Pudu Rotary Club

DISTRICT 3300 MALAYSIA

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RI's NEW DISTRICT LEADERSHIP PLAN

ASSISTANT DISTRICT GOVERNORS

By DGN Dr Paul K C Lee
DEFINITION

"An Assistant District Governor can be defined as a non RI Officer appointed by the District whose duty is to assist the Governor in the administration of the District."

The position of Assistant Governors however is recognised by RI. The name Assistant District Governor is not fixed. Other names like Lieutenant Governors, Associate Governors and Deputy Governor were also proposed. Some even used the term of Area Supervisors or Zone Directors. For commonality, RI uses the term Assistant Governor but leaves the final choice of name to each District. Our neighbour RI District 3310 however has instead upgraded the duties of the DG's Group Rep to that of Assistant DGs without changing the name to Assistant Governors. The appointment is a district matter and no one can be appointed to more than 3 year terms.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

There are currently 518 Rotary Districts in the Rotary World. This is a very large number and training of in-coming District Governors is getting more and more expensive and difficult. Rotary International thus set the policy of NOT having more Districts. This means that each District will be allowed to grow even beyond 100 Clubs before any splitting up of the District will be considered. With the Districts getting larger, DGs will inadvertently find the job of administering the District more difficult.

Thus RI came up with the idea of Assistant Governors whose main role is to assist the DG. The DG can thus delegate some time consuming yet vital tasks to the Assistant Governors thus giving him more time for other duties.

RI conducted a Pilot Scheme in 12 Districts for 4 years on the implementation of the positions of Assistant Governors. One of the Districts chosen is in the Philippines belonging to our current RI Director Rafael "Paing" Hechanova. The results of the scheme was positive.

RI Board of Directors in February 1996 thus authorised and approved the Rotary's New Leadership Plan for implementation from 1st July, 1997 which allows the DGN to appoint several Assistant Governors in the district and delegate some of his administrative overload in his year as Governor. The final choice of whether to implement the posts of Assistant Governors or the number of Assistant Governors in the District rests with each District Governor Nominee. The DGN in question has to obtain the concurrence of the district leadership ie Council of Past District Governors followed by approval of the clubs in the district.

In our District 3300, DGN Beh Lye Huat having consulted the Council of Past District Governors had a circular resolution to all the Clubs. Over 83% have responded support for the implementation. In implementing the Assistant Governors, the position of DGGRs can still be retained but between DGN Beh and myself, we have decided NOT to have three tiers of power ie District Governor, Assistant Governors and DGGRs. For Rotary Year 1997/98, DGN Beh have appointed 7 Assistant Governors with each having about 8 to 10 clubs in his group. RI recommended 4 to 8 clubs per group.

RESPONSIBILITIES & FUNCTIONS OF ASSISTANT GOVERNORS

A: GENERAL DUTIES

Attend the Assistant Governors' training session of the District. An extended outline of recommended training method and topics for Assistant Governors will be published separately prior to the 1997 International Assembly.

Attend the President-Elects Training Seminar and District Assembly.

Works with the Governor to develop District Goals.

Visit each club in his group regularly with a minimum of one visit each quarter of the Rotary Year.

Attends (if needed even conducts) at least one club assembly of each of the clubs in his group.
RI's original proposal is that the Assistant Governor conducts ALL club assemblies in his group.

Hold regular scheduled meetings (preferably monthly and no less quarterly) with all the Presidents and/or Secretaries of the clubs in his group.

Keeps the Governor posted quarterly on progress of the clubs in his group and suggest ways to enhance Rotary development and also address problems.

Monitor each club's performance with respect to service projects and activities.

Develop future district leaders.

B: OTHER DUTIES

Assist to co-ordinate the hosting of GSE/Student Exchange programs etc.

Encourage all Club Presidents to attend installations of clubs within their group.

Co-ordinates dates of club installations within the group.

Encourage joint activities, fellowships, inter-Rotary games within the group.

Schedules and plans for the District Governor's Official Visit to Clubs.
RI's proposal is that Assistant Governor can deputise the District Governor in the District Governor's Official Visit.

Encourages clubs to follow through on requests and recommendations of the District Governor.

Attends and actively promotes attendance at District Conference and Assemblies and other district meetings.

Participate in Rotary Foundation programs, annual and special giving events and other special assignments as necessary.

Initiates, organises or works with District Committees on District Seminars.

Advisers the incoming Governor on district committee selection.

Meets and assist the incoming Presidents before the beginning of the year to discuss the clubs' goals and review the summary of club plans and objectives.

BENEFITS OF PLAN

Faster and more responsive support to Clubs.

A larger supply of well-trained leaders in the district.

Improved participation in Foundation programs and District activities.

Better communication at all levels in the district.

A more challenging role for the Governor.

Flexibility of conducting of DG's Official Visit.

A larger field of candidates for Governor.

Allows Governor more time to motivate Rotarians to participate in Club and District activities, recognition programs and to develop new means of meeting District needs.

BENEFITS OF REGULAR MEETINGS WITH CLUB PRESIDENTS

Inter-Club assistance on problems and club issues.

Inter assist in program speakers, filling up of RI/ROS forms.

Inducement to attend District/RI Meetings/Conventions.

Co-ordinate GSE/Student Exchange program.

Co-ordinate PHF/Rotafom support.

Strengthen inter-club fellowship.

Share membership development objectives and plans.

Joint organisation of Rotary Information seminars.