the olympians - 31st issue
DESCRIPTION
This is a special Discon 2011 issue.TRANSCRIPT
JAPANJAPANJAPANJAPAN
District Leaders and Rotarians responded to the call by giving whatever amount they could to the Japan Fund. At the business meeting, it was ratified that said call will be backed by a resolution of solidarity for the people of Japan. Disaster Preparedness and Management is one of the District thrusts and will be a legacy of DG Ed to the District and the Rotary.
FUND FUND FUND FUND FOR FOR FOR FOR
DISCON 2011, though full of pomp and pageantry, was a testament of what Rotary is -- an organization that serves, especially those in need. Thinking about the families in Japan who were devastated by the killer earthquake and tsunami, DG Ed launched the Fund for Japan by starting the donation for said beneficiaries.
RCMO is Introduced as a
Charter Club in DISCON
TheTheTheTheOLYMPIANSOLYMPIANSOLYMPIANSOLYMPIANS The Official Newsletter of the Rotary Club of Makati - OLYMPIA
VOL. 01 NO. 31 • MARCH 2011
The President’s Corner
My dear Fellow
Olympians,
I am proud to be a
Rotarian but prouder
because I am an
Olympian!
During the recently concluded
DISCON, I had never felt how great
a privilege it was to be representing
our club. I know that all of us who
were there also felt the same. Since we
had been chartered, we had carved a
niche in the Rotary world as a
hardworking club. Yes, we surely
are. It is reassuring to know that the
road we have chosen is the right
path. In the talks given by DG Ed
Alvarez, RIPR Bob Cerwin, PRID
Paing Hechanova, DGN Sue Sta
Maria and DGND Robert Kuan, I
could relate with what they were
discussing. I felt like they were
addressing us directly and talking
about us, too. It is an inexplicable
feeling of affirmation and a novel
experience for me. Cont’d. on page 2
A little more than 8 months ago, Rotary Club of Makati Olympia received its charter on August 9, 2010. As one of the two new clubs chartered this Rotary Year, it was presented in plenary by Governor Ed Alvarez during the D-3830's District Conference held last March 18-19 at Hotel Sofitel. In the introduction, DG Ed mentioned that RCMO was chartered with 54 members and has grown big as a Rotary family because of its partners in service - 15 Interact Clubs, 3 Rotaract Clubs and 2 RCCs, with 5 more for
registration. Complete with banners, fanfare and poppers, CP Rose Acoba together PN Renny Harman, PN Designate Wilbert Zamuco, PP/Treas. Amor Isip, Dir. Ju Abdulcadir, Dir. Malu Aristorenas, Rtn Bernie Marcelino, Rtn. Alex Pambid, Rtn. Emily Kazira, Rtn. Ederlyn Mendiola, Rotaractors and Interactors represented Rotary Club of Makati Olympia during the introduction. RIPR Bob Cerwin and PRID Paing Hechanova were with Gov. Ed in welcoming and extending their congratulations to the new club.
PE Jay’s Corner
My dear Fellow
Olympians,
Practice Mindfulness.. It is a profound
experience of
awareness. During times of
chaos, a disharmony of the norm
occurs. One may either fight or
flight as a reaction, and for those
mindful enough, to step back
and see things in a different
perspective and respond as a
choice. A person has a choice
not to be trapped in a
Cont’d on page 2…
CP Sue Sta. Maria, PP Robert Kuan Presented as Incoming Governors of D-3830
PE Jay’s Corner cont’d from p.1
situation of immobility, but in a sort
of emancipated state of being.
As a Rotarian and an Olympian, I
feel the energy of the Club. It is an
exciting energy with great
potential, and momentum. A lot of
great work was done since RCMO
was chartered, and a lot
more inspiring things are about to
happen. Perspective is relative to
our state but mindfulness is a key to
creating meaningful experiences in
all our endeavors. Let’s join hands,
and shoulder-to-shoulder move
forward in one direction as we all
serve with a grateful heart and
boldness to dream.
The President’s Corner cont’d from p.1
For this, I thank PN Renny Harman,
PP Amor Isip, PP Ting Almendral, PP
Ed Bartolata, Dir. Ju Abdulcadir, Rtn
Alex Pambid, Rtn Eric Orland, Rtn.
Margaret Gaw, Rtn. Ricky Ocampo,
Dir. Malu Aristorenas, Rtn. Berni
Marcelino, Rtn. Ederlyn Mendiola, Rtn.
Emily Kazira, our Rotaractors,
Interactors and RCC officers led by
Elizabeth Bermido and Sarah Penarubia
for their participation in the Discon
2011. Special mention goes to Dir. Ju
who represented us in Group Makati B
in the Talent show which incidentally
was adjudged the Grand prize winner!
I thank all of you, too, for bringing
RCMO to where it is now. The
DISCON is like the graduation. It is
the culmination of all the activities done
during the whole year.
Though it would have been great if all of
us were there, your participation in the
endeavors that we have undertaken are all
part of what RCMO is which we brought
to the DISCON. For the recognition that
our club is receiving, it is much yours as it
is mine. This includes all our sponsored
youths and RCCs as well as partners in
service who have tirelessly given to the
cause of Rotary and been with us in all our
undertakings.
