RIPE Jennifer Jones unveils 2022-23 Theme

Rotary International President Elect Jennifer Jones unveiled the Rotary Theme for 2022-23, the Rotary Year that begins on July 1, 2022.

The announcement of the theme in January is not meant to supercede the current "Serve to Change Lives" theme for 2021-22 but instead to celebrate and introduce the theme that will officially go into effect on July 1.

The theme "Imagine Rotary" is inspired by Rotary's initiative to rid the world of polio (the purple) and it's newest Area of Focus - environment (the green).

“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”

Jones told the incoming governors about a chance she took when a member asked for assistance in getting a young peace activist out of Afghanistan during the U.S. troop withdrawal last year. At first unsure how she could help, she relied on “that certain Rotary magic” and contacted a former Rotary Peace Fellow she had met a few years earlier. Less than 24 hours later, the activist was on an evacuation list, and soon she was on her way to Europe.

To better engage members, Rotary needs to “adapt and retool,” Jones said, using her hometown as an example. Windsor was once the automotive hub of Canada. But after plant closings left thousands without work, the city needed to retool, in the same way an auto plant would, preparing for new parts or a new model. Now, Jones said, Windsor is a leader in agribusiness and medical and aerospace technology.

For Rotary, “finding the right ‘part’ to engage each member should be our core function,” Jones said. “It comes down to the comfort and care of our members.”

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