Rotary International

DISTRICT 7280
NEWSLETTER

District Governor’s Message

We are putting finishing touches on plans for the District Conference at Slippery Rock University on May 18, 19 and 20, 2007.  Registrations are coming in and we look forward to a great Conference with every club in the District sending at least one member to the Conference.   And, we hope most clubs will have many more attend. 

The GSE Team from South Korea is on the way and will be attending the District Conference, too.  You won’t want to miss their presentation at the Paul Harris Breakfast on Saturday.  Of course, you may also be hosting one of them in your home, or seeing them at a club meeting while they are in the District. 

Another special feature of the District Conference will be our keynote speaker at the opening session on Friday, Michael Angelo Caruso.  His talk on “Leading the Way With Volunteers” will be full of useful tips and suggestions for all Rotary leaders, and they are likely to be useful in you business or profession, as well.  

We have many other great sessions and speakers planned to help us celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the Rotary clubs in District 7280.  Be sure to see the March newsletter for full information and the registration form. 

While I am most excited about the District Conference, other things go on in Rotary.  As I write we are getting ready for the District Assembly/Club Officers Training Seminar on April 14, 2007 at Grove City College.  Fred Brenner is looking for a good turn out there. 

Also, on April 29, 2007 there will be a Bon Voyage Party for our outbound Group Study Exchange Team from 2 to 5 at the Venango Campus of Clarion University in Oil City.  This is a good chance to see them in their blazers and hear the presentation they will be giving to Rotarians in South Korea.  Contact team leader Nancy Clemente for more information (nclemente@clarion.edu or 814-677-6287).

The RYLA committee is organizing for their session in June and received great news from Westminster College.  The College is establishing a scholarship program for RYLA participants.  All participants who apply and meet the scholarship criteria will receive a scholarship worth $12,000 per year for four years.  The RYLA experience is great, but this will be an added incentive for students interested in attending Westminster College.  We appreciate this recognition of the quality of the RYLA program and its participants. 

Also, I learned from Shirley Yeager, wife of PDG Bill Yeager of Warren Rotary Club, that Bill is back in the Warren area.  He is staying at the Rouse County Home in Youngsville while continuing recuperation from his stroke.  He would enjoy visitors, so stop by, if you are in the area.  Or drop him a card c/o the Rouse Home, Youngsville, PA 16371.  He will miss the District Conference this year for the first time in many years, and would be glad to see any Rotarian. 

Have you read your Rotarian magazine lately?  April is Magazine Month in Rotary.  I hope every club is doing something to encourage members to keep up with the Rotary news through the Rotarian.  It is one of seven different magazines that Rotary International publishes around the world to reach Rotarians in a language familiar to them. 

And, please be sure to continue working, through Rotary, to improve your community and the world we live in.  “LEAD THE WAY” in Service Above Self for your community and the entire world.   

Hank Anna
District Governor

RYLA Scholarship 

At the March 18, 2007 meeting of the District 7280 RYLA Committee, a representative from Westminster College President Tom Williamson’s staff informed the committee that the college was creating a RYLA Scholarship Program.

The scholarships are worth $48,000 ($12,000 per year, renewable for four years).  To receive this award students must:

• Attend the District 7280 RYLA program at Westminster College
• Apply to Westminster College by November 15
• Be accepted by Westminster College
• Have a 3.5 or higher cumulative grade point average at the time of admission

If students satisfy these requirements, they will receive the $48,000 Westminster College RYLA Scholarship.

If a student qualifies for a larger Westminster College merit scholarship, they will receive it in place of the RYLA Scholarship.

Westminster College has a long relationship with District 7280’s RYLA Program, hosting it every year but one.  This opportunity demonstrates the college’s respect for the quality of the students that attend our program and the leadership training that we provide our students.

Changes of Address

Co-Secretary/Treasurer Lee Ahlum’s email was changed to ahlum2@verizon.net and Co-Secretary/Treasurer Peter Richdale’s email address was changed to peterjody@zoominternet.net.
 

What’s To Do In Slippery Rock?

A Club President asked me what there is to do in Slippery Rock when one is not attending the District Conference sessions.  First, let me say we hope you will attend the Conference sessions, and that won’t leave much time for other activities.  But, if you are arriving early or leaving later, there are many things you might care to do. 

Many interesting activities are included in the Spouse/Partners Program.  You could start with a tour of campus, and spend some time at the Macoskey Center for Sustainable Systems, the Storm Harbor Equestrian Center, the Hickory School House, and other places on campus.  You might visit Jack Critchfield Park and stand on the mound where professional baseball pitchers will ply their trade. 

Veteran shoppers know that the Prime Outlet Mall at the Grove City exit of I79 is less that ten miles away.  But there is lots of shopping to do in Slippery Rock.  You could even start with the wealth of SRU imprint merchandise available at the Student Government Association Bookstore.  And, there are great little shops in downtown Slippery Rock, as well.  You might want to pick up some picture postcards of the town or campus to send to folks who do not believe there really is a Slippery Rock, PA.  While the motto is “The Town Known Round the World” we still have some to convince. 

