Page 8 - 2021年7月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE

Our vision for a better world

July is the most exciting month in Rotary, a let that or anything else stop us. Many educational
time for fresh starts and new beginnings. For many, and health care needs have only been exacerbated
it's an opportunity to take on new leadership roles. by the pandemic. The world needs us.
Rotarians brim with optimism, thinking about the Beginning 1 July, you can apply for Foundation
good we can do for humanity in the 12 months grants supporting Rotary's new area of focus: the
ahead. environment. July also brings changes, such as the
As I write this message, I recall a quote often financial restructuring of the World Fund, that have
attributed to Helen Keller, a renowned American been implemented with an eye toward sustainability.
activist for people with disabilities: ¨The only We are just beginning a year when we will continue
thing worse than being blind is having sight but no our first Programs of Scale grant in Zambia, seek a
vision.© home for our next Rotary Peace Center, and plan and
How profound that a woman who was implement district and global grants that will make
blind taught us such a powerful lesson about the positive impacts for generations to come.
difference between sight and vision. Indeed, it To paraphrase the ancient Chinese philosopher
is one thing to see the world as it is, but entirely Laozi, today we begin the journey of a thousand
another to envision it as it could be. The Rotary miles by taking our first step. Let's walk together,
Foundation is all about envisioning possibilities Ñ looking forward, not to the past. Rotarians love
and making them happen. a good challenge, so here's one for us all: let's
As we begin this Rotary year, I ask: what challenge ourselves to think bigger this year and
is your vision for the next 12 months? Could a enlarge our vision of what we can and will do.
community or region you know benefit from a Make the Foundation a part of your vision
grant from the Foundation? One probably could, for a better world, and you will see the world, and
and, as you read these words, many people in that yourself, change.
community are waiting for our help and leadership.
We are still reeling from the challenges of JOHN F. GERM
serving the world during COVID-19, but we cannot Foundation trustee chair

Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa

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