International
ROTARY DISTRICT 6330 FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER
NOVEMBER
2024
Rotary International President for 2024-25, Stephanie Urchick, highlights her initiatives in 2024-25, including championing the Action Plan and promoting Rotary’s peacebuilding initiatives.
RI President Stephanie urges all members to “grow the Magic of Rotary by adding new members to our Rotary family and providing wonderful experiences to those already involved.”
“Unlock the Magic of Rotary by unlocking the power of women and girls. Advance the Magic of Rotary by fundraising to help change the world.”
“Together, we can make every club and every district ‘simply irresistible. ’”
Click this link to view several videos from the 2024 Singapore Convention including RI President Stephanie and RI President-elect Mário César Martins de Camargo
Rotary
President 2024-25, Stephanie Urchick, (Pennsylvania, USA) District 6330 Governor, Katherine Hahn (RC of Stratford, ON) TRF Newsletter Editor – Kitty Bucsko (RC of D6330 Passport)
RI PRESIDENT Stephanie Urchick
1 Editor Kitty Bucsko
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT NOVEMBER 2024 MESSAGE
A solid Foundation
One of Rotary’s greatest strengths is the ability of our members to come together to create lasting change, and The Rotary Foundation helps us transform dreams of change into reality.
From eradicating polio to building peace, much of the work we do around the world would not be possible without our continued support of our Foundation.
The cause of peace is especially important to me, and one of the most effective ways we build peace is our Rotary Peace Fellowship – a product of The Rotary Foundation. The program helps current and aspiring peace and development professionals around the world learn how to prevent and how to end conflict.
Thanks to a $15.5 million gift from the Otto and Fran Walter Foundation, we can continue supporting peacebuilders in more regions with the next Rotary Peace Center, at Bahçeşehir University in Istanbul.
Opening yet another peace center is a monumental achievement that we will celebrate at the 2025 Rotary Presidential Peace Conference in Istanbul.
The three-day conference 20-22 February will highlight the many ways our family of Rotary advocates for peace. Keynote speakers, panel discussions, and breakout sessions will allow us to share ideas about building peace and foster meaningful conversations about promoting peace everywhere.
Registration for the Presidential Peace Conference is open. I hope to see you there, but if you can’t make it, our Foundation offers to many ways to change the world for the better. November is Rotary Foundation Month, a great time to get to know your Foundation better and pursue causes that appeal to you.
Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s areas of focus. By working together to respond to pressing community needs, clubs and districts strengthen their global partnerships.
District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and in communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants.
Our Foundation can even help you support our wonderful youth programs, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Interact
Your gifts to our Foundation also make Programs of Scale possible. These are long-term projects that seek to solve otherwise intractable problems.
To ensure these good works continue beyond our lifetimes, it is up to us to reach our ambitious Rotary Endowment goal of $2,025 billion by 30 June 2025.
The Magic of Rotary does not appear out of nowhere. We create the magic with every new member inducted, every project completed, and every dollar donated to our Foundation.
Please join me in supporting The Rotary Foundation, and together, we will change the world for the better.
STEPHANIE A. URCHICK PRESIDENT, ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
2024-25
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
NOVEMBER 2024 - MESSAGE
In our hearts and hands
There are as many reasons to join Rotary as there are members. Most join for experiences – new friendship, expanding professional circles, or putting Service Above Self into action to create impact.
Rotary delivers on all of these, often simultaneously. Through our Rotary Foundation, Rotary also has a knack for offering unexpected experiences and new opportunities that open doors and change lives.
I learned this firsthand at age 30 when I served as president of the Rotary Club of Decatur, Alabama. That year, my wife and I sought out the chance to try something new: attending the 1985 Rotary International Convention in Kansas City, Missouri. There, we witnessed the dawn of PolioPlus and met members from different backgrounds, realizing we were part of a global family.
Later that year, I learned that a Rotary Group Study Exchange team from Nigeria was scheduled to visit Alabama, but Decatur was not on the agenda. After making a few calls, we soon welcomed the Nigerian team into our home. It was an incredible and unexpected experience.
