The Power of Limited Resources – The Three Cs for Sustainable Change
When Less is More
No matter the challenges we face, there never seem to be enough resources – time, money, or people – to solve them. Ironically, even in rare cases where resources are abundant, we often fail to use them effectively.
A famous example of this was the race to create the first powered aircraft in the early 1900s. The odds-on favorite was Samuel P. Langley, head of the Smithsonian Institution, backed by the US government. Langley’s team had the pedigree, funds, and brainpower. In competition with them were two brothers from Dayton, Ohio, USA, who ran a bicycle shop – Orville and Wilbur Wright. If betting had been popular then, all the “smart money” would have been on the Smithsonian team.
But on December 17, 1903, at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, USA, the Wright brothers, despite their very limited resources, made history by achieving the first powered flight. It turned out that having vast money and talent wasn’t the winning formula.
📌 (For a short history of the competition, watch this video.)
When resources are scarce, creativity becomes the key driver — just as it did for Orville and Wilbur Wright.
How Can RAGCED Learn from the Wright Brothers?
At the Rotary Action Group for Community Economic Development (RAGCED), we face the challenge of limited resources too. However, by identifying and strategically deploying the key resources we do have, we can maximize our impact.
I believe RAGCED has three key resources — the Three Cs:
CADRE
Connections
College
Let’s explore how each of these can help us achieve sustainable economic development.
1. CADRE – Our Network of Experts
When Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder, formed the first club, he intentionally brought together individuals with diverse professional expertise rather than just fellow lawyers. To this day, Rotary promotes diversity of skills in its membership to help tackle problems from multiple perspectives.
On a global scale, The Rotary Foundation created CADRE—a group of recognized experts in various fields. RAGCED has its own CADRE, comprising approximately 100 experts in different aspects of economic development.
Together, this network forms the equivalent of a worldwide Rotary club focused on economic development. By growing and activating this CADRE, we can leverage their expertise to drive impactful projects.
2. Connections – Partnering for Greater Impact
Connections are at the heart of Rotary’s strength. Just as Rotary’s fight against polio was made possible by partnering with key organizations, RAGCED aims to do the same in the realm of economic development.
Polio eradication is not solely the result of Rotarians vaccinating children, but rather due to Rotary’s leadership in bringing together diverse organizations under one shared mission. Similarly, RAGCED is building partnerships with third-party organizations to amplify its impact.
📌 Example: We are currently initiating a major project in village savings groups with World Vision in Uganda.
If you are involved with a highly effective organization, please bring it to the attention of Biswajit Ghosh, head of our Partnership Committee.
3. College – Empowering through Education
Rotary has a long-standing legacy of transforming lives through scholarships. Programs like Global Grant Scholarships and Peace Scholarships offer individuals the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills that foster lasting change.
RAGCED envisions applying this same model to Community Economic Development (CED). Our goal is to greatly expand CED scholarships in the future.
📌 Long-term vision: Just as we have Rotary Peace Centers at universities worldwide, we hope to eventually establish CED-focused centers to drive innovation and sustainability in economic development.
Our incoming President, Wally Gardiner, is leading a committee dedicated to expanding this vision.
Three Cs = Change
Ultimately, the Three Cs—CADRE, Connections, and College—lead to a fourth C: Change. Just as the Wright brothers changed the world through their innovation, RAGCED has the potential to drive lasting, sustainable economic change globally.
Beyond Charity – Embracing Sustainability through Business
One final lesson from the Wright brothers: profit motive played a key role in their success. Unlike Langley, who was driven by prestige and government funding, the Wrights were motivated by the potential commercial value of powered flight.
Likewise, RAGCED recognizes that true sustainability in economic development comes from empowering people to generate profit through business, not just charity. Our mission is to identify ways to solve pressing social problems through entrepreneurship and sustainable enterprise.
Charting the Path Forward
With limited resources, Orville and Wilbur Wright changed the course of history. With your support, RAGCED can drive meaningful and sustainable economic development worldwide.
By leveraging our Three Cs—CADRE, Connections, and College—we can build a path toward lasting impact and transformational change.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s continue to innovate, collaborate, and create sustainable solutions—just as the Wright brothers did.