Rotary's brighter future

Tomorrow, July 4, 2009 is a very special day for Rotary District 3780. It marks the induction of the District Officers for Rotary year 2009-2010 led by the District Governor and the Presidents of 95 Rotary Clubs in Quezon City. The affair will be held at the Hotel Sofitel, Philippine Plaza at CCP Complex, Roxas Blvd. starting at 4 p.m.

The event acquires greater significance and historical value because this is the first time that District 3780 will have a lady-governor since it was established as a new district after the redistricting of the original District 380 in 1987-88. A Rotary district is a specific geographical area linking together several Rotary clubs located therein for administrative purposes and for purposes of helping individual clubs and Rotarians advance the objects of Rotary to provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations or professions, and help build goodwill and peace in the world”.

The 95 Rotary clubs and their members in District 3780 look forward to a great year ahead with an exceptionally energetic and charming lady-governor Dulce B. Coyukiat at the helm because they already know her to be a level-headed and prudent but compassionate and caring, independent-minded woman who rises to the challenges confronting her anytime, anyplace, anywhere. Indeed in her 15 years as a Rotarian she became a club president twice and received numerous awards including “Most Outstanding Rotarian of the Year” on the Club and District levels, “The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Meritorious Service Award” and the Rotary International (RI) Four Avenues of Service Citation”.

Lady-Governor Dulce undoubtedly assumes her post well prepared and equipped to lead the Rotary clubs and Rotarians of D3780 this year 2009-2010 considering her educational, family and business backgrounds. She holds the Degree of Bachelor of Arts Major in Communications that makes her a powerful communicator so necessary in her job to stir people into action. She has carved out a successful career in real estate business where she acquired expertise in personnel and time management that certainly come in handy in running a huge organization like a Rotary district. She is married to Dave Coyukiat with three beautiful children: Ma. Olivia, a lawyer who heads the legal department of the family insurance business; Carlos Rufo and Alice Elizabeth who are both MBA graduates now working in the US. Her family life apparently proves that she has put the “concept of love into action” which is the “essence of teamwork” that is so vital in running the multifarious activities of the district.

Admittedly, the lady-governor realizes that she needs a team for this purpose. So she skillfully drew up an awesome organizational structure with 599 posts and tapped Rotarians with impressive credentials to handle them. The district organization is basically divided into the governor’s official family or “cabinet”, the operations, programs and administration group. They are manned mostly by past district governors and past presidents of various Rotary clubs whose talents and expertise were admirably recognized and harnessed by Governor Coyukiat.

Together with the 95 “hands on” Rotary club presidents, these district officers will also be inducted tomorrow. Limited space forces me to mention only a few, particularly the governor’s immediate staff composed of District Secretary Joe Baradi; Administrative Officer/Chief of Staff Mar Cancio; Info & Communications Officer Edith Tapnio, Treasurer Terry Ledesma; Auditor Sarah Estanislao; Public Relations Co-chair Marilen Lagniton, Protocol Officer Noel Estanislao; Marshall Boy Oliveros and Philippine Rotary Magazine Co Chair Tony Vidal. Also to be inducted are 23 Assistant Governors and 25 Assistant Governors’ Representatives, prominent among whom are those who have long served Rotary and the district like Joe Ragos and Maricor Imperial. Under the set-up, several past district governors (PDG) are heads of various committees or perform important roles like Dan Espinosa, Gil Divinagracia, Efren Lim, Bobby Viray, Mar Nery, Jess Laxamana, Oca Innocentes and Hermie Jarin, to name a few. Worth mentioning also is District Governor Nominee Ambo Gancayco who is part of the training team.

Following the valedictory address of outgoing District Governor Alex Cureg and the turn-over ceremonies, Ms. Dulce Coyukiat will be installed as District Governor by well known academician and educator, Dr. Patricia B. Licuanan, Ph.D. After her inaugural address, the newly inducted district governor will in turn induct her team of incoming district officers and club presidents. The whole affair will be capped by dinner, dancing and fellowship with a show depicting James Bond theme songs. Host of the District Induction is the Rotary Club of University District under the leadership of Past Presidents Gil A. Valera and Manny A. Santos, the same duo who successfully led their club in hosting 2008 District Conference in Subic.

During her term, District Governor Coyukiat aims to achieve six goals: 30% membership growth; support and active participation in TRF programs; implementation of service projects on water health, hunger and literacy; leadership training and development; good governance for a strong and effective club; and enhancement of Rotary’s public image so that others will support/join the organization. With her superb team and her own example of unconditionally dedicating her time, energy, potential and resources in good and bad times, the future of Rotary D3780 looks brighter indeed. 

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