Rotary Club of Freetown last Friday inducted a new president in the person of Henry Akintola Macauley who took over from Samuel H O T Macauley.
In his maiden address the new Rotary President Henry Macauley said he joined the club seven years ago and was brought in by the out going President Samuel Macauley.
He averred that the club has a lot of social issues to address, “are we happy with the appearance and condition of Kroo Bay and other slum areas? Do we consider the health hazards of the inhabitants of these areas? Are we happy with our literacy level, do we have enough clean water to drink or is it a situation of water, water everywhere but not a drop to drink? What about our health service delivery system?” he questioned.
He noted that the average man in the street cannot afford the basic medical care to keep him alive. The provision of micro finance for grassroots in the nation’s poverty alleviation and employment drive is lacking, these are some of the issue Rotarians should set out to address in their bid to serve humanity he said.
The theme chosen for this year by the Rotary International President Wilfrid Wilkinson is ‘Rotary Shares’. This is because as Rotarians, we take time to share our talents, skills and energy with others, and through this process, we create a better world.
“It is our hope that as many of you that have something to share, can join us in our effort to give service above self”.
Mr Henry Macauley made the point clear that there is no financial benefit in Rotary because we use our own money, time and expertise in serving others. The benefit is that we bless others out of what God has blessed us with.
He appealed to all Rotarians not to look at any project as too big, as a thousand miles starts with the first step.
“Let us in our little or big way serve others in our society and beyond. What you do for yourself dies with you but what you do for others lives forever and is immortal.” Mr Macauley said.
The new President appealed to all the members to work as a united force and not leave the burden on a few members.
He stressed that his focus is to increase and retain the membership so as to increase the contributions to the Foundation and improving the public image of Rotary locally.
“Our country used to boast of five Rotary clubs. We can now only account for two, our club and the Rotary Club of Bo. There are needs in other areas of the country and we must galvanize into action to charter and retain new clubs and members”
Mr Henry Macauley said he is looking forward to a successful and fulfilling year as the President of the Rotary Club of Freetown hoping to achieve as many projects as possible starting with the rabies vaccine and a possible return visit of the Indian and Nepalese Rotarian doctors to perform more free service to the needy people of Sierra Leone.
He thanked all Rotarians for their support and inducted the new executive who would work with him.
Mr Henry Aki Macauley is the Managing Director of Rokel Bank and also the current President of the Chamber of Commerce and Diocesan Men’s Union President.
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