013. When determining which hotel has the best deal, you don’t just want to look at the nightly rate anymore. There are so many other factors to consider to help you save money, both before you book and during your stay. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision.

Increase your hotel savings

Reserve the best rate. Look for extras. The more services your rate includes, the better the bang for your buck. You’ll want to make sure they are features you will actually use though, otherwise you’re spending more than you need to. Common extras that can save you lots are free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and kids eat free. All those bowls of fruit and free coffee and tea in the lobby are also included in your room rate, so take advantage of them during your stay. Stay in hotels right outside the city center. If the costs for transportation won’t make up the difference you’d be paying on a closer location, you can frequently get a fantastic deal this way. You could also look into staying in the university district of a city. Hotels are more affordable, cheap eateries are plentiful and public transportation is convenient. Avoid the weekend. Hotels in popular destinations regularly raise their rates on Fridays and Saturdays. In some cases, it can be as much as three times more than Sunday through Thursday nights. Book in a business-minded hotel. Room rates for hotels that get the majority of their business from professionals drop their prices when business is slow, like weekends and holidays. This can get you a more luxe stay at a fraction of the cost. Upgrade to a suite. If your travel party is larger, a suite can cost much less than adjoining or separate rooms. They offer more space and often have bedrooms, so everyone isn’t crammed in the same small space and adults don’t have to go to bed early just so they don’t wake up their kids when their bedtime rolls around. Be a rewards member. Do you normally stay at the same hotel or use the same chain when you travel? Sign up for their rewards program. Not only can you rack up points for each stay that you can then use on upgrades and free nights in the future, but rewards members also get notified of exclusive deals that can save you a ton. Save during your stay. Go out to eat. Though room service sounds really appealing, prices for food on the menu can be twice as much as you would pay for the same food at a restaurant. Gratuity is always included in the tab and usually masked as a delivery charge. Most guests don’t know this and add a tip to the bill when the waiter brings their food. Bring your own snacks or hit the grocery store. Anything is better than the rates for items in the mini bar. The prices are outrageous and don’t even think about trying to replace it with the same item later. Most mini bars have weight sensors to know exactly what has been taken and when. Ask for a corner room. Though this won’t technically save you any money, corner rooms are usually a bit larger than regular rooms, which give you a better deal for your money. Once you check in, ask if one of these rooms is available. This is easier if you show up close to check-in time, but before the flood of guests show up to get their keys. You can also call ahead and request a corner room with your existing reservation.


H

ere I'm again with so many questions. I thank in advance to anyone how will share his experience with me. We are about to reorganize our Club's Bylaws. Everything went nice and easy until we get to the "Membership" section. To be specific, we argue about how and who can be a Rotarian. From one hand, we are always short with good members, from the other hand, what are the rules and procedures to open the door. So here are my questions:

what is your

CLUB PRACTICE to accept a NEW MEMBER Liane Garrett wrote:

Ÿ In your club is there any minimum time or

number of meetings, a candidate should show himself in the club, before he can request for membership. Ÿ Who approves the request, a specific committee, the president, the board, all club members? Ÿ How and who can reject a request? Should it get a unanimously consent? if not, is it a regular majority (51%), any other system? Ÿ Are there any obligations a candidate has to take upon himself as he joins the club, other than paying the regular fees and participate in club meetings?

Ÿ No, we do encourage them to keep coming back

Dr Robert S Steinberg:

until they feel ready or until someone asks them to join and is willing to sponsor them. Ÿ The completed proposal (from a member) goes to the membership chair (me), I notify the membership letting them know we will be meeting. After the meeting if the prospect and I, feel like we are a good fit I advise the membership of the application and give them 10 days to respond with any concerns. Ÿ Good question, we've only had 1 "issue" in my 6 years in the club and that was from a previous member that did not represent the values of Rotary. Sadly another local club accepted her anyway, regardless of our concerns and then she was made ADG. Bad situation. Our bylaws do not address this issue. Ÿ Members & new members are not obligated to do anything but adhere to our attendance policy and pay their dues.

Great questions! In my club, a person who MAY be interested in joining, is required to attend 3 club meetings.

