Vol. 25 No.

August 2011

Jose Francisco Jess Cifra sworn in as governor by PRIP Bhichai Rattakul

Past RI President Bhichai Rattakul administered the oath of office to DG Jose Francisco Jess Cifra during the district installation ceremonies last July 3, 2011 at Sofitel Hotel in Manila. Spouse Helen and the Cifra children, PDG Bobby Viray (at right) and over 1,000 guests witnessed the momentous occasion. At the beginning of his insightful address, PRIP Bhichai described Governor Jess, a classmate of his when Dr Bhichai was RI President and Gov Jess was President of RC Loyola Heights in 2002-03, as one whose time has come and who is more than qualified to serve as governor of District 3780. The main theme of PRIP Bhichais message is that vocational service and integrity are the bedrock of Rotary. Lt. Gov. Daniel Boone Ongchoco, Chairman of District 3780 Silver Year Installation, happily reported the following facts and figures about the event:
Start of District 3780 silver year First time for a past RI president to serve as installing officer in District 3780 First time to have 50 Rotary clubs congregate in a multi-club induction ceremony First time to recognize 179 Paul Harris Fellows (including 20 Major Donors) for a Rotary year right on installation night Last but not the least, first time to breach the 1,000 attendance mark (1,084 to be exact) for a District 3780 installation-breaking the old record set way back in 1997

The event was hosted by the Rotary Club of New Manila Heights.

Districts silver year to be commemorated today, August 11

Past district governors of District 3780 in the last 25 years shall be recognized and honored at todays silver year celebration at the Manila Hotel. Also at todays occasion, the carefully researched and attractively designed coffee table book EMBRACE: The Heart of Service that chronicles some of the most life-changing and heart-warming club projects as well as historical highlights of the district, shall be formally launched with former President Fidel Ramos as guest of honor.

Making Waves of Change

Inaugural Address of District Governor Jose Francisco Jess Q. Cifra last July 3, 2011
Each morning when you wake up, you begin with a smile, a prayer, a shower, breakfast, and off you go to work. All this is what happens each morning in our lives as we prepare to meet the tasks and the challenges of the day. This is the same in Rotary. Each year is a new beginning, like the morning after a long, hard day of work in chasing a dream. A year comes to a close, and another begins. This, my friends, is the morning of my year as governor of our district. We have done our preparations, and like breaking bread in the morning, tonight we shall have our fill of fun and fellowship to begin the year. Tomorrow, we shall be off to work real work - to pursue the dreams we have laid for our year. With rolled-up sleeves, we shall work to our bones as if it were the last day of our lives, to ensure our success. This reminds me of the words of John H. Finley, a famous American educator: To be seeing the world made new every morning, as if it were the morning of the first day, and then to make the most of it for the individual soul as if each were the last day, is the daily curriculum of the minds desire. In our desire to build a beautiful world, we shall give the best of ourselves to the tasks that need to be done each new day, but we shall work in the spirit of fellowship. We shall have fun and we shall enjoy ourselves as we toil in the company of friends who share the same ideal. Tonight I take up the challenge of my mandate as governor of our district. As I do, the words of the famous humanitarian, Mother Teresa come ringing in my ear: I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples. These words remind me of the impact of what the governor can do in the discharge of his duties and responsibilities. But no matter what he does alone, he cannot change the world. He is but one man in the sea of human concerns. He needs the help of every Rotarian in the district and of those well meaning individuals who share in the dream of a better world. Together they can make not only ripples but also waves of change that can build better lives for a bright and secure tomorrow. Mother Teresas words also remind me of the impact of Rotary on my life. My personal introduction to Rotary came in 2001 when I was invited to join the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights. Through the years I realized the magic that Rotary does in our lives. Rotary provides us with a mission to bring water to the thirsty, food to the hungry, medical attention to the sick, education to the illiterate, clothing to the needy. It also moves us to provide funds for disaster relief and gainful employment for the unemployed. Rotary helps us become better individuals while improving the lives of others, touching those lives to become better and more meaningful. These are but some of the things we do in Rotary. There is much more to be done for humanity. This is why Rotary empowers us through its spirit of service, the spirit that opens our eyes to the needs of others, to the misery that destroys the lives and future of people who have less in life. Now that the spirit is aglow in us, Rotary provides us with a guiding light to keep us moving in the right direction to achieve maximum results. Rotary provides us with a theme that inspires us to positive action. Our years theme, conceived in the heart and mind of RI President Kalyan Banerjee, is Reach Within to Embrace Humanity. It is the core message that should inspire us to accomplish two things: to realize our individual and collective strengths or potentials and to use these strengths or potentials fully to serve humanity. Nobody is perfect, so they say. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. But to become stronger, we must accept change and make the necessary inner change to be able to convert our weaknesses into strengths. We must set this example for others to follow. We find the meaning of this thought in the words of Mohandas Gandhi, Be the change you want to see in the world. To gather more strength, we must muster all the forces within our reach. We must start with our families and our partners in service. We must build strategic partnerships to gather more resources to wage war against poverty, hunger, illiteracy, disease, crime, drug abuse, degradation of the environment, and all the other ills that beset humanity. To embrace humanity, we must be one with the rest of the world. For whatever our way of life, wherever we are, wherever we live, or whatever we believe in, we share the same human concerns and the same dreams as citizens of the world. We all desire for happy and contented lives, for peace, and for a future that is bright and secure. We must be one with the world. And to achieve that, we must work to promote friendship and peace. My friends the dream to build a beautiful world, is one that captures the heart and mind of everyone. But it is one dream that needs a great multitude of men and women whose hearts are aflame with the passion to serve and whose hands can cast stones to create ripples of change in the troubled waters of peoples lives. This is why tonight as I take up the challenge of leadership, I ask you to stand by me and work with me. Following the thoughts of Mother Teresa, let us cast stones together. Individually, we may have made ripples through the years in our unique world of service, but those ripples may have died on the way to the outermost fringes of the water. This year, let us cast stones together and continue to create ripples of change that will last through time. Deep in our hearts we believe that others who see and feel those ripples of change in their lives will cast their own stones to help create waves of change in our world. By creating those waves of change we can build a more beautiful and peaceful world.
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District Secretarys Report

