DISTRICT 6960 SOUTHWEST FLORIDA July 2022
District 6960 Newsletter
MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT GOVERNOR NEIL SNYDER To my fellow Rotarians and friends, thank you for allowing me to serve as your District Governor. I am truly honored and humbled, and I look forward to an exciting year ahead. Imagine Rotary is the theme for this year. I ask you to take a moment to imagine the incredible things we can achieve through Rotary. Imagine a polio-free world. Imagine a world where everyone has access to clean water and sanitation. Imagine a world where no child wakes up hungry. I challenge you to strive to reach your full potential as a Rotarian, and I look forward to see what amazing things we accomplish together.
I am grateful for the strong leadership team we have, from our Governor-core and assistant governors, to our committee chairs, presidents and club leaders. Please join me once again in thanking Immediate Past District Governor Andy Lyman. Andy led our district to some amazing achievements built solidly on the foundation laid by our preceding district leaders. Together, I am positive that we can carry the momentum to another record-setting year. Each month I will highlight a different focus. This month’s focus is family. Family always comes first. I imagine a year ahead in which clubs will choose to involve partners, children and grandchildren in meetings and events. District Governor Nominee Kelsey Mitchell recently described a meeting to me in which the Rotary Club of Bonita Beach Sunset was led by her children, resulting in a more engaging meeting because of the youthful energy, and the opportunity for members to see firsthand the kids absorbing knowledge of Rotary and practicing service above self at such young ages. Just imagine. Starting at home and in our communities, Rotary offers people the opportunity to make a positive difference in the world. I look forward to working with you and providing you with the inspiration, resources and support you need to grow, engage and show others that we are People of Action. Please join me and imagine the possibilities! Yours in Rotary Service, Neil E. Snyder, District Governor 2022-23 Rotary International District 6960
President Jones imagines a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality while making the most of their club experiences.
MEET ROTARY'S FIRST
FEMALE PRESIDENT Rotary International President Jennifer Jones makes history as the first female to serve as President of Rotary. She is a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor Roseland, Ontario, Canada, and founder and president of Media Street Productions. She has served Rotary in a variety of roles, including vice president, director and Rotary Foundation trustee, strengthening Rotary’s reach and impact. During her year, Jones will focus on four presidential initiatives: advancing our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); creating a welcoming club experience; empowering girls; and expanding our reach.
2022-23 District 6960 Rotary Foundation Team
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Jim Hinck District Foundation Chair jameshinck@gmail.com
Happy New Year District 6960 Rotarians! My name is Jim Hinck and I am a proud member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte Harbor Sunset. I am honored and excited to be your new District 6960 Rotary Foundation Chair. Together we have an opportunity to do amazing things!
David Lusty, PDG District Global Grants Chair dlusty@gmail.com Julie Pedretti District Global Grants Chair-Elect jpedretti29@gmail.com Richard Hall District Grants Chair rhall@rhallcpa.com Cindy Cedeno District Grants Chair Elect ccedeno@finemarkbank.com Steve Schlueter, PDG District Legacy Gifts Chair stephen.schlueter@gmail.com Dr. Tam Mustapha, PDG District Major Gifts Chair tamtonm@yahoo.com Pam Akins, PDG District Paul Harris Society Chair pamakins@akinsmarketing.com Erik Elsea District Annual Fund Chair erikelsea@gmail.com Doug Smoot District Paul Harris Fellow Chair EREY Chair chipgator@gmail.com Suzanne Vasbinder District Major Donors Chair Rotary Direct Chair attitude2001@msn.com Eldon Bohrofen District Endowment Chair ebohrofen@rohdedales.com Tom Setchel District Fortune 500 Liaison tomsetchel@gmail.com Cheryl Willett District Polio Co-Chair cheryl@willettbusinessmgmt.com Richard Willett District Polio Co-Chair rich@weit-llc.com
By Jim Hinck, District 6960 Rotary Foundation Chair
First, join me in congratulating last year's Foundation team directed by District Governor-Elect (DGE) Alfred Current under the leadership of Immediate Past District Governor Andy Lyman. They led our district to a record-breaking year. With your generosity, we reached a highwater mark in total giving, topping $1,500,000. While this achievement sets the bar very high, I am positive we will keep the momentum and continue to do good in the world. My personal thanks go to the dedicated and hardworking District Foundation team members for an outstanding 202122 Rotary year: PDG Pam Akins, PDG Steve Schlueter, PDG Rich Kirschner, PDG David Lusty, Richard Hall, Steve Bordes and last but certainly not least outgoing District Foundation Chair Alfred. Fortunately, DGE Alfred, as part of the governor core, will continue to work closely with the Foundation team, providing a valuable resource as I transition into the District Rotary Foundation Chair role and we embark on great achievements in support to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) this Rotary year. While the bar is set high, we have a dynamic group of team members. I am confident we will continue to build upon our district's success.
TRF programs we are incorporating into this year's initiatives include: Rotary Direct - Fill it, sign it, send it and forget it! The easy way to make your contribution to TRF. Annual Fund - Contributions to the Annual Fund are directly tied to the amount of money District 6960 receives for grants. This is the fuel that runs our club projects. Charitable Gift Annuities - Make a gift to a charitable annuity, receive income, tax benefits PLUS Paul Harris fellow credit. Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) - It only takes a minimum contribution of $25 per Rotarian for a club to earn this status. Paul Harris Society - Both members and clubs are eligible with an annual commitment of $1,000. We will have a Foundation workshop on August 13, 2022. Registration will open soon on the DACdb calendar, so watch your email inbox and next month’s newsletter for more details. The Foundation team will have all the normal resources available throughout the year, plus more for information for you to expand your knowledge of our incredible Rotary Foundation.