Jay McCall, GRI, SFR, SGSB:

Thank you for your precious time. I'm sure you can teach me a lot. By the way, I didn't find answers to these questions in the MOP. If you know it exist, please guide me. - Yuval Var Nel

This allows them to get to know us, and us to get to know them. During this time, club members can talk with members who may know the person. The membership chair then asks the board if the person should be given an application. This is better than just giving out an application that may be denied, later. The application is then approved by the board (council), and sent to the membership for approval. If someone votes no, they have to submit their reasons in writing, to the board, who can over-ride the "no" vote. Clubs must walk a careful line, as to not offend. We are careful to inform the potential member what the average costs are, as the attendance and committee requirements are. This gives the interested person, full disclosure.

LinkedIn

The best process is from a past PDG and RI board member who says if a member recommends a potential member, you trust the member and do not set the club up for risk of denial. Years ago when I was switching clubs for my convenience. I was asked to step out of the room and the club voted and then asked back in to be told if I had been accepted. I was apalled. This was the club's practice. The risk was enormous if any individual had been declined and exposed to the public embarassment. Any process needs to avoid risk and step one is to process everyone the same. As set up in the official registration from is the best although a lengthy process and not practical for a small club in a small community.


visit www.roti.org to read more

WHY JOIN ROTI?

From Journal of

RON NETHERCUTT ROTI 2007-09 Chair

H

aving been a charter member of ROTI, it gives me great pleasure to write this report for the Fellowship Advancer. Many changes have been made in technology since the inception of ROTI, and perhaps no other industry has seen more innovation than that of communication. Being founded in electronic communications, our members have utilized the technology to spread the word of Rotary throughout our globalbased membership. Since the ultimate user is the beneficiary of Rotary communication, I have sought the input of our membership to see how their membership in ROTI has proven beneficial to them, their club, and their district. The mission of ROTI is to apply modern information technology to enhance Rotary service, fellowship and knowledge, and to use Internet communications to further world understanding and peace. Having attended over 100 Rotary meetings in nearly 20 countries, I can personally attest to the friendship generated by my membership in ROTI. The following comments express the feelings of both recent and long-time members of ROTI and range from new Rotarians to DGs and PDGs.

Linda Catran Rotary Club of Calabasas D 5260 Since the charter ROTI has given me lots of friends, demonstrated the internationality of Rotary , given lots of advice and enabled me to meet in person several Rotarians that I would never have met before. E.g. last December, through ROTI I met a Rotarian who sorted out where i was going to stay, introduced me to several people with whom I was able to attend THE concert instead of being on my own, and got three invites to Rotary Clubs (including a request to be a speaker), just from one simple inquiry! Betsy Yost RC of Las Vegas, NM District 5520

I met our MG partner on ROTI and we have done 3 MG projects so far. Besides it has been a wonderful tool to enhance and increase the knowledge about any Rotary topic on the earth. You can float on ROTI and you are guaranteed to find a response as someone, somewhere might have encountered such a situation earlier. Ron Trimming Uddevalla-Skansen D 2360 Having attended my first RI Convention in San Antonio and roomied with two ROTIan's who encouraged me to join ROTI. From this "joining" 1 - I learned more about Rotary in the first few months I was on ROTI than I had in the previous 7 years 2 - I found my GSE partner through ROTI while a DGN. 3 - We learn of news and cultural activities and festivities, many times before the newscasts. 4 - When an elderly friend of mine became ill while in Alaska, I put out an email asking for assistance for her and received several responses.... not just from Rotarians in Alaska, but also from Rotarians elsewhere who had friends in Alaska. 5 - Because of ROTI, when one of my "neighboring" DGE's was looking for a GSE partner, I was able to help him out by contacting friends I've made through ROTI. 6 - The fellowship we've had at RI Conventions (San Antonio, Chicago, Salt Lake City). At Salt Lake City, on more than one occasion, we had 20+ countries represented in "Bev's" which resulted in some cases projects being either started or up-dates... all this "after-hours" of the Rotary Convention doors being closed. 7 - Where else can one go and learn about straw bale building, Shelter Boxes, mountainous climbs, music, current updates on disasters, holidays and customs, sports, food, banter, possible Rotary projects, how Rotaract is doing around the world 8 - Remembering the "Gift of Life" child ROTI raised funds and sponsored. 9 - Because of ROTI, I met Rotarians from the Caribbean, D-7000, D-7020, and D-7030 (all are in our Zone34) before I met them at a Zone Institute or an RLI. 10 - For me, ROTI brought the "I" in RI to a whole new level.


