The Magic of Rotary
Including District Governor Visits
September 03 - Richmond
September 04 - Chester
September 05 - Int’l Day of Charity
September 05 - Williamsburg
September 08 - Int’l Literacy Day
September 09 - Yorktown
September 10 - James City County
September 11 - Henrico East
September 11 - Virginia Peninsula
September 11 - James City County Sat
September 12 - South Hill
September 15 - Int’l Day of Democracy
September 17 - Norfolk
September 18 - New Kent
September 18 - West Richmond
September 19 - Powhatan
September 19 - Farmville
September 19 - Colonial Heights
September 19 - Petersburg
September 19 - Petersburg Breakfast
September 20 - World Clean Up Day
September 21 - Int’l Day of Peace
September 24 - Great Bridge (Ches)
September 25 - Mechanicsville
September 29 - Int’l Day of Awareness of Food Loss & Waste
September 30 - October 6 - Rotary Alumni Reconnect Week
October 02 - Int’l Day of Non-Violence
October 03 - Hampton
October 05 - World Teacher’s Day
October 08 - South Boston
October 10 - World Mental Health Day
October 10 - South Hill
October 16 - World Food Day
October 16 - Hanover County
October 24 - World Poilio Day More to come in our next Newsletter
Happy September, Fellow Rotarians!
It’s September, which means it’s time for our District Conference! (September 27 - 29, 2024) I’m looking forward to seeing many of you there as we hear from our esteemed speakers: Kate Tweedy, granddaughter of the owner of Secretariat, the legendary horse from Hanover County and Phillip Brashear, son of Carl Brashear, the first African American Navy Diver and the inspiration for the movie *Men of Honor* We’ll also have a Peace Conference, Membership Summit, and several breakout sessions covering topics like The Rotary Foundation, Awards, and Youth Programs. Entertainment will be topnotch with Chesapeake Club Rotarian David Rosado performing magic, Stonebrook providing the tunes on Friday, and our own Tracy Lego spinning the decks as DJ on Saturday. Registration is open and running!
August was an enjoyable month filled with Club visits As of last Friday, I’ve visited 41 clubs in total! It was wonderful to induct New Members and celebrate Paul Harris Fellow achievements. The Suffolk and Hampton Roads Clubs even serenaded me upon my arrival I’ve learned so much about the incredible projects providing fundraising opportunities to support communities in need Whether it’s the Oyster Crush, Chesapeake Wine Festival, or the Bacon Bash, there’s no shortage of activities happening in our District! If you want to experience a fun and highly energized club, check out the Smithfield Club whether it’s the Legacy or the Happy Hour Club, you’ll leave pumped up about Rotary
Additionally, the Tri-Cities area Clubs (Chester, Petersburg, Petersburg Breakfast, Hopewell) hosted a delightful picnic early in August The Chesapeake Mobile Medical Unit also launched with an exciting ribbon-cutting ceremony on the 17th. After visiting the Eastern Shore clubs of Cape Charles, Exmore, and Onancock, I was treated to the most gorgeous sunset across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge that I have ever seen Several Clubs in the Virginia Peninsula area also gathered for a BBQ night at Smoke, with Major Donor Gift Officer Laurie Menzel in attendance.
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the Assistant Governors and Lieutenant Governor Jay Shively for organizing these Club visits It takes a lot of effort to ensure everything runs smoothly, and I deeply appreciate all the hard work that goes into making these visits a success
Thank you for all you do to make 7600 the best!
