DISTAS 2013

I attended the District Assembly (Distas) today of RI District 3830. A Distas is the training of all incoming officers of each rotary club. It was another educational and inspiring conference. Food was nice. Six of us from our club, RC Taguig Fort Bonifacio, attended. Led by Peace President Rose Antonio and President-Elect Meann de Leon.

Hats off to District Governor Sue Sta. Maria and next Governor Robert Kuan. Below is the list of activities.
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DISTRICT ASSEMBLY 2013

 Engage Rotary, Change Lives

May 4, 2013, Saturday 

Asian Institute of Management Conference Center Manila (ACCM)

Opening Ceremony and First Plenary

Call to Oder                                     Suzanne Villa Sta. Maria

                                                          District Governor

Invocation                                        Ma. Theda Collantes

                                                          First Class President, 2013-14

National Anthem                            Audio-Visual                            

Acknowledgement of                     Ester Florendo 

   Dignitaries  and                           District Secretary, RY 2013-14

Roll Call of Clubs                           Lilibeth de la Cruz               

                                                        Deputy District Secretary, RY 2013-14

Welcome Remarks                         CP Lina Hilario

                                                         Chair, District Assembly

Message                                          Suzanne Villa Sta. Maria

                                                         District Governor

Overview                                        PDG Isidro Garcia

                                                                       District Trainer,  RY 2013-14

Introduction of Incoming              Evelyn Vale

              Governor                                     Deputy Senior Assistant Governor

Address                                          Robert F. Kuan  

                                                       First Class Governor, RY 2013-14

Break–Out  Session 1:   ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

CLUB OFFICERS	TOPIC	Speaker/Discussion Leader
President-Elect	Public Speaking	PDG Lyne Abanilla District 3810
Treasurer	Role & Responsibility	PP Ofelia Flores District Treasurer
Secretary Club Administration             Protocol Officer Sergeant-At-Arms	Role & Responsibility	PP Marge Lamberte Deputy District Secretary
Membership Club Trainers	Role & Responsibility	PP Joji Tan District Committee Chairperson
Club Public Relations  and Public Image	Developing  Goal	Pepito Bengzon                                                                                         District Governor Nominee Designate
Club Service Projects	Role & Responsibility	Cora Tan District Committee Chairperson Rick Nimo District Subcommittee Chairperson Ed Escano District Subcommittee Chairperson
The Rotary Foundation		PDG Ed Alvarez District Rotary Foundation Chairperson

                             Introduction of resource persons by Presidents-elect of Host Clubs

Introduction of  Guest  Speaker  PDG Isidro Garcia

“Rotary and Nation-Building”       PDG Melito Salazar Jr.

                                                          District 3780

Recognition                                      DGE Robert F Kuan

Lunch/ Raffle                                                                                                                                  

        Musical Numbers                    Rotary Club Parañaque Midtown

                            

Second Plenary Session  :             CP Edna Sutter

   Six Areas of Focus                      District Committee Chair                   

                                                        and her subcommittee chairpersons

                                               

            *      Moderators:    PP Ador Tolentino and PP Brenda Hernandez  * 

Break–Out  Session  2:

STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EFFECTIVE CLUB PLANNING

CLUB OFFICERS	TOPIC	Speaker/Discussion Leader
President-Elect	Club Strategic Planning & Effective Club Planning	PDG Danny Fausto D3780
Treasurer	Developing Goals	PP Ofelia Flores
Secretary and Club Administration	Developing Goals	IPDG Billy Villareal
Club Membership Club Trainer	Developing Goals	DCC  Joji Tan and Subcommittee Chairpersons
Club Public Relations/ Public Image	Role and Responsibility	PP Marivic del Pilar District Committee Chair
Club Service Project	Developing Goals	PDG Jimmy Cura D3830
Club TRF -                               District and Global Grants	Developing Goals	PDG Jess Cifra D3780

