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From the President’s Desk

Announcement

Rotary Club of Agege

A Publication of Rotary Club of Agege District 9110 Nigeria Vol. 32 No. 06 Date:11/08/15

RI Nos: 21968

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Rotary Club of Agege installs new President and Board September 13

C o m e S u n d a y , 1 3 September 2015, the President and Board of the Rotary Club of Agege will be installed.T h e i n s t a l l a t i o n ceremony would be used to raise fund for the implementation of projects which focus on the six focal areas of Rotary International.The ceremony is slated for The Events Centre, Hakeem Bello Street, by Afrika Shrine, off Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Lagos.Chairman, Editorial Board, The Nation Newspaper, Mr. Sam Omatseye is the Guest Speaker, while Engr. Peter Toyin Omotosho, Chairman, Eyes on the F u t u r e G r o u p o f Schools, would chair t h e i n v e s t i t u r e ceremony. The Olu of Agege Kingdom, Oba Kamila Isiba is the Royal Father of the day

One of the focal points raised at the Sao Paulo Rotary International Convention was how to grow membership worldwide and invite the younger ones to be Rotarians. Existing members were said not to be doing enough to increase members.Why do people associate? Why are you a Rotar ian? A plausible explanation is that Rotarians join and stay with their clubs primarily because they seek opportunities for community service, fellowship, and friendship. Many of the non-Rotarians you know are looking for the same things. Invite them to help with your service projects, or participate in a club get-together and help them see for themselves how Rotary connects leaders to make a positive change.Membership can be increased in a variety of ways. Increasing our number starts with everyone. Did you know you can invite your friends and family members to become Rotarians? What about your b u s i n e s s a c q u a i n t a n c e s , professional col leagues, and younger community leaders who are already connected to Rotary through Rotaract, RYLA, peace fellowships, Youth Exchange, and

o t h e r p r o g r a m s ? I n y o u r community, you can host an informational meeting where you can share the benefits of joining your club for potential and new members.In this month, we shall focus on these methods of winning new members. Beginning from today, we shall task our past President to share their insight into membership development. What have we done right and what we got wrong? There is going to be a membership night by the swimming pool. It promises to be a night of fun and back s lapping. Past Distr ict Governor would also be speaking to us on Membership Development.Now you have the opportunity to invite a friend, family members, business acquaintances and local leaders in your area to share Rotary with you.Today, we are sending forth that beautiful lady of the ilk of Florence Nightingale. She is relocating to … she will say it herself. I am talking about Rot. Oluremi M. Cole. Please let us come and say few words about this elegant and beautiful Rotarian.I wait to receive every Rotarian personally.

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Minutes

Minutes of meeting of Rotary Club Agege held on 4 August 2015 at the Lagos Airport Hotel

Call to Order: 19.10hrs.Rotary Grace: Led by Rotn. Eneh

The President welcomed all and congratulated members for the successful ceremony of the visit of the District Governor Bola Onabadejo to our club last week.

4 Way Test. Rotns. Eneh, Akande, Erinle, and Mojekwu.

The President invited Rotn. Akande to decorate Rotn. Odehkian Julianna as the SAA.

Object of Rotary – by PP Yemi Sodimu.

The President asked our guest to be introduced, thereafter thanked those members who brought a guest to the fellowship and promised them a present if they brought another guest at the next fellowship.

The Secretary reviewed the Rotarian Magazine and urged members to read the message of the RI President about giving someone a chance of a better life. Some other features were touched on as well.

There was also a review of the Board meeting that was held at the Resident of the Vice President and the decisions that was reached on all issues and particularly, that of the billing of members recently with figures in the Club Runner. On the Club Runner billing, there were several objections to the decision to expunge debts that were not statutory. PP Olayiwola faulted the accrual method being relied on by the club. He said the Club accounts had been un-auditable in the past two years. But the way forward is for the Treasurer and the Secretary to impute payment on the Club runner on 'Cash basis. However, a 3 man committee of the President, Treasurer, and the IPP will try to resolve the figures and hence forth continue to manage the club's accounts. Also that the Vice President will forthwith be the collector of PLEDGES to the club. That a reminder will be made to members concerning such pledges at every meeting.

