The Strength of "Rotary Shares"

September 24, 2007

As Rotarians we have countless reminders around us of 2007-08 Rotary President Wilf Wilkinson's Theme: "Rotary Shares". We see it in The Rotarian magazine, on the website at www.Rotary.org, we hear our District Governor relay the message during assemblies and the annual Governor's visit, and if our Club President is doing his job, then we see it and hear it in club meetings, programs, and communications. Countless articles have been written on what this theme means in the context of service, membership, the "Family of Rotary" and many other topics.

 

Truly, sharing is a concept that is so basic to our society that it is one of the first skills taught to pre-schoolers by parents and in preschool- in the mode of the All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten phenomenon spawned by the 1986 Robert Fulgham bestseller of the same name. Rotarians, having once been children, and many having had children or grandchildren, can appreciate this simple truth. But, is the simple act of "sharing" enough? 

 

I would submit that there is value in the simple act of sharing. Our Rotary forefathers, Paul Harris and his group, saw the value in sharing a meal, sharing discussion, sharing ideas, sharing a song, sharing business and vocation, and sharing the experience of serving together in communal projects. All of this sharing within the club made the club, and the interpersonal relationships that bind it together, stronger and tighter. However, these are all inward looking benefits. 

The real value of sharing came when we could share Rotary with others. The sharing examples are many. Those benefited by community educational and humanitarian projects, scholarships, mentoring and career development, subsistence projects providing food & clean water, health projects, including eradication of disease, economic projects and more. All of these entail a sharing act from Rotary to its local and international community. Rotary's true strength and potential were not unveiled until the sharing looked outward. 

 

So, where does The Rotary Leadership Institute - RLI - fit in?

 

RLI is simply a venue where Rotarian leaders share with each other in a atmosphere that is specially created to encourage creativity, leadership growth, and the use of Rotary's vast array of tools, concepts and connections to serve their local and world communities. Our expert Faculty build this atmosphere using a well-tested model based on the way that adults learn and interact. Throw into the mix Rotary knowledge and leadership skills, and the result are Rotarians re-energized and returning to their clubs with the tools and motivation to effectively use the power of Rotary to do good in the world.

 

The simple act of sharing is good. But, sharing with knowledge, enthusiasm and purpose is better! Don't you want more of these Rotarians in your club, your community, and your world?