The revitalized downtown is well worth a look, as is the Village at Slippery Rock and the mural on the bank wall.  The project has really changed the look of downtown for the better, I’m sure you will agree. 

The Conference meals will be delicious, but I know some of the SRU alums among our attendees will slip off to Bob’s Subs for the great taste they remember from their younger days.  You might try one and see if it is only nostalgia, or a unique gustatory experience. 

Other SRU alums will want to stop by one of the new drinking establishments to see what a legal bar in formerly “dry” Slippery Rock is like.  The Ginger Hill Tavern is a sports bar close to campus, while the North Country Brewing Co. is a very special brew pub with a long list of beers brewed on site, good food, and a decor well worth seeing.  The Coney Island Hot Dog Shop is a quiet place to have a beer away from the Conference crowd, if that is what you like. 

There are many other things to see and do in Slippery Rock while you are at the Conference.  Be sure to ask other Slippery Rock Rotarians for their recommendations, as I may have missed some great ones.  We don’t have everything , but there is plenty to do in the time you will have, and we do hope you will enjoy your visit. 

DG Hank Anna
 

Meeting Frequency Pilot Project

The RI Board of Directors is conducting a new pilot project on meeting frequency.  The Board would like data on how flexibility in meeting frequency affects Rotary club operations and success.

The “Meeting Frequency Pilot Project,” will evaluate the impact of meeting frequency on a club’s ability to sustain and increase membership, implement successful service projects, support The Rotary Foundation, and develop leaders beyond the club level.  The new pilot runs from 1 July 2007 to 30 June 2013.  A total of 200 clubs will be chosen to participate.  Clubs that participated in the New Models Pilot Project will receive selection preference.  The deadline for submitting a pilot application form is 1 June 2007.   Club and district officers will be notified of clubs selected to participate by 30 June 2007.

If you club is interested in applying to participate in this pilot project, please contact DG Hank Anna for further information and an application form. Two-thirds of club members must agree to participate, and the application form requires the approval and signatures of District Governor Hank and District Governor Elect Fred Brenner. 
 

GSE Team Needed - Destination India
January, 2008

District 7280 is in need of a Group Study Team that will travel to District 3090 in India (Punjab region) during January, 2008, for approximately a month.  That Team will consist of a Rotarian Team Leader and 4 Non-Rotarian Team Members.  Ability to speak Hindi would be preferable, but will not be required.  An alternate Team Leader and, probably, two alternate Team Members will be selected and trained.  Qualifications are as follows:

Team Leader

            Must be an experienced Rotarian, well informed on the United States and Rotary.

            Must not be a current DG, an immediate PDG, or a DGE.

            Prefer an ability to speak Hindi, but not mandatory

            Must be a Team-Builder, who will be responsible for training the Team.

            Must be willing and physically able to keep pace with the vigorous schedule

Team Member

            Must be a US Citizen between age 25 and 40

            Must be currently employed in any recognized business or profession

            Prefer an ability to speak Hindi, but not mandatory.

            Must be in good health, neat in appearance and able to express themselves well

            Must be interested in and enthusiastic about their chosen vocation

            Must be open minded, tolerant and flexible

            Must not be a Rotarian, spouse of a Rotarian or a lineal descendent of a Rotarian

            Must not be the spouse of another Team Member

Team member (including Leader) financial responsibilities are: personal and incidental expenses, visa, passport and inoculation expenses, transportation to and from the airport of departure, excess baggage charges and insurance coverage for medical care and hospitalization.  Airline tickets are provided by the Rotary Foundation, while lodging and food are provided by the host District.

If you know of someone who would be a good candidate, please have them contact Arthur Towne, District GSE Chairman, to receive an application.  Art’s address is 132 E. Clen-Moore Blvd., New Castle, PA 16105, phone number is 724 658-6320, and email address is artandaudrey@comcast.net.   Applications for both Team Leader and Team Member will be accepted through June 15.

Rotary Outstanding Vocational Award (ROVA)

The 2007 ROVA was held on March 11th and 12th at the McKeever Environmental Learning Center in Sandy Lake.  Eighty students participated and had a wonderful learning experience.  District 7280 is very fortunate to have Fred Kiser and Barry Balaski to run the program.  Both men are enthusiastic about the program and do a marvelous job of teaching the students more about themselves and about their ability to be leaders.  The feedback received from the students is very positive.

Next year’s date has already been established.  The ROVA retreat will be held on March 9^th and 10^th.  It will again be at the McKeever Learning Center.

The administrative part of the program that I have done for 4 years is being taken over by Tracy Becker of the Clarion Rotary Club.  She and I will work together next year and then she will take over the program.  The counselors all agreed that they want this program to continue for their students.  They feel it is worthwhile even though they give up a Sunday of their time to chaperone.

Thirty eight clubs participated this year.  Those clubs that have not participated are not being fair to the vocational students in their areas.  This program is unique to our District and is a unique experience for vocational students.  Hopefully next year all 44 clubs will participate.

