2017 RCC District Assembly

Our Rotary District 3810 held its Community Corps District Assembly last November 25 in the auditorium of Emilio Aguinaldo University in Ermita. President Jimmie asked me attend so that our club might learn more about Rotary Community Corps, of which we currently have none. I am happy to share some of what I learned, especially since most our members, like me, really do not know much about RCC’s.

The father of the concept of the Rotary Community Corps was Past Rotary International President Matt Caparas in 1985, when he was Rotary International President-elect, serving his presidency in 1986-87. He recognized that there are so many good people around the world that could help us achieve our goals, but might not be able to become Rotarians themselves.

A Rotary Community Corps is a group of people who share our Rotarian commitment to changing the world through service projects. Rotary Community Corps members plan and carry out projects in their communities and support local Rotary club projects but are not members of a Rotary club. There are more than 8,500 corps in over 90 countries. Rotary Community Corps are active everywhere Rotary is present: in urban and rural areas, and in both developed and developing countries.

In the words of PRIP Matt, the goals of the RCC program are to encourage individuals to take responsibility for the improvement of their community, village, or neighborhood. With the assistance, guidance and training provided by rotary Clubs and districts, to help these individuals through RCC’s to mobilize self-help activities and collective work to improve the quality of life. This encourages the development of human potential to its fullest, within the context of the local culture and community.

Rotary Community Corps must be sponsored by a Rotary Club or clubs, and may even be co-sponsored by foreign clubs. They must have a minimum charter strength of ten members, elect officers, and meet at least once a month. They should raise the funds necessary to carry out their own projects and can implement registered projects by their sponsoring Rotary Clubs. They work with Rotarians to assure the sustainability of Rotary Clubs projects, including those assisted through Global Grants. Hey must conduct at least two projects a year, have a non-political agenda and no religion-specific objectives, all under the guidance of Rotarians. Club leadership is under a continuity plan of rolling three-year terms of office. Rotary Clubs are encouraged to organize Community Corps, helping them to get started and sustain themselves.

Here in the Philippines, many of the RCC initiatives have focused on livelihood projects. One in Iligan city established a micro-credit facility for cut flower production. Another in Ermita is on tropical house plant propagation for growing in water in decorative glass containers.

The basic goals are effective service projects, consistent with Rotary’s Six Areas of Focus, responding to real issues, improving community members’ lives, incorporating the abilities of those who serve and those who are served, and recognizing the contributions of all participants as important and necessary. The role of sponsoring Rotary Clubs in service projects is to contribute time, talent and treasure, to be resource mobilizers, to promote and be transformational advocates.

The District assembly provided valuable learning opportunities for many members of existing Rotary community corps, as well as for clubs like us, that do not have a related RCC. It was a privilege to serve the club in learning more about RCC’s, and I hope that we can have a hands-on club service project soon that could be more successful with the help of a new RCC.