President's Messages
July 2005
國際扶輪社長施當恆
社長文告
七月
敬愛的扶輪社員們：
Dear fellow Rotarians,
歡迎來到新的扶輪年度──扶輪史上第二個百年的第一年。該是我們開始撰寫新的扶輪歷史的第一章的時候了，我們將以「超我服務」來開創新頁。
Welcome to a new Rotary year –
the first one in the second 100 years of our Rotary history. It is time to
begin writing the first chapter of the new history book of Rotary, and we
shall do it through Service Above Self.
在2005-06
年度，我們要專注在兩個重點工作──識字，還有水資源、保健、以及減輕飢餓──以及公共形象。由具備上述領域專業知識的扶輪社員所組成資源小組已經組成，在本年度內隨時可協助各扶輪社及地區規劃各種計畫。
During 2005-06, we have two
major emphases to concentrate on – literacy, along with water, health, and
hunger – and an additional focus on public image. Resource groups made up of
Rotarians with expertise in each of these areas are ready to assist clubs
and districts in planning projects throughout the year.
七月是扶輪正式的識字月。在1985年，研究兒童及成人閱讀教學方法的國際權威瑞典巴斯塔德（Båstad）扶輪社社員伊芙•墨姆奎斯特（Eve
Malmquist）這麼寫道：
The month of July is Rotary’s
official Literacy Month. In 1985, Eve Malmquist, a member of the Rotary Club
of Båstad, Sweden, and an international authority on research and
methodology in the field of teaching both children and adults to read, wrote
the following:
「閱讀能力是一個人生存不可缺少的工具之一。任何人如果沒有得到閱讀及寫的機會，就無法過完整的正常人的個人以及社會生活。為什麼呢？因為語言是思考的工具。人是用語彙來思考，所學的語彙越多，以及越有能力組織語彙來表達思想，人的思考能力就越強。熟練使用以及瞭解一種語言是教育的基本項目之一，因此是生存所不可或缺。」
"The ability to read is an
indispensable element in a person’s equipment for living. Anyone who has not
been give the opportunity to learn to read and write cannot lead a full
human, individual, and social life. Why? Because language is a tool of
thought. One uses words to think, and the more one learns about words and
how to arrange them to express ideas, the better one’s thinking becomes.
Mastery and understanding of a language is fundamental to education. It is
thus essential for living."
這些話多麼有道理，而我們能夠透過「超我服務」來解決這個問題，又是多麼幸運。
How true this statement is, and
how fortunate we are to be able to address this issue through Service Above
Self.
識字問題牽涉極廣，有許多需求。為了發揮每一分錢的效用以擴大我們的服務範圍，我非常贊成與在同一個領域努力的其他組織合作。從一個小例子就可以看出如何去做，例如透過「國際拯救兒童聯盟」(International
Save the Children Alliance)，這個組織牽涉大約世界各地30個國家，計畫在開發中國家興建300所學校。
Literacy is a huge area with many needs. In order to expand our reach on the same penny, I strongly recommend cooperation with other organizations working in the same field. A small example of how this can be done is through the International Save the Children Alliance, a network involving approximately 30 countries around the world. My goal is to work with them to build 300 schools in developing countries.
雖然我們不能用扶輪基金會的獎助金來蓋建築物，我們可以捐贈設備給學校。我們已經在伊文斯敦與「國際拯救兒童聯盟」的人開過會，我們將合作推動雙方同感興趣的計畫，主要在教育方面。我確信此一行動將帶來不只300
所新學校，而是600所或甚至750所新學校。如果每一所學校有100個兒童就讀，那麼就有75,000個兒童能夠學習閱讀、寫字、以及算術──起碼的生活所不可或缺的三項技能。
Although we cannot use Rotary Foundation grants to erect buildings, we can
use them to equip schools. We have met with Save the Children in Evanston,
and we will work together on projects of joint interest, focusing on
education. I am sure that this effort will result in not just 300 new
schools but 600 or maybe even 750 new schools. If 100 children attend each
school, then 75,000 more children could learn how to read, write, and count
– three skills that are essential for an acceptable life.
聯合國將宣佈2003年-2012年為「識字十年」(Decade
of Literacy)。讓我們一起透過「超我服務」來共襄盛舉，締造成功的十年，藉以繼續向全世界展示國際扶輪的優越領導。
The years 2003-2012 have been declared the "Decade of Literacy" by the United Nations. Let us participate together in making this decade a success through Service Above Self, thus continuing to show the world the great leadership of Rotary International.
國際扶輪社長
施當恆
Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar
President, Rotary International
