At no other time has this theme been more critical and relevant than in the current COVID-19 scenario.

The pandemic has not only threatened the economic health and survival of communities around the world but also created a direct threat to life. Everyone needs to do their bit to help each other. Here are some simple things that we can do in everyday life to enhance economic and community development:

a) Support entrepreneurs and small businesses in the community with technical and commercial know-how and market connects.

b) Purchase goods and supplies locally to stimulate the economy. We can do this for our service projects as well.

c) Expand vocational training opportunities, including job placement programs.

d) Partner with organisations which provides training to communities using the locally available skills and resources.

e) Provide equipment, supplies and know-how to cooperatives and self-help groups to increase production and sales in the local market.

Every community has different needs and opportunities to serve. Read the ‘Economic and Community Development Project Strategies’ guide book from Rotary International here: Economic and Community Development Project Strategies

View this inspiring story of how Rotary helped improve the economic conditions of the Maheshwari silk saree weavers’ community

Rotary International was established in 1905 as the male-dominated service organisation. The Supreme Court of USA on 4th May 1987, asked the Rotary International to accept female members in Rotary. In 1989, the RI’s Council on Legislation passed the resolution that the words ’male only’ will be deleted from the provisions of eligibility for membership. The official induction of female members in the Rotary Clubs started thereafter. Rotary waited for a long to see the female Rotarian at the helm of the affairs. In the recent meeting of RI President’s Nomination Committee, the members unanimously nominated Rtn. Jennifer E. Jones for the post of the President of Rotary International for the Rotary year 2022-2023. Her nomination went unchallenged and she was declared as the RI President Nominee on 1st October 2020. This has created history in the 115 years old organisation which has elected the Lady Rotarian as the President of RI for the first time.

Jennifer E. Jones is the member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada (RID 6400). She is currently The Rotary Foundation Trustee and has served as RI Vice President, Director, Training Leader, Committee Chair, Moderator, and District Governor. She played a lead role as the Chair to strengthen Rotary’s Advisory Group. She is the Co-Chair of the ‘End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee,’ which aims to raise One Hundred Fifty Million Dollars for polio eradication efforts. Jones recently raised the critical funds for COVID-19 relief activities.

Jennifer Jones is the recipient of RI’s ‘Service Above Self’ Award and The Rotary Foundation Citation for ’Meritorious Service.’ She and her husband, Nick Krayacich, are members of The Rotary Foundation’s Arch Klumph Society, Paul Harris Society and the Bequest Society.

Jennifer Jones has done the Doctorate in law and she works in the media business. She is the Founder President of ‘Media Street Productions Inc.,’ an award-winning media company in Windsor, Canada. She was the Chairperson of the Board of Governors of the University of Windsor and also of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. She has been recognized for her service with the YMCA Peace Medallion, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Wayne State University’s Peacemaker of the Year Award, bestowed for the first time on the Canadian citizen.

One of the Rotary International's most powerful speakers and recognized communicators, Jennifer has presented keynote addresses and training workshops at hundreds of conferences across North America and in Russia, Panama, Thailand, Portugal, Finland, India, Sri Lanka, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, England, Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Greece, Italy and Germany.

Jennifer is happily married to Nick Krayacich a local Family Physician. They share a love for many things including travel, cycling, golf and relaxing at their family cottage. They share a thirst for adventure and reached the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa in January 2009.

Shobha and I had an opportunity to meet and greet her briefly in Rotary International’s Convention in Hamburg, Germany in June 2019. She likes to hug her friends in western style while greeting them. She is a charming lady, eager to meet people and make friends with. She was expected to be the President of RI, but we had no idea that the day will come so soon.

She is truly the Dream Girl of Rotary and has genuinely brought the weather of change in Rotary.