              Introduction of resource persons by Presidents-elect of Host Clubs

Introduction of  Guest Speaker        Danny Gapasin, Jr

                                                            First Class President

                                                            Rotary Club Paranaque Southwest 

Third Plenary Session

       “The Power of One,                 Dr. Siva Ananthan

       The Leader in You”                  Past President

                                                          Rotary Club Greater Kuala Lumpur D3300

Recognition                                     DGE Robert F. Kuan

Presentation of  Commitments     First Class Presidents                                             

                                              

ENGAGEMENT,  ADJOURNMENT        DGE ROBERT F. KUAN

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See also: 
Distass, May 6, June 23, 2006 
DISTAS 2010, May 11, 2010

Discon 2013, RI District 3830

The District Conference (DisCon) of Rotary International (RI) District 3830 will start tomorrow afternoon at the Manila Hotel. It will be a 1 1/2 days plus 2 nights of various activities. The hotel President, also Past President of RC Makati Central, Joey Lina, is my classmate President during RY 2006-07, under Past District Governor Butch Francisco. Here is the program of Discon 2013.

DAY 1                                    MARCH 22

PLENARY                              1:30PM

TIME	ACTIVITY
8:00AM – 8:010AM	OPENING OF EXHIBIT AND ROTARY MEDIA WALL ·         RI PRESIDENT’S REPRESENTATIVE  PAUL PO-YEN HORNG ·         DISTRICT GOVERNOR SUZANNE STA. MARIA ·         PAST DISTRICT GOVERNOR ED & SPOUSE MARIZ ALVAREZ, SENIOR RIPR AIDES ·         DISCON CHAIR AND DISTRICT SECRETARY MARYCRIS OPLAS ·         PAST PRESIDENT PETER AND SPOUSE MABEL KAWSEK, RIPE AIDES, AEG CHOCHIT TOBIAS
9:00AM – 12:00NN	SHOPPING AT BOOTHS, FOYER AREA
10:00AM – 12:00NN	REGISTRATION AT DISTRICT SECRETARIAT’S ROOM, GALLERY ROOM
12:00NN – 1:30PM	ASSEMBLY AT FOYER AREA FOR PROCESSIONAL (GOVERNORS AND SPOUSES TO BE SEATED AT VIP TABLES IN PLENARY HALL AND WILL BE ESCORTED OUT FOR PROCESSIONAL AT 1:15PM)
1:30PM – 1:50PM	ENTRY OF DIGNITARIES (PROCESSIONAL MARCH)
1:50PM – 1:58PM	DOXOLOGY KUNDIRANA, LA SALLE GREENHILLS HIGH SCHOOL
1:58PM – 2:25PM	ENTRY OF COLORS PHILIPPINE COAST GUARD MALAYSIAN NATIONAL ANTHEM KOREAN NATIONAL ANTHEM TAIWAN NATIONAL ANTHEM PHILIPPINE NATIONAL ANTHEM
2:25PM – 2:30PM	CALL TO ORDER GOVERNOR SUZANNE STA. MARIA
2:30PM – 2:45PM	WELCOME REMARKS / CONFERENCE OVERVIEW DISTRICT SECRETARY AND DISCON CHAIR, MARYCRIS OPLAS ROTARY CLUB OF MAKATI URDANETA, DISCON HOST CLUB
2:45PM – 3:00M	INTRODUCTION OF DIGNITARIES PAST PRESIDENT AND DISTRICT LEGAL COUNSEL  RAFFY AQUINO
3:00PM – 3:20PM	ROLL CALL OF CLUBS AND PEACE PRESIDENTS ·         DISTRICT SECRETARY AND DISCON CHAIR MARYCRIS OPLAS ·         EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT GOVERNOR CHOCHIT TOBIAS
3:20M – 3:30PM	MESSAGE DISTRICT GOVERNOR CHUNG MIN HO DISTRICT 3620, KOREA, SISTER-DISTRICT OF DISTRICT 3830
3:30PM – 4:00PM	MESSAGE GOVERNOR SUZANNE STA. MARIA
4:10PM – 4:50PM	INTRODUCTION OF THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT’S  REPRESENTATIVE  (RIPR)  PAST DISTRICT  GOVERNOR ED ALVAREZ MESSAGE RIPR PAUL PO-YEN HORNG
4:50PM – 5:05PM	MINI CONCERT OF BROADWAY SONGS KUNDIRANA
5:05PM – 5:10PM	ADJOURNMENT BY GOVERNOR SUZANNE STA. MARIA
5:10PM – 5:15PM	ANNOUNCEMENTS SPONSOR CREDITS END OF PLENARY DAY 1

