Rotary Club of Fort Walton BeachRotary International Website| Rotary Club of Fort Walton Beach | Rotary International Website |
Question of The Week 09-08-10 - By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International News -- 14 June 2010 
District governors Tanya Woff and Karlis Graubics at the base camp of Mount Everest. Photo Courtesy of Tanya Wolff Hiking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2009 for Big Brothers Big Sisters gave District Governor Tanya Wolff a creative idea for raising money for The Rotary Foundation's Annual Programs Fund. Wolff decided to organize a similar trip to the base camp of Mount Everest and challenge the Rotarians she met during her club visits in District 6330 (parts of Ontario, Canada, and Michigan, USA) to either join her or pony up donations for the Foundation. On 17 April, Wolff; Karlis Graubics, governor of District 7600 (Virginia, USA); Eric Robinson, president–elect of the Rotary Club of Wiarton, Ontario; and his cousin Doug Robinson reached the base camp at 17,500 feet, having raised more than US$50,000 in pledges for the Annual Programs Fund through their website, www.everesttrek.org. "It's an absolutely beautiful experience," recalls Graubics, 70, who underwent 11 weeks of endurance training to prepare. "At the same time, when I talk about the experience, I stay away from saying I had a ball. I did not have a ball. Nobody on that trip had a ball. It's something you determine to do, pace yourself, and do it." Graubics, who says he is not a thrill-seeker, got on board after he and his wife hosted Wolff at their home so she could attend a training institute nearby. At first, Graubics wanted nothing to do with the idea. "I said, 'You're 47. I am 70. You go, and tell me about it,'" he remembers. But days later, while listening to club presidents share their enthusiasm for projects at his district conference, "I thought to myself, 'You know, I haven't done anything really exciting this year.' I began thinking, 'Maybe this thing would be a good idea.'" Pledges began coming in as soon as Graubics decided to consider the trek, and let the cat out of the bag. "My little comment started bringing in money. So I said, 'I think I better take a serious look at this.'" For her part, Wolff describes herself as a wannabe runner. As a part-time employee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton, she helped coordinate the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, during which 23 of the 24 participants made it to the summit "I figured a smaller group might be able to raise between $25,000 and $30,000 for the Foundation," she says. "Most of the members I challenged laughed at the idea of seeing themselves huff and puff to nearly 18,000 feet. But I was determined to go, even if I was going alone." Wolff selected Adventure Alternative to organize the trip because of its work with nonprofits. She says setting up a website for pledges through GiftTool was also instrumental in the effort’s success. Once the idea was cemented, Wolff contacted Ratna Man Sakya, governor of District 3292 (Nepal), who invited the team to take part in the district's conference. Wolff and Graubics altered their schedule to attend and toured projects that international Rotarians had helped sponsor. "Being able to attend the district conference while we were there was a big bonus," says Graubics. "When you are in Kathmandu on the street, you see how poor the place is, and you want to help." He adds that he and Wolff plan to work with the clubs in Kathmandu on projects their districts can sponsor together. The trip itself has helped energize his district, Graubics says. "This was so beyond anything that had ever been done in my district. It's like a breath of fresh air," he says. "I cannot be prouder of my district and the way they are really stepping up." For more information:
 Your contribution to Every Rotarian , Every Year helps make projects such as this possible. 09-01-10 - 
Russian delegates participating in a Open World program in April 2008, visit a museum in Denver, USA. Photo by Hardy Klahold The Open World Program is a congressionally sponsored program that brings emerging leaders from Russia, Ukraine, and other Eurasian states (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Georgia and Moldova) to the United States in order to give them firsthand exposure to the American system of participatory democracy and free enterprise. The program is administered by the Open World Leadership Center located at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The principles of accountability, transparency, and citizen involvement in government are among the concepts emphasized by the Open World Program. Rotary International is proudly continuing its relationship with the Open World Leadership Center and serves as a local grantee/host organization with the U.S. Rotary clubs serving as local hosts for Open World delegations. RI has been participating in the Open World Program since its inception in 1999. In May 2008 James H. Billington, chair of the Open World Board of Trustees and Librarian of Congress, presented the 2008 Open World National Grantee of Merit Award to RI for excellent programming and hosting. Read more Through Open World grants administered by Rotary International, clubs and districts in 47 states and District of Columbia have hosted more than 2,500 Open World participants and have introduced emerging Eurasian leaders to Amercian business processes, health fairs, political systems, and community life. How hosting works Each Open World delegation has six participants (five delegates and one facilitator). The duration of the program is eight days and nights (including one weekend). Responsibilities of host clubs and districts include:
Civic themes and Rotary niche nominations Open World civic hosting themes for Eurasian countries include accountable governance, rule of law, NGO development, and social services, education, and health care. If your district or club is working with any of the Eurasian countries or would like to establish a relationship with a Eurasian country or a local club there, RI will nominate specific participants for your specialized delegation. This partnership presents a unique opportunity to facilitate existing relationships or establish new connections with the delegates. If your club or district is interested in hosting a group of delegates from Russia, Ukraine, or other Open World countries, download and complete the Open World request form, and e-mail it to openworld@rotary.org or fax it to 847-866-6116. For more information, e-mail RI staff. Learn more about the Open World Program. 08-25-10 -       Click on image to enlarge. By Susan Hanf and Joe Derr Rotary International News -- 17 August 2010 The Rotary emblem, unchanged since 1924, was redesigned many times in the early years of the organization. In 1905, Montague M. Bear, an engraver and member of the Rotary Club of Chicago, sketched a wagon wheel with 13 spokes. When fellow club members began to complain that the design was static and lifeless, Bear added flourishes that made the wheel appear to ride on a bed of clouds. Unfortunately, some members felt the clouds looked like dust, defying the laws of gravity by being kicked up on both sides of the wheel. Bear responded by superimposing a banner with the words Rotary Club over the clouds. In 1911, Secretary Chesley R. Perry recommended that “action be taken by the National Association to establish the wheel as the basic part of the emblem of every Rotary club.” Clubs were invited to submit designs to an emblem committee before the 1912 convention in Duluth, Minnesota. The Duluth convention provided some definition. “The emblem consists of the basic principle of a wheel with gears cut on the outer edge. … The spokes are to be so designed as to indicate strength; the object of the gears … being twofold; to relieve the plainness of the design, and … symbolize power.” The word Rotary appeared at the top and International Association at the bottom. Clubs were encouraged to use a similar design, placing the name of their city at the bottom in place of International Association. The number of spokes and cogs was unspecified. As a result, numerous variations on the emblem were in use by 1918. The Board appointed Charles Mackintosh, of the Rotary Club of Chicago, and Oscar Bjorge, of the Rotary Club of Duluth, to the Special Committee to Standardize the Rotary Emblem. Bjorge drafted an emblem with six spokes and 24 cogs, giving it a sturdy appearance. In this design, the number of teeth and spokes was intended to reflect a real, working gearwheel, and not any aspect of Rotary's history. In November 1919, the Board adopted Bjorge’s design and a detailed description, and the 1921 convention formally approved them. For many years, descriptions of the emblem simply referred to a 1920 article in The Rotarian, “Redesigning the Rotary Wheel,” which announced the Board’s decision. By 1924, Bjorge’s design had been modified to include a keyway. This addition has been attributed to Will R. Forker, of the Rotary Club of Los Angeles. He was reported to have said Bjorge’s design made no provision for the transfer of power to or from a shaft, rendering the wheel idle. Forker perceived Rotary as a “living force,” and inserting a keyway into the hub made the new wheel a “real worker.” In January 1924, the Board formally approved the emblem that was then in use. Not all written descriptions were updated immediately, however. To clear up any confusion caused by the various decisions about the emblem between 1912 and 1929, a standard description of the existing design, with a keyway, was approved by the 1929 convention. The Rotary emblem, like Rotary’s name and other logos, is a registered trademark. Clubs, districts, and Rotary Entities are welcome to use the Rotary emblem subject to the guidelines for the use of the Rotary Marks as set forth by the RI Board of Directors. These guidelines govern the use of the Rotary Marks on all merchandise, promotional materials, and publications, including domain names and websites. For more informaiton:
08-18-10 -  Paul Harris, circa 1915. Rotary Images Rotary International News -- 27 July 2010 In 1916, Rotary founder Paul Harris shared his thoughts about the organization in an article titled "The Future of Rotary," published in The Rotarian. Addressing the Rotary world, Harris concluded the short piece with wishes for the new year. As the 2010-11 Rotary year begins, consider his words: I wish you all of the prosperity which your good deeds merit. May all things you ought have be yours. May your charities rank among your necessary expenditures. May you not fall into the popular error of thinking that happiness is to be found in outdoing your neighbors. May it always be yours to look beneath the veneer of life to the solid substance which lies beneath. May you be builders, not mere climbers. May you be able to appraise life's blessings at their real worth. May you be free to act in accordance with the dictates of your own conscience and good judgment. May you not be slaves to meaningless customs, social or otherwise. May you shun the groove followers. May you have vision to discern the right and health, strength and will to do it. That is to say, I wish you a happy New Year. For more information:
08-11-10 -
Register early now to receive the best rates and accommodations, and Let the Good Times Roll … Again! Find out more about New Orleans! Also, download the convention logo and watch the 2011 RI Convention promotional video. To attend the convention and experience the fellowship of Rotary at an international level
2011 registration For most categories of attendees, the base price for the convention is US$300. Registration for a preconvention event will entail an additional fee; however, you no longer need to register for the convention in order to register for a preconvention event. Deadlines
Read more about convention pricing structures and discounts . The deadline for cancelling registration and tickets is 15 April , and 6 May is the deadline for online registration . To register by fax or mail, download the registration form . E-mail RI staff for questions and special tour group forms and other information. Read visa information and new rules for visa-waiver countries. *Note: You must be a registered Member Access user to register online for the convention. (Read more about becoming a Member Access user.) User registration for Member Access may take longer than one business day. You will receive e-mails with step-by-step instructions for completing your account setup. Once you have created your account, log in to Member Access, and go to the left-hand navigation bar. Under "Services," select "Register for Meetings," and on the next screen "2011 RI Convention." To complete your convention registration, enter your credit card information to pay the registration fees. 2011 housing Reserve your hotel room through Experient. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so please book early to secure your preferred hotel. Booking for RI Convention housing begins Saturday, 19 June. Confirmations will be issued beginning in July. Contact Experient by e-mail, phone, fax, or online for the latest housing availability and other information. Return your completed reservation form to Experient by 17:00 Central Daylight Time 21 April . All housing changes and inquiries must be made directly with Experient by 4 May .