PDG Skip Sample
 

Former Scholar Turns Stumbling Blocks Into Stepping Stones

Young-Woo Kang knows about obstacles. As a teenager, he lost his eyesight, his mother, and his sister within just a few years. Growing up in Korea as an orphan, he faced suspicion and ostracism because of his blindness, which traditionally limited his occupation to fortunetelling or massage. Kang, however, chose a very different course. He fought to take college entrance exams and was the first blind student in Korea to study at prestigious Yonsei University, graduating with honors. After receiving a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to attend the University of Pittsburgh, Kang overcame regulations preventing disabled people from studying abroad and became the first blind person from Korea to earn a doctorate.

Knocking down obstacles became an intrinsic part of Kang's life. Strong allies in his struggles included his wife, Kyoung, who served as his teacher and later a teacher of the blind, and Rotary. While at Yonsei University, he met William “Terry” Powell, a blind Rotarian from Wesleyville, Pennsylvania, USA, who helped him obtain the Foundation scholarship in 1972-73 and later invited him to join Rotary.

"William Powell was with me all the way through," Kang says. "When I could not eliminate obstacles, he found a way around them." After receiving his doctorate in special education, Kang and his wife moved to Indiana, where he joined the Rotary Club of Munster. Today, he is a member of the Rotary Club of Washington D.C.

While in Indiana, Kang realized how U.S. policies and resources assisted disabled people, leading him to establish the Education and Rehabilitation Exchange Foundation to bring similar measures to Korea. He worked with fellow Rotarian Kwan Sik Min, Korea's minister of education, to help change laws and attitudes and empower people with disabilities.

Now a U.S. citizen, Kang is a member of the National Council on Disability, vice chair of the World Committee on Disability, and commemorative chair and senior adviser for the Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt Institute. He has written several books, and his autobiography, A Light in My Heart, was made into a feature film in Korea. In October 2006, U.S. first lady Laura Bush invited him to speak at the White House as a role model during National Disability Employment Awareness Month.

In his Rotary club, Kang focuses on Matching Grant projects. The most recent one connects his club with District 3650 in Korea to bring Mongolian children with congenital heart disorders to Seoul for lifesaving surgeries.

"Rotary has been an integral part of my life," Kang says. "I can't talk about my experiences without talking about Rotary."

By Janis Young, Rotary International News
 

Past District Governors History
What will you remember them for?

PDG Ralph Detweiler....Dominican Republic water filter; Conference near the New York state line.

PDG Linda Griffin....She made at least two visits to each club; Conference at the most southern end of our district.

PDG Mary Sample....Known as “Skip”. She started ROVA; first Rotary vocational school leadership program in our country.

PDG Lee Ahlum….He made a study of all Rotary programs; became an advisor to the above DG’s and DG Hank; serves well as Chairman of Dist. Foundation Committee.

PDG Norm Stark…He returned the District Conference to Erie, our district’s largest club in size.

PDG James Eck…He was a working man, while serving as our Governor; Conference tournament golf course had a railroad running thru the golf course.

PDG Paul Rizza….Served well under the guidance of trainer PDG Ted Walwik, both from Slippery Rock.

PDG Gail Fine….Our very first lady district governor, and a great one; had us Square Dancing at Conference.

PDG Dale Pinkerton….He raised (adjusted?) the bar for future district governors with his loud jackets and strong motivation.

That’s a decade worth.  All of these Past District Governors serve as members of the district Advisory Board and continue to help lead by their example and service. 

I’m sure you can tell, there was no research on this subject. This might be considered as dangerous by some of you. If I hurt somebody’s feelings by saying or omitting some thing I’m sorry. Due to space it is impossible to put lengthy details on each PDG. You may remember them for different reasons. I respect that.

Omer Hertweck, District Historian
 

We Continue To Make Progress!

The chart below is from Rotary International as of February 28, 2007. The Rich-Mar Rotary Club leads the district with Annual Program Fund giving of $245.37 per Rotarian, followed by Slippery Rock at $163.28 and Mercer at $137.63 per Rotarian.  We have achieved nearly 71% of our goal for this year. 

The following questions remain:

• Can Mercer maintain their district dominance through the entire Rotary year? – No way, Rich-Mar blew them out of the water!

• Which club will be the first to average $100 per Rotarian? – Bessemer/Mohawk reached that status in September.
   
• Which club will be the first to achieve “Every Rotarian, Every Year” Recognition averaging $100 per Rotarian with every active Rotarian making a contribution?  Sharon did it again this year!
   
• Will any club exceed Butler Rotary Club’s last year’s average giving of $162.98? – Yes, Rich-Mar at $245.37 per Rotarian!
•  
• Will any club average $200 per Rotarian? – Yes, Rich-Mar.  This is the first time since I became the district foundation chair that a club has exceeded the $200 per Rotarian average!
•  
• Will the district exceed its goal for this year of $78.00 per Rotarian? 

We have three clubs that have not yet contributed to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Program Fund.  One sent in a large contribution in March and the other two will be submitting contributions before the end of the year

We are right on target to reach our goal this year.  Keep up the good work.

PDG Lee Ahlum,
Chair District 7280 Rotary Foundation Committee 

Annual Program Fund Giving