Speaking at COP 26, RI President Mehta Commits to Mangrove Initiatives
In a speech Nov. 10 at the UN Climate Conference, Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta announced that mangrove restoration will be a central focus of Rotary’s environmental work in the year to come. He spoke at the beginning of the ministerial-level roundtable Nov. 10 at the Commonwealth Pavilion, after a warm welcome from Commonwealth Secretary General Baroness Patricia Scotland, QC, and ministers of the environment or forestry from the commonwealth nations of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Pakistan, Seychelles, Maldives, and Tanzania, as well as the representatives from several global environmental organizations. Rotary of Great Britain and Ireland cited President Shekhar’s roundtable at COP26 as “the biggest showpiece event of his COVID-hit Presidential year so far.”
Now that COP26 has ended, this is the opportunity for Rotarians to assess how we work in our communities and with our governments to enhance ambition, ensure that national plans for NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) are strong and filed timely, to encourage strengthened commitment to mitigate where we can, and to adapt and build resilience where mitigation will not come in time. Read More
COP26 ended with urgent issues unresolved, but Rotarians are resolved to act to close the gaps. This newsletter is packed with evidence of the work Rotary and Rotaract Clubs are already doing: mangrove restoration projects across the Commonwealth, increasing resilience and energy justice in the Virgin Islands, and teaching how Australia can build the systems to support sustainably-powered electric cars. Click on our social media icons to see the photos, videos, article links, and brainstorming on next steps posted by Rotary’s first-ever official observer delegates to the UN Climate Conference.
This is our first newsletter issue using the iMembers platform. We’re excited about its potential to improve communication among ESRAG members, and we’re still learning how to use it. Please pardon any rough edges. Don’t wait to visit our vibrant social media, comment, and share! And please donate to power effective environmental work, helping ESRAG reach our $15,000 Giving Tuesday goal this month.
Photo by Larry Hands: one of the many times youth implored COP26 negotiators to end their squabbles over words and act to save future generations.
In November, Rotary members celebrate The Rotary Foundation. It’s a great time to share with your members how the Foundation transforms their gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Here are three more ways you can support the Foundation:
Give the gift of Rotary tomake an impactin communities around the world. Your gift helps create lasting change, from supplying filters that purify drinking water to empowering local entrepreneurs through business training.
Start a fundraiser using our peer-to-peer fundraising tool, Raise for Rotary. You can create online fundraising pages to support the Foundation that are easy to share with family and friends through social media and email.
Each year, approximately 50,000 young leaders gain the knowledge and skills they need to make real change locally and globally through participation in a RYLA event!
To better support RYLA organizers, we are excited to announce the launch of a brand new RYLA Handbook, available now in English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish. In this resource, you will find step-by-step guidance to support the development safe, meaningful, and fun RYLA programs for all participants.
The asset of each Rotary Club is its members. Who is responsible for Membership Growth? The answer to this question from Rotary International is “Every Rotarian". Read more
from RISPPO Regional Membership Officer Barbara Mifsud
Last month we held the third webinar in our “Engaging Members + Delivering Value” series titled “Expanding Our Reach.” During this webinar we spoke to participants who are sharing Rotary’s values with new audiences and creating different ways to engage people with Rotary. If you couldn’t attend, watch the recording (EN only), share with your club and have a conversation on ways you can expand your reach in your community.
As Rotary members, we use our connections to create lasting change in our communities and around the world. And although we’ve all faced the challenges of the pandemic for the past year and a half, we’ve continued to take action, solve problems, and make a positive impact. So we are optimistic that we can gather in person to explore new opportunities for friendship and service at the 2022 Rotary International Convention, 4-8 June in Houston, Texas, USA. We invite you to join us! At the convention, you will:
Develop new friendships and strengthen old ones
Share your Rotary experiences and learn more ways to get involved
Find inspiration in the family of Rotary
Register now to take advantage of our reduced rate, available until 15 December. You’ll be able to cancel for a full refund, minus a $50 per person administration fee, until 30 April. Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your passion for Rotary.
ROTARY VISION: The application of practical action in solving problems, locally and worldwide
" The prevailing Rotary attitude is rendering service is practicality. Its aim in performing a useful action is to be helpful and serviceable, not sentimental...As Practical idealists, we temper the fanciful flights of the dreamer with the limitations of common sense."
- Address to 1943 Rotary Convention, St Louis, Missouri, USA
