Welcome
Committee:Janne Speirs (Chair), Alan Lunghusen (Assistant Chair), George Blenkhorn, Ian McFee
Introduction:
International service exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding through a range of projects driving humanitarian service projects including Rotary Australia World Community Service (RAWCS), medical and emergency aid and goodwill programs.
The years following the Covid pandemic have only seen some return to International projects and following in the path of previous International Committees, the D9815 Committee will put much thought and energy into seeing an enthusiastic return to international service.
Objective:
To assist Rotary Clubs in District 9815 and their International Chairs to engage in worthwhile International projects in a world full of huge need and in a local community environment where fundraising is an increasingly difficult task.
Specific priorities -
1. Working with Community Group Leaders to educate them in ways to help their Clubs to identify projects and potentially work together to increase the reach of those projects
2. Assisting Clubs to engage with International projects, especially easing the way by investigating existing projects to be found within RAWCS, ROMAC, Interplast, RAM and other agencies.
3. Enabling International Service Chairs to understand their role in identifying and stewarding projects that will strike a chord in their Clubs.
4. Assisting Clubs to identify, source and/or design projects, equipping and encouraging them to collaborate and partner on bigger, better joint projects, especially in their Community Groups.
5. Ensuring Group Leaders, Clubs and their International Chairs know where to go for help and information.
Methodology:
1. Identify Clubs' International Chairs and create a database with contact details (partially completed with Clubs still identifying their International Chairs). Where no International Chair is identified, the President will be the primary contact.
2. Provide updated information to the District Governor and webmaster for the International Service Pages of the District Directory and the District website.
3. Distribute a Survey to Clubs, in order to gather important information regarding Clubs’ knowledge and interest in ‘things International’.
4. Ensure our attendance and involvement in events like District Assembly, President Elect Training and Community Group Cluster meetings.
5. Be available for Clubs either in person or electronically, providing advice and encouragement in discovering and implementing International projects.
Action Plan:
Plan to reach D9815 Rotarians during the 2024-2025 year by:
1. Creating a database of International Service project opportunities. The list to also have links to the Project Showcase on the RI website and the RAWCS projects list. List to be circulated to all D9815 Clubs and available on the District website.
2. Creating a database of District Club projects which will complement this list and circulate as per point 1.
3. Encouraging Clubs to apply for TRF funding for projects (District and Global Grants).
4. Continuing to use the Club survey results to guide and assist with project thoughts.
5. Committee members to seek speaking opportunities to Community groups or Clubs during the year
6. Seeking opportunities to promote International Service at the District Leadership meetings.
Other actions/priorities:
1. Continue to work with District leadership regarding the ongoing stabilisation of the District Amalgamation and Regionalisation on the future strategy and structure of International Service .
Challenges going forward for International Service in Clubs will be as follows:
1. Convincing Clubs to adopt an International focus as they continue to concentrate on supporting their local communities, businesses and community groups, when the need for support in overseas developing countries is becoming increasingly critical.
2. Encouraging Clubs to work together to fund International Service Projects, especially in their new Community Groups, as Clubs struggle to raise funds in the current economic climate and to develop external partnerships with overseas Clubs and Districts and Not for Profit organisations to supplement Rotary funding.
3. Assisting Clubs to maximise the impact and effectiveness of International Service projects
4. As mentioned above, the Regionalisation pilot, which came into play on July 1 2024, will potentially have an effect on both Foundation and International Committees as time goes on so close contact with District leaders will be essential to stay abreast of potential issues.
Key Messages we need to convey:
1. Maintain an international focus; continue to support current and committed International projects. Support existing established International projects as a way of re-engaging with International Service.
2. Consider projects in the Zone 8 and other offshore locations where a Club has no existing or planned projects and no preferred overseas location. Emphasise the availability of project opportunities from the database on the District website, from Government agencies and NGOs.
3. Collaboration and partnering in planning, implementing and funding is vital.
4. Consistent messages to be delivered to Group Leaders, Groups and Clubs by the International Committee.
5. Make use of any resources possible – from District, RI resources and specific Organisations to assist with planning and implementing projects.
Resources:
1. RI Website, including the RI Learning Centre - Club Service Projects Committee Basics and its 4 modules.
2. District Committee
3. District 9815 website; projects database
4. RAWCS website and committees
5. District champions of specific projects / groups – these will be on the District website but also made available to Community leaders and Clubs