Rotn. AG Ayo Olumokun apologised for not being at the ceremony of the DG's visit due to a prior commitment with his classification.SAA - N40,000. N30,000 Cash; and N10,000 Cheque by AG Olumokudn. Rotn. Ademola Aderogba paid N10,000 towards EREY. Rotn. Omolola Ososami paid N30,000 towards yearly dues.Toast was by PP Tayo Laleye at 2020hrs.

ATTENDANCE:

ROTARIANS - 1. Kolawole Ojelabi2. Dele Balogun3. Mohammed Mijinyawa5. Fatai Oluyadi6. Mojekwu Okechukwu7. Biodun Bello8. Olawunmi Salako9. Seyi Martins10. Omoniyi Oluwanisomo11. Tayo Laleye12. Samuel Olayiwola13. Bashiru Adewale14. Otakpor Uzoyiechine15. Akinyemi Temitope16. Adebisi Ade Onojobi-Salako17 Yemi Shodimu18. Odekhian Juliana19. Oredola Nubi20. Oyewole Wunmi21. Gbenga Sumonu22 AG.Ayo Olumokun Rotary Club of Ikeja

RotaractorsRotaractor Salami LuqmanRotaractor Gbadamosi Akeem

GUESTSMrs. Adedoyin O Sonuga Guest of Oyewole Mrs. Teresa Isamade “ of Sunmonu

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2017-18 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT

Ian H.S. Riseley, of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, Victoria, Australia, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2017-18. He will become the president-nominee on 1 October if no other candidates challenge him.Riseley says that meaningful partnerships with corporations and other organizations are crucial to Rotary's future.

“We have the programs and personnel and others have available resources,” says Riseley. “Doing good in the world is everyone's goal. We must learn from the experience of the polio eradication program to maximize our public awareness exposure for future partnerships.”

Riseley is a practicing accountant and principal of Ian Riseley and Co., which specializes in advising local and international businesses, and has a strong interest in international affairs. He received the AusAID Peacebuilder Award from the Australian government in 2002 in recognition of his work in Timor-Leste. He also received the Order of Australia medal in 2006 for service to the Australian community.

“Governments see Rotary as positive representatives of a civil society,” he says. “We should work with them to advocate for peace and conflict resolution, just as we are advocating for polio eradication.”

A member since 1978, Riseley has served Rotary as treasurer, director, trustee, RI Board Executive Committee member, task force member, committee member and chair, and district governor.

He is also a former member of the Australian Polio Eradication Private Sector Campaign and a recipient of The Rotary Foundation's Service Award for a Polio-Free World. He and his wife, Juliet, are Multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Major

Donors, and Bequest Society members.

The Nominating Committee's members are Ann-Britt Åsebol, Rotary Club of Falun-Kopparvågen, Sweden; John T. Blount, Rotary Club of Sebastopol, California, USA; Hee-Byung Chae, Rotary Club of Seoul West, Seoul, Korea; Serge Gouteyron, Rotary Club of Valenciennes-Denain aérodrome Nord, France; Frederick W. Hahn Jr., Rotary Club of Independence, Missouri, USA; Stuart B. Heal, Rotary Club of Cromwell, New Zealand; Paul Knyff, Rotary Club of Weesp (Vechtstreek-Noord), Netherlands; Masahiro Kuroda, Rotary Club of Hachinohe South, Aomori, Japan; Anne L. Matthews (chair), Rotary Club of Columbia East, South Carolina, USA; Michael D. McCullough, Rotary Club of Trenton, Michigan, USA; David D. Morgan, Rotary Club of Porthcawl, Mid Glamorgan, Wales; Gideon M. Peiper, Rotary Club of Ramat Hasharon, Israel; José Alfredo Sepúlveda, Rotary Club of Pachuca Plata, Hidalgo, Mexico; P.C. Thomas, Rotary Club of Nilgiris West, Tamil Nadu, India; Alceu Antimo Vezozzo, Rotary Club of Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil; and C. Grant Wilkins, Rotary Club of Denver, Colorado, USA.

