HABARI .. AMAWULIRE .. ZENA
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COUNTRY FEATURE: ETHIOPIA
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MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
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JOKES
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DRR COLUMN
ISSUE 2
AUGUST 2007
D9200 Newsletter A Bulletin of the Rotaract District
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ellow Rotaractors. Having completed our Club plans and gone through our first month of the Rotary year, it is now time to consolidate our membership. I urge the various Rotaract Clubs to emphasise quality membership as the key to achieving the Club’s Goals of the year. August is Membership Extension month and this is the time to implement your membership growth strategies. Allow me to share with you some comparative insights via the “Matatu Mentality”. The matatu - as known in Kenya, Taxi’ in Uganda and Dala Dala in Tanzania is the most popular means of transport within city and town limits (... when in Ethiopia, I shall find out the equivalent). The matatu in Kenya has its characteristic graffiti and loud music, which is intended to attract more passengers (and it does). Some even develop a loyalty and travel only in a particular matatu. Analogy: Brand your Club in a manner that inculcates pride and loyalty among its membership. The matatu blares music, at times in total disregard to the passengers inside, but with the intention of attracting potential passengers. Analogy: Develop and implement a membership plan that encompasses the views of existing members while at the same time attracting potential members. Each club has its unique membership criteria. For a guest to be inducted, they have to meet a minimum number of Fellowship attendances and project participations. It is advisable to revise these criteria to include commitment and an Understanding of Rotaract Values and Objectives. Every profession has its admission criteria and as young professionals, Rotaractors need to instil the discipline of commitment and a good knowledge of Rotaract workings through the Rotaract Handbook. Tip: Organise Inter- Clubs (and intra-clubs) Rotaract Quiz Events. The District Trainer, IPDRR Allan Jingo is compiling
the Rotaract Library on CD format, which will be availed to your Club Presidents through the ADRRs and Country Coordinators. Club Presidents are required to make copies and issue them to Club members. Rotaract (and Rotary) membership is by invitation only. Over the years I have come to understand the virtue of this dictate. Friends invite friends to become members. Only a friend can gauge a friend’s true commitment and vouch for his integrity. When personal challenges arise, it becomes easier to explain to fellow club members one’s absence from activities and responsibilities and receive understanding based on the foundation of friendship. One of the best member cohesion tests is to ask the ‘Newest/Freshest’ member of the club to name all the other members…Take it even further and let them name by classification. If they name all, that’s an excellent score and it indicates a great potential that you will meet your objectives this year. If they name less than three quarters, it may mean that you need to revise your membership list. Ensure that guests are engaged in Committee activities. This is obvious for members as the bulk of Club objectives are met through Committees. Committees also create the opportunity for listening to ideas from members who may otherwise not speak during Fellowships. Committee meetings also increase Fellowship opportunities and friendship bonds. Finally, plan to attend the RI Zone 10A Rotaract Institute Seminar to be held in Nairobi on 22nd September. It is a great opportunity to meet members of the Rotary family from over 50 Countries in Africa. It runs from the 19th to 23rd September and Rotaract and Interact will have a special session to address Rotaract matters. The Registration is USD 25 with separate but affordable accommodation, Night-out and Tour schedule. See www.reachouttoafrica2007.org. Lawi Sultan 1
Rotary News
Habari .. Amawulire .. Zena
The RI Board of Directors has approved the continuation of the pilot Public Relations Grants project, which will be awarded at the district level for the 2007-08 Rotary year. The Rotary Youth Exchange program is preparing to celebrate its 50th anniversary in Australia. For the past five years, the Rotary regional magazine Le Rotarien has awarded three amateur television journalists 10,000 euros to help fund a documentary allowing them to cover subjects that reflect Rotarian ideals of humanitarian work, international understanding and peacemaking. Last year, Le Rotarien partnered for the first time with TV5, a public broadcaster for the Francophone world, to offer internships to the finalists.
Rotaract News
The District 9150 Conference, of which Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC are member countries, was held between 20th to 22nd July 2007 in Kigali, Rwanda. The theme of the conference was “Clubs collaboration for Community Service” Rotaract UON is organizing a fundraising karaoke event on Saturday 4th August, 2007 from 2pm to 4pm, which will include fun activities such raffles and guest performances.
