Voice July 3rd President Binoy Luckoo - Throne Speech (Jul 05, 2024)

President Binoy started his Presidential Address by first thanking Immediate Past President Anny-Sandra Hamel for her amazing leadership and accomplishments in the past year.

He also thanked the outgoing Club Directors – Lori Brazier and Alana Scott, for all their efforts and the time that they contributed to the club’s Board.

President Binoy then recalled how two and a half years ago, Past President John Fortney and Past President Prince Kumar convinced him to take on the very honorable role of President of The Rotary Club of Toronto!

Quote from President Binoy…

“I stand before you today with a profound sense of gratitude and excitement as I assume the position of the 114^th President of the Rotary Club of Toronto. It is an immense honor to be chosen to lead our prestigious club, dedicated to the noble mission of SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

As I embark on this journey, I am keenly aware of the responsibilities entrusted to me by you, my fellow Rotarians. I pledge to uphold the values and principles that have made the Rotary Club of Toronto and Rotary International a beacon of hope and progress in communities around the world.

Throughout my years as a Rotarian, I have seen firsthand the extraordinary impact of our shared commitment to service. We have tackled challenges head-on, fostering positive change in the areas of education, health, environment, indigenous peoples support, and economic development.”

Our new President then carried on giving us some insight into his background. He is originally from Mauritius and studied at McGill University. He subsequently worked in Montreal, Chicago, France, Spain and finally settled in Toronto 25 years ago.

President Binoy was introduced to the Rotary Club of Toronto 15 years ago by his younger brother who was a Rotarian in Mauritius.

Professionally, he is a Real Estate Broker with a background in accounting and software businesses.

He misses his little yorkie that passed away a few years ago, love cars, enjoys relaxing on the beach, values family and friends, and really loves sweat equity projects.

President Binoy then reminded us of Rotary’s mission:

“TOGETHER, WE SEE A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE UNITE AND TAKE ACTION TO CREATE LASTING CHANGE ACROSS THE GLOBE, IN OUR COMMUNITIES, AND IN OURSELVES”

Interestingly, President Binoy’s wife, Brinda, who is also a member of our club and chairs the Marketing Communications committee, favorite colors are the same as the 2024-2025 Rotary theme colors of Orange and Turquoise chosen by Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick.

Orange is the color of Shifting Seasons – the color of change.

Turquoise represents knowledge & Intelligence, Trust & Loyalty, and Dependability. It also inspires open communication.

In the words of our RI President, when we combine these colors, we move forward together as we change the world.

This is exactly what President Binoy see us, Rotarians of the Rotary Club of Toronto, doing over the next 12 months.

This is in keeping with the Mission we have established for our great club a couple of years ago and we will keep fulfilling this mission which is:

PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE AND OUR PARTNERS TO IMPROVE OUR COMMUNITIES THROUGH THE ROTARY PLATFORM.

This year's theme, "The Magic of Rotary," will be our guiding light as we embark on a magical journey of service, camaraderie, and collaboration. Together, we will channel the power of our collective efforts to STRIVE for a more equitable and compassionate world for all.

In the coming months, we will build upon our club's proud legacy, focusing our energies on empowering the next generation, championing environmental sustainability, improving health and education, and promoting peace.

President Binoy, then introduced the new Board of Directors, Committee Chairs and Working Group Champions.

1. The Rotary Club of Toronto Leadership Team for 2024 – 2025:

This group of dedicated members have agreed to put in the extra effort and time into helping me to serve you and our great club.

Our directors grease the wheels, but our Committee Chairs keep those wheels going

straight, whilst the members of these committees keep the wheels moving- just like the Rotary wheel!

Club Service Committees – they serve the club by managing many of the behind-the-scenes activities. These are extremely important roles for any club to keep moving in the right direction.

Philanthropic Committees – work on the evaluation of projects that need financial support.

Working Groups – put together projects and liaise with the appropriate committees for potential funding.

President Binoy is grateful to have such an awesome line-up of Directors and Senior Leaders.

2. The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation:

The Rotary Club of Toronto is very fortunate to have a strong Foundation to help fund the causes and projects we support. Our Foundation was created in 1951 through seed money from Club Members. Our Foundation Assets have grown to over $20M since. The revenue we get from this foundation investment partially funds our club operations and our projects.

The Foundation Board is made up of Club Members – who are appointed by way of their position in the club.

3. Rotary Club of Toronto & The Rotary Club of Toronto Charitable Foundation Staff:

Of course, none of our voluntary work can be completed without the expert assistance of our office staff. Carol Hutchinson, our Executive Director, manages the affairs of the Club and the Foundation, with the help of Essam Abdelmasih (Accountant) & Sarah Olsen (Executive Assistant).

President Binoy then shared the 2024-2025 priorities and areas of focus for the club to address those priorities.

4. Priorities for 2024 – 2025:

Being part of such a huge organization that Rotary International is – with 1.4M members located in over 200 countries, local clubs tend to follow the same priorities as Rotary Int’l but put their own flavors on top.

