Rotary Club of Central Mactan

I want to say few words to members about the Village Aid Program (VAP).   During my time I was President I was hopeful of working with the VAP on a few projects but circumstances beyond my control meant that this never materialized.  

I have nothing but admiration and respect for the work they do and would be happy to see RCCM working with Village Aid on joint projects.

I have met Dave Collins and few of the other Village Aid representatives on a few occasions and it was my impression that they are sincere and dedicated in their efforts to provide help to the people of the Philippines.

 I would not hesitate to recommend VAP to any club looking for a project partner and in particular I hope to see some join RCCM / VAP projects for 2009-2010.

Past President
Christopher Bennetts

You can listen to an Audio recording of the speech in MP3 format here:

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You can download it here:  Christopher Bennetts Rotary Speech 2009   (right click and save it)

or read the speech here:

Hello from Australia.   Its been a busy month for me here as we just celebrated my second oldest sons 18^th birthday and my wifes 40^th 

Why are you are Rotarian?

I invite every Rotarian,  and in particular,   those in the expat community to ask themselves why they are really A Rotarian.  Are you really here to serve?  This is a rhetorical question but over the next few weeks this question will come back to you more and more as you ask yourself if you are really there to provide serve above self.

I have observed Rotarians that claim to be very active and talk a lot about past achievements .  They might often recite the four way test but in practice they repeatedly break each of the rules.  They play politics and in their own mind might believe that they are the custodians of a club guiding it in the right direction and only acting in its best interests.   These types of people exist in all clubs and all organizations and always will. 

Do you think you know someone like this?  I don’t want you to Look at the person now       because I want you to look at your own motives. It is not to those people that I direct my question to ask yourself why you really chose to serve in Rotary. 

In life there is there is the universal 80/20 rule.   This is not a scientific rule but rather a rule of thumb.  Simply put 20% of effort will achieve 80% of the result and the remaining 20% of the task may require an additional 80% of effort.

The same rule seems to apply to member participation in a club.  Only 20% or less actually participates in projects and of these only 20% actually drive the project.  The rest are there just making token efforts and often eager to give advice or criticize.   But of course, this, as we know is the universal complaint and experience of almost all past club Presidents.  This club is no different in this regard. 

We all understand that Rotary is there to serve those in the community that a less fortunate than ourselves but how many of us have real empathy with those people?

You may have pity but do you have understanding?   

Real empathy requires being able to take their perceptional position or layman’s terms putting yourself into their shoes.   This can be very hard to do for most of us.  I doubt if anyone here has every really gone hungry.  I doubt any of us have felt the hopelessness and despair many of those we claim to serve experience.   With the advantage of education we can be fast to judge them but as humans we all strive to improve our situation to the best of our ability and that means drawing on our life experience and knowledge however limited it is.

Some may have joined Rotary to appease a guilty conscious about living such a privileged existence in the midst of sea of   poverty and suffering,   as if their membership dues alone absolve them from any responsibility.  This is not a good reason to be a Rotarian.  

Some join out of boredom or a need to belong.  I have observed some that Rotary has become their identity – there whole life – which is very sad and they are not necessary the most committed and productive Rotarians – in fact some that come to mind are not good Rotarians at all.

Some join as a means to elevate their career.   Membership to Rotary looks good on the CV of an ambitious person.   They are there only to serve themselves.

Very few actually join to really serve the community. 

When I joined Rotary almost three years ago I was new to the Philippines and was encouraged to join by my wife for the social aspect and I would acknowledge a component of the guilty conscious.

These were not good reasons for joining but the during that time I was exposed to rotary work and started to become inspired and excited by the effect on lives a simple helping hand can provide.  It was not so much the projects my club was directly involved in,  but other life transforming projects such as the clef lip correction.

I had high hopes for my rotary year in terms of making a real difference but circumstances conspired to deny me an opportunity to serve out my presidency and even initiate half the projects I had in mind.

There is a saying that if you want something done ask a busy man.   David is an extremely busy man, probably busier than anyone else in the club yet he was able to pick up and run with the few projects I was able to initiate and do a fantastic job.  

I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for David.  He exemplifies a good Rotarian.   I wish David every success in his Rotary year. 

