President Wilf receiving the District 7020 Magic of Rotary District Conference shirt in Ft. Lauderdale

On Friday and Saturday of last weekend, 430 Rotarians form Zones 33 and 34 joined President Wilf Wilkinson for his Presidential Membership Seminar in Ft. Lauderdale. The program was outstanding and everybody in attendance indicated that the time and effort to attend was well worth the while.

The major points were simple. Due to the statistical data and trends it is clear that Membership Development is one of the most important elements facing the future of Rotary, Our Zones are up 187 new clubs but membership is down 4600 members. District 7020, although marginally up in members over the last 4 years; 99 members over 2003, this was achieved by the chartering of 9 new clubs in the period. 35 of our 68 clubs have less members today than they did in 2003, so we have a challenge ahead of us as well.

Although the issues of recruitment and retention were addressed from a number of angles, the basic message as I understood them were; Membership Development is up to every single Rotarian and in as much every Rotarian is expected to make the effort necessary to recruit new members. The acronym “MGM” Member Get Member rang loudly. Another acronym “AAA” also got its share of attention, Ask, Ask, Ask !!!!

The Haiti Task Force met again with Charles Adams about the water project in Haiti. Fortunately I was able to have the company of DGN Errol, DGE Rupert, ADG Alastair, RID Barry, Roger White, St. Thomas, Nathan Carmack DG 6910 as well as the Task Force Members to hear what had to be said.

Although the plans that Pure Water for the World have for Haiti are beneficial to Haiti, our involvement and the use of Rotary Foundation Funding we believe requires that we have a master plan for the roll out of their program. RID Barry has gone back to RI to get their advice and assistance on that and the Task force Team was going to process the two existing projects and grant applications.


After a hard days work!

A number of us went to dinner after the Presidents Membership Seminar. Pictured below is one of the two tables.

Its not all work and no play.

Carla and I went to visit our very best friends Johnny and Linda Sands who are temporarily staying in Charlottesville Virginia. We were able to spend a couple of great days with them. Here we are at Barboursville Winery at the foot of the Shenandoah National Park. We also got to take in a Rotary Meeting on Tuesday Night. The timing was great, my classmate DG Travis White D7610 was doing his official visit, so I was able to present DG Travis and President Doug McGowan with a District 7020 Pin. Doug was very helpful in setting up Johnny and Linda’s stay in Charlottesville.

Carla and I are on our way back to Nassau, currently sitting in the Charlotte North Carolina Airport. We will be back in Nassau until Monday a.m. at which time we will depart for our Haiti visits.

We’ll keep you posted from there.

DG Dick

The Last week!

New Providence Club inducts first two women!

The Rotary Club of New Providence broke its 19 year tradition of being an all male club by inducting three new members, two of which were the first women into the Club. This took place August 14th 2007. As quoted by President Michael Fowler, “everything comes in due time and we are thrilled to have these ladies and Mr. Fernander join our Rotary Family”.
The Rotary Club intends to grow its membership by a net of plus 4 by year end. I am confident that with the addition of new younger members and the diversity, the identity of the club will attract a lot more as it is the only evening club in Nassau and the traffic during the day is making attendance very challenging.

Haiti and Pure Water for the World

There are a number of initiatives to bring water to many countries through the use of the Rotary Foundation. Our District in particular is of great interest because the need for clean water is so obvious in Haiti. As a result we have formed the Haiti Task Force headed by PADG Guy Theadore and made up of the ADG’s from Haiti, Nessim Izmery, Caleb Lucien, Robert Leger, and Yves Martial who’s function is to vet the projects to see that they are what the communities a need and to be sure that the designated Rotary Club is aware of the project and able to cope with it. We have reviewed a number of programs to date.

One of the projects that we will be meeting about in Ft. Lauderdale is a project with Pure Water for the World. A synopsis of it is as follows: The most effective point of water supply and or treatment is the point closest to the point of consumption. Pure Water For the World provide an inexpensive bio-sand filter which makes the water approximately 98% pure and safe to drink. It can be installed at or very near the point of consumption, ie in homes.

The program calls for making this available in mass quantities to eliminate the problem in entire communities. The feeling is, clean water, equals better health, less hunger which then equals more time for school and better concentration so a better education and therefore a more productive and independent self sustaining life.

The idea is to do this at a level which far outreaches the ability of Clubs to do this Club to Club. The idea is to make it a District / Zone or Zone / RI initiative. I will keep you advised of the developments, but it does have the potential to be a worlwide program started in 7020.


