Your Voice, Your Solution for deciding on a community project

Rotary International News -- 18 October 2010

A Rotaractor assists a beneficiary of the mobile food pantry in Springfield, Missouri, USA. What is the best way for your club to agree on a suitable project? Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

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To help curb vandalism during Halloween, police asked the Rotary Club of Springhill, Nova Scotia, Canada, to organize a party for area youth.

The project was a success. Prizes were announced every hour, with the caveat that attendees had to be present to claim them. Police reported minimal vandalism over the Halloween weekend.

Meanwhile, Rotarians in Port Macquarie, Australia, completed a community needs assessment before establishing a public station where elderly and disabled people could recharge their mobility vehicles.

Every community has different needs. Often, clubs members can agree on which needs to address, but sometimes reaching a decision is difficult. What is the best way for your club to work toward a consensus on a suitable project?

Each month, Rotary International's problem-solving forum asks Rotarians for their ideas and strategies to address the challenges they deal with every day. This month's problem is how to decide on a project in your community.

Use the comments section below to share your solutions to this month's problem. Comments may be used in abbreviated form in other RI publications, including the Rotary E-Learning Center.

Past problems and your solutions:

13 Comments:

At 9:10AM on 2 June 2011, Ellen Boyce wrote: We are planning on organizing a panel of influential community people, our city councilor, head of community services, someone from the school board, someone from United Way, someone from the food bank,etc. Hopefully the panel along with our committee can come up with a few of the strong community needs.

At 3:18PM on 10 November 2010, rosalina "sally" c. sp wrote: Attendance to monthly meetings in the district will update you on what the other rotary clubs are doing thereby giving you a chance to pull resources together and be involved with community service projects.in the district. For club levels, the committee for service projects must be responsible in submitting their plans and programs for medical missions or sustainable projects for the environment to cover the needs of less fortunate brothers and sisters in rural areas and far flung communities. Currently, the Rotary Club of University District Manila launched a project called "Rescue the IQ" for the control of iodine deficiency through the distribution of iodized salt in tablets and sponsoring lay fora to know more about the importance of iodized salt for pregnant and lactating mothers.

At 10:24AM on 9 November 2010, Ma. Luisa L. Jacinto wrote: We always start planning for a community project with a community needs assessment. Usually, a member proposes a possible project to the club by presenting the community profile, needs, and possible specific project the club can undertake. We validate the information not only from the community members but also from relevant government agencies, so we could also assess the linkages and available support to ensure sustainability of the project. Before any decision is reached, the Board of Directors gets the firm commitment of a Project Committee to ensure smooth implementation.

At 9:17AM on 25 October 2010, ANKIT wrote: actually, i believe a democratic system is pretty stable and good for long run of any group!! so it will be best to do voting, but ,but, the options of voting should be chosen on the basis prior group discussion!!!

At 1:09PM on 20 October 2010, Raza Jaffri wrote: It seems that everyone has missed the question. The main question is: "sometimes reaching a decision is difficult. What is the best way for your club to work toward a consensus on a suitable project?" Reaching a consensus can be done in a number of ways that can range from voting on one hand to arbitrary decision by the mutually accepted topic expert. In our club consensus is often reached through a logical explanation of the various options and discussing their pros and cons, leading to an automatic elimination of inappropriate options and everyone getting wiser in the process.

At 1:10PM on 20 October 2010, C.J. Kahler wrote: To determine the needs of our community, I sent a letter to the 38 agencies in our community. The letter reminded them of Rotary's motto and desire to help them make our community a better place to live and work. I also invited them to apply either for a District Simplified Grant for their big projects or a smaller club grant as appropriate. I received 7 inquiries. Our Community Services Committee then discussed the applications and began to respond to the community needs.

At 10:11AM on 19 October 2010, Rtn PP Prof R Panchanadhan wrote: The best method for any community project is SAPAE - Survey, Analysis, Planning, Action, Evaluation. The decision is on how this proposed project would benefit a large section of the community, how larger number of club members and public could be involved, and how the club-image would get bolstered.

At 11:16AM on 15 October 2010, VEERAJ S SHAH wrote: The club should adopt the Five S Principle to select the most effective project to be undertaken 1. Seiri - Sorting Out - Sort out the project which adheres most to the RI directives &is the need of the hour 2. Seiton- Systematic Arrangement - of all the club resources to accomplish the project undertaken 3. Seiso - Spic and Span - Delegation and handling of maximum RC members for getting involved in the project 4. Seiketsu- Standardizing-the short and the long term pros & cons of the project and getting consensus from the club leaders, community leaders & major role-players 5. Shitsuke- Self-discipline - in each RC member to enact,enhance and effectual his role in the project to the maximum capacity. And last but most important is Synchronicity - moving in one chosen direction by all club members once the project has been chosen and effectively completing it to give best results.

At 10:46AM on 8 October 2010, PDG Yogananda,R I Dist 3190 wrote: Ideally,the relevant committee prioritizes a project that addresses a burning need of the community , discusses it at the board meeting regarding the funds / other resources etc.,and then informs / discusses at the general meeting. Involving the community suitably and appropriately helps.A comprehensive groundwork reg the project by the relevant committee -need assessment -no of benificiaries-funds reqd - availability of funds ,- sustainability etc., is a must for it's smooth acceptance ( consensus)

At 1:33PM on 7 October 2010, Rafiqul Alam Hassan, IPP Dilkusha,RID 3280, Bangladesh wrote: First to identify the needs of the community and the preference.The ideal project of a particular community is that, which simultaneously meet the need and also provides community leaders the opportunity to get involved.

At 10:52AM on 6 October 2010, Dan Maxham wrote: Tap into the local school system. The teachers have a good handle on what is missing, not only in their curriculum but in the community.

At 3:40PM on 4 October 2010, Rubens S Thevenard wrote: The first step is to follow the Rotarian bulletins, meetings and activities to keep your eyes open about what others Clubs are doing around the world (bank of ideas) Second- recognize some area where your RC can act to change some community problem, sustainable preferably. Third- you will need a "godfather" among your fellows committed with that area and available to embrace the project. Fourth- a good "politics" to launch the idea into the Club manly the actual leaders. This is important to keep the entire Club motivated to work towards the same direction (synchronicity) Fifth - If there is a need, an way to improve and people decided to solve the questions and serve the community, your project is almost done. Sixth - Finally, you need money to be able to supply necessary items to do the job. Find another Club to join your project and after that you can ask The Rotarian Foundation to give a hand and make your dreams come trough.

At 10:29AM on 4 October 2010, PDG Aswini Kar wrote: To take up a project, a club must survey the community and find what is the need of the community and involve the community in the project

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