Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Kuching Central on your club’s superb 48.21% net membership growth, with 83 active members, 22.89% female membership and 16.87% members under age 40 as on 8 June 2022. I applaud 2021-22 President Andrea Chan, her Board of Directors, for having done well to Grow Rotary during the COVID-19 pandemic, including establishment of the new Rotary Satellite Club of Kuching Central City chaired by Past District Governor Andre Suharto.
The Rotary Club of Kuching Central has been committed to serve the community with ongoing humanitarian service projects. Through your dedication and commitment to do good, you have successfully attracted more members into your club. You have continued to innovate and demonstrate the ability to adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones has called on us to dream big and think of ways that Rotary can touch the imagination of the whole world. Our dream in Rotary is to grow more and do more. When we are open to innovative ideas, we expand our horizons. We challenge previously held beliefs and move Rotary into a bold new and exciting future.
Paul Harris once said, “Rotary is a microcosm of a world at peace, a model which nations will do well to follow.” We want to improve people’s lives and help promote world peace and understanding utilizing our time, talent, and treasure. Alone, we can only do so much. But, with other Rotarians who are People of Action, we will work together to make our world better.
Rotary embraces diversity, equity, and inclusion. We will produce a generation of collaborative, representative, and effective leaders. Open your minds to possibilities and fresh ideas, continuing to enrich your leadership experiences. Sometimes, the best ideas come from the unlikeliest people around you. Actively seek out those great ideas, challenging you and your peers to become better leaders. Work with and listen to people different from us.
Rotary’s vision statement says: “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe, in our communities, and ourselves.” We must make Rotary a good idea for Rotarians, prospective Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, and the family of Rotary.
Rotarians and Rotaractors equally are People of Action. We have an enormous responsibility and an excellent opportunity to improve our community with innovative and creative ideas. We cannot be mere spectators but must be active participants, benefiting our community. The world is changing, and Rotary must be at the forefront of these changes.
The world needs Rotary like never before, it needs us to be bold, to be inspirational, to be generous of our time and resources. We need to be better known as we achieve bigger goals. We need to think of new ideas that capture the public spirit. We need the world to know that we are the people who bring hope and make dreams possible.
Let us turn limitations into opportunities. We will make Rotary the leading service organization globally and make a positive difference in people’s lives. We will inspire and attract the new generations to join us in our good work. We may not see immediate results, but we are planting the seeds of our future success.
The Rotary Club of Kuching Central has served the communities well since 1986. In Rotary Year 2022-23, I look forward to the leadership of President Michael Kuan and his Board of Directors to continue the good works to build the club, align your club’s strategic plan to Rotary’s Action Plan and the four Strategic Priorities: Increase Our Impact, Expand Our Reach, Enhance Participant Engagement and Increase Our Ability to Adapt, and our District 3310 goals.
I would like to encourage the Club to focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, chartering of a new Rotary Club, and membership engagement and retention in the year 2022-23; encourage members and friends of Rotary to build their legacy and “Do Good in the World” through The Rotary Foundation, and scale-up the club’s service projects and activities for even greater impact.
Let us Imagine Rotary! I wish you all the best for the Rotary Year 2022-23!
Joanne Kam Huey Jiuan
2022-23 District Governor
Rotary District 3310