By DS Jesus Jesse Tanchanco
We literally and figuratively hit the ground running in the month of July. The first day of the new Rotary year saw more than 30 clubs host Childrens Parties within their respective jurisdictions. PRIP MAT Caparas had suggested that clubs should hold parties for children as a means to commemorate the start of the new year. This was replicated in all of the other 9 Rotary districts in the Philippines. A summary report of the event in our district has been prepared by AG Pastor Mar Reyes, Community Service Chairman. Less than 48 hours later, we witnessed and participated in the most successful District Induction (Installation) rites in recent memory. More than 1,000 Rotarians attended the event, with the guest of honor being no less than the well-loved PRIP Bhichai Rattakul. Close to 50 clubs opted to participate in the mass club inductions administered by DG Jess Cifra. During the same affair, 20 new and continuing Rotary Foundation donors topped by 179 new and continuing Paul Harris Fellows were feted and given recognition. The first issue (July) of the Governors Monthly Letter was published and printed in record time and distributed during the same event. All these in just the first 3 days of the new Rotary year. It was also in the past month when we saw 16 Rotaract clubs in the district participate in the Rotaract District Assembly hosted by the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights. More than 150 delegates were in attendance in the whole day affair chaired by PP Bomber Olivares of RC Paraiso and ably supported by District DRR Marby Montellano and SNG Chair Benjie Tan Alonzo. For the first time in so many years, the Club trainers position was revived. RC Valencia successfully hosted the Training the Club Trainers Seminar under the able supervision of Deputy District Club Level trainer, PDG Dulce Coyukiat. Close to 80 veteran Rotarians attended the seminar which had been designed to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge that will allow effective implementation of training programs at the club level for the next three years. The past month also saw The Group Study Exchange committee (chaired by PP Bobby Romero of RC Commonwealth) select and finalize the composition of the GSE Outbound team headed for District 5000, Hawaii. The team will be led by PP Roby Montellano of RC Timog. They are scheduled to leave around the second week of August. By the end of July 2011, DG Jess Cifra and his team will have completed close to 20 Governors visits and 10 club inductions. All these and we are just getting warmed up. Expect more in August, the Membership and Extension Month in Rotary. Expect the chartering of the first youth-based Rotary Club The Rotary Club of Timog Central (composed of former Rotaractors and GSE team members), and the first eClub in District 3780 and the second in the whole Philippines. Much more emphasis will be placed on membership development (recruitment of quality members and retention of those who are already part of our Rotary organization) as we aim to bring all the clubs up to charter strength (or more) by the end of this Rotary year. Finally, please allow me to end by quoting Rotary Internationals 30th President, Armando de Arruda Pereira, RY 1940-41: "Just as Rotary itself can never keep its place unless it is constantly growing, so each individual Rotary club cannot afford to stand still while the stream of life moves onward."

Rotary Calendar
The Rotary calendar is a resource for planning weekly meetings. Clubs may also plan programs and training events based on these special Rotary year observances: July No Rotary designation August is Membership and Extension Month September New Generations Month October Vocational Service Month November Rotary Foundation Month World Interact Week (week including 5 November) December Family Month January Rotary Awareness Month February World Understanding Month 23 February: World Understanding and Peace Day/ Rotarys anniversary March Literacy Month World Rotaract Week (week including 13 March) April Magazine Month May No Rotary designation June Rotary Fellowships Month

Silver Edition of the Governors Monthly Letter

EDITORIAL BOARD DG JOSE FRANCISCO Jess Q. CIFRA Publisher JESUS Jesse TANCHANCO (RC Loyola Heights) District Secretary EDUARDO Duke ZULUAGA (RC New Manila East) District Chair, Public Image RICARDO Ric SALVADOR (RC Holy Spirit) Editor GARY TING (RC Pag-asa) Assistant Editor-Business Manager WINSTON SIA (RC VisMin) Associate Editor-Webmaster Associate Editors for Sub-Districts PASTOR Mar REYES (RC SFDM) MA. ELENA Marilen LAGNITON (RC Cubao EDSA) JUN SACAYAN (RC Batasan Hills) BOBBIE LAGUITAO (RC Cubao Kamias) FAUSTO Osty MANLAPAZ (RC New Manila East) Printer Relations Manager BETSY BULANADI (RC Mega EDSA) Manager Circulation & Distribution The Silver Edition of the Governors Monthly Letter is available in both printed form and in web-linked digital format. To obtain the digital file simply send your name and email address to the Editor, Ric Salvador, phone no. 0919-361-6406 or by email to ric.salvador2011@yahoo.com.

Cultural Change Through Childrens Power: Rotarys Childrens Party

By: PP Pastor Mar Reyes Associate Editor
It was an all-too-common occurrence in our country - a robbery that resulted into a homicide. It could have gone unnoticed and simply became part of police statistics, if not for the fact that the robbery was perpetrated in the home of a past District Governor. It impelled RI Past President MAT Caparas to ask: What can Rotary do? The response goes beyond security, public order, health or poverty alleviation measures bureaucrats and politicians would offer as solutions it is a call for cultural change. It is a long drawn process that needs support from across all sectors of society. Rotarys response is for national transformation that cuts deep into the core of the problem. It starts simply and inauspiciously with one of Rotarys avenues of service an investment in the future of our youth through service to the New Generation, the generation that will replace us in a better Philippines. Thus, the call to hold a Childrens Party by all clubs in the communities we serve on July 1, 2011. The motive is to commemorate a new year of service and let society know that Rotary cares for the welfare of our youth. Hopefully, the idea catches other organizations attention and makes the thrust a national effort. District 3780 led by our hardworking District Governor Jess Cifra heeded the call to share our passion and happiness to transform lives in the communities we serve, by holding the Childrens Party by some 30 clubs, benefiting around 3000 needy children in Quezon City. In most clubs, it was not just merriment. Rotarians launched significant community service projects, from literacy to health programs. DG Jess visited some of these parties on July 1, 2011. UNTV through the courtesy of RC Kamunings SP Efren Eco Capa covered some of the events and featured them in Rotary in Action. It is one activity that RI Past President MAT wants Rotary clubs to do annually, until it becomes a tradition. This is one noble and relevant social cause truly worth the time and effort of all Rotarians! Our thanks and congratulations to all the clubs that sponsored the Childrens Parties!
RC Bagong Silangan - Party for 60 pupils with unveiling of marker adopting Bagong Silangan Elem. School l school RC Batasan Hills - Party for 233 children, feeding program launch & equipment donation, Mother Ignacia Academy, Batasan Hills

