The Rotary Clubs of Mandaluyong headed by Incoming Majestic President Oscar Hipolito and Rizal Centro, headed by Incoming Majestic President Soc Carvajal, jointly hosted the WCS-TRF Forum last June 18, Saturday, at the Club Filipino.

    With 202 registered attendees, the forum was called to order by the ever-busy Incoming District Governor Raffy Garcia who was also attending a special PETS session at the other end of Club Filipino with other Past District Governors and District Officers who were running back and forth both ends of the Club doing their best to serve - all for the cause of Rotary.

    World Community Service (WCS), which ceases to be an R.I. program this RY 2011-12, was ably taken up by Global President / Incoming WCS Chair Ric Yu of R.C. Valenzuela West – one of the clubs in our District that received international funding from R.I. District 2770, Japan for their WCS project. Though WCS will no longer be a priority project of R.I. next Rotary year, it will continue to be supported through Project Link which will be further enhanced by R.I. starting next month. However, it has been requested by PDG Edi Chua C.K. and IWCS Chair Ric Yu that all clubs of D3800 who received funding from D2770 for their WCS projects acknowledge their international partners in their forthcoming club turnover ceremonies or forthcoming club inductions as a gesture of their gratitude to the Rotary clubs of D2770, Japan.

    The TRF forum we all just had last Saturday was the first of its kind ever to be held in our District. It was a hands-on forum (learning how to fill up the Matching Grant forms) since this coming Rotary year, there will only be nine Matching Grants that will be funded by our District’s DDF (District Designated Funds) – a clear case of a disadvantage turned positive for all of us in the District. Nine zones or joint clubs have all agreed to undertake a common MG project per group or zone due to limited funds. The greatest advantage though is that all nine MG projects have their respective international partners – the most difficult part of completing a Matching Grant project. Out of our nine zones, seven of them have already agreed on their respective projects. The two remaining ones, Zones 1 and 6, still have to meet to agree on a common undertaking.

    Past District Governor Fabie Enriquez provided everyone a presentation of all projects funded by The Rotary Foundation and our DDF and undertaken this RY 2010-11, the year with the biggest DDF to-date. PDG Mac Hermoso and concurrently our District Rotary Foundation Chair (DRFC) talked on the Foundation’s Future Vision Plan as he exhorted every Rotary leader to prepare for TRF’s Future Vision Plan which takes effect on RY 2013-14 – the term of DGN Louie Ticman. Incoming DGSC / PP Albert Ang of R.C. Mandaluyong discussed what has caused our small DDF this Rotary year and took up the guidelines in planning and implementing MG projects.

    The break-out sessions (three in all) were very fruitful and a learning opportunity for all. All seven MG were discussed in detail from description to funding and distribution. Almost every possible question was raised and properly replied to. Suggestions to improve the format and content of their MG forms were likewise considered.

    Though the forum started quite late, it ended well in time as scheduled. CP Manny Reyes, ISDG & Annual Gift Giving Chair, RC Rizal Centro