E-mail: rotary@experient-inc.com (for correspondence only) Phone: 800-650-6913 (toll-free in North America) or 847-996-5885 Fax: 847-996-5401 Mail: Experient 568 Atrium Drive Vernon Hills, IL 60061 2011 host event tickets Local Rotarians on the Host Organization Committee (HOC) have arranged several cultural excursions and host hospitality events to help visiting Rotarians enjoy their stay in New Orleans. Keep the good times rolling, and take a host-sponsored tour before or after the convention. Some of these events have limited capacities, so be sure to purchase your tickets early. Please note that you must register for the convention in order to purchase tickets for host events and tours.
For questions, e-mail the HOC . Information for first-time convention attendees . 08-04-10 - The family of Rotary extends beyond individual Rotarians and Rotary clubs to include other service-minded people who help with the organization's work. Groups such as Rotaract, Interact, and Rotary Community Corps serve side by side with sponsor clubs, using their diverse skills to improve the quality of life in their communities. Below are some of the latest statistics available, as of 31 May. (*as of 30 June) Rotary 
Rotaract 
Interact 
Rotary Community Corps 
See more statistics and membership resources Get Foundation Facts 07-21-10 - District Governor S White  A native of North Carolina, Sylvia lived in Charlotte for 36 years where she began her banking profession with North Carolina National Bank now know as Bank of America. She moved to Jackson, Mississippi prior to relocating to Tallahassee, Florida in 1980 where she began her career with Capital City Bank. After graduating with honors from Tallahassee Community College, she attended Florida State University. In 1999 she graduated from the University of Florida, Florida School of Banking where she was elected president of her class. Sylvia was invited to join the Capital Rotary Club of Tallahassee in 1996, where she has served her club as President, Secretary and Committee Chair and in 2001 she was acknowledged as Rotarian of the year. With the beginning of the 2007-08 Rotary Year it ushered in the completion of three successful years as Assistant Governor for Area 6, which was comprised of eight very victorious clubs. She has served her District by hosting the Youth Student Exchange to Germany for parents and Rotarians, the Tallahassee and surrounding areas Membership Seminar, and she planned and hosted a cocktail party in 2004 for the five Ambassadorial Scholars attending Florida State University. She also has served her District as Logistics Coordinator for the 2007 District Conference as well as being the Group Study Exchange Coordinator for Area 6 while hosting her second GSE team member. In 2004-05 she was the District Conference Committee Secretary, as well as the District Family of Rotary Coordinator along with leading the Family of Rotary breakout session. From 2001 until 2004, she served on the District Fund Committee representing medium size clubs. Sylvia is a Paul Harris Fellow, Sustaining member and a Benefactor. She has served her community as President of The Salvation Army Advisory Board, and as a prior board member of The United Way of the Big Bend, serving on the allocation committee as well as being the campaign division leader for the finance division. Since 1988, she has been a member of the Tallahassee Community Chorus. She is a 1999 graduate of Leadership Tallahassee, where she was elected president of her class. She is active in her church where she teaches Sunday School and is Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees. Sylvia has two adult children. She enjoys travel, choral singing, and birding. 07-14-10 - Historic moments -- Rotary mottoes  Arthur Frederick Sheldon, the Rotarian whose convention speech inspired Rotary's secondary motto, One Profits Most Who Serves Best. R otary’s official mottoes, Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best, trace back to the early days of the organization. In 1911, He Profits Most Who Serves Best was approved as the Rotary motto at the second convention of the National Association of Rotary Clubs of America, in Portland, Oregon. It was adapted from a speech made by Rotarian Arthur Frederick Sheldon to the first convention, held in Chicago the previous year. Sheldon declared that "only the science of right conduct toward others pays. Business is the science of human services. He profits most who serves his fellows best." The Portland convention also inspired the motto Service Above Self. During a convention outing on the Columbia River, Ben Collins, president of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, talked with Seattle Rotarian J.E. Pinkham about the proper way to organize a Rotary club, offering the principle his club had adopted: Service, Not Self. Pinkham invited Paul P. Harris, who also was on the boat trip, to join their conversation. Harris asked Collins to address the convention, and the phrase Service, Not Self was met with great enthusiasm. At the 1950 RI Convention in Detroit, slightly modified versions of the two slogans were formally approved as the official mottoes of Rotary: He Profits Most Who Serves Best and Service Above Self. The 1989 Council on Legislation established Service Above Self as the principal motto of Rotary, because it best conveys the philosophy of unselfish volunteer service. He Profits Most Who Serves Best was modified by the 2004 Council to They Profit Most Who Serve Best and by the 2010 Council to its current wording, One Profits Most Who Serves Best. For more information:
06-30-10 - Rotary Friendship Exchange  A group of Japanese Rotarians renew old friendships made at an RI Convention with club members from Australia. Italian Rotarian parents of a former Rotary Youth Exchange student spend time with the family who hosted their son in Thailand. Rotarian pediatricians from Ghana travel to Germany to stay with doctors there. Experiences like these happen all the time through Rotary Friendship Exchange, Rotary’s international exchange program for Rotarians and their families. Participants experience other cultures and build friendships by staying in the homes of Rotary club members in another country. This program advances international understanding and peace through personal contact across borders while developing interclub relationships that lead to fellowship and service projects. How it works Types of Friendship Exchanges
Guidelines
Download the Rotary Friendship Exchange Handbook for more information. Find exchange partners with the Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) Matching Board (PDF). 06-23-10 - Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution  R otary Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities. Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution.  Download the 2011 application PDF / Word  Visit the Rotary peace center's Facebook page or contribute on the causes page.  Embed the Building Peace video from RI's YouTube channel. Learn about the Rotary Peace Centers
Learn more Fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their ability to have a significant, positive impact on world peace and conflict resolution during their careers. Learn more about program eligibility and deadlines.
06-16-10 - Vice President Eric E. Adamson 2008-10, USA  Eric E. Adamson is a retired private practice attorney. He is a 33-year member of the Rotary Club of Front Royal in Virginia, has served RI as International Assembly instructor, Constitution and Bylaws Committee chair, Council on Legislation delegate and member at large, president’s representative, district governor, and zone adviser to The Rotary Foundation Annual Programs Fund and Permanent Fund. He has also chaired his district’s RYLA and PolioPlus committees and served as Group Study Exchange team leader to Argentina. Eric has received The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service and the RI Service Above Self Award. He and his wife, Linda, are Bequest Society members and Major Donors to the Foundation. [Spouse: Linda] 06-09-10 - Global Networking Groups Overview of the program Global Networking Groups allow individual Rotarians from several countries to join together to focus on common interests. Through these groups, you can
There are two types of Global Networking Groups: Rotary Fellowships and Rotarian Action Groups. Rotary Fellowships Rotary Fellowships offer Rotarians the opportunity to make friends with others in Rotary who share a common vocation, hobby, or recreational interest. Read more about Rotary Fellowships in the Rotary Fellowships Handbook (PDF). View complete list of Rotary Fellowships. Rotarian Action Groups Rotarian Action Groups conduct international service projects that further the Object of Rotary. If you’re interested in supporting a particular type of service activity, there may be a Rotarian Action Group for you. Learn more about Rotary’s service opportunities. View a complete list of Rotarian Action Groups. How to join
How to organize a new Global Networking Group Forming a new Global Networking Group requires time-intensive, long-range planning and deliberate outreach to Rotarian colleagues. But as Rotarians who’ve established a group will attest, the effort is worthwhile. Before preparing a proposal, you’ll need to determine whether your proposed group would be a Rotary Fellowship or a Rotarian Action Group. Consult the Rotary Fellowships Handbook for guidance. To receive official recognition for a group, you must submit a formal request (PDF) to RI. Other resources Suggested Global Networking Groups posting board Global Networking Groups discussion forum Rotary Fellowships E-Learning PowerPoint presentation 06-02-10 - Future Vision Plan overview In anticipation of The Rotary Foundation’s 100-year anniversary in 2017, the Trustees set out to develop a plan to move the Foundation toward its second century of service. The Foundation has made only slight modifications to its programs since its inception and the Trustees sought input from a wide variety of stakeholders through interviews, surveys, focus groups, and input sessions in developing the Future Vision Plan. The plan updates the Foundation’s mission and creates a more effective and efficient way to help Rotarians develop diverse projects with greater impact and sustainable outcomes.
