President’s Corner

Dear Fellow RCM Members,

Not many are aware of the breakdown of our Annual Dues of Php 25,000 per member. Please go through the allocation (breakdown):

I. RI Obligation

1) RI per Capita = Php 3,650

2) RI Council on Legislation = Php 50

3) District Governor's Fund = Php 400

4) RI Magazine = Php 1,200

Sub-Total = Php 5,300

II. Club Obligation

1) Annual Weekly Cocktails & Meeting = Php 1,000 (used for wine and cocktails and to cover for the times we do not meet minimum number of PAX)

2) Club Dues (for club operations) = Php 17,200

3) Retirement Contribution (for RCM Staff) = Php 1,000

4) Community Projects = Php 500

Sub-Total = Php 19,700

Total = Php 25,000

Notes: (1) ONLY Php 500 per member is allocated for Community Projects. (2) The Php 1,000 allocated for the weekly cocktails and meeting can be allocated elsewhere upon BOD Approval for projects.

During the Board of Former Member and Past President Ben Santos (RY 2009-2010), his board approved the increase in annual dues which was implemented by the board of PP Gert Gust (RY 2010-2011). Six years thereafter, the Board of PP Teddy Ocampo (RY 2016-2017) approved the increase of annual dues to Php 30,000. However, the following year, the Board of PP Jimmie Policarpio (RY 2017-2018) held off the increase in Annual Dues.

We also need to understand that our club activities include the following which MAP or other non-Rotary associations do:

1) Weekly Meetings - Program Committee

2) Weekly Balita

3) Administrative Assistance to the Board

4) Committee / Project Assistance

We now have four staff members, including, the Executive Secretary, but, excluding the Outsourced Bookkeeper and a Utility Staff to clean and do some basic maintenance. Let’s be objective and understand the operations of our club. Let us professionalize the way our club operates.

We have had emergency response undertakings in the past years. We sometimes partner with another local Rotary Club, take advantage of the networks of members or directly donate to the beneficiaries. As Rotary International evolved and adapted itself with the changing times, application and approaches to community assistance also changed. The Board will review the comments shared on how to adjust membership dues and how to better manage disaster relief undertakings to be more transparent to the membership and its stakeholders.

Rotary Club of Manila, now on its 101st year, will continue to be part of its mother association, Rotary International, the district and fellow members to serve the mission of Rotary’s Seven (7) Areas of Focus:

1. Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution

2. Disease Prevention and Treatment

3. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

4. Maternal and Child Health

5. Basic Education and Literacy

6. Economic and Community Development

7. Supporting the Environment

We have initiated fund raising to benefit the typhoon victims of Bulacan and Cagayan. Thank you for the twenty-three (23) commitments. We have already received Php 150,000 from fourteen (14) commitments.

We wish to congratulate AT Marcus Dee, our farmer, together with DE/VP Thad Liamzon for successfully initiating the aquaponic project in Paraiso Farm in San Jose, Batangas. This is a project which used the District Grant Fund of US$ 500.00 and the balance of the project cost was co-funded by the President.