District 9200 has been chosen to host yet another important Rotary International event. The RI Institute of Zone 10A will be held in Nairobi from 18th to 23rd September this year. Zone 10A covers the whole Sub-Saharan Africa and 50 countries. The meeting will include the RI Institute but will also have Rotary Foundation and Membership Development seminars as well as Governors Elect Training.High powered dignitaries from the Rotary world, among them the then R.I. The Financial Times has ranked Rotary President Wilf Wilkinson, TRF Chairman Bhichai International one of the top five nongovernmental Rattakul, and senior R.I. staff headed by Ed Futa, the organizations for corporate partnerships. In it’s General Secretary, will attend. special supplement on corporate citizenship and There is a Proposal for District Rotaractors to hold a philanthropy, Rotary came in fifth in the global Rotaract Institute Seminar at the Hilton Hotel, Nairobi on 22nd September 2007 based on the rankings of 34 finalists. content of the RI Institute but with a deliberate bias for Rotaract Issues. Interactors shall also be invited. Visit www.reachouttoafrica2007.org for details. Extracts from a speech by Bill Gates Senior at the Rotary International 2007 Convention, Salt Lake City: “You are a massive collection of energetic volunteers steeped in local values. An army of activists who place service above self. Separately, your clubs are the civic lifeblood of big cities and small towns all over the world. Yet, together, you have turned your combined attention to a new locale: the global neighborhood. You are all a testament to the idea that the world should be as big in our minds as it is on a map. You are beacons of a simple truth—that the key ingredient to making a peaceful world is the understanding that all people, no matter where they live, are equally precious … You understand that your obligations extend out from your home town, to your country, and ultimately to your world ... Who are you? You are parents, basketball coaches, and next door neighbors. You are leaders. You are good people who feel a responsibility to serve. Why are you here? You are here because you understand that in our century, you are called to serve new neighbors. Your neighbors are people in poor countries that once seemed far away—people who once seemed so different from us. But, like us, they have mothers who love them, children who need them, and friends who cherish them. And, as Rotarians, you know that we simply ought to help them.” 2
Country Feature: Ethiopia
The flag of Ethiopia was officially adopted on February 6, 1996. It features the Pan-African colors; green is symbolic of Ethiopia’s land, yellow is the color of peace and love, and red the color of strength. The centered gold star on a blue shield is said to represent unity.
Official Name: Ethiopia (Ityop’iya) Capital City: Addis Ababa Languages: Amharic (official), and other dialects Official Currency: Ethiopian Birr Religions: Muslim, Eastern Orthodox, others
Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. In 1974, a military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile SELASSIE (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by coups, uprisings, drought, and refugee problems, the regime was toppled in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), a constitution adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia’s first multiparty elections held in 1995. Border countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan Natural resources: small reserves of gold, platinum, copper, potash, natural gas, hydropower Industries: food processing, beverages, textiles, leather, chemicals, metals processing, cement Exports: coffee, qat, gold, leather products, live animals, oilseeds
Did you know? 1. Ethiopia’s entire coastline along the Red Sea was lost with the de jure independence of Eritrea on 24 May 1993. Hence, it is landlocked and uses the port of Djibouti. 2. Three major crops are believed to have originated in Ethiopia: coffee, grain sorghum, and castor bean 3.Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years. 4. Ethiopia was formerly known as Abyssinia and Italian East Africa. 3
MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: 6 Retention Ideas 1. INFORM all non-Rotaractor visitors of Rotaract International’s programs and a club profile outlining the club’s service efforts. A club should develop and distribute a club profile. A recent copy of the District Bulletin or a club bulletin is also a good introduction to Rotaract. 2. INVITE a prospective member with a personal visit by the proposer and a member of the club’s membership committee. The visit could be made by one Rotaractor, but a second member provides additional Rotaract knowledge and experience and gives the prospective member another point of contact after being accepted into the club. During the visit, the prospective member should hear a description of: § Community service efforts and successes § The international scope of Rotaract service and fellowship § Rotaract’s emphasis on high standards of character and integrity § Rotaract’s broad-based community representation § Rotaract’s attendence requirements and the club’s dues structure Rotaractors extending the invitation must be well prepared and should consider ahead of time the personal interests and abilities of the prospective member in order to highlight areas of potential personal involvement. 3. INDUCT new members in a dignified and meaningful manner. The induction ceremony should be used as an opportunity to underscore the benefits and responsibilities of being a Rotaractor. A new member should be provided with: § A Rotaract lapel pin § Membership Identification Card § An Object of Rotaract suitable for framing § The 4-Way Test suitable for framing or the 4-Way Test Desk Plaque § A copy of the club bulletin § The district bulletin § The district directory § The latest District Governor’s Newsletter § A list of local clubs for make-up meetings During the ceremony, the new member might give a five minute talk about themselves, their business and families. Some clubs sing a song of welcome to the new member; other clubs have a ceremony where the club stands and applauds the new member and then the entire club lines up to shake the new member’s hand. The induction ceremony should be special. It should imprint on the new member an enthusiasm for membership. 4. ORIENT the new member properly. Providing an effective orientation for new members through education is vital to their growth as individual Rotaractors and will enable them to participate effectively in club activities. a) The three key elements to an effective orientation include: § Benefits of membership § Responsibilities of membership § Opportunities for service b) New members should be given a checklist outlining the many opportunities for gaining knowledge about Rotaract and becoming involved in club activities. c) A new member’s orientation should also include several opportunities for feedback on a wide range of issues, including the process and results of the orientation program itself. d) Consider periodic meetings between new members and the club president or the district representative. e) Consider scheduling the formal orientation programs in several sessions to enhance retention of information. 5. EDUCATE the Rotaractor. Most members leave our ranks because they were never really Rotaractors in the first place. An argument can be made that 80% of a club’s membership know very little about Rotaract. Education can come about it two ways: a) Completing the items listed below within six months will expand a new member’s vision about opportunities for Rotaract service. 4
