RC BATS ATTENDS GRANT SEMINAR

The Grant Management Seminar is an important district event that enhances Rotarians’ understanding of The Rotary Foundation. The main purposes are (1) to understand on how to manage a TRF grant; (2) to know the difference of Global versus District Grant; (3) to fully learn the stewardship expectations; (4) to prepare the clubs in implementing the MOU; (5) to understand on how to qualify clubs to receive grant;

(6) to simplify TRF processes in order to focus the Rotarian service efforts for better global impact; and (7) to increase sense of ownerships.

Rotarian’s Humor Monger

Rotarian’s Words of Wisdom

The Rotary Club of Batangas, under the leadership helm of incoming Hope Creating President Kenneth Suarez, attended the Grants Management Seminar for RY 2023-2024 held last April 3, 2023 at Takara Hotel in San Pedro City. PE Kenneth was accompanied by incoming Secretary Lorna Abacan and incoming Grants Club Chair Ruskie Clet on this annual district event. RGO Mary Han, a Rotary Grant Officer for Zone 10A, was the guest resource speaker.

ABC’s of Rotary

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)

Each summer, thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary-sponsored leadership camps or seminars in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, France, Argentina, Korea, and numerous other countries. In an informal atmosphere, groups of outstanding young people in the 14-30 age range spend a week in a challenging program of leadership training, discussions, inspirational addresses, and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills, and good citizenship. The official name of this activity is the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program (RYLA), although these events are sometimes referred to by other names, such as Camp Royal, Camp Enterprise, youth leaders’ seminars, or youth conferences. The RYLA program began in Australia in 1959, when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Rotarians of Brisbane, who hosted the participants, were impressed with the quality of the young people. It was decided to bring youth leaders together each year for a week of social, cultural, and educational activities. The RYLA program gradually grew throughout all the Rotary districts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, the RI Board adopted RYLA as an official program of Rotary International. RYLA is generally conducted as a district activity.

PP Jenny Attends DTTS 2023

Building an effective district leadership team before taking office is the key to having a successful and effective Rotary year. The District Team Training Seminar (DTTS) helps prepare incoming assistant governors, deputy governors, and district committee members and chairs to support Rotary clubs as they pursue the Object of Rotary.

CLUB MEETING Schedule:

Frequency: Weekly Regular Meeting

Day / Time: Friday / 7:00 PM

Venue: (still no permanent venue) Hybrid F2F and Virtual Zoom Meeting

Meet Ri Director

Peggy Froh Asseo Harman

The Rotary Club of Batangas was represented in the District Team Training Seminar (DTTS 2023) by PP Jenny Untalan as the incoming “District Chair for Community Economic Development” held last January 21, 2023 at Lima Park Hotel inside Lima Commercial Estate in Malvar, Batangas.

PEGGY FROH ASSEO Director of Planned & Major Gifts

Peggy Froh Asseo is responsible for overseeing the Major Gifts Initiatives for the areas of focus, the Rotary Peace Centers, and the End Polio Now: Countdown to History fundraising campaign. She oversees the North American major gifts and planned giving teams and works closely with the international fundraising teams on Rotary’s campaigns.

ShejoinedRotaryin2009.

2023-2024 RI Theme Announced

Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations. McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland, revealed the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, to the 500 District Governors, during the Rotary International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on January 9, 2023. He urged members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.

"The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves," McInally said at Rotary's annual training event for incoming district governors.

McInally spoke about a woman whomhe met inBan TalingChan,Thailand,where Rotary members helped build houses, a meeting hall, and childcare and health care facilities following the tsunami that devastated South Asia in late 2004. The woman had lost her husband, her daughter, and her son in the tsunami, as well as her livelihood. But she still hadagifttoofferMcInally:abeautifulseashell.

"She went on to tell me that Rotary... had restored her optimism. We gave her hope," McInallysaid.

"This is how Rotary brings lasting change to the world," he added, "one restoredor newly createdhopeatatime."

Promoting peace

Asignificantwaytobringhopetotheworldistoputagreateremphasisonpeace,McInally said.HecitedtheactionRotarymembershavetakeninthepastyeartosupportthepeople of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia. Rotary has made humanitarian relief a priority, attractingmoreUkrainianmembersintheprocess.ButMcInallynotedthattruereliefwon't comewithoutpeace notjustinUkraine,butinYemen,Afghanistan,Syria,anddozensof otherplacesaroundtheglobe.

"Peaceisthesoilwherehopetakesroot,"McInallysaid.

McInally alsoemphasizedthepowerofcontinuity,callingforRotarymemberstocontinue the work of some past leaders. He pledged to maintain the Empowering Girls initiative launched by 2020-21 President Shekhar Mehta and uphold the emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Rotary. He also noted recent events that underscore the importanceofRotary'scontinuingfocusonpolio.Inthepastyear,poliocaseshaveemerged in many areas around the world, making it more crucial than ever for Rotary members to leadthefightagainstthedisease

Todothat,McInallysaid,RotarymustcontinuetoraiseatleastUS$50millioneachyearto receivethefull2-to-1fundingmatchfromtheBill&MelindaGatesFoundation.Onlyabout 1in12memberscurrentlygivestothepolioeradicationcampaign,withfewerthan1in5 clubsdonatingeachyear.

McInally askedthe district governors-elect for support creatinga newsense of urgency in theirclubstohelprealizeRotary'svisionofapolio-freeworld."Thisisthetimeforustogo beyondwhat'snecessaryyeartoyearandmakesureweprovideeveryresourcenecessary tosucceedasquicklyaspossible,"headded.

Focusing on mental health

In addition, McInally said, Rotary members should offer hope to those affected by mental healthchallenges acrisisexacerbatedbytheCOVID-19pandemic.Manypeoplehavelost familymembers,manymorehavefoundtheirsocialnetworksuprooted,andyoungpeople especially have had their educational and developmental paths interrupted. As a result, morepeoplearoundtheworldarefacingmentalhealthissues.Andyet,seekingassistance isoftenperceivedasasignofweakness.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," McInally said. "Reaching out for help is courageous andcontinuingonapathtowardwellnessisevenmoreso."

He added that Rotary will work to improve mental health services in the next year and beyond.Rotaryshouldbeknownasanorganizationthattakescareofitsmembersaswell as the people itserves, McInally said."Any mental health professionalwill tell you that by helpingothers,weessentiallyhelpourselves."

McInally ended his speech by describing his ideal balance of continuity and innovation. "Rotary helps create the conditions for peace, opportunity, and a future worth living," he said. "By continuing what we do best, by remaining open and willing to change, and by keepingourfocusonbuildingpeaceintheworldandwithinourselves,Rotaryhelpscreate amorepeacefulworld amorehopefulworld."