Rotary’s Global Network Tackles Loneliness and Builds Community
- Rotary’s Global Network Tackles Loneliness and Builds Community Devin Thorpe 25:51
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Devin: What is your superpower?
John: When you talk about my superpower, I think it’s grasping a vision, a strategic direction, a strategic idea, or an important idea, and then rallying people around that idea and then driving it to a successful outcome.
Loneliness has become a public health crisis, as highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General. Rotary International offers a solution through its unmatched global platform of 46,000 clubs, bringing 1.4 million people together across over 200 countries.
John Hewko, Rotary’s General Secretary and CEO, shared in today’s episode how Rotary’s mission addresses this growing issue. “Our clubs are all about bringing people together, about building connections,” John explained. “It provides an outstanding vehicle to stay connected, not be isolated, and to make a difference through that connection.”
Since its founding in 1905, Rotary has evolved from a professional networking organization to a dynamic platform for community service. Members find opportunities to engage in local, regional, and international projects, making a tangible impact. John emphasized the organization’s flexibility, allowing clubs to pursue initiatives that resonate with their members. “Rotary is exactly the opposite in terms of top-down,” he noted. “Each club has significant autonomy to carry out those things that the members are passionate about.”
One of Rotary’s most inspiring examples of grassroots initiative is the organization’s decades-long effort to eradicate polio. What began as a small vaccination project in the Philippines has grown into a global campaign, reducing cases from 350,000 annually in 1985 to just 88 last year. “Rotarians have contributed over $2.7 billion to that effort,” John shared. “It’s a great example of the power of individuals rallying around a cause.”
Rotary’s adaptability and global reach make it a powerful antidote to isolation. Through fellowship and service, members build deep connections while contributing to meaningful projects. If you’re looking for an organization where you can engage locally and make an impact globally, Rotary might be the perfect fit.
Visit Rotary.org to find a club near you and join a community of changemakers.
tl;dr:
* Rotary’s 46,000 clubs combat loneliness and isolation by building community and fostering connections.
* Members engage in local, regional, and global projects, including Rotary’s polio eradication campaign.
* Rotary’s adaptability includes online and cause-based clubs, attracting diverse, younger members worldwide.
* John Hewko’s superpower, visionary leadership, transforms strategic ideas into impactful global initiatives.
* Visit Rotary.org to join a network empowering individuals to make a difference globally and locally.
How to Develop Visionary Leadership As a Superpower
John’s superpower is his ability to envision strategic goals and rally people around them. “It’s grasping a vision, a strategic direction, or an important idea and driving it to a successful outcome,” John explained. He highlighted his role in promoting regional flexibility within Rotary to adapt to different needs worldwide, demonstrating his knack for strategic thinking.
John’s leadership was pivotal in transforming a local Rotary fundraising event, the Tour de Tucson bike ride, into a global effort. Initially raising $15,000 annually, John mobilized Rotary’s global network, helping to generate over $70 million for polio eradication in 12 years. His passion for cycling and strategic vision turned a modest initiative into a monumental success.
Tips for Developing Visionary Leadership:
* Analyze challenges critically to identify barriers to success.
* Pilot ideas locally to build momentum and demonstrate feasibility.
* Use thoughtful arguments to build consensus rather than imposing solutions.
* Foster adaptability by recognizing when traditional methods are no longer effective.
* Leverage networks and communication to amplify successful ideas.
By following John Hewko’s example and advice, you can make visionary leadership 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
John Hewko (he/him):
General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, 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 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs around 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.
Website: rotary.org
X/Twitter Handle: @Rotary
Company Facebook Page: fb.com/rotary/
Other URL: endpolio.org
Biographical Information: John Hewko is the general secretary and chief executive officer of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries.
X/Twitter Handle: @JohnHewko
Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/JohnHewko/
Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/johnhewko/
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