Rotary International

DISTRICT 7280
NEWSLETTER

District Governor’s Message

Rotarians in District 7280 continue to support the Rotary Foundation, which in turn supports district programs, such as Group Study Exchanges, Ambassadorial Scholars and  simplified grant programs, as well as International Programs such as Polo Plus and Health and Hunger issues around the world. Currently nineteen clubs have made contributions during the 2007-2008 Rotary year.  By the end of the December, I will have either visited or asked an Assistant Governor to present the Every Rotarian Every Year Banner to 8 clubs and I will be visiting the remaining two Every Rotarian Every Year clubs after the first of the year.  Ten clubs in the District have achieved the Every Rotarian Every Year contribution to the Rotary Foundation. As you are aware, one of my goals this year is to increase the number of clubs in the District that achieve the Every Rotarian Every Year goal of $100 per Rotarian contribution to the Rotary Foundation. As I have stated in the November Newsletter, this amounts to $2.00 a week or a cup of Starbucks coffee for every Rotarian in District 7280 to contribute $100.00 to the Rotary Foundation thereby providing funds to eliminate Polio, provide clean water and provide opportunities for education for the children of the world. Let all of us work together to remain one of the top districts in Zone 28. I express my thanks to all Rotarians that have made or will make a contribution to the Rotary Foundation in this Rotary Year.

As of December 12, 2007, 25 clubs have contributed to the District Governor’s project for a total of $13,605.00. Is your club among the 18 clubs in the district that have not made a contribution to the District Governor’s project?  After the first of the year, we will be in contact with the presidents of all clubs that have not contributed to the District Governor’s project. It is essential that we continue to provide support for the Water Filtration Project in the Dominican Republic and the Literacy Project in Haiti. Our support for these two programs will reduce the incidence of water born diseases in the Dominican Republic and provide greater opportunities for education for the children of Haiti.                                   

Opportunities For Service

Mark Vincent and Gary Weston of the Rich-Mar Club continue to encourage Rotarian from other clubs to join with them in forming a team of volunteers to build homes in Mississippi for families displaced by Katrina. The date of the next trip to Mississippi is scheduled for April 20-25, 2008.  Jack Hanes of the New Wilmington Rotary Club, Co-Chair of our Water Task Force has arranged for a delegation of interested Rotarians to visit the Dominican Republic to see first hand the positive impacts of our water filtration project and to assist in the construction of the Vo-Tech School. We depart for the Dominican on Thursday, January 10 and return on January 17. For further information contact Jack Hanes of the New Wilmington Rotary Club at jzhanes@webtv.com or by phone at (724) 946-8166. For those clubs that have not submitted your contributions to the District Governor’s project, please do so as soon as possible so we can continue to provide financial support for this valuable program for the prevention of water born diseases in the children of the Dominican Republic and support the Literacy project in Haiti.

In the next few weeks, all Rotary Clubs in the District will be receiving a letter from Past District Governor Skip Sample detailing our eyeglasses collection program and our partnership with the Lion Clubs in Northwest Pennsylvania. These eyeglasses will be presented to the District Governor of the Lions for distribution in Haiti in cooperation with Rotarians from Philadelphia. 

Membership

I have discussed membership issues in previous newsletters. In the first three months of this Rotary Year, 31 new Rotarians joined Rotary Clubs in District 7280 but as of the end of October, our total membership has declined by 22, suggesting that retention continues to be an issue among the Rotary Clubs in our District. Over the last five years, Rotary membership has declined by 155 in the District and we have lost 3 clubs in the district. I ask each club to review your membership recruitment and retention over the last five years. Does your club have a new member orientation program or a mentoring program? When a Rotarian resigns, do you follow up to find out why he or she resigned from your club?  In addition to a declining membership, we have lost three Rotary Clubs in District 7280. If all clubs in the area meet at the same time of the day, how do we meet the needs of potential Rotarians that cannot meet a noon or in the evening because of work or family commitments? Should we organize a morning or a cocktail hour club, if there is sufficient interest?  I am convinced that the only way this district can grow is by the formation of new Rotary Clubs either in communities where we have existing clubs or by organizing new Rotary Clubs in communities not currently served by Rotary. I firmly believe that we have to begin to think outside the box if we are going to increase our membership in District 7280. In previous newsletters, I discussed some of the recent resolutions passed by the Council on Legislation designed to assist clubs in recruiting new members. Please refer to the September Newsletter for details on these new membership programs. As I stated at PETS and during my club visits, the strength of all Rotary Clubs rests in its membership.  We are currently looking into the prospect of forming new clubs in several communities in the District. If anyone has any suggestions as to communities that would benefit from the establishment of a Rotary Club, please contact me. IMPACT  TOMORROW ASK SOMEONE TO JOIN ROTARY TODAY AND SERVE THE WORLD.

