ROA-FR-INAUGURAL ADDRESS (Edited)

Building a Better World By Engaging Rotary and Changing Lives

Inaugural Address DG Francis Rivera Makati Shangri-la June 30, 2013

Tonight as I raised my hand to affirm my willingness to serve as governor of our district for 2013-2014, the words of Frederick F. Crane flashed in my mind. To him is credited some beautiful words about service to others: To make a man happy, fill his hands with work, his heart with affection, his mind with purpose, his memory with useful knowledge, his future with hope, and his stomach with food. This is what Rotarians around the world have been doing for the last 108 years since its birth in 1905. Rotarians have been engaging Rotary through its humanitarian and educational programs that change lives to realize the dream of building a beautiful and peaceful world. This is why Rotarys unique world of service is an exciting world. It is one that offers happiness to those who serve and make others happy. It is a unique world where committed men and women touch the lives of others, especially the poor and forgotten, to give them a taste of heaven on earth. Many of them feel that they are the least loved and cared for. So, even a small sign of kindness from others who are more fortunate than they raises their spirits to the heights of heaven. They experience this miracle in the many things we do to touch their lives. I have seen this miracle happen in innumerable times during my life as a Rotarian and as a Rotary leader. And somehow every time I see this miracle change lives I feel the incomparable joy that only service to others can give to a Rotarians heart. This is why I have remained a Rotarian for __ years since my admission into my club. The spirit of Rotary has changed me into a better person. This is why I have accepted the challenge to lead our district as the governor for 2013-2014. And this I did three months ago during our District Conference in Baguio City. Tonight, I reiterate my acceptance of the challenge to lead but this time with greater courage and deeper passion. I have deepened my preparations through the Pre-PETS and the Rotary International-mandated training meetings with the club presidents, the club officers and directors, as well as the district officers. In addition, we have had several fellowships to strengthen our friendships and ensure teamwork. This is why I am prepared to take up the challenge of leadership. With this feeling of readiness, I find myself more prepared to serve than Gen. George Patton was when he was sent out to battle. In those decisive moments, he said, In forty hours I shall be in battle with little information, and on the spur of the moment will have to make the most momentous decisions, but I believe that ones spirit enlarges with responsibility and that, with Gods help, I shall make them and make them right. Contrary to Gen. Pattons inadequate time to prepare for battle, I had time in my hands to prepare two years that was and if Gen. Patton became one of the most decorated generals in the

Second World War, then I have a great inspiration never to fail or falter in my responsibility. The only difference is that he was a general and could command his army; I am a district governor and must lead with humility and through my example. Gen. Patton was fighting a different war. In our time, we are waging war against poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, crime, moral degeneration and enemies of the environment. This is why tonight, despite my courage and commitment to lead and serve, I ask you to stand side by side with me. Let us work as one team while doing different roles to achieve just one dream to build a better world. Let us nurture cheerfulness in every task that we do to be able to deepen our passion to serve. I remember the story that I came across while I was reading a book one beautiful night. And I would like to share it tonight as a great inspiration for all of us to pursue our dreams cheerfully despite our limitations as individuals and clubs. This is the story: THE MIRACLE OF THE BIRDS Once upon a time God wanted to test the willingness of His creatures to help Him achieve even the smallest of things. One day He wanted a huge bundle of wood moved to another place. He asked the elephants to help. But the huge animals simply said, No! and moved away raising their trunks up. He asked the tigers to help but they simply growled. He asked many other animals to help but they refused. Finally, he asked the lion, but the lion said, I am the king of the jungle and kings do not work. Just then a flock of birds came hopping by and seeing what was happening, they asked God, Can we help? We are small but surely we can carry loads if the bund le of wood could be split into small bundles that we can carry on our back. So, God did just that and loaded each bird with a small bundle to carry. When everything was set for the journey, the birds started to walk together singing and sharing pleasant stories to lighten their load. Seeing how cheerful the birds were in carrying their loads and helping Him, He did something that changed the birds. As the little creatures walked they realized they had begun to move above the ground and their loads became lighter. They realized they had grown wings! From that day on God had changed their lives. They could fly and see how beautiful the world was from the sky. And with the miracle that happened to them they have never stopped singing. My friends, we could be like those birds. We can make our loads lighter by working together and by taking on our tasks with a song in our hearts. We can work as a team doing things individually but with one common dream to build a better world. Everything we need, we have in our hands. We have the programs of Rotary and those of The Rotary Foundation. Those programs have been designed to fit every human need and all we have to do is reach for those programs that suit the projects we have planned for our communities. If we need funds beyond the capacity of our clubs all we need to do is seek help from our Foundation. We have a charitable foundation that ranks 14th among the biggest in the world. We only have to fill out the necessary application form and complete other requirements to avail of funds.

This is why Rotary designed the Future Vision of The Rotary Foundation to make it simpler and easier for Rotarians and clubs to avail of Foundation funds. In addition, available funds now come in bigger amounts to meet the bigger needs of communities around the world. And the most wonderful thing we must realize is that the new grant model of the Future Vision comes into play beginning tomorrow, July 1. The global roll-out of the grant model is set during our year of service and that, to me, is one of the best gifts we can receive from the Foundation to enable us to achieve bigger projects to change peoples lives. Putting the Foundations new grant model more beautifully, RI President-elect Ron said, It takes everything that is wonderful about Rotary and raises it to a new level by encouraging bigger, more sustainable projects while providing increased flexibility for local projects, both of which address the needs of the community being served. This, my friends makes our year a truly exciting time to serve others. What can be more exciting than changing lives to build a better world? What can be more inspiring than seeing people happy and contented in raising better families and building better communities? To support my thoughts, I cannot help but repeat what I said during my acceptance speech at the Discon: When we change peoples lives, We change their attitude. Attitude is the bosom friend of success. Positive mental attitude creates success. We help them realize the value of life. When you value life, you have every reason to preserve it and give it happiness. We make them aware of their role in changing our world into a better place. Building a better world is our common dream. It is therefore a shared responsibility and every one must play a part to make it happen. We help them build their future and the future of their children. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. If we dream of a better world, we must build the future together.

When we Engage Rotary and Change Lives, we build better homes, better communities, and a better world. This is because in changing lives Rotary offers the best avenues that will enable us, Rotarians, to help others. We change lives through service in our clubs, service in our vocations, service in our communities, service in countries beyond our national borders and service to the youth. Through this, we realize that Rotary is an all-encompassing service organization that is devoted to helping others to promote friendship, understanding, and peace. And as Rotarians, we bring happiness to others as we derive happiness from helping them.

As I close, let me share with you the words of Johann von Goethe which speak of his prescription for happiness: Nine Requisites for Contented Living: Health enough to make work a pleasure. Wealth enough to support your needs. Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. Faith enough to make real the things of God. Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future.

These are the things that somehow give us a taste of heaven on earth. These are the things that should make us better Rotarians. These are beautiful and meaningful words that should inspire us to give the best of ourselves in the service of others. And this I believe deep in my heart and mind. This is why today I humbly commit myself to serve you as governor of RI District 3780 in 2013-2014. And I shall serve with simplicity, humility, openness, and accessibility