Frank & Gloria Rita Devlyn
Meet Frank Devlyn
|
A conversation with 2000-01 Rotary International President
Frank J. Devlyn |
| Frank J. Devlyn is a
freewheeling, expansive enterprise. One topic leads to
another, especially when he's speaking about Rotary. He segues
easily from subject to subject, whether he's speaking English
or Spanish. On the late-April morning of our interview, he's
finishing up an animated conference call to Mexico, two
speaker-phones sounding, as he responds to an invitation to
participate in a televised forum about urban violence and
crime prevention. Raised "on the border" between Mexico and the United States, Frank proudly describes himself as bicultural. "As a youngster and student, I spent time in both countries every day," he says. "Home was in Juarez, Mexico, where my mother's family came from, and I went to school in El Paso, Texas. I experienced both cultures intensely every day of my life, and was immersed equally in them." Frank's father, Frank Devlyn, Sr., a World War I veteran of Irish descent, came from a small town near Chicago, Illinois. Frank, Sr., was an optometrist, as is Frank's mother, Nelva. After they married, they moved to Nelva's northern Mexico hometown of Juarez, Mexico's largest border city, and opened a small optical shop. "It was a typical mom-and-pop operation," says Frank. "I grew up in the family business, and worked in the store every day after school. I still remember the day when, at age nine, I made my first pair of eyeglasses." "I think I inherited from my father the desire to expand our single shop to become a small optical chain. Working closely with my father, we opened additional stores." When Frank turned 22, his father died. By that time, the Devlyns had opened their seventh optical shop. Frank then had to lead the family business with the help of his mother and two younger brothers. In both hard times and good times, the Devlyn chain of optical stores has continued to expand. Today there are more than 400 stores in the Devlyn Optical Group, the largest retail optical company in Latin America, with branches in Mexico, Colombia and Guatemala. Frank knows exactly what to credit for the company's rapid expansion: "Advertising and marketing," he says, "made the company what it is today. Our goal was to make 'Devlyn' a household word for optical goods in Mexico, and we clearly succeeded. For example, we were a pioneer in television advertising." In growing the family business, Frank learned the value of marketing and applied the insights he acquired while attending the University of Texas at El Paso and I.P.A.D.E., a prestigious business school in Mexico City. "Advertising and marketing are essential. Of course, you must have a good product, good service and good people as the foundation, but advertising and marketing fuel growth." Frank credits some simple but practical learning experiences for helping unleash his business success. "When I look back on my youth," he says, "I can identify certain basic skills that helped me immensely to succeed. First was learning to type at age 12. It was a practical, useful skill. And a typed letter in English from someone in Mexico made the writer stand out, so typing helped me advance. I became an optical distributor at age 16."Public speaking classes added to my communications skills and helped to increase my self- confidence. It also opened doors for me outside of the business world." Traveling and observing how business operates worldwide have helped him immensely and have presented opportunities to make all kinds of business connections that have been beneficial to the Devlyn Group. His gregarious nature helped, too. "I've been able to cultivate friendships and acquaintances at all levels of society, including business, community, religious, media and political leaders. I do the same in Rotary." As testament to his prodigious networking ability, Frank sits on the boards of numerous national and international groups. He is frequently asked to serve in a public capacity, such as the invitation from a Mexican TV network mentioned at the beginning of this article. The televised forum on urban violence for which Frank would serve as moderator would feature the six candidates for the presidency of Mexico. "I know them all," he says matter-of-factly, no trace of boasting in his voice. "People often describe me as PR-oriented, and I suppose they're right. I believe strongly in public relations, whether for business or any other cause, including Rotary. When my daughter, Melanie, was in college, her school invited international personalities as guest speakers at major world affairs seminars — something that had not been done before. I was surprised that the university and student leaders asked me to be one of its PR persons and greet these personalities." Frank met Ronald Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Alexander Haig, Jeane Kirkpatrick and other major international political figures. Frank seems to be hardwired for inquisitiveness. "I like to know how