Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick on the Magic of Rotary
- Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick on the Magic of Rotary Devin Thorpe 25:57
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Devin: What is your superpower?
Stephanie: My superpower is being able to motivate and mobilize people to create the magic of Rotary, meaning that I’m asking people to amplify their efforts and look at how they can create change in the world.
In today’s episode, I had the distinct pleasure of speaking with Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International. Her insights and experiences offer a profound look into the heart of Rotary’s mission and the incredible impact it has worldwide. As President Stephanie shared, the essence of Rotary’s magic lies in the transformation it brings to communities.
President Stephanie recounted a moving experience in the Dominican Republic, where she installed water filters in a Haitian home. She described how a young boy, amazed by the filter’s ability to produce clean water, exclaimed, “Lady, show me that magic again.” This moment encapsulated the true magic of Rotary for her. It wasn’t merely about the water filter; it was about the profound change that access to clean water brought to that family—enabling children to return to school and freeing women from the burden of fetching water miles away.
This story beautifully illustrates Rotary’s broader mission: creating lasting change. President Stephanie emphasized, “Every single Rotarian or family of Rotary member Rotaract or interactor, everybody who engages in something that creates lasting change has that same magic. We create magic because we provide opportunities for people to make their lives better.”
In addition to sharing these impactful stories, President Stephanie also highlighted Rotary’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. She discussed the importance of creating Rotary experiences where everyone feels they belong. “When we create environments that are diverse and inclusive and equitable, we really are moving to creating an environment and atmosphere that does make people feel like this is where I belong,” she said.
President Stephanie’s dedication to fostering inclusive communities and her passion for creating positive change underscore her vision for Rotary’s future. Her leadership is a testament to the organization’s enduring commitment to making a difference, one community at a time.
tl;dr:
Introduction and Background: Stephanie Urchick, President of Rotary International, discusses her role and the significance of Rotary’s international convention in Singapore, where the theme “the magic of Rotary” was highlighted.
The Magic of Rotary: President Stephanie shares a personal story from the Dominican Republic about installing water filters. This story emphasizes the transformative impact of Rotary’s work on communities, particularly in providing access to clean water and improving the lives of families.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: President Stephanie underscores the importance of creating inclusive environments within Rotary. She advocates for Rotary Clubs to mirror their communities to ensure everyone feels a sense of belonging and inclusiveness.
Polio Eradication Efforts: The conversation includes an update on Rotary’s ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, highlighting the progress made and the dedication of frontline workers in challenging regions like Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Community Engagement and Adaptation: President Stephanie discusses the importance of adapting Rotary meetings to be more inclusive and accessible. She provides examples of clubs changing their meeting times and formats to attract a diverse membership, ensuring that more people can participate in Rotary’s mission.
How to Develop Motivating and Mobilizing As a Superpower
Results anecdote
President Stephanie’s superpower is her ability to motivate and mobilize people to create meaningful change. She leverages storytelling and personal engagement to inspire others to amplify their efforts and contribute to impactful projects within their communities.
President Stephanie shared an inspiring anecdote about a flight from Milan to Delhi where she met a young CEO. Initially dismissive of Rotary as an “organization for old people,” he became intrigued after hearing about Rotary’s professional development opportunities and mentorship. By the end of the flight, he exchanged contact information with President Stephanie and soon after joined a Rotary Club, demonstrating her knack for connecting and motivating individuals to take action.
Tips for Developing the Superpower:
Share Stories: Use personal and impactful stories to illustrate the power and benefits of your cause or organization.
Highlight Value: Clearly explain what’s in it for the people you are trying to motivate. Show them the personal and communal benefits of their involvement.
Adapt to Your Audience: Be flexible and tailor your approach to meet the needs and interests of different groups, whether they are young professionals or established leaders.
Promote Inclusivity: Create diverse and inclusive environments where everyone feels they belong and can contribute meaningfully.
Be Present: Engage directly with communities and individuals to understand their needs and how best to motivate them.
By following President Stephanie’s example and advice, you can make motivating and mobilizing people a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.
Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!
Guest Profile
Stephanie Urchick (she/her):
President, Rotary International
About Rotary International: Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.Â
Website: www.rotary.org
X/Twitter Handle: @Rotary
Instagram Handle: @rotaryinternational
Company Facebook Page: fb.com/rotary
Biographical Information: Stephanie Urchick holds a doctorate in leadership studies from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. A Rotary member since 1991, Stephanie has served Rotary in many roles and capacities. Her service includes building a primary school in Vietnam; installing water filters in the Dominican Republic; mentoring new Rotary members in Ukraine; coordinating a Rotary Foundation grant project in Poland; and leading efforts to formulate and adopt Rotary’s Action Plan, a strategic road map that will help bring even more people together to create lasting and positive change in an evolving world.
Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/RotaryPresident
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/surchick
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