TRF Chair Message

Celebrate the new year

January marks the start of a new year on many calendars, but in Rotary, we begin our year in July. That puts us at the halfway point — a good time to take stock of our progress and set goals for the remainder of the year.

An annual to-do list for The Rotary Foundation might include the following items:

• Contribute to the End Polio Now campaign to take ­advantage of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match.
• Start a simple or large-scale project in your community supported by a grant and keep the community informed.
• Recommend a promising candidate for the Rotary Peace Centres programme.
• Host a Rotary Scholar or vocational training team.
• Enroll in Rotary Direct for easy recurring giving.
• Include a bequest to the Foundation in your estate plan.
• Apply for a Rotary International credit card, which allocates a portion of each purchase you make to The Rotary Foundation.

As you can see, there are many ways to support our Foundation and carry out its humanitarian mission. This year, we have another item to add to our checklist: Celebrate The Rotary Foundation’s centennial.

Here are some of the ways you can observe this milestone:

• Work with your club to plan a birthday party, fundraiser, or event in your community to let others know more about Rotary and its Foundation. Download a promotion kit from rotary.org/foundation100 for ideas.
• Promote your club’s Foundation grant projects to local media.
• Dedicate club meetings to the discussion of Rotary ­Foundation topics.
• Read the history of The Rotary Foundation in Doing Good in the World: The Inspiring Story of The Rotary ­Foundation’s First 100 Years. Copies are available in ­hardback or e-book format at shop.rotary.org.
• Share your centennial plans and events on social media using #TRF100.

Of course, the biggest birthday party of all will take place in Atlanta from 10 to 14 June, when thousands of Rotarians will come together for the Rotary International Convention. I hope you will join me and the Foundation Trustees to make this the best party of the year.

Kalyan Banerjee
Foundation Trustee Chair