Newsletter for March 2023 - Rotary Club of D6330 Passport

onehttps://issuu.com/ladykitt/docs/march_newsletter_2021

Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones, Canada District 6330 Governor, Mike Chaffee (Flint, Michigan) Club President, Sue Storie (2022-23)

District website: https://rotary6330.org/

The Calendar below shows Rotary’s monthly themes.

ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES

Month

Theme

July Transition month/New beginnings

August Membership and New Club Development

September Basic Education and Literacy

October Economic and Community Development

November Rotary Foundation

December Disease Prevention and Treatment

January Vocational Service

February Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution

March Water and Sanitation

April Maternal and Child Health

May Youth Service

June Rotary Fellowships

Click the flags below to listen to the respective national anthems.

FOCUS ON WATER AND SANITATION

Month of March

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING ONLINE

Wednesday, March 1 at 7:00 p.m. Plan to attend!

HAPPY CHATS ONLINE – JOIN US!

Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

UPCOMING ROTARY FUNDRAISER ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK

Friday, March 24

Stay tuned for details!

RACE TO ERASE

Saturday, May 27

Looking for interested participants from Passport Club

Rotary Anthem

Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem!

IMPORTANT ROTARY INFORMATION

2022-23 RI PRESIDENTIAL THEME

INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT, 2022-23

Jennifer Jones

Canada

Rotary International President, 2022-23

I will never forget the gift of meeting tea master Genshitsu Sen during my trip to Japan in November.

Not only is Sen the former grand master of the Urasenke tea tradition, but he is also an accomplished Rotarian. Those accomplishments include helping charter the Rotary Club of KyotoSouthy, Japan, serving as president of the Rotary Club of Kyoto and governor of District 2650, and holding leadership roles in Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.

It was an honour to spend time with him. He is a remarkable human being and a joyful soul. And his leadership and engagement in Rotary remain strong.

During that same week in Japan, I had the opportunity to record a video for a 100-yearold World War II naval hero and two-time Rotary district governor from Park City, Utah.

Sen and the Rotarian from Park City shared similar stories, though they served on opposing sides of the war. What was remarkable to me was that each of them chose Rotary to live lives of peacemaking. It struck me that we are all on this planet simply trying to do our best, and we are much more similar than we are different.

I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to witness these stories and meet such incredible people.

JENNIFER JONES President, Rotary International

Top: Genshitsu Sen, former grand master of the Urasenke tea tradition, performs a traditional Japanese tea ceremony for Jones during her trip to Japan in November. The tea ceremony, known as chado, dates back centuries and embraces the arts, religion, philosophy, and social life.

At right: Sen stands outside the Urasenke tearoom compound where he lives in Kyoto. Rotary magazine wrote about Sen’s remarkable story in the August 2022 issue. You can listen to an audio version of the story at rotary.org/peace-throughbowl-tea.

“Imagine, a world that deserves our best where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”

Plan to donate today to The Rotary Foundation – the engine that runs Rotary!

A successful Rotary club:

• Sustains and increases its membership base, making sure that the composition of club membership reflects the diversity of the community in which it exists in terms of classification, age, gender, ethnicity, and other personal characteristics.

• Implements successful projects that address the needs of our community and internationally.

• Supports the Rotary Foundation through both financial contributions and program participation.

• Develops leaders capable of serving in Rotary at the Club level and beyond.

If you have the power to make someone happy, do it. The world needs more of that.

MARCH FOCUS WATER AND SANITATION

Clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education are basic necessities for a healthy environment and a productive life.

When people have access to clean water and sanitation, waterborne diseases decrease, children stay healthier and attend school more regularly, and mothers can spend less time carrying water and more time helping their families. Click

SCHOOLS GET HELP WITH CLEAN WATER AND HYGIENE Sharing what other clubs around the world are doing…

An estimated 2.5 billion people lack access to improved sanitation facilities that hygienically separate human excreta from human contact. Rotarian Alfredo Pérez knows the schools in Guatemala and neighboring countries can use all the help available in this area.

The Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Target Challenge focuses on providing clean water and sanitation systems, and equipping teachers to educate students on better hygiene practices.

So, when Carlos Flores, then governor of District 4250 (Belize, Guatemala, and Honduras), asked Pérez in 2016 to get involved with the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) in Schools Target Challenge, he quickly accepted. As the name suggests, the pilot program focuses on providing clean water and sanitation systems, and equipping teachers to educate students on better hygiene practices.

“The objective of the project is to develop good hygiene habits in children,” Pérez says. “By reducing absenteeism due to diseases that are acquired due to lack of water, sanitation, and hygiene in schools, we can increase their academic development. Training teachers to help children develop good hygiene habits is key.”

Indeed, more than a year after the effort began, the Rotary Club of Valle de Guatemala, where Pérez is a member, has improved conditions for as many as 1,793 children from 10 schools in the town of Escuintla, about 40 miles south of Guatemala City, the capital.

Corporación Energías de Guatemala, an energy company, backed the project with a $62,000 grant.

Pérez’s club and the Rotary Club of Escuintla worked with local public health officials and urban and rural planners. The project provided toilets, washing stations, and water tanks, and also supported training for teachers so that the facilities would be put to good use.

This year, members of Pérez’s club have a budget of $30,000 for work at five more schools.

Pérez is giving talks around his country in hopes of recruiting more clubs to take up the challenge in their communities, and he’s seeking international partners to help expand the program.

Educators tell Rotarians that fewer students now miss school because of gastrointestinal and respiratory illnesses, which sometimes spread by poor hand washing or lack of safe water.

–Jenny Espino

Click here to read more from rotary.org.

Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.

With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.

Our mission

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

What impact can one donation have?

• For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.

• $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.

• $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.

DONATE NOW

How do you want to get involved in the causes you’re most passionate about?

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.

FROM THE DISTRICT

SEMINAR FOR TOMORROW’S LEADERS – 2023

An in-person event!

Registration is now open!

We are excited to announce that registration for this year's Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders is now open! What's more, this year we are returning to an in-person event!

The leaders are working hard to put together an amazing program of inspiring speakers, engaging activities, and thought-provoking discussions that will help students develop their leadership skills and potential and leave them feeling excited and ready to take on new challenges in their communities. And they are thrilled to be back to in-person this year!

We'll be sharing some exciting information about this year's Seminar including the names of our fantastic speakers in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, if you already have someone to register, click the button below.

To register the students your club is sponsoring, click here!

April 20. The registration deadline is April 20, so don't wait! This is something the youth in your community will not want to miss!

The seminar is Friday, May 12 to Sunday, May 14 at Western University in London, Ontario.

The cost is $500 CAD or $450 USD per participant, and $450 CAD for Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound students.

For more information, click here to visit the Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders page of the D6330 website.

We look forward to receiving your registrations! Don't hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

Yours in Rotary,

Kirk Langford, on behalf of The D6330 Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders Committee

Rotary provides women the opportunity to do extraordinary things. Working together with likeminded women and men, they expand and build on existing strengths with the benefits of diversity to improve the lives of individuals and communities.

Please join us as we hear from two extraordinary women who exemplify service above self.

Jean Aitcheson has been a long serving Rotarian of over 15 years. Jean is responsible for the founding of The Stratford Mission Depot, which collects medical and other supplies to be delivered to countries in need. Jean says Rotary has expanded her living, taught her the value of philanthropy and opened many doors for her.

Deurence Onyango is an ardent supporter of the WASH Rotary Action Group (water, sanitation and hygiene). WASH links water and sanitation to improved hygiene, better health, and empowerment of the community –especially women, irrigation and agriculture, education and literacy and, ultimately, child mortality. Deurance says she is interested in and very passionate about women/girls and their experiences around WASH, particularly in Kenya.

Please register here:

When: Mar 8, 2023, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Topic: DISTRICT 6330- Celebrating Women in Rotary

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8KclPaahRNOmmZTVo_nXaw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. We look forward to having you join us.

Mike, Sonja and Katherine 6330 District Governor Team

Speakers - Jean Aitcheson and Deurence Onyango

A note from Drew KesslerTURKEY/SYRIA DISASTER RESPONSE

I received tremendous news that the following actions have been taken by our Rotary Foundation:

• The lead story on Rotary.org and My.Rotary.org about Rotary responding to the earthquake has been updated It includes a message about helping by giving to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund (a.k.a. the repurposing of the general disaster response fund.)

