NOVEMBER IS THE MONTH OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
I welcome you to the month of November, a month that Rotary International has dedicated to The Rotary Foundation. Of course, this is the month where all we do is to ensure continued funding of The Rotary Foundation for the sake of the existence of Rotary International. Despite the enormity of the economic challenges facing us as a nation, Rotarians continued to support the work of charity through the various projects that we are carrying out in our communities with more emphasis on our supports to the Rotary Foundation.
I thank you all and pray for heavenly rewards for us all.
As mentioned earlier, from Club to Club I see that our Rotarians are not deterred, and they kept doing live touching projects impacting positively to our various communities. The month of October which was the Community Economic Development Month ended with my official visit to the 50th Club. Most of the Clubs visited during this month had different vocational training projects and empowered so many small business owners financially.
We are in November; already within the second quarter of the Rotary year; I urge Clubs to please step up our contributions to The Rotary Foundation, not forgetting Club donations of 1,500 dollars for Polio Eradication efforts as charged us by The Rotary International President.
Rotary Foundation is the heartbeat of Rotary International and its importance to the various activities and life saving projects embarked upon by Rotary cannot be over emphasised. We should as Rotarians view our support to The Foundation with utmost priority.
MEMBERSHIP
Apart from the reports of inductions being carried out by Clubs, I equally had the privilege of personally inducting some members too. The highlights on membership for the month of October was our meeting with the identified weak Clubs in the District on Tuesday, 3rd October and the first in the series of the planned meeting with Lead Prospects which was held at the district office on Monday, 9thOctober. There was a sense of excitement from these prospects and Clubs are already following up with them.
As at the end of October, we had a net gain of 182members as reported by Clubs on Rotary Club Central. Iwish to plead yet again with our Club Presidents to report and update their membership status with Rotary International as soon as induction ceremonies are concluded.
I have no doubt that we shall deliver on the 20% minimum membership growth for the Rotary year.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
There is no better month to talk about Rotary Foundation than this month. May I use this medium to thank members who have contributed and fulfilled their pledges, while pleading with
As reflected in RI Reports for Polio Plus just before the World Polio Day, our
I thank members and Clubs that have contributed to The Foundation thus far, these contributions so far have led us to a total of $159,166.87 as at today, which is a far cry to our target of 1.2m projected for this Rotary year.
I therefore, plead once again with all our District leaders and Rotarians, not to be deterred by the economic situation at the moment but to remember who we are as Rotarians and our resolve to keep impacting on the less privileged ones in our society.
I look forward to a bountiful growth on our donations this month.
POLIO DAY CELEBRATIONS
Remarkably, our District as expected took part in the series of activities to mark the World Polio Day. We joined the whole of the Rotary world in creating awareness that will ensure we Keep Polio @ Zero. We had walks in Lagos Island on Saturday, 21st October, Lagos Mainland on Saturday, 28th October and lastly Abeokuta on Sunday, 29thOctober. As usual, we had awareness creating fun fair.
The key highlights of these walks and POLIO DayCelebrations were as
In the same vein, in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, the DGE Rotarian Femi Adenekan led another group of Rotarians on Polio advocacy visit to the palace of HRM Oba Kabiru Shotobi.
I like to express my appreciation to our Abeokuta Polio Rep Rotarian Modupe Ajayi and also thank the DistrictPolio Committee led by PAG Raf Abanum for putting up very good activities, I thank all District leaders and Rotarians who joined in various walks and activities too. I wish to equally thank the Hope President of RC Iyana Iyesi Ota ,Rotn Anthony Udi Konye for his thoughtfulness with the provision of a branded Rotary FRSC SM Unit vehicle and two bikes,these no doubts contributed in no small ways to the success of the Abeokuta walk.Through our commitment, generosity, and sheer determination, we will Keep Polio @ Zero.
PUBLIC IMAGE
The second in the series of the planned DG Speaks for this Rotary year held on Monday, 9th October was a success, with many Rotarians and District Leaders joining to listen. I had the pleasure of interacting with them and entertained relevant questions as it affects their Clubs.
Once again, let me congratulate all our Club Presidents and their members for the over whelming publicity drive being undertaken at all levels. Our stories are all over the social media space, print media and Television stations.
Please do not relent on your efforts, LET’S KEEP TELLING OUR COMPELLING STORIES AT ALL TIMES.
I am very proud of you all and Love you Loads!!
