Be A Gift To The World*

Be A Gift To The World*

Engr. Lydio “JONG” I. Ureta

*Inaugural Speech of Engr. Lydio “JONG” I. Ureta-President, Rotary Club Of Kalibo on the occasion of the 49th Induction and Turn-Over Ceremonies, Rotary Year 2015-2016 which was held on Saturday evening, July 25, 2015 in ROZ & ANGELIQUE’S CAFÉ, Jaime Cardinal Sin Avenue, Pook, Kalibo, Aklan.

Our distinguished guest speaker who will be formally introduced later, guests who do not need any introduction PDG. Ramon “TOTO” Cua Locsin, PDG. Mark Anthony Ortiz, IPDG. Joe Jay “JUDE” Doctora, DGE. Ronnie Gabalda, fellow Rotarians, relatives, friends, ladies and gentlemen.

Good evening and welcome to the 49th Induction and Turn-over Ceremonies of the Rotary Club of Kalibo.

It is indeed an honor and privilege to lead such a prestigious organization, the Rotary Club of Kalibo. This is a great venue to b e of service to the community together with the ever dynamic officers and members (and spouses) of the Club. I thank the members of Rotary Club of Kalibo for giving me the chance to steer the club for 366 days.

The theme this Rotary Year is “Be A Gift To The World”. RI President K. R. Ravi Ravindran often asks us, 1.2 million plus members worldwide to be gifts to the world this 2015-16. Rotary’s biggest challenge is the eradication of polio. To him, “A future without polio is a gift that we have promised to the children of the world. And indeed it is a gift that we will give. “Rotary’s success in the fight to eradicate the disease is an illustration of the impact Rotary members can have in the world.

Our district 3850 leadership team headed by District Governor Oliver Ong of RC of Zamboanga City has outlined the thrust for RY 2015-2016. Among Others, aside from prompt payment of our dues, we are required to register at The Rotary Central thru My Rotary of at least 50 percent of club members, 100 percent subscription to the Philippine Rotary Magazine. We must achieve membership growth by 12 percent increase over the previous year and diversify by increasing female members to 28 percent. We have to support the $100 per capita annual in Rotary Foundation. We are also asked to organize Rotary Programs such as Rotary Community Corps, Rotaract, participate in Youth Exchange Program and club sisterhood agreements from other country-the latter, our District Governor Oliver has promised to help us during his visit to our club.

As your president-cum-humble servant, I will do the best that I can be to achieve the goals our RI President Ravi and District Governor Oliver lined-up this Rotary year.

To my fellow Rotarians the challenges are very doable when all of us together will do our own part to achieve them. I will not ask more than what you can give. I will rather ask you to give a little more than what you have given in the past Rotary years. In so doing, I am very sure, together working in unity and fellowship, we will be able to achieve our goals. So that every one of us; will be a gift to our club, to our community, to our country and eventually a gift to the world.

I thank my fellow Rotarians, friends, relatives and family especially to my very own SEAL-Supportive, Ever Attractive and Lovable better half Bebbot, and Children Paul, Gabriel and Michael for being “the winds beneath my wings”.

To our Rotary guests, thank you so much for coming over and sharing your precious time with us. Indeed you are a Gift to your fellow Rotarians. Please stay and enjoy each other’s company and fellowship for the rest of the evening.

Rotary is a Gift to the World. We are ROTARY!!! /MP