New priorities, measurable goals to build Foundation’s success

The four priorities are: ending polio – now and forever; strengthening Rotary members' knowledge, engagement, and financial support to the Foundation; increasing the quality and impact of humanitarian services through Rotary grants and the areas of focus; and enhancing the image and awareness of the Foundation's record of achievements, particularly the success of PolioPlus and its 100-year record of doing good in the world.

Rotary Foundation Chair-elect Ray Klinginsmith laid out the priorities to governors-elect on Thursday at the International Assembly, who take office in July.

Closely mirroring the concept of Rotary's strategic plan, Klinginsmith said, the priorities "will clearly provide more continuity and efficiency to move in an agreed direction."

Klinginsmith told attendees that the new priorities are supported by measurable goals that can be tracked annually.

"It is the measurable goals that should be the highest interest to you as incoming district governors, because several of the annual goals will be measured at the district level," said Klinginsmith, a member of the Rotary Club of Kirksville, Missouri, USA.

One of the most important goals, Klinginsmith said, is "to increase the number of clubs achieving the 100 percent Every Rotarian, Every Year recognition fundraising level by 15 percent in all districts. This goal should be both challenging and productive for all of you, and is easily measurable. It is achievable for all districts if you give it your time and attention, and if you first lead by example," he said.

Klinginsmith, who was a Rotary Scholar in 1961, stressed the importance of increasing the number of global grant scholars to at least one for every Rotary district.

"The new scholarships are an exciting opportunity for us to return to the time when our ambassadorial scholars were sufficiently small in number that Rotarians took a genuine interest in scholars, and as a result, the scholars took a genuine interest in Rotary," said Klinginsmith.

The Foundation aims to develop at least two initiatives to recognize and publicize the need for membership growth in clubs and districts. Klinginsmith said the Trustees realized that Rotary cannot continue to provide larger and more sustainable projects unless clubs themselves become bigger. For decades, Rotary grew at a rate of 3 percent a year.

"We need to reclaim that legacy to be vibrant and dynamic into the future," he said. "We clearly offer the best chance for prospective members to improve their lives and communities. And to use the Rotary network to leverage their time and talent to make the entire world a better place."