District Governor’s Newsletter

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

The Business-Ethics Myth

He said the decision to live up to or ignore contractual commitments is a business decision, not an ethical one. His primary responsibility, he said, was to the stockholders. He noted that most of the time it is wise to fulfill your promises because there are legal and relationship risks involved in breaking contracts, but in the end the decision to honor or renounce a business agreement should be based on a cost/benefit analysis. Ethics has nothing to do with it.

This claim that business executives are justified in treating the pursuit of self-interest as a moral imperative is disturbing and dangerous. It’s also common.

The theory that expediency, not ethics, should control decision-making in business flourishes because many people compartmentalize their lives into separate personal and business domains, choosing to believe each area is governed by different moral standards.

As a result, fundamentally good people who would never lie, cheat, or break a promise in their personal lives delude themselves into thinking they can properly do so in business.

Nonsense! There’s no such thing as “business” ethics. There is only ethics. Fundamental standards of right and wrong such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship do not become irrelevant when we enter the workplace.

And it doesn’t matter how many people think otherwise. Ethics is not a description of the way people actually behave. It’s a prescription for how we ought to behave.

In business – and, for that matter, in politics, sports, journalism, and parenting – ethical principles are not simply factors to be taken into account. They are ground rules.”

This is Michael Josephson reminding us that character counts.

As Rotarianswe have the Four-Way Test which should guide us in both the personal and business domain.

2009 RI Convention in Birmingham, England, 21-24 June

Be a part of history and celebrate the 100th Rotary convention, which will take place in Birmingham, the heart of England!

If you haven’t been back to Birmingham since the 1984 convention, you may not recognize this former industrial town. Now a lively canal city known for its outstanding shopping and dining, Birmingham — or Brum, as the natives call it — underwent a dramatic facelift in the 1990s. The transformation resulted in a modern, more pedestrian-friendly city that retains traces of its medieval and Industrial Age roots.

Download the convention booklet  for more reasons to come to Birmingham in 2009. This 24-page booklet also contains registration, hotel reservation, and Host Organization Committee forms.

Register early and save

Register early for the convention to take advantage of special pricing!

First deadline: 15 December
Second deadline: 31 March

Register online . It’s convenient and secure. Your confirmation materials will be e-mailed to you.

Or download the registration form .

Housing reservations

Birmingham Convention Bureau will handle all individual and group housing requests. Reservations are fulfilled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mail:
Birmingham Convention Bureau
Millennium Point Level 4
Curzon Street
Birmingham
B4 7XG
England

Phone: +44 (0) 121 202 5154
Fax: +44 (0) 121 202 5123
E-mail: bcb.accommodation@marketingbirmingham.com

You will receive a hotel confirmation from the Birmingham Convention Bureau indicating the hotel name, address, room rate per night, room type requested, and dates reserved. All housing changes/inquiries must be made directly to the Birmingham Convention Bureau until 8 May 2009.

Booking for RI Convention housing begins 14 June 2008. Confirmations will be issued beginning July 2008. Please return your completed reservation form by 17:00 GMT on 8 May 2009.

Download the hotel reservation form  or reserve your hotel online .

For a block of 15 rooms or more, download the Group Housing Form .

Alternative housing
In the Birmingham area, there are several economic housing alternatives. Read more  about these options.
Note: These housing alternatives are not part of Rotary International’s official convention housing block, and they are not serviced by the RI Convention shuttle.

Convention venue

The National Exhibition Centre is Europe’s busiest venue, staging more than 180 exhibitions each year. Its 21 interconnected halls offer plenty of space for convention activities such as registration services, plenary sessions, the House of Friendship and exhibits, convention luncheons, workshops and interactive discussion groups, and the Rotaract and Youth Exchange preconvention meetings. Find more information about the NEC .

Read more about Birmingham .

Host events

Find out more about the Birmingham area and meet local Rotarians by participating in the events the Host Organization Committee has planned. Pre- and post-convention tours also are available. Purchase tickets online at www.rotaryconvention2009.com   through a secure service, or download the ticket order form  and fax or mail it to the HOC:

Fax: +44 (0) 1926 885588

Mail:
Birmingham Convention 2009 Limited
Kinwarton Road, Alcester, Warwickshire, B49 6PB
United Kingdom

Questions? 
Fax:  + 44 (0) 2476 712055
Phone:  +44 (0) 1789 765411
E-mail: enquiries@rotaryconvention2009.com

Remember the 2010 HOC Committee will be providing information and taking reservations for Montreal 2010.  Your help will be appreciated.

North American Youth Exchange Network Conference

The 2009 Annual Conference of the North American Youth Exchange Network will be held at the Delta Centre Ville Hotel in Montréal, Quebec from February 26 through March 1, 2009.  For those interested in YouthExchange this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to learn more and mingle with others interested in the program from all of the America’s.  A variety of registration packages are available.  For more information go to the North American Youth Exchange Network website http://www.usacanconference.org/index.htm or go to the District 7040 Events Calendar at http://www.rotary7040.com/event.php?id=187 and contact our own Fred and Ariane Carriere.

President’s Checklist

December - Family Month

• Plan and conduct monthly board meeting
• Send monthly membership and attendance and membership report to attendance@rotary7040.com
• 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
• Assess the progress of club projects
• Conduct activities to demonstrate you club’s commitment to family and community.
• Hold annual club election no later than 31 December
• 31 December: Deadline for reporting 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.
• Ensure that all contributions to be counted within the calendar year are received at The Rotary Foundation before December 31.
• Promote International Convention in Birmingham, UK.

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 .

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 .
• 23 February (Rotary’s annuversary) is World Understanding and Peace Day. Plan to conduct activites to promote world understanding, friendship, and peace.

“Live a Life that Matters”

So what does matters?  Family, health, our membership in Rotary matters and the work of the Rotary Foundation and Polio Plus Campaign certainly matter.  For Foundation Month, I would like to review some of the Cultural, Educational and Humanitarian Programs of our Rotary Foundation.

Do you know what the first Foundation grant was?  It was a $500 Grant to the International Society of Crippled Children, today’s Easter Seals in 1930. 

In 1947 the first Foundation Program, the Graduate Fellowship (today’s Ambassadorial  Scholarship) was started.

Ambassadorial Scholarships and Peace Fellowships:

Since 1947 over 47,000 students have received undergraduate of graduate level scholarship in 110 countries, over 700 scholarships annually.  In District 7040, the annual Ambassadorial Scholarship is augmented by the addition of the Stoiber Scholarship.  This last year, 2007-2008, 3 students receive one Ambassadorial and two Stoiber Scholarships in District 7040.  Booke James will be attending the University of Pretoria, in Pretoria South Africa.  Katie Gauthier will be attending the Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.  Both were sponored by the Canton Rotary Club. Karen Bakeleer sponsored by the Ottawa Rotary Club will be attending the University of Cape Town in Rondebosch, South Africa.  All will be attending during the  2009-2010 academic year.

Applications for the 2010-2011, are now available for the one Ambassadorial Scholarship and Peace Fellowship are due March 31, 2009.

Former and current scholars continue to impact the world.  Paul Volcker, former chair of the US Federal Reserve and current economic advisor to President-Elect Barack Obama was a 1951-1952 Ambassadorial Scholar at the London School of Economics.  Katerina Kappos, an current Ambassadorial Scholar studying at McGill University, has an opportunity to intern at the International Criminal Tribunal for Yugoslavia. 

Since 2002, 233 Fellows from 60 countries have studied at 6 Rotary Centers for World Peace in peace and conflict resolution.  Youla Pompilus-Touré , 2008-2010, has reported on her activities at Bradford University.  Her report is posted in the document section of the District Website, http://www.rotary7040.com/docs/rwpf/rwpf_2008_Pompilus-Toure_1.pdf  .  Since 2002, District 7040 has had 5 candidates selected to attend one of the six Rotary Centers. The decisions have been made on the World Peace Fellows for 2009-2011 by the Foundation. Lisa Monette, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Ottawa, received a fellowship to the short–term program in Peace and Conflict Studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. 

For information on other Scholars and Alumni check out the Reconnections Newsletter at  http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/reconnections_current_en.pdf.

District Simplified Grants:

The district again has funding available for District Simplified Grants.  The Foundation Grant was $12,500 and applications were received.  Six applications were received from Potsdam, North Renfrew, Watertown, Gananoque, West Ottawa and Cornwall Sunrise.  Each have been approved.  The projects included a shelter along the Deep River waterfront, benches on the Racquette River in Potsdam, equipment for the Agape Centre in Cornwall, Rotary Centennial Park -Renovation of the water play area in Ottawa, construction of a gazebo near the zoo at Thompson Park in Watertown and a water project in Panama.

Matching Grants

Many clubs are involved in World Community Services projects without matching grants from the district and Rotary Foundation.  Just read the minutes of the WCS committee. A number of matching grants have been forwarded to the Rotary Foundations for consideration.  Some of the Matching Grant projects include:

EDUCATION: In the US and Canada, it is well recognized that hungry children do not learn.  West Ottawa is involved in a school lunch program in Johannesburg, South Africa, for Grade 10 to 12 students.  This program compliments the state program which ends at Grade 9.  North Renfrew is planning to bring the internet and computer-aided educational materials to two schools (one boys and one girls) to Tanzania.

HEALTH: Responding to President DK Lee’s desire to reduce child mortality, The Rotary Club of Ottawa Bytown is involved in a matching grant project in Kingston, Jamaica.  Respiratory problems is a major cause of infant mortality. Two new ventilators will be provided to the University Hospital of the West Indies, where there is current none.

Polio Plus

We Rotarians are part of a great partnership.  Only one other disease has been eradicated in world history, smallpox.  Rotary International in partnership with WHO, UNICEF, and CDC with the help of the Gates Foundation and world governments is close to eradicating Polio.  We have been challenged to raise $100 Million to match a similar donation by the Gates Foundation.  Endemic countries are down to 4.  Lets continue to be part of this historic achievement.

The examples above are just some of the ways THE ROTARY FOUNDATION and DISTRICT 7040 Make Dreams Real.  But this can not be done without clubs and Rotarians willing to take on World Community Service Projects, to advertise and sponsor Ambassadorial and Peace Scholars, and to donate to the FOUNDATION.

How Can You Support the Foundations Work?

There are many ways to support the Foundation with outright donations and bequest. Donations can be given through you Rotary Club, directly to the Rotary Foundation (online contribution forms http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/ContributeNow/OnlineContributionForm/Pages/ridefault.aspx ), supporting the Districts Foundation Walk, and if you sign on to Member Access at www.Rotary.org you can contribute online with a credit card.

Donors may direct their gifts to three main funds: the Annual Programs Fund, which supports the Foundation’s humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs worldwide; the Permanent Fund, which provides an endowment; and the PolioPlus Fund. 

There are several ways to contribute, the information below is all on the Rotary website. 

Online contributions

Outright gifts can be made easily with The Rotary Foundation’s online contribution form.

The Rotary Foundation’s tax identification number is 36-3245072.

Check

Make your check payable to The Rotary Foundation, and send it with a completed recognition/contribution form (PDF) to the appropriate address:

Canada: 
The Rotary Foundation (Canada) - Box B9322
P.O. Box 9100
Postal Station F
Toronto, ON M4Y 3A5

United States:
The Rotary Foundation
14280 Collections Center Dr.
Chicago, IL 60693

Credit card

To make a contribution with your credit card, complete the recognition/contribution form (PDF).

Tangible personal property

Gifts of tangible personal property, such as jewelry or artwork, are given careful consideration on a case-by-case basis.

The Rotary Foundation’s general guidelines specify that gifts of jewelry be worth at least US$10,000 and gifts of artwork be valued at a minimum of $25,000. Gifts must also be accompanied by a written proposal, which must include a qualified appraisal, photograph, and supporting materials, such as authentication papers.

If you’re interested in making a gift of tangible personal property, contact the Gift Administration department.

Contributing appreciated securities to The Rotary Foundation may benefit you in two ways:

• You may avoid paying capital gains taxes
• You may receive a charitable tax deduction

Stocks can be transferred either electronically or by mail. Detailed instructions are available for residents of the United States and Canada(PDF). Do not mail stock certificates to the Foundation’s post office box.

Complete a stock contribution form with your gift. If you’re sending certificates via mail, you’ll also need to complete a stock power form to assign ownership to the Foundation.

For additional information on making a gift of stock, or if you’re interested in contributing mutual funds, bonds, or closely held securities, read the Publicly Traded Securities brochure, or contact the Gift Administration department.

TRF-DIRECT Electronic fund transfer

Donors in North America can automatically transfer funds from their checking, savings, or credit card accounts to the Foundation through electronic fund transfers.

To enroll in this program, donors must complete the U.S. or Canadian version of the authorization form and send it to the Foundation. Donors who wish to contribute from a checking or savings account should include a voided check from the checking account or a deposit slip from the savings account.

Read frequently asked questions about TRF-DIRECT electronic fund transfers (PDF). 

Real estate

Making a gift of real estate to the Foundation may afford you financial benefits. Consult your financial adviser about your personal circumstances.

To initiate the process, you must obtain an independent qualified appraisal of the property. The property’s value should be at least $100,000 (or $25,000 for undeveloped land) if you wish to make an outright gift to the Foundation. If you’re interested in funding a charitable remainder trust, the property should be worth at least $100,000.

If you believe that a gift of real estate could benefit you and the Foundation, contact the Gift Administration department.

Rotary Foundation Sustaining Members

You can help ensure the continued success of Foundation programs by contributing a minimum of $100 each year. With a gift from every Rotarian, every year, the Foundation can do more good in the world. Read more about Sustaining Members. 

Remember when the economic times are tough, the need is greater.  As Rotarians we need to find a way to help.  $100 per year is only $2 per week.  Set aside a container to put your discarded change and you will find how easy it is to save $2 per week for The Rotary Foundation.  This is how I started to support the Foundation 20 years ago.  If we do not find a way to support the Foundation, we will have fewer Ambassadorial Scholarships, District Simplifed Grants and Matching Grants in our District and the fight against Polio will take longer.