Last May, we organized a Rotary Foundation Alumni Association. We currently have a list of former GSE Team Members and Ambassadorial Scholars, but I continue to ask for your assistance in obtaining the current addresses of these Foundation Alumni. Those GSE Team Leaders who have kept in contact with their team members, please provide us with the current addresses of their team members.  This would be a great help in updating our data base.  Also, if anyone knows the current addresses of our Ambassadorial Scholars, please provide these to the district.

Upcoming Events:

District Conference May 9-11 at the Radisson in West Middlesex with the Golf Tournament at the Former Sharon Country Club Course.  The District Conference Committee is currently working on developing an interesting program for our District Conference. The theme of this year’s conference is Neighbors Serving Neighbors Here  and Abroad.

Pat and I are currently enjoying attending the special activities of Rotary Clubs during this Holiday Season. In the meantime, always keep in mind the Four-Way Test as the Ethical Code for all Rotarians and our Motto of Service Above Self.

Thank you for being a Rotarian and be prepared to Serve – The World Awaits.

Pat and I wish each and every Rotarian in District 7280 a Happy and Safe Holiday Season.

Fred J. Brenner, District Governor
 

Gates Foundation, Rotary Pledge $200 Million to Fight Polio
By Deborah L. Shelton | Chicago Tribune staff reporter

Aiming to inject $200 million into the global campaign to eradicate polio, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation announced today that it is awarding a $100 million challenge grant to the Evanston-based Rotary Foundation.

The Rotary Foundation said it plans to match the Gates grant dollar-for-dollar through fundraising over the next three years. In the first year alone, Rotary expects to spend $100 million on immunization projects in the four remaining countries where polio is still endemic.

The grant is one of the largest challenge grants ever awarded by the Gates Foundation and is the largest given by any organization to Rotary. The foundation is the nonprofit charitable arm of Rotary International, which has contributed $633 million to efforts to stamp out polio.

Eradicating the crippling and potentially fatal disease would represent a landmark public health achievement, and some global health experts believe the world stands at the brink of seeing that goal realized.  Other experts are not so sure.

Scientists and public health professionals have been debating whether eradication is possible. Some have argued that resources should be directed at trying to contain the disease, which would be far less costly than trying to eliminate it entirely.

That idea was dismissed at today's announcement.

"Eradicating polio is an achievable goal," said William Gates Sr., co-chairman of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Dr. Margaret Chan, director-general of the World Health Organization, said: "We have very few opportunities to improve the world in a permanent way. And this is one."

Polio has stricken untold millions around the world. In 1952, its peak year in the U.S., it paralyzed more than 20,000 Americans. But it became a disease of the past in this country after the discovery of a preventive vaccine in the 1950s and universal immunization. Gone were widespread fears about sudden, debilitating paralysis and the use of massive iron lungs to keep people alive. No cases of infection from "wild virus" -- transmitted from person to person -- have been reported in this country since 1979.

The Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched in 1988, led by the World Health Organization, Rotary International, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. At that time, more than 125 countries reported polio cases. Since then, the incidence of polio has been cut by more than 99 percent, and endemic wild polio virus has been eliminated in every country except Nigeria, India, Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Last year, fewer than 2,000 cases were reported worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Poliomyelitis mainly affects children under age 5. The virus enters the body through the mouth, multiplies in the intestine and invades the nervous system. One in 200 polio infections leads to irreversible paralysis, usually in the legs. Among those paralyzed, 5 to 10 percent die when muscles in their chest become immobilized and they are unable to breathe.

"Since the virus moves from child to child, it is capable of re-emerging anywhere in the world if we let down our guard and don't eradicate it," said Dr. Robert Scott, who leads Rotary’s polio-eradication effort and is chairman of the Rotary Foundation.

The Gates grant comes at a critical time for the global initiative, which faces a funding shortfall of $650 million, officials said. Most of the initial $100 million will be spent on mass immunization campaigns, poliovirus surveillance activities, and Community education and outreach in polio-affected countries.

In recent years, importation of the disease from affected areas into countries where the disease had been eliminated has set back eradication efforts. But last month the World Health Organization released data indicating that the last four polio-endemic countries were within reach of wiping out the disease. The health authority said significant progress had been made in India and Nigeria, which together account for 85 percent of the world’s polio cases.

"We hope that this shared commitment of Rotary and the Gates Foundation will challenge other donors--including foundations, governments and non-governmental organizations--to step up and make sure we have the resources needed to rid the world of polio once and for all,” Scott said.

Chan said the grant "is precisely the catalyst we need as we intensify the push to finish polio. We have the technical tools to do it, and we can achieve a polio-free world."
 

Thank You

The following message was received from Rotary International Director Mike Johns.  District 7280 had made a donation to the PolioPlus Partner Program from the District Governor’s Project Fund in memory of Mike’s wife, Nikki, who passed away in September. 

            District Rotarians of 7280

            Thank you for your kind expression of sympathy and your caring support.

            The Family of Rotary really is special.

The generous donation that you made in honor of Nikki will put smiles on the faces of countless children in Nigeria.

God bless you all,

Mike Johns
 

GSE Team Needed – Destination Scotland
September, 2008

District 7280 is searching for individuals to represent our District as a Group Study Exchange team to District 1010 in North East Scotland during September, 2008, for approximately one month.  The team will consist of a Rotarian Team Leader and four (4) Non-Rotarian Team Members.  An alternate Team leader and up to 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.

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

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, passport, 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 Ken Fleeson, District GSE Chairman to receive an application.  Ken’s address is 117 Bayberry Lane, Cranberry Twp., Pa  16066, phone number is 724-452-7339, and email address is fleeson@zoominternet.net.  Applications for both Team Leader and Team Member will be accepted through February 15, 2008.
 

Eye Glass Collection Contest

This year District Governor Fred Brenner is asking each of us to collect eye glasses to be given to the Lions’ organization of Northwest Pa.  When I was governor in 2003-2004 we also collected eye glasses.  If you recall we collected over 10,000 pair of glasses and/or frames.  This year let’s try to break that record! 

The lenses of the glasses will be analyzed and marked as to the prescription, then sent to Haiti.  When we did this before the glasses went to Guatemala.  The Lions’ organization is now working with a Rotary group from Philadelphia to set up eye care in Haiti.  Glasses are desperately needed because of eye damage from the glare of the sun.  Children’s glasses are especially needed.

In Grove City I am working with our local school district to have students bring in glasses.  Let’s be creative and see if we can break our own record and help others less fortunate.  Contact your local eye care professional, your funeral directors, neighbors, friends, family etc!

A special banner will be made for the club that brings in the most pair.  The glasses can be brought to the district conference in May.  Someone will be available to register how many glasses each club brings.

Let’s have 100% participation.  Let’s have each Rotarian help.  This is a fun contest! It costs no money, helps clean out drawers, and does so much good.

If you have any questions, please contact me at:  skipsample@zoominternet.net or 724-458-8413 (before 9:00 p.m.).

PDG Skip Sample

Secretary’s Corner

As the first half of the Rotary year draws to a close, it’s a great time to take stock of your accomplishments and shortfalls.  Here’s a list of items each Secretary should be aware of, so you may check them off as either completed or “To do”. 

·        If you are in charge of the balloting for club officers for the Rotary years 2008-09 and for 2009-10, remember that the deadline for reporting these results to RI and to D/7280 is December 31, 2007. You should have sent in the names of your president and president-elect and also your president-nominee.

·        Your January SAR will arrive in two short weeks and. although it is too late to change your membership roster that will appear on this report, it’s a good idea to check the RI Member Access site to review your membership and compare their records with yours for accuracy. This will make it much easier to compare the information when the report is received.

·        While preparing for the SAR form, why not check the District Roster to ensure your records will be correct when we ask for a copy in February, when we mail the District Newsletter with district conference information to all members.

·        Review the Club Service page on the Avenues of Service Award form to see what areas that refer to the Secretary have been completed, and what areas still need to be addressed.

We wish you and your loved ones a very happy holiday season.

Peter Richdale and PDG Lee Ahlum, Co-Secretary/Treasurer
 

November Was a Bad Month!

November 2007 was one of the poorest months in Annual Program Fund giving that this district has ever experienced.  Our district’s APF giving was only $2,805 for the entire month and unless we show a strong effort in the coming months, we will not achieve this year’s goals.

The chart below is from Rotary International as of November 30, 2007. The Edinboro Rotary Club leads the district with APF giving of $67.35 per Rotarian, followed by Port Allegany at $66.67 and Grove City at $55.83 per Rotarian. There are also 18 clubs that have not yet made a contribution.  The following questions remain to be answered:

• Can Edinboro maintain their district dominance through the entire Rotary year?  
• Which club will be the first to average $100 per Rotarian?
• Which club will be the first to achieve “Every Rotarian, Every Year” Recognition averaging $100 per Rotarian, with every active Rotarian making a contribution? 
• Will any club exceed Rich-Mar Rotary Club’s last year average giving of $336.01? 
• Will this be the year that District 7280 achieves $100 per Rotarian and we will have no “zero” giving clubs? – We need a big effort in the coming months to achieve these goals!

Contact me if you need assistance. PDG Lee Ahlum, Chair DRFC
 

November Attendance and Membership Report