Notes from October 28, 2020 Ann Arbor Rotary Meeting
Note: A full recording of this meeting can be found online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnkPTZeX4qM
Our Rotary Zoom get-together opened at noon with time to meet for social time before the business meeting. There was much excitement today as people joined our Club from around the world to hear our speaker, Jennifer Jones. 195 people “zoomed” in to the first half hour to interact with fellow Rotarians and friends.
Joanne Pierson called the meeting to order at 12:30 PM. The Rotary Club of Ann Arbor was honored to host Jennifer Jones, Rotary International President Nominee. There were approximately 310 participants from all over Michigan, United States, Canada, and around the world. Other states represented included: Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas and Washington. Canada was well represented by Jennifer’s home club, Windsor-Roseland, as well as many others in Ontario. International participation came from many clubs in India, including Pune-Metro, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria, Armenia, Greece, and Wales.
We all joined Tom Strode as he played The Star Spangled Banner and Oh Canada. Susan Froelich gave the inspiration telling us about her time as a 17-year-old exchange student in Brazil. She told us that she began thinking about who she was as a person through her new found Brazilian friends and family. She learned at that time how each culture has its own special qualities. She ended with “Through Rotary, we can work with the world.”
Next on the agenda, was a rousing recording of “It’s a Great Day to be a Rotarian” written by our own Jim Irwin. President Joanne welcomed Rotarians and guests from many areas of Rotary Leadership. Meeting coordinators, photographer, reporter, and attendance taker were thanked; birthdays were announced.
There are tentative plans for a Meet and Greet at Gallup Park on November 8 to celebrate the Centennial Park Playground. Environmental signs are being placed on the playground. Thanks to the Social Committee.
The Silent Auction closed at midnight on October 26. Several of the items that were listed as “multiples” are still open and will close at the end of the business day on Friday, October 30, 2020.
Our speaker:
Jennifer Jones – Rotary International President Nominee (2022-23)
President Joanne told us that Jennifer Jones will be the first woman president of Rotary International. She showed a list of women who had been first in their fields. President Joanne suggested that in honoring the firsts, we need to continue to honor the past inspiring those with a dream.
Ashish Sarkar introduced our speaker. He said that Jennifer Jones will be installed as Rotary International President at the Rotary International Convention in Houston, TX. Jennifer has served in almost every level of the Rotary organization. She has travelled the world in various capacities for Rotary. She bridges the generation gap. Jennifer joined Rotary in 1997 and is currently President and CEO of Media Street Productions Inc., Windsor, Ontario.
Jennifer Jones – Rotary International President Nominee
Jennifer welcomed and acknowledged those on the zoom call. Her message began by saying that when the world stepped down (during COVID), Rotary stepped up. It’s our ability to adapt.
Where is Rotary in the COVID crisis and its relationship to polio? Jennifer told of preparing for a media interview on service when her brother said, “In order to live in the kind of society you want, you have to help build it”. She tied that quote to the new Rotary Mission Statement:
“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
She said that the last two words, “in ourselves”, have particular significance. We invite leaders in and we make them better. We develop skills. This ties to the value proposition of Rotary and we need to sell it more.
So what happened in March when the lockdown began? Rotarians jumped into action because Rotarians are people of action. Acquired PPE, funds for ventilators, and food in a very short time. It’s because of the ability to adapt.
How has our DNA grown?
1) Jennifer asked if we would have responded today to polio if we had been told that it would take $1.9 B, we would have to immunize 2.5 B children, and it would take 30 years. We found our voice through this and united behind a cause.
2) Rotary’s new grant model has allowed us to think BIG and dream BIG. As an example she talked about the RCAA / Pune Metro joint global relief grant addressing pandemic relief for Detroit, Michigan.
3) Covid has tested our ability to adapt. Jennifer tied this to the Rotary International Strategic Plan:
• To expand reach
• To increase our impact
• To enhance our participant engagement
• Ability to adapt.
During Covid, Rotarians have been resilient. Rotarians remain connected.
Jennifer talked about how we might maintain and grow. Do we become hybrid clubs? We need to get together for service and friendship. Keeping a virtual capacity may be an opportunity. It allows us to get speakers from anywhere. We were reminded to reach out to those who are not currently on our meeting calls. Overall, attendance is record breaking. This allows us to showcase our attractiveness.
In March, the Rotary Trustees moved $2M directly into disaster relief grants. Rotary was able to use those funds in just a few days in areas of most need. Some global grants, $29M, were shifted to Covid related issues. Jennifer said that she feels that this was only the tip of the iceberg – that $100’sM was actually raised and distributed by Rotary clubs around the world. Rotarians also got creative and set up an on-line telethon, #Rotary Response, which raised $529K and provided a platform to share pandemic experiences from around the world.
When Rotary began the project against polio, along with partners, a public health infrastructure was set up. This infrastructure remains in place in more than 70 countries. It has been shifted to Covid while still keeping a focus on polio. Rotary did the same during the Ebola outbreak. We need to celebrate our accomplishments related to this work. A recent milestone – in August, Nigeria was certified to be off the endemic list. Soon afterwards, the entire African continent was declared polio-free. Jennifer declared that Rotary will promise the children of the world to stay polio free.
The meeting was opened to questions:
• What is your message to other young women in Rotary to accomplish their aspirations in Rotary’s future?
Jennifer explained that this should be framed through a lens of qualifications for both young women and men. She asked that we mentor and nurture those leaders with the greatest potential.
• What is Rotary’s role in rolling out the Covid vaccine?
Rotary International Board and Trustees met on Wednesday morning to discuss this issue. Jennifer said that there is no definitive answer at this time, but it will use the developed public health infrastructure.
• What are the current peace initiatives?
Jennifer said that all areas of focus lead to peace. The environment is the newest area of focus. Last year, there was an $18M impact on the environment through grants that we are working on.
• What is the vision for turbocharging Rotary after we come out of Covid?
There will be a meeting this week with other service organizations to discuss. The numbers of club participation are not down as much as expected. A number of clubs have charted during Covid. There has been an increase in clubs in Africa and Asia.
• Plans for diversity, equity, and inclusion?
The Rotary Board of Directors formed a task force with global representation in June/July to increase diversity, equity and inclusion. Rotary is starting to understand that the issues are different in different parts of the world. Most importantly, Rotarians have to have continuing dialog. We will be hearing a lot more on this.
President Joanne thanked Jennifer Jones for these important messages. She quoted a2 Rotary member, Al Storey, in saying “We always get the right leader for the time.”
She also quoted Dolly Pardon, “If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more then, you are an excellent leader.”
The meeting was adjourned at 1:30 PM.
Next week’s program is new member induction.
Note: A full recording of this meeting can be found online at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnkPTZeX4qM
Carol Senneff
Reporter