Before the group departed, the team leader recommended me to lead the six-member team from Alabama that would visit Nigeria the following year, which I did. There, I met people whose lives had been impacted by polio, including several family members of our hosts. I learned that polio reaches its victims across borders, economies, and religions.
That Foundation program – Group Study Exchange – opened my eyes to what Rotary is and what it can do. Taking part in the exchange set me on a path for new friendship and opportunities to serve on multiple continents.
Just as The Rotary Foundation has enriched my Rotary life, it can do the same for you. This month, during Rotary Foundation Month, I invite you to explore new Foundation experiences.
Look for ways you and your club can support Foundation-led efforts like polio eradication, disaster response, or the Rotary Peace Centers. Get involved in global grant or district grant projects. And if you have never had the experience of giving to our Foundation, I invite you to join other Rotary members as a Foundation donor. Your support will mean the world to both Rotary members who want to help and to the individuals and communities who need it.
The Rotary Foundation is not a place or a building. It is an experience, one that lives in our hearts and hands as we do good in the world. The Rotary Foundation is all of us.
MARK DANIEL MALONEY
Foundation Trustee Chair, 2024-25
District website: https://rotary6330.org/
District 6330 Governor 2024-25
Katherine Hahn
Rotary Club of Stratford
With World Polio Day behind us, DON’T STOP! We must support polio throughout the year!
Despite World Polio Day having passed for this year, we have to keep Polio as a priority if we are to be successful in eradicating it from our planet.
Earlier, DG Katherine wrote –
Thank you for your continued dedication to raising awareness about Rotary's Polio Eradication efforts.
DG Katherine also created an 11-minute video presentation that every D6330 Rotarian should see.
Please feel free to incorporate the video into your meetings and share throughout the year. Polio eradication is an ongoing effort!
Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/Wja7mSyIIIE
KEEP THE FIGHT ALIVE!
There is still time and opportunity for those who might wish to contribute to DG Katherine’s “Plummeting for Polio – Drop to Zero” effort. To contribute, please click here
Of course, you can donate through the site endpolionow.org. Click here. All donations made will receive a ta receipt.
Dear Rotarians!
Imagine a world where every drop of water is a promise of life! This is the Magic of Rotary!
YOU are the MAGIC OF ROTARY!
Have you ever envisioned a thriving community sustained by the gift of clean water?
GG # 2235005 - Tuilan Rainwater Harvester Project
Southampton Rotary, in collaboration with Rotary Hand Up, is excited to announce that work has been completed on a $54,600 water project in Guatemala, made possible by the receipt of a generous global grant of $34,000 CAD from the Rotary Foundation that the club has been working on for the past 18 months.
• The Hand Up Clubs have contributed $20,600 to this project.
• As well as writing the grant application and leading the project on behalf of Hand Up, the Rotary Club of Southampton made a direct cash contribution of $2,000 CAD towards this vital endeavour.
Check out this YouTube slide show about the project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V_6llmDu2MI
GG2346063 – Amigos de Santa Cruz Economic Development Project
This $40,600 USD project is completed, and the final report is being drafted. The NGO Amigos de Santa Cruz have been most successful in providing the training and provisions for allowing up to 50 women to start or expand their own businesses.
Many of these women are illiterate and required training in business practices and financial management. Their children were beneficiaries because they could now attend school.
GG2459764 – Santa Cruz la Laguna Literacy Project
In Santa Cruz la Laguna, Guatemala, the vast majority of students are 2 to 3 grade levels behind their peers by the time they graduate from grade 6! Thanks to a recent Global Grant, 90 children from preschool to grade 6 are now attending a new tutoring program.
The grant is also funding teacher training, the installation of solar power into the school and a new Children's Community Library. The library books have arrived, and the students, quite literally, could not wait to start reading them!
The Rotary Club of Watford is working with Lake Atitlan and the Amigos de Santa Cruz on a GG for Economic Development in Santa Cruz. It will train entrepreneurs in business courses and sustainable businesses. We are just awaiting authorization on the GG so that it can be submitted.
The Rotary Club of Northern Bruce Peninsula has agreed to be the international partner with the Guatemala La Reforma Rotary Club in partnership with the Fundación del Agua (Funcagua), which would provide the students and teachers with a sustainable source of water. This project will be carried out in several schools and health clinics. The Fundación del Agua is an organization that has experience and expertise in installing the Water collection systems and is trusted by the Rotary Club in Guatemala.