RC Cosmopolitan Cubao - Party for patients in leukemia & cancers ward of National Childrens Hospital, July 1st

RC Cubao Central - Party for 35 children of Saint Anne Day Care Center, beneficiary of the clubs on-going nebulizer project

RC Kagitingang Cubao - Party with parlor games and contests for 59 students of 15th Avenue Elementary School

RC Kamuning - Party with fun games for 50 children of Sinagtala Home for Boys, Sinagtala St., Congressional

RC Midtown Diliman - Party with book donation to QC High School and story telling & talk on finance for HS seniors

RC Midtown Quezon City - Sagip childrens party at Gawad Kalinga Telus Village

RC Pag-asa - Party with school supplies donation, gift-giving, games, singing & dancing at Holy Trinity for Children in QC

RC Prima Vida - Party & gift-giving for kids with cancer at the Tahan-Tahanan Pediatric Oncology Center of the EAMC

Governor Jess comforts a child during RC Prima Vidas party for cancer-stricken patients in Tahan-Tahanan Pediatric Oncology Center of the East Avenue Medical Center

RC Timog - Party for 120 grade I pupils timed with launch of Feeding Program and Clean Hands Campaign at Pasong Tamo Elementary School

RC Metro Diliman party-goer

List of Clubs whose reports of childrens party have already been turned over to the GML
RC Biak na Bato - Children's party & gift giving for 70 kids at Palmera 4 Homes Fairview RC Broadway - Book-reading party for 150 grade II Pupils of Diosdado Macapagal Elementary School, Bgy. Tatalon RC Camp Crame - Story-telling party for pupils of PNP OLC Pre-School

(July 30, 2011)

RC Diliman - Party for 25 children at Barangay Day Care Center, UP Village

RC Diliman Heights - Party for 48 patients and parents in a ward of National Childrens Hospital last July 2nd

RC Holy Spirit - Party with games, singing, giftgiving for 50 SPED pupils of Dona Juana Elementary School, Bgy Holy Spirit

RC Kamuning West - Book donation and story-telling party for SPED pupils of Batino Elementary School

RC Loyola Heights - Party for 120 children of Barangay Loyola Heights

RC Metro Diliman - Party with games, dancing, story-telling for 65 preschoolers of Yakap Day Care Center Bgy Paligsahan

RC Murphy - Party with parlor games and gift-giving for 30 kids at Transfiguracion Church Social Hall, 18th Ave. QC

RC New Manila Heights - Party for 50 grade I students of P. Tuazon Elementary School

RC New Manila QC - Party & gift-giving for 100 kids in each of 3 barangays.. Then, for Tahan Tahanan Pediatric Oncology Center of EAMC, with RC North Balintawak & RC Roxas

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

Bagong Silangan Batasan Hills Biak na Bato Broadway Camp Crame Cosmopolitan Cubao Cubao Central Diliman Diiman Heights Holy Spirit Kagitingang Cubao Kamuning Kamuning West Loyola Heights Metro Diliman Midtown Diliman Midtown Quezon City Murphy New Manila Heights New Manila QC North Balintawak PagAsa Prima Vida Roxas Sta Mesa Heights San Francisco del Monte St. Ignatius Timog Uptown Novaliches West Triangle

RC Sta. Mesa Heights - Party for 50 daycare children and their parents in Bgy Salvacion, Laloma QC

RC SFDM - Party & story-telling for 140 kinder pupils, with launch of supplemental feeding and donation of books & furniture, Sinag-Tala Elem.

RC St Ignatius - Party, games & story-telling for 50 children from Sitio Gilid ng Katipunan, held at Blue Ridge A.

