Rotary District 6960 News - Nov2022

MESSAGE FROM DISTRICT GOVERNOR NEIL SNYDER

November kicks off a season of celebrations when we spend weeks preparing for and enjoying the holidays It’s also when we cherish time with family and friends and reflect on all of the things we have in our lives for which we are grateful

For me, I am thankful for my Rotary family who has inspired me more over the last few months than ever before Watching Rotarians spend countless hours responding to the devastation left by Hurricane Ian makes me proud beyond measure to be a part of this organization I am reminded that in Rotary, together, anything is possible. We are Rotary strong and District 6960 proud and resilient. I’m looking forward to all that we will accomplish together in 2023.

This month is Rotary Foundation month. As we transition our relief efforts to recovery and repair, The Rotary Foundation plays an important role in supporting the work we have left to do. On Giving Tuesday, November 29, if you are moved to donate, I hope you will consider a gift to our Foundation and/or rotaryfl.org to support these efforts and other humanitarian projects.

I hope you and your family have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday.

Neil E. Snyder, Esq.

District Governor 2022-23

Rotary International District 6960

CELEBRATING MEMBERSHIP

By: Gerard Sola, District Membership Chair

It is time to celebrate! With great excitement, the district membership team would like to announce that for the first time in many years, District 6960 has surpassed a membership count of 2,400 Rotarians!

This is a major accomplishment for the district. Last Rotary year, on July 1, 2021, the district membership was 2,195 members. Today, almost 1.5 years later, we are currently sitting at 2,402 members. This is a net increase of 206 new Rotarians. Let's ensure that we celebrate each new member we come into contact with and welcome these amazing community leaders to the best organization in the world! Thank you to all of the clubs, membership chairs and Rotarians who worked diligently at membership development this year. Additionally, thank you for being focused on "closing the back door” and retaining existing club members. Membership retention is critical and should remain a key initiative for each and every club.

As your District Membership Chair, I continue to present to and work with clubs. Thank you to the Rotary Club of Estero for the recent invitation to speak to the club members. If you would like to schedule a presentation or Zoom meeting to discuss your club's membership status, plan and goals, please reach out to me Gerard Sola@Yahoo.com or 239 339 3489.

Meet the 2,400th Rotarian of District 6960, Nathaniel "Nate" Perez. Nate is a member of the Rotary Club of Cape Coral Sunset. The photo above shows Nate smiling happily, alongside his sponsor, Suzanne Vasbinder, at his induction celebration

Congratulations and thank you to Nate, Suzanne and ALL of the Rotarians who continue to help our wonderful organization grow and thrive. The more members we have, the more amazing things Rotary can do, so let's keep up the great work as we move toward our next milestone.

Stephanie Urchick, of the Rotary Club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, will serve as President of Rotary International for 2024 25, making her only the second woman to hold that position Stephanie has served Rotary in many roles, including as a director, Foundation trustee, and chair of the RI Strategic Planning Committee and the Foundation’s Centennial Celebration Committee ShecurrentlyservesontheElectionReviewCommitteeandthe Operations Review Committee Professionally, she is partner and chief operatingofficerofDoctorsatWorkLLC,aconsultingandtrainingcompany

She is active on numerous community boards and committees, and has been honored by organizations including Zonta International and the Sons oftheAmericanRevolution

Foundation Update

By: Jim Hinck

District 6960 Foundation Chair

November is here and that means Foundation month in Rotary. We are in the midst of our Annual Fund contest Remember, the money sent to the Annual Fund fuels our local District grant program, with 47 5 cents of every dollar given to the annual fund returning to our District in three years That money is called District Designated Funds (DDF) and is used to support grant projects

Take a look at the club standings in the Annual Fund contest This contest started July 1, 2022, and will end December 31, 2022 The top six clubs will each earn $1,000 toward a District grant to be completed in the second half of this Rotary year Imagine all the good we can do throughout the communities in District 6960 After Ian, there are many opportunities for clubs to make a difference through a district grant Dozens of clubs have contacted me to speak about The Rotary Foundation. For those that have not, please get me on the program schedule. I would love to share the latest Foundation news with you and your club One third of this Rotary year is almost over. Think about all the opportunities to "do good in the world" ahead in the next two thirds. py

By: Past District Governor Pam Akins

What is the Paul Harris Society (PHS)? The PHS recognizes Rotarians who commit to contributing $1,000 or more ANNUALLY to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or even to an approved GlobalGrant.