TALENT NIGHT       7:00PM

TIME	ACTIVITY
7:00PM – 8:15PM	DINNER
8:15PM – 8:30PM	ANNOUNCEMENTS: START OF SHOW
8:30PM – 8:45PM	OPENING MESSAGE GOVERNOR SUZANNE STA. MARIA
8:45PM – 8:55PM	HOSTS ENTRANCE ·         PEACE PRESIDENT LIZA MAGPAGU, RC MUNTINLUPA FILINVEST ·         PEACE PRESIDENT JOHN VINTA, RC PARANAQUE ST. ANDREW
8:55PM – 9:05PM	INTRODUCTION OF JUDGES AND MECHANICS ·         JOY VIRATA (CHAIR OF BOARD OF JUDGES) ONE OF THE TOP PERFORMERS OF REPERTORY PHILIPPINES; BOARD MEMBER AND ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, REPERTORY PHILIPPINES CHILDREN’S THATER ·         LIESL BATUCAN, ONE OF THE TOP PERFORMERS OF REPERTORY PHILIPPINES ·         PROF. RAMON MA. ACOYMO,  FORMER DEAN, U.P. COLLEGE OF MUSIC; FORMER DIRECTOR, KUNDIRANA & ATENEO GLEE CLUB ·         RAMON SILVESTRE, ABS-CBN PERFORMANCE COACH FOR “PINOY DREAM ACADEMY”;  MEMBER OF SINGING GROUP, “THE TUX” ·         ANNA DAVID, EVENT PRODUCER, CTV MANILA INC.
9:05PM – 9:17PM	GROUP 1 : LION KING (ROTARY MAKATI 1 CLUBS)
9:17PM – 9:29PM	GROUP 2 : BOMBAY DREAMS (ROTARY PALAWAN CLUBS)
9:29PM – 9:41PM	GROUP 3 : CATS (ROTARY MAKATI 2 CLUBS)
9:42PM – 9:55PM	GROUP 4 : CABARET (METRO SOUTH CLUBS)
9:53PM – 10:05PM	GROUP 5 : PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (PARANAQUE CLUBS)
10:05PM – 10:20PM	HOSTS (WHILE JUDGES ARE DELIBERATING)
10:20PM – 10:20PM	HOSTS’ INTERVIEW OF JUDGES
10:17PM – 10:450M	AWARDING OF WINNERS ·         FIRST RUNNER UP ·         GRAND WINNER
10:40PM – 11:00PM	CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENTS SPONSOR CREDIT

DAY 2                                    MARCH 23

PLENARY                              8:00AM 

Global Grants, Rotary and Civil Society

This is my article today in an online magazine where I contribute a weekly paper.
http://www.thelobbyist.biz/perspectives/less-gorvernment/1321--sustainable-humanitarian-projects-without-government-support

Sustainable Humanitarian Projects Without Government Support

SATURDAY, 16 JUNE 2012 01:36

WRITTEN BY NONOY OPLAS

Tags: Less Government

Providing wide and sustainable humanitarian projects to the poor and needy via civil society and voluntary organizations with zero government support is highly possible. It has happened, it is happening and will continue to happen.

Such civil society organizations (CSOs) range from civic groups like Gawad Kalinga and Rotary Clubs, religious and church groups, villages, business and professional associations, corporate foundations, sports clubs, and so on.

I will give examples from Rotary because there are really huge projects going on there. I am referring to the new initiative of the Rotary International (RI), the Global Grants (GG). This is a new initiative, taking lessons from thousands of humanitarian projects in the past from many rotary clubs from many countries.

