Rotary International Secretary General John Hewko Issues Call to Action to Dupont Rotarians

On Tuesday, June 12, the Rotary Club of Dupont Circle had the honor of hosting the new Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko, who outlined the areas that he feels are the most important for Rotary to address as it embarks on its second century. The five priorities discussed include eradicating polio, the Foundation’s new grant making model, placing a value on the service projects of clubs, making Rotary more relevant to younger members, and positioning Rotary more fully as a major player in global humanitarian assistance and development. While Secretary Hewko called upon Dupont Rotarians to play an active role in implementing all of his plans, he specifically stressed the vital role that younger Rotary Clubs like the Dupont Club will play in attracting and cultivating a new generation of Rotary leaders. Secretary Hewko discussed the importance of making Rotary more appealing and relevant to younger members, particularly in North America where membership is getting progressively older. The Secretary called for clubs with younger membership to play an active role in the re-branding and marketing of Rotary in order to make Rotary more appealing and relevant to new members. Considering the diversity of Rotary International, the Secretary outlined how this development initiative will be deployed. He stated, “Given that Rotary is a truly global organization, where one size does not fit all, I am encouraged that the Rotary International Board has launched an initiative to develop three-year regional membership plans that are tailored to specific regional needs and challenges.” Dupont Circle Rotarians enthusiastically accepted the challenge and engaged Secretary Hewko in a lively discussion following his speech about ways Rotary can help new clubs succeed. The ideas discussed during that evening are still a huge focus of the Dupont Rotary as we strive to continue the legacy of Rotary.