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        Rotary International's president, William B Boyd, has chosen 'Lead the Way' as the theme for the 2006-07 Rotary Year. On 17 February, 2006, he told incoming district Governors at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA: 'This will be my theme and an affirmation of my belief in the power of Rotarians to change the world, one positive act at a time.'

W B (BILL) BOYD, president, Rotary International 2006-2007 and Mrs Boyd

Every year at the Assembly, Rotary's incoming president unveils a theme for the next Rotary year. The theme for 2005-06 under Rotary International President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar which has just ended, was 'Service Above Self', the same as Rotary's longtime motto.         Every incoming president has to face the challenge of finding a theme that is short, inspiring and inspirational, feasible, practicable and translatable into immediate concrete action. By acting upon the chosen theme, each Rotarian experiences that fullness of life which comes from fitting noble ideals into heroic action. When asked as to how he arrived at this year's theme of 'Lead the way', William B Boyd replied that it popped into his head and that he 'just felt it right'.         At the International Assembly in February 2006, William B. Boyd's message was enthusiastically received by the Governors-elect who were present at the meet. Boyd told them: 'In the coming year, I ask each of you to take your places as leaders in your districts and your communities.       I ask each of you to lead in the Rotary way, by living as role models of tolerance, unselfishness, and integrity. And because the best leaders have humility, I ask you to do all of this with friendliness and a smile, so that others will be happy to walk beside you.'         In conclusion Boyd observed: 'As Rotarians, we are not content to let matters stay the way they have always been in our clubs or in our communities. We are not content with the status quo, and we do not look at a problem only to say someone else will solve it. We are the ones who ask, 'Why not us?' We are the ones with the skills and the desire to build a better future. And we are the ones who must Lead the Way.'

To lead the way means Leadership. Leadership is 'action' and not 'position'. Leaders are the custodians of an organization's or a nation's ideals, of the beliefs it cherishes, of its permanent hopes, of the faith which makes an organization or a nation out of a mere aggregation of individuals. By his clear and categorical message for 2006-2007, William B Boyd has made a clarion call to all the Rotarians in the world to act together, to march together, to serve together and to achieve together, translating the highest ideals of Rotary into effective action for creating a more prosperous, peaceful and humane world.         William B Boyd's emphasis is on that kind of leadership that scales the peak, wrestles with the impossible and achieves the highest aim. Proper leadership revives ideals, renews dreams and revitalizes vision. An effective Rotary Leader should show the capacity to free himself and others from the morass of fear, doubt, anxiety and uncertainty. It is this kind of leadership which has the courage to risk a wrong decision rather than make no decision at all. Simply and plainly defined, a dedicated Rotary leader is a man who has dedicated followers. Such a leader has earned his recognition through selfless service. He does not depend upon letter of authority alone to command his respect. The dedicated Rotary leader considers himself a great servant. He sees things through the eyes of his followers. He has the empathy to put himself in their shoes and helps them make their dreams come true.

Logo of Rotary International 2006-2007

J B Kamdar, district governor 2006 - 2007 and Mrs Kamdar

The Rotary leader does not say: get going! Instead he says: Let us go, and leads the way. He does not walk behind with a whip, he is out in front with the banner. Such a leader assumes that his followers are working with him and not for him. He considers them partners in the work. He glorifies the team spirit. Such a leader duplicates himself in others. He is a man builder; he is an institution builder. He does not hold people down, he lifts them up. The leader has faith in people. He believes in them, trusts them and thus draws out the best in them. The leader uses his heart as well as his head. He is not only a boss, he is also a friend. He is both a man of thought and a man of action - both dreamer and doer.         The leader has a sense of humour. He is not a stuffed shirt. He can laugh at himself. He is a humble spirit. Even though he is totally involved in leading the way, yet he is not just interested only in his own way, but in finding the best way. He has an open mind. He keeps his eyes on high goals. He strives all the time to make the efforts of his followers and himself contribute significantly to the enrichment of personality, the achievement of more abundant living for all and the improvement of civilization.

William B Boyd's message of 'Lead the Way' highlights the importance of great leadership in the field of humanitarian service. His message is applicable not only to the world of Rotary but to all the other worlds as well. Great leadership is a unique form of art, requiring both force and vision to an extraordinary degree. Leadership is more than technique, though certain techniques are necessary. Great leadership is quite distinct from good management. In a sense, management is prose; leadership is poetry. The leader necessarily has to deal in symbols, in images, and in the sort of a galvanizing idea that becomes a force of history. People are persuaded by reason but moved by emotion. A great leader must both persuade them and move them. A manager thinks of today and tomorrow. A leader must think of the day-after-tomorrow. A manager is a process; a great leader represents a direction of history. A manager with nothing to manage becomes nothing. A leader always remains a leader - whether in office or out of office.         Nixon, the American President, summed up the position eloquently in this context: Great leadership requires a great vision, one that inspires the leader and enables him to inspire the nation. People both love the leader and hate him. They are seldom indifferent towards him. It is not enough for a leader to know the right thing. He must also be able to do the right thing. The would-be leader without the judgement or perception to make the right decisions fails for lack of vision. The one who knows the right thing but cannot achieve it fails because he is ineffectual or ineffective. The great leader needs both the vision and the capacity to achieve what is right.

Paul Harris, founder, Rotary International

        The International Rotary Movement founded by Paul Harris in 1905 has reached all parts of the world today in the field of vocational service, social service and welfare, women's welfare, child development, vocational and higher education, public health and sanitation and several spheres of socio-economic development. To wipe every tear from every eye is one of the declared objectives of the Rotary Movement. Rotary is much more than the sum of its parts. Every programme of Rotary, the club and district activities, the scholarships and exchanges and the vast varied humanitarian projects - serve a different purpose. No two clubs anywhere are exactly alike, and it is in this diversity we see the real strength of the Rotary Movement.

        To conclude in the inspiring and moving words of this year's International Rotary President William B Boyd: Together, we show the world that a better future is possible anywhere and everywhere and that generosity of spirit, tolerance for differences and high moral values are not obstacles to success but the path to success. In a world full of ethical challenges, where cooperation among countries and tolerance of differences is so vital to peace, Rotary provides a much-needed example of solid integrity, international cooperation and the spirit of volunteerism.

        As Rotarians we know that it is not enough to dream about a better world. A better world will come only through careful planning, honest cooperation and hard work. Together we will LEAD THE WAY.