District Governor Monthly Message Rotary is the benign Circulation of “ Give and Take” DG Venture – September 2015
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n July, Japan Rotary periodicals showed some articles complimenting me, Venture Lin, DG of District 3520, Taipei, Taiwan. The Yoneyama Scholarship periodical was the first one to mention about, then the Japan Rotarian Monthly quoted from it. The Japanese fellow Rotarians were very happy to read about the reports, and Rotarians of our Japan sister clubs sent me congratulatory messages. Because I was the 3rd recipient ever who has become a DG among the more than 10,000 such recipients. The Yoneyama Scholarship Association wanted me to write some messages to the Rotarians in Japan. So following is my message: My dear fellow Japanese Rotarians, greetings from me, Venture Lin, DG of District 3520, Taipei, Taiwan. In years 1984 to 1986, I was studying for my Master's degree in the graduate school of Keio University. Thanks to the aid of Yoneyama Scholarship, my study could be completed. RC of Tokyo Setagaya was the sponsor club, and Mr. Shiroyama was my host family. I am gratefully keeping in touch with him up until now. For this, I would like to extend my appreciation to you all! The Yoneyama Scholarship has taught me the benign circulation of "GIVE" and "TAKE". This is the spirit of our Rotary. And I will resign myself to your guidance. The Yoneyama Scholarship Association was founded and named after Mr. Yoneyama passed away. His fellow Japanese Rotarians wanted to honor him, and they started a campaign to monthly donate their personal expenses for cigarette, or their luncheon meeting, changed to simple curry lunch, instead, and founded a program with the money to help those studying abroad. The beneficiaries among the students in Taiwan exceeded 3,500. The total amount of the scholarship was more than 7,000 millions yen. There is just a slight difference between to give and to take. We sometimes give first, then, take, and sometime, vice versa. Whichever the order, when the benign thought exists, this circulation will surely go on, and expand. We extend our assistance to those in need, and in turn, they reciprocate, when they become capable. Our society and community will no doubt develop into being harmonious. Isn't this the spirit we Rotarians are after? September is our Rotary Month of basic education and literacy, I earnestly hope that all our Rotarians will so realize this benign spirit of "Give and Take circulation", that we will be willing to assist the education of our remote village children, and the studying of the new immigrants, and also, continue to support Chung Hwa Rotary Educational Foundation. Because we continue to sow the seeds of good deeds, they will continue to grow. And then in the end, we will realize that we are the true beneficiaries of our sowing.
RID3520 District Governor DG Venture Lin, Hwa-Min
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