THIS IS NOT TRUE.... This happens during registration when you just check the first country in the list instead of scrolling down to find your own country.

2149 MEMBERS Afghanistan Albania Argentina Australia Austria Bahamas Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bolivia BosniaHercegovina Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Canada Chile Colombia

299 1 12 84 3 1 18 1 8 1 1 1 2 2 28 1 2 73 3 3

Colombia 3 Cook Islands 1 Costa Rica 3 Cote d'Ivoire 3 Croatia 4 Czech Rep 1 Denmark 6 Ecuador 3 Egypt 8 El Salvador 1 Fiji 1 Finland 6 France 15 Germany 5 Ghana 4 Greece 4 Guam 1 Guyana 1 Haiti 1 Honduras 3 Hong Kong 2

103 COUNTRIES Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea Lebanon Macau Malaysia Malta Mauritius Mexico Morocco

2 2 2 612 15 3 9 26 1 2 2 1 4 10 2 1 13 1 2 20 3

Nepal 16 Netherlands 3 Netherlands & Antilles 1 New Zealand 20 Nigeria 28 Norway 8 Pakistan 22 Papua 2 New Guinea 2 China 2 Peru 2 Philippines 152 Poland 1 Portugal 4 Puerto Rico 1 Reunion 1 Romania 8 Samoa 1 Senegal 1 Serbia 2

YOU CAN MAKE IT RIGHT.

Singapore South Africa South Korea Spain Sri Lanka St. Lucia Sweden Switzerland Taiwan Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Uganda UAE UK USA Uruguay Venezuela Virgin Is(US) Zambia

gosh, man...

Next soonest time you log in, remember to list your country and district. Afghanistan and Pakistan are in D3272, with about 5 active clubs. The way to make them grow in number- - - is inside the country.

www.roti.org

2 23 2 7 9 1 4 3 19 8 6 12 7 1 88 319 2 4 2 3


R

THE

f

Posted by John Glassford

O

RC CORTLANDT ANNUAL TURKEY RACE TO END HUNGER

TOWER


posted by nora gotisdiner

NEWS:Half a million Syrians have been killed and at least 12 million Syrians have been forced out of their homes by armed conflict over the past five years, and half of that number are children. This displacement has created the largest refugee exodus since World War II, with unprecedented numbers of now nationless people asking other countries for shelter. Variations of the above image are now circulating on social media, castigating Saudi Arabia for not putting refugees into a tent city that stands empty most of the year Many countries have opened their doors to a limited number of refugees and immigrants, but Saudi Arabia is one country (although not the only country) that has declined to take them in. According to Amnesty International: Gulf countries including Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Bahrain have offered zero resettlement places to Syrian refugees.


posted by jesse tanchangco


Posted by Leticia Parra. Sharing from the Mohmand Agency in the FATA area of Pakistan.... More photos to follow. Sometimes you go through strange cases. Here is a Lady Health Worker who was twice targeted during Polio Campaign and now under treatment. She has complained about provincial government regarding her treatment but more important is that She still committed to the cause of Polio Vaccination though her self need attention and support.

Our club provided Tarpaulin sheets for roof shelter project to 200 thatched houses in the Flood affected rural areas in Pondicherry with the support of r/c Salem Galaxy — - Joseph Suresh Kumar

nate mcclure

3rd Annual "End Polio Now" fundraiser at the Jefferson Valley Mall, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598 — with Sharon Irving at Jefferson Valley Mall.- Sharon Inrving


tom telfer

john buchanan

- Jesse Tanchanco 路 At Bahay Aruga - housing care of Children inflicted with Cancer. The First Class Presidents shared blessings to sustain daily treatments like Medicines, diapers, wheelchairs, nebulizers.etc


todd lindley sez, beware of.... dick milner’s usual humor...

chris wilks’ furry friend


T

he Bloomfield Rotary Club in District 7120 wants to award your District $500. Bloomfield is located in New York State, U.S.A., in the heart of the beautiful Finger Lakes featuring such highlights as Niagara Falls and the Corning Museum of Glass. The Bloomfield Club is inviting you and a spouse, other Rotarians, and friends to participate in a one week tour of the Finger Lakes next September 14-21, 2016. Perhaps you’ve already traveled to the Finger Lakes area. Here’s a chance to see the Finger Lakes “Rotary-Style”. Space is limited. So far, three Districts have persons registered so don’t delay! For the District that signs up the most participants first (Rotarians, spouses, and friends), the Bloomfield Club will donate $500 to the Rotary Foundation in that District’s name. Signups will be accepted until May 31, 2016. For every Rotarian that signs up, the Bloomfield Club will donate $100 to the Rotary Foundation in that Rotarian’s name. Details are at FingerLakesShowcaseTour.com (there was an earlier problem with the site which has been corrected) If your Club members could benefit from a $100 donation to the Rotary Foundation, and your District could use $500, please forward this email to all of your Club Members, encouraging them to attend. Bloomfield, New York is in the heart of District 7120 which incorporates most of Upstate New York’s world-renowned Finger Lakes Region. Since 1970, District Governors Elect from all over the world have been the guests of District 7120 Rotarians before going to the International Assembly. The Bloomfield Rotary Club’s Finger Lakes Showcase Tour is your chance to explore the beautiful Finger Lakes with other Rotarians from around the world. You’ll have the chance to exchange fundraising project ideas and Club activities and customs while on vacation! The website contains frequently asked questions as well as tour registration information. We look forward to hearing from you and to showing you around our beautiful part of the world. Travis Piper, Past President Bloomfield Rotary Tour Director FingerLakesShowcaseTour.com Bloomfield Rotary Club BloomfieldRotary.com

Letchworth State Park (recently ranked #1 Park in the entire United States). New Nature Center opening Spring 2016. Afternoon, check in to Inn On The Lake Waterfront Resort & Conference Center right on Cananandaigua Lake. Walk to local shops. Demonstration dinner at Wine and Culinary Center.


HERE& THERE

Art 2005

A COLLECTION OF ROTARY POSTINGS, THOUGHTS, AND COMMENTS AROUND THE WORLD

Doug Vincent wrote:

G

ood to visit our long time ROTI members and friends Art & Averill McCullough in Escondito, CA. As many know, Art has had some health challenges lately with extended hospital stay and now recuperating at home. Even though Art is mostly confined to bed rest, he was able to get up and join us for dinner last night. Great to reminisce about the "good ole ROTI days" and catch up on things since we last saw him in person a few years ago. For those who may not know, Art was one of the pioneers who helped put ROTI on the map a few years ago. I know that everyone's thoughts and prayers are with Art as he returns to good health in the near future. He has enjoyed calls from some of his ROTI friends, so if you want to say hi, his number is 760-743-5315

Past chairs Doug Vincent‎ and Art McCollough January 2016


The Rotarian Magazine Media/News/Publishing

whatsapp

Deadline 29 February 2016

articles FOR

BB

Dear Fellow ROTIans, This is to invite articles from all fellow ROTIans. Please send in your contribution in editable format on MS Word. The articles could be in any of the following lines : How it works

WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and yes, those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with your friends. In addition to basic messaging WhatsApp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages.

