The Rotary Foundation and World Community Service Seminar
PP Jovie Sison, WCS Forum Chair, RC San Juan

    Attendance statistics of this forum held last 24 July 2010 at the Club Filipino, San Juan City were as follows: Presidents (58), Presidents-elect (11), Assistant Governors (9), District Foundation Committee Chairs (5), Club Foundation Chairs (15), PDG’s and District Officers (31) and other Rotarians (58). Total number of participants (187) representing 71 clubs.

    The numbers speak for itself. It was a well attended seminar hosted by the Rotary Clubs of San Juan and Sampaguita Grace Park. We owe it to present day technology that was used to remind Global Presidents to send delegates to the seminar. The use of technology like emails to the more than 200 members of the Global Team eGroup, the text messages amongst Global Presidents, and Facebook posts contributed to the unprecedented turnout of participants.

    The forum was moderated by no less than our District Governor Virgilio Farcon, Jr., where Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, PDG Melito Salazar of District 3780 gave the TRF Updates, PDG Fabio Enriquez talked on the District Policy on District Simplified Grants and Matching Grants, and PDG Marcos Hermoso capped the forum with the evaluation of submitted survey sheets.

    The seminar saw a break from the previous year’s format because emphasis was placed in a workshop type environment where the audience was first divided between the Matching Grant Tutorial handled by PP Albert Ang of RC Mandaluyong, and the WCS/Project Link Tutorial by CP Manny Reyes of RC Rizal Centro. Attendees were taught how to use the internet and to go to the respective sites for their particular applications. This innovation is expected to increase the number of applications for project funding from Clubs in our District.

    Special gifts and pins were given to new Paul Harris Fellows and Multiple Paul Harris Fellows by DG Jun Farcon, with the assistance of PDG Mac Hermoso and PDG Efren De Guzman.

    Attractive raffle prizes made most of the participants stay until after the Closing Plenary. The forum hosts would like to thank the following sponsors for helping us augment the financial requirements for organizing a forum of this magnitude: Ortigas & Company (Circulo Verde) c/o PP Jimmy Ortigas of RC San Juan, Vita Plus Health Drink c/o PP Jack Sia of RC Mandaluyong North, Allied Bank VISA c/o Rotarian Therese Montecer (RC San Juan), Dunkin Donuts c/o SAG Pilar Lee of RC San Juan del Monte, Wi-Tribe 4G Broadband that was used for the very fast Internet connectivity during the workshops, Cabman, and Whoa Apparel for Rotary shirts, plaques, and other paraphernalia.

    We, the organizers would also like to thank the District Marshalls for helping instill order and decorum during the forum’s proceedings. On behalf of our co-host, PP Lulu Sotto of RC Sampaguita Grace Park, please accept our sincere thanks to all who attended to make this forum a success. Maraming Salamat po at Mabuhay ang District 3800!S Go Go Global!

    See you in the next District affair.