Choose Wisely

This week, Manila Rotarians will take a judicious look at the Roster of Club Members and will discern who would be the 8 members to best serve as Club Directors for Rotary year 2024-2025. Nominees will be named from where the 8 Directors will be chosen in the elections that will be held next month.

In the August issue of Balita last year, and in the Editor’s Note last week, I expressed my fascination with this particular Rotary culture of electing officers way ahead of the commencement of their term. With more than ten months to go in the current Rotary year, the Club will already be nominating a new set of Manila Rotarians to take over the Club’s leadership next year. Last year, I said: this is preparation at its best; and this is succession planning in action. Let me add: this is a judicious selection in motion.

Let me reiterate what I wrote in August last year. In the District level, our very own Jackie Rodriguez is the District Governor-Elect and will be assuming his important task in July 2024. He was elected years ago with more than two years to prepare before he assumes office. He is expected to undergo all the required trainings and undertake such other needed preparations for him to be fully ready for his one-year stint as District Governor. By the time he assumes office, DGE Jackie shall have spent more than two years to prepare for a one-year service as the Leader of District 3810.

Abraham Lincoln expressed it best when he said: “Give me six hours to chop a tree, and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” DGE Jackie has ample time sharpening his axe, so when the time comes, his task of chopping the tree will be accomplished seamlessly, and with facility and ease.

The RCM Directors who will be elected to service in Rotary year 2024-2025 will also be doing the same thing in the coming months – sharpening their axes -- before they formally assume office in July next year. With all the time that they have, all of them will hopefully be best prepared when the time to actually “chop the tree” arrives.

It is indeed 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 ultimately become adequately prepared once they assume their respective posts.

There is, indeed, no substitute to preparation and planning. Samuel Taylor Coleridge expressed it succinctly when he said: “He who is best prepared can best serve his moment of inspiration.”

This week, we will nominate our candidates. A month from now or on September 7, we will vote for 8 candidates who will make up our Board. Let us choose wisely.