– Robert S. Scott, 2007-08 Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair The mission of The Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. The Foundation's new mission, along with its new motto – Doing Good in the World – were approved by the Foundation Trustees and the RI Board and endorsed by the Council on Legislation. The Future Vision Plan is designed to
Learn more about the Future Vision Plan 05-26-10 - Membership responsibilities What Rotarians get out of Rotary depends largely on what they put into it. Many membership requirements are designed to help club members more fully participate in and enjoy their Rotary experience. Attendance Attending weekly club meetings allows members to enjoy fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community. If members miss a meeting of their own club, they’re encouraged to expand their Rotary horizons by attending a meeting of any other Rotary club in the world. Service By participating in local and international service projects, club members can volunteer their time and talents where they’re most needed. The four Avenues of Service are Rotary’s philosophical cornerstone and the foundation on which club activity is based:
Read more about Rotary fellowship and service. Finding and keeping members To keep clubs strong, every Rotarian must share the responsibility of bringing new people into Rotary. Even new members can bring guests to club meetings or invite them to participate in a service project. Keeping members involved in Rotary is another responsibility. Fostering strong fellowship and encouraging early participation in service projects are two of the best ways to sustain a club’s membership. Dues Club members are required to pay annual dues to their clubs, districts, and Rotary International, as well as the subscription fee to the appropriate Rotary magazine. Leadership Club members are encouraged to volunteer for leadership roles at the club level and beyond. To learn more about leadership opportunities in your district, see the district leadership seminar page and the club committees page. 05-19-10 - Three keys to ensuring ethical behavior in the workplace A 2009 article in Forbes magazine on leadership suggests that ethical business practices depend on three things: honesty in use of language, insistence on proper behavior, and a refusal to allow for gray areas. 1) Use honest language. “One of the most important things a leader can impart to his or her organization is an honest and explicit use of language.” Expose the unethical consequences that may be concealed in such euphemisms as “strategic business practices” and “competitive advantage.” Use your power of language to make a clear statement of your ethical position. 2) Insist on proper behavior. “Behavior results from values, yes. But values can result from behavior too.” Make ethical practices a standard component of your employees’ performance expectations to help them develop and strengthen their personal integrity. 3) Refuse to allow for gray areas. “While moral absolutism may sound like an archaic and austere concept, . . . it’s exactly what is needed to establish a clear, strong, unwavering voice for doing the right thing.” Mendhro, Umaimah, and Abhinav Sinha. 2009. Three keys to staying ethical in the age of Madoff. Forbes, 6 February. www.forbes.com/2009/02/06/ethics-corruption-india-leadership-corruption09_0209_mendhro.html 05-12-10 - Rotarians find innovative ways to fund projects By Antoinette Tuscano Rotary International News -- 5 February 2010  The Rotary Club of Antananarivo-Ainga, Madagascar, launched a project to supply fresh water for a village of 700, with support from Aquasure France, the Rotary Club of Saint-Etienne Horizon, Loire, France, and The Rotary Foundation. The Matching Grant project included nearly US$4,000 in DDF from District 1710 (France). Photo by Lova Ravoniarijaona In today's turbulent economy, Rotarians are finding innovative ways to finance humanitarian efforts by making use of their District Designated Fund (DDF) for grant projects and partnering with other Rotary clubs and organizations. "I feel the current environment has brought a new creativity and incentive to cooperate and collaborate," said Judith Slawny, treasurer of District 6270 (Wisconsin, USA), in RI's LinkedIn discussion group. Richard Panyik, the regional Rotary Foundation coordinator for Zone 34, which covers the Caribbean and the U.S. states of Florida and Georgia, said district governors should encourage the use of the District Designated Fund. "The DDF is just sitting in [bank accounts], not doing the community any good," he said. Even though The Rotary Foundation's Matching Grant budget is fully committed for this year, clubs and districts can still fund projects to meet community needs using DDF. Use of the fund requires a Matching Grant application. But grant sponsors pledge cash and DDF contributions on the application in place of any award from the World Fund. Larry Levenson, a member of the Rotary E-club of the Southwest, Arizona, USA, said his club used DDF allocations to help fund a Matching Grant project with a club in Rajkot, India, to replace diesel water pumps with ones that run on wind power. In a LinkedIn discussion, Levenson explained how the pumps pull water from the sea; after the water evaporates, workers sell the sea salts as their sole source of income, at about US$2 a day. In the past, the workers had to spend half their income on fuel and repairs for the pumps. The Caribbean Partnership, which began in the 2006-07 Rotary year with the help of Past RI Director Milton Jones, is another example of clubs pooling DDF allocations for grant projects, in cooperation with Rotaract and Interact clubs. The partnership encompasses about 800 Caribbean and U.S. Rotary clubs from zones 33 and 34 that work together on humanitarian projects. Past District Governor J.V. Vlass, chair-elect of the partnership, said clubs from other parts of the world are welcome to join. To get the collaboration going, he talked about it every chance he got, he said. Rotarians quickly understood "we're all in the family of Rotary. We're in this together," he explained. Vlass said the partnership is a two-way street, with clubs in the Caribbean helping clubs in the United States and vice versa. Clubs and districts should contact their district governor about using their DDF to get involved in community projects. Giving to the Annual Programs Fund through Every Rotarian, Every Year, is the best way to expand the availability of Matching Grants in future years. More resources
05-05-10 - Foundation honors two couples for major gifts By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 20 April 2010   Top: RI Director Masahiro Kuroda and his wife, Michiko, were inducted into the Arch C. Klumph Society on 26 January. Photo by Cindy Fandl/Fandl Photography. Bottom: Carl Chinnery, past governor of District 6040, was inducted into the society on 16 March. Rotary Images Two Rotarian couples were recently inducted into the Arch C. Klumph Society, which honors people who give at least US$250,000 to The Rotary Foundation. RI Director Masahiro Kuroda and his wife, Michiko, were inducted on 26 January, and Carl and Jean Chinnery became members on 16 March. Their commitment was recognized at RI World Headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and their portraits now hang in the Arch C. Klumph Gallery on the 17th floor. Kuroda, a surgeon and director of the Kuroda Internal and Gastrointestinal Medicine Clinic, joined Rotary in 1978 as a member of the Rotary Club of Hachinohe South, Aomori, Japan. Michiko and the couple's three children are all physicians. When Kuroda travels on Rotary business, they assist at the family's medical clinic. He says it was a goal for him and Michiko to become Arch C. Klumph Society members. "The reason we make contributions to the Foundation is to support the organization of Rotary and the services they provide that ultimately advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace," says Kuroda. "We are most grateful to our family and friends, as this is only possible with their support." Kuroda established an Interact club at Hachinohe High School and served as district Interact chair. He also served as secretary for the seventh Rotary Japan-Korea Friendship Meeting and helped form the Rotary Club of Pohang South, Gyeongsangbug, Korea. He and his wife are generous supporters of PolioPlus, the Annual Programs Fund, and the Permanent Fund. Carl and Jean Chinnery Carl Chinnery, a 2010-11 regional Rotary Foundation coordinator, has a personal connection to Rotary's campaign to eradicate polio: He and his four brothers contracted the disease in the 1940s. His oldest brother died within days of being diagnosed with polio, and another was confined to an iron lung. "When Rotary launched its polio eradication campaign in 1985, it brought back memories of the hardship polio took on my family. It flooded my life again, but in a positive way. I wanted to do my part to help Rotary," says Chinnery, past governor of District 6040 (Missouri, USA) and a member of the Rotary Club of Lee's Summit. "I have no doubt polio will be eradicated. There has been incredible success." Chinnery served as PolioPlus subcommittee chair for his district and has been a member of The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus Task Force since 2003. He is a recipient of the Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and District 6040's Humanitarian Award for Polio Eradication. A lawyer at Chinnery, Evans & Nail P.C., Chinnery also serves as president of a number of community organizations, including Children's Mercy Hospital Planned Giving and the Truman Medical Center Philanthropy Board. He also has been president of the Lee's Summit school district, economic development council, and chamber of commerce. Chinnery says he and his wife donate to the Foundation because it has the best resources to help the world. "The Foundation is successful because it keeps costs down and projects up," he says. "Rotarians are volunteers of these projects. Rotary is so much more when Rotarians get involved and can donate to the Foundation to keep important projects worldwide going." For more information: * Learn more about the mission of The Rotary Foundation * Learn more about recognition for individual and club donations * Read about other Arch C. Klumph Society inductees 04-28-10 - Historic Moments -- How the Council has evolved 
Frank Mulholland, chair of the 1948 Council on Legislation, speaks during the International Convention in Rio de Janeiro. Rotary Images Rotary International on Facebook In the 76 years of its existence, the Council on Legislation has evolved from a single plenary session at the international convention to an autonomous legislative entity. The Council was created by the 1933 convention to serve as an “advisory body” to assist with the review of enactments and resolutions proposed at the annual convention. It first convened as part of the 1934 convention, as Rotarians struggled with a worldwide recession, threats to world peace, and rising unemployment. By 1954, the Council was well established. At that year's convention, Rotarians decided to allow for longer intervals between legislative sessions and adopted a biennial framework for voting upon enactments and resolutions. The next deliberations were held at the 1956 convention. The 1970 convention further modified Rotary International’s legislative process when it decided that the Council should no longer serve in an advisory capacity, but instead become RI’s official legislative body, considering proposals to amend the RI Constitution and Bylaws and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution. Four years later, delegates decided that the Council would meet triennially, still in conjunction with the convention. Finally, in 1977, the Council adopted an enactment to meet independently of the convention. Technological advances have also had a profound impact on the Council. In the 1970s, delegates sported large headphones to follow the proceedings in their own language. Today's delegates have access to compact simultaneous interpretation equipment. The use of a single interpreter has given way to multiple interpreters working out of booths on the side of the Council chambers. Electronic voting was introduced in 2001. Over the decades, the Council has debated and weighed virtually every nuance of RI policy and every detail of membership and attendance rules. While individual Rotarians may not always agree with its decisions, one thing is clear: The Council is Rotary's primary agent for change, allowing the organization to evaluate its relevance in today's rapidly evolving world, reflecting shifts in lifestyles, priorities, technology, and business. 04-21-10 - The RI Strategic Plan Strategic planning helps organizations develop a long-range vision and establish goals. At Rotary International, it is a continual and evolving process, regularly monitored by the Strategic Planning Committee and the RI Board of Directors. Rotary founder Paul Harris In 2009, the Board conducted an extensive review of the RI Strategic Plan. This review included surveying 14,000 Rotarians worldwide about the organization’s priorities, conducting focus groups to assess Rotary’s image in different countries, and analyzing other data and research. The revised plan, effective 1 July 2010, reflects the results of this research and also unifies the strategic direction of RI and The Rotary Foundation. Clubs and districts can use the three priorities in the RI Strategic Plan as a basis for developing their own plans, tailoring them to their size, the varied skills of their membership, and the needs of the communities in which they serve.  Read more about the core values. Resources Download the Strategic Planning Guide (PDF) Download the Club Leadership Plan (PDF) Download a Planning Guide for Effective Rotary Clubs (Word) Download the District Planning Guide (Word) Download the latest Zone Institute Update (PowerPoint) for more information on strategic planning. Related documents RI Strategic Plan (PDF) RI Core Values (PDF) RI Strategic Plan update (PowerPoint) RI Strategic Plan poster (PDF) 04-14-10 - Message from the chair April 2010  According to one recent study, charitable giving is at its lowest level in 50 years when adjusted for inflation. Eight-six percent of nonprofits reported a decline in giving in 2009. At a time when humanitarian needs are escalating rapidly, the resources to meet those needs are diminishing. Fortunately, Rotarians are by nature a very generous group. Despite a worldwide economic recession, donations to the Annual Programs Fund in 2008-09 were the third highest in our history. Rotarians continue to support the Annual Programs Fund as well as the goal of meeting Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge to ensure polio eradication. In addition, we are working to secure The Rotary Foundation’s future by building up our Permanent Fund, and we are striving to strengthen our peace efforts through our Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. It may seem like a lot to ask, and I wish I could tell you that your contributions to these efforts will cure all the world’s ills. What I can tell you is what will happen if our Foundation does not have sufficient resources to support your worthy projects: Polio will continue to cripple far too many children. Disease will spread more rapidly as fewer people have access to clean water and sanitation facilities. Countless women and girls will never learn how to read. And poverty, disease, and illiteracy will persist in undermining our work toward peace in the world. The Rotary Foundation belongs to all of us. It is our greatest resource for doing good, and it is our responsibility to maintain its strength. I hope every Rotarian will join us by making a contribution to support the Foundation’s programs this year. Glenn E. Estess Sr. Foundation Trustee Chair Read the chair's biography. 04-07-10 - There are twenty-five (25) members of the 2009-2010 College of Governors. Visit the Rotary International District 6940 College of Governors web page to find out who these outstanding Rotarians are and when they served as District Governor. 03-31-10 - By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 24 March 2010 
Joan and Past RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson. Rotary Images Joan Wilkinson, wife of Rotary Foundation Trustee and 2007-08 RI President Wilfrid J. Wilkinson, died on 22 March. She was 78. Joan, of Trenton, Ontario, Canada, was a founding member of the Inner Wheel Club of Trenton and served in all of its offices, including president. She was an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Trenton. "Joan was an outstanding first lady. She was deeply devoted to Wilf, her family, and to Rotary," says Foundation Trustee Vice Chair John F. Germ, who served as aide to the president in 2007-08. "I don't think she ever met a stranger, because she considered everyone she came across as a friend. She went out of her way to meet people and make them feel at home." After graduating high school, where she met her husband, Joan worked in the statistician's office of the Bell Telephone Company of Canada. During her youth, she was active in the Girl Guides of Canada. Joan was a fundraiser for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario, Canadian Cancer Society, and Hastings Manor senior citizens home. She was also a provincial board of inquiry member and was active in the Trenton Memorial Hospital Auxiliary and the Trenton Memorial Library. She worked with local children in need and became the first chair of the Dufferin Street Preschool. Visitation will take place 25-26 March at Rushnell Funeral Centre, 60 Division St., Trenton. Funeral services will be held on 27 March at St. Peter's Catholic Church, Dundas St. W. and Queen St., Trenton. Joan is survived by her husband and their sons, Stephen, Bill, Peter, and John. In lieu of flowers, Wilf Wilkinson asks that contributions be made to The Rotary Foundation in his wife's name. 03-17-10 - Rotary International News -- 4 March 2010  Every Rotarian can directly support Rotary's membership growth and retention. During its June meeting, the Rotary International Board of Directors adopted a new membership slogan, " Each Rotarian: Reach One, Keep One ." The slogan emphasizes the importance of both recruitment and retention in sustaining and increasing membership. To support this strategy, RI administers a web-based program designed to assist clubs and districts with identifying prospective members and to place relocating or former Rotarians in new clubs. Every Rotarian can directly support Rotary's membership growth and retention by using the membership referral and Rotarian relocation forms. The membership referral form is for Rotarians wishing to recommend a qualified friend, family member, or business associate as a potential candidate for membership in a Rotary club other than their own. Rotarians who are moving or have moved and can't remain in their current club can submit the relocation form to learn more about clubs in their new area. Club secretaries and other club members should remind relocating club members to complete the form to request assistance becoming acquainted with clubs in their destination city. Once the forms are submitted, RI staff reviews them and sends valid, complete forms to district governors and/or district membership chairs for evaluation and further action. Potential members are either directly contacted by district governors or district membership chairs or referred to the appropriate club president for follow up. Rotarians have been enthusiastic about leads from the program. "This is a wonderful membership recruitment tool," says Matthew J. Salatino, past president of the Rotary Club of Schaumburg A.M., Illinois, USA. District Governor Georgia Medori, of the Rotary Club of Vestavia Hills, Alabama, USA, agrees. In one day, she received two prospective member inquiries through RI's membership program. "Outstanding! Keep those e-mails coming," Medori says. Help Rotarians learn about RI's membership program by placing a banner ad on your club or district's website or blog. These ads direct prospective members, relocating Rotarians, and current members to the appropriate form on RI's website. Don't let great candidates for membership pass you by. Encourage club members to become familiar with Rotary's membership program to enhance your club and district membership efforts. For more information, see Your Club, the District, and Rotary International: Partners in Membership Development 03-17-10 - RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards April 15-18, 2010 Wallwood Boy Scout Reservation 23 Wallwood BSA Rd. Quincy, Florida 32351 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) is a leadership camp directed at sophomores in high schools across the country that helps personal development through leadership-and ethics-designed activities. This 3-day camp can change any and all of their lives also by building friendships that last as long as the characteristics they'll enhance. Just click to download (view PDF file, and then save) the Form packet. And, please MAIL your completed RYLA forms to Tyler Huston 2039 Centre Point Blvd, Suite 101 Tallahassee FL 32308 For more information please contact this year's RYLA District Chair, Tyler Huston from Tallahassee Sunrise Rotary Club at tyler.huston@nmfn.com 03-10-10 - The Four-Way Test dissected By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International News -- 2 March 2010  Herbert Taylor with The Four-Way Test. Rotary Images In 1932, Herbert J. Taylor wrote down four questions on a small white piece of paper to serve as an "ethical yardstick" for his employees. His simple creation has come to be known as The Four-Way Test. Revered by Rotarians, it has been translated into more than 100 languages and recited weekly at club meetings around the globe. When Merv Hecht, a member of the Rotary Club of Santa Monica, California, USA, challenged the notions behind the test as unrealistic and impractical in today's world, his letter in the December 2009 issue of The Rotarian prompted a flood of responses, many in defense of the test. "Is it the TRUTH? The truth is variable," Hecht writes in his letter, reflecting on the first tenet of the test. "It used to be the 'truth' that the world was flat. And if you didn't accept that truth, you were burned at the stake. Then for many years it was taught that the world was round. Now they say it's elliptical because of the pull of gravity. Which is true?" He goes on to argue that what is fair for some is seldom fair for all, and that the final two points of the test are "not the way the world works." ( Read the full letter. ) Hecht says he is surprised by the response his letter has received. "It was a spur-of-the-moment letter, but in thinking about it now, I think it's a reaction to the black-and-white attitude that is permeating our society," he says. "Absolutism is dividing our fellow Americans as well as our international friends. The Four-Way Test is another of these absolutes that fails to train people to see the grays in social relationships. Perhaps Rotary, one of my very favorite organizations, could be improved with a new Four-Way Test that includes an openness to other points of view." Below are a few of the many responses that have poured into The Rotarian 's mailbox. Dale Bailey, of San Diego, California, USA, agrees with Hecht: "You're right -- The Four-Way Test is obsolete. We now live in a world where absolutes only erode our freedoms. Truth is now only that which benefits the bearer." John Collier, president-elect of the Rotary Club of West U (Houston), Texas, USA, writes: "If I am committed to the truth, I do not deceive people. I am transparent. I am committed to full disclosure and the truth as I know it, because deception is a practice that tries to persuade someone to believe a lie." Marsha Doyle, treasurer of the Rotary Club of Lamar, Missouri, USA, responds: "The Four-Way Test isn't supposed to be easy. I believe it is supposed to make one think hard and search to the heart of every matter to ensure that the one asking is diligently seeking integrity. We try and fail now and then, but we try. We succeed far more often. Rotary should continue to promote the test as a standard to which all persons of integrity and goodwill can aspire." George Paden, a member of the Rotary Club of Sand Springs, Oklahoma, USA, and district Rotary Peace Fellowships chair, says: "I respectfully submit that 'this is not the way the world works' is precisely the reason every member of Rotary should totally embrace the principles set forth in our Four-Way Test. Rotarians do not work the way the world works. Rotarians are not people who are motivated by what's-in-it-for-me or what-have-you-done-for-me-lately kinds of thinking." Connie Cockcroft, president of the Rotary Club of Athens, Pennsylvania, USA, writes: "The Four-Way Test is the purest, most humble way to gauge the ethics of our professions." For more information: Learn more about Rotary's guiding principles Read about Herbert Taylor and The Four-Way Test in the August 2009 The Rotarian Read a new look at global ethics and The Four-Way Test by RI Director Lars-Olof Fredriksson Listen to Herb Taylor talk about The Four Way Test. 03-03-10 - March 2010 My fellow Rotarians, Preparations for our convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June, are well underway, and we are fast approaching the 31 March deadline for lower registration fees. I can think of many reasons to attend a Rotary International Convention – interesting speakers, exciting entertainment, and a chance to visit a fascinating city, to name a few. Yet as compelling as these incentives may be, they are not why I have attended almost every convention since my first one in 1984. The main reason I look forward to this annual event is the opportunity it affords to reunite with my Rotary friends and meet so many new ones. In many ways, our convention is Rotary at its best: Rotarians coming together to enjoy congenial fellowship while discussing the more serious business of service. We will, no doubt, be inspired by our speakers, including Greg Mortenson, author of the best-selling book Three Cups of Tea; Jo Luck, CEO of Heifer International; and country music singer Dolly Parton, who will be talking about her other great interests, children’s literacy and the Imagination Library. And we will learn about many facets of Rotary and our Rotary Foundation in the various workshops planned. In between these events, we can build new Rotary friendships over coffee in the House of Friendship or dinner at one of Montréal’s celebrated restaurants. It has been said many times that you cannot truly appreciate the internationality of Rotary until you attend a convention. In Montréal this June, we expect to welcome Rotarians from more than 100 countries. We may be speaking dozens of different languages, but I know that all of us will be eager to communicate as best we can – with words, smiles, and laughter – effectively bridging any cultural or linguistic differences. The convention is a time to celebrate the achievements of the past year, but it is also a time to plan for the future. In Rotary, we do not look at all that we have accomplished and say, “That’s enough.” No, we use our successes as a springboard to do more. I encourage you to join June and me in Montréal and to use this opportunity to identify new service partners, get innovative project ideas, and renew your enthusiasm for Rotary. Much work remains to be done – both in this Rotary year and the next. The Future of Rotary Is in Your Hands, and a Rotary convention is the ideal place to come together and formulate your plans. John Kenny President, Rotary International 02-24-10 - By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International News -- 10 February 2010  Rotarians have been extolling the virtues of wearing a Rotary pin on RI's official LinkedIn group. Pins come in many designs, including this one from vendor Russell-Hampton. See a full list of official RI licensed vendors. Photo courtesy of Russell-Hampton Luanne Triolo was several weeks into a challenge to wear her Rotary pin for 60 days straight when she realized she had missed a day. So the 2009-10 president of the Rotary Club of Carol Stream, Illinois, USA, started all over again to meet the challenge William Ferreira, governor of District 6440, had set before all his club presidents. "You get used to it. It's something that is really good to do," says Triolo. "Different pins do catch people's eye in different ways." Many Rotarians are serious about wearing their Rotary pins. Eugene Beil, past governor of District 6950 (Florida, USA) and a member of the Rotary Club of Hudson, tapped into that dedication recently when he started a discussion thread on RI's official LinkedIn group, asking Rotarians whether they wear their pins every day or just for meetings. The discussion has prompted more than 190 comments. "I am happy with the feedback," Beil says. "I feel strongly about the value of wearing the pin every day. Whether you are at the grocery store, at work, or anywhere, you never know when a stranger is going to notice and you have an opportunity to explain Rotary to them." Tony Quinn, governor of District 1200 (England), notes on the LinkedIn thread that Rotarians agree to wear their pins at all times when they are inducted. "Remember what Past RI President Bob Barth had to say," Quinn notes. "He said that a Rotary pin should say this about the wearer: 'You can rely on me, I am dependable, I am reliable, I give more than I take, and I am available.' I can't think of a better reason to wear it at all time." Many shapes and sizes Triolo says her favorite Rotary pin depicts several women with their arms raised in the air, with the Rotary emblem on the side, available through the vendor Russell-Hampton. (See a full list of official RI licensed vendors.) She says she likes to look for new pins at presidents-elect training seminars, club officer trainings, and district conferences. "There are even magnetic ones for people who don't want to stick a pin through their clothing." Claudiu Presecan, a member of the Rotary Club of Cluj-Napoca Cetatuie, Romania, notes that Rotary was forbidden in his country during the 50 years of communist rule. "It's a pin we can wear now in Romania too. I guess only when you are forced to stop wearing it you realize its true significance." Daniel Romanchik, a member of the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, says the LinkedIn discussion has convinced him to wear his pin more often. He is particularly drawn to RI theme pins. Lisa Hunter, president of the Rotaract Club of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, says she always wears her Rotaract pin with pride. "Like many others, I keep a variety of different pins in my bag so I always have the right one to suit the occasion," she says. Do you wear your Rotary pin every day? Have you struck up a conversation with strangers about Rotary as a result? Join the discussion on RI's official LinkedIn group. 02-17-10 - What are the Rotary Peace Centers?  THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONROTARY PEACE CENTERS Rotary Peace Centers Update Rotary International News -- 3 February 2010 In October, The Rotary Foundation's Rotary Peace Centers Committee selected 90 new peace fellows who were confirmed by the Board of Trustees. The committee also voted to put into motion new items that affect the Rotary Peace Centers. Nomenclature: As you might have noticed, we have a new name! The committee voted to change the colloquial name from Rotary Centers to Rotary Peace Centers. The full and formal name will continue as Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution. However, when referring to the program it is now Rotary Peace Centers and fellows are now Rotary Peace Fellows. Admissions: The committee voted that a minimum of three years must pass between the date of completion of a candidate’s Ambassadorial Scholarship, and the date of application for a Rotary Peace Fellowship (master’s degree). This three-year wait is also true for any Rotary Peace Fellow who participated in the short-term certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. They too must wait a full three years before applying to an MA program. Another important decision that affects the fellowship is that NO fellow who has been awarded a master’s degree through the Rotary Peace Fellow program will be eligible for the short-term certificate program at Chulalongkorn University. However, a fellow who participated in the certificate program is eligible for the for a master’s program (after the three-year wait). Applications: The committee voted for applicants to choose between the certificate program and the master’s program. Applicants can no longer seek admission to both programs simultaneously. Only one application is allowed per applicant; therefore, an applicant cannot have one application for the certificate program and another for the master’s program. There is a new 2011 application available on the Rotary Peace Centers website. Moving forward we will no longer accept outdated applications; please advise any interested applicant to obtain the latest edition and spread news of the update to those who need to know. The 1 July 2010 application deadline remains the same. Selection: In addition to the October selection committee there will now be an August subcommittee that will select fellows for the January session at Chulalongkorn University. The August selection will only be for January applicants and will have no impact on applicants to the master’s programs. If your district is sponsoring an applicant who wants to attend the January 2011 session it is imperative that their application and all supporting documents be submitted by the 1 July deadline. For questions or assistance, please contact Carly Dachis at +1 847-866-3307 or carly.dachis@rotary.org 02-10-10 - Who was Big Jim Davidson? Colonel James (Big Jim) Wheeler Davidson Rotary Canada -- July 2009  James Wheeler Davidson. Rotary Images Among Rotarian legends, few figures stand as tall as James Wheeler Davidson, the man Paul Harris dubbed the Marco Polo of Rotary. Although his moniker, “Big Jim,” referred to his physical stature, it also reflects Davidson’s accomplishments in spreading the Rotary movement from the Mediterranean to the South Seas. While it would be hyperbole to call Davidson a mountain of a man, there is in fact a mountain in the Canadian Rockies named for him. Born in Austin, Minnesota, USA, in 1872, Davidson was a persuasive, entrepreneurial type with an appetite for travel and adventure. At age 18, he met Arctic explorer Robert Peary and prevailed on him to let him join his 1893 expedition. Even a case of frostbite suffered on the journey -- that would necessitate three surgeries on his foot and leave him with a lifelong limp -- didn’t diminish Davidson’s ardour for adventure. By 1895, he was off to the Far East, having talked himself into a job reporting on the First Sino-Japanese War for a newspaper syndicate that included the New York Herald. During the 10 years he spent in Asia, Davidson was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun from the Japanese emperor for an act of bravery; wrote an acclaimed book; worked for the U.S. Foreign Service in Formosa, Shanghai, and Manchuria; and was employed by the Russian government to report on the economic potential of the Trans-Siberian Railroad. On his voyage home, he met the Dow family of San Francisco, taking a particular interest in 25-year-old Lillian. So, after visiting his mother and recuperating in Minnesota from a case of typhoid that he’d contracted abroad, he travelled to California the following year. He arrived, as only an adventurer’s luck would have it, on the day of the Great Earthquake. As his daughter, Marjory, later related: "My father was always resourceful, and on being told that all passengers had to get off the train in Oakland and could not under any circumstance proceed to San Francisco, he hid between the seats, and as he expected, the train proceeded down to the mole where the ferries were. He walked off the train and on to the ferry, trying to look official. On arrival, he learned that the Palace Hotel, where Mother’s family was staying, had burned down." Eventually, Davidson found the family and within six months had persuaded Lillian to marry him. The couple settled in the new province of Alberta, and Davidson joined the Rotary Club of Calgary in 1914. Within a few years, he became club president, district president, and a member of the International Association of Rotary Clubs committee. In March 1921, the association's board asked Davidson and J. Layton Ralston, president of the Rotary Club of Halifax, to help extend Rotary to Australia and New Zealand. Ralston, who later served as Canada's minister of defence and minister of finance, recalled: "I had started off light-heartedly for a trip, and more or less incidentally to tell our friends Down Under about Rotary. But Jim was going to carry to them something new and fine, and he was going to see that they understood what it was and valued it and lived it as he did. . . . I learned more about Rotary in that three-week voyage with him than in my previous eight years of membership." In that brief time, they established clubs in Sydney, Melbourne, Wellington, and Auckland. For Davidson, that trip was a foreshadowing of things to come. Seven years later -- after becoming a Canadian citizen, playing a key role in highway development in Western Canada, and chartering many Rotary clubs in the region -- Davidson accepted the assignment of organizing Rotary clubs in the Middle East and Asia. In August 1928, he set sail from Montreal with Lillian and Marjory on what was to be an eight-month voyage. It turned out to be a nearly three-year odyssey during which Davidson chartered 23 clubs in 12 countries, from Turkey to Thailand. Davidson's health began to fail soon after their return to Canada in 1931, and he died in July 1933 at the age of 61. In their Christmas card that year, Jean and Paul Harris paid tribute to Jim Davidson’s dedication, writing: "When he returned home, it was manifest that he had given more than three years -- he had given his life as well. . . . His memory will be revered by legions; his work more admired as the passage of time lends broader perspective." 