THE IMAGINE ROTARY JOURNEY....... An account of the last 44,640 minutes
My Dear Rotarians,
In this last month of August, the minutes started counting from 12.01am on the 1st and of
the 525,600 minutes we have in the year, another 44,640 minutes had gone with new ‘stories’
to tell. It has been a month of new experiences and motivating events.
In this last month of August, the minutes started counting from 12.01am on the 1st and of
the 525,600 minutes we have in the year, another 44,640 minutes had gone with new ‘stories’
to tell. It has been a month of new experiences and motivating events.
DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S VISIT TO CLUBS
Due to many other engagements, sixteen clubs were visited in the month, clubs continued to
execute bigger life changing projects, the most significant were the two projects executed by
the two-year old RC Ikeja Alausa which are the refurbishment of a block of classrooms for
vocational centre, equipped with twenty regular and industrial machines for clothes, shoes
and bags with a show room for product display and sales, the second being the donation of
an ICT centre equipped with 28 desktops. The club will also provide trainers for the two
centres. Both projects were done at Olusosun Primary School, Oregun but the facilities will
also be for use of others within the community.
The second significant community project by RC Ewutuntun was the one- month Vocational
training of over 1000 youths in six areas of skill acquisition which held in partnership with
Oshodi-Isolo Local Government. what made it significant was the inclusion of many physically
challenged people whose lives were improved by the trainings.
Due to many other engagements, sixteen clubs were visited in the month, clubs continued to
execute bigger life changing projects, the most significant were the two projects executed by
the two-year old RC Ikeja Alausa which are the refurbishment of a block of classrooms for
vocational centre, equipped with twenty regular and industrial machines for clothes, shoes
and bags with a show room for product display and sales, the second being the donation of
an ICT centre equipped with 28 desktops. The club will also provide trainers for the two
centres. Both projects were done at Olusosun Primary School, Oregun but the facilities will
also be for use of others within the community.
The second significant community project by RC Ewutuntun was the one- month Vocational
training of over 1000 youths in six areas of skill acquisition which held in partnership with
Oshodi-Isolo Local Government. what made it significant was the inclusion of many physically
challenged people whose lives were improved by the trainings.
MEMBERSHIP
August being the membership month was observed by several club by inducting at least a
member. What is most significant is that clubs are now conscious of attracting very quality
Rotarians who are very successful professionals and businessmen, we also had a handful of
Rotaractors who became Rotarians. PP Niyi Adedokun of RC Ota had his son, Sanni Adedayo
Adedokun inducted into RC Omole Golden.
August being the membership month was observed by several club by inducting at least a
member. What is most significant is that clubs are now conscious of attracting very quality
Rotarians who are very successful professionals and businessmen, we also had a handful of
Rotaractors who became Rotarians. PP Niyi Adedokun of RC Ota had his son, Sanni Adedayo
Adedokun inducted into RC Omole Golden.
• New Club Formation
Two additional clubs were chartered by Rotary International. They are Rotary Club of New
Oko-oba Metropolitan which was sponsored by RC Gowon Estate and chartered on 19th
August 2022 with 25 members with PAG Ben Okhumale as the new club adviser and Rotary
club of Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, which was chartered on 22
Two additional clubs were chartered by Rotary International. They are Rotary Club of New
Oko-oba Metropolitan which was sponsored by RC Gowon Estate and chartered on 19th
August 2022 with 25 members with PAG Ben Okhumale as the new club adviser and Rotary
club of Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja, which was chartered on 22
nd August with 25 members, sponsored
by RC Abule-Egba Metro and has PP Jimmy Yenikan as the New Club Adviser.
• Membership attraction
Membership as of 1st July 2022 was 4,436 and 4,727 as of 30th August 2022 with a net gain
of 291. Clubs continued to attract new members and we have clubs such as Ikeja GRA, Lekki
Central, Ikeja Alausa Central, RC Mende Mid-Town adding minimum of 7 each to their
membership.
Membership as of 1st July 2022 was 4,436 and 4,727 as of 30th August 2022 with a net gain
of 291. Clubs continued to attract new members and we have clubs such as Ikeja GRA, Lekki
Central, Ikeja Alausa Central, RC Mende Mid-Town adding minimum of 7 each to their
membership.
• Membership Lead
Rotary membership lead has been successfully used as a tool for adding members. 120
prospects were captured from RI The District Governor had a very interactive hybrid session
with prospects who showed interest in joining Rotary and were referred to the District by
Rotary International. 50% of them have been linked with club presidents to invite for their
fellowship.
Rotary membership lead has been successfully used as a tool for adding members. 120
prospects were captured from RI The District Governor had a very interactive hybrid session
with prospects who showed interest in joining Rotary and were referred to the District by
Rotary International. 50% of them have been linked with club presidents to invite for their
fellowship.