We are only at the beginning stages, and we are waiting for more information prior to preparing the proposal for the global grant.
Let’s join hands to make a difference. Your support can turn dreams of clean water into reality!
THE HAND UP COMMITTEE NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT
The dedicated group of Rotarians who belong to the Hand Up Committee will make the international connections, write the grant applications, and visit the completed projects. We will report back to your clubs and let you know exactly how your money has been spent. Your generous contribution not only transforms lives but also counts towards Paul Harris points.
Donations from individuals are also welcome and would be eligible for a tax receipt in both the U.S and Canada. Cheques in either US or Canadian Funds, payable to “Rotary Hand UP” may be mailed to:
Bob Carson 525 9th St. E. Owen Sound, ON N4K 1P4 Canada
If you would like a club presentation on the Hand Up projects, one of our Team will be pleased to join you for a virtual or in-person presentation.
Thank you for considering these worthy projects.
On behalf of the Hand Up Team, the Magic of Rotary at work!
PDG Nancy Ottewell
Rotary Club of 6330 Passport
Bob Carson
Rotary Club of Wiarton Chair, Hand Up Committee Treasurer, Hand Up Committee nottewell@gmail.com robert.g.carson99@gmail.com 519-376-4476 519-371-1632
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION & GRANTS
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT GRANTS IN DISTRICT 6330 –
Find the information on the home page (rotary6330.org) under the Learning tab -
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION IN DISTRICT 6330 -
Find the information on the home page under the Rotary Foundation tab -
ROTARY’S FOCUS - MONTH OF NOVEMBER THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Dear Rotarians!
Thank you!! for giving to The Rotary Foundation!
Together, with your support, we funded 1,285 global grants, 485 district grants, and 105 disaster response grants in 202324.
Donors like you make this work possible. Your generosity helped us raise more than US$417 million for our Foundation, which will continue to help communities around the world thrive through life-changing, sustainable projects.
Thanks to you, Rotary members can continue to work toward solving some of the world’s most complex problems, such as improving people’s health, supporting high-quality education, protecting the environment, and aiding communities affected by disasters.
We accomplish this while remaining committed to eradicating polio to make sure children are free forever from its devastating effects.
With your support, we can continue to unite and take action to create lasting change.
Your donations make Doing Good in the World possible.
Thank you Rotarians!! for strengthening your own community and communities everywhere.
Sincerely, The Rotary Foundation
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
What's the Paul Harris Society?
Not to be confused with a Paul Harris Fellow (which means a life-time gift of $1000 to The Rotary Foundation's annual fund), the Paul Harris Society is the name given to those Rotarians who pledge a $1000 gift annually –every year
You may know these committed individuals they wear a "flag" below their Rotary pin that reads "PHS."
One easy way to give at the $1000 level is through Rotary Direct sign up and an amount of money you designate is automatically deducted from your account each month. Learn more at www.rotary.org.
Members of the Paul Harris Society know that the need never ends -- and neither should the giving.
D6330 Long-time Paul Harris Society Chair is Rotarian Jamie Pole.
What your giving supports
Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide:
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali
In District 6330 we are proud of the generous members in our Paul Harris Society.
We have over 32 of our clubs that now have members in the Paul Harris Society.
Rotarian Jamie Pole President, RC of Sarnia (2024-25)
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
You are invited to join!
Dear Fellow Rotarians!
How recently have you thought about positive outcomes with money you invested with The Rotary Foundation?
A special group - You are invited to join a special group of Rotarians dedicated to making a significant impact on our communities and the world.
The Paul Harris Society recognizes members who contribute $1,000 or more each year to any combination of the following:
• Annual Fund-SHARE
• Annual Fund-World Fund
• Annual Fund-Areas of focus
• PolioPlus Fund
• Disaster Response Fund
• Disasters of Magnitude
• Approved global grants
For under $3 a day you can join the Paul Harris Society.
• You can fulfill your Paul Harris Society commitment gradually during the Rotary year.
• An immediate $1,000 contribution is NOT required at the time of enrollment.
It is your donations that allow our clubs, your club, and Rotarians around the world to -
• provide clean water
• prevent disease
• save mothers and children
• promote peace
• fund projects
• support education, and
• stimulate economic development
We as Rotarians are in the business of changing lives!
I encourage you to consider becoming a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Will you be joining the PHS members of our District 6330?
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Paul Harris Society Coordinator, District 6330 – Jamie Pole!
Rotarian Jamie Pole President, RC of Sarnia (2024-25)
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CANADA
The Rotary Foundation has received numerous accolades and recognitions for its contributions to humanitarian work, particularly in the areas of disease prevention, education, peacebuilding, and clean water. Here are a few notable accolades:
1. Four-Star Rating from Charity Navigator: The Rotary Foundation has consistently received the highest rating of four stars from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S. This rating reflects the Foundation's excellent financial health, accountability, and transparency.
2. Recognition from the World Health Organization (WHO): The Rotary Foundation, through its involvement in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, has been recognized by the WHO for its instrumental role in reducing global polio cases by 99.9% since its involvement began in the 1980s.
3. Recognition from the United Nations: The Rotary Foundation has been a key partner in several UN initiatives, especially in global peacebuilding and promoting literacy and education. Rotary’s ongoing support of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has earned it positive recognition within the international community.
4. Paul Harris Fellow Awards: While not an external accolade, the Rotary Foundation’s own Paul Harris Fellow recognition, named after Rotary’s founder, is a prestigious award that recognizes substantial contributions to the Foundation, and many prominent figures have been awarded this honor.
THE ANNUAL FUND
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
We need your help!
Your donations to the Rotary Annual Fund aren't just financial contributions; they are investments in humanity.
Here’s what your support enables:
Sustainable Development Projects: Rotary supports initiatives that provide clean water, sanitation, education, and healthcare to underserved communities, improving their quality of life for generations to come.
Disaster Response and Recovery: Your contributions help Rotary provide immediate relief and long-term recovery in regions affected by natural disasters, from delivering emergency supplies to rebuilding schools and homes.
Promoting Peace and Conflict Resolution: By funding peace fellowships and conflict resolution programs, you empower future leaders who work on global peacebuilding efforts and foster understanding across cultures and borders.
Eradicating Disease: Rotary’s fight against polio, through the PolioPlus program, has brought us closer than ever to eradicating this devastating disease, while other global health initiatives focus on combating malaria, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health challenges.
Youth and Leadership Programs: Your donations provide educational scholarships, leadership training, and life-changing experiences for young people, equipping them to become compassionate leaders and active global citizens.
Environmental Sustainability: Rotary is also committed to protecting the environment, with projects focused on climate action, reforestation, and sustainable farming practices that contribute to a healthier planet.
Your kindness creates real, measurable improvements.
Access to clean water and proper sanitation leads to healthier communities
Medical care and vaccines help eliminate diseases like polio.
Economic development initiatives bring new opportunities where they’re needed most.
All of this, and much more, is made possible through your financial support.
Join us in transforming lives across the globe. Every contribution, no matter the amount, has the potential to create lasting impact. Together, we can accomplish remarkable things.
Donate to the Rotary Annual Fund today and become part of a global movement dedicated to making the world a better place for everyone.
Summary of new polioviruses this week, cases and positive environmental isolates:
• Afghanistan: one wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case and 10 WPV1-positive environmental samples
• Pakistan: seven WPV1 cases and one WPV1-positive environmental sample
• Chad: three circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases and two cVDPV2positive environmental samples
• Djibouti: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Niger: once cVDPV2 case and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Nigeria: five cVDPV2 cases
Gaza outbreak response: While the second round of the Gaza outbreak response was implemented in key areas, in northern Gaza the activity has been postponed amid escalating conflict and impeded access. More.
Polio anywhere is a threat everywhere – Click here for an op-ed by Anne Wafula Strike, Paralympian and polio survivor.
World Polio Day 2024 may be over for another year, but
THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY
Join the PolioPlus Society in your club or in District 6330.
