Page 8 - 2023年1月號

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE
New beginnings, new

opportunities to serve

A new year is upon us. As we look forward to Foundation, which delivered a grant that set the
new beginnings and experiences, let’s think outside project on its path to success.
the box and find new opportunities to serve through Before long, East Timor Roofing became a
Rotary. financially viable enterprise, raising enough money
Consider taking up a community economic to build roofs for homes, schools, orphanages,
development project this year. In this Rotary area and commercial buildings. Subsistence farmers
of focus, we apply our professional experience by got silos for their crops. Hundreds of Timorese
promoting the entrepreneurial spirit as we help received professional training in basic building
communities help themselves in a sustainable way. and administrative skills. Thousands of new water
Community economic development projects, to tanks ensured that young girls could attend school
paraphrase the universal adage, don’t just give rather than fetching water.
someone a fish today but teach them to fish so they What began as a roofing project is today a
can eat for a lifetime. commercial enterprise employing local people and
These projects can be microloans to start up a making a huge impact. And your Foundation paved
livestock breeding business, or they might take the the way.
adopt-a-village approach in which Rotary works What experiences lie ahead for you in 2023?
with communities on multipronged efforts to boost A district or global grant? Or possibly a visit to
local economies sustainably. Melbourne, Australia, just up the road from my
In 2000, during its transition to independence, home, to make new friends, reunite with old ones,
Timor-Leste was reeling from political violence and find partners for projects during the 2023
and destruction. Communities not only needed Rotary International Convention?
shelter and improved living conditions but also a Let’s make a New Year’s resolution to take
new economy. advantage of opportunities to learn, grow, and
This is where Australian Rotary clubs serve. And let’s have some fun in the process. This
stepped up with the East Timor Roofing project to is Rotary, after all.
produce and install corrugated roofing, and later, So, my friends, let us go forth and carpe
water tanks and grain silos. As the project grew, annum Ñ seize the year.
other organizations joined, including The Rotary
IAN H.S. RISELEY
Foundation trustee chair
Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa
6 ᇃᢊ׭ᎈȁ2023.1