RI THEME UNVEILED AT SPECTACULAR DISTAS 2008

Read DGE Boyet's DISTAS speech     View animated photo gallery

“Make dreams real for our children, our future.” This was the message that DGE Boyet Limon shared as he unveiled the 2008-2009 Rotary International theme, “Make Dreams Real” in his keynote speech at the 2008 District 3830 Assembly 2008 held on May 3, 2008 at the SGV Room, AIM Conference Center, Makati City. In his impassioned speech before a crowd of 500 participants composed of presidents elect,  presidents, past presidents, district officers,  club officers and directors. DGE Boyet emphasized the staggering fact that some 30,000 of the world’s children below the age of five die everyday from preventable causes. He echoed the challenge of RIPE Dong Kurn Lee to focus Rotarian efforts on children in the 2008-2009 areas of emphases: water, health and hunger, and literacy and on reducing the terrible rate of child mortality in the world. This special focus gave birth to the DISTAS 2008 theme, “Make Dreams Real: Our Children - Our Future.”

Seeking teamwork in the club leadership, DGE Boyet urged the club leaders to build strong and effective clubs to ensure the attainment of the district’s 2008-2009 goals:

1. A total membership of 3,000 Rotarians through a net increase of five new members in each of the district’s 72 existing clubs and organization of 18 new clubs.
2. Total contributions of US$300,000 to The Rotary Foundation.
3. One hundred per cent of clubs to receive the RI Presidential Citation.

In his parting message, DGE Boyet said, “The challenge to Make Dreams Real for the children of the world is a daunting task. But we must meet that challenge cheerfully and courageously. Our children are our future. They will bring our world to where we wouldn’t be. And to ensure that they do, we must take up the challenge and be equal to the task of making our dreams real.”

The huge turnout at DISTAS 2008 was matched by a glittering array of speakers and highlights that made the assembly a spectacular event that was seen to become the district’s barometer of success in the coming Rotary year .  DG Ato Magadia called the event to order and made his opening remarks for the first district event  organized by the incoming team of governor Boyet Limon.

The highlights included a presentation by the “Real Good Presidents,” an audio-visual presentation on “Doing Good & Looking Good: Enhancing Rotary’s Public Image,” a presentation on “Looking Good & Feeling Good: Rotarians’ Well-Being,” and breakout sessions on the Council on Legislation, The Rotary Foundation, Membership, and Ways and Means.

Another highlight was the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement dubbed “Linis-Ilog” between the City of Paranaque and RI District 3830 on cooperative efforts to restore the Paranaque River to its ecological balance. The agreement was signed by Mayor Jun Bernabe and DGE Boyet Limon. A second MOA was signed between the National Children’s Hospital and District 3830 to coordinate efforts on reducing child mortality. The agreement was signed by Dr. Roberto Enriquez, the Medical Center chief, and DGE Boyet Limon.

The afternoon ended with an exciting raffling off of three Nokia high-end phones and  an entertaining cocktail fellowship.

The tremendously successful event was hosted by the Rotary clubs of Makati Salcedo and Palanyag Paranaque under the guidance of  District Trainer PDG Sonny Coloma  and Rotary Academy Exec Director PP Sally Tongson who prepared a well structured program for the Rotarians of D3830.