Donations are matched annually 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation up to US$50 million, generating a potential total of US$150 million toward polio eradication.
Raise awareness in your community by planning events or projects that support the fight against polio.
Visit endpolio.org to find the latest information and tools to help you share the story of our fight against polio and raise support.
Ending this disease forever remains our top humanitarian priority and needs our full commitment.
Click here to view a thank you video from Bill Gates.
How can you take action? Donate to End Polio
The Long Goodbye
This report is the 23rd Report of the Independent Monitoring Board of the GPEI.
You can read the full report herehttps://polioeradication.org/wpcontent/uploads/2024/09/23rd-IMB-Report-20240922.pdf
For anyone interested in the polio eradication efforts, this report is one of a number that might be considered “must read.”
Some statistics shocking, perhaps can be discovered in this report:
There is mention of “orphan” viruses. Here is an explanation –
An orphan virus refers to a virus that has been detected in an environment or within individuals, but the source of its infection, particularly from a known outbreak or transmission chain, cannot be traced. In the context of polio, orphan viruses are typically strains of the vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV) that show no direct link to other known cases of poliovirus infection in the region, suggesting either undetected transmission or long-term silent circulation of the virus.
Orphan polioviruses are particularly concerning because their presence indicates that the virus has been circulating in the environment for an extended period without being detected, which suggests gaps in immunization and surveillance efforts. These viruses can mutate from the weakened strains used in the oral polio vaccine (OPV) and evolve into a form capable of causing paralysis, especially in under-immunized populations (wfaa.com) (NBER)
The discovery of orphan viruses often indicates that the virus is silently spreading in communities with insufficient vaccination coverage. This highlights the critical need for comprehensive surveillance and immunization to prevent further outbreaks.
Here are some links to further reading –
https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/a-baby-in-gaza-has-a-strain-of-polio-linked-to-mistakes-in-eradicationcampaign-experts-say-1.7018894 (below)
https://www.science.org/content/article/unqualified-failure-polio-vaccine-policy-left-thousands-kids-paralyzed (below)
https://apnews.com/article/polio-vaccine-gaza-baby-225d4997a8dec1b2ce7d91711ee3d47d (below)
Polio was eliminated from most parts of the world as part of a decades-long effort by the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to wipe out the disease. But polio is one of the world’s most infectious diseases and is still spreading in a small number of countries. The WHO and its partners want to eradicate polio in the next few years.
Until it is gone from the planet, the virus will continue to trigger outbreaks anywhere children are not fully vaccinated. The recent polio infection in an unvaccinated baby in Gaza is the first time the disease has been reported in the territory in more than 25 years
Renewing the fight against Polio
By Deepak Kapur
(This article appeared in the October issue of Rotary News at rotarynewsonline.org.)
The occurrence of two Vaccine Derived Polio VDPV) cases in India has alarmed all of us. India has been free of the wild polio virus (WPV) since January 14, 2011. The two WPV endemic countries in the world are Pakistan with 17 cases and Afghanistan with 18 cases to date.
Unfortunately, VDPV cases are prevalent in many parts of the world. A new vaccine, nOPV has helped address outbreaks of VDPV. But the job is not yet done. It is time that all Rotarians rededicate themselves to Rotary’s goal of a polio-free world, which is very much in sight. From more than 350,000 cases globally of wild polio, we are down to just 35. The end of the dreaded wild polio virus is very much on the horizon.
The National Polio Surveillance Project (NPSP) is conducting special surveillance of immunodeficient children, who are at enhanced risk of contracting polio in Kerala, Himachel Pradesh, Meghalaya, etc. This is the unique surveillance activity in India. The detection of the variant polio in an immunodeficient child each in Kerala and Shimla (Himachel Pradesh) is not too alarming a development, since this is to be expected in such children whose bodies do not make antibodies even after administration of the vaccine. Such children, unfortunately, do not normally live beyond two years of ag. The variant case detected in Meghalaya has presented with ambiguous VDPV.
The biggest dangers in India are:
• Possibility of importation of the WPV from Pakistan and Afghanistan
• Possibility of importation and circulation of VDPV2
• Sub-optional immunization levels in 270 revenue districts across the country. The national average of polio immunisation is around 90 per cent, which still leaves 20 per cent of the cohort of 26 million children who have never received a dose of the polio vaccine.
• Missed new-born children (out of annual 25 million) who have not received the birth dose
• Several pockets in various parts of the country where immunization levels are well below the national average of 90 per cent. NPSP is currently making a list of such pockets, which would be shared with Rotary once it is ready
• The national average of 90 per cent immunization is likely to be diluted by migrants from Myanmar, Bangladesh, etc.
Rotarians in India must concentrate on keeping the wild polio virus out. We must work in collaboration with the government and our partners – WHO, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and GAVI to keep our immunization levels at 100 per cent, so that no child falls prey to the vaccine derived polio virus. To do this, we should go back i=to the principles that we have so efficiently employed in the past. Collaborate with the government at the state and district level to achieve 100 per cent immunization, meet regularly with the partners at the state and district level for concerted action; keep up our advocacy efforts with political and religious leaders and bureaucrats, and set up immunization booths on NIDs and SNIDs.
PRID Michael McGovern, Chair of the International PolioPlus Committee has constituted an Ad Hoc India National PolioPlus Operations Committee to help districts in India face the challenge posed by polio. Let us resolve to not fritter away the gains from the domestic program that we have made in trying to eradicate polio
from the world. We must keep up the promise of a polio-free world that we have made to the children of the world. (The writer is chairman of the India National PolioPlus Committee.)
And finally, the 23rd report – GPEI progress
https://polioeradication.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/23rd-IMB-Report-20240922.pdf (below)
You can read the entire report here
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION Recognition Levels
Paul Harris Fellow (PHF): Recognition for each $1,000 donated to The Rotary Foundation. After the initial Paul Harris Fellow recognition, for every additional $1,000, you achieve new levels:
• PHF Level 2 = $2,000
• PHF Level 3 = $3,000
• … and so on, until PHF Level 8 for $9,000.
Major Donor: Once total donations reach $10,000, you become a Major Donor. The levels are as follows:
• Major Donor Level 1: $10,000 to $24,999
• Major Donor Level 2: $25,000 to $49,999
• Major Donor Level 3: $50,000 to $99,999
• Major Donor Level 4: $100,000 to $249,999
Arch Klumph Society
The Arch Klumph Society is for those who contribute $250,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation. There are several recognition tiers within the Arch Klumph Society:
• Trustees Circle: $250,000 to $499,999.
• Chair's Circle: $500,000 to $999,999.
• Foundation Circle: $1,000,000 to $2,499,999.
• Platinum Trustees Circle: $2,500,000 to $4,999,999.
• Platinum Chair's Circle: $5,000,000 to $9,999,999.
• Platinum Foundation Circle: $10,000,000 and above.
Each level of the Arch Klumph Society comes with special recognition, including listing the donor's name in Rotary's Arch Klumph Society interactive gallery and personalized pins and medallions. These higher recognition levels honor extraordinary generosity toward the foundation, and donors at these levels are often key contributors to major global projects and initiatives.
Legacy Society
When you promise a gift of $1 million or more to the Endowment, you’ll be listed in Rotary’s annual report and invited to exclusive Rotary International and Foundation events. Legacy Society members also receive special recognition items, and all the benefits provided to Bequest Society members.
Click here to view a very short video - a few Arch Klumph members on why they donate.
FOUNDATION GRANTS – 7 AREAS OF FOCUS
Rotarians can get involved in various types of service –
Club Service, Community Service, International Service, Vocational Service, New Generations (Youth) Service
A list of Rotary's 7 areas of focus and a brief description of each:
1. Peacebuilding and conflict prevention: Rotary aims to address the root causes of conflict and promote sustainable peace through initiatives that support education and training, promote community dialogue, and build networks of peacebuilders.
2. Disease prevention and treatment: Rotary works to improve health outcomes and reduce the spread of disease through initiatives that promote immunization, provide access to clean water and sanitation, and support medical research.
3. Water and sanitation: Rotary aims to improve access to clean water and sanitation in underserved communities, through initiatives that promote infrastructure development, support education and training, and raise awareness about the importance of clean water and sanitation.