Feedback reports not included in this coverage shall be acknowledged in the next issue of the Governors Monthly Letter. The Editor

RC Uptown Novaliches - Party for children of Tawid Sapa 2, Bgy Kaligayahan, Novaliches

RC West Triangle - Party with games, singing, gift-giving for 42 underprivileged pupils of CFC Ancop Canada Learning Center in Bgy Culiat

RC Diliman party-goers

RI Presidents August Message

My dear brothers and sisters in Rotary,
There is an old saying in India: When you help your neighbors boat across the water, you find that your own has reached the shore. By helping others, we often find that we have helped ourselves as well. Each of us came to Rotary to serve and found the joys and satisfactions of friendship and fellowship. In August, the month we dedicate to membership and development, we focus on spreading the message of Rotary. By serving well, without hiding our Rotary light under the proverbial bushel, we find ourselves closer to our own goal: a stronger, more vibrant Rotary for generations to come. Public image and membership go hand in hand. Too many people intelligent, educated, involved people simply have no idea what Rotary is. This is something we need to confront. We have heard again and again about communities where, despite all the good work that Rotary clubs do, many people are unaware that those clubs even exist. This is not the way forward for our organization. Serving well is the essential first step but it is only the beginning. We have to raise our profile with all the tools that are available to us, and there are more tools today than there ever were. We have to use social media such as Twitter and Facebook, and we have to be sure our clubs have an online presence. Having a website is not enough; it must be up to date, it must be appealing, it must reflect the work we are doing. And it must offer a way for prospective members, once they see what we do and become interested, to take the next step. Rotary has so much to offer. It is up to us to let others know what a fantastic organization we have, and to show people how they can integrate Rotary into their lives. Service does require time, and time is something nobody has enough of these days. So we need to ensure that all the time we spend with Rotary is worthwhile that it is rewarding and never wasted. When we reach within ourselves and our clubs, when we learn what we are capable of and harness that power, we will elevate our communities as never before and elevate Rotary as well.

District membership development strategy starts with strong momentum

By PP Rey David Chairman, District Membership Development Committee
The Membership Development Committee, in full gear to improve the quality and quantity of Rotary Clubs in the District started outlining its programs and strategies for RY 2011-2012. With the vision to strengthen all Rotary Clubs, the Committee identified several projects which aim to promote Rotary to prospective members and the community as well. As kick-off activity, the Committee conducted a successful Membership Development Seminar held on 04 June 2011 at GT Toyota Asian Cultural Center in UP Diliman. This was hosted by the Rotary Club of Murphy with PP Eduardo Ferriol as co-chairman and in cooperation with the Public Image Committee. The purpose of the seminar which was attended by more than 350 participants is to guide Rotary Clubs on how to recruit possible members and project the positive image of Rotary. To evaluate the effectiveness of the aforementioned training and as a follow-up activity, the Committee is holding a grand District Fellowship Night scheduled on 29 October 2011. This is the first in the District and pioneered by the Chair of the Committee and Governor Jess Cifra. The concept of the project is to gather all Rotarians from the District for a celebration- a celebration of their involvement in Rotary. The event is open to non-Rotarians as well who are interested to join the organization. Most importantly, it is a way to honor and recognize Rotarians who never get tired of promoting Rotary by attracting new members. Fellowship is an important aspect of Rotary. Historically, it is through fellowship that Rotary came into existence and remains as one of the most widely joined organization in the world. Realizing the main objective of the Committee, the District welcomed a new addition to the Rotary family- the Rotary Club of Timog Central established primarily through the effort of the Rotary Club of Timog, Q.C. The Club, composed of young professionals, Group Study Exchange (GSE) alumni and former Rotaractors, is led by Pres. Kristine Felix. The month of July came swiftly but all efforts have been concentrated by the Committee in meeting its objectives and vision for the District. We are hoping that all Clubs will be cooperating in the future membership development projects of the Committee. Rest assured that we will do everything and stop at nothing in order to strengthen each Club through increasing the number of quality members.

Kalyan Banerjee President, Rotary International

August is Membership and Extension Month

Start thinking about the new membership development initiatives your club can undertake throughout August to celebrate Membership and Extension Month. Consider scheduling the topics for each of the months meetings to focus on a different facet of membership development. Find suggested topic ideas in the Membership Minute Archives page on www.rotary.org.

