After he warmly welcomed participants to "Rotary's university," Majiyagbe declared his theme, calling it "simple and straightforward, expressing the natural impulse that all Rotarians feel when they come face to face with human need."

Outlining his four areas of focus for the year — poverty, health, literacy, and the family of Rotary — the president-elect said, "We will Lend a Hand to alleviate poverty, educate the illiterate, and relieve the scourge of disease, and [we will] Lend a Hand of fellowship to all of the family of Rotary," he said.

Citing the outstanding relief efforts of Rotarians to natural disasters, Majiyagbe said, "Hunger, poverty, disease, poor health — these are the disasters that have befallen millions and we must reach out and pull them to safety with the same sense of urgency that we would pull someone from out of raging floodwaters."

The president-elect asked the audience to remember why they first joined a Rotary club. "We have all asked ourselves, 'What can one person do?' In Rotary, we never have to be one person. We are 1.2 million who believe that suffering does not have to be part of the human condition," he said.

Throughout his speech, Majiyagbe used the metaphor of the "family of Rotary," saying that such a family "provides a haven where we can gather the strength and encouragement to face the challenges of the world." To promote an atmosphere of warmth and caring within the club, he plans to ask every club to form a Family of Rotary Committee in 2003-04.

The president-elect also touched upon the highlights for the 2003-04 year — the eve of the Rotary Centennial Celebration - including the graduation of the first class of Rotary World Peace Scholars, the 2004 Council on Legislation, and the launch of the Twin Clubs project, part of centennial celebration that will help clubs expand their humanitarian reach to another part of the world.

He went on to urge the audience to stay focused on PolioPlus. "Twenty years ago, we made a solemn promise - today and in the coming months, we must honor our word," he said.

The International Assembly, held at the Anaheim Hilton and Towers 26 January-2 February, has united some 1,329 people from 78 countries for informative plenary sessions, group discussions, service meetings, and fellowship events. Joining the district-governors elect are hundreds of senior Rotary leaders who serve as mentors for the incoming "class," who have come to train and inspire the future district governors.

Materials for 2003

Click here to view the complete Presidential citation ( 244K)
Click here for the 2003 theme folder (110K)

Credits

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