New general secretary dives into the business of Rotary
By Janis Young
Rotary International News -- 12 October 2011
During a trip to Seattle, Washington, USA, Hewko helped pack beans to be distributed through Rotary First Harvest, a Program of Rotary District 5030.
“The more I learn about Rotary, the more in awe I am of what this organization has been able to accomplish.”
That’s John Hewko summing up his first 100 days as Rotary’s general secretary. In just over three months, Hewko has launched two key communications projects, initiated development of a club strategic planning tool, participated in the meetings of numerous committees and the RI Board and Rotary Foundation Trustees, met with Bill Gates to discuss polio eradication, attended his first Rotary institute, listened to dozens of presentations by Rotary staff as part of his "getting to know Rotary" listening tour, and rejoined the Rotary Club of Kyiv in Ukraine, of which he was a charter member.
Hewko began learning about Rotary well before he was on the payroll. “The six-month transition period was tremendously helpful,” he says. “By attending the International Assembly and the convention, and participating in several committee, Board, and Trustee meetings, I was really able to hit the ground running.”
Ending polio a top priority
The RI Board and Foundation Trustees have established some clear priorities for Hewko, with the No. 1 goal being to end polio. “It’s incredible how far we’ve come and all the work Rotary has done. By succeeding, we will not only eradicate a terrible disease, but will position Rotary and the world to take on the next big global challenge,” he says.
Part of that positioning depends on Rotary’s receiving the recognition it deserves for its leadership role in polio eradication. To this end, Hewko met with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in September to discuss joint communications and advocacy strategies and opportunities. “We were able to provide the Gates Foundation staff with a better appreciation of the full spectrum of Rotary's global service and humanitarian activities. I also had very good meetings with Bill Gates and CEO Jeff Raikes. They are very appreciative of all that Rotary has done and are eager to continue to strengthen our joint efforts on polio eradication.”
Future Vision, membership also key
The growing list of other priorities includes the successful launch of The Rotary Foundation’s Future Vision Plan. “The worldwide launch will happen in July 2013, but I have asked my colleagues to have everything in place by January 2013 so that we have six months to implement any last-minute changes,” Hewko says. To ensure that this happens, he has appointed a full-time Future Vision launch manager and established staff teams who are working to ensure a smooth transition to the new grant model.
Other major projects that Hewko has initiated include a thorough review of the Rotary website, a worldwide Rotary brand revitalization effort, and the development of Rotary Club Central, an online strategic planning tool for clubs that will also help Rotary calculate the monetary value of all the organization's service activities and projects around the world. “These initiatives will take time,” Hewko says, “but by the next Rotary year, Rotarians should start seeing the results of many of these efforts."
He adds that Rotarians should already be enjoying benefits from two projects that were recently launched -- one that allows members to receive their recognition points more quickly and another that enables them to make payments in a variety of currencies.
Hewko is stressing the need for a “one Rotary” approach to management and strategic planning. “We’re not Rotary International or The Rotary Foundation. We’re Rotary, and that’s how most Rotarians and the rest of the world see us,” he says, emphasizing the importance of ensuring seamless and effective operations between the two entities.
As he visits clubs and talks to Rotarians, Hewko’s “to-do” list expands. “We also need to focus on membership,” he says, “especially on developing regional membership plans that address issues that are specific to the different parts of the world. And we need to attract younger members so that we build up the base for the future.”
The next 100 days
Hewko will spend much of his second 100 days traveling to Europe, India, Australia, and Washington, D.C., to attend Rotary institutes, visit clubs and projects, and meet with international office staff. Major upcoming events include a USAID conference in Washington, a meeting with the leadership of the Clinton Global Initiative, Rotary-UN Day in New York City, and a World Economic Forum summit in Mumbai, India. He also plans to participate in a National Immunization Day in India.
Hewko is looking forward to meeting more Rotarians in person and to connecting with members through social media. “I’m on Twitter now, and I have a Facebook page. I want to thank all of my followers. It’s a great way to get your reactions and to stay in touch.”