RI Vice President, 2026-27
RI Director, 2025-27
Grow the club. Hold it. Build its future.
We are living in an uncertain world — conflicts that continue, economies that fluctuate, communities facing climate challenges, and young people who are connected than ever, yet often feel disconnected from purpose.
In times like these, the world does not need more speeches. It needs more hands. Hands that serve, care and create hope.
I believe in the saying: the hands that serve are holier than the lips that pray. Rotary gives us the privilege of living that belief. Every project we undertake, every life we touch, every community we strengthen begins with a Rotarian who chose to serve. And that brings me to a simple truth we must never forget.
Rotary is a membership organisation. Fellowship, diversity and integrity are of the members. Service is by the members. Leadership is for the members. Take away the members, and there is no project, no club, no district, no Rotary. Strong members build strong clubs. Strong clubs build strong districts. Strong districts build a stronger Rotary.
There is encouraging news. Across Zones 4, 5, 6 and 7, we have welcomed 225 new clubs and over 6,400 new members. All four zones are recording positive membership growth, and Zone 5 ranks world No 1 in membership growth. Every new member represents a new pair of hands and a new opportunity to serve.
But growth is only half the story. Around the world, Rotary has added clubs while losing members. We are opening the door successfully — but we are not always ensuring people stay inside.
That is why our focus this year is simple: Grow the club and hold it.
The first step is honesty. Every club must conduct an RAG Analysis — Red, Amber and Green. Green — membership has grown above 51. Amber — membership is flat between 26 – 50. Red — membership has declined below 25. This is not about judgement; it is about awareness. If members leave, we must ask why. Most members do not leave because Rotary lacks purpose. They leave because they were never truly engaged. Welcome them, involve them, give them responsibility, make them feel valued — and retention follows naturally.
The second step is to build beyond today. Every Rotary club must embrace the 1:2:3 Youth Service approach — one Rotary club nurturing at least two Rotaract clubs and three Interact clubs. An Interactor of today becomes a Rotaractor of tomorrow and subsequently, a Rotarian, sustaining Rotary across generations.
Rotary is also the world’s greatest leadership factory. Every year, more than 400,000 leaders assume responsibilities at the club, district, zone and international levels. Rotary does not merely identify leaders — it develops them through service, responsibility and action. Every new member is not just a volunteer; he/she is a potential president, governor, director or trustee.
This is why Vision 2030 matters. As Rotary approaches its 125th anniversary, our global aspiration is bold — 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors. This vision will become a reality only when every club grows, every club retains, and every Rotarian says Yes to building Rotary’s future.
Behind every membership number is a person. Behind every person is a family, a community and an opportunity to create lasting impact. So let us be ‘possibility leaders.’ Club presidents, hand over your clubs with positive growth. District Governors, hand over your districts stronger than you received them.
The world is asking for more hands. Let us answer with Yes to Rotary, and together, let us Create Lasting Impact.
M Muruganandam
RI Vice President, 2026-27
RI Director, 2025-27