United Chosen Presidents

IN less than two months, a new Rotary Year will unfold, paving the way for RI President-Elect (RIPE) Mario Cesar Martins de Camargo to take the reins of the 120-year-old global organization that is Rotary International. With about 1.4 million active members around the world, Rotary has had a significant and far-reaching impact across the globe since its founding in 1905.

With RIPE de Camargo’s 2025-2026 theme “Unite for Good”, DGE Mary Mei V. Rodrigo in turn named the incoming Club Presidents in the District “United Chosen Presidents” or UCP.

United and Chosen. These two words carry a lot of emotional and symbolic weight and will deeply resonate with everyone, especially during these challenging times.

In a world increasingly defined by division, and in organizations polarized by politics and policy discord, the concept of, and the call for unity becomes more compelling than ever.

Indeed, achieving perfect unity remains a powerful, if elusive, ideal. It must be noted, however, that when we talk about unity, we do not refer to the absence of difference but the presence of connection, understanding, and shared purpose despite those differences. Seen this way, it is something that suddenly becomes more achievable, more attainable.

The first step towards achieving unity in an organization involves, in my mind, eschewing egos, exhibiting kindness, and focusing on common goals and targets. It is truly about maintaining respect for each other despite difference of opinion.

Being chosen, on the other hand, speaks to a sense of identity, purpose, and often, responsibility. When viewed together, unity and being chosen form a dynamic relationship: to be chosen is to stand apart in some way, and yet, that very distinction can become a bridge to draw others together. In this way, being chosen becomes less about status and more about stewardship. The weight of being chosen is balanced by the responsibility to foster unity—not division.

When I first heard about the term United Chosen Presidents, I must confess that I felt some misgivings as the word “chosen” could be misinterpreted to mean that the PEs are being held to be an exclusive group above the rest. To say that we are the chosen ones seems to alienate, rather than unite.

Indeed, the idea of being chosen can be dangerous if misunderstood. When seen as a mark of superiority rather than a call to service, it can create exclusion and arrogance. Unity suffers when being chosen is used as a tool for separation rather than connection. But when embraced with humility and purpose, being chosen becomes a sacred opportunity to unify—to draw others in rather than push them away.

In the end, unity and being chosen are not contradictory. One honors the collective; the other recognizes the individual. But together, they can forge a world where people are both unique and united, called and connected.

We are at our best when we understand that being chosen is not about being better, but about being called to love, to lead, and to build bridges that bring us all closer together.