About 50 participants and 20 Rotary Clubs attended a landmark International Service Workshop held last July 26 at the 3rd Floor of the newly constructed RC Makati Foundation Building at Camia St., Makati. RC Makati represented by Pres. Larry Boyer and PE Felix Amparo graciously hosted the affair.  District 3830 International Service Committee headed by District Coordinating Chair Robert Kuan (RC Makati) under the supervision of Senior Assistant Governor Jocelyn “Joji” Tan (RC Makati Dasmariñas) conducted and sponsored the workshop.

Its primary goal was to assist Rotary clubs set up partnerships with foreign and local Rotary Clubs through matched club agreements and world community service projects. The forum also sought to expose its participants to the internationality of Rotary as an organization through international partnerships among its clubs, world community service, the district’s new short-term exchange program for youth, international fellowships and the annual RI convention at Birmingham.

Club presidents, concerned club directors and presidents-elect came to listen to the presentations and took part in the sessions from 1:30 to 4:30 pm.  The Rotary clubs that participated in the workshop were Makati, Makati Bel-Air, Makati Dasmariñas, Makati Forbes, Makati Jose P. Rizal, Makati Legaspi, Makati Metro, Makati Nielsen, Makati Rockwell, Makati Salcedo, Makati Urdaneta, Makati West, Las Piñas Camino Real, Las Piñas East, Las Piñas North, Las Piñas West, Muntinlupa North, Parañaque Lakambini, Parañaque South, and Taguig West.

District 3830 Governor Edgardo “Boyet” Limon was the guest of honor. He issued his marching orders at the beginning of the session and stayed on until the end of the workshop if only to emphasize the relevance and significance of the programs tabled for discussion. Committee members served as speakers and resource persons. Among those who imparted their expertise was SAG Joji Tan who gave an overview of Rotary’s International Service and presented the point system for evaluation of club performance in the given area of service.

DCC Robert Kuan dished out valuable tips on forging and maintaining effective relationships with foreign matched clubs. He who also promised to help at least 15 clubs needing assistance with finding a foreign partner club located in Asia.  Success stories on great partnerships with foreign clubs were related by PP Perry Noble (RC Makati Dasmariñas) to encourage clubs that have never set up such agreements to pursue this worthwhile project.

Fourteen (14) clubs require the help of Local Matched Clubs Chair Dondi Sanz (RC Makati Metro) to partner with a local club. As a way of addressing this need, Gov. Boyet Limon came up with a concrete plan to coordinate with fellow governor, Billy Parilla, of District 3860, with whom D3830 recently inked a sisterhood agreement.  The plan will facilitate local matched club partnerships with Rotary Clubs located in Samar, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, Surigao, General Santos, Tagum, Davao, Agusan del Sur and Cotabato.

Deputy DCC Litay Brunner (RC Makati Rockwell) expounded on the topic of International Fellowships and invited clubs to participate in the forthcoming International Golfing Fellowship on March 18. In response, 14 Rotary clubs volunteered to co-host the fund-raising event.  The presentation of Chair Lina Hilario (RC Parañaque Metro) which effectively gave clubs pointers on setting up world community service partnerships encouraged 12 clubs to ask for assistance from the committee. In turn, Chair Lina promised to help these clubs obtain WCS grants.

Chairs Paul Teves and Martin Mañalac (both of RC Parañaque South), who expounded on a new district short-term exchange program for youth, elicited positive responses from 3 clubs that would like to be tapped for homestay hosting. 12 clubs volunteered to be day activity hosts to the inbound youth and, at least, 5 clubs would like to send youth to such programs abroad.  Juice Teves, son of PP Paul, gave a testimony on the positive impact of his experience as outbound youth exchange.

Chair Perry Noble enticed the Rotarians with his On-to-Birmingham presentation.  At least 5 Rotary clubs volunteered to co-host the On-to-Birmingham Launch on Oct. 8 with lead club RC Makati Dasmariñas.

Those who attended the workshop benefited much from it.  As concrete actions were made to address the needs of those clubs who sought the assistance of the district, the steps taken will provide immediate responses as a result of the coordination and groundwork laid.

The committee, in turn, learned much from the clubs during the meeting. With the help of the survey it conducted, the district will be able to address more effectively those felt needs and wants of Rotary clubs in the area of international service.