INTERCITY KEYNOTE: JOHN BLOUNT

Posted by Barbara Bontemps 
 

Rotary International Director John Blount provided the keynote address at our annual InterCity Meeting on February 5th. He recently completed two years on Rotary International’s Board of Directors and then chaired RI’s global Communications Committee for two years.  For the past 26 years he has trained leaders in business, Rotary clubs, and Ro

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tary International and has developed many of the training programs for Rotary in the western United States and Canada.  Dr. Blount is a dentist in private practice in Sebastopol, California but his background as a musical performer, motivational speaker, and writer and producer of multi-media presentations.

Dr. Blount opened his presentation with a memorable quote from former Vice-President, Dan Quayle: "I think we're on an irreversible course, but that could change."  Rotary exemplifies this seemingly nonsensical statement in that it's purpose has always been "Service Above Self," yet the ways in which it adheres to this mission have changed greatly over the decades since Rotary was founded.

Rotary has evolved from a local, community-based service group to one with 1.2 members worldwide. It went from an exclusive, all-American male service fraternity to an inclusive collaboration of people -- men and women -- of all ethnicities, religions, and nationalities.  It has enlarged its scope from local community to global community and has, as a result, become the largest humanitarian organization on earth.  It has very nearly eradicated the global pandemic that was polio.  It continues to evolve toward addressing the next critical areas of global need: 

 
  • Promoting peace
  • Fighting disease
  • Providing clean water
  • Saving mothers and children
  • Supporting education
  • Growing local economies

Rotary International continues to change to meet these challenges.  Structural changes have made grant-making more efficient, communication technologies have improved the ability to share ideas, foster fellowship and generate interest in the work Rotary does.  But membership is declining -- re-branding Rotary as an attractive service outlet for the younger generation needs to happen so that new members can be recruited and involving new members in meaningful ways is essential to their retention.

Rotary is still on an irreversible course (Service AboVe Self) -- but (as noted) it continues to change.