International Service Committee
Welcome & Introductions –
The meeting was opened by District Chair Bonnie Black, welcoming all attendees to District 7040’s first International Service Committee meeting. DC Black invited the attendees to introduce themselves to the group, and discussed some basic housekeeping items that would be on-going during the course of the meeting. These included:
- Evaluation of the meeting space to advise as to suitability for the duration of these quarterly meetings;
- Review of the various club materials on the information table with a suggestion to review these materials during the breaks to formulate ideas for additional projects;
- Review of the clipboards that were circulated to identify international projects that the various clubs might have done during the Rotary Year 2010-2011; and,
- Suggestions for projects from individual clubs for which partners would be needed to generate ideas for what has been and what can happen in future, with greater emphasis on planning.
Information for these activities will be posted to the district web site to encourage participation among those clubs that have never embarked on International Service, but might wish to participate once the “fear of the unknown” has been overcome.
DC Bonnie mentioned to the assembled group that during the course of this year, there will be a focus on two areas of information:
- There will be an emphasis on projects seeking partners; and,
- There will be greater discussion of the Rotary Friendship Exchange.
The goal of the committee will be to evolve from the World Community Service concept to the International Service Committee. As part of that process, DC Bonnie envisions the use of social media as a way to encourage greater participation and to develop a greater connection to the process so that this becomes an every-day reflection, not simply once every three months.
Over the course of the next year, DC Bonnie would like the committee members to become more involved in the overall process as a way to encourage greater numbers of Rotarians from the district to embark on international service. Her goal is to have sub-committees with co-chairs from both the US and Canada, so that she will not be the sole point person for the projects, but allow for greater access to information, thereby empowering the membership to become more actively engaged in the process.
Sub-Committees –
Friendship Exchange – Barbara Edgell
Barbara reported to the group that she did not have a great deal of prepared material, but she had brought some brochures to the day’s events. She reported that the district had been contacted by District 5520 from District West Texas & New Mexico and an exchange took place June 26-July 8, 2010. The district then returned to District 5520 May 9-18, 2011. Currently, the district is preparing for the Australian visit from District 9040, with dates for that exchange from September 16 through October 2, 2011. The return trip to District 9040 will take place between October to November 2012. There will also be a club-to-club exchange between Montreal Lakeshore Club and District 3030, in Nagpur, India in April 2012 with a return trip to India in August 2012. Details are still in progress at this time.
DC Bonnie advised the assembled members that there are three types of Friendship Exchanges; these include:
- Team program
- Visitor program
- Uni-vocational program
Through these programs, Rotarians have the opportunity to travel and do similar kinds of experiences like the Group Study Exchange (GSE), which is slated for elimination. The GSE limits Rotarian participation, because a Rotary member can only serve as the leader of the team. With the new Future Vision opportunities, the focus will be on enabling Rotarians to come together and have well-rounded, fulfilling experiences with clubs in other districts throughout the world. Booklets for the uni-vocational and visitor programs can be obtained from Barbara or through the RI website.
She advised that quarterly updates will be provided to the membership to keep all informed, and the information will be posted on the district website.
CRCID Update – PDG Bette Miller
Bette provided the group with the words for the acronym “CRCID”, which stands for Canadian Rotary Collaboration for International Development. She stated that this autonomous Canadian entity is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and it roughly corresponds to the American organization US Aid. One representative from each of the districts in Zone 24 are part of CRCID and funds are matched at $.80 to every $1.00. Funds can be matched by the Rotary Foundation. US clubs are included if funds are funneled through a Canadian Rotary club. US funds are multiplied with Canadian dollars to provide funding for projects. There is a website, Google CRCID, which provides a PowerPoint program to further explain the programs. Bette reported on the following activities:
- Afghanistan School Program – 4000 students attending the school, including boys and girls; she is seeking speakers to promote the school so that they can advance to both location and training of teachers; and,
- Grant programs based on three-year funding cycles will provide for applications to be submitted prior to June 30, 2012. Applications are extensive but easy to understand.