02-03-10 - Who is performing at the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada? Don't miss Cirque du Soleil and Les Misérables Rotary International News -- 27 January 2010   A performance by the world-famous Cirque du Soleil and an award-winning musical adaptation of Les Misérables are two of the entertainment opportunities during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June. Rotary International on FacebookA performance by the world-famous Cirque du Soleil and an award-winning musical adaptation of Les Misérables are just two of the entertainment opportunities you won't want to miss during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June. Cirque du Soleil will perform a program designed specifically for Rotary International during the closing plenary session of the convention on Wednesday, 23 June. From a small band of street performers in 1984, Cirque du Soleil has grown into a major provider of high-quality artistic entertainment, employing more than 1,200 artists. The circus has brought wonder and delight to almost 100 million spectators in 300 cities on five continents. In addition, through a Host Organization Committee (HOC) event on Saturday, 19 June, convention goers will have the opportunity to marvel at the remarkable talent of rising young circus artists by attending the graduation performance of the École nationale de cirque (National Circus School). A pioneer of the circus renaissance, the school has contributed to the emergence of several circus companies, including Cirque du Soleil. Register for the convention by 31 March to take advantage of special pricing. Register online through Member Access. A block of tickets has been set aside for Rotarians for a 19 June performance of Les Misérables , Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s award-winning musical adaptation of the classic Victor Hugo novel. This French-language production of "Les Miz," as it's fondly known around the world, will be the centerpiece of Les FrancoFolies de Montréal, one of the world’s premier French-language music festivals, which will bring nearly a million music lovers to Montréal for over 200 concerts in several indoor and outdoor venues from 9 to 19 June. Buy your tickets early during an exclusive online presale. Click here to purchase discounted tickets (type ROTARY for your access code). You can also purchase tickets by phone at 866-842-2112. Bilingual (French/English) operators will be available to take your calls from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Be sure to mention the code ROTARY to the operator. The production will take place at 8 p.m. in the Salle Wilfrid-Pelletier concert hall at Montréal’s Place des Artes, accessible via public transportation and within walking distance of several hotels. For more information
01-27-10 - What Rotary District is leading the Rotary Haitian relief effort? Rotarians focus on Haiti relief By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 22 January 2010  
Left: Thousands of people are feared dead after a powerful earthquake crumbled government buildings, hospitals, schools, and shantytowns in Haiti. Right: Elda Exeuatug holds her 20-day-old baby, waiting for relief to arrive. Photos by Mark Pearson/ShelterBox UPDATED 22 January 2010 Rotary clubs and districts worldwide are mobilizing resources to deliver urgently needed relief to the millions affected by Haiti's devastating earthquake. District 7020, which includes Haiti, has flown in 55 planes filled with more than 50,000 pounds of medical equipment and supplies into the cities of Pignon and Port-de-Paix to bypass logistical problems in the hard-hit capital of Port-au-Prince. The United Nations estimates that more than half of the buildings in the capital have collapsed. About 200,000 people are dead and millions more homeless. "Rotary had an incredible infrastructure established before the quake, which has made our relief efforts very effective," says Dick McCombe, past district governor and Haiti liaison chair. "We're flying in supplies through backdoor channels and doing things a lot of agencies can't do." The district's Haiti Task Force, set up two years ago to administer all financial aid to the nation, is working with local clubs to deliver aid to Port-au-Prince and those who have taken refuge in the countryside. McCombe says Rotary was in a good position to help in Haiti, with 33 projects already underway to provide water, sanitation, medical care, and education. "We changed from teaching children how to read to saving their lives," says McCombe. Clubs in the district have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for short- and long-term recovery. "Rotarians are incredibly generous and are doing what needs to be done," says McCombe. "We are setting aside some of these contributions for long-term recovery." Rotarian Claude Surena, head of the Haiti Task Force and president of the Haitian Medical Association, is sheltering more than 100 injured people in his damaged home in Port-au-Prince. His house has become a makeshift hospital and medical distribution center. Within the next two weeks, McCombe says, a barge will be hired to transport 20 to 30 tons of clothes, blankets, folding beds, and other items to Haiti from Nassau, Bahamas. ShelterBox responds ShelterBox has already delivered more than 3,300 containers to Haiti, with another 1,000 or more scheduled to be deployed. "This is the largest, quickest, and most complex deployment in our history," says John Leach, head of operations for ShelterBox. "We organized across four countries to get ShelterBoxes to the people of Haiti quickly." Each box contains a tent that houses 10 people as well as a stove, blankets, and other essential items. Doctors have been using supplies from the containers to treat the injured. Hospitals in the capital city are using the tents to provide emergency shelter for postoperative patients. "There’s hundreds of thousands of people that are injured. The walking wounded are everywhere," says Mark Pearson, one of three ShelterBox response team members in Haiti. "People are getting taken to hospital now, eight, nine days later." The Rotary Foundation has established the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund, a donor advised fund primarily for U.S. Rotarians who want to donate toward recovery efforts. The fund has raised more than $48,000 so far. A one-time $5 donation to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund can be made by texting ROTARY to 90999. Around the world, Rotary clubs, districts, and Interact and Rotaract clubs have donated directly to ShelterBox. Other Rotarian relief efforts in Haiti include: The Rotary Club of Tocoa, Colón, Honduras, has chartered three flights to send 25,000 to 30,000 pounds of food to Haiti. A six-person team from the Rotary clubs of Inwood, Manhattan, and New York is working with Comprehensive and Response Service to establish a staging area in the Dominican Republic for bringing medical supplies into Port-au-Prince. Past District Governor Alfonso Leppes launched a campaign asking each of the more than 4,500 Rotarians in Chile to donate $50 to the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. Five Rotarian doctors from Venezuela are in Haiti as part of a search-and-rescue team established by their government. Read about what Rotarians witnessed. How to help Download a PDF about the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund and frequently asked questions . If you’re a Rotarian outside the United States, visit the District 7020 website for more information, or learn about disaster relief organizations you can contribute to. Read a letter from Rotary leaders 01-20-10 - What is the International H20 Collaboration? International H2O Collaboration work to begin By Anne E. Stein Rotary International News -- 12 January 2010   Left: María Magdalena Gonzalez pours filtered water into a pan for cooking in her home near Bonao, the Dominican Republic. Right: A bio-sand filter is filled with layers of gravel and sand, which remove organisms too big to make it through. As part of the International H20 Collaboration, Rotarians will install the filters in a cluster of communities in the Dominican Republic. Rotary Images/Alyce Henson Work will begin soon on far-reaching projects that will provide millions of people with access to clean water and improved sanitation. As part of the International H2O Collaboration, an innovative alliance between Rotary International and USAID, the improvements will include long-term water, sanitation, and hygiene projects in Ghana and the Philippines, two of the three countries selected for the first phase of the collaborative effort. A grant application for the third country, the Dominican Republic, is expected to go before The Rotary Foundation Trustees later this month for consideration. The steering committee chose the three countries based on need, as well as the demonstrated ability of Rotary clubs and districts and USAID missions there to carry out effective water and sanitation projects. In Ghana, the alliance will work closely with local governments to provide hygiene training, boreholes, mechanized water systems, and new latrines. An estimated 86,000 people will benefit from the work, which will occur in 114 communities spread over four regions. “It’s going to make such a big difference in the lives of these people, though it’s so small a number compared with the total number of people who need this,” says Past District Governor K.O. “Willie” Keteku, who’s helping to coordinate the projects. “Right now, it takes too much time for people to look for water, and the water’s not clean. They get sick, and their time could instead be invested in other ventures, like the children attending school.” In the Philippines, the alliance will be working in five communities -- Davao City, Dipolog, Metro Manila, San Fernando City, and Zamboanga -- to provide new septic treatment facilities, sanitation systems, river cleanup efforts, a mechanized water supply system, and community water taps that will distribute filtered water. The work is expected to help more than 2.1 million people. “We are really fortunate to have been one of the three countries selected,” says Lina Aurelio, a past governor of District 3800 involved in organizing the improvements. “So many children die here because of polluted water. It’s a very big problem, almost all over the country. “Everyone buys water, even those earning minimum wage, but in the slum areas they can’t afford to,” Aurelio says. “There are millions of cases of diarrhea each year that cause 11,000 to 12,000 deaths annually. Because of the very bad sewage system we have, everything is affected.” In the Dominican Republic, the alliance will implement a wide range of water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions, including bio-sand filters in a small cluster of bateyes (communities of current and former sugar plantation and mill workers). When the initial phase is completed, the collaboration will evaluate the work and consider expanding it to other nations. The improvements will cost about US$2 million per country. Rotary will provide up to $500,000 through Health, Hunger and Humanity Grants, and participating clubs and districts in each country will raise an additional $500,000. USAID will contribute $1 million per nation from its mission budget. For more information: Read a story about the launch of the International H20 Collaboration Read more about the collaboration See a gallery of photos about water projects in the Dominican Republic 01-13-10 - How many Rotary clubs are in Rotary District 6940? There are Fifty clubs in Rotary District 6940. Click on this link to see a list of the clubs with meeting time, day-of-week, location and link to club information. 01-06-10 - Who is the President-Nominee for the 2011-12 RI President and where is he from? Banerjee is choice for 2011-12 RI president By Jennifer Lee Atkin Rotary International News -- 11 August 2009 
