President's Message

I want to start by thanking each and every member of the Rotary Club of Aruba who has nurtured our esteemed club over the past (almost) 85 years and continue to do so. Although I was not there all those years, I have the conviction to contribute and feel the passion to help our club on its path to continued growth. I want to be part of the ones that handed over a greater club to generations to come.

 

When evaluating all that transpired over the last few years, and how we were all affected, not only in our personal lives and our jobs, impacted by the worldwide economy, but also how our club has managed to and will have to manage to stay its course.  I feel that, as Rotarians, we are all called upon, as stated in our theme for this year, which states:

 

“Create Hope in the World”

 

You may ask yourself “But how are we, in Aruba, going to achieve this?” Rotary International has set 4 priorities as guidelines, which as your president, I would like us to put our shoulders underneath and embrace. They are:

 

1 – As Rotarians we must increase our impact.

People of action are effective problem-solvers. Why do Rotarians achieve so much? We invest in relationships. We make decisions grounded in evidence. We know how to mobilize our networks to create solutions that last. And we’re always learning from our experiences in projects, clubs, and careers.

 

2 - As Rotarians we must expand our reach.

People of action activate and inspire others, giving them hope that the world can change for the better - and that they can be part of that change. We know there are many people seeking both a greater sense of purpose and the kind of person-to-person involvement the digital realm can’t provide. We have what it takes to be their first choice.

 

3 – As Rotarians, let’s enhance participation.

People of action strive to understand the needs of others. Rotary is a great organization because we create meaningful relationships across decades and Continents. But just like the people and communities we serve; our participants need to feel seen and heard.

 

4 – As Rotarians, we must increase our ability to adapt.

People of action are inventive, entrepreneurial, and resilient. We know what we stand for and why it matters. We are driven by a sense of optimism - a belief that we are and will continue to be essential to our communities, to the world, and to humanity.

 

Incoming Rotary International President Gordon Mclnally emphasizes the power of continuity and calls on us as Rotarians to continue the work of past leaders. Membership is the lifeblood of our organization, and we shall continue to engage with Rotaractors and Interactors and other initiatives if we are to maintain our relevance as a Service Organization.

 

I want to thank you all for your attention and look forward to an exciting, yet productive Rotary year 2023-2024, where we will overcome all challenges and barriers in our path, and with high hopes that one year from today we will all look back at another great year for Rotary Club of Aruba.

 

In conclusion, let us Build Bridges and Connect People throughout the island and worldwide as we continue to ‘Creat Hope in the World’.

 

Thank you!

 

Yours in Rotary Service

 

Luis Oduber

President 2023-2024

Rotary Club of Aruba