Bette also mentioned that she and PDG Katie Burke are seeking speaking opportunities to discuss their Ghana project for the eradication of the Buruli Ulcer. They anticipate fund raising in the amount of $100,000 with $80,000 from the CRCID and funds from the Rotary Foundation. In addition to their appeal for funds for the tropical disease, they would also want to seek funds for water and sanitation projects. With all of the clubs that have not been engaged in any international activity to date, a club presentation would provide the necessary information to become engaged and get involved in a worthwhile project.
DC Bonnie mentioned that speaking opportunities abound and any Rotary club that would either like to report on their projects or seek partnerships, speaking to other clubs in the district would be the primary method to make this happen. She also mentioned that the group list serve will be the primary method of communication between meetings; thus, members should be certain that their e-mail addresses are listed on the sheets being circulated.
District Conference – District Governor Bill Gray
DG Bill discussed the upcoming District Conference being held in Plattsburgh on October 14 & 15, and the efforts of this year’s organizing committee. Titled, “Bringing in the Harvest” , this year’s event will be different with the Saturday program a facilitated session to be led by Louise Van Rhyn from Cape Town, South Africa. He urged everyone to bring recipients of Rotary program monies, young people wanting to become involved, and anyone wanting to make a difference in the program.
DG Bill also expressed his gratitude for the wonderful people serving as Rotarians in all of the thirty-seven (37) clubs that he has visited thus far. He urged all those in attendance to reach across the table to others not in the room and bring them on board. He also suggested that each of the Assistant District Governors (ADG) should foster one international project in their assigned areas. Regardless of territory or assigned clubs to each of these ADGs, they should encourage more clubs to become involved on the international front. He also encouraged those present to consider putting more money into the Rotary Foundation bank. Typically, the membership is challenged to make contributions of $100/member to the foundation as part of the annual campaign, and this year he has offered a new challenge to have each member donate $200 as part of this campaign. This is a goal that can be met if each person truly commits to this effort. Additionally, he reminded the members that polio eradication is still one of the major projects of Rotary International and there is still $13 Million needed to meet the challenge of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He is convinced that if each club puts in $2000 for this effort, the goal will be met.
Foundation Chair – PDG Peter Bashaw
Peter advised the group that while they have done well in the past, he remains confident that they can do better with a concerted effort. Over the last six years, the District has contributed $1,146,000 (US dollars). In this fiscal year, clubs have contributed $7,000 to polio; $16,000 to the annual program fund; and there is $20,000 available for the District Simplified grants program. He has received four applications to date, with a submission deadline of September 30th and he still has $16,000 remaining that can be committed to projects. Thus far, he has not had to turn away any of the applicants. Katie Burke is the new Scholarship Chair and she will be seeking the new Ambassadorial Scholars and Peace Fellow candidates.
Grants Chair – PDG Bette Miller
Bette reported on the matching grants and advised the group that because the district is not a pilot district, they do not have to change the way matching grants are being handled, at least for the present. She emphasized the following key points to the members:
- Project reports must be completed in a timely manner;
- Attention to detail is critical for the successful completion of projects; and,
- If help is needed by any club, she is available to either meet in person or converse via telephone to assist with the efforts.
Bette mentioned that it is nice to see new clubs taking on the responsibility of working on grants, and she anticipates that many more will become involved.
General housekeeping issues:
- Club members should wear their club badges so we more readily get to know each other at these meetings;
- Clubs should post information from the meeting on their web sites/Facebook pages to encourage greater participation among the clubs; and,
- Each club that participates in the International Committee should have a designated contact to alert DC Bonnie as to the numbers attending.
FUTURE VISION IS OUR VISION
DC Bonnie began the second portion of the program by discussing the format for the remainder of the program. Tables were divided as groups to begin visioning efforts with one person reporting out for the group. Groups were to offer their input as to why members and clubs were involved in international service:
- Rotary clubs are involved because “we can be”.
- There is a smaller world today, and there are no boundaries; so many people are in need, everyone is “our neighbor”.
- The dollar goes much farther and can make a greater impact.
- Tremendous feeling of accomplishment and enhancement from helping others who are in need.
- Diverse nationalities within clubs increase the willingness to become involved in world/global efforts.
- Awareness of “what we have” and what others really need.
- Creating a balance between community service, which is fairly easy within the clubs, and doing international service, creating greater impact.
- Becoming globally involved.
- “We are one mobile family.”
- “We are just people here to help each other.”
- “There are no strangers here, just friends we’ve never met.”
- Domestic projects can also be seen as international projects, with clubs helping each other through partnerships.
DC Bonnie asked the group about the level of involvement with global efforts. Members around the tables provided a list of specific countries and the numbers of people who have traveled to these countries. (A complete list of responses is attached as a separate document to these minutes.)
DC Bonnie asked the group to discuss international hurdles:
- Contacts may change so there can be problems with continuity.
- Getting local people involved if there is greater interest in local vs. international efforts.
- Communication challenges due to language barriers.
- Bringing equipment/supplies to the locations.
- Interfacing of equipment in different countries.
- Non-completion of reports triggers refusal of future efforts.
- Checks and balances to insure future efforts.
- Lapsed membership of Rotarians in other countries.
- Current signatures for the current administrative leaders.
- Keeping copies of everything sent to RI.
- Face-to-face communication with your partners.
- Seek partners who can actually deliver.
- Complex shipping regulations.
- Careful management of receipts.
- Check on program implementation.
- Partnering with international service experts.
- Must work within the approved budget parameters.
- TYPE the grant applications so as to be able to READ them.
DC Bonnie asked how the group would make international service easier:
- Electronic signatures
- Do not forward the entire grant award, but allow for progress payments.
- More control of the club at district level.
- Partner clubs or countries should travel to our clubs to find out how we think and do things – created a new level of understanding.
DC Bonnie discussed the changes toward a future vision. RI has changed and has made an administrative change do international service differently. International Service is now moving toward a resource and support model. This new model supports the RI Strategic Plan. RI has moved from the “Grecian Temple Model” to the “Circular Strategic Plan Model”. This is a shift to future vision; this is the third iteration of the strategic plan since 2007. Thus, the clubs must align with the big picture and become involved in Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI). The goal of the model is to expand resources to help us command and partner and examine the hurdles, to allow for the right partners and the right connections to make these efforts successful. The goal of Future Vision is to make it easier to be involved and increase the number of international service projects as a result. There is now a greater focus on club and district service. This committee, this year, is going to prepare all 67 clubs in out district to embrace the future vision structure. As of July 1, 2013 every Rotary district in the world will be a Future Vision district.
The areas of focus for International projects fall into:
- Pease and conflict resolution
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water sanitation
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education literacy
- Economic and community development
Future efforts will require that the projects that we are already doing will be labeled according to the specific areas of focus. This moves the Rotary model to similar ways that businesses are operated, according to evidence gathered and statistics obtained. According to this model, the project will prove the numbers to be served, the percentage of a village population that will experience better health, what are the numbers impacted by these projects. The program outcomes will need to be measured. There needs to be the greatest benefit to the most people.
DC Bonnie concluded the Future Vision presentation by advising the attendees that the slide presentation she had used as part of this day’s meeting would be available on the district web site. She also advised that the upcoming schedule for the next meeting dates are December 10, March 3, and June 16.
DC Bonnie opened the remainder of the meeting to Alice Otupiri from the Rotary Club of Nepean-Kanata, who provided an update on the Ghana community where she grew up. She goes into the schools and has raised the money for the school fees. She also provided annual reports on the activities so that donors can fully understand how their funds are being applied to this community. She advised the group that she is trying to raise additional funds to sponsor more children in the schools. Elementary student fees are $100/year and high school students’ fees are $200/year.
Other clubs that have video information that can be posted to the web should contact Sue at SueDeinning@rotary7040.com and the information will be made available to all clubs in the district.
Next meeting is scheduled for December 10 at the Benson Centre Automotive Room at 800 Seventh Street West, Cornwall, Ontario.
Minutes prepared by Linda McQuinn, Secretary.