LATE PDG EMMANUEL SHOBANJO
The District woke up on the 15th of October to the sad newsof the death of our PDG Rotarian Dr. Emmanuel Olufemi Shobanjo, and on Monday the 23rd of October I led a group of Past District Governors with my core team on a condolence visit to the family and members of his Club, the Rotary Club of Ota.
We have scheduled to hold an evening of tributes and service of songs in his honour on Monday, 13th November at the District Office, please join us to pay our last respect to him, while the burial ceremonies will hold on the 16thand 17th of November. The venue and details will be released as soon as they are received from the family.Please plan to attend accordingly.
ON-TO SINGAPORE
We had a meeting with two prospective airlines (Qatar and Ethiopian) to secure the best deal ever for Rotarians. They both made their presentations, and the Committee willfollow up with them in line with our discussions to achieve our desired objectives.
Details once concluded will be made available to enable Rotarians travelling for the convention book their tickets at the negotiated and affordable price.
ON-TO-JORDAN/ISRAEL LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS TOURISM
Regrettably, due to the ongoing Isreal/Hams War, thisLeadership and Business Tourism trip billed for 12th – 20thOctober, 2023 was put on hold until when the situation improves.
FLAG OFFS
RFHA - The annual Rotary Family Health Day activities was flagged off by me on the 23rd of October and almost all Clubs keyed into the program and set up health camps in their localities and delivered impactful medical outreach to their communities. I was able to visit some of the health camps both in Lagos and Abeokuta, Ogun State personallyto show solidarity and encourage the efforts of our clubs and its members.
ROTARY SPORTS FESTIVAL (ROSFEST)
The first ever Rotary Sports Festival to be held in our District was flagged off on Friday, 27th October, with a Press Conference, the
Kindly register through the links provided by the committee and indicate which sport you will be playing,while also pleading with Rotarians to give them the desired support, financially and physically.
My regard goes to the Committee Chairman PP Alozie Nsirimobi and all his team members.
SEMINARS/TRAINING
Our District 9110 in collaboration with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) planned a Webinar on Mental health in celebration of world Mental Health Day on October 10th. The seminar was well attendedby a good number of Rotarians and non-Rotarians in our bid to also create awareness for Rotary.
The 2nd Edition in continuation of the program was also held on the 29th of October. A Team of Doctors and Mental health Specialist both from Nigeria and America were present and impacted the desired knowledge. The program was a huge success.
My Special appreciation goes to DR Chinyere Anyaogu (ANPA
My regards and appreciation also go to my Zonal Coordinator PAG Chinedu Ebo, our Anchor man withANPA, and my Mental Health Committee Chairman AG Ndu Okaro and Vice Chairman PP Francis Toluse (our life Coach)
WEBINAR ON OBESITY
Rotary Club of Rock City and Rotary Club of AbeokutaMetropolitan in collaboration with DGE Manish Motwanifrom District 3141 India delivered a mind-blowing webinar on one of the deadliest diseases called
Rotarians have so much to look forward to as the DGE of District 3141, India and his team will be physically presentto conduct health camps before our district conference next May. They plan to conduct tests, give medications and train some of our medical personnel during these camps.
Further updates will be provided as the get closer to theplanned medical outreach.
ROTARY FOUNDATION DINNER DANCE
Have you bought your table yet?If no, kindly do so. Please support one of our key activities towards raising money for The Rotary Foundation by planning to attend the Foundation Dinner Dance which will come up on Sunday, 26th November.
PP Bamidele Onalaja and his Committee will get to you if they have not done so already. Kindly support their initiatives appropriately as your kind support will be very much appreciated.
DISTRICTING
Boom! In what can be described as the very best news of this rotary year, the much-awaited approval for the Districting of Our District 9110 into Districts 9111 and 9112 came in on Thursday, 26th October. I am through this medium congratulating us all on this feat and in the coming days/weeks, you will be getting further announcements and updates accordingly.
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES
May I also use this medium to congratulate some of our Rotarians who were appointed into government offices and parastatals in the month of October as listed below,
CONCLUSION
As we begin the fifth month of the Rotary year, which is dedicated to The Rotary Foundation. I wish to plead with you to please donate generously to the Foundation, please redeem your pledges and do come forward to donate without necessarily waiting for when I will visit your Club.
Once again, I wish to congratulate you all on the approval for our Districting.
Thank you and God bless us all.
Rotarian Ifeyinwa Ejezie FCS, CRM
District Governor