The Bahamas Commissioner of Police becomes a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow

The clubs of Nassau Bahamas and Abaco got together to present the Commissioner of Police a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. This honor was bestowed on him at the new Police Headquarters Conference Center last week. RID Barry Rassin and I had the privilege of presenting the Award and Pin.
A quote from ADG Felix Stubbs who Chaired the event.
“I want to take this opportunity to say a big thank you for your outstanding support of the PHF presentation to Commissioner of Police Paul Farquharson. By every measure, the event was a success and hopefully the media and press will help us raise our visibility in the community. Last night's event, however, was only a ceremony. Now the real work begins and we must be ready to step up to the plate to assist the Police by helping to make our community a better place to live. I know we can go because we are Rotarians and as RID Barry said " nothing is impossible for us Rotarians".

Training moves to the Forefront in Cayman

Here is a note I got from Michael S. Levitt, Secretary of the Rotary Club of Grand Cayman Sunrise:

“On behalf of President Rosie , I am pleased to inform you that at our Board meeting last week, we approved a Training Budget for 2007-8 of $16,000 made up as follows:
For our Rotaract Club : 2 Training days - $3,000 (We already conducted the 1st Training Day two weeks ago). For our Club: One Club Forum/Training Day (see below - note 1) - $2,000 (set for 8 September) RLI training (see below - note 2) - $5,000 PETS (see below - note 3) - $6,000 Notes:
We have also scheduled a Leadership Dinner for September, which will be partly funded by the Club.
We will sponsor any 10 members' attendance to RLI up to 50% of their total expenses with a cap of CI$500 each. So far, we have already had 6 members take up this offer: PE Woody will be attending in Weston; with Vice Chairman Winston, Directors Hazel, Maree & Deborah and Rotarian Raquel coming to Montego Bay. Rosie and I have decided to cover our own expenses: I will be doing Discussion Leader in Weston, but will also be attending in Montego Bay for the Fellowship, while Rosie will be in Montego Bay for Part 3. It is certainly our intention to get our offer to the members fully subscribed and if it is over-subscribed, we will go back to the Board for more Budget.
The expenses of the incoming President, Secretary and Treasurer to attend PETS in Bahamas will be covered by the Club.

Hurricane Dean
As you all know Hurricane Dean moved through our district causing havoc and some damage yesterday. I wanted to share the Magic of Rotary with you so you can appreciate the Family and friends that we have in Rotary, On August 18th a Conference Call was set up between all the District Governors in the Zones 33 and 34. That covers the area from West Virginia in the north to Surinam on the northern coast of South America to the South.
The conference call was to unite and to ready the group of District Governors to provide the assistance needed should Hurricane Dean hit the countries and territories in our District 7020 or to the south of us in District 7030. This was done. In a 1 hour phone call we had a Zone 33 & 34 wide Disaster Relief Team in place and a fund in place to provide the help we needed.
We have conference twice since then and I now await input from the Assistant Governors in the affected areas to let me know what is needed so we can begin the relief effort. We do not face challenges on our own Rotarians we are not alone and clearly our Rotary Friends in Zones 33 and 34 are caring and committed to helping us. I will update you as soon as there are further developments with respect to what the needs are and what assistance has been provided.

District Conference gets support from the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs

District Conference Chair Frank McGwier and I met with the Deputy Prime Minister to develop a plan to ensure a simplified process for Rotarians needing Visas for the May 2008 Conference in Nassau. The Minister who is a Rotarian in the East Nassau Club was very helpful and offered his full support for the event.

August 11th update

Rotarian friends. It has been a couple of weeks since I added to the Blog, so I thought I would share with you a few of the things that have happen since then. Firstly, it has been great to see the response from 7020 to our President Membership Seminar August 25th in Ft. Lauderdale. We have 52 registered from 7020. The only district with more attendees is the host District (6990) of south Florida. I look forward to being with you there.

Here is a quote from RI President Wilf Wilkinson taken from The Rotary Club of St. Thomas II “The Tattler” thank you St. Thomas II!

"The current recruitment practices of clubs can't continue," Wilkinson said. "What needs to happen is for every Rotarian in every club to bring in one qualified new member every year."
Inviting new club members is one way Rotarians can live up to this year's theme of Rotary Shares, said Wilkinson at the conference. The conference is one of a series of seven events to be held in July and August in Canada and the United States. In July the conferences were held in Philadelphia; Nashville; and South Bend, Indiana. In August, the conferences will be held in Denver; Vancouver, B.C.; San Jose, California; and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. If those events prove successful, similar ones may be organized in other parts of the world.

The two-day conferences include plenary sessions, panel discussions, and workshops on topics such as generational differences, demographic changes, potential new members, and the challenges of service organizations.