Kalyan Banerjee is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2011-12. Rotary Images Kalyan Banerjee, a member of the Rotary Club of Vapi, Gujarat, India, since 1972, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International in 2011-12. Banerjee will become the president-nominee on 1 October if there are no challenging candidates. Banerjee said he would like to see Rotary "blossom from being the world's most recognized service organization to being the most important NGO [nongovernmental organization] in the world. "Rotary, it is said, has the strength of a government and the tenderness of a parent," he added. Banerjee is a director of United Phosphorus Limited, the largest agrochemical manufacturer in India, and the chair of United Phosphorus (Bangladesh) Limited. He is a member of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Chemical Society, a past president of Vapi Industries Association, and former chair of the Gujarat chapter of the Confederation of Indian Industry. He earned a degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, in 1964. Banerjee has served Rotary as a director, Rotary Foundation trustee, committee and task force chair, International Assembly group discussion leader, president's representative, and district governor. The chair of the Southeast Asia Regional PolioPlus Committee, Banerjee has served as a member of the International PolioPlus Committee for many years and has attended international meetings with the World Health Organization and UNICEF in that capacity. Banerjee is a Major Donor, Benefactor, and Bequest Society member, and has been awarded the Foundation's Citation for Meritorious Service and its Distinguished Service Award. Banerjee also serves as a trustee of Rotary club-sponsored trusts that support many educational and community development programs in India, including a 250-bed hospital. He noted that Rotary's strengths include its ability to attract leaders from different vocations around the world, as well as its role in promoting peace. "Rotary needs to become the preferred organization for today's generation to join and participate in, to make the world better and safer and happier," he said. Banerjee's wife, Binota, is a social worker and Inner Wheel club member. The couple have two children and four grandchildren. The 2009-10 nominating committee members are: John F. Germ (chair), USA; Lennart Arfwidsson, Sweden; Keith Barnard-Jones, England; Ronald L. Beaubien, USA; Jacques Berthet, France; Robert O. Brickman, USA; Peter Bundgaard, Denmark; Ron D. Burton, USA; Gerson Gonçalves, Brazil; Jerry L. Hall, USA; Horst Heiner Hellge, Germany; Gary C.K. Huang, Taiwan; Toshio Itabashi, Japan; Kwang Tae Kim, Korea; Peter Krön, Austria; Donald L. Mebus, USA; Gerald A. Meigs, USA; Carlo Monticelli, Italy; Daniel W. Mooers, USA; David D. Morgan, Wales; G. Kenneth Morgan, USA; Samuel A. Okudzeto, Ghana; Luiz Coelho de Oliveira, Brazil; Kazuhiko Ozawa, Japan; Noraseth Pathmanand, Thailand; Barry Rassin, Bahamas; Ian H.S. Riseley, Australia; Robert S. Scott, Canada; Robert A. Stuart Jr., USA; Stan Tempelaars, The Netherlands; P.C. Thomas, India; O.P. Vaish, India; and Yoshimasa Watanabe, Japan. 12-30-09 - How is Rotary helping to build peace, one act at a time? Building peace, one act at a time By Arnold R. Grahl Rotary International News -- 14 September 2009  Gregorio Hernandez (left) and Lisa Monette (right) plant trees in Thailand as an act of peace. Photo courtesy Lisa Monette Lisa Monette knew she wanted to do something for her class project that would have a lasting impact. Monette, a Rotary World Peace Fellow at Chulalongkorn University, joined forces with three other peace fellows who were thinking along similar lines. Together, they dreamed up A Million Acts of Peace, an effort they launched online 27 August to encourage one million people to carry out one act of peace each. "The idea sort of grew out of the thought that people can do little things that may not mean that much," Monette says. "But if you have a million people doing little things, you can have a big impact." Monette's collaborators include Gregorio Hernandez Jr., a major in the Philippine army; Raseema Alam, a peace-building trainer and consultant from Canada; and Virender Singh Malik, a retired colonel from India. All have now completed the three-month program. In addition to the Web site, the peace fellows created a page on Facebook and are heavily promoting their effort through Twitter. Their Web site defines an act of peace as "anything you do to further your understanding of another person, place or culture." It can also include efforts that help the vulnerable, outcast, or needy. So far, Monette says the group has tallied about 150 acts of peace, counted as people e-mail them or contact them via Facebook. "Communication really is the key to preventing conflict. And dialogue is the key to solving conflict," she adds. "If we can get people talking and working together with others, we have achieved our goal." Monette was sponsored for the Rotary World Peace Fellowships program by the Rotary Club of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. She took a short leave from her job as a spokesperson for the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, specializing in issues related to Asia and terrorism and security worldwide. She says her grandfather was a Rotarian, and her father, aunts, and uncles participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange program. As a high school student, she took part in a one-week program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ottawa that brings students to the Canadian capital to teach them about citizenship and develop their leadership skills. "I fell in love with Ottawa," says Monette, who attended Carleton University to earn a degree in communications and political science. She says she and her collaborators hope to hit their mark by the end of the year. But she admits she won't be terribly disappointed if they fall a bit short of their target: "To get so many people thinking about peace to us is the most important thing." They are taking their message to Rotary clubs and districts to solicit as much help as possible. "We really think this has a good connection to Rotary," she says. "It fits with Rotary's values. Rotary is all about peace." 12-16-09 - What Rotary club just celebrated a milestone? New York club turns 100 By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 9 December 2009  Celebrating the Rotary Club of New York's centennial during a 6 November gala are (left to right) District Governor Karl F. Milde Jr, his wife, Cheryl, celebration chair Arcadio Casillias, Barbara Wankoff, and club president David Wankoff. Photo by linzphoto The Rotary Club of New York recently celebrated 100 years of service and fellowship with a formal gala at the Union League Club of New York. "This is a celebration of our club's historic impact on New York City, the United States, and the world," said Arcadio Casillas, past club president and centennial celebration chair. "We celebrate past success not as a culmination, but as a commencement of a renewed New York Rotary." From its support of the Safe Water Project for families in Africa to its diligent fundraising for local families affected by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the New York club has improved the lives of millions at home and abroad. The centennial gala, held 6 November, raised more than $100,000 for the club's foundation, which will distribute the funds to city charities that help the homeless and needy. "Service has been the key to our success," said club president David Wankoff. "Exemplifying our motto, Service Above Self, our members often put their own personal and business affairs aside to serve the community." Rotarians from several countries, including France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, flew to New York City to celebrate the club's centennial. Jean-Claude Gruffat, a former New York club member, now a member of the Rotary Club of Paris, flew in from France to attend the party. "I had to be here for the centennial celebration. It's such an extraordinary accomplishment," said Gruffat, whose business obligations prompted a move to Paris. "I came not only as a former member but as a friend and partner." Gruffat's Paris club has partnered with the New York club on several projects in Africa and Eastern Europe. Established on 24 August 1909, the New York club is Rotary's sixth oldest and has more than 120 members. 12-09-09 - What are the Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of club activity? For years, Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self has been channeled through the four Avenues of Service, which form the foundation of club activity. To get started on a project, think broadly about how your club and its members could contribute within each avenue. Club Service Club Service focuses on strengthening fellowship and ensuring the smooth functioning of Rotary clubs. Learn about effective club service in Membership and Training. Vocational Service Vocational Service involves club members serving others through their professions and aspiring to high ethical standards. Rotarians, as business leaders, share skills and expertise through their vocations, and they inspire others in the process. Learn more. Community Service Community Service is the opportunity Rotary clubs have to implement club projects and activities that improve life in the local community. Learn more about community service and assessing your community. International Service International Service encompasses efforts to expand Rotary’s humanitarian reach around the world and to promote world understanding and peace. It includes everything from contributing to PolioPlus to helping Rotary Youth Exchange students adjust to their host countries. Learn more about participating in World Community Service. 11-11-09 - How many nationalities and ethnic groups live in Montreal? Convention 
