President's Messages
Aug. 2005
國際扶輪社長施當恆
社長文告
八月
敬愛的扶輪社友們：
Dear fellow Rotarians,
八月是扶輪的社員及擴展月，這方面的工作對於我們的組織具有極大的重要性。
A ugust is the Rotary month of membership and extension, an area of great importance to our organization.
美國的扶輪社員總人數領先各國，有388,170個社員。社員人數第二大的國家是日本，大約有103,700個社員，其次是印度約有90,000個扶輪社員。我們觀察到兩點有趣的現象：光是這三個國家就佔了扶輪社員總數的百分之五十，以及他們都環繞在太平洋，全世界人口的百分之四十在這一區域。
The United States leads the way in total number of Rotarians, with 388,170 members. The second largest country is Japan with approximately 103,700 members, followed by India with about 90,000 Rotarians. A couple of interesting observations are that these three countries alone account for 50 percent of the Rotary population and they are all around the Pacific, where 60 percent of the world population is located.
至於扶輪社員佔一國人口之百分比，又是另外一個很不一樣的面貌，冰島居全球之冠，其次依序為瑞典、挪威、紐西蘭、芬蘭、丹麥、及澳大利亞。令人覺得不可思議的是，為首的七個國家都在歐洲的北歐區域以及南半球。
As to the percentage of a country's population who are Rotarians, the picture is quite different. Iceland is the number-one country, followed by Sweden, Norway, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, and Australia. It's fascinating to note that all seven top nations come from the Nordic part of Europe and Down Under.
可是更有意思的是全世界扶輪社員人數發展的總趨勢。遠東全面向上增加。非洲像歐洲一樣，呈小幅成長的趨勢，每年的社員發展穩定地少量增加。不幸的是，其他所有區域顯現出另一種景象──趨勢往下降。
More interesting, however, is the general trend of Rotary membership worldwide. The Far East has a general upward trend. Africa has a trend of small gains like Europe, a steady but small annual positive development. All other areas, unfortunately, show another picture - a downward one.
過去數年來，我們以一種特殊而集中所有注意力的方式致力於增加社員。這些努力在當時實施時都非常成功，但由於缺少持續性，所增加的社員人數通常在翌年又流失了。
In the past, we have had several years dedicated to a special and intensive focus on membership. These have been very successful during the time they were implemented, but due to the lack of continuity, the gains have often been lost during the following year.
我想，為了目標而奮鬥是聰明之舉。可是，目標必須容易理解，而且可以達成。對於2005-06年度，我設定了每個扶輪社淨增一名社員的目標。我相信此一目標可以達成，而且可以理解。不幸的是，我們每年大約流失百分之十的社員。這可能使得目標更難達成，這也是為什麼防止社員流失是一大關鍵。如果退社率能減少，目標就會更容易達成。
I think it is wise to work towards goals. However, goals must be easy to understand and reachable. For 2005-06, I have set a goal of a net increase of one member per club. I believe this goal is reachable and understandable. Unfortunately, we have a loss of members each year in the area of 10 percent. This may make the goal more difficult to reach, which is why retention is so critical. If the drop-off rate can be reduced, the goal will be much easier to achieve.
因此重要的是我們必須a)透過有活力的節目及有意義的計畫使得我們的扶輪社更有趣，b)照顧社員，使他們感覺加入扶輪社對於他們及他們的扶輪社都關係重大，以及c)強調聯誼和友誼，扶輪是建立在這兩大基石之上。
It is therefore of greatest importance that we a) make our clubs interesting through dynamic programs and meaningful projects, b) take care of club members so they feel that their membership is relevant to both them and their clubs, and c) put an emphasis on fellowship and friendship, two of the cornerstones on which Rotary was built.
我們必須有強大的社員陣容，我們才能透過超我服務繼續向全世界展現國際扶輪的偉大領導。
We need to be strong in membership so that through Service Above Self we can continue 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
