Power with Status

Rotaract Clubs are known as architects of individiuals of high Social and Professional Stature. In the endeavor of achieving this I did an analysis of people of such nature who are within my reach in the hope of finding what makes such individuals distinct. It was surprised at the ease at which I found what separates the sheep from the goats. 

Before proceeding with this article I think it is fitting to provide definitions for Power and for Status. Power lies in holding a formal position of authority or controlling important resources. Status involves being respected or admired.

It was interesting to note that reaction to power being exercised by high-status and low-status people is different. The natural response of people when low-status exercise authority is to label them as 'bossy', whereas their high-status conterparts are perceived as dominant, but also warm. They are held in high regard, so everyone is willing to follow their commands. When the same commands come from people who lack status, we judge them as dominant and cold. To put it simply they have not earned respect therefore there is the general feeling that they have no right to exercise their Power.

When young people get called bossy, it is often because they are trying to exercise power without status. It is not that they're being dominant; the backlash arises because they are overstepping their status. This is often the case when a young university graduate is employed in industry. They often are put in charge of people who have been around the organisation for a while. They lack any form of status in the organisation. This often leads to a reluctant workforce. There is often the "who does he/she think he/she is coming here and giving orders mentality" line of thought.

To receive positive reinforcement for early acts of leadership, young leaders should refrain from 'bossy' behavior. First engage in behaviors that earn admiration before asserting authority. These behaviors are competence and caring. We look up to people who are capable and concerned about others. We follow people once they have demonstrated that they have unique skills and will use them for the benefit of the group.

There is extensive evidence that the men and women who gain the most status are those who are giving and generous. By helping others, sharing credit, and showing an interest in others' opinions, men and women alike gain respect. Teammates end up rooting for them, instead of gunning for them.

Great leaders begin by earning status through their contributions and only then do they assert their authority.By demonstrating competence and concern for others, they'll earn the esteem to step up into positions of power. Then, when they lean in, others will be cheering them on.

Do not however feel obligated to take my word for it. Take a glance at most successful people local and internationally Strive Masiyiwa, Oprah Winfrey, the Late Nelson Mandela.  Feel free to give a verdict and share your opinions.

It is also very interesting to note that the very foundation of Rotary International were also base somewhat on Competence and Caring. A group of professional who decide to be of service to the community. Look at the size of Rotary International today and how Rotarian are revered. Coincidence? I think not.

World Rotaract Week celebrating 46years of service

So much more than community service…

Rotaract is an international organization of service clubs for men and women aged 18-30 that fosters leadership and responsible citizenship, encourages high ethical standards in business and promotes international understanding and peace.

This year (2014)  Rotaract turns 46  years, it has now become the Rotary's biggest achievement under its youth service(formerly new generations) program as well as the biggest youth organisation in the world 

Interesting history of Rotaract…

Rotaract is a program of Rotary International. These Clubs work under the guidance of their local Rotary Club, and take their name from a combination of the words Rotary and action. Rotaract was officially inaugurated during January 1968 under RI President Luther Hodges. The first officially chartered Rotaract Club was in North Charlotte, North Carolina, on 13 March, 1968; however, clubs with young people associated in service with local Rotary Clubs had existed for several years all over the world.

The earliest known predecessors to Rotaract, Twenty-Thirty clubs, were first sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sacramento, California, USA. These clubs were based on the principles and goals of their sponsoring Rotary clubs, and membership was open to young professionals and university students. The first meeting of a Twenty-Thirty club was held on 19 December 1922. At one point, the movement claimed as many as 125 clubs under the sponsorship of California Rotary clubs, and published a monthly magazine.

In 1927, Round Table clubs were founded in Great Britain and Ireland. Membership in Round Table clubs was open to young men ages 18 to 40, and by 1935 more than 90 Round Table clubs existed. In November 1930, the first Apex club was formed in Geelong, Australia. Apex clubs grew rapidly, expanding to more than 20 clubs in just a few years. These clubs were sponsored by Rotary clubs, and were open to professionals and students between the ages of 18 and 35.

Similar Rotary club-sponsored groups continued to spring up simultaneously and independently around the globe. Unisserve clubs in India, Orbis clubs in South America, Rotors clubs in South Africa, Paul Harris Circles in Europe, and Quadrant clubs in the United States are some of the best-known examples. Eventually, these clubs would provide the base for the future growth of Rotaract as the clubs adopted new names under the Rotaract program.

The decision to adopt the Rotaract program came at a time when student and young adult protests worldwide were of growing concern to Rotarians. The Rotaract program was adopted not only as means of keeping former Interactors within the Rotary family, but as a means of channeling the energies of young adults into positive activities that could benefit their communities.