By Ryan HylandRotary News

IAN RISELEY IS SELECTED AS 2017-18 ROTARY PRESIDENT

Generating set and mosquito treated nets donations to General Hospital, Orile Agege

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R.I PRESIDENT K.R. "RAVI" RAVINDRAN AUGUST MESSAGE

n the 1930s, Ole Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter, had a wooden sign Ihanging on his wall that read, Det bedste

er ikke for godt: "Only the best is good e n o u g h . " To d a y , C h r i s t i a n s e n i s remembered as the inventor of Lego, the colorful plastic bricks beloved by children around the world. But in the early days of the Lego company, its signature product was a wooden duck – one built to the highest standards, out of aged beech, with three coats of clear varnish. Lego's company history tells how Christiansen used his ducks to teach a lesson in quality to his son, Godtfred Kirk:One evening, when I came into the office, I said to my father: "It's been a good day today, Dad. We've earned a little more." "Oh," said Dad, "what do you mean?" "Well, I've just been to the station with two boxes of our toy ducks for the Danish Co op. Normally they get three coats of varnish, but since it's for the Co-op, I only gave them two. So I saved the business a

bit of money." He looked at me in dismay. "Godtfred, fetch those boxes back. Unpack them and give the ducks another coat of varnish. You're not going to bed until the work's done – and you'll do it all on your own." There was no arguing with Dad. And it was a lesson for me about what quality meant.Today, Lego's quality standards are legendary, and its products are the most popular toys in the world: Lego pieces outnumber humans 86 to 1.We all recognize that this success stems directly from Lego's business practices – its insistence on quality, efficiency, and innovation. I compare this with our efforts in governance and accountability in Rotary, and realize that sometimes we fall short of the standards expected.The leaders at the Rotary International, zone, district, and club levels have to maintain the highest standards in governance. The RI president and directors must serve the membership in a meaningful manner; zone leaders must deliver on the investment Rotary makes in them; district leaders must provide dynamic leadership in the district and focus on transparency in accounting and timely reporting of financials; and club leaders must adhere to proper reporting functions and get their clubs onto Rotary Club Central.Just as Christiansen refused to consider sending a lesser product to any of his clients, so should we refuse to consider giving a lesser effort to any of our work. We must always demand the best of ourselves – in our professional lives, and especially in our Rotary work.For in Rotary, what is our product? It is not wooden ducks or plastic bricks. It is education, water, health, and peace. It is hope, and it is life itself. For this work, only our best is good enough. I ask you all to remember this – and to do your very best to Be a Gift to the World.

The Rotary Foundation has traditionally used a few annual goals to guide its planning for the next Rotary year. However, there is a more comprehensive plan in place for the current Rotary year. At their October 2014 meeting, the Trustees utilized the spirit of the RI strategic plan by approving four priorities to stay in place for the next three years:

1. End polio, now and forever.

2. Strengthen Rotarians' knowledge, engagement, and financial support of The Rotary Foundation.

3. Increase the quality and impact of Rotary's humanitarian service effort through Foundation grants and the six areas of focus.

4. Enhance the image and awareness of the

TRUSTEE CHAIR 2015-16 MONTHLY MESSAGE

RAY KLINGINSMITH

Foundation's record of achievements, particularly the success of PolioPlus and its 100-year record of doing good in the world.

In addition to the agreed four priorities for the next three years, the Trustees also approved four measurable goals for each of the priorities. Therefore, we now have 16 measurable goals to guide our efforts. The goals can be changed each year as progress is made on achievement of the priorities, but for the current year our course is set – and for the first time, it is measurable!

