President’s Message

2005-2006
International President
Carolyn Rice

December 19, 2005

“Christmas is more than a day at the end of the year;
It's more than a season of joy and good cheer.
Christmas is really a pattern for living,
To be followed all year by unselfish giving.
For in giving to others and in being kind,
We find true joy and peace of mind.
And peace on earth will come to stay
When we live Christmas every day.”
—Adapted by Carolyn Rice from a poem by H.S. Rice

Dear Fellow Quotarians,

The 2005 holiday season is upon us, and my year has ended with an incredibly moving journey to India and the Philippines, where I visited all clubs and all Club-to-Club World Service projects in both countries. I witnessed amazing passion and commitment shown by the Quotarians in both India and the Philippines, not only to their Club-to-Club projects, which you have generously funded this year, but to a diversity of service work, whenever and wherever it is needed in their communities. But isn't this true of all Quotarians?

Just prior to my trip, the Board of Directors officially announced the approval of a record number of Club-to-Club World Service projects for the coming year: 14 projects in five Quota countries (Fiji, India, Philippines, Malaysia, and Suriname), and I was privileged to visit some of the new projects that will be launched in 2006 in India and the Philippines.

President Carolyn and President Madhu Dhara at the Sainik Farm Crèche.

It was inspiring to visit each Club-to-Club project in India. The improvements that continue in the home for the elderly by Sainik Farm, financed by Quota donations, and a new evening dispensary, working out of the room in which the children's crèche is held during the day, are testaments to the wonderful work done by this club. DLF City has expanded its vocational classes for young women, while at the same time maintaining the support of their dispensary. More children than ever are being accommodated for school in the upper rooms of the Quota Home, and almost 200 are now attending classes. The club is also continuing its vocational classes for young women.

President Carolyn looks at the embroidery work samples completed by the young woman in her training course with President Pratibha Chandra.

During my visit to India, I also participated in a meeting attended by members of all current Indian Quota clubs, the first such meeting held in approximately 20 years. This meeting was chaired by past New Delhi President Chander Aurora, who has recently been appointed by the board of directors to serve as Advisor to the clubs in India. Our planning with Chander ensured that the program and format followed as closely as possible that of a district conference, and 80 of 140 Indian Quota members attended—almost 60 percent of all Indian Quotarians—an excellent response. The comments afterwards were also encouraging, with many of the members, particularly the new members from Sainik Farm, DLF City, and Calcutta, appreciative of being given a glimpse of the bigger picture of Quota.

After my week in India, I traveled to the Philippines, where I visited 12 clubs on six islands in six days. This travel schedule involved a flight to a different island every day—an arduous undertaking that would not have been possible without the friendship and support of Governor Lea Celis and the assistance of the club members at every airport.

I began my Philippine trip in Davao City and then traveled to Cebu and Mandaue, Bacolod, Iloilo, Manila, Manila South, Las Piñas, Paranaque, then Legazpi-Mayon, and finally Pampanga. These visits gave me a wonderful insight into how much service work these clubs are doing. Three of the Philippine clubs will be new participants in our 2006 Club-to-Club World Service program, and it was wonderful to see the new projects, which these clubs will have up and running beginning in January.

While in the Philippines, I was very taken with our members' enthusiasm and sense of fun (many of whom are young professionals)—I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with them. Although my time in Bacolod was short, a visit to the launching of the club's 2006 Club-to-Club "Char-Wood Fuel" project was a highlight of the trip, as was joining the Iloilo Club in their community project to flick the switch of the Christmas lights with the town's mayor. I was also privileged to present awards to graduates of the Manila Club's beauty training program, cut the ribbon to officially open Manila South's Resource Library, watch the wonderful dancing display presented by Mandaue members, and admire the exotic costumes worn by the Davao City members at dinner (worn to represent the numerous tribes making up the province of Mindanao).

I urge you all to read the descriptions of the 14 Club-to-Club projects for 2006, published on-line, and to give at least one of them your own club's support. With an expanded number of projects in the coming year, we hope every Quota member will participate. All of our projects, new and continuing, need your support, and I thank you for caring to make this program the success that it has been in years past. To read about 2006 projects, please click here.

May the beautiful spirit of the holiday season remain with you throughout the year, to warm your heart with kindness and to fill your days with cheer.

Yours in Quota,

Carolyn Rice

(click here for the previous President's Message)
(click here for the next President's Message)

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