District Events in August

Aug 6 Aug 11 Interact District Assembly District Silver Anniversary 8 am5 pm 3 pm6 pm QC Science HS Manila Hotel
Tribute to Past Disdrict Governors Launch of EMBRACE: The Heart of Service coffee table book

District Membership Facts

Online directory of Rotary International last July 25, 2011 showed

Aug 23 Aug 27 Aug 28

Guest of Honor: Former President Fidel V Ramos RCC Seminar 9 am3 pm Hotel Intercon The Rotary Foundation Seminar 9 am5 pm QC Sports Club Inspirational Speaker: Fr. Jerry Orbos Rotaract District Induction 4 pm onward Sir William Hotel, Timog

88 clubs in RI District 3780 2,135 Rotarians Largest club is RC Loyola Heights with 62 members

Full Listing of Clubs in the District may be viewed via the digital version of the Governors Monthly Letter
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Why Clubs should have foreign sister clubs

By PP Mar Reyes, RC San Francisco del Monte
Many clubs, by fear of perceived expense and difficulties, shy away from forging sisterhood relations with foreign clubs. We do not have to be big clubs or clubs endowed with huge resources. Any club for that matter can enjoy the benefits of an enduring and enriching experience, from doing service together, and having fellowship, with a foreign club. After all, Rotary is supposed to promote world peace and understanding and at the same time making our world a better place to live in. So, what is the better way to experience the internationality of Rotary? Get into a foreign sister club relationship. How do we get started? The late Louie Lopez, SFDMs charter member and past president started it all with our club. Because of his vast business dealings in Japan, Singapore, Hawaii and the USA, he saw to it that his business partners and acquaintances introduced him to clubs in the countries he visited. Rotarians who travel abroad can exert a little effort to know clubs in the places they visit. Professional and alumni reunions are a rich source of getting to know foreign clubs. Only last June 29, 2011, we met Rotarian Dolores Bediones from the RC Honolulu Sunrise, in Makati. Her husband is a past president and many of her relatives (she is a Panlilio) are Rotarians. She was tasked by her club to check us out because they want to have their 1 st foreign sister club. She said a member of their club has a friend who attended a high school reunion of the Ilocos Norte High School in Laoag, and our Past President Arnold Guerrero happened to be there and handed out his calling card. Other clubs began with nonFilipino members of their clubs. But the biggest source of information could be rotary.org, ProjectLink and Rotary magazines. The rewards of sisterhood relations should not be limited to opportunities for financial assistance like grants or direct donations. A club grows and develops when it builds and nurtures sisterhood relations. Effective and interesting international service projects must always be in the menu because clubs from donor countries are often on the look out for projects to fund. But most of all, it is the excitement and enriching experiences we get from joint activities that make all our efforts worth our while. In my personal experience, when we were invited to attend the Discon in Japan of D-2480, hosted by our sister club RC Isesaki, whose member Tetsuo Ushikubo was the District Governor, I was presented among others, by DG T Tetsuo, with a special gift. Our member Takahiro Yoshida interpreted for me. DG Tetsuo actually handed me a specially folded parchment paper, with colors and strings, unique designs and delicate attachments, which is how marriage contracts are presented in Japan. DG Tetsuo told me: I should take care of our sisterhood relations like we take care of our marriage, and not let the bonds (strings) be detached or broken because it is their intention to keep our relationship an enduring, enriching and fruitful one. It was one Rotary moment I will never forget! Editors Note: This article has been abridged due to space limitation. The full manuscript includes more specific suggestions of PP Mar for successful sisterhood relations. Click this link, Foreign Sister Clubs, in the digital version of the GML. Rotarians may contact PP Mar Reyes for more information through email: pastor_mar_reyes@yahoo.com. The GML shall welcome write-up of your own clubs experience in sister club relationships that could be shared with others in the District.

