THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY A ROTI FRIEND. "PAST PRESIDENTS’ ROLE When one's year as President (then Past President)is completed, often the club is fully aware that the PP's commitment of time has been several years of "moving through the chairs". On one hand, the club respects that time of service and leaves the PPs alone. On the other, the chairs and committee assignments at the club level are being well managed by the new leaders moving through and up. There might be a few questions for the "old ones" that passed that way before, but mostly things are being managed competently and well. That's the way it should be. Most Rotarians are experienced and well recognized leaders before assuming club responsibilities. They know what to do and how to do it. There may be a few incidental questions that the PP can answer, maybe they'll provide an historical insight or two, but the new leadership is dynamic and qualified and usually very much under control. The PP has choices to make. The District and the "invisible" part of Rotary above and beyond the club level has much to do, but its reasonable that the recent PP take a little time to catch his/her breath. The wider Rotary world really is "invisible" to most at the club level, even to many PPs. From then on, its personal initiative that determines what that PP does regarding choices will he/she makes for future Rotary involvement. At the club level often one's involvement is driven by what the club needs. Beyond the club, an experienced Rotarian has a greater selection of choices of what activities match their interests and passions. The options are many, varied and can be selected more for the direct interest of the experienced Rotarian than the "prescribed duties" that must be done at the club level. To me, this is an exciting part of Rotary: the universe of choices for service. But the PP must chose, not wait for it to placed in his/her lap. If a PP waits for a request for participation, they may be disappoint

I was thinking about the Role Of Past Presidents in a Rotary Club. What should it be ! Manual of Procedure of Rotary & Rotary’s Website are both absolutely silent on Role of Past Presidents in Rotary Clubs. Not even a word has been written there in. ROTI – 2000 members worldwide – Discuss various Rotary Topics and exchange ideas on different Rotary Topics. I also invited ideas on the role of Past Presidents. Lots of ideas came but some appealed me more which I want to share with you. Past Presidents should not become Board members. It will give opportunity to other new members to take those positions and get involved. Only IPP’s should be there in the board for a year to maintain continuity. Only after becoming a PP one realizes as to how much work a president has to do. The PP’s must therefore work hard to support the future presidents. Some clubs become like a jar of pickles with some Past Presidents coming in the board every year. That prevents the club to give chance of getting other members in the board, who can bring in fresh ideas and more vibrancy in the club. Past Presidents should become mentors to new members. They should share Rotary with new Rotarians and try to make them more useful Rotarians and not merely Rotary club members. Past Presidents who want to stay involved should get involved at the District level. It's fun, rewarding and greatly expands your circle of Rotary friends. Past presidents should avoid sitting around with a “In My year Attitude”. This can’t do any good to you or your club. If you have done something so good in your year, do it in this year also. Your attachment to the club should increase with the passage of time. Anyway these were some of the ideas which came from my Rotarian friends on Internet and I wanted to share those with you.

Past Presidents or PP'S Past Presidents are an exclusive group of special Rotarians. It is not easy to become a PP. It takes years of training. First you have to be nominated by the Nominating Committee and /or elected by the members in the Annual General Meeting, do a year of being a President-Elect and if you are still around or willing to continue in this quest, you do another year of being President. There are 29,000 + Rotarians around the world in this endeavor each year. If you survive, ( don't run away, throw in the towel or be impeached ) you then are admitted to this elite fellowship as a IPP. (Immediate Past President). This is only for a year and then the I is dropped. You are awarded a Special Badge to wear, This is to let all know that you are now a "PP". Note: You are a president, only for a year, but a PP forever! MORE ON THIS FOLLOWS SOON