My
fellow Rotarians and friends of Rotary,
Greetings from Colombo, Sri Lanka!
As many
of you know, I am in Colombo right now with my mother, who has some health
challenges due to old age. Many thanks to our Rotary family for all your
kind and best wishes and prayers.
Last
week, at the Rotary Club of Strathfield, we celebrated Rotary's 107th
birthday. For 107 years, our guiding principles have been the foundation
upon which our values and traditions stand. The Four-Way Test, the Object of
Rotary, and the Avenues of Service express our commitment to service,
fellowship, diversity, integrity, and leadership.
We've
identified four priorities that are the stepping stones to helping Rotary
realize its new vision and serve as the foundation for Rotary's new action
plan. They will increase our impact, expand our reach, enhance participant
engagement, and increase our ability to adapt.
It is
also prudent to remind ourselves how we direct our efforts to enhance our
local and global impact. Our most successful and sustainable projects and
activities tend to fall within the following areas:
•
Promoting peace
•
Fighting disease
•
Providing safe drinking water
•
Saving mothers and children
•
Supporting education
•
Growing local economies
•
Protecting the environment
We had
great fellowship last week with dinner together with our partners. Rotary
Fellowships are for diverse members that share a common passion and purpose.
Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world,
explore a hobby or profession, and enhance our Rotary experience.
I would
like to thank our Club Service Director, Arie, and the ever willing to help
Rod McDougal for organising our first monthly social evening at the Da
Franco Restaurant in Concord, with excellent seafood. Finally, I also would
like to thank all our members for being part of an excellent club in both
great service and fulfilled fellowship.
"This
is a changing world, and we must be prepared to change with it. The story of
Rotary will have to be written again and again". - Paul Harris
Rotary Service to You,
Thaya Ponnia