The month of November is the month Rotary International dedicates to the programs and activities of the Rotary Foundation and this gives us a wonderful opportunity to focus our attention on the many great things that our foundation delivers to our world.

 

We take so much for granted as we enjoy our privileged life. Water streams from every one of the 16 or so taps in our houses, medical aid is just around the corner, a strong and active education system provides a future for all our children and with the exception of a few, we want for nothing. How different it is for one-third of the world’s population!

 

Including our efforts in the area of polio eradication, your Foundation provided something like $180 million last year to support clubs and districts in their efforts to ‘do good in the world’. If you add the money supplied by clubs and districts to complete these projects we would have a conservative spend of something like $450 million so we are not a small, insignificant organization. We are a highly relevant significant group and we should never fail to make that point with our friends.

 

Nothing ever comes cheap and everything The Foundation does costs money. When the money runs out so does our ability to make a difference. Clubs can take the bull by the horns and agreed to pay their TRF commitment now rather than wait until the traditional ‘rush’ period of June. We will get our money working sooner rather than later and that will help enormously. If all clubs in Australia could do this then The Foundation would be in a much stronger position.

 

We can also help as individuals. Those of us with Centurion commitments who aren’t tied into a scheduled payment plan could consider paying this month. It’s only $100 per person but collectively it has the power to do so much. Those of us who haven’t yet made the Centurion’ leap of faith’ might give the possibility a little extra thought. That extra $1.92 a week can make such a difference to the people depending on us for a better life.

 

The Rotary Foundation is your own charity and I’m just asking you to be part of it.