Dear Rotarians,
This is already my last monthly letter. A Rotary year is going fast. June is the month of the board change in many clubs and the district and we look to the future in the new year and also think about what is over.
Although the last three and a half months have been very special, we can still look back with a little optimism. Rotary has profiled itself to a large extent.
The many convivial dinners that we all enjoy so much, which have given us the reputation of wining and dining, were turned into real ACTIONS in many clubs for the benefit of institutions, health professionals and people, affected by Covid 19.
That gives great Rotary commitment a sense of satisfaction, of pride.
Our older members used to be considered digitally clumsy, but nothing could be further from the truth. The affiliation of the club members at video meetings has risen sharply, and the average age of the participants has also increased. As a result, members in some clubs became more connected. Do we see opportunities for the future in this?
I regret that there are also clubs that have not held video meetings. Let's hope that the members nevertheless kept in touch by phone, because maintaining contact is very important in these circumstances. People get to know their friends in difficult times. That is why I strongly recommend that every club become skilled in digital encounters, well structured like a real statutory meeting. If necessary, the district can help.
Attention for the disabled.
After the months of acute infection and strict lockdown, now comes the time of a dormant infection. The virus is not gone!
While we can once again enjoy our freedom, we must remain cautious. During the summer months, let's keep thinking about the many people with disabilities who were isolated for long months. To this end, one of our non-profit organizations, the National Association for the Support of Disabled Persons (NVSG), has allocated an important extra budget to club initiatives that help the disabled to regain their joie de vivre after the corona crisis. Official communication about this will follow shortly. Clubs that want to take such initiatives can already contact the NVSG.
Acting Ethically - Against Racism
Finally, a final message on ethics that I would like to pass on as Governor.
One of Rotary's main objectives is to encourage ethical conduct. As Gaia stands for the protection of animal rights and Amnesty International for human rights, Rotary stands for high ethical values in private and professional life.
Too little attention is paid to ethics, including in our clubs. That should change. Rotary remains tirelessly committed to peace and in this sense published the following statement a few days ago in response to the race riots in the United States:
At Rotary, we have no tolerance for racism. Promoting respect, celebrating diversity, demanding ethical leadership, and working tirelessly to advance peace are central tenets of our work.
We have more work to do to create more just, open and welcoming communities for all people.
We know there are no easy fixes and that challenging conversations and work lie before all of us. Rotary's strength has long been our ability and commitment to bringing people together. We will tap into that strength now as we stand with those who are working for peace and justice.
Rotary will do our part to listen, learn and take action to ensure that we continue to contribute to making positive change.
Dear Presidents,,
Unfortunatelythe security regulations of the government do not allow us to organize the traditional closing dinner with you at the end of the Rotary year. That is why I would like to sincerely thank you in this way for your efforts during your chair year. You might have imagined it completely differently, but preventive measures to preserve health must be respected.
Incidentally, I would like to thank you sincerely and congratulate you for strictly adhering to the imposed safety rules, so that you may have had to lead your club in a different way.
The conference, which was planned some time ago on Saturday 13 June, will immediately become the last of our district 2170, which will merge into four new districts in our country and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. As a result of the corona crisis, it will be a video conference for which you can log in via the address on the invitation sent to you. Please distribute the address among the members of your club so they can attend the conference on Saturday.
Maria-Elisabeth van Alsenoy,
DG 2019-2020