4. Maternal and child health: Rotary works to improve maternal and child health outcomes by supporting initiatives that provide access to prenatal and postnatal care, promote vaccination, and support nutrition and education programs for mothers and children.
5. Basic education and literacy: Rotary aims to improve access to education and literacy for children and adults, through initiatives that support teacher training, provide educational resources and materials, and promote community-based programs that increase literacy rates.
6. Economic and community development: Rotary works to support economic and community development initiatives that promote job creation, increase access to financial services, and support small business development and entrepreneurship.
7. Supporting the environment: Rotary aims to support environmental sustainability initiatives, through programs that promote conservation, improve access to clean energy, and support the development of sustainable agriculture and other eco-friendly practices.
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE (plus links)
Saturday, November 2
International Day to end impunity for crimes against journalists
Tuesday, November 5
World Tsunami Awareness Day
9 to 15 November
International Week of Science and Peace
Sunday, November 10
World Science Day for Peace and Development
Thursday, November 14
World Diabetes Day
Saturday, November 16
International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO)
18 to 24 November
World Antimicrobial Resistance Week (WHO)
Monday, November 18
World Day for Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence
Tuesday, November 19
World Toilet Day
Wednesday, November 20
World Children’s Day
Monday, November 25
International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
Tuesday, November 26
World Sustainable Transport Day
Why do we mark International Days?
International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances.
ROTARY’S FOUR-WAY TEST
The Rotary Four-Way Test is a simple yet profound guide for ethical decision-making in all areas of life.
It challenges us to consider four key questions before we speak or act!
These questions encourage us to prioritize honesty, fairness, and the well-being of others in our choices, reminding us that our actions have an impact on the wider community.
The test is more than just words!
It is a moral compass for creating a more thoughtful, compassionate, and just world.
Click the 4-way test above and open the link to hear the Four-Way Test by RC of Saskatoon Nutana
FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER
December is Rotary’s Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
As the charitable arm of Rotary International, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace.
Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.
• Remember Giving Tuesday, December 3, 2024 – and support our Foundation.
• Sanitation and hygiene are key to disease prevention and good health. (Don’t forget World Toilet Day on November 19!)
Click here to listen to We are the World.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION EREY
– Every Rotarian Every Year
Click here for a short video.
Our Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to contribute something each year to The Rotary Foundation. We hope that you can consider at least $100 USD every year to help us reach our goal to support the Rotary Foundation financially each year
Sustaining member. 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.
ROTARY BEQUEST SOCIETY
What is a Rotary Foundation Bequest Society Member?
Those who have made commitments for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation are invited to join the Bequest Society.
Donors may elect to receive various benefits and recognition pieces commemorating their commitment at each new recognition level, including pins, crystals, named funds, and special seating at the Rotary International Convention.
A bequest gift of at least $10,000 in your name to The Rotary Foundation creates a legacy of your generosity and compassion as you are helping many people live better lives around the world.
Today there are over 18,000 Bequest Society Members worldwide. Will you join them by leaving a gift to Rotary in your estate? Contact the Rotary Foundation’s Planned Giving team
Your in-person registration includes a full day of activities:
• Admission to the convention’s opening and closing ceremonies, general sessions, breakout sessions, and the House of Friendship.
• Transportation between your hotel and the convention venue, if you booked your hotel through Rotary’s official housing partner, Maritz Events.
What’s not included:
• Preconvention events
• Rotary- and host-ticketed events
• Housing, meals, and transportation to and from the airport
• If you register as Saturday, House of Friendship only, anything other than access to the House of Friendship on Saturday, 21 June, is not included
Cancellations and refunds
Should you need to cancel a registration, a $50 processing fee applies to each registrant (each person). Requests to cancel registrants or Rotary-ticketed events must be received in writing by 30 April 2025. Cancellations caused by visa denial must be received in writing by 25 June 2025.
We prefer you cancel online, but you can also email ri.registration@rotary.org or fax +1-847-556-2194.
RI will refund registration and ticket fees if the convention is cancelled but is not responsible for travel or other related costs incurred by Rotarians and their guests.
Registration and tickets are not transferable.
But no -
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. 2 2 Author unknown