By 1981, Rotaract was so popular that Rotaractors in South Africa decided to host the first INTEROTA conference, an international meeting for all Rotaractors. Subsequent conferences have been held every three years. To date, INTEROTA conferences have been hosted by Rotaractors in Australia, Brazil, England, Mexico, South Africa, and Turkey. International meetings for Rotaractors are also held every year at the Rotaract Pre-convention Meeting, that precedes Rotary’s annual convention. The first such meeting was held in Seoul, Korea, in 1989, with more than 450 Rotaractors in attendance.

In February 1991, the first Rotaract club in Eastern Europe was chartered in Budapest, Hungary, with the help of Austrian Rotaractors. Ties in Eastern Europe were further strengthened when the same Austrian Rotaractors helped charter the Rotaract Club of Prague in what was the Czechoslovakia later in 1991. In March 1992, the RI Board established World Rotaract Week, which is celebrated annually during the week of 13 March to commemorate the chartering of the first Rotaract club. During World Rotaract Week, Rotaractors attend meetings with their sponsoring Rotary clubs, undertake joint service projects, and speak with clubs that do not sponsor Rotaract clubs about the benefits of the program.

Since 1968, Rotaractors have continually shown that they can be an innovative and positive force for change in their communities. Service activities commonly undertaken include projects to improve the environment, visits with the elderly or disabled, blood or organ donation campaigns, and aid to developing countries. One example of the ingenuity employed by Rotaractors is a project undertaken by the Rotaract Clubs of Heemstede and Hillegom-Lissee, the Netherlands, in 1987. In order to raise funds for PolioPlus, Rotaractors from the two clubs designed an amphibious cycle that would cross the English Channel under the power of 36 Rotaractors. The campaign raised US$210,000 for PolioPlus and earned the Rotaractors a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for their speedy crossing.

This is just a few of the many wonders of rotaract, and what it has accomplished the world over. If you are not yet a member find a rotaract club near you go to www.rotaract.org  and become part of the family that has had a big & positive impact of the world 

ADRR Nyasha Muronzi

This month we chat to ADDR Nyasha Muronzi, more affectionately known by those close to him as Nash. He is of the members who were there at the foundation of the club back on the 25th of June 2011. During the time the club was chartered he was Club Secretary, as such he is in a position to tell us some of the Club's most important history. He has served the club ever since and currently holds the office of Club Services Director.
Although a lot of interesting and peculiar have hit the Rotaract grapevine (I don't gossip, it's my job to know!) I had to refrain from the more personal questions. This interview has more to do with the undocumented histories of the Rotaract Club of Matopos. It also features Mr. Muronzi's history in relation to his work in the club.

Me: Hello Mr. Muronzi, thank you for making time for this interview
Nyasha: It's a pleasure, and please, Nash will do just fine.

Me: As one of the few remaining members who were there since the founding of the Rotaract Club of Matopos may you tell us in brief about the founding?
Nyasha: The Club was founded in 2011, should be in April. We were members from different tertiary institutions in Bulawayo. We were under the mentorship and guidance of Rotarian Ibrahim Esast and thus the Rotaract Club of Matops was formed.

Me: The Rotaract Club of Matopos was formed when the Rotaract Club of Belmont was already in operation. Why and who felt that there was need and that it was the right time for a second rotaract club to be formed.
Nyasha: There is no limit to the number of Rotaract Clubs that can exist in an area. Ideally every Rotary club would have a Rotaract Club it sponsors. Our parent club, The Rotary Club of Matopos felt it was the right time for them to sponsor their own Rotaract Club. Thus here we are. 
As the saying goes 'The more the merrier'.

Me: At the time you were the Club Secretary, so I think you are in a position to tell us the challenges that were faced during that time? 
Nyasha: Well the obvious challenge was that I knew nothing about my role and about Rotaract. It was like we were just babies  because we knew absolutely nothing and we were still trying to find the balance between Rotaract and other aspects of our lives

Me: In what ways can you say the club has changed since then?
Nyasha: The Club has changed enormously since then. Membership has grown and members are now more informed on what Rotaract is all about. We have also established contacts and friendships with other Rotaractors in the district and beyond.

Me: Currently you hold the office of ADRR, may you tell us what acronym stands for and what the role entails.
Nyasha: My full title is "ADRR Clubs and Membership Extention". The Acronym stands for Assistant District Rotaract Representative. From the first word you can tell that I am an assistant. I function as an assistant to the DRR. My role specifically is to promote the Rotaract program in the district. I oversee the formation of new Rotaract Clubs as well as see to the increase in membership of existing clubs

Me: And what selection criteria is used to elect office-bearers, what attributes does one have to have to be ADRR?
Nyasha: The post of ADRR is an appointed post, the DRR appoints ADDRs whom she believes will do well in the district committee on basis of their individual strengths. I was appointed because I am an inducted member and have served as a committee director in Rotaract and possess the necessary experience to lead the district.