• Membership Retention- Happy hour with the Governor- another koseleri initiative
This is strictly a session for the Governor and newly inducted Rotarians in every preceding
month. It provides an opportunity to orientate the new Rotarians with the bid to ensure
retention and engagement, take them on a tour of the District and its facilities and formally
welcome them to this Rotary. The maiden edition was held on Thursday 26th August. This
event proved to be worth initiating as the avenue has provided the new members
opportunity to ask questions about rotary in our District and as an organization.
This is strictly a session for the Governor and newly inducted Rotarians in every preceding
month. It provides an opportunity to orientate the new Rotarians with the bid to ensure
retention and engagement, take them on a tour of the District and its facilities and formally
welcome them to this Rotary. The maiden edition was held on Thursday 26th August. This
event proved to be worth initiating as the avenue has provided the new members
opportunity to ask questions about rotary in our District and as an organization.
• Annual District Membership Seminar
This held on Wednesday 19th August 2022 at Indices hotel, Abeokuta and was attended by
122 Rotarians with most of them from Lagos. I use this medium to appeal to Clubs and
This held on Wednesday 19th August 2022 at Indices hotel, Abeokuta and was attended by
122 Rotarians with most of them from Lagos. I use this medium to appeal to Clubs and
Rotarians from Ogun State to improve on this especially as the training has been domiciled in
their home base.
their home base.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION -
Clubs and Rotarians have continued to support our Foundation. A total of $271,355
contribution has been made so far from Annual Programs Fund, Endowment fund and
PolioPlus and excluding outstanding payments to be made for the launch of Jenifer Jones’
painting and membership of PolioPlus Society. I use this message to thank clubs and all
Rotarians for rising up to the call for continuous support for TRF.
Clubs and Rotarians have continued to support our Foundation. A total of $271,355
contribution has been made so far from Annual Programs Fund, Endowment fund and
PolioPlus and excluding outstanding payments to be made for the launch of Jenifer Jones’
painting and membership of PolioPlus Society. I use this message to thank clubs and all
Rotarians for rising up to the call for continuous support for TRF.
• Approval of Global Grant applications
The two Global grant applications processed by the District in 2021-2022 Rotary year have
now been approved by The Rotary Foundation, they are the $102,801 grant for equipping of
the Prostrate Cancer project in Ogun State and the $148,240 grant to provide water,
sanitation facilities and hygiene education to 15 schools in Lagos and Ogun States.
Work will commence on both projects as soon as the grants are received. Congratulations to
the Immediate Past District Governor, Remi Bello, FCA for these achievements and
appreciation goes to RRFC, PDG Deinde Shoga and PDG Wale Ogunbadejo for joining hands
to get the get the grants approved.
The two Global grant applications processed by the District in 2021-2022 Rotary year have
now been approved by The Rotary Foundation, they are the $102,801 grant for equipping of
the Prostrate Cancer project in Ogun State and the $148,240 grant to provide water,
sanitation facilities and hygiene education to 15 schools in Lagos and Ogun States.
Work will commence on both projects as soon as the grants are received. Congratulations to
the Immediate Past District Governor, Remi Bello, FCA for these achievements and
appreciation goes to RRFC, PDG Deinde Shoga and PDG Wale Ogunbadejo for joining hands
to get the get the grants approved.
PUBLIC IMAGE
• D9110 Global Rotary Radio
This is to remind clubs and all Rotarians of the District 9110 Global Rotary Radio located in
the refurbished media room at the Rotary Centre. The station which started live transmission
since July 1, 2022 provides Rotary clubs the golden opportunity of global coverage of their
activities and projects. This is an initiative introduced to support clubs in their public image
drive as well as publicize their club activities and projects globally at a very affordable cost.
You can also place your adverts on this station. for all enquiries and bookings are PP Olalekan
Otun (08033028090) and PP David Obadan (09096965159) or the studio on-air personality
Belonwu Blessing (08035061925).
• D9110 Global Rotary Radio
This is to remind clubs and all Rotarians of the District 9110 Global Rotary Radio located in
the refurbished media room at the Rotary Centre. The station which started live transmission
since July 1, 2022 provides Rotary clubs the golden opportunity of global coverage of their
activities and projects. This is an initiative introduced to support clubs in their public image
drive as well as publicize their club activities and projects globally at a very affordable cost.
You can also place your adverts on this station. for all enquiries and bookings are PP Olalekan
Otun (08033028090) and PP David Obadan (09096965159) or the studio on-air personality
Belonwu Blessing (08035061925).