1. Some Rotary activity in your Club, District. 2. Anything else that is interesting and feel that can be sent to BB for reading that will help. I am working along with Glo in the preparation of the BB. Hence kindly send me your contributions to my email id, gn.siva@yahoo.com Kindly do not send the same to the group email ids. Thanks and regards, Rtn G N Sivaramakrishna Past President ( 2009 - 10 ) Rotary Club of Madras North RI District 3230 Chennai, India +91 98847 15963 Email : gn.siva@yahoo.com Skype : gnskrishna


Our Club Hub Section: World Map of Rotary Clubs and Rotaract Clubs - Welcome Guest Fellow ROTI Members: I would like to invite you check out the latest version of world map of Rotary Clubs and Rotaract Clubs which meet for fellowship, service, world understanding and peace. There are now over 31,000 clubs on the map: www.ourclubhub.org I challenge you all to find your own club in as few as 4 clicks by clicking on first club in your country, then clicking on country link to see first club in each district in country, then clicking on first club in your district to see all the clubs in your district. If you like this interactive map and would like to help update and maintain it, I invite you to register and login so you can update your own club meeting information and also add direct links to your club contact information webpage and your club Facebook page. Some will recognize the WIZ (Webmaster In Zone) abbreviation I’ve adopted for volunteer cartographers. A while back Steve Sokol designed a logo for WIZ ROTI volunteers helping clubs start their first club websites. I hope many of you will volunteer as there is much to do and its fun if you like working with maps and learning about Rotary. There are still a good number of clubs that do not yet have map coordinates due to meeting addresses not recognized by the Google Geocoder function used to calculate coordinates. But as a backup you can put in city and country anywhere in the world and get a hit for starters. Most of the Rotaract clubs and many eclubs are still missing and I’m working on z34 Rotaract clubs this week. There are currently 22 zones that have 1 or more WIZ volunteers out of the total 51 zone-sections as shown on this summary report with links to see who the WIZ’s are by zone: http://www.ourclubhub.org/rdzcrs/?search_report=110 This entire project is written in open source PHP and MySQL. You can download the latest source code and database tables from here: www.ourclubhub.org/downloads/ For those WIZ volunteers looking for a new challenge, I’d love to see multiple versions of this website in the major languages used by Rotary clubs around the world. I would particularly like to see Japanese and Chinese language versions to help bridge the language barrier. Each club on the map indicates the language spoken at meetings (defaulted to country dominate language, but any WIZ can change it). Here is summary report of language usage: http://www.ourclubhub.org/rdzcrs/?search_report=75 I hope you find your club and find this interactive map a useful Rotary tool. Don Higgins don@higgins.net


e

CLUBS

O

n the subject of eclubs, the interactive world map of clubs now has 99 eclubs placed on the map in their sponsoring district: http://www.ourclubhub.org/maps/index .php?search_club_type=2

Greetings and Salutations !!

Actually, while I support the existence of ( certain ) e-clubs, when I served a the Distrito Governador I did NOT promote the formation of an e-club here because we are so "close" geographically, I do not want to encourage a Rotarian to merely sit at his / her desk and do a make-up on-line...

It’s true that a Rotarian can only belong to one club or eclub, but that should not stop clubs from supporting all clubs.

I was asked and my response was "if you cannot go to the community next door, OR, cannot attend a Rotary meeting in another city where business is going to take you or ..., then you may have joined the wrong organisation. There is NOTHING like meeting people and talking with people FACE-TO-FACE!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Why not invite eclub rep to speak at your club and learn more about what they do in your district and around the world.

Then, a fellow Rotarian said that he HAD to belong to an e-club because there are no other Rotarians in his “area". My response "why not? Maybe you should START a clube !!!!!!! "

I think clubs should encourage prospective members who turn down club membership to consider eclub membership if it fits. The same is true for Rotaract clubs which every club should be supporting as a way to support the future of Rotary. Most clubs have several educational institutions in their area which could have Rotaract club. There are also many community based Rotaract clubs for future Rotarians age 18-30. There are now 96 Rotaract clubs on the interactive map, as I’m adding at least one per region in US and each country: http://www.ourclubhub.org/maps/?sea rch_club_type=3 More WIZ volunteers to help add and maintain info on meeting location, day, time, contact, and Facebook links welcome. Don Higgins don@higgins.net <mailto:don@ higgins.net>

