Editor’s Note
The editor reflects on how Rotary prepares its incoming Club and District leaders long before they take office.
“Plan for what is difficult while it is easy, do what is great while it is small.” — Sun Tzu, Art of War
Last week’s nomination of RCM directors for Rotary year 2023-2024 to me is a fascinating feature of the Rotary culture. Imagine, the Club is already in the process of choosing the leaders who will take its helm in July 2023. With more than nine months to go in the current Rotary year, we are already electing and prepping a new set of Manila Rotarians to take over the Club’s leadership next year. This is preparation at its best. This is succession planning in action.
In the District level, we know that our very own DGN Jackie Rodriguez will be our District Governor in 2024. Yes, that is about two years from now. Yet, he is already undergoing all the training and other preparations for him to be fully ready for his one-year term as District Governor. DGN Jackie has more than two years to prepare for a one-year service as the Father of District 3810. More than two years preparation for a one-year term.
This reminds me of what Abraham Lincoln said: “Give me six hours to chop a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” DGN Jackie will have ample time sharpening the axe, so when the time comes, chopping the tree can be done with facility and ease.
The elected RCM officers for Rotary year 2023-2024 will also be doing the same thing in the coming months, before they formally assume office in July next year. With all the time that they have, all of them will surely be best prepared when the time to actually “chop the tree” finally arrives.
It is amazing that Rotary officers go through intense preparation and numerous trainings before they formally assume office. This shows the importance and value that Rotary puts in preparation. It is not surprising, therefore, that District and Club officers are fully ready once they assume their all-too-important roles as servant-leaders. There is, indeed, no substitute to ample preparation.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge expressed it best when he said: “He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.”
President’s Diary