Am I automatically a member of thePHSifIamaPaulHarrisFellow (PHF)? No BeingaPHFdoesnotmake you a PHS member A PHS member is someone who has made that COMMITMENT to give $1,000 EACH YEARtoTRF

If I’m already giving $1,000 a year to TRF, does that automatically makemeamemberofthePHS?No.

Rotary International does not automatically make you a member of PHS, even if you are giving $1,000 or more annually You must join the PHS with a statement of your commitment togive$1,000annuallytoTRF

How do I join the PHS? Click here and click the “Join” button at the bottom of the webpage Fill out the form You will need your Rotary ID#, club name and district number (6960).

What if I don’t know my Rotary ID#? What if I don’t do a lot on the computer? Obtain your Rotary ID# from your club secretary. You can also email Pam Akins, the District 6960 Paul Harris Society Chair pamakins@akinsmarketing.com and let her know you want to make the commitment to be a PHS member.

Do I have to give my $1,000 in a lump sum? No You can space it out over the year in payments of $250 per quarter or $85 per month. Rotary even makes it easy by letting you sign up on TRF Direct through your MyRotaryorg account with regular charges to your credit card or bank transfers. Remember that the donations should be for the Annual Fund, PolioPlus or a Global Grant.

Make a real difference through The Rotary Foundation: Be a Paul Harris Society Member

PEOPLE OF ACTION

The Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch, in partnership with other Rotary clubs and Water Mission, helps bring sanitation and clean water to Peru.

From the 12,000 residents in the community of Monte Castillo who now have a sustainable clean water system, to nearly 1,000 residents with access to latrines and handwashing stations in Octo Alto, dozens of communities across Peru have benefited from the clean water and sanitation projects managed by the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch

In a recent presentation to Rotarians, Taylor Edmonds, Water Mission's project manager for Latin America and Caribbean programs, reported that in Peru alone, the nongovernmental agency's partnership with the Lakewood Ranch club, and other clubs from District 6960 and around the world, has significantly improved health and hygiene, given the communities economic stability and saved countless lives.

Rotarians from the Lakewood Ranch club make periodic trips to Peru to assess, implement and follow up on the projects Likewise, Rotarians from Peru have visited Florida to speak at club and district events, sharing gratitude and stories of the impact global grant projects make in their communities

Arcadia High School students were at risk of the tennis teams losing their eligibility to compete due to their courts not meeting required standards. Fortunately, the Rotary Club of Arcadia stepped up, applied for a district grant, and completed the resurfacing of the courts as well as replacement of nets in time for this year's season.

Not only can the high school remain engaged in competition, but the community also uses the courts for tennis and pickleball recreational sports.

Globalgrantprojects,fundedin partbyTheRotaryFoundation, allowustoshowcommunities aroundtheworldthatRotarians arePeopleofAction.

the first group to charter the RotaReaders Club. Natalie, along with Rotary District 6960 Literacy Chair Dee Fabry, introduced the new literacy engagement program on October 26, 2022, during Leadership Day at Bonita Springs Charter School.

Fabry created 10 reading challenges aligned to student habits to encourage students to read more. Each challenge allows the students to select and read a book, then complete a learning activity demonstrating their comprehension. Students track the completion of the challenge and collect stickers There are awards at different levels of completion.

The Charter School is a Steven Covey Leader in Me’ distinguished school, which means every student participates in the Leader in Me curriculum that teaches and encourages eight habits, based on the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

The first challenge is aligned to Habit #1 from the book: Be Proactive: I am responsible; I take initiative, I choose my actions, attitudes, and moods; I don’t blame others for my faults; and I do good things, even when no one is around. The challenge requires the student to select a book about the environment. The learning activity is to make a poster about what he or she learned and answer the question "What can someone do to improve the environment by reading your poster?"

Storytelling is a powerful tool. It can be used to inform, educate, entertain and, in Rotary's case, build support for the cause which naturally leads to more members, more giving and more doing.

PDG Brad Robinson of the Rotary Club of Bonita Naples participated in the Sanibel Island disaster relief cleanup last month, organized by Rotarian David Lowden. "We cleaned out two houses, one of them a Rotarian's, and in one house we also ripped out all the damaged drywall," Brad shared after the days work. "I enjoyed working with some Rotarians I had not met before."