We are standing tall in our District and
Rotary. Let us continue the great work we
are doing in building our club and serving
through Rotary. Let this pride we have as
Olympians make us more humble to serve
humanity and God with greater passion
and with nothing less than excellence as
our standard.
Go, Olympia, Go!
Incoming Governors DGN Sue Sta Maria and DGND Robert Kuan were introduced during the Discon 2011. Both represent the vision and future of District 3830.
In her address, DGN Sue said that there had never been a record change in Rotary than in the past six years. These, she explained, are in many aspects like the club structure, membership, attendance requirements and even in the avenues of service. According to her, these changes were to make Rotary simple through having stronger clubs, more service endeavors and making the world know of these.
For DGND Robert, he said that clubs must have a vision of what they want to be. Further, he wants to start the work early with his team so that together, they will be able to build on that vision and make them a reality during their year of service in RY 2013-2014. For this, he asked that clubs to inform him their PN Designate as soon as possible.
DGN Sue is DGSR of RCMO and she and DGND Robert are both Honorary Members of Rotary Club of Makati Olympia.
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editorial team
adviser Rose Acoba •••• editor Joel D. Adriano
Write us your ideas or contribute articles that you think is interesting and will be beneficial to our organization.
Contact us at (0917)545-6171 and (0917)891-4695 or email us at [email protected].
Makati B, where RC Makati Olympia belonged and which was headed by PP Patti King, bagged the Grand Champion honor in the Discon 2011 talent night. The group presented the Orientique Mardi Gras. The presentation opened with a scene from Sinulog Festival, followed by Thai, Chinese and Taichi, and concluded with a Dragon Dance. RCMO’s Dir. Ju Abdulcadir was part of the performers in the Sinulog Festival. Makati B is composed of clubs from Clusters 2, 5, 6 and 8.
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Makati B is Grand Champion in the Talent Night
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ROTARY international NEWS
Group Study Exchange team safe
Rotarian Robert Blackburn was leading a Group Study Exchange team in Japan when the earthquake struck. The five team members from Illinois, USA, were in a hotel in Tokyo, getting ready for a farewell dinner with their hosts. "It was our last night in Japan. I felt the whole building shake," says Blackburn, a member of the Rotary Club of Westmont. "It was not just a mild tremor. My hotel room was shaking from side to side. It felt like forever. I have never been so scared in my life." Blackburn says the earthquake lasted at least two minutes. He used a laundry cart outside his hotel room for protection. After the tremors stopped, he walked 18 floors down to the lobby, where the rest of the team congregated. "The airport was temporarily closed, so I told everyone on our team that we might have to be here for a day or two longer," he says. "Thankfully, the airport reopened. Our hosts were incredible and were able to get us to the airport on time for our flight." Tanaka says he is grateful for the warm support of Rotarians worldwide. "The great thing about Rotarians is that we share everything, including each other's joy and sadness. They have the ability to put themselves in the position of others and act to help," says Tanaka. "Despite the unthinkable hardship we're experiencing now, the people of Japan will not give up on efforts to rebuild their communities."
In response to the massive earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on 11 March, The Rotary Foundation has established the Rotary Japan 2011 Disaster Recovery Fund, which will support long-term recovery projects in affected areas. Rotarians and non-Rotarians can donate online. Clubs and districts can contribute cash and District Designated Fund (DDF) allocations to the fund. The 9.0-magnitude quake, Japan's largest in history, and the tsunami that followed it caused widespread devastation, paralyzing much of the northern coast. More than 10,000 people have been killed, and thousands are missing. Millions have been left without clean water or power, and at least 550,000 people have been forced from their homes. A series of explosions at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, 140 miles northeast of Tokyo, damaged reactors and forced the evacuation of tens of thousands. The Japanese government is working to contain the situation. Damage from the earthquake and tsunami is estimated at US$170 billion. RI President-nominee Sakuji Tanaka, of the Rotary Club of Yashio, Saitama, was in Lisbon, Portugal, on Rotary business during the disasters. He was able to reach his wife, Kyoko, on the phone to confirm her safety. "She said it was the most horrifying experience she'd ever had," says Tanaka. "The
Foundation sets up disaster fund for Japan by Ryan Hyland
People carry their furniture from their ruined
home 15 March in Kesennuma, Miyagi
Prefecture, Japan, four days after an
earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan's
northeast coast towns. AP Photo/Kyodo News
northern region of Japan is still in chaos. We are unsure when this chaos will end or when things will get better. However, I am most thankful to know that Rotarians around the world care for us." Japanese RI directors Masaomi Kondo and Masahiro Kuroda, as well as staff at Rotary International's Japan office, are confirmed to be safe. Rotary clubs and districts worldwide are mobilizing efforts to bring urgently needed aid to victims. "I've received many messages from Rotarians all over the world," says Noriko Futagami, the Public Image Resource Group coordinator for Zone 2. "I also have reports that Rotary clubs have begun to start planning projects for immediate help. Unfortunately, there are many Rotarians and families who haven't been able to be contacted. Rotarians in Japan worry for their safety."
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