Jan 2012 Speaker District Governor Tom Griffin - the The DG's views on the way ahead.fb Club Council
Mon, Jan 16th 2012 at 12:00 am - 2:00 am
DG Tom reviewed progress with polio eradication, reminded members of the principles of Rotary and the challenges the organisation faces. He was upbeat as to how clubs can develop.
District Governor Tom Griffin said that Polio has reduced to 1,350 cases last year worldwide from 350,000 in 1985 when Rotary became involved. There are now only 4 countries in the world where it is regarded as endemic and in one of these, India, there was only 1 case last year. In addition Rotary is involved in a vast number of local projects and other activities such as RYLA, GSE etc that are often life changing.
He mentioned that Rotary has 1.2m members in 200 countries (it is excluded from China, although a guest from Zurich pointed out that there are 2 provisional clubs) and its objects include High Ethical Standards and International Goodwill, Understanding and Peace. Membership is growing in Asia and Eastern Europe but in Great Britain and Ireland (to 50k from 60k in 20 years) and USA its membership is in decline and is aging.
He said that there should be a balance between hands-on service (direct community action) and fund raising. The International theme of the year is
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