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| Rotary International District #6060 |
| Rotary Meeting Make - up #16 |
RI President
May 2010
My fellow Rotarians,
Shortly after the earthquake hit Haiti in January, Rotarians began making phone calls and sending e-mails to discuss how they could help. When Rotary
International posted its first story on Rotary’s immediate relief efforts, Rotarians took this discussion online. The very first comment about the story
expressed what so many Rotarians were thinking: “If they begin sending Rotarians over to help in any way, please let me know if I can help.”
This plea was multiplied over the following days on Rotary’s website and our social media pages. Rotarians also reported what they were doing: collecting
thousands of dollars to fund Shelter Boxes and Aquaboxes, contributing to Rotary’s Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, and organizing ways to transport food,
supplies, and medical personnel to the devastated country.
On the ground in and around Haiti, Rotarians were also busy. Local Rotarians helped distribute the ShelterBoxes to some of those left homeless. Rotarian
Claude Surena, a physician, took 100 injured earthquake victims into his home, which he managed to turn into a makeshift hospital despite the damage it
had sustained. District 7020 established a relief fund, flew in planes loaded with medical supplies, and strategized to provide assistance in the weeks
following the disaster.
And it is in those weeks – and months and even years – that Rotary can make its greatest contribution. Rotary is not a disaster relief agency, but we are
very good at long-term recovery. After all the media attention dies down, Rotary will still be there on the ground – in Haiti’s case, with 17 local clubs and
thousands of willing partner clubs. If Rotary’s recovery efforts in Bangladesh, Honduras, Indonesia, and countless other countries are any indication,
Rotarians will be in Haiti long after public interest has faded and the media have moved on.
In this month’s Global Outlook, you can learn more about Rotary’s success in helping communities and countries rebuild after a disaster – not only
replacing what was lost but making it better as well. The Rotarian passion for helping those in need, combined with our perseverance and grassroots
presence, will continue to bring hope to those whose lives have been torn apart by disaster.
Our response to the tragedy in Haiti manifests Rotary’s concern and desire to help those less fortunate and offers evidence of what Rotary does best: give
service. Thank you all for what you are doing.
John Kenny
President, Rotary International
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