The following is shared by ARC, the AntiRacism Committee, as we work to implement President Jennifer Jones’ message to all Rotarians:
Excerpt from a Message from 2022-23 RI President Jennifer Jones
“Dear fellow Rotary member:
In Rotary, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It does not matter who you are, who you love, how you worship, whether you have a disability, or what culture or country you are from. What matters is that you want to strengthen communities and take action to create lasting change.
Rotary, with input from our DEI Task Force, has strengthened its commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The result is a greater focus on DEI, through which we celebrate each person’s contributions, advance equity, and create an inclusive culture where every person knows they are valued. DEI is not just a recommended practice. It is necessary to Rotary’s success in providing meaningful leadership, networking, and service opportunities today and in the future.
During 2022-23, I encourage all of us — as individuals, in our clubs, and in our districts — to exemplify our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We can each do our part to advance DEI by:
1. Learning more about DEI in Rotary
2. Determining why DEI matters in our own club and our own area, and how using these principles can help our club grow and make it stronger
3. Raising awareness and increasing understanding about DEI
4. Taking action on DEI in our clubs and in our communities
So much of what will help your club, your district, and Rotary itself achieve our goals depends on this. With a strong commitment to DEI and good strategies, we can create more meaningful leadership, networking, and service opportunities for all of us. By embodying our DEI values, we can build stronger partnerships, plan more life-changing projects, and adjust more nimbly to our evolving world. If we ensure that everyone who interacts with us feels welcome, respected, and valued, we’ll make Rotary more rewarding for all of us. We must make sure that each person is fully heard and appreciated. Each of us must be given the same opportunities to succeed, to lead, and to make an impact through Rotary. “