Rotary International

DISTRICT 7280
NEWSLETTER

“Making Dreams Real” in the Rotary year ahead!

It is my honor and privilege to serve as your District Governor for 2008-2009!  Arlene and I have begun our club official visits, we have been warmly received, and I am already impressed!  Many of you have already begun to act upon the themes and goals we established together at PETS and the District Assembly.  All of you are approaching this Rotary year with energy and optimism.  Clearly we are off to an excellent start.

Okay, I did drip taco salsa down the front of my official Rotary tie during my first visit… but much like the first dent in ones car door, it is now behind me and the pressure off!

Congratulations to PDG Fred!  He provided inspired leadership over the past 12 months and often demonstrated his passion for Rotary with emotion and action.  Bravo! 

I am amazed at how Rotary International, top to bottom, develops leaders and annual succession without loss of continuity or message.  And so we start anew, armed with a powerful theme, and charged to grow, share, serve, and act to bring the power of Rotary to our communities and the world.

Rotary International President D K Lee has asked us to “Make Dreams Real” for humanity in need, particularly children in need.  When DK originally encountered the number 30,000 as the number of children under the age of 5 years old who die everyday from preventable causes, he became very emotional.  “It had to be a mistake” he said.  Sadly, it is not.  So while continuing to build upon the three legs of Rotary’s traditional service focus, Water, Literacy, and Health & Hunger, DK asks us to find special ways to reduce child mortality in our communities and around the world as we serve.  How can we say no?

So, in the year ahead, District 7280 will seek to involve all Rotarians.  We shall assess our communities, set goals, and partner more often.  We shall embrace the Club Leadership Plan.  We shall focus our resources where they can do the most good.  We’ll prioritize child mortality reduction in our service activities, and rise to the Polio Matching Grant Challenge with a three-year commitment.  We shall raise awareness of our organization and grow membership through an unprecedented district –wide coordinated project… growing membership because we must to do more good… participating in EREY Annual giving because it funds us all… it funds our good work.  We shall plan, communicate, partner and support each other… just ask for help.  We shall re-engage, all Rotarians, in youth activities and participation in Rotary activities, together, locally and internationally.  Together we will join hands and hearts as we smile and serve.  Together we will Make Dreams Real!    

DG Chris  

District Rotarians Meet RI President Lee

Pictured from right to left: PDG Hank Anna (Slippery Rock), AG Grace Anna Boggs (Mercer), RI President DK Lee (Korea), Young Ja Lee (DK’s wife) and Nancy Clemente (Oil City).

District 7280 Banners and Pins

The new restyled District 7280 banners have arrived, and they are sharp!  The matching pins should arrive by mid-August.  Each Club shall receive a banner from the District Governor.  Additional banners and pins may be purchased at “cost” through the District Governor.  These make great trading items with International Rotarians, GSE teams, and Exchange students.

DG Chris
 

Club Leadership Plan / New Bylaws 

Both at PETS and the District Assembly, the goal for all District 7280 Clubs to implement the Club Leadership Plan and the new Bylaws by June 30, 2009 was discussed.  Tom Tupitza, Esq., who presented the Plan at District assembly, has already helped his Rotary Club of Erie implement the Club Leadership Plan, and he is willing to counsel Club leaders seeking advice and best practice recommendations.  He may be reached at his office, the Knox Law Firm, at 814-459-2800.  

DG Chris
 

Governor’s Project 2008-2009 

The District Governor is again requesting $15 from each Rotarian in the District, through their Clubs, to support the Governor’s Projects for 2008-2009.  This request is flat with prior years and will be dedicated to three targets, the Dominican Republic Water Project, the Haiti Literacy Project, and the PolioPlus Matching Challenge Grant.  A status update will be included in a future newsletter on each of these initiatives.  Thanks!

DG Chris
 

Final Report - Governor’s Project 2007-2008 

A total of $20,875 was collected from 41 of the district’s 43 clubs.  $10,200 was used for the Dominican Republic Clean Water Project, $5,000 for the Haiti Literacy Project and $5,675 was used to support Rotary International’s PolioPlus efforts.  A club listing is below:

Thank you.

