New Generations

“If we train our youth properly,
we need not have any fear as to the future of the world.”
- 1949-50 R.I. President Percy Hodgson

This is not a title of the second season of the hit T.V. show, Heroes. Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring, which premiered on NBC on September 25, 2006. The series is about the stories of apparently ordinary individuals from around the world who mysteriously develop superhuman abilities, and who then seek to use them to prevent the end of the world.

In the Rotary and even in our society, the “New Generations” or the Youth are considered heroes. September is the New Generations Month. It is called the “month of the future” as the youth is our future.

Let's face it: If Rotarians don't succeed in attracting younger members to their clubs, there won't be any clubs to attract members to. At RCDE, we invest in our future- the youth. We do these through various activities and strategies to really confirm that the “future of Rotary is in our hands”.

The club had been infused with new blood- young members (like me, ahem- with emphasis on the word young) who actively participate in Rotary activities and keep the club stronger.

We recently sponsored the 2009 Regional Read-a-Thon Competition in cooperation with the Region I Department of Education last September 16, 2009. Best in Oral Interpretation was won by the Dagupan City Division represented by Melissa Joy C. Liwanag of East Central, Dagupan City. The Best Story Retelling went to Khryzza Vien R. De Guzman of Mangaldan Central School, Pangasinan II Division. The Best Team Readers were Charity Nicole A. Acacio, April Gaye Acoba, and Aira Basilio of F. camaguin Elementary School, Ilocos Norte, Laoag Division. The Over-all winners of the regional contest were: Pangasinan II – 1st Place, Dagupan City – 2nd Place, Laoag City – 3rd Place. The Overall winners by awarded by Sec. TonyPats.

Last Tuesday September 15, the RCDE Basketball team was awarded Champion of the 30 and above Friendship Cup which was held at the St. John Cathedral School Gym. Kudos to all the members who made this championship a reality.

Today, our Rotaract and Interact had their Leadership Workshop Seminar in the afternoon prior to RCDE’s weekly club assembly.

*Let’s all be updated! Join the RCDE Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rotary-Club-of-Dagupan-East/172964078624. My articles can also be read at http://sirvis.blogspot.com or you may follow me at Facebook http://www.facebook.com/simon.vistro or Twitter http://twitter.com/SiRVis.

Rotary is FUN

Rotary is Fun. For RCDE, that is a fact. We guys do enjoy a lot. Sometimes this could be misconstrued by others as arrogance, conceitedness or just being plain rude. We exude that certain confidence in ourselves- because we do excel and we genuinely have lot of fun.

Just observe the way we do our service projects with aplomb and enthusiasm. Visit our weekly meetings and you will experience the RCDE way of conducting meetings- serious when called for, but 100% fun. We attend District functions and inductions with gusto and always in a big delegation- and we ought to have a pat on our back for that achievement. We bond together through our boisterous and animated fellowship. I could enumerate this and that but the RCDE brand of Fun is best experienced than described.

Rotary is Fun. And it shows in our strong, active, quality and quantity-wise membership.

Commit. Connect. Communicate

“We as Rotarians must raise our voice to proclaim our values,
for they are values to live by.”- 2009-2010 R.I. President John Kenny

Last Saturday, August 22, 2009, the RCDE contingent led by Pres. Mario, IPP Boy, PE Nick, Sec. TonyPats, Dir. Sundie, Treas. Ruben, Aud. Jonathan, Rtn. Joel, Rtn. Manda, New member Angelo and I attended the Multi-District PR Seminar at Hotel Stotsenberg, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga. The Districts who were represented there were Philippine Districts 3770, 3780, 3790, 3800, 3810, 3820, 3830, 3850, 3860, 3870 and 3400 Indonesia. The event was hosted by Cluster 3B, District 3790 Pampanga.