• The online giving platform was updated to provide an option for the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund.

• A video from RIP Jennifer Jones has been shared on social media. Donating to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund is the call to action. The video can be viewed on Face Book, Twitter and Instagram.

• Rotary staff, including International Offices, have been informed about the Trustee decision so they can assist local members.

• A donor appeal is being developed.

Rotary is in regular contact with partners such as ShelterBox. For example, District Governors and District Rotary Disaster Committee members from the three Rotary districts in Turkey are providing ShelterBox support and invaluable situational awareness. Rotary members have been trucking blankets, food and medicines to affected areas across all affected regions of Turkey working with ShelterBox.

As in true Rotary fashion, our members have stepped up, and will want to continue to step up, to aide this effort.

Please share with your members the opportunity to contribute through our Foundation,

Drew Kessler

Drew Kessler - Rotary Club of North Rockland-Haverstraw, Stony Point, NY, U.S.A.

Drew Kessler is Senior Vice President of the Commercial Real Estate division at M&T Bank, where he manages a large loan portfolio of real estate and commercial ventures with major businesses in the New York City area.

Kessler has led numerous professional real estate organizations, serving as president of both the Rockland County Board of Realtors and the 10,000-member Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors (HGAR) as well as director for both the New York State Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

As a sign of his stature in the real estate community, Drew regularly appeared on Fox Business News from 2008-2013 for his expertise on the finance industry and the real estate market.

While At HGAR, he launched the HG Realtor Foundation. A passionate fundraiser, Kessler has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for organizations including The Rotary Foundation, Habitat for Humanity March of Dimes and Feeding Westchester.

Kessler joined Rotary in 2001, at the age of 20. He went on to serve as President of the Rotary Club of North Rockland at age 25 – at that time the youngest president in the club’s than 80-year history. At age 32, he served as District Governor for Rotary District 7210. “For anyone who says that you have to be retired to serve in these positions, I’d like to show that there is another path,” says Kessler.

He has served Rotary International on the Young Past District Governor’s Committee as well as representative to the Council on Legislation and RI president’s representative. Kessler also has served in numerous Zone leadership positions, including general chair of the Zone 28/32 Summit & Symposium, assistant Rotary coordinator for Zone 32 and general chair for the Mid-North East president’s elect training seminar. Committed to continuity and collaboration, he is a member of the District 7210 Executive Board, a committee he helped establish that is made up of both past and present district leaders that collaborate to the lead the District.

As a husband and father to five children, Kessler prioritizes finding a way to incorporate family into Rotary events, projects, and meetings whenever possible; all of his children have been touched by Rotary either through Earlyact, Interact, RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange. Kessler and his wife, Vicki – also an Active Rotarian – reside in Hopewell Junction, New York Click here

INVESTING IN ACTION

The Rotary Foundation plans for the future, not just for today, and helps members put ideas into action.

In the words of Arch Klumph:

“Rotary has assumed a great obligation to the world… Its opportunities are limitless, but its income today and of tomorrow will never permit it to do the many things which it could and should do.

Let me remind you of these three facts:

(1) Money alone does little good.

(2) Individual service is helpless without money.

(3) The two together can be a godsend to civilization.”

Click the Rotary Flag above (and follow the link) to listen to the Rotary Hymn composed by George Canseco. (Rotary Club of Urdaneta East)

Consider applying for a disaster response grant

Find out how Rotary districts can apply for a grant from the Disaster Response Fund.

Ukraine has 62 Rotary clubs and six satellite clubs with about 1,100 members, and 24 Rotaract clubs with more than 300 members. District 2232 (Ukraine and Belarus) formed a committee to help people affected by the crisis.

TRUSTEES ESTABLISH TARGETED FUNDS TO AID PAKISTAN AND UKRAINE

In January 2023 The Rotary Foundation Trustees established two temporary funds to assist Pakistan and Ukraine, two areas that are facing extreme need.

The Pakistan Flood Response Fund and the Ukraine Response Fund address the humanitarian crises caused by devastating flooding in Pakistan and the war in Ukraine. Donors can give directly to relief efforts led by Rotary members.

Contributions will be accepted until 31 December 2023. Districts can apply for grants from the funds until 30 June 2024 or until the funds have all been allocated. Any contributions that haven't been spent by 30 June 2024 will be transferred to the general Disaster Response Fund, to be made available for disasters worldwide.