I understand there are many who are unable to simply get up and go - and yet, I cite an example here where an entire clube changed their meeting site to that of the long-time Rotarian who is relegated to a wheel-chair... The Assisted Living Center has a "Community Room" and the meetings are now held there ( and he is wheeled down the hall to the meeting ... ). In fact, for a number of projects, someone picks him up and he is transported accordingly... When I hear an objection, "it" CAN be overcome !!!!! As opposed to finding one-self busy at work and simply closing the door and getting on one's computer for 30-40-50-60 minutes.... Yes, as one can "tell", I still remain opposed to the formation of ( certain ) e-clubs and a proud Rotarian for over 30 years, I have learned to schedule accordingly. FOR example, when I had to travel to California last year, I contacted a local Rotarian and attended their meeting ! Every year, I spend 3 months working in New York and attend THAT Rotary club meetingS !!!! ( Including their year-end banquet and miscellaneous service projects held on the weekends when I am not working.... ) And, there are any number of OTHER examples... >>>> (thanks in 6 languages....) jay dzurilla RD 6630 ( NE Ohio, USA ) Distrito Governador 2006-2007


I

have been following the E-Club thread with interest. I am the District 5370 DGN and my Wife (Barbara) is the AG in the Area with Rotary EClub Canada One. I must weigh in on the resounding success of this Club since its Charter in February 2013. With all due respect, I paraphrase PDG Jay, “When I hear an objection, "it" CAN be overcome !!!!!” The Rotary E-Club of Canada One appears to have met most of the objections head on and have made great lemonade from the lemons of doubt. AG Barbara and I have had the pleasure of attending multiple meetings via Go-to-Meeting; we have inducted new members from Toronto, Canada to Yellowknife, NWT, to Guatemala; as well when he was RI President, Gary CK Huang surfed in to attend and there were 12-14 Rotarians from Fort McMurray alone that joined in from a member’s boardroom. It was a great meeting with international attendance! The Executive changeover meeting features a Pancake Breakfast competition via Skype or GTM or… with members surfing in displaying their “spread” from around the world, what a great event! In advance of this response, I contacted E-Club President Jim Ferguson for some details I might share. His response was much better than I could relate so I will just paste it here:

The main reason that the E-Club format is attractive to our members, is the flexibility and ease to attend the weekly meetings, and the ability to stay in Rotary when your lifestyle changes; ie: retirement, travelling, moving, etc. As long as you have Internet, then you can attend a meeting, anywhere in the world! Our E-Club is in the process of supplying books to children in the Beaufort Sea area of the Northwest Territories, via the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. We've started with the community of Tuktoyaktuk, and due to overwhelming success there, have expanded to the communities of Sach's Harbour, Aklavik, Tsiigehtchic, and Ulukhaktuk. Four other communities are also being developed for inclusion. We also support Project Amigo in Colima, Mexico, the El Salvador Literacy Project, and are currently working with a Rotary Club in Honduras on developing a water pipeline project. I invite you to check out our website, <http://portal.clubrunner.ca/8529> http:// portal.clubrunner.ca/8529 and if you have any questions, please contact me directly through the site.”

” Thank you for your inquiry about our E-Club, the very first in Canada! A brief history; our E-Club was chartered on February 23, 2013 in an on-line ceremony hosted across North America, and attended by members and guests around the world. RI Director Bryn Styles delivered the key-note address from the Peace Forum in Vancouver, B.C., and District Governor Kevin Hilgers brought greetings from the Charter District 5370. We chartered with approximately 28 members and currently have 36 members. Typically, the E-Club uses the GoToMeeting format to conduct Executive meetings, Committee meetings, Coffee Chats, etc. Skype or ooVoo are also used by the members, so that they can meet "face to face" with each other.

As an E-Club, the members have embraced Community Service through the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, International Service in Mexico, El Salvador and Honduras. Regular Classification talks and applying professional values to projects and personal interaction speak to Vocational Service and the morale and fellowship we have experience through personal and virtual visits support Club Service. The concept of a Rotary EClub is proving to be very healthy for Rotary and District 5370 heartily endorses the initiative. A bit longer than initially intended, I will stop here but look forward to your comments. Frank J Reitz District 5370 Governor 2017 – 18


PRESIDENTIAL CONFERENCES IN ASIA

http://www.rotaryteach.org/presidentialconference/

2016 PRESIDENTIAL CONFERENCE ON WASH IN SCHOOLS

“WATER IS LIFE”

http://www.2016presidentialconferencemanila.org


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