Wilkinson cited RI research showing that only 18 percent of Rotarians in a given club ever bring in a new member. But inviting qualified, active members is "the single most important thing that you can do for your club and community," he said. To survive and continue to meet communities' increasing needs, Wilkinson stressed, "Rotary needs to grow."

The goal of the presidential conferences was for Rotarians to come away with plans for finding and keeping club members. Wilkinson noted, however, that there's no one-size-fits-all solution for Rotary clubs.

"Rotary Shares," he said, "and each one of us must take it upon ourselves individually to share the gift of Rotary membership with one new person - this year, and every year to come."

Some thoughts published in the Rotary Club of East Nassau eAxis
Find your competitive spirit

There's nothing like a little friendly competition to motivate people. In 1995-96, clubs in District 6580 (Indiana, USA) used football as an inspiration to increase membership. The clubs divided their members into teams of 10, and each team was charged with nominating potential members. Teams received one point for nominating a candidate and six points if the candidate was inducted. Just like in the National Football League, teams with the most points advanced through a playoff cycle until one was named champion. The district ended the year with a net gain of nearly 150 new club members.

Nassau’s New Providence Club
The New Providence Rotary Club is inducting its first female on Monday evening and we are very excited about it. The club leadership has worked aggressively since the beginning of their Rotary year on membership and I am confidant that the results will be easily seen at award time.
Presidents remember that your club must have a net gain of one AND the president must personally sponsor someone into the club. An example of leadership by example!

My Family
On the family side things have been a little hectic of late. Carla broke two toes and a bone in her foot early last week when she slipped in water at the base of the steps going to our office in the house. With the schedule we keep and the things we need to do, it would appear that the timing could not be worse. Carla being the amazing person she is, is back at it with cast and all. As a matter of fact she is at work this afternoon while I am writing this.

Our children are fine, Ellissa our 30 year old daughter runs our Day Spa at Caves and oversees the other2 in our absence. Pictured below

Meghen our youngest (28) is working in the Exumas at the Normans Cay Beach Club. She is back for a few days so we are enjoying it. When she goes back on Monday, it may be 2 months before we see her again due to our travel schedule Here is a look at an Exuma sand bar off the back of the boat.

Great things are happening on the Training Front, we have an RLI set for November 3rd and 4th in Montego Bay Jamaica. Please check the RLI web site to register. http://www.rlitraining.org/ A special Thank You to Diana for taking training to new heights in the District. Go to http://www.clubrunner.ca/Data/7020/NewsBulletin/1046/2007Summer.pdf to see the Training Tattle. Good ideas and information

I was very proud to see the response to the tragedy in Sint Maarten when the “I Can Foundation” Orphanage burned down which housed 22 children. Many clubs have helped or offered to. Thank you!

The District Conference in May 2008 is coming along very well. We are hoping to have approximately 1000 Rotarians for the joint conference portion. Please sign up early. You can register on line at a link from the District site http://www.7020.org/


From Kitty Bucsko published in the Rotary Club of Anguilla’s weekly “Rotary Rap”
One of the colourful traditions of many Rotary clubs is the exchange of small banners, flags or pennants. Rotarians traveling to distant locations often take banners to exchange at “make-up” meetings as a token of friendship. Many clubs use the decorative banners they have received for attractive displays at club meetings and district events.

The Rotary International board recognized the growing popularity of the banner exchange back in 1959 and suggested that those clubs which participate in such exchanges give careful thought to the design of their banners in order they be distinctive and expressive of the community and country of which the club is a part. It is recommended that banners include pictures, slogans or designs which portray the territorial area of the club.

Please share your club bulletins with other clubs and send copies to Karen Biker, our Public Image chair so whe can add your news to the monthly District bulletin. Her e-mail is karenbiker@tcrealty.com

We have had a number of recipes come in for the Cook Book, but not nearly enough. Please focus on that project to make it a success.

Here is a brief look at our travel schedule for the next few months. I will be updating while on the road to keep you abreast of what we are doing and seeing that may be of interest.
Florida August 24th to 26th
Virginia August 26th 29th
Home August 30th, September 2nd
Haiti September 3rd,to September 14th
Home September 15th to 17th
Jamaica September 19th to 26th
Home September 27th to 30th
Zone Institute North Myrtle Beach October 1st to 7th
Home October 8th to 10th
US/B VI October 11th to 21st
Home October 22nd to 31st

I'm going to miss this!

Give a man a fish,

Feed him for a day.

Teach a man to Fish

Feed him for a lifetime.

Have a great day.
DG Dick