things work, what impact they can have. I'm a constant student, always looking to learn something and apply it to everything else in life. I try to see possibilities and opportunities in everything, failures as well as successes." Frank enjoys reading biographies and autobiographies. "I read the lines — and between the lines. I like to learn how and why individuals became successful — or why they failed. It doesn't matter if they had careers in business, politics, science or any other field." "Wherever I travel, I look for Rotary successes that can be shared, whether they apply to service projects, club programs or membership development. One of my constant goals as a Rotarian is to take success stories to other clubs. In my year as president, that will continue to be a priority." He joined the three-week old Rotary Club of Anáhuac in Mexico City when he was 29. "I doubt at that time, the larger clubs in town would have invited a businessman of my age." He served as the club's third president. In September, Frank will celebrate 30 years of perfect attendance. Club projects, too, must be meaningful to members. "They want to know that they are helping to make a difference." President Frank believes that for Rotary, change is both necessary and inevitable. "To face the new century, Rotary must change. It's the hardest thing in the world to accomplish, but it must be done. Rotary must change with the times, but change with the dignity that our organization requires." His blueprint for Rotary in 2000-01 is characteristically ambitious. Its framework is in the list of key emphases to which he often refers. To help Rotarians carry out the mission for 2000-01 and give meaning and life to the theme of Create Awareness — Take Action, Frank has appointed 20 task forces. Each one focuses on work that Rotary clubs worldwide are doing today, he says. Each one has "a specific reason for being," well-defined goals and a plan of action. They are asked to be "proactive," one of his favorite words. He's a booster of technology. He casually ticks off a short list that he will be promoting and which he feels will help the organization: satellite TV, e-mail, the Web, videoconferencing — and videoconferencing on the Web. "We must make greater use of the Internet in all areas of our service," he argues. As president-elect, Frank launched his own Web site — now linked to the R.I. Web site — as a fast, effective way to communicate with his team of governors, club presidents and committee and task force members. According to Web master and Rotarian Harriett Schloer of Bend, Oregon, U.S.A., the site registers more than 2,500 visits a day and the number is growing fast.Following I.B. Tom Sutton (1928-29) and Carlos Canseco (1984-85), Frank is the third R.I. president from Mexico. Past President Carlos, Frank's Rotary friend and mentor for many years, has high expectations for the 2000-01 year. "The dedication and commitment that Frank has given to Rotary is known worldwide," says Carlos, "especially in Mexico. There is no better qualified Rotarian to occupy the presidency of Rotary International at the start of a new century." These life lessons — or at least the underlying principles — can often be applied to Rotary, he believes. "Why do some clubs achieve success and others not? Why do some clubs have successful projects and healthy membership growth, and why do others just spin their wheels? Frank describes joining Rotary as "a turning point in my life," and he brought to Rotary the same energy, determination and forward-thinking that were hallmarks of his business career. "I think my personal experience in my Rotary club influences my emphasis today on reaching out to younger people. I'm committed to that. It bothers me that Rotary clubs today can't seem to attract younger people, or — even worse — don't want to try. We can't forget about bringing in older candidates to clubs, of course, but we must reach out to young people. More than that, we need to reach out to every social and ethnic group in our communities. "How is Rotary going to adapt to the 21st century? The overriding challenge that we face today is to make Rotary meaningful in the new century, at all levels. "Look at the most basic level, club programs. Programs must have the result that members and visitors will say, 'I'm glad I came to that meeting.'" Frank believes that weak programs are symptoms of weak clubs. Programs should be learning experiences and meaningful to new and longtime Rotarians. "I learned something from the first Rotary club meeting I ever attended. Forty years ago, my brother, Jesse, and I were in Sulphur Springs, Texas, visiting a major supplier for the company, and went as his guest. We noticed some aspects of Rotary that still ring true: the friendliness of everyone in the club and the fact that the members were all outstanding representatives of their vocations. The program was about insurance fraud and how it was investigated. I didn't know anything about Rotary at the time, but I remember saying to