Rotary International
DISTRICT 7280
NEWSLETTER
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Rotary International DISTRICT 7280 |
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District Governor’s Message I have completed my official visits to the Rotary Clubs in District 7280 and I am taking this opportunity to thank all Rotarians in the district for your hospitality and warm reception that I received in your community. As I stated during my visits, I want to thank all of you for being a Rotarian and for all that you do for your community, as well as your support of the international programs of Rotary International. Almost every club in the district is involved in literacy, health and hunger projects in their community and many clubs are currently developing a local water project within their community. I would appreciate receiving a list, either by mail or email, of the literacy, health and hunger and local water projects from each club in the district. I want to continue to encourage all clubs to partner with other community organizations in all their activities. Opportunities for Service At our District Conference last May, Vincent and Gary Weston of the Rich-Mar Club challenged the other clubs to send a team of volunteers to Mississippi to build homes for families displaced by Katrina. The date of the next trip to Mississippi is scheduled for April 20-25, 2008 and, if one member from each club in District 7280 would travel to Mississippi, what a difference this would make in the lives of those who lost so much in this natural disaster. We are continuing to explore the possibility of Rotarians from District 7280 making a trip to the Dominican Republic in January, 2008, to evaluate our water filtration project and Vo-Tech School where the water filters will be constructed. The purpose of the Vo-Tech school is to providing training for the youth of the Dominican Republic to construct and service water filters along with educating home owners on the use and maintenance of these filters. 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. To date, I have received one simplified grant application and I encourage all clubs to apply for a simplified grant to assist in their community service projects. The applications are available on the district web page. Under the leadership of Past District Governor Skip Sample, the eyeglass collection program is moving forward. PDG Skip has also involved an elementary school in Grove City in the Eye Class Collection program. THANK YOU SKIP! Just think how many eye glasses would be collected, if every club in the district would involve the elementary schools in their community. In my last newsletter, I described the resolutions passed by the Council on Legislation on youth protection and programs designed to assist clubs in recruiting new members. Basically the RI board can suspend or terminate the membership of a club that fails to appropriately address any allegations made against one of its members in connection with Rotary-related youth programs for violation of the applicable law regarding the protection of youth. Please refer to the September Newsletter for details on these new membership programs. I have a new supply of Rotary Sponsor Pins, so please contact me with the names of members in your club who have recruited a new member since July 1, 2007. I will be happy to either mail the sponsor pin or pins to the club president or, if my schedule permits, present a sponsor pin to a fellow Rotarian in person. In previous Newsletters I outlined the special program designed for those clubs with less than 20 members. Remember that the strength of all Rotary Clubs rests in its membership. Another aspect of membership growth is the formation of new Rotary Clubs. 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. At the District Conference in May, we organized a Rotary Foundation Alumni Association. We currently have a list of former GSE Team Members and Ambassadorial Scholars, but we need your assistance in contacting these Foundation Alumni. If all the GSE Team Leaders who have kept in contact with their team members would provide us with the current addresses of their team members this would be a great help to the district. Also, if anyone knows the current addresses of our Ambassadorial Scholars, please provide these to the district. Upcoming Events:
Now that all my official visits have been completed, I will be available to visit clubs to assist in membership recruiting or special club events during the reminder of my year as District Governor. 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. Fred J. Brenner, District Governor
PDG Trueman Mills Honored by Clarion University PDG Trueman Mills (1982-83) was honored for Distinguished Service by Clarion University Alumni Association at Homecoming Weekend October 4 & 5, 2007. PDG Mills was one of six alumni honored in various categories by the University Alumni Association. He is a 1955 graduate of what was then Clarion State Teachers College. The Alumni Associated noted that “Trueman Mills (’55) has always been there when Clarion University or the Clarion community needed a helping hand,” in naming him to the Distinguished Service Award. They also noted his active service to Rotary and his perfect attendance at Rotary since 1962. Both Trueman and his wife Jean, also an alumna of Clarion, have remained active with Clarion University throughout the years since graduation. Most recently, they worked with the Capital Campaign, sponsoring the refurbishing of an office in Founders Hall. They are also active supporters of Clarion University’s Theatre program. Mills also was active in organizing an alumni group for Alpha Gamma Phi Fraternity. In 2001, the Alpha Gamma Phi alumni brothers established a scholarship awarded to an incoming freshman student athlete. In Rotary, PDG Mills instituted the RYLA program in District 7280 and has been a strong supporter ever since. Due to his leadership, Clarion Rotary Club sends 10 students to RYLA each year. PDG Mills regularly attends District Conferences and other Rotary events in his continuing activity in “Service Above Self.” It is great to see one of our number honored for his service beyond Rotary, too.
Nominations Sought for 2010 Council on Legislation Delegate All clubs in District 7280 are invited to suggest nominations for the 2010 Council on Legislation Delegate and Alternate by December 21, 2007. The suggestions shall be submitted in the form of a resolution adopted at a regular meeting of the club naming a suggested candidate. In accordance with Rotary International Bylaws (8.020) a candidate must have served a full term as district governor at the time of election; understand the qualifications, duties and responsibilities of a representative; be qualified, willing, and able to assume and perform these duties and responsibilities; and be able to attend the meeting for its entire duration. The Nomination Committee will consider all suggestions from the clubs. Suggestions should be submitted to DG Fred Brenner, 789 North Liberty Road, Grove City, PA 16127 no later than December 21, 2007. In accordance with the District’s and Rotary International’s By-Laws ONLY club-suggested candidates are eligible to challenge the Nominating Committee’s candidate.
Club Membership Committee Ideas The club membership committee performs a crucial function in your club: developing and implementing an action plan for recruiting, retaining, and educating club members. To achieve continuity in your club's membership development efforts, consider these suggestions:
Does your club have a unique and successful membership development strategy? Rotary International recognizes clubs that develop and implement creative strategies that promote membership in their area. Each year, district governors can choose up to three clubs per district to receive a certificate of recognition for fulfilling one of the three areas of membership growth and development:
To be considered for this award, download the club submission form from the Membership page at www.rotary.org and submit a detailed explanation of your club's strategy, initiative, or program to your district governor by 15 April. The committee chair and members can find a comprehensive description of their essential roles in the Club Membership Committee Manual (226B-EN). Peter Richdale, District Membership Chair
See The Stars! See the Stars in Los Angeles at the 2008 Rotary International Convention. Plan now to attend this very special convention in June, 2008. The Salt Lake City R. I. Convention was great, but L. A. will be even better in 2008. If you’ve been to a R. I. Convention before, you know what a great opportunity it is to learn more about Rotary and what Rotary Clubs are doing around the world. You also know that you will be among friends. They may be friends you’ve never met before, but they are great Rotary friends. You won’t be alone. The L. A. Host Committee, including Rick Mendoza who was the R. I. President’s Representative at our District Conference in Slippery Rock, has organized a great entertainment program for the Convention. From the star-studded Opening Session through the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performance complete with fireworks, to the Closing Session with the Pasadena Pops, it will be a very special experience. We hope to organize a District 7280 Dinner for District Rotarians and friends attending the L. A. Convention. We had an impromptu session at the Salt Lake Convention, which worked out well to get most of the District attendees together at one time. We will also look into the possibility of arranging a group flight out to L. A. to add to the fun. There is a discount available for early registration for the convention. The deadline for the discount is December 31, 2007, so start making your plans now. Early registration also gets the best hotel bargains. While they won’t be as low as the Salt Lake rates, it is still possible to get good hotel rates for the R. I. Convention. You can do this on the R. I. website at www.rotary.org, or see the October issue of Rotarian magazine for the registration and housing forms. As immediate Past District Governor, I’m in charge of helping DG Fred Brenner promote attendance at the L.A. Convention. I am available to do a brief program (15 minutes or less) at your club meeting about the convention and would be happy to do so. Please call me at 724 748 4664 or e-mail henryanna@wononline.net to arrange a date for me to come to your club meeting to talk about the L. A. Convention. PDG Hank Anna District Governor’s Project Update
September Attendance and Membership Report
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