How to contribute

You can give online, by check, or by transferring District Designated Funds:

• To contribute online, use my.rotary.org/donate.

• To give by check, make it payable to The Rotary Foundation or to an associate foundation and include a completed contribution form. In the DESIGNATION/PURPOSE section, choose Other and write the fund name (Pakistan Flood Response Fund or Ukraine Response Fund).

• To allocate District Designated Funds, district leaders can use the DDF contribution form

How to raise money to support these funds

Anyone can start a fundraiser for the Pakistan Flood Response Fund or the Ukraine Response Fund on Raise for Rotary. Remember that:

• Raise for Rotary currently accepts Australian, Canadian, and U.S. dollars and is available only in English.

• Donations made through fundraisers for the Pakistan Flood Response Fund or the Ukraine Response Fund on Raise for Rotary will be credited and recognized as described below.

• Any fundraisers on a third-party platform such as Facebook or GoFundMe won't offer these specific fund options and aren't eligible for Foundation credit and recognition.

How contributions are credited and recognized

Gifts to the Pakistan Flood Response Fund and the Ukraine Response Fund:

• Count toward a donor's total cumulative giving

• Factor into Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society, Major Donor, and Arch Klumph Society recognition

• Help the donor's club achieve the 100% Foundation Giving Club banner

• Are not credited toward a club's Annual Fund giving, toward per capita or SHARE calculations, or toward generating DDF

How to apply for disaster response grants

For grants to support Ukraine, the district governor and district Rotary Foundation chair will need to complete the Rotary Disaster Response Grant Application for Ukraine and send it to grants@rotary.org.

Also note that for disaster response grants related to Ukraine:

• District 2232 (Belarus and Ukraine) can have up to three open grants at a time of up to US$100,000 each.

• Districts that border Ukraine can have one open grant of up to US$100,000 at any time.

• Districts beyond Ukraine and its bordering districts that want to support refugees or others affected by the war can have one open US$25,000 grant.

• Districts can either use these grants in their own areas or work with clubs in Ukraine and the bordering countries to support relief efforts that will be implemented in those locations.

For grants to support Pakistan, the district governor and district Rotary Foundation chair will need to complete the Rotary Disaster Response Grant Application and send it to grants@rotary.org

Also note that for disaster response grants related to Pakistan:

• Districts 3271 and 3272 (Pakistan) can have up to two open disaster response grants simultaneously of up to US$50,000 each.

31-Jan-2023

Google maps showing Pakistan and Ukraine

U.N. INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE (plus links)

Wednesday, March 1

World Seagrass Day

Zero Discrimination Day [UNAIDS]

Friday, March 3

World Wildlife Day

Wednesday, March 8

International Women’s Day

Wednesday, March 15

International Day to combat Islamophobia

Monday, March 20

International Day of Happiness

Tuesday, March 21

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Week of 21 to 27 March

Week of Solidarity with the Peoples struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination

Wednesday, March 22 World Water Day

Friday, March 24

International Day for the Right to the Truth concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

Saturday, March 25

International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Summary of new polioviruses this week:

• Afghanistan: two WPV1 positive environmental samples

• Benin: one cVDPV2 positive environmental sample

• Chad: seven cVDPV2 cases

• DRC: six cVDPV2 cases

• Indonesia: one cVDPV2 case

• Nigeria: four cVDPV2 cases

• Yemen: 10 cVDPV2 positive environmental samples

For more information, click here - http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/this-week/ Click here to learn the difference between Wild Polio Virus (WPV) and Vaccine-derived Polio Virus. (VDPV)

Rosemary Mukui Nzunza, the head of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Centre for Virus Research, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, shares her story of pursuing a career in science.

Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college globally.

On March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its 55th session to promote women’s equal access to full employment and decent work.

Two years later, on 20 December 2013, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution in which it was noted that it is imperative for women and girls to be involved in STEM.

On the International Day of the Women and Girls in Science on 11 February 2023, Rosemary Mukui Nzunza, the head of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Centre for Virus Research, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, shared her story of pursuing a career in science. She is currently in the final stages of working towards earning her PHD in Molecular Medicine.