myself, 'I learned something today.'" If Rotary is to continue its major contributions to the human family, the organization must grow. "Membership development will be a key focus of my year. That's why I'm starting the 21st Century Challenge and encouraging recognition of those Rotarians who bring in new members. We need to cultivate a new 'missionary spirit' where Rotarians identify and bring in new members." As an example to other Rotary club members worldwide, Frank has sponsored many new Rotarians outside his own small club — one of about 70 in the Mexico City area — since 1970. For years he has been recommending for possible membership many people he meets whom he believes have the qualities Rotary clubs are looking for in their members. "I like to think big," he says, adding that "it doesn't cost any more" to think big than to think small. "I know this bothers many of my conservative friends, or raises eyebrows, but you need big plans, big dreams to spur major accomplishments." Frank sees obvious areas in which to apply his business skills and experiences to Rotary. Public relations, advertising, marketing — all these techniques can fuel our growth, he says, if used appropriately. "We must face the fact that today we are a recognized public force, and that we will receive many benefits if we cultivate the image and the recognition that go along with that reality." "We can't wait around for problems to arise and then react. We need to strike at the root causes and act in advance. The task forces will enable clubs, districts and all Rotarians to be proactive. They are resources for accomplishing some of our most important goals, such as membership growth, environmental conservation, literacy education, the prevention of urban violence and other concerns. This year I want our task forces to be the busiest Rotarians in the world." As an optometrist, Frank speaks with particular intensity about the Avoidable Blindness Task Force. "It's incredible in this day and age that there are 50 million blind people in the world. The pity is, so much blindness can be prevented and corrected. Rotarians have significant service opportunities in this area." He has a particular interest in helping the millions of people in India who have been blinded by cataracts. He admires the Rotary clubs in that country which have been able to arrange cataract operations with intraocular lenses for about U.S. $30. For just U.S. $100, he notes, eye camps in India can perform three cataract operations. Another task force emphasis: partnering. "When we join with other groups, we provide the valuable 'Rotary seal of approval.' Working together, we enhance each other's service efforts and help more people in need. It's a win-win situation. From the club level to the international level, partnering will be our secret to success in many areas." Frank draws on tremendous reserves of energy. "I'm accustomed to working long hours in the optical business," he says. "In that I follow the example of my parents. At almost 82, my mother still manages the optical shop she started with my father 60 years ago." Frank and Gloria Rita, his wife of 34 years, have three daughters — Melanie Devlyn-Perez (Juan Carlos Pérez Collado) Stephanie Devlyn-Alcocer (Luis Alcocer Lamm) and Jennifer Devlyn-Maccise (Luis Maccise Uribe) — and four grandchildren: Alexia, Luis, Carlos Francisco and Jennifer. Gloria Rita has been Frank's partner in Rotary as in life, joining him at Rotary functions at all levels. Frank's brother, Jesse, an optometrist, is general director of the Devlyn Optical Group. A member of the Rotary Club of San Rafael, Mexico City, Jesse has served as district governor, committee and task force member, International Assembly discussion leader, and sergeant-at-arms at international assemblies and conventions. For 2000-2001, he is a regional Rotary Foundation coordinator. Frank has another brother, Pat, general manager of the Devlyn Group, a past president of his Rotary club and a well-known motivational speaker on personal development; a sister, Ethel Devlyn-Gaspar de Alba (Mario) of El Paso; and a half-brother, Gordon, a Rotarian in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Past R.I. President Herbert G. Brown, The Rotary Foundation chairman for 2000-01, is a longtime personal friend. "Frank's dynamic leadership and ideas will motivate Rotarians worldwide," says Herb. "He will help Rotary membership grow dramatically and will inspire club members to make their Rotary experience and service more meaningful." The theme that Frank has given to the Rotary world brings out what he considers one of Rotary's greatest strengths — the ability of Rotary clubs to Create Awareness and Take Action. A Rotarian who bridges two cultures, and a R.I. president who bridges two centuries, Frank Devlyn clearly welcomes the challenges, opportunities and possibilities of the future. |
Curriculum vitae: Frank J. Devlyn
President Frank J. Devlyn's Key Emphases during his 2000-2001 Year as Rotary International President
|