Me: What milestone have been achieved during anytime in any one of the three offices that you have occupied 
Nyasha: Well, that is a tricky question. I do not want to appear to be bragging, but then I believe I have earned the right to brag. I do not think I can single one out  because all three have their milestone achievements.
As secretary I managed to set up a Twitter account (my favourite social networking site) for the Rotaract Club of Matopos. Consequently we became and still are the most active and interactive club in Rotary District 9210. This has helped the club grow and gain popularity and take part in a monthly global Rotaract Chat. this can be access on twitter under  the hashtag #RACTALK. We have used this platform to make friends with Rotaractors and Rotarians from all over the world and even gone on to do international projects.
During my term as ADRR the number of Rotaract Clubs has grown from 12 to 18, 15 of the 18 clubs have already been chartered.  
As Club Services Director my greatest achievement comes under fellowship.There has been the introduction of Celebration Nights. We celebrate members, birthdays and great achievements (like Graduations) by members by cakes and awards ceremonies.

Me: Apart from being ADRR of the district, you are also the Club Services Director of the Rotaract Club Of Matopos. How has been being in office been rewarding?
Nyasha: Being Club Services Director has bee rewarding on so many levels. I love my post as Director and my committee members are awesome. Together have done great things for the Club. It was because of them that I was awarded medal from the President for Outstanding Director. 
As Club Services Director I have discovered that I can be more than just a handsome* face in the club but someone who is in the forefront of things, be the person that people can count on. Most importantly, I have learnt the importance of a great team and teamwork.

*DISCLAIMER

*the writer feels the obligation to highlight that the view expressed is not the view of the writer (and the writer is of the opinion that it is view that Nash does not share with anyone else), the Rotaract Club of Matopos, Rotaract Worldwide,  Rotary International, their affiliates, the world and the universe but those of Mr. Muronzi. 

Me: On a more personal note, because I know the readers would never be happy if I leave this out. Any plans for marriage anytime soon. Will we be seeing little Nashs or  (whatever the plural may be)  anytime soon?
Nyasha: (Laughs) You need to find new readers Sir. There are no plans of marriage in the horizon so no little nashes running around anytime soon but I do have a better half who I am crazy about. I know the female readers will be gravely disappointed to read that as they were hoping I would ask them out but hey will have to settle for my friendship.

At this point I must say it became apparent that Nash's personal life was something that could not be let alone. There's a lady! or rather better half (well... I can't just assume at this point you know). I did what common consent would obviously require. I dug deeper.

Me: Does this better half have a name perhaps?
Nyasha: Well somehow I saw that question coming, I guess it's time to put the cat out of the bag. Her name is Patience Moyo

Me: Please tell us how you met and give our single readers out there some tips on finding love.
It is an interesting story actually. We met in a queue at a passport office, she was standing right in front of me. We started moaning about the terrible service there. We ended up helping each other survive the horrors of the passport office. We kept in touch after that and the rest is just boring details. The end result is we are now a couple though it took some months.
To the single people out there looking for love contrary to popular belief it is very easy to find love. The trick is to just be patient and not to just go about dating everyone you come across. Look for that person who you are willing to go out of your way to make happy no matter how difficult they make it, that one person who know your weirdness accepts it and loves you for it, that one person who you can't imagine what your life would be without them in it. This can only be done through courtship and not this hooking up business that most people do these days. Let me end there I can talk about this until kingdom come.

Me: Thank you very much Nash for making time for this interview, I think I speak for everyone when I wish you the most rewarding of relationships.
Nyasha: Like I said before, It has been a pleasure.

On that lighter note the interview with the Assistant District Rotaract Representative ends. If you wish to be furnished with more information follow him on twitter (he would say that). His twitter handle is @nashMcRonzie. 

I think I speak for everyone in the Rotaract Family of Bulawayo as a whole when I say Nash is one of our most popular celebrities (I took the liberty of verifying the definition) for reasons which would need another article altogether.

AND WE'RE TWINNED.

It is with great pleasure that I write the first piece on our blog about the Rotaract Club of Ege. Thanks to the great work done by the International Services committee led by Director Dennis Makofi the Rotaract Club of Ege is officially twinned to the Rotaract Club of Matopos.

Information made available to us indicates that the club is based in the city of Ìzmir which is in Turkey. You will continue receiving news from the International news desk about our new twin club as it is made available to us. 

We look forward to a healthy and fruitful working relationship with them. Now, let the projects roll.....