Our newest member Doris Xie is the CFO of Rotary International. Doris shared with us an overview of RI and the many layers of RI and The Rotary Foundation financials. Her department is responsible for financial accounting and reporting for RI and TRF, providing financial analysis, forecasting for the executive team, committees, Directors, Trustees ad secretarial staff. They also support all planning, strategic decision-making activities, including budgeting and forecasting. Financial reports including budgets and senior leaders' expenses, can be found at https://my.rotary.org/en/financial-reports Department goals for the future will focus on process improvement, shorten month-end close process, provide meaningful GM level financial analysis while providing continuous communication. They will also fine tune their internal controls, and effectively manage expenses (consulting, travel, payroll, etc. and be more involved with the Strategic Planning team. In regards to membership, there is currently more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide in 36,152 Club. Women make up 23% of membership and only 6% are under the age of 40. People join Rotary for service in their community and globally. RI has taken a look at the longevity of membership and found that in the past 5 years, most stayed for about 2 years. About 30% of those who left Rotary sited time and or cost, 23% said the Club's environment, 19% left due to unmet expectations. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, RI asked Clubs how they are responding to the crisis in their communities and around the world - 65% of the clubs have participated in a service project. RI asked how can Rotary help during the pandemic. The responses were: - Provide essential supplies & equipment to hospitals
- Provide food to vulnerable groups
- Partner with government, businesses and NGOs
- Help disseminate pulic health information
- Support elderly club members & those directly impacted by COVID-19
Currently in this crisis, 72% of Clubs conduct their weekly meetings online. Some clubs that are thriving have reported increased community service in response to the pandemic, have easily adapted to virtual meetings and have increased connections with other clubs via online meetings. Clubs that are struggling report they have difficulty holding regular meetings either because some members are not comfortable with or interested in online meetings, and attendance at these virtual meetings is decreasing for some as the pandemic wears on. Fellowship is more challenging due to physical distancing, heightened stress levels and low morale. Some members are experiencing significant financial loss. RI does forecast that despite this pandemic, membership will stay consistent through 2024. The mission of The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. As we know, there are several areas of action - - Peace and conflict prevention/resolution.
- Disease prevention and treatment.
- Water and sanitation.
- Maternal and child health.
- Basic education and literacy.
- Economic and community development.
- Supporting the environment
Since 1985, when RI took up the campaign to eradicate polio, only 2 countries remain polio=endemic - Afghanistan ans Pakistan! So what still needs to be done? More that 400 million children in up to 60 need to be immunized every year. We need 150,00 polio-funded workers in up to 70 countries as well as disease surveillance activities. Doris joined RI last June. She has 22 years of experience at Abbie, Abbott, Deloitte and Kemper Reinsurance. She lives with her husband and college-aged daughter in Lake Forest. Her daughter in a renown pianist and you may recall her performing for us through MYAC as a Ling-Ling Scholar! |