i) Attend new member orientation meeting(s) ii) Display the Object of Rotaract or The 4-Way Test at your place of business iii) Attend one or more of the following club functions: § Fellowship activity § Committee meeting § Project activity iv) Complete one or more of the following tasks: § Serve as a greeter at a club meeting. § Give a classification talk at a club meeting. § Participate in a club service project. § Make-up a meeting at another club. v) Expand Rotaract to others § Invite a guest to Rotaract § Propose a new member vi) Experience the internationality of Rotaract § Host a Youth Exchange student for a meal or other activity. § Host a Rotaractor from another country in your home. vii) Attend the District conference viii) Choose a committee on which you would like to serve. b) The club must make certain it has a continuing Rotaract education policy in place. This education process is essential for older members as well as newer ones. Research has shown that a positive program of continuing education can help increase a club’s overall retention rate. Such a program would include some of the following components: § Frequent communication of Rotaract news and information § At least four club programs a year focused on continuing education § Attendance at multi-district meetings that address continuing education § At least two informal club assemblies a year § Personal involvement in club and district projects and activities § District level seminars on continuing education § Stimulating and efficiently run weekly meetings that keep members interested in Rotaract § Sharing of ideas and information on Rotaract programs/ projects/ activities § Attendance at meetings of other clubs These ideas are meant solely to educate the Rotaractor. Experience shows that when one is knowledgeable about the organization, and involved, the chances for retaining a solid member are much greater. 6. INVOLVE the Rotaractor in club committees, club fund raisers, board meetings, club meetings, club social activities, etc. There is nothing sadder in Rotaract than to find a letter of resignation because a member didn’t feel “a part” of the club. Some methods of getting new members involved in the affairs and activities of the club include: § Developing programs such as STAR (Special Training for Action in Rotaract). By creating a friendly and informal atmosphere through small group meetings, programs such as STAR help new members get acquainted with each other and some of the club’s more experienced Rotaractors. § Hold an information program for new members. § Create special badges for new members to wear for one year. Encourage other members to look for the badges and make a special effort to talk with the new members. § Assign a new member to be a greeter or to introduce a guest speaker. § As a club service assignment, have the new member serve as a delegate to the district conference. A new Rotaractor learns much about the world of Rotaract and the vast projects beyond the borders of his/her own club by attending the district conference. Some clubs assist the new member by paying part or all of the registration fees and costs of the conference. After the conference, ask the new members to give a report to the club. § Introduce a “commencement” program, where all club members who join in the same Rotaract year work together on a project or meet on a special occasion. § Ask the new member - especially the younger ones - to find two or three other new members from among his/her peer group. When one “sells” the Rotaract idea to one’s friends, the member himself/herself becomes stronger and more enthused about Rotaract.
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A Texas rancher got in his pickup and drove to a neighboring ranch and knocked at the door. A young boy, about 9, opened the door. “Is yer Dad home?” the rancher asked. “No sir, he ain’t,” the boy replied. “He went into town.” Well said the rancher, “Is yer Mom here?” “No, sir, she ain’t here neither. She went into town with Dad.” “How about your brother, Howard? Is he here?” “He went with Mom and Dad.” The rancher stood there for a few minutes, shifting from one foot to the other and mumbling to himself. “Is there anything I can do fer ya?” the boy asked politely. “I knows where all the tools are, if you want to borry one. Or maybe I could take a message fer Dad.” “Well,” said the rancher uncomfortably, “I really wanted to talk to yer Dad. It’s about your brother Howard getting my daughter, Pearly Mae, pregnant.” The boy considered for a moment. “You would have to talk to Pa about that,” he finally conceded. “If it helps you any, I know that Pa charges $50 for the bull and $25 for the hog, but, I really don’t know how much he gets fer Howard.”
A minister in a little church had been having trouble with the collections. One Sunday he announced, “Now, before we pass the collection plate, I would like to request that the person who stole the chickens from Brother Martin’s henhouse please refrain from giving any money to the Lord. The Lord doesn’t want money from a thief!” The collection plate was passed around, and for the first time in months everybody gave.
Jokes!!! ”This guy decides he wants his dog to be able to dance, so he enrolls the pet in dance classes. Dutifully, he takes this dog to class every week, but he sees no improvement. Finally, he takes the instructor aside and says, “I’m spending a fortune here. Why isn’t my dog’s dancing improving?” “I’m sorry,” the instructor replies, “but there’s not much I can do. Your dog has two left feet.”
Calories are delicious.
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A girl was visiting her blonde friend, who had acquired two new dogs, and asked her what their names were. The blonde responded by saying that one was named Rolex and one was named Timex. Her friend said, “Whoever heard of someone naming dogs like that?” “HELLLOOOOOOO...,” answered the blonde. “They’re watch dogs!”
A sick man turned to his doctor, as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side. Very quietly, the doctor said, “I don’t know.” “You don’t know? You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?” The doctor was holding the handle of the door; on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my dog? He’s never been in this room before. He didn’t know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing. I know my Master is there and that is enough.”