Page 10 - 2022年6月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE

There’s no time
like the present

¨Time can be an ally or an enemy,© representatives couldn't visit potential host
author Zig Ziglar once wrote. ¨What it becomes universities as part of our ongoing effort to
depends entirely upon you, your goals, and your establish our next Rotary Peace Center in the
determination to use every available minute.© Middle East or North Africa. But nothing stands in
Every June, as we wind down another year in the way of our pursuit of peace; plans are still on
Rotary, I ask myself if we have used the past 365 for the Rotary Presidential Conference in Houston,
days well. To answer, let's look at what we have 3-4 June, which will focus on peace, and I look
accomplished. forward to being there.
Cases in the remaining wild-polio endemic This year, Rotary made another contribution
countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are at their in our commitment to peace, in the form of more
lowest level in history. Of course, challenges to than 1,000 global, district, and disaster response
global eradication remain and our work is not yet grants approved to fulfill the needs of thousands
finished, but we are making encouraging progress, around the world. For until hungry people are fed,
which wouldn't be possible without your support. families have access to clean water, and children
Rotary needs to raise $50 million each everywhere are educated, we won't truly have peace
year for polio eradication, and doing so during a in the world.
pandemic is no easy task. But Rotary clubs are We have used our time well this year, but
smart and adapt fast. When in-person events weren't our work is never complete. We always need and
possible, many clubs successfully transferred their welcome more Rotary and Rotaract members who
fundraising efforts online. bring their hands, minds, and gifts, so that Rotary-
We hit another memorable mark during led Foundation projects will create lasting change
Giving Tuesday in November, when The Rotary for those who need it most.
Foundation got a boost by raising $1.2 million. We As we approach 1 July, let us heed Ziglar's
reached out to more current and prospective donors words, remembering that how we spend the
than ever before { almost 500,000 members across next 365 days largely depends on us and our
40 countries. Some of our most engaged clubs were determination to reach our goals. So let us do the
located in the Bahamas, India, Singapore, Taiwan, best we can with the time we have been given,
and the United States. We thank all of those who today. And let us begin again, every day.
made Giving Tuesday a success. JOHN F. GERM
Due to travel restrictions this year, Rotary Foundation trustee chair
Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
8 ᇃᢊ׭ᎈȁ2022.6