District Governor's Message

Governor’s Valedictory...

A favorite quote of mine comes from Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”. Well my journey as your District Governor started on July 1, last year and has officially ended at midnight of June 30, 2011. And I am very glad that it is OVER. On the other hand, there will be so many wonderful experiences that I will be missing. It was a very memorable year that I wish for other experienced Rotarians to also experience as you will also become District Governors.I admit that there were instances during my project visits when I was so touched and felt like crying when I see the misery of the people in some of the communities the Rotarians brought me. But at the end of each day, I was over come by the joy of having done service plus the fellowship and fun with Rotarians to cap the day.

1. Rotary Service Projects - I can relate to you the many lives that were touched by the very meaningful projects of the Rotarians. The reconstructive surgery of children with cleft lip and palate with operation smile, taghoy and yuhom. The feeding of malnourished children, the donation of wheel chairs to crippled individuals, the water pumps that were provided to waterless communities, the mobile library to improve the reading skills of rural barangays, the construction of livelihood centers where unemployed housewives pool resources to make candles, bags from recycled materials, the donation of slippers and used clothes to children and adults alike At the end of the day, I cannot help but admire the sincerity of the Rotarians who regularly withdraws from their comfort zones to serve go to rural areas for projects including protecting the environment by planting trees in denuded forest or in mangroves or even organizing youth trainings and seminars.
   
   
2. NEW GENERATIONS. Our district conducted several projects for the avenue on New Generation. This include the voice of the youth extemporaneous competition held in Club, Zone, District and National Level. This completion allowed us to listen to what our youth have to say about politics, religion, peace, environment, education, and even other issues that affect them. We also conducted ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS seminars. The district conducted 3 RYLA seminars during this Rotary Year. One in Zamboanga, One in Bacolod and One in the island of Guimaras. We also had a Rotaract District Conference Here on the last week of May. And a Youth Congress in Bacolod that was hosted by theRotary Club of Metro Bacolod that addressed the role of the Youth in Environment Protection.
   
   
3. ROTARY EXCHANGE. We sent three (3) children of Rotarians from our District to Brazil and the United States and another from the neighboring RI District 3860 as a guest ROTEX to US.
   1. Nina Tinsay, daughter of PP Bobby And Nining Tinsay of RC Bacolod North was sent to District Brazil
   2. RJ Go, son of PP Joe and Tessie Go of RCZC Zamboanga City was sent to RI District 5650, Nebraska, USA
   3. Toni, Santa Maria, daughter of PP Vic and Bing Santa Maria of RC Kalibo was sent to Brazil.
   4. Kimberly Uymatiao, daughter of PP George Uymatiao of RC Dumaguete South.

This year, we received one ROTEX from the USA, Zach who was hosted by RC of Metro Passi in Iloilo. Also, this year the Rotary Youth Exchange Committee has processed six (6) outbound ROTEX students who will go to US, Belgium and Brazil and Our District will also receive the same number of inbound students the next Rotary Year 2010-11.

4. GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE. The District GSE Committee of PP Jundad Legislador sent a team to South Wales, United Kingdom composed of Team Leader PP Raymond Padayhag of RCZC West with Team members, Joanne Marie Pijuan of Iloilo City, Omar John Mejia of Roxas City, Leo Cajulao and Michael Saavedra both of Zamboanga City. This team was considered as one of the best team ever received by RI District 1150 headed by Governor Donna Wallbank.
   
   
5. PUBLIC IMAGE. I am impressed by the quality and quantity of the public projects of the clubs I visited. Even small clubs undertake public image projects that have very significant impact on the communities they serve. We have made it known to the communities what Rotary and What Rotarians do. Special mention goes to RC Zamboanga City for their STOP TB NOW advocacy and the Public Image Tarpaulin project of RC Bacolod North and the Project Yuhom of RC Iloilo City.
   
   
6. MEMBERSHIP. On the international setting, membership growth is not very encouraging. A lot of the Districts have been losing members. This has resulted in the merger of Districts which have less than 1,000 members.
   
   Our District has been fortunate to be beyond 1,200 and even breached the 1,300 mark this Rotary Year. We will still be at more than 1,300 as soon as RC Jaro Centraline will be reinstated since they have already settled their 2nd semester dues before the June 30, 2011 deadline.
   
   I have seen the drive of strong clubs in our District to increase their membership. These strong clubs include the Rotary Club of Bacolod North, the Rotary Club of Kalibo, the Rotary Club of Iloilo City, the Rotary Club of Guimaras, the Rotary Club of Roxas, RCZC East and my home club, the Rotary Club of Zamboanga City West.
   
   
7. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CONTRIBUTIONS. Our Foundation with its mission of “Doing Good to the World”. At the start of the Rotary Year, I have set a humble goal of US 50,000 in contributions to TRF. This year, we have found more than 100 rotarians who signed and issued their checks to the foundation. A summary of Rotarians who completed their next level of Paul Harris contribution are, as follows.
   
