FUTURE OF ROTARY

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31614, 27 February 1968, Page 11

FUTURE OF ROTARY

World Service Objective

World community service would become the everincreasing objective of Rotarians of the future, and would be a demonstration of the brotherhood of men, the governor nominee of the South Island district of Rotary International (Mr R. Brown) said at the final session of the district’s annual conference in Christchurch at the week-end. Rotarians had their internal fellowship very much at heart, but it must not stop there.

. “What is man doing for his family, for the community?” Mr Brown asked. “Think how we can apply this in the international community. “If we have the will to do so we can make an impression. If we multiply this impression by the number of clubs in the world, multiply it more than 13,000 times, the impression must become an impact,” Mr Brown said. Rotary International comprised more than 13,000 clubs in 138 countries with a membership of 625,000 men. It had provided many leaders in all walks of life. “Rotarians must realise that the average age of members is becoming increasingly higher, particularly in longestablished clubs. We must fight any resistance to bringing in new members.” Most men were at their best between 30 years and 40 years, he said. Responsibility should be given to younger men; they should be allowed to make their mistakes, and if they were any good they would profit by them. The involvement of every member was the way to make Rotary work.

“Let people know what you are doing. Rotary is not a monastic order,” he said.