Memories Made
Memories Made
The South Hill Rotary Club posed with the awards they received at the 2023-2024 District Awards Ceremony held over the weekend The club received 10 awards including Governors Circle, Public Image, Outstanding President, Community Service and several more Lisa Clary Photo
The awards were presented by past president John White and Bonnie Field from Goochland Rotary Club Charles Layman was awarded the Community Service Award Katie Hellebush was awarded the Monthly Bulletin Award (as shown below) Michela Worthington accepted the
President Pam Kelleher
District Conference
Find “Joy in the Journey” with The Magic of Rotary September 27-29, 2024
The Westin 6631 West Broad Street Richmond, VA 23230
Friday:
Welcome- Henrico County Manager and Honorary Rotarian-John Vithoulkas
Kate Tweedy Devon Colley
Speaker , co-author of “Secretariat’s Meadow: The Story Behind Secretariat
Speaker , CIS Director of Development Chesterfield County, Community Partnerships in Schools with Bill Cawley, Rotary District 7610
Peace Conference
Breakout Sessions:
Rotary Leadership Institute overview District Awards
District and RI Foundation
Entertainment with local band-Stonebrook
Saturday:
Speaker Tracy Keller, District Empowering Girls Chair
Breakout Sessions:
Global Grant with Rotary Club of Chesapeake Foundation
Disaster Recovery
Mental Health for Youth Youth Services and RYLA
Speaker Philip Brashear, son of Carl Brashear, First African American Navy Diver, Inspiration for movie
Membership Summit
Alumni Association Panel Discussion, Installation and Reception
Governor’s Reception
Governor’s Banquet with Rotary International President’s Representative Speaking , Rotary Club of Chesapeake and Magician
David Rosado
Friday and Saturday:
Silent Auction
House of Friendship
Sunday Morning: with proceeds going to Polio Plus :
Honoring the passing of our Rotarians since October 2023
On to Calgary-International Convention-June 21-25, 2025
Men of Honor
DistrictAlumniAssociation
TheDistrictAlumniAssociationhashadaverysuccessfulyearin2023-2034,andIampleasedto sharewithyouplannedactivitiesforthisfall UndertheleadershipofnewAlumniAssociationleadership andnewPresidentJaniceHenicheck,wehopeyouwillfindthefollowingactivitiesworthyofyour attentionandaction
TheDistrict7600Conferenceisfastapproaching(September27-29,2024.YourAlumniAssociation willhaveseveralactivitiesonSaturdayafternoon,between2:00PM and4:45PM,inShenandoahJr Ballroom(ABC).AttheJulymeeting,YourLeadershipTeamdeterminedthelevelofinvolvementas follows:
HaveanAlumniAssociationinformationtableattheHouseofFriendship(HOF),duringitsopening hoursFridayandSaturday Weencourageyoutoregisterfortheconferenceandvisit/volunteertime atHOF.
Conductapaneldiscussion(2:00PM -3:00PM)
AssemblebreakfastbagsforREALLIFE,AlumniAssociation’schosenbeneficiaryforthefallservice project (3:05PM –3:50PM)
InductnewmembersofAlumniClassof2024withreceptiontofollow.(4:00P.M.-4:45P.M.)
FallServiceProjecthttps://reallifeprogram.org/service/community-center/
REALLIFEisanorganizationthatservesthosedesiringchange,typically,individualsimpactedby substanceabusedisorder.Also,REALLIFEassistspeoplewhohavebeenreleasedfrombeing incarcerated,providingthemwithshelter,training,andsupporttohelpthemadjusttociviclifeoutside prison.
YoucanhelpbyusingtheSignUpGeniuslinkbelow,tosignuptobringanitem(s)totheConference, ortosendacheckwhichwillbeusedtobuyneededitems.IfyouareregisteredattheConference,we welcomeyourhelptofillthebagsandwritenotesofencouragement Ifyouarenotregisteredandyouare intheRichmondarea,wewelcomeyouinhelpinguspreparebreakfastbags.
TheSignUpGeniuspagehasmoreinformationonREALLIFEandmoredetailsontheserviceproject Ifyouwouldliketomakeadonationbutareunabletoattendtheconference,orshop,considersigningup forthe"sendacheck"option,andwewilldotheshoppingforyou!Pleasesignupforitemsyouare bringing,ormailacheck,bySeptember19th MakecheckouttoDistrict7600,note"AlumniAssnSvc Project"inthememoline.MailtoLeslieBorwick,105ParsonageLane,HamptonVA23669
Ifyouhaveanyquestions,pleasecontactAlumniAssociationLeslieBorwickatd1borwick@cox.netor text/callto757-593-8320.Thankyouforyourgenerosity!
SignupGeniuslinkbelow:https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0D4FA5AA2DA6F85-50545254-rotary FormoreinformationonREALLIFE,youcangotoreallifeprogram.org
Wewelcomeyoursuggestions,comments,andconcernsthatwillmaketheAlumniAssociationbetterand moreeffective
Thankyou,AdeebHamzey,Advisor,DistrictAlumniAssociation&JaniceHenicheck,DistrictAlumni AssociationPresident,2024-2025
District Conference Service Project
Winter is approaching, cold snowy days are behind the corner, and freezing winds will be howling. These severe weather conditions may be less harmful to some, but they are unbearable to others who do not have the resources to protect themselves from the frosty frigid climate. Luckily, there are dedicated organizations, such as The Salvation Army, that focus on providing shelter, food, and clothing for the less fortunate among us, to help them weather these harsh conditions
Your District Community Service committee and The District Conference (DC) Committee are urging you to donate winter hats, gloves, and scarfs to help folks, especially kids, stay warm this winter. If you are attending the District Conference, please bring your donated items to Rotarians at the registration desk If you are not able to come to the District Conference, please consider having your Rotarian friends, who will be attending the DC, dropping off your contributed garments for you. I call this the “Walking and Talking” Service Above Self in its best form
We will collect all donated pieces at the end of the DC, on Sunday, and have them delivered to The Salvation Army – Richmond.