Children wait to be vaccinated during house-to-house visits for a national polio vaccination campaign in Mogadishu, Somalia, on Tuesday 06 June 2022. Photo credits: ©WHO/ Ismail Taxta

“SOMEONE HAS TO DO THIS. AND IT’S US, HERE, NOW”

Rosemary explains she would like girls and women to know there is enough room for everyone in science; and women should maintain healthy competition in science and go as far as they can. It also helps to look for mentors and people you can admire and follow so they inspire you to keep growing, she says.

“Research has earned this name as it means you need to go back and search over and over again,” Rosemary says. “Besides, there are no ceilings in science – girls and women can go as far as they want to.”

As a child, Rosemary Nzunza spent her free time pounding leaves, roots and tubers, using thick wooden sticks to create “medicine.” Her creativity, curiosity, and love for finding explanations for how things work made her want to teach science − or at least work in the world of science.

Rosemary never has a dull day at work. She currently serves as Senior Research Scientist and Head of Division of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) at the Centre for Virus Research at KEMRI. Her role entails monitoring quality assurance in laboratory work and biosafety and overseeing the work of the different units at KEMRI. She also represents the laboratory in key national committees in Kenya: the National Committee on Containment of Polioviruses (NTF), National Polio Certification Committee (NPCC), National Measles and Rubella Technical Advisory Committee (MTAG) and the National Polio Experts Committee (NPEC).

Rosemary joined the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) Laboratory 23 years ago, starting her career as a research officer with the US Army Medical Research Directorate (USAMRD). In 2006, Rosemary earned her Master’s in Applied Microbiology. Back then, she was one of just two women at the unit who had postgraduate degrees under their belts. She reflects on how her male colleagues looked up to the two women as mentors, which made them feel really proud. But she notes that this also meant they were in charge of all laboratory procedures, laboratory quality, and the troubleshooting, which was quite challenging at the time.

Polio still exists

When Rosemary joined KEMRI, she was surprised to learn that the institution was tasked with supporting polio eradication. She had thought polio had been wiped out from the world a long time ago.

At left, Agnes Chepkurui, a lab technologist, preparing samples to determine what kind of poliovirus is present in the sample. Photo credit: WHO/L. Dore

Click here to read more.

ACCELERATING CHANGE

This World Water Day is about accelerating change to solve the water and sanitation crisis.

And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action – and that means YOU.

You and your family, your school, and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume, and manage water in your lives. Your commitments will be added to the Water Action Agenda, to be launched at the UN 2023 Water Conference – the first event of its kind for nearly 50 years.

This is a once-in-a-generation moment for the world to unite around water.

Play your part. Do what you can.

Click here to read more.

LEARN

Dysfunction througout the water cycle is undermining progress on all maor global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, disasters to peace.

Back in 2015, the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030 Agenda – the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanigtation by 2030.

Right now, we are seriously off-track. Billions of people and countless schools, businesses, healthcare centres, farms, and factories are being held back because their human rights to water and sanitation have not yet been fulfilled.

Click here to read more.

OUR ENVIRONMENT

Click here to view a short video on ESRAG and the Environment focus.

Click here to catch up on archived ESRAG newsletters.

EARTH DAY – SATURDAY, APRIL 22, 2023

Click here to view a short video on other ways of reducing plastic use.

HOW TO DO EARTH DAY 2023

Climate Literacy

End Plastic Pollution

Plant Trees

Act on Climate Change

Join the Great Global Cleanup

Fashion for the Earth

As citizens, we have the power and duty to make our voices heard. What each of us does, and how we do it, has a massive ripple effect on our ecosystems, as well as the pace of corporate and government action.

GenZ* provides inspiration with 45% having stopped buying from brands with poor ethical and sustainability practices. Through civic actions, and our day-to-day life choices, we have the power to lobby for and support the businesses who actively choose eco-friendly practices and climate-friendly investments. There is no time more vital than the present to take action and INVEST IN OUR PLANET. Click here to read more.

* Post-millennial generation

PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD – THIS ISSUE – HIMALAYAN LIFE YANGRI SCHOOL IN NEPAL

for your interest…

After much of our school in Yangri, Nepal, has been destroyed by the floods of June 2021, I am excited to report that last week we have been issued the building permit for the new campus on the land we have purchased further up in the Yangri Valley. Excavation work has commenced, and under the leadership of Sonam Sherpa the construction crew is gearing up for the huge task of rebuilding the school.

