The 2022 Rotary International Assembly officially concluded on 15th February with many persons heralding it as a watershed event.
This annual training meeting prepares district governors-elect for their role as governor, introduces organizational priorities for the coming year, and provides ample opportunities to network with fellow governors-elect from around the world.
The International Assembly also features an engaging and informative program for governor-elect partners, designed to appeal to their diverse interests and experiences.
Keeping members’ health and safety as a priority, Rotary International planned and executed two options for the assembly.
An in-person event took place 16-20 January 2022 at Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, Florida, USA, for those who were fully vaccinated and able to travel. This assembly was similar to previous years with general sessions, small group discussions, and fun networking activities, with some modifications being made this year as a health and safety precaution.
A virtual event then took place between 7-15 February 2022 for those who were unable to attend in person or who would have benefited from a more flexible and remote assembly. The virtual event not only featured videos of the in-person general sessions, but also, virtual small group discussions with a cross section of governors-elect, as well as, virtual networking activities.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones addressed the assembly and emphasized that she wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”
To better engage members, Rotary needs to “adapt and retool,” Jones said, using her hometown as an example. Windsor was once the automotive hub of Canada. But after plant closings left thousands without work, the city needed to retool, in the same way an auto plant would, preparing for new parts or a new model. Now, Jones said, Windsor is a leader in agribusiness and medical and aerospace technology.
For Rotary, “finding the right ‘part’ to engage each member should be our core function,” Jones said. “It comes down to the comfort and care of our members.”
Engaging members is crucial to retaining members, she said, adding that we need to ask members what they want to get from Rotary and give them meaningful responsibilities.
“It is our offer of hands-on service, personal growth, leadership development, and lifelong friendships that creates purpose and passion,” Jones said.
Embracing change also means embracing new club models, Jones said, as she asked the incoming governors to form at least two new innovative or cause-based clubs during their term. “Let’s make sure we engage our members so they love their clubs and their Rotary experience,” she added.
Jones also announced the appointment of a Rotaract member as a Rotary public image coordinator and said that she has included Rotaractors on several committees and will assign some Rotaractors as president’s representatives.
“We have been entrusted with leadership in our great organization,” Jones said. “Now it is up to us to be brave and intentional in our actions, and let others help us lead.”
Jones noted that Rotary has little time left to achieve the RI Board of Directors’ goal of having women make up 30% of Rotary’s members by 2023. Rotary has achieved this in more than 110 countries, she said, but it has a long way to go. She pointed out that Rotaract has already achieved 50% female members.
To raise Rotary’s profile, Jones plans to hold a global impact tour that will include talking with leaders about working together to address the world’s most pressing challenges. “Rotary opens these doors and we need to harness our connections, to deepen these relationships and create new partnerships,” Jones said. “And the best part is, this can happen at every level of leadership.”
Jones closed her address by saying that although we all have dreams, acting on them is a choice we make. When an organization like Rotary dreams about big things like ending polio and creating peace, she said, it becomes our responsibility to make them happen. “You don’t imagine yesterday,” Jones said, “you imagine tomorrow.”
For a copy of Jones' address, please click the link on this page.
To see some of the powerful and valuable addresses given by key members of Rotary at the Assembly, please take a look at the video playlist above.