QN 14: Adapting Skills to the Task on Hand
Posted by Michael Milston on Jan 29, 2017
As this month's theme comes to a conclusion I wanted to demonstrate how Rotarians prove their vocational adaptation to the tasks and projects at hand. Now, I know that most clubs have such examples, so concentrating on this one will be understandable.
In overseas support projects, sustainability requires that the majority of the hands-on work is done by locals. The skill brought to this is through the Rotarian's project management skills. In this instance, the Rotarian has never referred to himself as a Project Manager, yet this is what he has been doing in his career over the last 40 years, first as a pool builder, then an auctioneer, followed by his role as facilities manager, and then more recently as a farmer.The Rotary Club has recently undertaken this international construction project (a first for some time, I understand, having strong commitment to health projects) and there is a definite 'buzz' around. Now he doesn't know I'm writing this and he's the type of Rotarian who chooses to never blow their own trumpet. So what has he done?
He made a preliminary visit to Timor Leste to determine what projects might be suitable and achievable. The chosen project was to construct a Rotary Pre-School in Tutuala, on the eastern tip of Timor Leste. He then organised a network of locals including Rotary contacts, government officials and village community leaders. He liaised with a local Tutuala builder and determined means of transferring funds. On return to his home city, put together a fund raising scheme involving Rotarians purchasing young cattle and then fattening them on his property (at no cost to the cattle owners) with the increase in value being donated to the project.
He has been back to Tutuala twice to check progress, and the upcoming trip (with a dentist who has done voluntary dental work in Timor Leste and been providing moral and physical support on 2 of the previous trips) and another Rotarian will be to hand the building over to the local community.Thank you Paul Galloway, President Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga, for your vocational service in Serving Humanity.