Rotary – It’s About Connections … Relationships – Rotary in RussiaIf you look the Rotary International Website, you will come across the “big picture” – things that are in the back of our minds, but which are ‘up front’ in the organization to which our clubs belong. You will see quotes like …
- Global network of 1.4 million neighbours, friends, leaders, problem-solvers
- People unite and take action to create lasting change
- Our 46 000+ clubs work together to….
- We provide service … promote integrity and advance world understanding….
As Rotarians, we have the opportunity to experience much of this in a variety of ways. As a member of the Dundas Valley Sunrise Rotary Club, I made contact with a Rotarian in Shanghai regarding an International Project. More recently he has moved – first to St. Petersburg (Russia, not Florida) and then to Thailand…but has maintained his membership in the St. Petersburg International Rotary Club. Strangely, he was originally from Dundas and has belonged to Rotary in London, Ontario and Ottawa, before moving to China for business.
I visited the St. Petersburg International club recently and listened with interest to Sergey Borokov, the Region 1 District Director (responsible for about 25 clubs in Russia). Four members of the host club were present and about 22 “visitors” … and was intrigued by many of the comments that were made on the ZOOM meeting.
I thought I would share some of these as well as a snapshot of the chat room … which was most interesting.
- Robert Morrow
- Ethics is a key element in the Rotary World in Russia;
- The work of the Foundation is very important, and they even have been able to legally obtain, export and import funds for things like Global Grants;
- Membership is an issue; Sergey Borokov joined a Rotary Club with 3 members and has now developed it into a club of 11 members;
- Their clubs are doing great work at the local level in terms of community service – but they are weak in promoting what they have done;
- Clubs are not telling the Region/District about their goals and achievements on the myRotary site (sounds familiar!)
- Although youth exchanges are not happening, New Generations exchanges ARE happening. Individuals from Russia going to the United States go via Istanbul or Cairo and get their visas in those countries;
- There is a growing relationship between Rotary Clubs and Toastmasters – Toastmasters have “units” that they have developed that could assist Rotary Club members with public speaking.
I enjoy my relationships with the Rotarians from all over the world who attend these meetings (held every second Thursday at 6.30 pm St. Petersburg time which is 10.30 a.m. in our time zone).
Excerpts from the Chat Room in the ZOOM meeting of the St. Petersburg International Rotary Club Meeting, December 28, 2023:
