The Rotary Foundation:

Yes, we are in a worldwide recession and personal and corporate monies are tight.  But in a recession the need is greater.  National, provincial/state and local governments are cutting back programs and the community support provided by Rotary Clubs can be critical.  It seems as Rotarians and business people that everyone is asking for money and there is a temptation to spend our money locally, but as Rotarians can we afford to forget The Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus Challenge.  Do we really want to abandon efforts to foster world understanding and peace? Do we want to stop sending deserving students to be educated oversees or to a Rotary World Peace Center?  Do we want to suspend the eradication of Polio, this close to accomplishing eradication?  Do we want to abandon the youth dying too young or stop digging wells and latrines, supporting schools, providing HIV/AIDS training, supporting hospital and teaching agricultural skills?

For the first 6 months of the Rotary year 18 clubs have donated to the Polio Plus Challenge for a total of $21,380.  Our goal for the year is $1000 per club or $65,000.  Also for the first 6 months of the Rotary year 37 clubs have donated $85,719 of Annual Giving.  This is well off last years contribution pace and far from the goal of $100 per member or approximately $215,000.  Currently only $43,000 would be returned to the District in three year as our “Share” of the Annual Programs Fund. Only 6 clubs have reached the $100 per member level. 

To all who have contributed on behalf of the youth and poor of the world I thank you very very much! 

Lets double our efforts and contributions for the next 6 months and strive to meet our goals. 

Yes times are tough, but lets get out our spare change, our dimes, nickels and quarters.  The goal of $100 per member per year is less than $2 per member per week per year.

 

Polio Challenge News

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has awarded US$255 million to Rotary International in the global effort to eradicate polio, bringing the total committed by Rotary and the Gates Foundation to $555 million.

Shortly after meeting with incoming district governors from the four countries where the wild poliovirus is endemic — Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan — Bill Gates announced the new grant on Wednesday morning at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.

“Rotarians, government leaders, and health professionals have made a phenomenal commitment to get us to a point at which polio afflicts only a small number of the world’s children,” Gates said. “However, complete elimination of the poliovirus is difficult and will continue to be difficult for a number of years. Rotary in particular has inspired my own personal commitment to get deeply involved in achieving eradication.”

“We are going to end polio now,” affirmed Robert S. Scott, chair of RI’s International PolioPlus Committee.

  

Membership:

In a letter received recently from RI President DK Lee he states,

“Increasing Rotary membership is key to increasing Rotary’s ability to Make Dreams Real  through service and fellowship. Success in membership development means there will be more eyes to see the needs, hands to meet those needs, and more hearts to share in Rotary’s efforts to make the world a better place for all. Your success in motivating the clubs in your district to increase their membership and extend Rotary to new communities is a most positive contribution to the long term health and effectiveness of Rotary.

We know that united in Rotary, we can Make Dreams Real for all of the world’s children by reducing the rate of child mortality.”

We have a long way to go meet our membership goals.  Depending on who’s numbers one uses our district has only gained between 19 (RI) or 50 (D7040) net new members. And, of course, we have one new club, Orleans.  Our District data indicates we have lost approximately 95 members.  As we have discussed, retention is just as important as attracting new members.  We have alot of work left to meet our goal of 225, but the fruits of our labors do compare favorably with other Districts in Zones 22 and 31.

In concluding the letter, DK advises to expect a call from him between February and March.  Lets hope I have some good membership information to report.

At the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, President Lee noted that while the world’s need for service is growing, Rotary membership is not keeping pace. In fact, while the world’s population is growing, membership is remaining stable. “We must reach out to people who are different from us and from the members in our club,” Lee said, “because this is the way to a stronger club, with more connections and better potential.” President Lee also asked Rotarians to increase the percentage of qualified women and professionals under the age of 50, to bring in at least one alumnus or alumna of Rotary International or Rotary Foundation programs, and to work to increase the diversity of membership in all clubs. President Lee stressed that retention is as important as recruitment. “New members do not benefit Rotary unless they stay,”

 

Do You Believe in Coincidence?

I was delighted a year ago when current RI President DK Lee chose his theme of “Make Dreams Real”.  I had decided to use the song “Dream Big” in my club presentations and the theme fit perfectly.  In November when now President Obama was elected to be the 44th US President some of my Canadian friends reminded me of the Martin Luther King “I Have a Dream” speech.  How appropriate that President Obama would be elected during the year Rotary would “Make Dreams Real”.  As I thought of all the dreams made real Tuesday, January 20, and listened to President Obama talk about our responsibilities for the future, it was equally fitting that at the Rotary International Assembly  RI President-Elect Kenny should announce his theme ” Rotary’s Future is in Your Hands”.
 

 

Presidents Checklist (January through March)

 

January - Rotary Awareness Month

  • Plan and conduct monthly board meeting
  • Send monthly membership and attendance and membership report to attendance@rotary7040.com
  • If not done in December consult with the secretary to update the RI membership database via the web, www.rotary.org /member access, by December 1st, so the January semiannual report (SAR) from RI will be up to date and accurate.  Return corrected SAR and RI Semi-Annual Dues.  A past due notice will be sent April 1 if dues not paid.
  • Assess the progress of club projects, hold club assembly to review progress and assess effectiveness of committees and objectives.
  • Conduct activities and programs to provide members with continuing education on RI and to publicize Rotary in the community.
  • If not already done report next year’s club president and secretary to RI for the Official Directory, and to the District.  Update information on district website club profile.  Make sure contact information of club officers are correct.
  • Monitor membership development initiatives and goals.
  • Plan to send representative to RI Convention.
  • Promote Ambassadorial Scholarships and Rotary World Peace Fellowships.  Check with District Chair regarding applications.
  • Check District Website for dates of PETS  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=51 and District Assembly  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=189 .
  • President review criteria for Presidential Citation
  • President-Elect start developing goals, appoint committee chairs and begin to develop you budget. 

 

February - World Understanding Month

  • Plan and conduct monthly board meeting
  • Send monthly membership and attendance and membership report to attendance@rotary7040.com
  • Assess the progress of club projects, hold club assembly to review progress and assess effectiveness of committees and objectives.
  • If not already done report next year’s club president and secretary to RI for the Official Directory, and to the District.  Update information on district website club profile.  Make sure contact information of club officers are correct.
  • Monitor membership development initiatives and goals.
  • Promote attendance at RI Convention.
  • Promote Ambassadorial Scholarships and Rotary World Peace Fellowships. 
  • Remind  President-Elect of PETS  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=51 and start to promote District Assembly  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=189 .
  • Complete criteria of Presidential Citation
  • President-Elect start developing goals, appoint committee chairs and begin to develop you budget.  Register for PETS, attend pre-PETS with AG.

 

March - Literacy Month

  • Plan and conduct monthly board meeting
  • Send monthly membership and attendance and membership report to attendance@rotary7040.com
  • Assess the progress of club projects, hold club assembly to review progress and assess effectiveness of committees and objectives.
  • Monitor membership development initiatives and goals.
  • Promote attendance at RI Convention.
  • 31 March: Ambassadorial Scholarships and Rotary World Peace Fellowships due. 
  • Remind  President-Elect of PETS  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=51 and to promote District Assembly  http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=189 .
  • Plan to conduct activites to promote literacy related activities and programs.
  • 31 March end of reporting period for Presidential Citation,
  • President-Elect start developing goals, appoint committee chairs and begin to develop you budget.  Register for PETS, attend pre-PETS with AG. 

    •  

 Governor Nominee/Gouverneur Nommé

I am pursuant to District 7040 procedures inviting all clubs in District 7040 to proposed qualified candidates for Governor Nominee by April 1, 2009 ( http://archive.rotary7040.com/forms/Governor_Nominee_Data_Form_EN.pdf )

 j’agis maintenant selon les procédures du district 7040 et j’invite tous les clubs du district 7040 à mettre en nomination des candidats qualifiés pour le poste de gouverneur pour l’année 2010-2011. La date limite pour la remise de nominations est le 1 avril 2009. ( http://archive.rotary7040.com/forms/Governeur_Nomme_Data_Form_FR.pdf )

 

Public Relations

At the end of December, I was notified that District 7040 application for the RI PR Grant had been approved.  The PR Grant is a re-imbursement program.  Our application has been approved for TV and billboard messages up to $10,000.  Planning for implementation will begin this month.  Ideas should be emailed to Chris Cochrane.

Since late November the Northern NY TV stations WWNY and WNYF have been playing Rotary’s “Humanity in Motion” PSAs during the evening hours.  Listeners are being referred to a joint Watertown Noon and Watertown Sunrise website.  These stations serve Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties directly and surrounding areas on both sides of the border.  Congratulations!

This is just what we are planning for this PR Grant with some home grown local PSA messages throughout the District.   Additionally, we intend to utilize the large screen message boards in the Montréal subway to spread the Rotary message and build to the Rotary Convention in 2010.

 

Happiness Is a Choice

“In a Peanuts cartoon, Lucy asks Charlie Brown, “Why do you think we were put on earth?”

Charlie answers, “To make others happy.”

Lucy replies, “I don’t think I’m making anyone happy,” and then adds, “but nobody’s making me very happy either. Somebody’s not doing his job!”

People like Lucy are so sure happiness is a matter of getting something that they ask not what they can do for others but what others can and should do for them. They usually feel shortchanged or cheated. They become so preoccupied with what they don’t have that they can’t enjoy what they do have.

What’s more, they don’t realize one of the best ways to be happy is to experience the joy and self-worth of making others happy.

In his book Happiness Is a Serious Problem, Dennis Prager argues that it’s human nature to want and feel we need more. The problem is, the quest for more is endless because we can always add more to whatever we have. As a result, the Lucys of the world often live in an “if only” world that keeps them one step away from happiness: “If only I get this raise, make this sale, pay off my debts, or win this game, I’ll be happy.”

Abraham Lincoln understood that happiness is essentially a way of looking at one’s life. “A person is generally about as happy as he’s willing to be,” he said.

Thus, we’re more likely to experience happiness if we realize it’s not just getting what we want. It’s learning to want what we get. “

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.

 

Dates to Remember

For all important District Events go to the website http://www.rotary7040.com/eventlist.php