PDG Fred Brenner
Governor 2007-08 

New Member Checklist

Peter Richdale
Membership Chair 
 

District Conference May 14-17, 2009 

Mark your calendars now for the District’s biggest event, the District Conference Celebration.  You will not want to miss this.  We will join with District 7300 Pittsburgh on the shores of Erie’s Bay at the Bayfront Convention Center and Sheraton Hotel.  Golf at Lawrence Park Country Club, a Fishing excursion, Presque Isle State Park, and the Racino are but a few of the distractions for the afternoon of May 14.  At 10AM Friday, May 15, the Sessions begin, but there will be downtime mixed into the agenda to permit riverboat cruises on the Bay, tours of the Flagship Niagara, and shopping… not just for the non-Rotarian partners.  Friday night will require a flowered shirt as the music and foods of Key West and Jimmy Buffet provide the theme and pervade the bayfront.  Saturday’s dinner will feature a national speaker to inspire us and to help us celebrate Rotary.  Sunday concludes with an interfaith service.  There is so much more to share, but perhaps this features enough to capture your attention and prepare you to register early.  Much more to come!

DG Chris
 

District Newsletter to feature events, stories,
 recognition, and service!

All Clubs are encouraged to submit district news, events, features, activities, etc. for the entire district to read and enjoy.  This newsletter is for everyone to read and benefit from, and we should look forward to its release each month.  Content will be accepted by the DG or the District Secretary and will be included on a best efforts basis… but it may be streamlined to fit space and time constraints.  Stories from Exchange Students, Scholars, and GSE team are appropriate.  Let us share Rotary and what our Clubs are doing with all the Clubs of the District!  Submissions due no later than month end for inclusion the following month.

DG Chris
 

Observations from the Road – Official & Unofficial Visits

Wesleyville – President Gary received Arlene & me warmly, Rotarian Phyllis Taylor received her Paul Harris, and I dripped taco salsa down my official Make Dreams Real tie.  This is President Gary’s second stint as President… his first was in 1979.

DuBois – Full Board meeting preceded the Rotary meeting which featured an impressive array of food choices.  Collection of Happy Dollars is an art here… they are so happy that they will fund the PolioPlus Challenge and more from this fund.  Jaden, from Dubois High School, visited to say she was off to Brazil as an Exchange Student.  Dubois Club said they would like to work with Punxsutawney Club & the District to help initiate a new Brookville Club!

Leechburg – They are justifiably proud of their Rotary/Boy Scout recycling plant and Doc gave us the 50 cent tour.  Two RYLA students stopped by to thank the Club.  Dinner held in a haunted restaurant.  Dessert is home-made weekly by a club member, and tips are accepted… these tips will ably fund the PolioPlus Challenge… and the berries were from President Pat’s backyard!

Prospect – Stopped by to see PDG Linda Griffin and discuss Extension strategy for the District.  Nothing like a late night drive home in a downpour after a long day of travel! 

Meadville AM – Arlene & I were treated to a 7AM breakfast amidst a very lively group of Rotarians.  Though only 13 members strong, they voted on the spot to contribute $2 per meeting per Rotarian to the PolioPlus Challenge and meet the $1,000 per club pledge.  President George was leaving the next morning to Captain our Rotary Golf Fellowship Exchange team from District 7280 traveling to District 1010 Scotland. 

Clarion – Was greeted by President Matt & his Board before the meeting.  They sponsor an interesting “Job Shadowing” activity which encourages area students to spend the morning with a Rotarian at their workplace and then join the Rotary Club for lunch… a career/vocation primer.  A Fryburg caterer provided a great hot lunch followed by chilled strawberry Jell-O cake.    

Corry – President Harold & his Board, including tiny Reygan, greeted me before the meeting.  The unique breakfast fundraiser the club conducts for the annual “Fly In” clearly requires three grills… the group resolved that obstacle after healthy debate.  Check out “Fiddler on the Roof” in Corry the last two weeks of July… President Harold’s facial hair was planned in keeping with his role in the local musical.  Rotarian Dave tossed $50 on the table and challenged the members present to match it as a first step towards meeting the Polio Matching Challenge… IOUs were accepted and the match achieved.

DG Chris
 

Member Access 

As expected the extra security measures are being added to the Member Access section of the RI website.  Because of this change everyone needs to reregister.  The website is experiencing heavy usage, so expect delays.  The extra security is needed so that more information can be made available to members.  It is hoped, in time, that members will be able to update their RI files without the need to submit that information through the club secretary.
 

District Simplified Grants

Five years ago the Rotary Foundation and District 7280 initiated a program entitled District Simplified Grants (DSG).  Through an application process individual, District 7280 Rotary Clubs can receive grants of up to $1,000 for local or international humanitarian projects.  The DGS program was designed to help local Rotary clubs use a portion of their foundation contributions at they deem appropriate.

However, due to District 7280’s limited giving to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Giving program, these funds are limited.  For more information on how these grants can be utilized or receive an application form for a DGS, contact PDG Lee Ahlum at 724-946-8321 or email him at ahlum2@verizon.net.  The District Rotary Foundation Committee will review applications in October for the first set of awards.
 

June Attendance and Membership Report