RI Board approves shift to a resource and support model for programs

By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News -- 29 December 2010

The RI Board has approved a shift in the structure of RI programs, effective 30 June, to better support clubs and districts and provide essential resources for international service. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson

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The World Community Service and Rotary Volunteers programs will be phased out by 30 June to reinforce the priorities and goals of the RI Strategic Plan and to shift from a program-based model to a resource and support model.

The goal of this new model, approved by the RI Board at its November meeting, is to expand the resources available to clubs for connecting and partnering with each other.

"A significant component of Rotary’s new strategic plan is the transformation of Rotary’s involvement from monitoring, regulating, and administering specific projects to functioning in a highly supportive mode of providing clubs and districts with essential resources in their international service," says RI Director Kenneth W. Grabeau.

The World Community Service program has helped Rotarians find partners for international service projects. RI will continue to fully support Rotarians in their efforts to serve communities in other countries.

While recognizing the importance of Rotary Volunteers, the Board supported an approach to volunteerism that would provide guidance and resources to a greater number of Rotarians, clubs, and districts. Rotarians are encouraged to include volunteers on service projects, both locally and abroad.

"The primary benefits of this evolution are a greater focus on club and district service, enhanced resources in the development of sustainable and more significant projects, and the development of cooperative relationships between and among the participating parties," Grabeau says.

In the coming months, the Rotary Friendship Exchange program will be transformed with a new, enhanced set of resources to support Rotary connections for international service projects, fellowship visits, and volunteer opportunities. These developments will be shared on the RI website and with Rotarians appointed to serve in district leadership positions for 2011-12.

"It is likely that the form and function of Friendship Exchanges will evolve as we implement the strategic plan to better provide necessary resources and essential support to clubs and districts," Grabeau says.

Rotary International staff will also be improving ProjectLINK , RI’s projects database.

The RI Programs staff looks forward to providing support and guidance to clubs on their service projects. Please contact international.service@rotary.org if you have any questions or concerns regarding these changes.

14 Comments:

At 8:44AM on 23 September 2011, Walt Philipp wrote: Streamlining bureaucracy is a good thing and a principle we need to address at all times and all levels. There seems to be confusion as to what is going away. As I see it, "World Community Service" (all caps, a proper name) as an entity or organizational group is going away. On the other hand world community service (lower case--not an entity name) is a fundamental Rotary principle and a function that has always been Rotary, is Rotary, and always will be Rotary and represents efforts of primarily club level Rotarians creating, carrying out, and managing service projects everywhere. I did it even without knowing that there was an organizational entity or committee by the name of WCS nor did I know what the entity or committee did. But I did and do know what International, Community, Youth, etc services are and we'll continuing doing these things regardless of any bureaucracy or not. At the club level we'll just keep doing Service Above Self (a principle from the heart--not an entity or committee)..

At 12:15PM on 4 August 2011, Erminia Scarcella MD wrote: "RI Board approves shift to a resource and support model for programs" it sound a classic word salad without meaning! Sorry to be pessimistic but let not to forget what we have done so far: get a project, find the financial help , send it to a designated country and have their Rotary to supervise the job! So in which way the 'new' way to say changes the old way of doing? if you talk about better STRATEGIES to accomplish the goals, just explain it but do not eliminate the words WCS : just give clear and specific explanation of the new strategies ! We risk to discourage Rotarians by eliminating an important traditional definition: WCS, and for what????

At 10:25AM on 21 June 2011, Rtn PHF Lt Col Selvanayagam samsu wrote: WCS has been substituted by volunteers friends exchange,connectivity,project link,all these factors are emphasizing on new concept. these factors involve more involuntariness as well as action orientation,goal orientation,service before self orientation

At 4:26PM on 14 March 2011, Rtn. pp.PHF K M K Murthy wrote: Let the communicatin be clear, perceptible and easily understandable for the reader. K M K Murthy RCSecunderabad

At 2:49PM on 12 January 2011, Barbara Darrigan wrote: OK - now to further add to our confusion - the last line directs us to "Find out more about how to plan an international project". The link takes us to World Community Service which is being eliminated!!

At 2:22PM on 6 January 2011, Alistair Knox wrote: I agree! I've read this twice and each time my brain glazed over! This is just corporate-speak jargon with little real meaning. We need much more clarity on what is proposed.

At 12:38PM on 5 January 2011, Hugh Barnard wrote: I agree with Rob Scaife's comments about the content of this page - it needs to be a lot more understandable - it is not entirely clear to me aat first reading where we are going next nor what is being fixed.

At 12:35PM on 5 January 2011, Jeff Harte wrote: I agree that this announcement as published tells us virtually nothing that is different to what we do right now !! The 6th para above claims a "new and enhanced set of resources" but then in vague words adds nothing useful to our understanding - in fact the description provided sounds exactly like a $150,000 Competitive Matching Grant that I am overseeing right now for our District under the "old" system that will be replaced. My prayer is that to be useful, the new system will reduce and definitely not add to the bureaucratic processes currently in place. We are the foot-soldiers who get things done on the ground. We do not need more forms and paperwork thank you !

At 10:00AM on 4 January 2011, Henry Weinschenk wrote: Fully agree with Bob Scaife! What's the bottom line of eliminating WCS, and what is there to replace it? Bureaucracy will eventually kill RI , while the better clubs will do fine regardless...

At 11:29AM on 3 January 2011, Nicholas Thompson wrote: This all sounds really exciting. I had the chance of going as a volunteer to a RC in Sri Lanka a few years ago to help that club out on a service project they were involved in. To be able to do this kind of thing more easily in future will be a great plus.

At 9:35AM on 3 January 2011, Rotr. John Ebenuwah wrote: This is great work from R.I, as my club has been seeking for partnership with other clubs to execute her projects and enhance International understanding. Thanks

At 9:32AM on 3 January 2011, Rob Scaife wrote: Sorry to be negative, but that was a remarkably uninformative article. Lots of words, but little discernible meaning. Why to people write this sort of article like a stodgy bureaucratic missive? Could we get the elevator speech for this please, a few short paragraphs with fewer boilerplate quotes and a concise summary of what these changes are and what effect they will have?

At 9:31AM on 3 January 2011, John Zinkie wrote: I think a 50/50 balance between local and international service projects works very well. It is clear to me that "fat cat" Rotarians should ensure that they share the wealth they have been given by birth.

At 2:53PM on 29 December 2010, Bradford Gamblin wrote: Do i detect a de emphasis on Rotary local projects in favor of international only? I do believe there is also a need for Rotary to participate in local and regional projects as well as international.

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