Club secretaries upgrade understanding of their role & responsibilities

By PE Roy Taruc, RC Diliman Heights
June 18, 2011 presented a unique opportunity for then secretaries-elect of District 3780. It was a time of discovery, a time of learning and a time of training in cyberspace transactions on the occasion of Secretaries-Elect Training Seminar [SETS 2011-12] hosted by the Rotary Club of Diliman Heights. The event was called to order by the incoming District Governor himself, DGE Jess Cifra. DSD Jesse Tanchanco delivered the welcome remarks, followed by the introduction of guests and delegates by Lieut. Gov. Suzzette Lee. In the morning sessions, topics covering basic roles of club secretaries were discussed by the dynamic speakers: Roles & Responsibilities of Club Secretary by GP Becca Dela Cruz; Monthly Attendance by GP Bong Cruz; Semi-Annual Report by DDS Angel Gahol; Philippine Rotary Magazine by PP Ed Trinidad; and lastly Club Bulletin by PN Bon Tagum. Hands-on training characterized the afternoon sessions: Basic Computing - Creation of Email Account by SP Jorge San Diego; Browsing of Rotary.Org Portal by CP Winston Sia; and Member Access Registration by PE Roy Taruc. SP Jorge San Diego together with IPP Yumi Mabini awarded certificates to the Co-Host Clubs: RC Batasan Hills, RC Kagitingan Cubao, RC Neopolitan Fairview, RC New Manila East, RC Quezon City Circle, RC San Francisco Del Monte and RC VizMin. DG Jess gave an inspiring message to Rotarians present, and awarded the host club, RC Diliman Heights, with plaque of recognition for the success of SETS 201112. District Admin Chair Lyndon Wong delivered his closing address to end the occasion.
7

Trainers complete their preparation to train Rotarians

By the Editor

Close to 80 club trainers, who must forthwith ensure that club members have the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out their responsibilities and are up to date on Rotary, participated in the District Training the Trainers Seminar held last July 16, 2011. The once-in-three-years Training the Trainers Seminar held last month was hosted by the Rotary Club of Valencia, QC. PDG Dulce dB. Coyukiat, Deputy District Trainer and convenor of the seminar, set the tone by explaining how the one-day seminar had been designed to help prepare club trainers for their very challenging task of training Rotarians. And to emphasize further the key role of training in Rotary, PDG Dulce announced that club trainers of the district shall hold bi-monthly meetings, with the first of such meetings to be held on September 3, 2011 at the Rotary Center, for updates and sharing of practices. In his message, District Governor Jess Cifra reiterated the fact that indeed, training Rotarians is not a walk in the park, but one that calls for commitment, ability and a passion for excellence. During the seminar, the club trainers had the opportunity to listen to and get engaged with noted resource persons who are considered best qualified for their assigned topics. PDG Marikit Kit Reventar of D3820 presented Leadership Training Cycle at Club Level and related this to the training cycles at international and district levels. PDG Danilo Danny Fausto, Chair of Rotary Leadership Institute, presented the topic on Facilitating Learning, Training Rotarians, and Interactive Training Method in his trademark eloquent style. PDG Jaime Jimmy Cura of D3830 presented Championing Servant Leadership. Servant leadership covers concepts and practice for leading Rotarians who are themselves already proven leaders and are in Rotary as volunteers with limited time. PDG Marquez Mark O. Go of D3790 spoke on the Roles and Responsibilities of an Effective Club Trainer Under the Club Leadership Plan. Understanding the training needs of individual Rotarians is a necessary first step, according to PDG Mark Go. DGE Rufino Penny Policarpio discussed two important considerations when training Rotarians: Nonverbal Communication and Time Management. Then, PDG Danilo Dan Espinosa, Deputy District Trainer, facilitated a Group Dynamics /Workshop where the participating trainers were tasked to develop group reports about club training.

By Silver President Ernesto "Nitoy" Velasco, RC Loyola Heights

The Rotary Club of Loyola Heights is sponsoring the first Rotary internet Club or eClub in D3780. Club chartering is now being processed by RI and should be completed in August 2011. The eClub has 40 charter members, mostly Filipino-Americans based in the US. A number of them are from the Philippines. Their meetings will be online but they also plan to hold physical meetings in the US at least once a month and Skype meetings with those based in the Philippines. If everything works out, they plan to send a 40-member delegation to our District Convention in Tagaytay City in April 2012 enroute to the RI convention in Bangkok. Among the well known members are Past RI President MAT Caparas (the only Filipino RI President todate), Gawad Kalinga chairman Tony Meloto, recent Membership Development seminar guest speaker Atty Alex Lacson and many more distinguished personalities. The Charter president is Ernie Delfin, a PP of RC Newport Irvine D5320. He will be joined by 12 other former Rotarians based in the US and the Philippines. The rest are new in Rotary. The formation of the first eClub in the District is a brainchild of DG Jess Cifra who has been a close and long time friend of CP Ernie Delfin. DS Jesse Tanchanco has been appointed DGSR for the new Rotary club. There is a plan to do the Governor's Visit and Induction via Skype. To know more about our district's eClub, you may visit their website at www.gkerotaryclub3780.org
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The first Rotary eClub in District 3780 is formed

