Generosity determines your status in Rotary

What is rotary?
It’s a global network of neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who come together to make positive, lasting change in communities at home and abroad. It is a non-political and non-sectarian organisation.

How relevant is it?
Rotary brings together business and professional leaders in order to provide humanitarian services and to encourage high ethical standards in all vocations around the world. I’m proud I have contributed to these in the five years I have been in Rotary.

What is the basis for membership in rotary?
Membership in a Rotary club is through friendly invitations but ethical conduct is a must have. When one identifies a friend as a potential rotractor, they bring them on board but they are free to join a club that best fits their passion and perspective. Clubs have different perspectives in order to widen the scope of Rotary. A prospective rotractor must hold (or be retired from) a profession or a personal involvement to be able to meet the club’s expectations like weekly attendance.

What determines one’s status in Rotary?
Your generous contributions to the Rotary Foundation are essential to securing a status and growing Rotary programmes throughout the world. Every Rotarian is valued for their contributions and gets recognition either at club; country, district or international level.

We don’t have statuses in Rotary; we are all equal although some receive recognition for more dedication to service as a way of motivating others.
What is your comment on the perception that Rotary is for old men and “young ladies”
Rotary is a non-discriminative organisation, we have members from all ages and gender. It embraces all ages and sexes with a common goal of service.
It is the naming that differentiates the age difference; rotarians are those above 30years of age and rotractors are those aged between 18 and 30 years of age.

What is the level of association in rotary according to age and sex?
The difference in association is the age and clubs not age and sex; rotary clubs have different goals and do service projects more regardless of the sex or age aspect. At different ages, people engage in different things with a goal of offering service above self.
How does Rotary relate with Interact clubs in Secondary Schools?
Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Rotary provides support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. Interact grooms future Rotarians from an early age, however, it is not a must that you have to go through Interact to join Rotary.

What else do you do apart from your Rotary commitment?
I’m the Chief Executive Officer of Goldgate Certified Public Accountants, an audit and accounting Certified Public Accountants (CPA) firm. I am also a tax expert and a seasoned financial analyst with top financial institutions. I have 15 years in the field of accounting and taxation.

So how did you end up being the PE?
Rotary has leadership structures. I was nominated because of my active participation in these which even earned me the Rotarian of the year 2015/16. I was nominated by my fellow club members who later voted me as President Elect. The presidential term is for only one rotary year. Everybody in the clubs gets a chance to lead.

Are you paid for your PE duty?
I don’t get paid since Rotary is purely a service organisation. As a Rotarian, I believe the satisfaction that comes with the service works, growing our acquaintance and business from the social network is more rewarding than just a pay. Serving in Rotary is a call to serving humanity which we as Rotarians do willingly at no cost.
Where does the money donated to Rotary go?
The money we donate to Rotary is used by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) to carry out sustainable service projects that support our six areas of Rotary focus; peace and conflict Resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health care, education and literacy, economic and community development.
Does Rotary demand specific amounts in contribution from its members?

All donation to Rotary is on volunteer basis, as Rotarians we have goals and targets. The money donated is by our will although one is mandated to contribute to club dues and also encouraged to donate to the foundation since we benefit from it.

WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT
So, is Rotary all about giving?
Hahahahaha…Rotarians are driven by its objective which is to encourage and foster the ideals of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and to encourage the development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service. The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal business, and community life ushers in us the good will of giving without expecting anything in return which we do with pleasure. We love changing lives through giving.