GGs’ general characteristics are. One, they are meant to finance sustainable projects for the needy people, meaning after the term of the Club President who initiated the project has ended, the project is still there and is able to generate certain funds for its continuation year after year.

Two, minimum project cost is US$30,000, no more projects worth $5,000 or $20,000. A club in a poor country finds a partner club/s in a rich country, their respective RI Districts pouring additional funding, and a worthwhile project involving public health, water and sanitation, education and literacy, economic livelihood, peace and conflict resolution, will get at least $30,000 of funding that are quickly paid so long as all the requirements are complied with.

In a training seminar last June 09, 2012 on “The Future Vision Plan” by RI District 3830, the first speaker, Immediate Past District Governor (IPDG) of RI District 3810, Tranquil Salvador III, gave several success stories in the Global Grants (GG) in his District, comprising Rotary Clubs in Manila, Pasay, Cavite, Mindoro, other nearby provinces.

1. GG #25075, “Philippine Medical Mission”, $37,500.00.

Project components: (a) Maternal and child health, (b) disease prevention and treatment, (c) basic education and literacy. A club to club partnership between RCs Cavite and Louisiana, USA. The local club gave only $100, the minimum club counterpart, the respective districts where the two clubs belonged gave their respective DDF, plus donations from other Rotarians. Status: Paid and closed.

2. GG #25199, “School Renovation at Calabarzon”, $44,696.00.

Project components: (a) basic education and literacy, (b) water and sanitation, (c) disease prevention and treatment.  The local club, RC Cavite Ecozone gave only $100, but its partner RC abroad, plus the DDF of both districts gave a lot. Status: Paid and closed.

3. GG #25761, “Donation of Mobile X-Ray Machines”, $85,000.00.

The project is mainly for disease prevention and treatment in poor communities, hence mobile machines and clinic. The main recipients are the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and the Baguio General Hospital (BGH).

4. GG #25040, “Supporting Health of Needy People in the Philippines”, $143,000.00.

The project addresses (a) disease prevention and treatment, (b) maternal and child health, among others. It is a multi-year, on-going project.

There are many other success stories of wonderful projects funded by GGs in each district (there are 500+ RI Districts worldwide). I only mentioned a few above. The impact on the poor, the less or un-educated, the sick, the old, etc., is huge. Project implementation is direct people to people, no government bureaucracies in the middle (barangay to municipal/city to province/congressional politicians and bureaurats) that can hijack such projects towards their personal political interests. There are also no additional taxes, mandatory fees and contribution from the citizens, rich or poor, to be coercively collected as all funding come from voluntary donations and various fund raising activities.

GG funds, $30,000 to $143,000 or more, are quickly released if all the requirements are complied with. Project and fund management is made more transparent, all transactions and proof are paperless and visible on the web, an external auditor aside from internal monitoring will be needed. Any irregularities can easily be checked due to both internal and external controls.

How about those found mishandling or stealing the money? Will they go to prison? Possibly yes, if criminal charges will be filed against them. But normally, just exposing the names, faces and club affiliation of those people is enough punishment. Rotary is a voluntary organization of relatively successful professionals and businessmen. No one put a gun on members’  heads to join it, pay annual dues, attend regular meetings and spend extra for the meals, attend club projects and district activities. Members came and joined on their own, voluntarily. So it is a highly collegial, peer system of camaraderie. If one will commit fraudulent acts on money that are voluntarily donated, the idea of losing one’s face, of losing professional and business integrity and network in such a big and international organization, is a severe form of punishment.

And this is one beauty of voluntary, civil society organizations. The traditional schemes of reward and punishment under the government system of coercion and politics, like sending people to jails if they are not politically connected, or getting scot free if they have wide political connections even if they are outright thieves, does not strictly apply.

The state of civil society, being largely a voluntary action and organization of mature and responsible citizens, is the path that we should take, not the state of more government coercion and politics.