Over the next few months as David starts new projects I hope all of you will remember my words and question about why and how you are here to serve the community.   You might think about it in the shower,  while driving to the next meeting or as you recall anything that reminds you of this question.

Thank you

I am not sure if David has mentioned it but I am personally sponsoring three children back to school this year.  There are real back to school situations for three families and not just financial assistance to family struggling to educate their children.  They (a boy and 2 girls all from different families) have already commenced their school year and I am happy for David to incorporate this as one of his projects for the club.

As a president it is very hard to enforce Every Rotarian Every Year to TRF. However President Dave can keep this promise that an award will be given to Every Rotarian Every Year.

• 1. Certification AWARD – Reaching beyond one’s Rotarian Duties as a Director, through voluntary efforts, to making a particularly Outstanding Contribution to Humanitarian Service ” Rotary Club of Central Mactan’s Water & Sanitation Well Capping Project” in the Lapu Lapu City community.

In this new Awarding, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Awards Club service Director and PP David West for providing service and leadership which has helped build bridges with a International Social Organization, personally matching the Oddfellows contribution.

Photo of PP Dave west

• 2. Certification AWARD- Reaching beyond one’s Rotarian Duties as a Director, through voluntary efforts, to making a particularly Outstanding Service for ” Rotary Club of Central Mactan’s Water & Sanitation Well Capping Project” in the Lapu Lapu City community.

In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Recognizes PP Damien Dwyer Chairman of Water and Sanitation for providing service and leadership. Damien’s persistence and drive has earned Rotary Club of Central Mactan the AWARD of having the “Most Outstanding Water Project in the Visayas and Zone 1E and The “Most Outstanding Public Relation Project”

Photo of PP Damien Dwyer

• 3. Certification of Recognition – Reaching out to your community through voluntary efforts as a non Rotarian, to making a particularly Outstanding Community Service Award for ” Rotary Club of Central Mactan’s Water & Sanitation Well Capping Project” in the Lapu Lapu City community.

Service Award recognition is given to individuals or couples who have contributed significant amounts of civic or social service to the local community or to society in general. Except in unusual circumstances, candidates for the award must be a non Rotarian and through their efforts represent and foster the Rotary ideal of “Service above Self.” This Certification of Recognition goes to Jean P. Amba

Photo of Jean

• 4. Certification AWARD- For exemplifying the principles and ideals of our Rotary heritage. Service Above Self Award.

In this new awarding, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Awards Rotarian Sgt. – At Arms  Ralf Sommerfeld for providing service above self. His unselfish dedication insearch of a surgeon to help young girl in need who he met at the Rotaplas Mission “Give Hope”. Rtn. Ralf personally funded consultations and transportation to the young girl’s family.

Photo of Ralf Sommerfeld

• 5. Certification of Recognition - in recognition of devoted and valuable services rendered to this organization and its membership By the Rotary club of Central Mactan

In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Recognizes Rotarian our Treasurer Maggie West for providing devoted and valuable services to maintain our clubs accounting.  .

Photo of Maggie West

• 6. Certification of Recognition - in recognition for providing Club Fellowships at your home for the Rotary Club of Central Mactan members. Creating Good fellowship is key to the life and success of our club.

Alice Walker, JP Van den Berk, Larry Tarquino Photo of fellowships

• 7. Certification of Recognition - in recognition for developing and organizing the clubs socials,and Fellowships for the Rotary Club of Central Mactan. Creating Good fellowship is key to the life and success of our club.

Events Committee Chair women Rotarian Evelyn Pelkowski. Photo of Evelyn

• 8. Certification AWARD – the Achievement of this award is an indication that this member is dedicated to our club. This member has rendered significant service to The Rotary Foundation and holds the highest attendance of any member of the club. The Distinguished Service Award.

In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Recognizes non other then Charter President Udo Pelkowski for providing his outstanding dedication to our club.

Photo of Charter President Udo Pelkowski

• 9. Certification AWARD – the Achievement of this award is an indication that this member is dedicated to our club and performed outstanding duties as an officer. This member has rendered outstanding performance to The Rotary of Central Mactan and earned an award for the club on a District level. The Most Outstanding Secretary in Zone 1 E. The Most Outstanding Officer Award.

