Each year since 1953, the president of Rotary International has chosen and promoted a theme, a word or phrase to inspire and challenge Rotarians in their community and worldwide avenues of service. President D.K. Lee has chosen for Rotary Year 2008-09 the theme Make Dreams Real.

     He emphasized the needs of children, and the preventable causes of sickness and death. Mentioning water, health, hunger, and literacy, he said "these are not just concerns of developing countries." He mentioned not only medical care, but "safe places to play, seatbelts, and smoke detectors." Local Rotary Clubs, he said, "must identify and address these concerns."

     Many local clubs, President Lee said, are already involved in programs that fit these goals, and he asked that current projects be continued, but new and related projects also be envisioned and undertaken.

     It is one thing to make plans for the Rotary Year, he said, but quite another thing to be sure they are carried through to completion. Making plans (dreaming) is a first step, but accomplishing those plans (making them real) requires organization and leadership that sets and accomplishes goals.

     Throughout the Rotary world, in more than 32,000 clubs, a new president assumed club leadership this month, aided by other officers, directors, and committees. Each new administration launched the year with its own set of dreams about what will be accomplished. But it takes action to make those dreams come true, and this is the thrust of President Lee's theme message.

     "We can do more as a club than we could do as individuals," he said. "We are able to do more through Rotary than we could do alone." He said Rotary has to be seen as a whole, with dual emphasis on fellowship and service. "Rotarians should be in Rotary because they want to give," he said, "but we can and should also acknowledge the many benefits to Rotary membership."

     A man came upon a construction site where he saw three bricklayers at work. He asked each one individually the same question: "What are you doing?"

     The first answered, "Can't you see, I'm laying bricks." The second said, "Well, I'm helping to build this wall." The third said, "I'm working to construct a mighty cathedral." Each bricklayer was contributing his part, but only one envisioned the finished project that would Make Dreams Real.