Leadership training is considered as a key driver of membership development in Rotary. On 2nd March 2019, the District piloted the first ever
combined District 9102 Leadership Development and Public Image Seminar in Accra. It is intended that this will be subsequently rolled out in other countries within the district. There were presentations by
the District Trainer PDG Sam Worentetu and the Assistant Regional Public Image Coordinator and his team. DG Jeffrey in his opening address made some poignant remarks, excerpts of which are reproduced here for the benefit of Rotarians who were not at the seminar.
Leadership in Rotary is about action and not position – DG Jeffrey Afful
“One of the hallmarks of Rotary is that we seek and attract people who are leaders in organizations and communities to join Rotary as volunteers. Within Rotary clubs, members are neither employees nor juniors who must yield to the power and control of other Rotarians who find themselves at the top. We must recognize that everyone who is inducted into Rotary is a leader and for that matter a potential President and should therefore be treated with respect. In my humble opinion, leadership in Rotary does not depend on the position you hold but your understanding of the Rotary leadership structure and ability to effectively bring your colleagues together as a winning team.
Leadership in Rotary is about action and not position and I can attest to this as your District Governor.
This seminar is not intended as a training forum for leadership skills but rather an opportunity for us
to update ourselves with the Rotary structures and exchange ideas on how we can use our knowledge to improve administration and public image at the club level and beyond. There is no perfection in any position, therefore as we learn to maintain our professional competence, so must we acquire more Rotary knowledge to remain relevant to our clubs.
As Club leaders, we must strive to delegate and empower the club committee structures and directors to enable them share in the tasks and assignments and to bring all angles of the club leadership system to bear on the operations and decisions of our clubs. Empowerment breeds respect and trust amongst our colleagues leading to better delivery and support for you as the leader. In my official club visits, I observed that we do not have strong support from committees, and this puts undue pressure on the club president. The case study for this seminar will confront some of the challenges we face as Rotary leaders so please make your frank contributions that will help develop ideas for shared solutions.
As leaders, we must adapt to changing conditions and be flexible in the way we manage our colleagues. The way we engage them will reflect
in the way they respond and deliver; so fellow Rotarians, we must apply the Four-way test when we deal with our Rotary colleagues too.
Our public image must begin at home and with us.
The public image aspect of the seminar will help
us to understand how we must carry ourselves as Rotarians. I know there is a campaign to encourage the wearing of the Rotary lapel pin every day
and with pride. As soon as you wear that pin, you become a Rotary icon and a brand ambassador.”
DG Jeffrey Afful