In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Recognizes non other then Secretary Ethel Joan Poley for providing her outstanding performance as an officer submitting activities to the district calculating points earned by our club that measured our success for this rotary year.

Photo of Secretary Ethel Joan Poley

As promised Every Rotarian Every Year gets an award

• 10. Certification AWARD – This mysterious award, who is frequently seen placing smiles on even the most indigent Children, whose spells could relieve you of illness, whose incantations can relieve you of the pressures of everyday life will receive the The Laughter Award.

This Rotarian does what you aren’t supposed to do – he performs funny gestures and tricks — everything we were expected to out-grow when we joined the serious adult world. Kids we somehow feel a kind of kinship with this Rotarian — after all, to some degree we’d been there ourselves, not too long ago. In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan recognizes our very own clown Charter member Sven Ingve Kjellgren

• 11. Certification AWARD - in this recognition these Rotarian’s supports our clubs projects, Fellowships and events. These Rotarians are not Missing in Action but Missing in Meetings.

In this new recognition, Rotary Club of Central Mactan Recognizes and hopes to see more of these Rotarian’s. The Award of Missed in Meetings goes to  Gail Van den berk ,P.P. Greg Magdadaro, Hans Lindgreen, Roland Probst and Lovella Magdadaro

Photo of Gail Van den Berk

• 12. Certification AWARD- For exemplifying the principles and ideals of our Rotary heritage. This Rotarian is has served the Rotary Club of Central Mactan for 5 years and is a Charter Member of the Rotary Club of Central Mactan. 5 year Dedication of Service Award.

12 Charter Members: Charter Member Certificate

• (1) PP Udo Pelkowski
• (2) P.P. Greg Magdadaro
• (3) PP J.P. van den Berk
• (4) Dave West
• (5) Maggie West
• (6) Evelyn Pelkowski
• (7) Lovella Magdadaro
• (8) Alice Walker
• (9) Hans Lindgreen
• (10)Sven Ingve Kjellgren
• (11)Roland Probst
• (12)Gail Van den Berk

The Rotary Club of Central Mactan is a community service club which was chartered in 2005.  We have a non-profit Foundation. Now since 2009, “The Rotary Club of Central Mactan” an International Service Organization which has a motto to all Rotarians aspires – Service Above Self. the means by which our club has been able to support various charities and community needs financially, and through physical participation throughout the Province of Cebu mainly in Lapu Lapu City.

Our gratitude goes out to our past SPONSORS, making it possible to raise funds to give back to our community. Our most recent Community Service Project “Water & Sanitation – well capping” has enabled Rotary Club of Central Mactan to donate php126, 588.00 to date.

The recipient list is diverse: Youth, Families, Seniors, Public Educational Institutions, Health & Welfare, Social Services, and Public Safety. (See Recipient List on backside of this letter)

The needs of many are now magnified due to our current economy. It is with our utmost humble request that we seek your support of our Community Service Projects. Be part of commitment for in unity with the community charity 2009, “A MILLION PESO CAMPAIGN” and let the recipients recognize you for enhancing their lives. Your sponsorship

will impact many lives no matter how big or small your contribution. With the funds raised, we will continue serving our community with support for local Secondary School scholars, programs for children with special needs and surgeries, International work with Polio Plus and financial assistance for the never ending quest for clean drinking water.

We are grateful for your kind consideration and support towards the “A MILLION PESO CAMPAIGN”

Note: Your sponsorship is tax deductible.

For additional information on sponsorship opportunities please contact the President Sponsorships,

David Poley (917) 630-4391 or email him directly at davidpoley@sheridanbeachresort.com or

membership@rotaryclubofcentralmactan.org

President David Poley

Rotary Club of CENTRAL Mactan

Mobile # 09176304391

You can view or download a PDF copy of this letter HERE which you can print including the of previous recipients of RCCM projects

This is the first of our well capping projects providing communities with a pump in order to obtain water from previously open wells.

Open wells expose the water to more potential contaminants as well as place a burden on people needing to bring water up from deep wells using buckets.   It is often women and children that have this job as the men are often out trying to make a living to support their families.

We are happy that we can both reduce potential contamination to the water table and at the same time make life a little easier for communities.

 
The site for our first well capping project – a sheet of tin covers the open well

Putting the finishing touches to the new well cap with water pump.  A concrete cover will be placed over the well.

