2010-2011 President
Ford R. Nelson, Jr.
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
“Building Communities, Bridging Continents.” The Rotary International theme for the 2010-2011 Rotary year brings to the forefront both local and international efforts of the Rotary mission. The activities we do such as the Rotary Youth Camp, Downtown Committee, Literacy, Education Excellence and others specifically help make our community in the Kansas City area even stronger. We can cooperate with other Rotary clubs in the United States and on other continents to do good things throughout the world. As we are recruiting new Rotarians we should be instilling within them the Rotary spirit. We need to better inform people of the good acts and deeds of Rotary. While instilling that spirit in new Rotarians, we must continue to make the existing Rotarian feel good and deserving for the things that are accomplished in Rotary. We all have different talents and capabilities and must employ them to the best of our ability.
We will continue to celebrate the Centennial of Rotary Club 13 throughout this calendar year. That should culminate in our October 7th dinner, which is directed at specifically recognizing the achievements of our club and its members. Lest you think a project is too large to tackle, just remember that in their first decade of existence what the Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas City, Kansas Rotary Clubs were able to accomplish. They purchased the Lewis and Clark Viaduct and converted it from a toll bridge to free. That established a bridge between our two communities. The numerous acts of our current members and all of our predecessors have demonstrated that people thinking of others and not of themselves and following the four way test can accomplish many things. We have adapted technologically a great deal in recent years, but I am equally sure there will be more and different challenges to test us as we go forward. These will require adaptation and innovation.
As with any organization, it is important to set goals and challenge the membership to achieve them. Therefore for my presidential year I have set the following goals:
- 1. Complete the Centennial celebration, including the fall dinner and the dedication of the Rotary clock at the Sprint Center.
- 2. Improve the foundation for membership through diversity in recruitment, specifically target retention plus expansion of the Rotaract program to include young business people (under 30) as a feeder organization for the club.
- 3. Develop better recognition of the good work that Rotary does through public relations and community involvement.
- 4. Promote cooperation with other Rotary clubs to advance international involvement.
- 5. Create a centralized organization and strategy for all of our fundraising goals and efforts.
- 6. Do a membership survey and develop a new 3 to 5 year strategic plan for Rotary Club 13.
As we endeavor to continue “Building Communities and Bridging Continents”, I am positive that we can have a very successful and rewarding year in our club and in our community. From the moment I became a member and learned of the motto of Rotary, “Service Above Self”, I have always been reminded of my son’s Jesuit experience in high school and college and the theme there was always “Men for Others”. It seems to me that both of these mottos say the same thing.
It is truly my privilege to serve as the president of Rotary Club 13 during the coming year. I will endeavor to carry on the traditions and work with the outstanding individuals who make up the Rotary world.
Best regards,
Ford R. Nelson, Jr.
Past Messages:
Current
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
