A MONDAY MOMENT IN ROTARY

FOR DISTRICT 6580

JULY 23, 2007

 

Dear 66580 Rotary Leaders:

 This past week has featured a number of encouraging official visits.  Lee and I had the opportunity to participate in the dedication of the Terre Haute South Rotary Centennial Parkway and the Wilbur Keko Shelter which is on the recently developed Heritage Trail.  This event attracted two television stations and the TH Tribune Star.  Key dignitaries attended.  Congratulations TH South for the completion of an amazing project showing how Rotary Shares.  The Rotary Club of Franklin was staffing a fair booth for the first time.  They were distributing Rotary educational materials.  Culligan Water offered space for the club to use.  Comfortable weather was in the plan.  Lee and I were impressed with the Rotary Spirit demonstrated at club meetings in Washington, Greenwood/White River and Jasper. 

 We continued our drive on the Rotary Road to Nashville , TN to attend a great membership conferences hosted by RI President Wilf Wilkinson.  DGN and Membership Chair Bettye Dunham also attended.  She is planning the Membership portion of the Membership/Foundation Seminar scheduled for Sept. 29th.  Save the date.  Details to follow soon.

                                                                               

·         Semi Annual Report (SAR) paper work should have been received from RI by your club secretary.  If you have not received this please call our Club Support Team at RI.  Tom Wood’s number is 847 866 3248 or Charlene Sobczak’s number is 847 866 3257.

·         ASK SOMEONE TO JOIN YOUR CLUB TODAY!  Membership Recruitment is more than just helping your own Rotary Club, it is helping Rotary Clubs everywhere obtain new members.  If you know someone in the Seymour area but live in Terre Haute , you can call your friend and have them contact the Rotary Club of Seymour so that they can each expand their circle of friends and volunteers to the community.

·         The Rotary Club of Greensburg invites you to attend their upcoming Professional Broken Horn Rodeo Friday/Saturday, August 10/11 7:30 p.m. each evening at the Decatur County fairgrounds. Proceeds benefit in part the Rotary Club of Greensburg.  Tickets are available at the Greensburg Chamber office, Marsh, MainSource Bank & Napoleon State Bank.  Adult tickets in advance are $6 or $12 at the gate.

·         Group Study Exchange - Now is the time to identify and encourage young leaders in communities to apply for the Group Study Exchange (GSE).  They will travel to southern Brazil next spring leaving May 6.  See press release info.

·         Water Project – RI President Wilf will continue Rotary’s emphasis on water.  Water is essential to all aspects of life, yet 99% of water on Earth is unsafe or unavailable to drink.  About 1.2 billion people globally lack safe water and 2.6 billion do not have access to adequate sanitation.  One of my goals is for every club to have an international water project.  The one I would like clubs to support is in Myanmar ( Burma ) building wells at orphanages as a result of the Tsunami.  I have a CD that explains the project

·         Foundation Minute!  This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is provided as a reminder to all of us that the Foundation is the primary way in which we are involved in the Fourth Avenue of Service:  International Service.

 

The Rotary Foundation was started with a gift of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City in 1917- the leftover profit from the international convention that year.  Earlier that same year Rotary’s sixth president Arch C. Klumph suggested the creation of just such a fund.  The very first grant made by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) was to the International Society for Crippled Children.  The idea of international service has grown.  Just in the last 20 years Rotary has contributed over US$600 million to polio eradication effort.  Thanks to everyone who has supported the program.  There are still four countries that are not polio free.  So Rotarians are still donating to this cause.

In the words of professional volunteer, Charlotte Lundsford:  “We won’t always know whose lives we touched and made better for our having cared, because actions can sometimes have unforeseen ramifications.  What’s important is that you do care and act.”  Create Awareness. Take Action.  Show how Rotary Shares. 

·         CALENDAR

July

                31 Semi-Annual report and Dues to Rotary International

           August

               1    Applications for GSE Team Leader to Brazil in April 2008 due to Chair Paul Bippen

10     Attendance Report Due

13     Commitment forms and checks for RYLA due to RYLA Chair Pam Blasdel

26     Hoosier Ambassadorial Scholars Orientation at IUPUI Lilly Library.  For details Yolanda Trevino ytrevino@indiana.edu

31     Ambassadorial Scholar recommendations due to Chair Yolanda Trevino

31     Watch for the RYLA registration material

·         FUTURE DATES

               March 7 – 8 President Elects Training Seminar (PETS) REQUIRED ATTENDANCE

              April 25 - 27 Joint District Conference at Belterra near VeVay , IN

              May Date to be determined for District Assembly

              June 14 – 18 Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles

 

DG Official Visit Schedule

 

July 23 – Rotary Club of Princeton

July 24 – Rotary Club of Bloomington

July 25 – Rotary Club of Bloomington Sunrise and Rotary Club of Linton

July 26 – Rotary Club of Evansville Morning

July 27 – Rotary Club of Columbus Sunrise

July 30 – Rotary Club of Seymour

August 2 – Rotary Club of New Albany and Rotary Club of Madison

August 6 – Rotary Club of Rising Sun

August 9 – Rotary Club of Bedford

 

Have a Great Rotary week!

Judy Witt, District Governor 2007-08

Rotary International District 6580

800 East First Street      

Bloomington, IN 47401

Home 812 339 4273

Cell 812 340 3182

Fax 812 330 1977