I hope you find this activity a worthy cause for you to participate The Salvation Army, your District Leadership Team, and the people, including children, who benefit from your giving will be forever grateful for you in answering this call.
Submitted by Adeeb Hamzey - Chair, District 7600 Community Service Committee
Did you know:
Alzheimer’s Dementia Rotary Action Group (ADRAG)
1 in 3 seniors dies with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
More than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s
Over 11 million Americans provide unpaid care for someone with Alzheimer’s or another dementia
The Alzheimer’s Association’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is the world’s largest event to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. The Alzheimer Association is a resource partner for the Alzheimer's Dementia Rotary Action Group (ADRAG) and is proud to announce that ADRAG will be a Walk to End Alzheimer's National Team for the 4th year in a row!
Last year, Rotary Clubs across the country participated and raised almost $510,000 to help with the fight against Alzheimer's. Two Alzheimer’s Association Chapters serve our District - the Greater Richmond Chapter and the Southeastern Virginia Chapter.
This year there will be eight (8) Walks in our District: Chesapeake, 9/21; Suffolk; 9/14; Middle Peninsula, 10/5; Eastern Shore, 10/5; Newport News, 10/19; Williamsburg, 10/26; Farmville, 11/3; and Richmond, 11/9.
Several Clubs in our District have already signed up to participate in their local Walk If you would like to learn more about the Walk in your area and/or have a speaker from the Alzheimer’s Association at an upcoming Club meeting, you may contact Tanya Elgin at the Greater Richmond Chapter at tcelgin@alz org or Barbara Monteith at the Southeastern Virginia Chapter at bgmonteith@alz.org.
Submitted by Sherry Peterson, Rotary Club of Richmond
On 6 August, James City County Rotary Club members were briefed by Literacy For Life, Bob Estremera, Director of Development, about one of their programs, "On The Money: Finances Made Easy," to help individuals understand key topics, vocabulary, and concepts related to managing money. With this knowledge, they can make sound financial decisions. Along with our Rotary Satellite Group, the Club is interested in expanding our participation to help adults improve their financial literacy
Shown are Club President Travis Rabb and Bob Estremera.
Submitted by Paul Miyamasu.
On Thursday, August 22, Ashland VA Rotary Club presented a check to the Ashland Police Foundation for AED (Adult Electrode Device) Pads and Resuscitator Bag Valve Masks for use in the Ashland Police Department Vehicles as part of their medical emergency kits. (l-r) Mark Smith, Ashland VA Rotary Club, Rhett Townsend, President of the Ashland Police Foundation, James Shelhorse, Captain of Special Operations for the Ashland Police Department, and Rachel Swinford of the Ashland VA Rotary Club
Join us as we continue to do projects that benefit our community.
The Ashland VA Rotary Club meets each Thursday at noon at Studio 54, 100 N Railroad Avenue, Ashland VA 23005. For more information, contact 603-325-2572 or visit us at www facebook com/AshlandVARotary
Submitted by Rachel Swinford
The Rotary Club of Western Henrico County has participated the Bright Beginnings program for the past 28 years, collecting funds to support this back-to-school campaign for elementary age children, as well as shopping with the kids. The Tuckahoe YMCA supported 375 children in this 2024 effort, and members of the Western Henrico Rotary Club were proud to support both the Y and the kid
Our volunteer "shoppers" on Monday, August 12, 2024, included (pictured L to R): Bob Glasser, Larry Wilson, Michael Binns, John Strotmeyer, Rodney Burton, Bard Kirkpatrick, Sam Baronian, Al Dorin, Davis Deutsch, and Mark Deutsch. This group accommodated 73 kids on Monday.
On Thursday, August 15, 2024, our shoppers included (pictured L to R): Kenneth Blankenship, Rachel Strotmeyer, Jim Heck, Barbara Blankenship, Harvey Martin, Y.B. Youngblood, and Brad Reynolds. This group accommodated another 72 kids
Outstanding work and support of this important annual event and program. Great job Western Henrico Rotary membership!
