Rotary’s Global Network Tackles Loneliness and Builds Community

I’m not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.

Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.

When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.

Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!

Devin: What is your superpower?

John: When you talk about my superpower, I think it's grasping a vision, a strategic direction, a strategic idea, or an important idea, and then rallying people around that idea and then driving it to a successful outcome.

Loneliness has become a public health crisis, as highlighted by the U.S. Surgeon General. Rotary International offers a solution through its unmatched global platform of 46,000 clubs, bringing 1.4 million people together across over 200 countries.

John Hewko, Rotary’s General Secretary and CEO, shared in today’s episode how Rotary’s mission addresses this growing issue. “Our clubs are all about bringing people together, about building connections,” John explained. “It provides an outstanding vehicle to stay connected, not be isolated, and to make a difference through that connection.”

Since its founding in 1905, Rotary has evolved from a professional networking organization to a dynamic platform for community service. Members find opportunities to engage in local, regional, and international projects, making a tangible impact. John emphasized the organization’s flexibility, allowing clubs to pursue initiatives that resonate with their members. “Rotary is exactly the opposite in terms of top-down,” he noted. “Each club has significant autonomy to carry out those things that the members are passionate about.”

One of Rotary’s most inspiring examples of grassroots initiative is the organization’s decades-long effort to eradicate polio. What began as a small vaccination project in the Philippines has grown into a global campaign, reducing cases from 350,000 annually in 1985 to just 88 last year. “Rotarians have contributed over $2.7 billion to that effort,” John shared. “It’s a great example of the power of individuals rallying around a cause.”

Rotary’s adaptability and global reach make it a powerful antidote to isolation. Through fellowship and service, members build deep connections while contributing to meaningful projects. If you’re looking for an organization where you can engage locally and make an impact globally, Rotary might be the perfect fit.

Visit Rotary.org to find a club near you and join a community of changemakers.

tl;dr:

* Rotary’s 46,000 clubs combat loneliness and isolation by building community and fostering connections.

* Members engage in local, regional, and global projects, including Rotary’s polio eradication campaign.

* Rotary’s adaptability includes online and cause-based clubs, attracting diverse, younger members worldwide.

* John Hewko’s superpower, visionary leadership, transforms strategic ideas into impactful global initiatives.

* Visit Rotary.org to join a network empowering individuals to make a difference globally and locally.

How to Develop Visionary Leadership As a Superpower

John’s superpower is his ability to envision strategic goals and rally people around them. “It’s grasping a vision, a strategic direction, or an important idea and driving it to a successful outcome,” John explained. He highlighted his role in promoting regional flexibility within Rotary to adapt to different needs worldwide, demonstrating his knack for strategic thinking.

John’s leadership was pivotal in transforming a local Rotary fundraising event, the Tour de Tucson bike ride, into a global effort. Initially raising $15,000 annually, John mobilized Rotary’s global network, helping to generate over $70 million for polio eradication in 12 years. His passion for cycling and strategic vision turned a modest initiative into a monumental success.

Tips for Developing Visionary Leadership:

* Analyze challenges critically to identify barriers to success.

* Pilot ideas locally to build momentum and demonstrate feasibility.

* Use thoughtful arguments to build consensus rather than imposing solutions.

* Foster adaptability by recognizing when traditional methods are no longer effective.

* Leverage networks and communication to amplify successful ideas.

By following John Hewko’s example and advice, you can make visionary leadership a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.

Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!

Guest Profile

John Hewko (he/him):

General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Rotary International

About Rotary International: Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.2 million people of action from more than 45,000 Rotary clubs around the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world.

Website: rotary.org

X/Twitter Handle: @Rotary

Company Facebook Page: fb.com/rotary/

Other URL: endpolio.org

Biographical Information: John Hewko is the general secretary and chief executive officer of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. From 2004 to 2009, Hewko was vice president for operations and compact development for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), a U.S. government agency established in 2004 to deliver foreign assistance to the world’s poorest countries.

X/Twitter Handle: @JohnHewko

Personal Facebook Profile: fb.com/JohnHewko/

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/johnhewko/

Support Our Sponsors

Our generous sponsors make our work possible, serving impact investors, social entrepreneurs, community builders and diverse founders. Today’s advertisers include FundingHope, Bellevue Montgomery, Solvari and How to Make Money with Impact Crowdfunding. Learn more about advertising with us here.

Max-Impact Members

The following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support:

Carol Fineagan, Independent Consultant | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Paul Lovejoy, Stakeholder Enterprise | Pearl Wright, Global Changemaker | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Scott Thorpe, Philanthropist | Add Your Name Here

Upcoming SuperCrowd Event Calendar

If a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.

* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on January 21, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.

* SuperCrowdHour, February 19, 2025, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Devin Thorpe will be leading a session on "Calculating Your Funding Needs," providing essential guidance for entrepreneurs and impact-driven businesses to determine the right amount to raise for sustainable growth. Whether you're preparing for your first crowdfunding campaign or planning to scale, this is a must-attend! Don’t miss it!

* SuperCrowdLA: we’re going to be live in Santa Monica, California, May 1-3. Plan to join us for a major, in-person event focused on scaling impact. Sponsored by Digital Niche Agency, ProActive Real Estate and others. This will be a can’t-miss event. Has your business been impacted by the recent fires? Apply now for a chance to receive one of 10 free tickets to SuperCrowdLA on May 2nd and 3rd and gain the tools to rebuild and grow!

Community Event Calendar

* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events

* RootsCamp, A powerful and unique (un)conference in Baltimore for progressive organizers to reflect on the election and share lessons and strategies to build our future, January 23-25th.

* Community Capital Live, Bernel Hall, New Jersey Community Capital, January 29, 2:00 PM Eastern.

* Igniting Community Capital to Build Outdoor Recreation Communities, Crowdfund Better, Thursdays, March 20 & 27, April 3 & 10, 2025, at 1:00 PM ET.

* NC3 Changing the Paradigm: Mobilizing Community Investment Funds, March 7, 2025

* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, April 1-2, 2-25.

* Regulated Investment Crowdfunding Summit 2025, Crowdfunding Professional Association, Washington DC, October 21-22, 2025.

If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.

We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode.