February 2012 – World Understanding and Peace – Governor’s message

As many of you know, I spent 10 weeks in West Africa in the summer of 1968. I was one of several American and Canadian students based at Cuttington College, some 120 miles from the capital city of Monrovia, Liberia. Officially, our project with Operation Crossroads Africa was to construct several water wells and several pit latrines in a small nearby village. Too many children were dying in that little village from water borne diseases that were too much for hunger ravaged children to endure.

It was hard physical work.

But soon I figured out that my summer was much more than that. Rather it was recognition that the time in Liberia was really about listening and learning and being an ambassador.

Along the way of life, I’ve had the good fortune to meet people of all backgrounds, races, beliefs and economic position. I’ve been humbled by their passion and persistence, their vision and courage, their aspirations for a better safer fairer world.

I can never repay with money the gift that these women and men are to me and to the planet. They have totally changed my perspective with their humility and selflessness.

Each one of us has similarly been touched by this selfless behaviour.

We can make lists of people who have opened space for us. You have opened space for them. Space where we choose service over self-interest.

In the opening paragraph of his address introducing the Rotary Theme, Reach Within to Embrace Humanity, President Kalyan asks us to “look within yourselves, to understand that all of humanity has the same dreams, similar hopes, the same aspirations and similar problems”.

The service projects we do in our communities and around the world are so much more than they first appear. Use the opportunity they present to meet and be with the beneficiaries, to work side by and to share. So often, those we help are not asked for their input. You will be amazed by their wisdom and pragmatism.

As past RI President Wilf Wilkinson wrote, “All of Rotary’s projects, no matter how small, have the potential to build understanding and bring peace…that every project has a twofold purpose: meeting its practical objective and building goodwill and friendship.”

Rotary gives each of us an opportunity to serve that is priceless. We must use all our gifts, all our talents, to be the change we wish to see in the world.

Thank you for the fellowship and service you are.

With respect,

DG Bill

 

Celebrate Rotary’s Campaign to End Polio

February 23 is Rotary’s birthday and in recent years Rotary clubs around the world have lit up local landmarks to honor Rotary’s commitment to "End Polio Now". This year District 7040 is leading an initiative to spread the light using a smartphone application to create an engaging augmented reality experience. Read the District 7040 PR blog at http://rotary7040pr.wordpress.com for more information and sample press releases your club can use to publicize the event. As this newsletter goes to press it is still possible for clubs to add a local landmark to the lighting; to join in contact martha.weaver@rotary7040.com.

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Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal lit up during the Montreal 2010 International Convention

We have a special milestone to celebrate. It was just announced at the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego that Rotary clubs around the world have succeeded in raising more than US$200 million in new funding for polio eradication in response to the $355 million challenge grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. And thank you to the Gates Foundation for an additional $50 million to Rotary for polio eradication. We really are “This Close” to eradicating Polio.

District 7040 will have new display material your club can use to celebrate Rotary’s birthday, as well as at events throughout the year. Some of the banners specifically highlight Rotary’s campaign to end Polio forever. How might you use this new display material? How about a "Happy Birthday Rotary" display at your local library, Chamber of Commerce office or the lobby of a local government office? Does your club meet at a venue with a lobby? How about displaying some special information during the week of Rotary’s birthday? Check the District PR blog http://rotary7040pr.wordpress.com for more information, including pictures. Contact Ariane Carriere to arrange for displays after availability is announced.

Clubs can also help Rotary to create a World Swimming Record by participating in the world-wide Rotary Global Swimarathon on February 25th; visit http://rotaryglobalswimarathon.org to sign up. Rotary Clubs of Kingston and Lake Placid are participating. Join in and let us know by posting on the District Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/rotary7040.

You have "liked" the District’s Facebook Page haven’t you? If not, go there right now and click "like". And, while you are there, check out the D7040 Clubs on FB tab to see which District clubs are on Facebook; you can like them too.

Happy birthday Rotary; the end of Polio is near.

Martha Weaver

PR Chair

 

Hull, Nepean-Kanata and Plattsburgh Rotary Clubs leading the way!

Six months into our Rotary year, the Hull Rotary Club is at 242% of its objective for the whole year. Coming off a year when only $5 per member was contributed and nothing the year before, President Edmond Lanthier set a modest goal of $1000 that he knew could be achieved but not so high to discourage anyone. Now the total contributed is over $2400! They have given $109.90 per member. Congratulations Edmond and Hull RC.

Nepean-Kanata is another club zooming along. President Peter McKennirey and his team aimed for $100 per member. They blew past that and at last account are at $165 per member. This is much higher than what this club did in the last three years when their totals were $25, $59 and $71 per member.

Plattsburgh Rotary is one of our three biggest clubs. The previous four years had donations of $5, $54, $84 and $59 per member. That was then. This is now. President Jon Cooper and team have not only reached the $10,000 level and $100 per member but also 100% of the members contributing. What a huge success and an example of teamwork and commitment to achievement! Read the next article to find out how they did it.

If Plattsburgh Rotary can achieve 100% participation, what can your club do?

It’s good to see positive results from all the clubs.

Clubs with a goal have made a commitment and good for them. If your club did not choose to make a goal, and twenty-one clubs did not share or make a goal, you can still be part of the fun. Take ownership of The Rotary Foundation with your personal donation to the Annual Programs Fund. Go online at www.rotary.org to make your contribution.

Take pride in your tax-deductible contribution to our Foundation.

In many of our communities, the United Way or Centraide plays a big role in funding important community agencies and activities. In Rotary, our ‘United Way’ is the Annual Programs Fund of The Rotary Foundation.

The money we invest in the Annual Programs Fund is not gone forever. Rather it is set-aside for us to use at a later date when we have a project that meets the criteria of The Rotary Foundation.

The Annual Programs Fund is the source of our District Designated Fund that in turn helps with our projects both locally and internationally by leveraging club dollars. Many clubs benefit from the District Simplified Grant for small projects. For bigger projects, a club can receive money from the District Designated Fund for a Matching Grant and in addition access a doubling on that amount from the World Fund too.

The District Designated Fund pays for our Ambassadorial Scholars as well. The Ambassadorial Scholar program is one of the world’s largest programs of its type and with an average value of over $20,000 it is highly sought after.

An investment in the Annual Programs Fund is good business and great for your community. We’re just past the halfway point in the Rotary year. It’s great to see how some clubs are stepping up to meet and exceed their goals.

Let’s make this year a banner year for support of The Rotary Foundation.

Let’s all reach within to embrace The Rotary Foundation.

Thank you,

DG Bill

 

Rotary Foundation Success Story

$10,000. 100% club participation. That’s what Plattsburgh Rotary Club, under the leadership of President Jon Cooper and Foundation Chair Steve Frederick, Co Chair Anne Cutaiar and Committee Member Ellie Berger, accomplished for the Rotary Foundation.

When the committee met to map out their strategy, they decided the primary goal had to be 100% participation. They did not have a dollar target. They gave each member a personalized envelope with the RI logo and motto “Every Rotarian Every Year Any Amount.” Also, they placed extra envelopes on every table at every November meeting. When Steve announced the drive to make a gift to the Foundation, he did not specify a gift amount.

At club meetings, the committee gave regular reminders in 3 minute infomercials. Other club members told how they had personally seen the impact of the Foundation in their travels. Each week the envelopes came in with contributions ranging from $5 to $500. Rotarian Erik Eaglefeather donated a chunk of his 50/50 winnings to the Foundation. By November 30, the checks and cash totaled $7,200. Rotarian Bill Rowe then offered to make a gift on behalf of any who could not. When they reached 87 gifts, Bill made up the other 13. Then the Board of Directors gave President Jon the $2,800 he requested to tip the scale to $10,000.

According to Steve, the most significant achievement was going from 3% participation in 2010 to 100% in 2011. Mission accomplished. The next step is for Steve, Anne and Ellie to send personal thank you notes to all members of the Club…and prepare for next year.

Paul Raino, AG

 

The Power of We - Young People Making a Difference

by Amanda Tubman, daughter of two Renfrew Rotarians

Hard work, motivation and fundraising efforts have made a life-altering trip to Africa possible for me and a group of young idealists from my school. March 2012 we will be travelling to Africa to help build a school in Kenya; more specifically in the Masai Mara. In preparation for our trip to Kenya, we went to Toronto on a We Day adventure that I am sure we’ll never forget.

We Day is a celebration that ignites a yearlong initiative for global change. The day was filled with inspirational moments from an array of speakers including the Kielburger brothers, who are the architects behind We Day and the co-founders of Free the Children. Musical entertainment from Nikki Yanofsky, City in Colour and the Kenyan Boys Choir rocked the Air Canada Centre as 18,000 youths cheered and screamed in anticipation for each speaker and performance.

First, imagine being in a building packed with 18,000 people! Now, imagine you share a common goal, a passion shared with each and every one of those people; passion emanating from your very core filling that building with an actual sense of unity. This is the power of We.

Craig and Marc Kielburger have a breathtaking presence onstage. There was a connection made with the audience even before they shared their love for youth inspired change. To the two brothers, “The power of We” is a statement that describes the wonderful acts of kindness and inspiration they’ve encountered over the years. The audience shared this sentiment by bursting into applause! It brought some to tears in an overwhelming moment of joy. Each of the speakers was meant to empower youth and Craig did an amazing job in achieving this. He’d lost his voice by the end of We Day… His thoughts and emotions onstage were so raw, so powerful!

Two other speakers that really stood out for me were Dr. “Patch” Adams and Rick Hansen. Dr. Adams spoke of love not only as an emotion but as an intelligence. He has shown with many of his patients that laughter really is the best medicine. Adams has proven and has no doubt in the power of laughter. “The most radical act anyone can commit is to be happy.” This quote resonates through my everyday life as we face individual struggles. Patch taught us that one of the best things you can do for someone is to make them smile. This is the power of We.

Rick Hansen, a celebrated paralympian, spoke of overcoming obstacles to reach your full potential. He believes that, “If enough of us choose to change even one small thing, together we have the power to change anything.” This is the power of We.

Mary Robinson, Robin Wiszowaty, Lieutenant Governor David Onley and Spencer West took the stage as well, all sharing their stories of overcoming obstacles. Most strikingly was Spencer West who plans to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro. A feat for any man, yes, but Spencer has been without legs since the age of five. Michel Chikwanine, a former child soldier of the Democratic Republic of Congo, held placards above his head when his turn came. He told the story of his difficult childhood and the obstacles he had to overcome. Michel dominated the stage, silencing the crowd. He didn’t say a word. He has taken a vow of silence to speak out for those children who can’t. This is the power of We!

A whirlwind of emotions made everything difficult to process. The subway ride back to the hotel was quiet but as the day wore on the impact of the stories we’d heard and the feeling of empowerment We Day had ignited swept over me. Put simply, We Day changed my perspective on life! Instead of seeing an obstacle, I see an opportunity to grow. I see potential in everyone and I always try to smile.

We Day was empowering, inspiring, uplifting and completely and pleasurably overwhelming. My experience at We Day has only increased my elation for our trip to Kenya. I hope to meet new people and learn about a new culture. Perhaps this opportunity will shed some light on my choice of a career for when I graduate. Most of all, I’m proud to say I’m a shameless idealist that longs for a day when every child is free. This is the power of We…

 

District Assembly

A district Assembly serves as an educational forum to prepare incoming club leaders for their year in office. We do this by providing workshops that highlight various aspects of club administration. Secondly, it is a forum for presenting different district programs. It is an opportunity for club members to share programs and activities that might be of interest to others. Thirdly, it is an opportunity to create awareness and provide information on new programs, recent trends, or areas of special interest.

Those attending the Assembly this year on April 14, 2012 will have an opportunity to meet and share with Rotarians on a wide range of topics. Every club needs to bring several members for the day because you will need several Rotarians to cover all the interesting sessions! It is a great opportunity for fellowship - both while driving and with Rotarians from a wide range of clubs during the day. Remember to register by March 31, 2012 through RegOnline. The cost is $50.00 per member. Registration information will come soon.

We will have an expert to let us know how to promote electronic collaboration and communications towards better integration with your community and membership and address privacy issues. He is a highly regarded expert in his field and we are lucky to have him with us. We may be able to schedule him for two sessions.

We may have a session to better inform our members of how take advantage of Social media, SharePoint and other collaborative tools and how you can facilitate discussions and promote increased partnerships within our or other districts and between members themselves. 

We will have sessions about Future Vision as there is a lot to be accomplished by the district and clubs in preparation for this. Strategic planning is going to be an integral part on being able to meet Future Vision planning. Clubs without a strategic plan will struggle with this. We are also looking at a session for Rotarians of 3 years or less.

On the registration website you will be able to select the workshops you want. But register early as seating may be limited for the event you wish to attend. Don’t be disappointed!

 

Special Assistant Governors’ Meeting

By popular demand, an extraordinary meeting was organized on Saturday January 7th in Cornwall to empower assistant governors to support club to better serve their communities.

The recent transformation of Rotary International to face today’s reality has also impacted assistant governors’ roles and responsibilities.

First of a several meeting addressed to assistant-governors, this session was very productive and put the emphasis on exchanges to define with District officers how roles and responsibilities will be adapted to meet community service growth objective.

One of the key elements of the session was that clubs will continue to grow only when their members will own their club, mission and community projects. This session has enabled assistant-governors to own objectives they defined with District officers.

Andy H. Dang-Duy

Assistant Governor