Governor urges Rotarians to build legacy, create lasting change
Published:Friday | October 24, 2025 | 12:06 AMAlbert Ferguson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Professor William Aiken, district governor for Rotary International District 7020, is calling on Rotarians and other community leaders to shift their focus from short-term projects to a more strategic, long-term approach to service in order to create a lasting legacy of transformation within their communities.
“Rotary wants clubs to think big. We want clubs to take on huge projects that will comprehensively address real problems in their communities in an impactful and sustainable way, projects so significant that people will say, ‘The Rotary Club of Montego Bay did this’,” said Aiken, during an official working visit to the Rotary Club of Montego Bay’s weekly Tuesday meeting.
Aiken explained that the organisation is moving away from the tradition of presidents introducing isolated annual initiatives. Instead, Rotary is calling for a more unified vision, one where purpose is continuous and driven by a strategic, long-term plan.
“We are an organisation that changes leadership annually – from the Rotary International president to the district governor to the club president. In doing so, there’s a real danger of discontinuity,” he said. “We no longer want to hear, ‘In my year, I will do this or that.’ We want clubs to decide, as a team, what the deep-seated needs of their communities are and develop a three-to-five-year strategic plan to address them.”
He praised the Montego Bay club for its impressive achievement in reactivating and chartering three new Interact clubs, highlighting it as a significant success. Aiken emphasised the importance of instilling Rotary’s core values – fellowship, integrity, leadership, diversity, and service – in young people through initiatives like Interact and Early Act, which play a critical role in nurturing the next generation of leaders.
COLLABORATION BEYOND THE ROTARY
Speaking to Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick’s message, ‘Unite for Good’, Aiken emphasised collaboration beyond the walls of Rotary.
“This is a clarion call for Rotarians to connect and collaborate not only with each other, but also with organisations that share Rotary’s values,” he said. “When we unite for good, we recognise needs, and when we recognise needs, we transform lives.”
Aiken further urged clubs to leverage the Rotary Foundation, describing it as a “powerful lever” capable of moving vast community challenges with relatively small efforts.
“You can access up to US$2 million from the foundation if you have a project that comprehensively addresses a community need. Think of the foundation as a lever. We are the force at the end of that lever, and through our giving and our projects, we move mountains,” he said.
Aiken also urged clubs to innovate in membership growth, noting that Rotary must adapt to engage young professionals who share its values but may not fit the traditional club model.
“Rotary is a membership organisation; our product is service,” he reminded Rotarians. “We must accommodate people who may not have the time or resources to attend weekly meetings and pay for meals. Consider forming companion or cause-based clubs that meet online. Innovation is key to growth.”