RCM Elections: A Time for Discernment for Nominators, Nominees, and Voters

During last week’s membership meeting in the fully packed Turf Room of the Manila Polo Club, Manila Rotarians nominated the candidates from where the 8 members of next year’s Board of Directors will be chosen. Pursuant to our By-Laws, the elections that will be held on September 7.

The nominators have surely carefully considered and underwent a process of discernment before naming their nominees, because, as everyone knows, choosing the men who will compose the governing body of the club is a serious matter. More importantly, the nominees should likewise go through a careful process of consideration and discernment themselves. Indeed, while being nominated is an honor, the acceptance of such nomination in itself carries a huge responsibility. A nomination cannot be taken lightly, and each nominee has to think whether he can actually commit to make time to dutifully serve the Club. Saying ‘yes’ to a nomination should, therefore, include an acceptance of the real possibility of being actually elected.

This is the reason why each nominee, as an act of accepting his nomination, is required to make a written commitment, as follows:

I am aware that if elected, I will have to assume the following commitments and responsibilities:

To oversee and constantly follow up the planning and implementation of all activities by a set of committees under a service group to be placed under my supervision;

To report on all my committees during the Board Meetings held at a regular date each month;

To have a working knowledge of the RCM Constitution and By-Laws, the RI Manual of Procedure and general Rotary information;

To attend most, if not all, Board, Club and my committee meetings;

To attend the District Conference, the District Assembly and, if elected President, the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS), which will be scheduled within the first semester of 2024;

To attend the DIRECTORS’ ELECT TRAINING SEMINAR, to be organized by the President-Elect, as a prerequisite prior to sitting in office as Director of the Board; and,

To be prepared to give the time and effort necessary to carry on my other tasks as a Board member.

The foregoing are not empty words. This written commitment is actually a prelude to the oath that each duly elected director will take in July next year. As this election is of utmost importance, it behooves all Manila Rotarians to do their part by carefully considering the nominees’ qualifications and track record, and by judiciously voting on September 7 with the welfare of the Club in mind.