On a different note, I wanted to let you know that the 2022 tax receipts are currently being processed and will be sent out shortly. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your faithful support for the work of Himalayan Life. I am particularly grateful that so many have responded with astounding generosity to our year-end appeal in December. Owing to your generosity, we have been able to finish the year with a balanced budget.

On behalf of the children in Nepal: Thank you!

ROTARY’S CORE VALUES

WHAT IS ROTARY?

Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 115 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Learn more about our structure and our foundation and our strategic vision

Do you need a make-up? missed meetings? To learn about other Rotary clubs?

The Passport Club members are encouraged to join local (and other) clubs to learn more about Rotary, get to know other Rotarians, gain a new perspective and appreciation for Rotary and Rotarians. Here is a list of online clubs where you can earn a make-up along with learning a whole lot more about Rotary! Why not visit them all?

• Rotary E-Club of Canada One – Rotary On Demand, Where you want, When you want!

• Rotary Club of One World

• Rotary E-Club of World Peace

Click here to attend this week’s posted meeting of E-Club of Canada One. These meetings are posted online and available 24/7!

Club President for 2022-23 – Sue Storie Stay

WORKING HARD AT OUR CLUB’S ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECT

In upcoming months, members will be available to speak with your club about this project.

The Passport club members will collect these items and we will use our community contacts to repurpose them. One of our community contacts is London, Ontario - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. As we gain more contacts, we will expand our project. Would your club like to partner with us?

Contact Lynn Coates lynn.coates.1@outlook.com

or Sue Storie sastorie.rotary@gmail.com for more information.

UPCOMING CONVENTIONS

Click the Melbourne link for the website.

Rotary’s Per capita dues

Per half year for 2023-2024: $37.50

All clubs are billed $1 per member on their July invoice to help defray the costs of the Council on Legislation. Some invoices may include variable charges for Rotary magazine (other Rotary regional magazine subscriptions are billed separately) and variable fees for insurance (U.S. clubs only).

See the Manual of Procedure for more information.

SLATE OF OFFICERS FOR 2023-23

President - Sue Storie

President Elect – Mariann Timmers

Secretary - Mariann Timmers

Treasurer - Lynn Coates

Foundation Chair - Rick Storie

Communications Chair - Kitty Bucsko

Service Committee Chair - Bev Andersen

Membership Chair - Sue Storie (hoping to find someone else)

SPEAKERS’ PASSPORT

Wednesday, January 4

Meeting summary, February 1, 2023

If you missed last month’s meeting (February 1), you missed an excellent speaker. The topic Bev Andersen gave an excellent, interesting, and informative presentation on service dogs.

Well done and thank you, Bev!

ENHANCE YOUR CLUB EXPERIENCE

Recent Rotary research confirms that the club experience is what matters most to our members. Everyone plays a part in making sure that members have a fulfilling, enjoyable experience. When members feel welcomed and included, are given opportunities for personal growth and leadership development, are able to make meaningful connections, and are contributing to service, they are more engaged and more likely to remain active in the club.

Looking after members by showing them comfort and care should be the priority for all club leaders. Knowing the needs of your members and making changes in your club to address those needs creates a more positive environment for all. Rotary offers resources that can help.

▪ Member Interest Survey Getting to know new and prospective members early on is helpful for everyone. Use this survey to learn about their preferences so you can meet their expectations.

▪ Member Satisfaction Survey A satisfied member is an engaged member. And engaged members make clubs vibrant. Distribute this survey regularly to all members in your club and respond to their feedback to empower them to shape the club experience.

▪ Exit Survey Understanding why members leave gives your club the opportunity to address any issues that are causing members to resign.

Being open to change can be challenging, especially for clubs that have well-established ways of doing things. But when members feel heard and understood, they are more likely to feel valued and cared for and to be active in their clubs.

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY – MARCH 8

International Women’s Day is 8 March, a time to honor the achievements of women around the world and raise awareness of the work that’s still needed to achieve equity.