As part of our drive to forge stronger relationships with other active clubs we have now signed a sistership agreement with the Rotary club of Capital City Sunrise Concord, N.H.

Sisterhood agreement with Rotary Club of Capital Sunrise Club

Spent the morning driving around with Barangay officials and our Rotary Community Corp coordinator for Gun-ob looking for open wells for our well capping project.

We visited ten Puroks (small communities) and found 8 open wells suitable for our well capping project.  For this first site visit they only collected the names of adult users of each well. 

This is sufficient for us to make an assessment about the suitability of the well for inclusion in the project but upon commencement a more complete list including children and number of dwellings will be compiled.

 
Purok Camate – 36 adults
The existing pump is apparently broken beyond repair
The house at the far back has 10 people

 
Purok Kalabasa 1 – 30 adults
note: there are two wells for capping in Kalabasa

 
Purok Kalabasa 2 – 12 adults

 
Purok Kawayan – 15 adults

 
Purok Nangka – 27 adults

 
Purok Seguna – 9 adults

 
Purok Tambis – 22 adults

 
Purok Tugas – 18 adults

WHAT IS WELL CAPPING?
The open well is capped so it is protected from contamination
The community will be provided with a manual hand pump
The Surrounding area will be concreted with drainage away from the well area
A small permanent plaque will be place on the well with the name of the Sponsor

You can sponsor the capping of one of these wells for only $250

Visit our Well Capping water project information page

Our first joint project with the Rotary Club of Puerto Princessa was the sharing of our School Crossing safety project.  Six of our school crossing kits were presented to our sister club for use in Palawan.

The visit of Club President Christopher Bennetts and President Elect David Poley coincided with the hand over of three of the kits to local school.  

Before the handover the Rotary club of Puerto Princessa provided the school representatives with a lecture on School Zone Safety they had prepared in powerpoint.  This was followed by the hand over and signing of a Deed of Understanding.

 
Signing of Deed of Understanding with School representatives

   
All three School representatvies recieve one kit

Group Picture for project

Both the School Zone Safety powerpoint presentation and the Deeds of Understanding will be adopted by the Rotary Club of Central Mactan as part of our hand over process for the School Safety Crossing Project. 

The next day Pres. Christopher Bennetts and P.E. David Poley had the opportunity of meeting Mayor Hagedorn and telling him about our joint school crossing project with the Rotary Club of Peurto Princessa.

Click here to see our Album with all the School Crossing Safety Pictures

PRESIDENT CHRISTOPHER BENNETTS WAS INVITED AS GUEST SPEAKER

Following the signing of the Sistership agreement President Christopher Bennetts was invited by the Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa to be the Guest Speaker on his classification.  

After giving a brief overview of his background and experience Pres. Christopher Bennetts spoke about the importance of Internet marketing for Rotary clubs and how the club website was increasingly the main face of the club to the world especially when it comes to finding international sponsors for club projects. 

Topics included in the talk were site content, Search Engine Optimization, blogging, marketing and promoting projects, using other online resources such as youtube and social networking sites.  The talk was followed by many questions from the members of Puerto Princesa.

It was agreed that development of our club websites was another area where the two clubs could share information. 

Pres. Rohima “Roh” R. Sarra presents Pres. Chrsitopher Bennetts
with a certificate of appreciaton for his talk

Click photo to view larger

Please visit the website of our sister club http://rcpuertoprincesa.org/

ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SISTERSHIP AGREEMENT
By AND AMONG THE Rotary Clubs of:

Rotary Club of Central Mactan, District 3860
Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa City, District 3830

For the Primary purpose of promoting goodwill, friendship, fellowship and interclub sharing resources in project implementation among the foregoing clubs in furtherance of the Rotary slogan of “Service Above Self”. 

Likewise, this is intended to forge unity and common stand among the clubs on certain fundamental issues involving Rotary.

Renewable every three (3) years thereafter.  Effective upon signing of the agreement by both participating clubs. Done in Puerto Princesa City, October 9, 2008 SIGNING BELOW: President Rohima “Roh” R. Sarra of  Rotary Club of Puerto Princesa & President Christopher Bennetts &  President Elect  David F. Poley of Rotary Club of Central Mactan

            
Click Photo to view Larger