March is Literacy Month; March is also set aside for District 9790 Conference. Now, we have a common thread here.
Literacy is the key factor in learning. If we teach a person to read, then they can tap into the universe of knowledge and understanding. Ignorance is erased and replaced by opportunity.
Attending the District Conference and introducing new members to the Conference is a means of broadening our knowledge and understanding of Rotary at a District and International level. We tend to become insular at a club level and forget about the broad family that is Rotary International.
Regular Conference attendees will tell you of the friends that they have made throughout the District and how they share ideas and learn of the programs and projects from these gatherings.
Please make the effort this year. If you do not have the program then click here, and check out the great line up of keynote speakers and programs. You owe it to yourself and your club; I can guarantee you will not be disappointed.
Literacy
I believe every Rotary club and indeed every organisation in the world should get involved in a literacy program. If we could teach every person in the world to read and write, then we would be able to move one step closer to eradicating ignorance and misunderstanding, of other cultures and religions.
Yes there would still be extremists. But there would be fewer followers and there would be less vulnerable victims for them to prey upon.
The ability to read and write gives the person choices. It gives them hope and a sense of power within themselves. Let us as Rotarians give an individual a little hope and power. This will extend not only to the individual but to their family, their town or village and their community.
We can also extend this to schools, and universities in 3rd world countries and those emerging countries.
For a few thousand dollars we can change the lives of students by putting them through university. Covering the cost of books, meals, fees, accommodation or transport. This sponsorship is recovered by the students working in their community after completing their degree.
Imagine the satisfaction you as an individual or your club would receive knowing that you have not only changed the life of a young person with little to no chance of achieving what we take for granted; an education; but that of an entire town. That one act alone would make your entire life worthwhile.
Rotary does this on a daily basis. There are Literacy programs within our District, Zone and Internationally. Check out our website and the RI website.
David Cooke
David Cooke
District Governor 9790
MEMBERSHIP DON'T QUIT
When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit -
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a person turns about
When they might have won had they stuck it out.
Don't give up though the pace seems slow -
You may succeed with another blow.
Often the struggler has given up
When he might have captured the victor's cup;
And he learned too late
When the night came down,
How close he was to the golden crown.
Success is failure turned inside out -
So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -
It's when things seem worst that you mustn't quit.