I will be sharing some of the goals with

you in future editions, but it is worth noting that the advent of measurable goals for the Foundation came at a propitious time. RI President K.R. Ravindran is a proponent of key performance indicators (KPIs) for the work of Rotarians in leadership positions, and the new measurable goals made it much easier to develop some KPIs for our regional Rotary Foundation coordinators and endowment/major gift advisers. The KPIs are still an experiment, and they will need refinement and development, but they are a step in the right direction as we try to take a longer look ahead each year!

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50 Things Every Rotarian Should Know About Rotary

C o u r t e s y : S t e v e G a r r e t

3 - ROTARY'S WHEEL EMBLEMA wheel has been the symbol of Rotary since our earliest days. The first design was made by Chicago Rotarian Montague Bear, an engraver who drew a simple wagon wheel, with a few lines to show dust and motion. The wheel was said to illustrate "Civilization and Movement."

Most of the early clubs had some form of wagon wheel on their publications and letterheads. Finally, in 1922, it was decided that all Rotary clubs should adopt a single design as the exclusive emblem of

Rotarians. Thus, in 1923, the present gear wheel, with 24 cogs and six spokes was adopted by the "Rotary International Association."

A group of engineers advised that the geared wheel was mechanically unsound and would not work without a "keyway" in the center of the gear to attach it to a power shaft.

So, in 1923 the keyway was added and the design which we now know was formally adopted as the official Rotary International emblem.

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FROM THE FELLOWSHIP LAST WEEK

was touched by the recent report about Melinda Gates, wife of the richest man in the Iworld, Bill Gates, carrying a bucket of water

fetched from a village in Malawi. The billionaire's spouse, alongside two Malawian women, was seen with a 20-litre bucket of water on her head walking on an untarred road. Despite her status, Melinda did not only carry the bucket, she also helped in washing dishes and stayed in the home of a local couple in a village. This act – which has generated many reactions from across the globe – admirably shows simplicity, humility and sensitivity to the plight of the less privileged in the society.The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is widely known worldwide to promote better living conditions in several countries through the provision of grants, aids and developmental l i fe l ine for indiv iduals and corporate organisations. Such a rare gesture is uncommon especially in a world where extreme capitalism, materialism, flamboyance and opulence have become the order of the day. One recalls ex-President Joyce Banda of Malawi, similarly carrying a bucket of water on her head to share the experiences of motherhood and promote water supply and development together with her people.Ordinarily, people are bound to insinuate that such generosity could be either a way of looking for an inroad and preparing the ground for massive investment in Africa or just an attempt at getting publicity while identifying with the poor. For me, I feel there's no basis to hold any of these views. The duo are not known to visit any country based on political considerations. Rather, they are reputed to have brought about workable interventions at various times to lessen the plight of the weak and the disadvantaged.Another sticking point to note on this rare display of milk of kindness to humanity is that it takes a great deal of discipline, sacrifice and humility for someone of the class, stature and personality of Melinda to leave her luxury, dignity, riches and comfort zone in the God's Own Country for that matter and come to a continent, where the cost of living is out of reach of the common man, to render such humanitarian assistance.

In sharp contrast to Melinda, what is common to many of our women in the political and elite class in Africa is the exact opposite (penchant for luxurious living without much consideration for the poor, needy and the common man). Most male African leaders have been accused of engaging in corrupt practices that lead to bad governance. It is widely believed that public resources that are allegedly mismanaged may not have been so, if wives of such leaders had exercised positive influence on their husbands by doing what is expected of them rather using such influence and clout to ascend to glamour and fame.African women in positions of authority should, therefore, brace up and take a cue from the Malawian episode by making a big difference in the society. They should always realise that they have much influence on their men after all the popular saying goes that behind a successful man is a woman and vice versa. It is hoped that the authorities in Malawi would take advantage of the Gates' symbolic visit for a better life for our womenfolk.

Adewale Kupoluyi,Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta

Culled from The Nation Newspapers

Melinda Gates’ shinning example

Melinda

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COMMENTS

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