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
• GIC Motors
The District officially signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), the first of its kind,
with the management of CIG Motors Company Limited on Tuesday 24th August 2022. This
is in line with Governor’s vision to develop strategic partnerships with organizations for the
benefit of the District and Rotarians. This new relationship will see Rotarians, from District
9110, enjoying a five percent rebate on any car bought from the company and payment of
commission to Rotary D9110/ PolioPlus on every car sold through contact or enquiry from
their members or from Rotary as an organization.
• GIC Motors
The District officially signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding), the first of its kind,
with the management of CIG Motors Company Limited on Tuesday 24th August 2022. This
is in line with Governor’s vision to develop strategic partnerships with organizations for the
benefit of the District and Rotarians. This new relationship will see Rotarians, from District
9110, enjoying a five percent rebate on any car bought from the company and payment of
commission to Rotary D9110/ PolioPlus on every car sold through contact or enquiry from
their members or from Rotary as an organization.
YOUTH SERVICE
• Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) August 2022
The age long Rotary Youth Leadership Award had the ‘Award’ changed by Rotary
International to ‘Academy’ effective 1st July 2022. The 38th and Koseleri edition of Rotary
Youth Leadership Academy has come and gone. It was indeed another first for it to have
taken place during summer holiday. It was a well calculated and very reasonable deviation
from the norm. We needed not to withdraw students from school during session to attend.
We had many international students amongst the participants. This very educative and very
colorful youth program held between 21st and 28th August as against the
November/December/January period when the previous thirty-seven (37) editions were
held.
Apart from following up on the rylarians and motivating them to be members of the Rotary
family through interact and Rotaract membership, we are working with some strategic
partners on different ways the outstanding Rylarians will be rewarded through exposure to
life changing and developmental programs in their organizations.
• Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) August 2022
The age long Rotary Youth Leadership Award had the ‘Award’ changed by Rotary
International to ‘Academy’ effective 1st July 2022. The 38th and Koseleri edition of Rotary
Youth Leadership Academy has come and gone. It was indeed another first for it to have
taken place during summer holiday. It was a well calculated and very reasonable deviation
from the norm. We needed not to withdraw students from school during session to attend.
We had many international students amongst the participants. This very educative and very
colorful youth program held between 21st and 28th August as against the
November/December/January period when the previous thirty-seven (37) editions were
held.
Apart from following up on the rylarians and motivating them to be members of the Rotary
family through interact and Rotaract membership, we are working with some strategic
partners on different ways the outstanding Rylarians will be rewarded through exposure to
life changing and developmental programs in their organizations.
FORMAL RELAUNCH OF WOMEN IN ROTARY (WIR)
Following the launch of Women in Rotary International in June 2020, The District officially
land glamorously launched the District’s WIR on Tuesday 2nd August. The women are set to
attract more women into rotary and increase female membership which is one of the goals of
RI President Jennifer Jones and support the RI and District goals for 2022-2023, WIR is not
peculiar to District 9110. It is international and had earlier been formally in other Districts in
Following the launch of Women in Rotary International in June 2020, The District officially
land glamorously launched the District’s WIR on Tuesday 2nd August. The women are set to
attract more women into rotary and increase female membership which is one of the goals of
RI President Jennifer Jones and support the RI and District goals for 2022-2023, WIR is not
peculiar to District 9110. It is international and had earlier been formally in other Districts in
Nigeria. WIR has begun series of meetings as they plan to roll out their programs and
humanitarian projects for the year.
humanitarian projects for the year.
TRAININGS
• Zonal Multi-Club Trainings (ZMCT)
As someone who finds herself in the position of a trainer very often and in a some cases, a
trainee, I do not underestimate the value of training and retraining, That is why our Zonal
Multi-Club Trainings (ZMCT) have taken new dimension by incorporating guest speakers
discuss other value added issues beyond Rotary topics. At the Maiden edition of 2022 ZMCT,
held at Dowen College Hall, Lekki, we had as guest speakers Dr. Titilayo Leslie, and Dr
Monisola Adanijo, a health and wellness Coach who spoke on ‘Balancing Work Life’.
• Zonal Multi-Club Trainings (ZMCT)
As someone who finds herself in the position of a trainer very often and in a some cases, a
trainee, I do not underestimate the value of training and retraining, That is why our Zonal
Multi-Club Trainings (ZMCT) have taken new dimension by incorporating guest speakers
discuss other value added issues beyond Rotary topics. At the Maiden edition of 2022 ZMCT,
held at Dowen College Hall, Lekki, we had as guest speakers Dr. Titilayo Leslie, and Dr
Monisola Adanijo, a health and wellness Coach who spoke on ‘Balancing Work Life’.
