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My Dear Rotary Friends,
We see it on a banner spanning a convention hall filled with thousands of Rotarians from all over the world and we see it on a small lapel pin worn with pride. We see it written in the familiar words of our own language and we see it written in languages that we do not know. We see it on computer screens, on newsletters and on video screens. But no matter how it appears to us, it ignites our enthusiasm for Rotarian service and fellowship and it inspires us to reflect upon our shared purpose.
I'm talking about the annual Rotary President's Theme.
Just as our leadership changes every twelve months, so does the presidential theme. But Rotarian philosophy has remained constant - as constant and pure as a beam of light. And over the years, our collective leadership has functioned like a prism. When the pure beam of our shared Rotarian philosophy passes through that prism, it breaks into a beautiful rainbow. This rainbow is still a single beam of light and when we are able to see the different colors contained in that light, we are able to come to a deeper understanding of our organization.
Adding a new color to the rainbow by unveiling the new theme is indeed an exciting moment in the Rotary year. It is a moment that is preceded by many months of hard work that begins as soon as the president-elect proposes his theme. The Rotary International Staff at World Headquarters works with the president-elect to ensure that the theme will convey its intended message everywhere in the Rotary world. The words of the theme must be carefully considered because a word or idea that has a positive connotation in one culture may have a negative connotation in another. The staff also helps develop the logo and makes sure that there are no trademark infringements or other conflicts with other organizations.
Everyone who works with the theme during this time maintains the highest standards of confidentiality so as not to distract the Rotary world from the current president's theme and emphases. And so, every year, the anticipation builds until at last the theme is revealed at the International Assembly.
The annual theme has become such an important part of the Rotary year that it is interesting to note that the origins of this popular tradition are somewhat murky. Although some presidents had slogans or rallying cries during their terms, themes were not officially recognized by Rotary International until 1949-50, when Percy C. Hodgson of Narragansett, Rhode Island was president. His "Objectives for Our Team" were a set of four goals for that Rotary year and were a precursor of the annual themes we know today. They were also some 90 words long.
For the next few years, other presidents also created lists of objectives to focus Rotarian efforts in the coming year. Then, in 1953-54, President Joaquin Serratosa Cibils of Montevideo, Uruguay, offered this theme: "Rotary is Hope in Action."
Five words proved to be much easier for Rotarians to remember than 90. Also, President Joaquin knew that a short phrase like "Rotary is Hope in Action" is evocative. Like a line of poetry or a refrain of a song, short themes give the Rotary world something to muse upon. "Rotary is Hope in Action" calls forth many different images and feelings and it can refer to Rotary's past and future as well as its present.
Ever since that five-word theme, most presidents followed President Joaquin's lead and created themes that captured big Rotarian ideas in just a few words. Some themes accomplished this in just one word: Charles Tennent's "Serve" in 1958-59, Kiyoshi Togaski's "Participate" in 1968-69 and Joseph Abey's "Act" in 1961-62.
That last little word I mentioned "Act" - is particularly significant for Rotary. The idea of action is perhaps one of the most vivid colors in the spectrum of Rotary themes. In 1965-66, C.P.H. Teenstra called for "Action, Consolidation and Continuity." In 1973-74 William C. Carter declared that it was "A Time for Action." In 1995-96 Herbert G. Brown's vision was that Rotarians would "Act with Integrity, Serve with Love and Work for Peace," and the following year Luis Giay asked Rotarians to "Build the Future with Action and Vision." In 2000-01, Frank Devlyn asked us to "Create Awareness Take Action."
The idea of action is central to our shared Rotarian philosophy and many more themes are based on action words. This year, President Bhichai unites us with a new action word "sow." As I have reflected upon his theme, Sow the Seeds of Love, I have thought about how the little things we do reap big rewards. I have thought about how acts of love, great and small, can grow beyond our expectations. And I have thought about how we must Sow the Seeds of Love everywhere we can to reap the ultimate harvest a world united in peace and understanding where the sick are cared for, the hungry are fed, the homeless are sheltered and the lonely are made welcome.
In the coming year, our theme will also be based on an action - to Lend A Hand. These three words express our most natural reaction when we see someone in distress we want to reach out to help them. And we all know that all over the world, in every community, there are people in need of our help.
Millions of people live in abject poverty their bodies aching with want and their hearts filled with despair. Providing them with food, shelter, clean water and clothing is the first step the next step is to help them become self-sufficient through microcredit projects and vocational training.
Millions of people are trapped in the darkness of illiteracy, which keeps them in the relentless cycle of poverty. The majority of these people are women - who also suffer the indignities of discrimination when they are denied access to schooling. Providing all illiterate people with an education will have a powerful and lasting impact on our world now and for future generations.
Millions of people suffer from preventable diseases and other conditions of poor health. Lives are cut short and many more lives are filled with pain and suffering that simply does not have to exist. Providing them with medical treatment and preventative care would give them the gift of longer, healthier life.
By creating Task Forces in these important areas Poverty Alleviation, Literacy and Education and Health Concerns, it is my hope that Rotarians will respond to those in need and Lend a Hand.
I am also hoping that Rotarians will find deeper meaning in next year's theme to reflect upon the fact that to Lend a Hand also means that we reach out to each other in friendship, in service and to celebrate all that we share. That is why, in addition to three new task forces to address Poverty Alleviation, Literacy and Education and Health Concerns, I will be creating a fourth task force called Family of Rotary. I am doing this because I believe that we must do more to make members feel more at home in our clubs as part of a close, warm, supportive Rotary family.
All of you in attendance at this Institute are the most dedicated Rotarians. Most of you have expressed your devotion to Rotary by serving in leadership roles. In the midst of such enthusiastic and like-minded Rotarians, it is easy to forget that we must work hard to retain our members and keep them as active and enthusiastic Rotarians.
So, in the coming year, I hope that Rotarians will pay particular attention to what it means to Lend a Hand by forming Family of Rotary Committees in their own clubs..
In addition to promoting a caring spirit within the club, this committee will also consider how we can extend our support beyond Rotarians to include spouses and children of Rotarians. In recent surveys, our younger members have shared one of their chief concerns: they have many demands on their time and they don't feel comfortable sacrificing precious family time for Rotary time. But, if we provide opportunities to include families in fellowship and service events, then there is no conflict. In such an atmosphere of family and caring, the death of a Rotarian should not be the end of Rotary's relationship with his or her family. Including a deceased Rotarian's family in Rotary-sponsored events is a simple yet profound way to honor our shared values.
It is my hope that when we think of each Rotary club as a family, our responsibilities become clear. A family gives its members acceptance and support. A family is constantly renewing itself with new additions. A family relies on the wisdom and experience of its older members.
And I believe that the more seasoned Rotarians can be of tremendous service in this effort. After all, it is the more experienced members that often set the tone in a Rotary club just as parents set the tone in a family. You can be a great help to next year's district governors by supporting the Family of Rotary Committee in your own club.
I will rely on your support and your expertise in the coming year as we:
Lend a Hand to alleviate abject poverty
Lend a Hand to educate the illiterate
Lend a Hand to relieve the scourge of disease
Lend a Hand of fellowship to all members of the family of Rotary.
Whether we are reaching out to those in our own clubs, or reaching out to our communities, or reaching out to our world, we will Lend a Hand to Sow the Seeds of Love. By focusing on personal involvement, and working together, one hand can become many and there is no limit to what the helping hands of Rotary can accomplish. | 