The following are the Seminar Topics and the respective Resource Speakers:

Keynote Address Year in Review and Looking Forward – PDG Line Abanilla Zone 7 Coordinator PR Resource Group, RI’s Directions on Public Image – PDG Rob Crabtree PR Coordinator for South Pacific District 9920 New Zealand, Personal Salesmanship for Rotary – Ma. Soccoro “Baby” Jamias, Rotary Watch – PP Albert Garcia RC Forbes Park District 3830, Facing the Media – PE Marilen Lagniton RC Cubao EDSA District 3780, RI PR in Progress – District PR Chairs, Importance of the , PDG Mac Hermoso, District 3790, and Commit, Connect, Communicate – Cory Quirino TV Host, Columnist and Past President, RC Makati legaspi District 3830.

The seminar encapsulated that there is a need to increase Public Relations for Rotary to increase membership and increase knowledge about Rotary in order to gather more funds for the different community projects and to eventually eradicate polio forever. The resource speakers also reiterated that Rotary’s most valuable asset is our reputation and that Rotary symbol should be promoted like the well-known brands. Let us make the Rotary symbol synonymous to Sharing and Service. They have also shown that this could be done through innovative and interesting ways.

And yes we can do it. Because we are Rotarians!

Addendum: May I again solicit your support for our RCDE Basketball Team as we are going to the Finals against the Coca-Cola Team. The best-of-three series will start this Tuesday. Go RCDE!

Classification Principle

"Rotary is so simple that many people do not understand it,
and some even misunderstand it.
Rotary is not a philosophy...
not an all-embracing world point of view which answers every question...
and satisfies all the dictates of the heart and mind.
Rotary is merely an association of business
and professional men united in the ideal of service."
– 1937-38 R.I. President Maurice Duperrey

When a lawyer named Paul Harris, a coal dealer, a mining engineer, and a merchant tailor first met in l905 in Chicago, they gave birth to Rotary and, by the nature of their diverse occupations, to the association’s most distinctive feature – the classification principle.

Last Monday, the new members had their Classification Talk during the weekly RCDE meeting. It was such an animated and interesting episode in which the new members presented to the club their personal profile, business and professional service, who sponsored them, why they joined the Rotary, what can they offer to the club and what do they expect in joining RCDE.

What is exactly is the Classification for?

According to the ABC’s of Rotary, virtually all membership in Rotary is based upon a "classification." Basically a classification describes the distinct and recognized business or professional service which the Rotarian renders to society.
The principle of Rotary classification is somewhat more specific and precise. In determining the classification of a Rotarian it is necessary to look at the "principal or recognized business or professional activity of the firm, company or institution" with which an active member is connected or "that which covers his principal and recognized business or professional activity."

It should be clearly understood that classifications are determined by activities or services to society rather than by the position held by a particular individual. In other words, if a person is the manager of a bank, he or she is not classified as "bank manager" but under the classification "banking."

The goal is professional diversity, which enlivens the club’s social atmosphere and provides a rich resource of occupational expertise to carry out service projects and provide club leadership.

Friendship in RCDE

"Friendship...
the craving for which brought Rotary into existence
is the thing that will keep Rotary a living,
vital force in the world for all time,
the very foundation of our organization."
- 1919-20 R.I. President Albert S. Adams;
Address to 1920 Rotary Convention,
Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Friendship. That is what RCDE is for me. It is the bind that keeps us stronger as a club. It is also the foundation that glues us together. Through thick or thin, through trials and hardships... It is the recurrent theme that probably sets us apart from other clubs.

One of the dearest Rotarian who was more than a friend to all of us was RTN. George “Utol” Castillo, who passed away recently. I could vividly remember how he warmly treated us with candor and intimacy. If you call him sir, he would vehemently disagree and correct you. Just call me “Utol”, he would always say. His presence in the club offered us a friendship amidst the superficiality of this world. What amazes me is how he knows all members regardless of stature or whether if you are new or not. He is the first to offer his gentle handshake whenever he sees you. Utol, you will definitely be missed!

On a less somber note, I would like to congratulate my fellow RCDE Basketball teammates for winning two games in a row in the Inter-commercial Basketball tournament at the St. John School Gym that we have joined in. Teamwork was the spelling factor that led us to success. “Ang RCDE, hindi lang pang-Service, pang-Sports pa!

Kudos also the RCDE members who painstakingly made an effort to trek to and monitor our year-long Supplemental Feeding program in Brgy. Talibaew, Calasiao, Pangasinan last Friday.

Mabuhay ang RCDE!