Below is my article. I insert some photos that night. All photos from PE Patty Mangondato.
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15 by 15, the
membership challenge
PP Nonoy Oplas
Last March 2015, the Rotary Club of Taguig Fort Bonifacio
turned 15 years old. It was founded in late March 2000 when Fort Bonifacio was
newly privatized and development of the
area was at an infancy stage. Very few buildings, there were more tall cogons
and wild trees than buildings in the
area there.
Fast forward to June 2015. The term of our 14th
Club President, World Class(?) President
Regie Necio is ending soon and President-Elect Patty Mangundatu-Michener
will officially head the club in three weeks time.
Our club membership over the past few years has averaged
about 15, or average 15 members after 15 years. Hence the title, “15 by 15”.
It is not exactly a big number to be proud of as we have
remained a small club with less than 20 members for more than a decade now. The
problem is exacerbated by the fact that many active members and Past Presidents
are non-residents or non-personnel of Fort Bonifacio Global City (FBGC).
Formerly working in FBGC, yes.
More than half of the 14 Club President used to work at
the city. They were Charter President
Bob Dimayuga (he served twice, first during the last 4 months of RY 1999-2000
and on the first year of the club), Past Presidents Charles Mercado, Jed
Inciong, Caloy Morante, Joel Ciron, Romel Villegas, Niel Antonio, Norlan de
Leon and Meann de Leon. PP Rose Antonio is the wife of PP Niel Antonio.
Some of these Past Presidents who remain active at the
club and used to work at FBGC live far from the city. Like Norlan and Meann who
live in Marilao, Bulacan; Niel and Rose
who live in Antipolo, Rizal. President Regie lives in Quezon City.
It is good that PE Patty lives in Taguig. Not directly
working at FBGC but nonetheless is a resident of Taguig and has some clients in
the city. She is also very friendly and a good singer, a character that easily
earns her many new friends and
acquaintances.
Despite the small membership of the club, it has not
discouraged our club Presidents, past and present, from producing some
outstanding achievements. President Regie received a number of awards in the
recent District Awards night. Immediate Past President Meann de Leon received an excellent performance award,
especially with the “Fish for Life” project. A sister club from RC Koln,
Germany, gave the club a substantial amount of donation to help the fisherfolks
of Taguig in Laguna lake. The pictures, personal testaments of the
fishermen-beneficiaries and their spouses, statements by the barangay leaders
were proof of how successful that project was.
15 by 15 is a challenge for club membership to grow
significantly. We hope it will be 16-20
by 16 (16-20 members by 2016) and further rise
in the succeeding years.
RI and the leadership of District 3830 have been very
helpful to us, especially our past and current District Governors and Assistant
Governors for the cluster. They have not been lacking in helping our club in
both community projects and membership development.
The big challenge and accountability for club growth
remains with us, active club members. With the friendly and singing charisma of
PE Patty, we hope we can surmount past hurdles that keep hounding us until
today.