• Special Training for Action in Rotary (STAR)-Virtual Edition
A cursory look at a very large percentage of our Rotarians especially Presidents and members
of relatively young clubs shows their limited knowledge about Rotary, its structure and
operation and this to a large extent has contributed to loss of membership and decline in
performance of club presidents. One of the District Governor’s goals for the year is to provide
Rotarians with continuous Rotary education in this ever -evolving Rotary world. This was
envisioned to be a virtual edition which is another novel idea in the District. STAR will hold on
the first Saturday of each month between 8am-9.30am from the comfort of our homes. The
maiden edition will hold on 3rd September 2022. Panel discussion will be on MEMBERSHIP.
Thanks to the District Trainer, PAG Kamoru Omotosho for bringing up to speed this
programme and setting the ball rolling.
A cursory look at a very large percentage of our Rotarians especially Presidents and members
of relatively young clubs shows their limited knowledge about Rotary, its structure and
operation and this to a large extent has contributed to loss of membership and decline in
performance of club presidents. One of the District Governor’s goals for the year is to provide
Rotarians with continuous Rotary education in this ever -evolving Rotary world. This was
envisioned to be a virtual edition which is another novel idea in the District. STAR will hold on
the first Saturday of each month between 8am-9.30am from the comfort of our homes. The
maiden edition will hold on 3rd September 2022. Panel discussion will be on MEMBERSHIP.
Thanks to the District Trainer, PAG Kamoru Omotosho for bringing up to speed this
programme and setting the ball rolling.
• Special Training for Club Trainers
This long overdue training which held on Saturday 20th August was well attended by club
trainers. It was designed to equip them to train their club members effectively and efficiently.
This long overdue training which held on Saturday 20th August was well attended by club
trainers. It was designed to equip them to train their club members effectively and efficiently.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS
• Monthly celebration of Clubs and Rotarians
Recognitions as I have severally emphasized is a monthly affair this Rotary year and those
that deserve them will be widely announced to Rotarians. Deserving clubs and individuals
• Monthly celebration of Clubs and Rotarians
Recognitions as I have severally emphasized is a monthly affair this Rotary year and those
that deserve them will be widely announced to Rotarians. Deserving clubs and individuals
who have done well enough to be recognized will appear on the August edition of the
Governor’s Magazine, their names will be displayed on screen at the District entertaining
lounge.
Governor’s Magazine, their names will be displayed on screen at the District entertaining
lounge.
• End of Rotary year Awards & Recognitions
I wish to impress it on club Presidents to go back and read the above document again which
had since been sent out to clubs to sensitize them on how to plan and work as a team and in
line with the vision and goals of Rotary International and District 9110. Clubs are always very
quick to disagree with District’s Recognitions & Awards committee after awards
presentations without recourse to the marking scheme earlier provided. The marking scheme
is open to all Rotarians.
I wish to impress it on club Presidents to go back and read the above document again which
had since been sent out to clubs to sensitize them on how to plan and work as a team and in
line with the vision and goals of Rotary International and District 9110. Clubs are always very
quick to disagree with District’s Recognitions & Awards committee after awards
presentations without recourse to the marking scheme earlier provided. The marking scheme
is open to all Rotarians.
APPRECIATION
May I at this juncture appreciate Our Past and future District Governors, Assistant
Governors, committee Chairmen, Imaginative Presidents, Past Presidents and all Rotarians
for your support so far. Many have been very supportive morally and financially.
As we continue to Imagine Rotary of Our Dream, I want to invite want to assure us that
things can only get better with the wondrous support of you all.
May I at this juncture appreciate Our Past and future District Governors, Assistant
Governors, committee Chairmen, Imaginative Presidents, Past Presidents and all Rotarians
for your support so far. Many have been very supportive morally and financially.
As we continue to Imagine Rotary of Our Dream, I want to invite want to assure us that
things can only get better with the wondrous support of you all.
MONTHLY ‘GOVERNOR SPEAKS’
Finally....... You are invited to join the Governor as she joins you all virtually for the next
interactive session to hold on Friday, 2nd September at 1.00pm by when you would have read
my message and be ready to bring to table your ideas and questions.
We need to remind ourselves that by 12.00 midnight of 1st September, we would have used
44,640 out of the 525, 600 minutes we have in the year to take action. We have fewer minutes
of 43,200 in September to convert to positive action.
Nonetheless, as we all continue to render service to our District and communities, things will
get better with the continued and wondrous support of you all.
Finally....... You are invited to join the Governor as she joins you all virtually for the next
interactive session to hold on Friday, 2nd September at 1.00pm by when you would have read
my message and be ready to bring to table your ideas and questions.
We need to remind ourselves that by 12.00 midnight of 1st September, we would have used
44,640 out of the 525, 600 minutes we have in the year to take action. We have fewer minutes
of 43,200 in September to convert to positive action.
Nonetheless, as we all continue to render service to our District and communities, things will
get better with the continued and wondrous support of you all.
Thank you as we Imagine Rotary of Our Dream.
Omotunde Lawson, FCAI
Imaginative District Governor
Imaginative District Governor