The Future Vision Challenge - are we ready?

As November is Foundation month on our calendars I thought I would try and update on progress with the Future Vision plan and the plans to roll it out to the Rotary world in 2013. There is no doubt the pilot program has drawn a variety of responses both positive and negative. In fairness most of the negatives I have heard relate to change. Change to existing relationships where those relationships are between a pilot and non pilot district. These have been frustrating. Others have lamented the demise of Group Study Exchange and as an ex team member I understand the emotional tie to that program. I think the Vocational Teams can and should be an exciting development and I also believe if Districts want to keep the more traditional GSE exchange then they can but the funding arrangements are different.

Some interesting statistics are starting to emerge from the pilot. Did you know that pilot districts increased their annual giving by 17% compared to a 10% lift for non pilots. The Foundation processed 303 grants in the first year of the pilot and the area of Global Grants the areas of focus in most demand were water and sanitation projects (29%) and disease prevention (20%) The four other areas of focus were reasonably equally shared. The amazing statistic for me is that 99 of the 100 pilot districts participated in a Global grant.

So the plan will roll out to all districts in 2013. The six areas of focus will then become Rotary’s six areas of focus. There will be just one Rotary International strategic plan and that will include activity now being trialled in the pilot. Training will start soon and climax with full training at the International Assembly in January 2013. The software and systems will be ready and non pilots can start thinking about how they will manage this change anytime now. Exciting times are ahead of us as we have the opportunity to really refocus our service work. In the research conducted in 2009 as part of reviewing the RI Strategic Plan 69% of respondents said they wanted the opportunity to do more service. Here is that opportunity. Are we ready???

Stuart Heal