Fellowship is Rotary’s magic sauce

By SONNY COLOMA 

Editor-in-chief

This August, as we mark Membership and New Club Development Month, we encourage and felicitate the vigorous efforts of our District Governors and Club Presidents in pushing forward the visionary objectives of RI President Olayinka Babalola. He has set lofty goals that could seem formidable. Yet, if we eyeball how these may be attained in Philippine Rotary, all that’s needed is for every Club to have a net gain of at least one member by June 2027.

I am taking the liberty of sharing with you some of the insights provided by our esteemed friends.

Past District Governor Efren Lim: “In our focus on numbers, we have overlooked the equally essential side of recruitment which are quality and suitability of members. Rotary membership need not be expensive. Members should have the means to cover dues, meals, meetings and projects, although these costs can be managed and kept reasonable, Beyond material means, the heart of a true Rotarian is the commitment to Service Above Self. Where there is a genuine desire to serve, time for Rotary activities can always be found.”

Past Philippine Rotary Magazine Trustee Efren Martinez observes: “Are we creating more Rotary clubs, or creating more strong Rotary clubs? A club of ten enthusiastic members can accomplish something remarkable. A club of 25 to 50 engaged members has a much better chance of developing leaders, financing projects, maintaining fellowship, and surviving generational change.”

In my four decades as a Rotarian, I have observed and learned that dedication and commitment are forged on the anvil of involvement and perseverance. As Rotarians immerse themselves in projects that enable them to bond with members of the communities they are helping, they intensify and deepen their will to serve. Fellowship sustains and enhances commitment.

Today, there are so many variants of Rotary membership that are enabled by the expanded types of clubs. For instance, there are e-clubs and company-based clubs that facilitate constant and frequent access and interaction with fellow Rotarians. For grizzled veterans who have savored the magic sauce of Rotary fellowship for decades, there’s nothing like being with fellow Rotarians on the golf course, in the pickleball or padel court, or in family gatherings to mark birthdays and anniversaries.

Indeed, as our founder Paul Harris said, “The foundation upon which Rotary is built is friendship; on no less firm foundation could it have stood.” _____________ This feature appeared in the August 2026 Magazine Issue.