President’s Corner

Dear Fellow RCM Members,

Good afternoon! This is my first address as President. It took 20 years for me to be here where I am accepting it despite my condition of living with cancer since 2002. I’m taking this challenge to make a difference with the help of my team and those who voted for me. I’ll be counting on your unlimited cooperation to surprise and delight our club, our community, our country and the world.

Today, we are embarking on the second century of the Rotary Club of Manila. Due to the new normal, we find this year challenging, the more our passion to share and serve to those who are in dire need is one of our priorities. Our strategic plans are:

a. Strengthening membership – We shall engage with our members and also to add more members, activate Rotaract and open satellite clubs with a minimum of 8 members.

b. Our outreach programs will be aligned with the District and Rotary International plans of action.

c. We shall focus on the Save Manila Bay Project I initiated 2 years ago and the TREES Project launched by PP Jack Rodriguez.

d. We shall create a Public Image Committee. The public shall be informed on our projects, activities, and goals.

e. Encourage members to learn through the trainings and other information by Rotary International at myrotary.org.

f. We shall be very transparent and our records will be accessible. The 4 way test and other values will be upheld.

g. Monthly meetings will include Financial Reports. We shall mechanize our Accounting System for better decision making.

h. We need to support the Rotary Foundation. Our target is to raise $100,000 within the year. We shall encourage our 78 members to raise $1,000 to be a Paul Harris Fellow. Today, I’m contributing $10,000 and $1,000 for the Polio Program. Our dream is to have 100% Paul Harris Fellows in the first Rotary in Asia.

i. We shall review our Club’s budget and we shall have prudent and achievable goals.

j. We shall be active in our district and other districts in the country to promote clean water and Tree Planting Projects all over the country in collaboration with the DENR and other government agencies, national and local.

k. Our awarding events shall be self-funded and if we cannot secure sponsors, the event will be cancelled.

l. We will strive to get the biggest grants with RI for our projects in collaboration with another Rotary Club abroad. The one in charge is our VP Thad Liamzon.

m. We encourage your feedback. You can call me at 0917-512-1249 or through Viber, Messenger, or robertlimjoseph@gmail.com.

This is the initial plan as I embark on this journey with my distinguished Board of Directors and Executive Officers for RY 2020-2021. We will keep you abreast through the Balita, by updating our website and RCM FB page, and press releases.

The image of RCM has to go on a high gear and to be an exemplar among Rotary Clubs in the country. We cannot be myopic but we need to Rotarize everyone and inspire other clubs that we are a super service organization. No one is a taker but a giver. Service Above Self is why we are Rotarians because ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES, the theme of Rotary International for RY 2020-2021 under Rotary International President Holger Knaack.

Maraming Salamat.