President’s Message

2006-2007
International President
Enid Croes-Marugg

January 9, 2007

Dear Fellow Quotarians,

Happy New Year to you all! May this year be bright as you share your sunshine! At the end of every year, most of us have a tendency to reflect upon the year that has passed and make plans and resolutions for the New Year. As I look back, it is with pride and satisfaction that I have ended the year 2006 with a November visit to the Netherlands for the chartering of our newest Quota club, QI of Zutphen, and to India, for a visit with members and Club-to-Club projects. And I am pleased to share details of my visits to these countries later in this message. But first, as we embark on a new year of Quota—and as leaders in our own lives, I offer the following "Five C's" as Quota resolutions for 2007:

• Celebrate your Quota successes with your community. Let them know what you are doing for them—your fellow residents—and why you celebrate your achievements. Celebrate the fact that you are continuously practicing the art of giving to your community: you give your time, your monetary support, and your sunshine via your service work.
  
  
• Cherish our Quota history. History is alive. As a leader of the Buffalo business community, Wanda Frey Joiner attended a special Christmas party in 1918 and was inspired by the good fellowship and service opportunities enjoyed by men. Wanda was determined to form a similar service club for women. Wanda shared her enthusiasm with a small group, and on February 6, 1919, Quota Club International was born. Since life is dynamic, we now move forward, under Quota International, Inc, seeking individuals (men and women) of diverse backgrounds, experience, and occupations, committed to sharing their time, talent, and resources to meet Quota's service goals in communities all over the world.
  
  
• Commonalities. Look for common ground when you look at other Quota clubs. Be interested in what your sister club or any other club is doing in the international Quota world. There is no need to reinvent the wheel, if we follow the success stories on our Web sites.
  
  
• Communication. Use every opportunity to involve your local media: the radio, TV, or newspaper. Make them your partners in sharing community service news. The hero is the volunteer that communicates. Whenever the opportunity arises to give a talk to a local group, seize it with both hands and make a presentation of the work you do for your community and the pleasure you get out of working together with other members for the betterment of others. Also practice your one-on-one communication with fellow members.
  
  
• Change. A plant changes every day during its whole life; so do we as human beings undergo changes every day of our lives. Let us train ourselves to recognize when something needs to be changed in our lives and in our clubs, and let us embrace the flexibility to do so. In changing our direction, we may avoid a poor result. Let us be alert to change when a change is needed to benefit mankind.

I invite you to join me in seeing only the sterling qualities of every Quotarian and in working on the "Five C's" during the new year. And now, with great pleasure, I share highlights and photographs from my November 2006 visit to Rotterdam and India.

The Netherlands

During a gathering in Rotterdam, I shared my president's message with the members of QI of Rotterdam and QI of Zeist who attended. Besides the sharing of international Quota news, it was such a pleasure to meet with the members and listen to the wonderful community projects they are working on. It was great to experience their enthusiasm for growing Quota and to notice their interest in Quota's well-being.

The greatest gift you can give Quota is the chartering of a new club, and QI of Rotterdam's committee for organizing new clubs just succeeded in giving Quota this wonderful gift for a second time in their ten years of existence.

The charter activities started on November 11 with a welcome lunch and a walk to the library. Quotarians and guests enjoyed the presentation of the QI of Zutphen charter project called Easy Read Square, a marvelous initiative that provides the expensive individual apparatus and books to support children with dyslexia. These children often develop insecurity and have less self-confidence. While they have the capacity to do more, often these children end up in a lower form of education, because their reading problem is not detected and recognized at an early stage After the library visit, the Quota group walked to the town hall where the mayor welcomed us and gave a presentation on Zutphen. In the evening, we all gathered in "black tie" for the official gala presentation of the charter, followed by dinner and music.

Click on image above to enlarge.

Click on image above to enlarge.

The next day the activities around the charter of this new club continued with a benefit concert to raise funds for their Easy Read Square service project. Many months prior to the charter date, Zutphen club recruits had been very busy selling tickets for the concert, which was attended by hundreds in a beautiful theater.

India

My November 2006 trip to New Delhi, India, was also memorable. I visited the Club-to-Club World Service projects sponsored by QI of New Delhi, QI of DLF City, and QI of Sainik Farm and during an all-clubs-gathering, I was happy to meet with QI of Calcutta. Chander Aurora, club advisor to the Indian clubs, had prepared a full three-day program. Indian Quotarians are very hospitable and warm and ready to serve in the name of Quota. They are involved with the projects hands-on, not only giving out of their pocket, but also managing, advising, and sparing no effort to flourish the activities at our Quota Home in Faridabad, the vocational training centers, charitable dispensaries, embroidery education programs, pre-schools, and the elderly home.

All donations to the Club-to-Club projects in India represent well-invested money, and much more is needed. The impression I got from my first visit to India is that it is quite different from all the countries I have ever visited. The people are very nice and give the impression of being very spiritual. English is spoken widely, so communicating was easy. I felt very welcome throughout my stay. (To learn more about Quota International's Club-to-Club World Service program, click here.)

In closing, I appreciate all you are doing in keeping Quota moving forward, and I know that appreciation cannot come without enthusiasm. Anyone can become enthusiastic for a little while, but to keep enthusiasm steadily flowing throughout our life is a great art. The secret is remarkably simple: live in a state of appreciation; appreciate the special qualities within everyone, and give thanks to everyone's contribution.

Thank you, Quotarians, for sharing your sunshine!

Warm and sunny regards,

Enid Croes-Marugg
2006-2007 International President

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

Home / Join / Help / Marketplace / Contact Quota / Site Index