Rotary of Fort Walton Beach Question of the Week Page

Rotary Club of Fort Walton Beach

Question of The Week

03-10-10 -
What is the connection between Herbert J. Taylor and Merv Hecht?

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      Dale Bailey, of San Diego, California, USA, agrees with Hecht: "You're right -- The Four-Way Test is obsolete.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 -
According to RI President John Kenny, what must you do before you can truly appreciate the internationality of Rotary?

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 -
Do you wear your Rotary pin every day?

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 FOUNDATION
ROTARY 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

Find out how to register, and download a registration form.

Check out the schedule of events.

Purchase tickets for An Evening at the Cirque on the HOC website.

Help promote the convention. Download a PDF on how to register online for the RI Convention, and download special circus postcards.

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?

Every Rotarian Every Year ... means we need every Rotarian to make a contribution to The Rotary Foundation, every year! And, the best way is to become a Sustaining Member for less than $2 a week (allows you to support all of Rotary's projects)!

For more information, or to sign up on-line, visit the RI EREY web site...Thank you!

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]

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