   

Major Donor	2
PHF +7	1
PHF +6	1
PHF +5	2
PHF +4	2
PHF +3	3
PHF +2	6
PHF +1	20
New PHF	80
Total	115

The 80 New Paul Harris Fellows is a District Record. I have yet to received the total number of Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members which as of last count numbered more than 20. The most number of RFSM comes from the Rotary Club of Bacolod Marapara.

Let me monetize this contributions per TRF report dated June 30, 2011 with a possible adjustment of about $ 2,000 representing float items.

Annual Giving	US $ 54,246.03
Restricted Givings	11,125.00 (Polio plus or specific projects)
Permanent Fund	300.00
Total TRF contributions	US$ 65,671.03

In our District’s recent history, our contributions ranked 3rd. PDG Edgar Sy ranks no. 1 of over US100,000 in RY 2009-10 and PDG Toto Locsin ranks 2nd of over US$90,000 in RY 2006-07.

How do we compare our Distict with other Districts in the Philippines? This year our per capita contribution has ranked us 4th out of the 10 Districts. Only the following Districts have bigger Per Capita Contributions, namely:

1. RID 3800 Marikina, Pasig, Mandaluyong
2. RID 3830 Makati and Palawan
3. RID 3810 Manila, Cavite and Mindoro
   
   

In other words, our per capita contributions are bigger than
5th 3820 Bicol Region
6th 3780 Quezon City
7th 3860- Cebu, Leyte, Dumaguete, Bohol, Davao, GenSan.

In fact, our District is better than 5 of the 6 Districts of New Zealand and also better than 7 of the 22 Districts of Australia. On Regional comparison.

8. MATCHING GRANTS. The Matching Grant Projects from the contributions generated 3 years before, were disbursed and/or programmed in the amount of $32,701, as follows:
   
   

DDF	Total Project
a. RC Iloilo West- Kidney Transplant project	$ 2,000	$ 30,000 Four(4) patients
b. RC Metro Iloilo-Emergency Rescue	2,000	22,500
c. District Simplified - Grant Nebulizers	4,101	4,101
Total TRF	8,101	56,601

 

Application of MG already with TRF
d. RC Metro Roxas- Genesis Water Project	$ 2,000	$ 22,920
e. RC Roxas – Water for life	2,000	12,000
f. RCZC –East- Rubber boat w outboard motor	850	10,771.18
g. RC Bacolod North- Mangrove Plantation	1,750	15,750
h. District wide Handpump project	6,000	37,500
In process projects of	16,600	98,941.18
TRF Total Project Cost	24,701	155,542.18

 

Donations out of District Designated Fund
A. Japan earthquake/Tsunami Rehabilitation	$ 4,000
B. Christchurch, New Zealand Rehabilitation	2,000
C. Polio Plus	2,000
Total	$ 8,000

9. TSUNAMI REHABILITATION FUND. Climate change has made our weather very unpredictable. We have recorded several calamities that have brought untold tragedies resulting in loss of human lives and properties. Flooding in the US, the Philippines, Australia and India. Tornado in the US, Earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Tsunami in Japan among others.

These calamities have also brought out the best of human behavior and action as shown by the response of the peoples from different nations, in terms of human aid, equipment mobilization, financial contributions and material and food donations. Our District was one of first to respond. Aside from the DDF Donations of $8,000 mentioned above, Rotarians and Rotary Clubs contributed more than P200,000, way over the P100 per capita requested by Past RI President Mat Caparas which we have already remitted to the Philippine College of Rotary Governors which excludes the direct club to club donations of Rotary club of Metro Iloilo amounting to $2,000.

10. The District Conference. We have again witnessed how all the Rotary Clubs of Zamboanga participated, cooperated and supported in the District Conference. A total of 568 Rotarians and spouses registered for the Alegria na Zamboanga. If we add the guests and the support staff, more than 700 were involved in the resounding success of the DISCON. The observation, feedback and compliments given by the visiting Rotarians, Dignitaries, Speakers and Guest will attest to the resounding success. Allow me to again give special recognition for the nth time to Mayor Celso Lobregat, Congressman Erbie Fabian, Congresswoman Beng Climaco, the Discon Team headed by PP Raymond Padayhag, the Rotarian Architects who designed the Pirates night, the Rotarians of RCZC Zamboanga City who were incharge of the speakers and the Governors Ball and my fellow Rotarians of the RC of Zamboanga City West. I could not have done it without you.

11. RI PRESIDENTIAL CITATION - I am happy to inform you that 18 Clubs, including my very own, RCZC West, are recipients of the prestigious and coveted Rotary International Presidential Citation. These clubs have well-rounded and well-thought out programs in all 5 avenues of service namely, Service Projects, Membership, Club Administration, The Rotary Foundation and New Generations.

In closing, I wish to thank each and every single Rotarian and Ann who helped Build Communities and Bridge Continents this Rotary Year. And I thank most of all, the lord Almighty for safeguarding my family while I was away and for blessing me with strength, good health, energy and enthusiasm. Now that my term as District Governor is done, I am back to the folds of my family and my club as an ordinary Rotarian to serve my community. I am also looking forward to enjoy the company of my family with Tess as we see our children Neil, Jason and Michael grow up and who knows, to possibly become Rotarians in the future.

God bless us all.

DG James