The Rotary Club of Toronto's priorities for 2024-2025 are as follows:

Continue adapting to change by embracing innovation in communication, technology, and resource allocation to better serve communities without putting the club or its members at risk.
Enhance engagement by fostering relationships among members and the community, supporting new members, and ensuring long-standing members remain involved.
Expand reach by welcoming diverse audiences, creating inclusive experiences, and promoting IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access) in all aspects of the club.
Increase impact by implementing effective tracking, analysis, and evaluation of projects, ensuring efforts are directed towards initiatives that align with the club's values and humanitarian goals.

During this Rotary year, the club will develop and execute programs that maintain focus on these priorities.

We need to address the following:

Membership Growth and Success: A Pathway to Greater Impact

It is equally important to provide an exceptional experience that fosters engagement and satisfaction for both new and long-standing members. Our Member Engagement Committee is developing a comprehensive training and mentorship program to empower new and existing members, encouraging active participation in committees, projects, and events.

President Binoy has outlined three main goals regarding Member Recruitment & Member Engagement:

Net Member Increase: Aim for a minimum NET growth of 12 members this year, encouraging every Rotarian to invite like-minded individuals who embody the "Service Above Self" spirit as well as seeking out members from professional associations such as CPA’s, lawyers, Engineers, Doctors, Nurses and Teachers.

Training and Mentorship: Develop and execute a robust program to equip members with the knowledge and resources needed for their philanthropic journey, including participation in the Rotary Leadership Institute courses.

Measurement Mechanism: Re-establish an attendance and follow-up system, track active committee involvement, and monitor participation in various events to gauge member engagement effectively.

By uniting our efforts and focusing on these crucial aspects, we can foster a thriving Rotary Club that attracts, retains, and nurtures passionate individuals, creating a lasting impact on our communities.

Community Involvement and Visibility

Strengthening community visibility and outreach is crucial for Rotary Clubs to expand our impact, attract new members, and foster greater public awareness of our valuable work.

Be proud of your Rotary Club of Toronto membership – wear your club PIN, club T-shirts, hats, and other promotional items. The club will be facilitating the ordering of club T-shirts and some other items soon for our members to purchase.

Be involved in your local community – find out if there is any project that might be of interest to our club.

Participate in the club’s sweat equity projects and also those of other organizations. We will be working with a few organizations that may need hands & boots on the grounds.

Our marketing communications committee is very active on the social media platforms – don’t be shy to share the postings to your own social media accounts – follow us on FB, LinkedIN and Instagram.

Have an elevator pitch that invites people to be more inquisitive about what we do – mine is as simple as “We help make this world a better place to live” – many times people will ask me what I mean by that. This opens up a great conversation that may increase their interest in Rotary and what we do.

Networking and Fellowship

One of the most valuable aspects of being a Rotarian is the opportunity to build strong connections with like-minded individuals who share a passion for service and making a difference in the world.

But the other reason we join Rotary is for the Professional Networking and Fellowship – after all Paul Harris started the club so he could meet some new Business Acquaintances and make some friends when he first moved to Chicago.

“I encourage you to talk to your friends at the club, attend other club’s or district events.

Membership in our club opens many doors – without Rotary – I would not have met some amazing people – Rt Honourable Prime Minister Jean Chretien, one of the Dragons’ Den stars Vikram Vij, and of course our own RCT celebs – Rohit, Saleem and Neil at private club events.”

Fostering Fun and Friendship: Embracing Rotary's Social Side

While Rotary is rooted in service and dedication, it is also essential to balance hard work with light-hearted moments that strengthen our bond as a community. Engaging in enjoyable experiences with fellow Rotarians and our families, nurtures lasting relationships and fosters camaraderie.

Throughout the year, a variety of social events will be organized to create opportunities for members to unwind and connect on a more personal level. These inclusive and welcoming gatherings provide the perfect atmosphere to deepen our understanding and appreciation for one another.

We highly encourage your participation in these events, as they truly embody the warmth and sense of belonging that define our Rotary family. By actively engaging in these fun and memorable occasions, we can foster meaningful connections that enrich our lives and strengthen our commitment to serving the community together.

Always remember your family at home comes first – but please do not forget you also have an extended family at The Rotary Club of Toronto.

Conclusion:

I would like to conclude by saying, my Vision for 2024-2025, is very simple – use our human nature to achieve our goals of:

Member recruitment, engagement and success
Expand our community involvement and visibility
Capitalize on networking & fellowship

There are many needy people throughout our community and the world whose only hope will come from Rotary. Let us all leave here ready to make their lives better in any way that we can. As Rotarians, it will not be good enough to give only what we have left over or what we can spare, but we must truly give of ourselves with new vigor in support of the ideals of Rotary. Let us lead the way as Rotary shares its legacy of "Service Above Self".

I will quote Paul Harris “Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.”

Thank you for your unwavering support, and let's make 2024 our best year yet!

Let’s “Share the Magic of Rotary"!!

Commentary provided by Brinda Luckoo