
Dear fellow Rotarians,
This year, we have set ourselves an ambitious goal: to Make Dreams
Real for the world's children by reducing child mortality. I believe
we can achieve this goal, if we focus our efforts and work together.
But I also know that at the end of this year, there will be a great
deal left for us to do to bring health and hope to all of the world's
children.
If we are to reduce child mortality, in this Rotary year and for many
years to come, we need to have Rotarians to do it. Every project we
do in water, health and hunger, and literacy helps create a better
world. Every project helps change the world, a little bit at a time.
And every project needs caring and capable Rotarians.
Each new Rotarian we bring into our clubs helps to Make Dreams Real .
That is why, this year, I am asking Rotarians everywhere to meet bold
membership goals: first, to increase membership by 10 percent and,
second, to create two new clubs per district.
Like the goal of reducing child mortality, these are ambitious goals
that we can achieve - if we set our minds to them. If we look for new
Rotarians only among our friends and family, we may not be able to
find enough qualified new members. But if we reach out to community
leaders who are of a different profession, or a different generation,
we will find many potential Rotarians.
It is natural to want to invite people into our clubs who are like
ourselves, but that limits the diversity and talent of each club. We
must welcome younger members to our clubs, or we will have not only
lost an important source of energy and expertise but also failed in
our duty to our organization to train the next generation of club
presidents, district governors, and senior RI leaders.
Remember: Membership is the responsibility of each of us. Every one
of us has an obligation to keep Rotary strong, active, and growing.
If we hope to Make Dreams Real for the world's children in a
meaningful and lasting way, we must ensure a new generation of
Rotarians to continue our work.
Yours in Rotary
Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee
President, Rotary International