Message from the President

Welcome to Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club

District 3780 (Philippine Rotary Clubs to America.)

By C.J. "Chuck" Cota

President 2014 -2015

Why Rotary? First of all we have to look at what life has to offer and how much time do we each have to share this life with others in this world. We know that we all only have so much time allotted to each of us and we need to make the most of this precious thing called life that we are blessed with.

What makes G K e-Rotary Club different?

# 1.) We are an electronic based Rotary Club and new to the long time organization of traditional Rotary Clubs. We meet online weekly and only once a month for a face-to-face membership dinner meeting - occasionally a lunch meeting if appropriate to our agendas.

#2.) We support the over-all goals of Rotary International to help our fellow citizens in this world. Polio Plus - to eradicate this scourge of mankind from our globe and water projects for mankind.

#3.) Support our local community - Opportunities for the Physically Impaired; mainly our blind brothers and sisters in our Southern California Area thru Goal Ball Activities, a Para-Olympic Sport originally started for Vets after WWII that had lost their eyesight in battle..

#4.) Supporting Galag Kalinga building of home and villages in the Philippines. (Similar to Habitat for Humanity; but this also teaches skills for employment.)

#6.) We work supporting towards supporting Rotary's goal of empowering people to learn Entrepreneurial Skills for independent living and incomes.

#7.) We work to support Casa Hogar de La Gracia; a children's orphanage in Baja California barely 123 miles south of the California border. Educating and promoting a better life for the next generation.

As you can read, our e-Rotary Club has set an ambitious agenda and one for all members! Can each member cover them all? No! But we can do support and encourage each member in the area of service that he or she chose's to help make this a better world for all.

It is a privilege to be a member of Rotary International and I am truly humbled to sign as

(:>}) - C. J. "Chuck" Cota

President 2014 - 2015,

Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club

THE BRIDGE AND PORTAL OF PHILIPPINE ROTARY CLUBS TO AMERICA

By: Ernie D. Delfin (Charter President)

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor they light a lamp and then put in under a bushel basket. It is set on the lampstand where it gives s light to all in the house!” Matthew 5 : 14 -15

The Global Kalinga e-Rotary Club, one of the 1st electronic-based Rotary Clubs in the Philippines and Asia was born (chartered) on October 12, 2011 during the term of our indefatigable PDG Jess Cifra, with 40 charter members that included Past RI President MAT Caparas and GK founderTony Meloto who lent their good name and reputation to attract equally good hearted people. Our last name “Kalinga” literally means “giving tender care” emanating from several countries of the world --- from Austria to China, from Canada to America --- where our growing membership now resides.

Likened to a two-year old toddler, GKeRC is now restlessly walking more as if it is already an established Rotary Club. Despite the lack of fellowship opportunities every week that traditional clubs have, there are also many advantages of an e-club that primarily “meets” and communicates in cyberspace, with the 21st century social tools of communication, like the internet, Skype, Twitter or Face Book or Face Time. The lack of physical meetings that nurture closer fellowships coupled with the reality that many of our older members are not quite savvy nor always wired to the Internet or Face Book is probably the # 1 challenge of e-clubs. However, e-clubs can attract many quality people, including former Rotarians, especially those very busy people or those who travel frequently that attending a weekly meeting is almost impossible. E-Rotary membership dues cost much lower as dinner or lunches, commuting expenses are minimal, resulting into lots of savings that can then be channeled to any worthy Rotary project.

Despite all the above-mentioned challenges, however, this Rotarian leader who founded our GK e-Rotary Club is convinced that e-Clubs must be embraced and marketed more aggressively by all Rotarians in order to attract our young adults, the Next Generations after us, Baby Boomers. Although it is not mandated by RI, our e-Club since our charter date has decided to have physical meetings monthly to enjoy for that necessary fellowship as well to hear our members’ craft talks, and to have great speakers to share their Rotary knowledge and experiences, or simply their unique professional expertise or vocations.

This optional meetings in Orange County (where Disneyland Anaheim is situated) has become an invisible glue connecting our members stronger and faster. Our special dinner meeting last January 28th to host our DGE Sammy Pagdilao Jr. from Quezon City D-3780 who delivered a very inspiring address before our membership, with VIP guests in attendance, such as DG Rae Shirer and DGE Jim Paddock from District 5320 (Orange County), DGE Elsa Gillham from District 5280 (Los Angeles) and Asst. Governor Rene Fruto from District 3800 (Riverside-Las Vegas) and dozens of Rotarian guests, has motivated us to work more passionately towards the realization of our DREAM and VISION: to become the BRIDGE OR PORTAL of Philippine Clubs and Districts to their counterparts in the USA.

DGE Sammy is very supportive of our e-Club’s vision, while he also challenged us during his address, after their DGE mandatory training in Rotary International Assembly in San Diego. He said that Rotary can provide that often illusive answer how to become truly happy and fulfilled human being. Quoting incoming RI President Gary Huang, he admonished: “If you want to be happy for an hour, take a nap, if you want to be happy for a day, go fishing, if you want to be happy for a year, inherit a good inheritance (if you are that lucky) but if you want to be happy forever, share and do service to others!” (Let me add: “Join Rotary but not just become a member of a Rotary Club but instead become a true Rotarian!”)

DGE Jim Paddock (DGE Sammy’s classmate) wrote me, after this reception dinner for DGE Sammy: “I was very impressed that DGE Sammy was able to incorporate so many of our International Assembly themes in his address to your e-club. I look forward to continuing supportive relationships between our two districts through your e-club!” (Thanks, Jim!)

Our e-Club is doing its best to “ENGAGE ROTARY AND CHANGE LIVES” since its birth. As our brand new members become more “ rotarized,” we believe that it can contribute more to “LIGHT UP ROTARY”, by becoming that “Light on the City on the Hill” for Rotarians in America to know more about the Philippines, her culture and her many socio-economic challenges caused by frequent natural calamities, like Typhoon Haiyan.

Our GK e-Club has many ambitious projects that we desire to accomplish in the near future, like the Entrepreneurial Training and Mentoring of the Youth, in addition to our continuing support to Gawad Kalinga, our partner organization, in providing decent housing for the homeless as well as providing them livelihood training opportunities. For a much deeper impact to the Filipino youth, our e-Club has started exploring the creation of a “Peace Corps” type with “SCORE” (Service Corps of Retired Executives) characteristics, whereby retired professionals or business people in America, especially Filipino Americans and their friends can go to the Philippines, as a volunteer, to share their expertise in business or professions to the young adults in the homeland, for as short as a month or a year or longer, as a teacher, consultant or mentor. These huge projects certainly need collaboration and support from many Rotarians in both countries. These are big projects that will have a great impact that stir our souls! It is our e-Club’s rai’son d’etre!

The author is the Founder and Charter President of GKeRC, a retired CPA-businessman, a columnist-writer and lives with his family in Fountain Valley, California. Email : ernie.gkerc@gmail.com