Join Rotary in celebrating International Women’s Day 2023! Our virtual, multi-day observance seeks to raise awareness about the barriers that women around the world face as professional and local leaders and to build a supportive community to take collective action for change. The events, presented in English, are open to Rotary members and non-members of all genders.

The first event, on 8 March, is a Facebook Live session with Rotary President Jennifer Jones, Vice President Nicki Scott, and guests. Find out more about this free, informative virtual event.

Use #IWD2023 to find other events or post information about your own!

PLAN TO JOIN OUR ROTARY ROCK AROUND THE CLOCK PARTY

MARCH 24, 2023

Click here to view the promotional video – and get excited about this fun(d)-raising event!

The Race to Erase is not a running race! The challenges are a combination of savvy and smarts – no goofy shorts required. On Race day, teams compete to complete the challenges in the fastest time. Everyone gathers together at the start to register before heading out to different locations, and only after they have completed the first challenge, are they give the location of the next one. Watch the video below to learn more.

Click here to view the video that tells us all about this excellent community fund-raiser, co-ordinated by our own Rotary member, Rich Bouchard!

Watch and listen for more to come!

Click here to learn more about the Race to Erase!

Passport Club member, Rich Bouchard

The Race to Erase was founded by Scott McKay and Rich Bouchard. They had two connected goals in mind: they wanted to create a fun and creative event for people to take part in, and they wanted it to positively enhance the community. First discussed over a game of golf, both agreed that it would be fun to send teams of four on a road rally fundraiser throughout the community, competing in timed challenges along the way. Due to safety concerns (and a high Insurance price tag), the driving would not be timed, only the actual challenges.

The first Race to Erase was held in October 2006. The Race committee partnered with Sarnia’s Inn of the Good Shepherd for the Race to Erase Hunger. The event was an immediate success with 30 teams participating and more than $38,000 raised. In the second year, the Race to Erase again raised funds for the Inn of the Good Shepherd, but this time the Race was called the Race to Erase Homelessness as the funds went to building the Good Shepherd’s Lodge, a homeless shelter in Sarnia. More recently, the Race has evolved to allow more charities to participate and receive a portion of the funds raised. The Race has also expanded its scope. While the first Race Days were held in Sarnia and London, the Race has recently expanded to include Cambridge, and may soon appear in a number of other communities across Ontario.

The Race remains committed to three core principles: having fun, fundraising and community spotlight. The event is first and foremost intended to be a fun way to spend Race Day with friends. Like a Corporate Challenge on wheels, teams get to drive to different challenges and do things together they wouldn’t normally do, whether that is feeding someone a sundae blindfolded, running through a corn maze or learning a Celtic dance routine. Teams are always laughing as they experience the Race.

It was also always important that this event be tied to fundraising as a way to help positively enhance the community. Each team is asked to raise a minimum of $500, which the committee always believed was reasonable for any team to achieve. All teams are encouraged to raise more than the minimum.

Finally, the Race also works to shine a light on the many great businesses and not-for-profits that our community has to offer. Our goal is to ensure that everyone finishes the race knowing a little more about our community than they did at the start of the day. Each participating challenge works with the organizing committee to create a memorable event that ties into their core message, thus exposing their goals in a fun and unique way.

Announcement re: Rotary District 6330 Governor Nominee Designate 2025-2026

Past District Governor David Elliott, Acting Chair of the Rotary District 6330 Nominating Committee, is pleased to announce that, after reviewing the candidates suggested by clubs and those recruited by the Committee, MIKE HURRY has been selected to become current District Governor Nominee Designate for the Rotary year 2025-2026.

(Other Nominating Committee members included Past District Governors Pat Vogelin, Don Moore, Diane Chantler, and Tony Sheard, plus current District Governor Mike Chaffee and, as observers, current District Governor-Elect Sonja Glass and District Governor-Nominee Katherine Hahn.)

Mike Hurry is a member (Past President 2017-18) of the Rotary Club of Sarnia and has been a Rotarian since May 2002. He currently serves as Assistant Governor for Area 5. He has completed all three levels of the Rotary Leadership Institute and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and Benefactor and Bequest Society member.

As per Rotary International Bylaws* (Article 12) and per District 6330 Policies and Procedures*, we are sending this notice to inform District 6330 membership of the Nominating Committee’s selection and the start of the challenge period.

