Dear fellow Rotarians, friends, and guests,
With sincere pride and gratitude, I take on the role of president of our Rotary E-Club 1 of Belgium Passport. It is an honor to assume this responsibility, and I look forward to building on the strong foundation laid by those who came before me.
This year's Rotary International theme, "Unite for Good”, resonates deeply with me. It reminds us that meaningful change happens when we come together – across backgrounds, beliefs, and borders – to act with compassion and purpose. As Rotarians, we live by the principle of Service Above Self, and I believe that Unite for Good gives us the perfect framework to bring that principle to life in everything we do.
Before we look forward, I want to take a moment to express heartfelt thanks to our Past President, Caroline. Caroline, your leadership, your energy, and your unwavering commitment to service have made a lasting impact on our club. Especially your project, End Period Injustice Now, has been both bold and necessary. The upcoming awareness videos that will come from this initiative will shine a light on menstrual health inequality – a topic that too often remains in the shadows. Thank you for giving voice to an issue that matters, and for setting an inspiring example of what it means to lead with purpose.
Looking ahead, my vision for this Rotary year is to focus on impactful,
short-term and focused projects. I want to place a special emphasis on youth and their mental well-being. Our young people are facing more pressure and uncertainty than ever before, and I believe we have a role to play in supporting and uplifting them.
Another key priority will be the growth of our club. We are a vibrant, digital Rotary Club – and I believe that by staying connected, inspired, and visible, we can attract new people who share our values and want to be part of our mission. Being part of an E-Club offers you a lot of advantages (no travel to a specific location, you can connect from anywhere in the world, late evening meetings between 21h and 22h (Brussels time), …).
We want to fully embrace Polaris as a digital club and use this tool as our communication platform, both for our members and for any visitors. Polaris will help us stay organized and transparent – offering access to our calendar, meeting reports, and financial overviews – all in one place. This is a step forward in how we function as a digital club and in how we make the most of our time and energy.
Finally, I'd like to share my beliefs about Rotary: Rotary is about action. It’s about friendship, about stepping up when it matters, and about being part of something bigger than yourself.
Let's continue learning together and don't hesitate to reach out for questions or queries about what how you can continue your contribution, or make a start in a new project
Together, let’s put Service Above Self into (People of) Action, and let’s truly Unite for Good.
Yours in Rotary,
Didier
