Tuesday, October 02, 2007 Leaders, bizmen told: Remember silent partners By Antonio M. Ajero
COMMUNITY leaders, businessmen and public servants in Davao were urged not to forget "silent partners" and recognize the contributions of "lowly employees" to the success of business ventures and community projects.
This was the message of architect Joseph Michaed "Yumi" Espina, district governor of Rotary International District 3860, in a speech before officers and members of some 20 Rotary clubs in the cities of Davao and Digos during last Friday's "Blue Jeans Night with the Governor."
The informal party, hosted by the Council of Presidents (COPS) of Davao clubs headed by Ismael Tabije of the Rotary Club of South Davao, capped the traditional visit to the Davao zones of the governor and his lady, Sandra.
District Governor Espina's exhortation about remembering lowly partners was part of this year's international theme "Rotary shares."
He urged Davao Rotarians, a mix of prominent professionals, businessmen, public servants and service leaders, not to look down upon those who have less in life, and to be kind to them.
"They may have less in life but they may be more learned than us. That goes true with many people who work with Rotary as partners. Many times, when we have successful activities and successful service projects, we fail to recognize our partners, those unknowns, we are being unkind to those who might have caused the success of our projects," he said.
"The world is full of silent partners and unknowns," he said adding. "You might have forgotten to recognize the small people who are behind your successes."
He said the architect who designs buildings is well known, yet those behind him - the employees, the lowly carpenters and masons are all unknown.
Businessmen running successful companies are well-known, but those who work for them, ordinary employees, their silent partners, are unknown, he said.
He likewise urged Rotarians to recognize their spouses, as he said the tendency to forget, to fail to recognize silent partners is not confined to governments, societies and organizations, we even find in our families.
Governor Espina also reminded Rotary clubs to increase their membership and always campaign for contributions to the Rotary Foundation which sustains multi-farious multi-million dollar humanitarian projects around the world.