FOUNDATION, MEMBERSHIP & PUBLIC IMAGE WORKSHOP
ROTARY'S
Areas of Focus
CALLING ALL
PUBLIC IMAGE
MEMBERSHIP
is telling
CHAIRS
ROTARY STORY
YOUR
Gerard Sola District Membership Chair
Susan Courter District Public Image Chair
I am thrilled to be serving my second year as your District Membership Chair. We had a phenomenal 2021-22 Rotary year, adding four new clubs and leading Zone 34 in membership growth.
Rotary’s public image is shaped by the actions of each of its members, as well as by its involvement in the community, its presence on the web and social media, and the publications it produces. Much like membership, enhancing your club's public image is the responsibility of every member, not just the public image chair or the club leaders.
I want all club membership chairs to be aware of the resources at your disposal to help engage and grow your club. For starters, I would love to be invited to speak to your club and let your members know how they are an integral part of the club's strategy, and that each Rotarian can contribute to development and retention efforts.
The district public image team is here to teach you how to utilize public image tools to tell your Rotary story in a way that promotes awareness of Rotary’s work locally and around the world.
LITERACY SPIRIT AWARDS What do Dr. Seuss, the Bonita Springs Charter School and the Rotary Club of Bonita Naples have in common? A passion for engaging children in reading and learning.
You’re never too old, Too wacky, too wild, To pick up a book And read to a child. Dr. Seuss
On June 23, 10 literacy ambassadors were recognized with the Spirit of Service Award for their contributions to the Books For Kids literacy program. These ambassadors are the hearts and souls of the local literacy programs and have spent over 240 hours throughout the year doing the work that makes the Books For Kids program so successful. The recipients include literacy ambasadors Bob and Ingrid Bornstein, John Wharton, Janet Benedetto, Sue Lankton Rivas, Terri Mireault, Joanne Ziccarelli, Brad Robinson, Marilyn Nor and supporting ambassador Jim Fabry.
In photo, from left: John Wharton, club President 2021-22, Jim Fabry, club President 2020-21, Marilyn Nor, Terri Mireault, PDG Brad Robinson, Ingrid Bornstein, Bob Bornstein and Dee Fabry
Meet the
District Governor Core
Neil Snyder 2022-23
Alfred Current 2023-24
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE RETURNS By Tony Mendes, Assistant Governor, RYE Chair
Kelsey Mitchell 2024-25
Andy Lyman 2021-22
District Governors (DG) act as officers of Rotary International, fostering achievement in their district at the club level. Past, present and future DGs work cohesively to develop and execute a multi-year strategic plan. The continuity of leadership and adaptable succession plan allows for a fluid leadership transition and builds a stable platform for success in the district.
The District 6960 Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program is back this year, with five long-term exchange students and one short-term (summer) exchange student. The long-term students will study abroad for one academic year in one of these countries: Japan, Turkey, Brazil, Spain and Germany. The short-term summer exchange student travels to France in August. While these students are spreading peace worldwide through Rotary, the district also has inbound students from Uganda, Turkey, India, Austria and France. They will experience the local culture while living here. District 6960 is one of only a handful of districts participating in RYE after the program was paused by Rotary International during the pandemic. The district is developing a strong committee of volunteers committed to growing RYE year after year.
Rotary Youth Exchange provides an amazing opportunity for students to participate in and learn about other cultures, which is something that is also of interest to many Rotarians. The RYE team is looking for clubs to invite them to speak at an upcoming meeting about youth exchange and the value it brings to clubs and members. They are also seeking clubs to participate in the program in years to come. Opportunities include: Club participation by hosting and/or sponsoring students. Become a host family for an inbound student. Become a volunteer to help students once they arrive. Become a Youth Exchange Counselor or Youth Exchange Officer for the club. Welcome arriving inbound students at the airport when they arrive this summer.
Click here to email Tony Mendes, District 6960 RYE Chair, for more information and to get involved in RYE today.
rotarydistrict6960.org
PEOPLE OF ACTION Environment: Rotary's 7th Area of Focus
MICROFOREST
The Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay shows their community how they are People of Action. The Rotary Club of Sarasota Bay recently installed its fourth high-performance microforest at Colony Cove in Manatee County as part of Sarasota Urban ReForesters (SURF), a partnership with Florida Veterans for Common Sense and Solutions to Avoid Red Tide. SURF converts turf into dense native forests that sequester atmospheric CO2 to abate climate change and divert stormwater runoff to prevent flooding and pollution.
The process uses a rewilding strategy developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, who discovered how to make forests grow exceptionally fast by planting trees and shrubs very close to each other; this creates competition that drives the plants quickly skyward “into a hundred-year forest in just 10 years.” The club's partner, New College, calculates the carbon capture. As with their earlier forests, the plants were installed by Rotarians and community members working together and learning that each of us has the capacity to combat the climate crisis.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT! Watch for small areas of mowed urban or suburban land not slated for development. These could become Rotary-sponsored microforests. Click here to watch a video to learn more about the approach.
ZONE 34 PUBLIC IMAGE WEBINAR SERIES Every month the Zone 34 public image (PI) team hosts a webinar on a timely and relevant subject.
These webinars are open to anyone interested in learning about new ideas, strategies and tips that can be used to successfully tell Rotary’s story. This month, you'll meet the Zone 34 PI team, hear the PI plan for the year and learn lots of great ways to help make your year absolutely stellar! It's good stuff that you won't want to miss!
Click here to register for the July 25th webinar.
of the
Photos by Donald Haake Photography. Visit www.donaldhaakephotography.com/district-dinner-09-july-2022 to view and download event photos. For more information and a list of award recipients, visit rotarydistrict6960.org.