Trustee Chairs August Message

The Rotary Foundation supports your Rotary service
A few months ago, Lorna and I attended three district conferences. The conference programs featured several Rotary Foundation activities, and we heard from Ambassadorial Scholars, Rotary Peace Fellows, Group Study Exchange teams, and representatives from a number of excellent projects in which Rotarians and the Foundation have worked together. I reflected on how much our Rotary Foundation is woven into the fabric of our Rotary service. After the conferences, I went directly to a meeting of the Future Vision Committee. The committee heard from one of our RI senior managers, who had tested the process of applying for grants and found the global grants application to be too complex. We also discussed the definition of basic education within the areas of focus, possible strategic partnerships, and training for those districts not in the pilot. There were many other topics, but I mention these to demonstrate that there are big items and small items that need attention as we work our way through the pilot. We are all experiencing some frustrations as we build the Foundation for the future. The three years of the pilot will seem a long time for many of you, but we are shaping something that should help us serve humanity more effectively in the years ahead, and we need to test that we are getting it right. From that meeting, it was straight into the Finance Committee meeting, where senior staff and trustees spent a day and a half working through the budget to ensure that our operating costs could be as low as possible while still giving you the service you need. Our aim is to ensure that we spend the maximum amount on programs. This is our Rotary Foundation, and there are many people working in different ways to give you the best possible support in your Rotary service.

Membership Development
PRIP MAT Caparas reviews obstacles to growth
In an incisive article on Membership Development the first Filipino RI President MAT Caparas (1986-87) stressed that, Club growth is a year-long subject that clubs address from early in the year because the capability of a club to perform its mission depends greatly on the size and quality of its membership. Indeed, the members are really the club: there would be no club without them, and who the members are determines what the club will ultimately be. August is, therefore, a very important month for the club and its leadership. PRIP MAT Caparas then discussed some practices that had tended to impede growth of membership. Until 1966-67, the rules of the organization tended to discourage any active membership campaign, for only one member could be accepted from every useful occupation in the town. Practically all of those occupations were filled up by the charter members at the organization of the club, and there were no one with the necessary qualifications to fill the remaining classifications. As a possible remedy, the classification principle was loosened by allowing admission of additional active, senior active, and past service members. But the pace of increase of membership in clubs stayed slow due to the membership and classification committees. Every proposal for membership had to go to the membership committee, which looked into all the negative things about the man, to make sure his good character and reputation were beyond question. If approved by the membership committee, the proposal was referred to the classification committee, which would make sure that the subject was not engaged in a business or occupation that could compete with the business or occupation of a current member. The result was the unfortunate public impression that Rotary was elitist and exclusive, which made it even more difficult for clubs to attract and enlist new members. PRIP MAT Caparas noted that even with drives to increase membership, in the last 25 years Rotary grew world-wide by barely 200,000 members, or less than 10,000 a year. Many believe Rotary can and should do better. But it must be noted that a good number of the clubs that hardly grew are situated in countries and areas where having even one or two clubs is already incredibly remarkable. Membership drives provoke debate between Quantity and Quality. Quantity says even a Deadwood can help financially. And Quality would go so far as to accept Deadwood that is not Badwood, but insists that a club with too many Deadwood would wind up dead. The usual upshot of that debate would be an agreement to make it known that it is easy to join Rotary, that it is not difficult to be a Rotarian, that the obligations are light and few, and that anyone with a decently paying job can be a Rotarian if invited. But membership in an organization that seeks to serve above self cannot be easy, and one who joins it with that illusion will likely resign on learning the truth. That is probably what happened more than once.
PRIP MAT Caparas then reminded Rotary clubs: We should by all

Bill Boyd
Foundation Trustee Chair Past RI President 2006-07
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means make membership in Rotary pleasant and gratifying. The regular meetings should be enjoyable, by turns entertaining, informative, challenging, and catering to all interests in the course of the year if not all at once. The time and place of the meeting should be acceptable to most of the members. But, above all, the club should be actively involved in causes and undertakings that the members can be proud of and in which they would want to be personally involved.

Read the full article written by PRIP MAT Caparas

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