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ROTARY SHARES |
國際扶輪社長魏京森 九月份文告 President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson's MESSAGES Sep. 2007
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親愛的扶輪社友︰ Dear fellow Rotarians,
我們所有在扶輪的人都知道我們屬於一個比我們自身更大的組織。我們都知道扶輪是一個超越宗教、語言、及文化界限的組織。我們都知道它是一股和平、親善、及聯誼的力量，而且我們都知道這股力量有120 萬人。但是對於許多扶輪社員而言，這項知識與他們日常參與扶輪的經驗有距離。大多數扶輪社員之參與扶輪主要是例會、社區計畫、及透過和其他扶輪社建立夥伴關係來進行國際服務。 All of us in Rotary know that we’re a part of something larger than ourselves. We know that Rotary is an organization that transcends the boundaries of religion, language, and culture. We know that it is a force for peace, goodwill, and fellowship, and we know that it is a force 1.2 million strong. But most Rotarians’ involvement in Rotary is made up primarily of club meetings, community projects, and international work through partnerships with other clubs. Because of practical reasons, most Rotarians don’t travel to distant countries when they’re part of a service project abroad. 為了講求實際，在參與國外服務計畫時，大多數扶輪社員不會旅行到遙遠的國家。扶輪的偉大力量之一是有具備熟練技能的義工隨時可在幾乎世界每一角落提供協助，這也是我們效率很好的原因之一。這表示，對於我們大多數人而言，扶輪的國際性似乎很遙遠，而且難以充分瞭解。剛加入加拿大安大略省川頓（Trenton）扶輪社時，我非常高興自己參與了一個親眼目睹在當地做這麼多好事的組織。要不是在我加入之後不久就有國際年會在多倫多舉行，我可能很多年都會把焦點放在當地的服務工作。 What this means, though, is that for most of us, the internationality of Rotary can seem distant, and it can be difficult to fully understand. As a new member of the Rotary Club of Trenton, Ont., Canada, I was very happy being part of an organization that I saw doing so much good work locally. I might have stayed focused on that local work for years had there not been an international convention scheduled in Toronto shortly after I joined. 那是我第一次參加國際年會，它真正打開我的扶輪眼界。國際年會把扶輪世界聚集在一個地方，那個世界的範圍遠遠超出我自己的扶輪社。我看到扶輪是一個真正國際化的組織，我也看到扶輪社及地區架構之重要性。而且我第一次瞭解到我參與的是一個什麼樣的組織，以及有那麼多事要做、那麼多地方可奉獻、那麼多角色可扮演。 That first convention was what really opened my eyes to Rotary. It brought the world of Rotary, the world that stretches far beyond my own club, all together in one place. I saw how truly international an organization Rotary was, and I understood, for the first time, just what I had become a part of – and just how much there was to do, to contribute, and to become. 在國際年會上，你們開始看見自己的扶輪社所處的環境，它是一個由超過200 個國家及地理區域的32,000個扶輪社所構成的網絡的一份子。看到這麼多扶輪社在進行的工作，你們會受到激勵，然後把新的知識及構想帶回自己的扶輪社。或許最重要的是你在國際年會所建立的人脈：友誼及聯誼，未來許多年內將使你們的扶輪社和其他扶輪社建立關係。 At a convention, you start to see your own club in context, as part of a network of 32,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. You’re inspired by the work that so many of these clubs are doing, and you bring new knowledge and ideas home to your own club. Most important, perhaps, are the personal connections made at a convention: the friendship and fellowship that will link your club to others for many years to come. 2008 年國際扶輪年會將在洛杉磯舉行，這是一個融合多種文化的城市，適合作為這種大活動的場地。每年的國際扶輪年會都是獨一無二的，值得出席。如果你們參加過國際年會一次，或數次，或許不必人家來說服就會註冊參加這一次國際年會。洛杉磯是一個以眾星雲集著稱的城市，當你們來時，你們將看到扶輪的明星、好萊塢的明星、以及在好萊塢露天劇場的天空中閃閃發光的星星。如果你們參加過國際年會，我要敦促你們與我太太瓊安及我們全家一起享受幾天很棒的聯誼及啟發。1964年的國際年會改變了瓊安及我的一生，相信這個年度的國際年會也將改變你們的一生。 The 2008 RI Convention will be held in Los Angeles, a multicultural city that is a fitting site for such an event. If you’ve already been to a convention, perhaps you need no convincing to register for this one. Los Angeles is a city of stars, and when you come, you will see the Rotary stars, the Hollywood stars, and the stars twinkling in the sky over the Hollywood Bowl. If you’ve never been to a convention, then I urge you to join Joan and our whole family for a wonderful few days of fellowship and inspiration. I believe this event will change your life, as it did for Joan and me in 1964.
魏京森Wilfrid J. (Wilf) Wilkinson 2007-08年度國際扶輪社長 President, Rotary International, 2007-08 |
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