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PP. Busabong Jamroendararasame, Ph. Dr., Rotary Club of Phayao

Rotary Foundation New Normal

It seems everything has to move forward to make life better. Recently we have become familiar with and know more about graphs, we know about numerals, and geometry, as we are being informed about the number of covid 19 cases infected day by day. We know that to make the high-curve graph lower, cooperation is needed: D-Distancing, M-Mask wearing when going outside and H-Hand washing frequently. We expect not to be infectious by the virus.

The Rotary Foundation also move forward to the new normal with various reasons and needs. The foundation trustees approved the changes in 4 big issues:

1. District Designated Fund (DDF) contributed

to Polioplus Funds is now matched at 100% by the

World Fund; then being matched 200% by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It means US$100 DDF contributed is matched US$100 by WF and top up with the Gates foundation to make it US$600 (6 times of DDF contributed). With the new normal on 1 July 2020, WF will match only 50% of DDF contributed; but the Gate foundation will match 200%. So, the contribution of US$100 DDF will make it only 450, after matching. The target on PolioPlus fund is pushed a long way off. 3. The matching funds for Global Grants. TRF matches 100% on DDF and none on cash (started 1 July 2020). Starting 1 July 2021, TRF will match only 80% on DDF. Therefore, with $100 contribution, the DDF allocated is 47.50% and the matched fund will be only $38.

4. Redirection of DDF rolled over up to 5 years On 1 July 2026 the district will be asked to donate the unused DDF to other funds such as PolioPlus Fund or Rotary Peace Centers, etc. or automatically to the World Fund.

For this New Normal, Rotarians will learn 3 new words: Roll forward, Roll over and Roll redirection. • Roll forward : DDF of each year will be forwarded to the next year. • Roll over : The ability to roll over unused DDF will be limited to 5 years. • Roll redirection : Accumulated DDF of 5 years is encouraged to donate to several funds at the district’s discretion.

2. The cost of fund management. Nowadays, 5% is deducted from the WF. But for the new normal, 2.5% is deducted from DDF and the other 2.5% from WF. It means the contribution of US$100 will come back as DDF, not $50, but only $47.50