Message from the Chair: April recognizes magazines and more

April 2008

Dear family of Rotary,

In this world of immediate information through the Internet, e-mails, blogs, and cell phones, the very idea of celebrating Magazine Month sounds somewhat old-fashioned. Although information about Rotary Foundation programs is immediately available at http://www.rotary.org/, your Rotary magazine is still the best place to read in-depth accounts of the Foundation’s remarkable work around the world.

In fact, the many pamphlets, guides, and request forms available from The Rotary Foundation continue to play a major role. For example, printed take-home instructions are still the most effective way to ensure that Foundation seminar information is reviewed at a later date. Every Rotarian should carry a copy of the latest Rotary Foundation Facts (159-EN), a concise, up-to-date summary of the activities of the Foundation, which is published each November and available from the RI Secretariat.

When recognizing our magazines and other printed materials, let’s not forget that the timeliest way to get information is on our Web site. During April, for example, the Future Vision Committee will report to the Trustees, who will be making many decisions about the future of the Foundation. These decisions will be reported on Rotary.org, and I ask you, as so many did in October, to comment online so that your Trustees will have the benefit of your opinions. Since its inception, the Future Vision Committee has relied very heavily on the opinions of Rotarians at all levels. In this final lap, we need these thoughts more than ever, and our Web site provides an excellent way to get your feedback.

Our Web site is indeed essential today, so let’s include it in our celebration of Magazine Month.

Robert S. Scott

Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation, 2007-08