2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June Sophisticated yet friendly, Montréal offers an ideal setting for Rotarians to gather at the 2010 RI Convention. More than 80 nationalities and ethnic groups reside in Montréal. In addition, it is also the largest francophone city outside of Paris, making it the most bilingual metropolis in North America. Register early now for “An International Experience” and to receive the best rates and accommodations. To go to the convention and experience the fellowship and Rotary at an international level * Register for the convention and ticketed events * Reserve your hotel * Purchase host event tickets 2010 registration Registration for one preconvention event is included in the price of your convention registration. Find out about preconvention events. There are several ways to register for the 2010 convention: * Online registration * Download the registration form * E-mail for special tour group forms and other information For questions, e-mail RI. Note: You must be a registered Member Access user to register online for the convention. (Read more about becoming a Member Access user.) User registration for Member Access may take longer than one business day. You will receive e-mails with step-by-step instructions to complete set up of your user account. Then, log in to Member Access, go to the left hand navigation bar and, under services, select "Register for Meetings" and on the next screen, "2010 RI Convention." To complete your convention registration, enter your credit card information to pay your fees. An alternative method is to fax or e-mail your registration form. Register by 15 December to save money! 2010 housing Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so book early to secure your preferred hotel. Booking for RI Convention housing begins 20 June 2009. Confirmations will be issued from Tourisme Montréal's Housing Bureau beginning in July. * Online reservation through Tourisme Montréal's Housing Bureau * Download the housing form. For a block of rooms of 15 or more, download the group housing form. * E-mail: reservation@tourisme-montreal.org * Phone: +1-514-844-0848 / 1-888-722-2220 (toll-free North America) * Fax: +1-514-844-6771 * Mail: Tourisme Montréal's Housing Bureau 1555 Peel Street Bureau 600 Montréal, Québec H3A 3L8 Canada 2010 host event tickets The host committee has planned events, tours, and a Host Hospitality evening with multiple options to help convention goers experience Montréal's cultural offerings with local Rotarians. Some of these events have limited capacities, so be sure to purchase your tickets early. * Online ticket purchases For questions, e-mail the HOC. Venues The venues will be the Bell Centre for plenary sessions and the Palais des congrès de Montréal for breakout sessions, booths, and the House of Friendship. These venues are within a short walk or métro ride of each other and many of the downtown hotels. For more information about the destination and to download walking and métro maps, go to www.tourisme-montreal.org. Information for first-time convention attendees. 10-28-09 - What is the Rotary/Google connection? Rotary, Google join forces By Donna Polydoros Rotary International News -- 31 August 2009  A selection of covers throughout the years. Scans of issues of The Rotarian are now available through Google Books. Rotary has teamed up with Google to make nearly 100 years of The Rotarian available free online. Full-color, searchable scans of all issues of the magazine from 1959 to 2008 are now available through Google Books, with more issues to follow. The site is accessible from The Rotarian's page on the RI Web site. Users can select from a gallery of issues organized by decade or click "Search all issues" to search the entire catalog for a word or phrase. The collaboration is part of an initiative to make Rotary's historical resources more accessible to Rotarians worldwide. "Google is doing all of the scanning and indexing to make the material searchable -- and at no cost to Rotary," says Stephanie Giordano, archivist for Rotary International. More than 72,000 pages will be available once Google finishes scanning and uploading all 1,100 issues. The first issue was published in January 1911, when the magazine was called The National Rotarian. Some issues of interest include December 1979, which reported on Rotary's first polio immunization project; the February 2005 centennial issue; and issues from the 1980s discussing the admission of women into Rotary. Try it for yourself. Browse past issues now. For a history of the magazine and a preview of early issues, check out a photo gallery of The Rotarian through time. 10-21-09 - How can Rotary save you money? The Planned and Major Gifts Division of Rotary International often advises members who are considering donations of US$10,000 or more on how to maximize the impact of their gifts, as well as the potential U.S. tax benefits. A charitable remainder trust is one in which the donor irrevocably places assets in exchange for an income, either for life or a certain number of years. This type of trust allows donors to reduce capital gains taxes on gifts of appreciated property and is a great strategy for incorporating charity into estate plans. It can be funded with cash, real estate, publicly traded stock, closely held stock, bonds (including tax-exempt bonds), and certain other assets. Income will be earned at a rate agreed upon by the donor and the Foundation, with a minimum of 5 percent of the initial trust principal. If Rotary is named the trustee for your charitable remainder trust, it will cover up to 50 percent of the fee charged by the custodian bank, Northern Trust, to administer the trust. Karena Bierman, senior planned giving officer for The Rotary Foundation, says that, for U.S. residents who include the Foundation as a beneficiary of a charitable trust, a charitable remainder trust passes the "four-win" test: Donors can receive a tax deduction in the year the gift was made, avoid capital gains taxes on the donation of appreciated assets, receive lifetime income from the donation, and enjoy recognition for the gift that supports the Foundation while they are still alive. "Trust assets are invested right away to enable the Foundation to get the most out of the gift," Bierman says, "while the donor gets income and a tax benefit. That way it maximizes the benefit to both the donor and Rotary." 10-14-09 - When did the Rotary Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary? Since the 1989 Council on Legislation vote to admit women into Rotary clubs, women have been playing an increasing role in the organization. Today's leadership continues to encourage clubs to seek diversity by actively recruiting women. Watch a video, and read more about the history of women in Rotary. Watch the video Read more . . . 10-07-09 - What does EREY stand for and what does it mean?
09-30-09 - What is Rotary's $200 Million Challenge? Help eradicate polio Contribute to stopping polio The biggest obstacles to eradicating polio are the underfunding of the global initiative and insufficient political commitment from the remaining polio-affected countries. Rotary International believes the primary source for additional funds can and should be governments of polio-free industrialized countries. Your contribution through Rotary will help ensure that we keep doing our part to get the job done. Contribute to Rotary's $200 Million Challenge Rotary's US$200 Million Challenge is the Rotary Foundation's response to the two grants totaling $355 million from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to help eradicate polio. Every dollar given to PolioPlus will be counted toward the $200 million match, which must be completed by 30 June 2012. Give now. Give through Rotary Friends of Rotary are welcome to add their support to Rotary’s number-one goal. Contribute to Rotary's $200 Million Challenge today . 09-23-09 - What are the five Youth Programs of Rotary District 6940? Five Rotary Youth Programs — Rotary Youth Camp, Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, Rotaract, RYLA — help provide young people with education and valuable life skills to ensure a better future. Rotary Youth Camp The North Florida Rotary Youth Camp is supported by the Rotary Clubs in the eastern part of District 6940 around Tallahassee, and is dedicated to giving your child an unequaled camping experience. The camp enables campers to grow in self-confidence and to experience success in physical activities and human relationships. Rotary Youth Camp is intended for any child, age 9-16, with a physical limitation, which would make it difficult or impossible to participate at other camps. Rotary Youth Exchange 
Every year approximately 7,000 students ages 15 to 19 go abroad under the auspices of the Rotary Youth Exchange program, either for the academic year or an extended period of time. The increased self awareness and global perspective that they derive from the experience would not be possible without the commitment of the many volunteer host families and the dedication of those Rotarians who serve as Youth Exchange officers. In fact, this commitment and enthusiasm is transferred to many exchange students who continue their involvement after their exchange as members of ROTEX. Interact  Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 14 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community. Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of * Developing leadership skills and personal integrity * Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others * Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work * Advancing international understanding and goodwill As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact. Roteract  Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, with more than 7,000 clubs in about 163 countries and geographical areas, Rotaract has become a worldwide phenomenon. How does it work? All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service. What are some other opportunities available to Rotaractors? Rotaractors may also * Assist in organizing Interact clubs or mentor Interactors * Participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards * Become Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars or Group Study Exchange team members * Seek membership in their local Rotary club RYLA  Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 14-30, but most clubs and districts choose to focus on a narrower age range, such as 14-18 or 19-30. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to * Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth * Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders * Encourage leadership of youth by youth * Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities 09-09-09 - What is the source of the Rotary name and where was it first used? History of Rotary International  The first four Rotarians: (from left) Gustavus Loehr, Silvester Schiele, Hiram Shorey, and Paul P. Harris Courtesy of Rotary Images The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, was formed on 23 February 1905 by Paul P. Harris, an attorney who wished to capture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. The Rotary name derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices. Rotary's popularity spread, and within a decade, clubs were chartered from San Francisco to New York to Winnipeg, Canada. By 1921, Rotary clubs had been formed on six continents. The organization adopted the Rotary International name a year later. As Rotary grew, its mission expanded beyond serving club members’ professional and social interests. Rotarians began pooling their resources and contributing their talents to help serve communities in need. The organization's dedication to this ideal is best expressed in its motto: Service Above Self. By 1925, Rotary had grown to 200 clubs with more than 20,000 members. The organization's distinguished reputation attracted presidents, prime ministers, and a host of other luminaries to its ranks — among them author Thomas Mann, diplomat Carlos P. Romulo, humanitarian Albert Schweitzer, and composer Jean Sibelius. 09-02-09 - What is the name of the President-Elect of Rotary International, and where is he from? President-elect  Ray Klinginsmith USA Ray Klinginsmith, an attorney, served as general counsel, professor of business administration, and dean of administration for Truman State University (formerly Northeast Missouri State University) for more than 20 years. The president of the Chariton Valley Association for Handicapped Citizens since its inception in 1982, Ray received the 1988 Parent/Caretaker Award from the Missouri Planning Council for Developmental Disabilities. Ray is an alumnus of The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarships program, which took him to South Africa in 1961. He has served as RI director, RI Board Executive Committee chair, Foundation trustee and vice chair, Future Vision Committee member, Council on Legislation chair, and 2008 Los Angeles Convention Committee chair. A Major Donor, he is a recipient of the Foundation's Distinguished Service Award. Ray and his wife, Judie, live in Kirksville. [Spouse: Judie] Return to Main Page |