After this announcement, for 14 days (until Sunday, 05 March 2023), any club in District 6330 (that has been in operation for at least one year) may challenge this selection by proposing a challenge candidate but only if such challenge candidate was already suggested to the Nominating Committee by that club. Such a challenge must be substantiated by a resolution of the club adopted at a regular meeting of that club and be submitted in writing to the District Governor Mike Chaffee at mikechafee635@gmail.com on or before 05 March 2023.

Barring any such challenges, Mike Hurry will become the District Governor Nominee Designate for the Rotary year 2025-2026 effective Monday, 06 March 2023 (the day after the end of challenge period).

*Note: RI Bylaws and District 6330 Policies and Procedures can be found at the following links:

RI Bylaws – Click here to view.

D6330 Policies – Click here to view.

Rotarian Mike

Why should someone join Rotary? Click here for a short, important video.

Remember our Happy Chats – get to know our club members!

Join the Happy Chats – get to know our club members!

Happy Chats are online now only on Wednesdays.

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Join your Rotary friends for an informal 30 minute get together.

Chat about “stuff” – and what’s important to you. Let’s get to know our members!

Plan to join our Zoom Meetings! Click here.

Right click the 4-way test above to open and listen to the Four-Way Test by RC of Saskatoon Nutana.

2022-23 Rotary Theme

Our Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to contribute at least what they can afford every year to help us reach our goal to support the Rotary Foundation financially each year

One who contributes $100 USD every year is a Sustaining Member. With EREY, we encourage you to contribute an amount you can afford every year.

A VISUAL OF ROTARY D6330 – Areas and AGs

A Summary of D6330 Areas and AGs

Area Description

1 North Bruce Peninsula from Wiarton to Paisley, including Southampton, Port Elgin

2 Western northern Bruce Peninsula, including Kincardine, Walkerton, Hanover, Goderich

3

Mid-southwestern Ontario, including Listowel, St. Mary’s, Stratford, and Stratford Festival City

Area Governor

Sonja Glass

Rosemary Davis

Paul Roulston

4 London area – 5 clubs Howard Shears

5 West to St. Clair River including Sarnia, Watford, Grand Bend, Petrolia

6

In the U.S., west of the St. Clair River, including Fort Gratiot, Port Huron, south to Marine City and Algonac

Mike Hurry

Diane Ives

7

In the U.S., further west from St. Clair River –including Genesee Valley, Flint, south to Fenton Allen Tucker

8 Eastern Northern Bruce Peninsula, including Meaford, Owen Sound, Chesley, Markdale, and Thornbury

9 In the U.S., west of St. Clair River including Clio, Lapeer, Imlay City

10

Just north of Lake Erie, including Strathroy, St. Thomas, St. Thomas Railway, and London Lambeth

Patrick Petch

Jeffrey Ferweda

Gerry Janssen

“The Rotary way is to light a candle.

I light one, you light one, 1.2 million Rotarians light one. Together, we light up the world.”

– RI President-Elect Gary C. K. Huang in the April 2014 issue of The Rotarian

ROTARY GOALS FOR 2023-24

• Help bring peace to the world and soothe those afflicted by conflict.

• Help each other and our communities deal with our own internal struggles.

• Help end the stigma associated with asking for help

• Help the world heal from destructive conflicts

• Help us achieve lasting change for ourselves.

• And by doing all of the above – CREATE HOPE.

Rotary helps create the conditions for peace, opportunity, and a future work living.

REFERENCES

Adams, Randal Speaking of Rotary. USA: E J Press

Dochterman, Cliff. The ABCs of Rotary Evanston, Illinois: Rotary International. (363-EN)

Forward, David C. A Century of Service. The Story of Rotary International. (912-EN)

Rotary Club of Hobart. The Rotary Book of Readings. Inspiration to Change the World.

Rotary International. Honoring Our Past: The Words and Wisdom of Paul Harris. Evanston, Illinois: 1996. (925-EN)

Rotary International. Rotary Basics Evanston, Illinois. (595-EN)

Rotary International News. Online.

Rotary Global History Fellowship <https://www.facebook.com/RotaryGlobalHistoryFellowship/ >

Submissions from Club members and Social Media

Please send Club News and photos (with appropriate IDs) to Editor Kitty at ladykitt@gmail.com