RI President-elect Mark Maloney has announced his 2019-20 presidential theme, Rotary Connects the World.Mark, a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama, USA, unveiled the 2019-20 presidential theme to incoming district governors at Rotary’s annual training event, the International Assembly, in San Diego, California, USA.
“The first emphasis is to grow Rotary — to grow our service; to grow the impact of our projects; but, most importantly, to grow our membership so that we can achieve more,” he said.
“Rotary allows us to connect with each other, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences,” Mark said. “It connects us to people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us to our communities, to professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.”
Mark also called on every Rotary and Rotaract club to identify segments of their community not represented in their club by creating a membership committee with diverse members.
“Through Rotary, we connect to the incredible diversity of humanity on a truly unique footing, forging deep and lasting ties in pursuit of a common goal,” he added. “In this ever more divided world, Rotary connects us all.”
Mark urged leaders to offer alternative meeting experiences and service opportunities to make it easier for busy professionals and people with many family obligations to serve in leadership roles.
“We need to foster a culture where Rotary does not compete with the family, but rather complements it,” Mark said. “That means taking real, practical steps to change the existing culture: being realistic in our expectations, considerate in our scheduling, and welcoming of children at Rotary events on every level.”