Submitted by Mark Deutsch
Rotary Club of Hanover member Aimee Peterson led our meeting when the Club welcomed Dan Pulscamp to speak on Wreaths Across America, one of our service activities.
Wreaths Across America’s mission is to remember the fallen, honor those who serve, and teach the next generation the value of freedom Remember Honor Teach
Dan Pulscamp, was a teacher when 9/11 happened and soon after joined the Army Reserves. Deployed to Afghanistan in 2006 Dan knew fellow officers who were killed when a Chinook helicopter was shot down While Visiting Arlington National Cemetery he became aware of a section where victims of downed aircraft are buried, and from there Dan became a ceremonial wreath layer
In appreciation for his presentation the Club has donated the book Bravo Company An Afghanistan Deployment and Its Aftermath by Ben Kesling to the Atlee Library.
Submitted by Celeste Cohen
Portsmouth Rotary Club donates $500 to upcoming Paddle Battle event
Portsmouth Rotary Club member Billy Nagle, left, presents a sponsorship check to Gary Bahena, President of the Friends of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard Museum, for the Sept 7 Paddle Battle
This kayak competition will be held from 10 a.m. to Noon at the foot of High Street, adjacent to the Elizabeth River, and will feature music and food for sale. The event will be open to the public.
The Paddle Battle benefits the Shipyard and Lightship museums
Submitted by Steve Milner; photo by Liz Pasqualini
The brand-new Ashland Elementary School had their Open House on Thursday, Aug 15 Volunteers from the Ashland VA Rotary Club served up hot baked potatoes to the faculty and staff in their new cafeteria. We served up over 100 baked potatoes with all the fixings and a special treat of cookies for dessert
Baked Potato servers were (l-r) William Jacobs, Scott Phillips, Mary Kay Hacker, Mark Baird, Jennifer Schloss, Dylan Schloss (Patrick Henry graduate), Briar Blankenship (Liberty Middle School student), Cynthia Green, Beth Clemens, Adrian Reyes (Ashland Elementary School student), Jan Clemens, Rachel Swinford, and Charles Clemens. Submitted by Rachel Swinford
Service! That is what Rotary is all about. Recently, members of the Ashland VA Rotary Club served up snacks at the Patrick Henry YMCA to local children and their parents It was all about Bright Beginnings for school for seventy needy Ashland children Each child received a hygiene bag, a backpack loaded with school supplies, socks, underwear, and warm coats They were also sized for a pair of new shoes that will be ordered for them Just for fun, there was a giant inflatable basketball game, and craft tables
Present for service were Ashland VA Rotary members, Scott Phillips, Jan Clemens, Phillip Cobb (also Executive Director of the YMCA), Rachel Swinford, and Charles Clemens.
Submitted by Rachel Swinford
Rotary Club of Farmville
Above is Sue Carter (center), Paul Harris +8 pin recipient. At left is Foundation Chair Kerby Moore, and at right is Club President Doug Stanley.
Above is Foundation Chair Kerby Moore (left) handing Paul Harris pin to Scott Harwood (center), Paul Harris +2. At right is Club President Doug Stanley
On 20 Aug, James City County Rotary Club (Breakfast and Satellite Groups) hosted their 4th Annual Golf Outing a Kingsmill to help in their donations to various community charities, dictionary distribution to all 3d graders in the Williamsburg-JCC schools, and academic scholarships.
The project was headed by Chair Gary Chenault, Golf Chair Jack Clark, Overall Registration/Raffle Yvonne Bjorklund, and Sponsor Co-Chairs Nancy Geddes and Marisol Howard
The Club is very appreciative of the sponsors and member donations and support by other Rotary Club golfers and thei teams.
HenryRotarywasfoundedin1984andinthatfirstyearbegantheoysterroasttraditiontoraisemoniesforlocal HamptonRoadscharities Fortyyears-that’salotofoysters! VirginiaBeach’sbestpartyisback,andlocalcharitiesareonceagainthebeneficiaries!The40thannualOyster CrushFundraiser,hostedbytheCapeHenryRotaryFoundation,willoccuronSunday, October6,2024from1PM-6PMatBallyhoosRestaurant “Wearecontinuingourtraditionofhostingamassive oysterroastandpartyforacause,andsince2015theeventhasraisedover$340,000forlocalcharities, scholarshipsandyouthleadershipprogramsintheHamptonRoadsarea”statedRobertoWestbrook,Chairmanof thisyear’sevent
Ticketpriceis$75andincludesall-you-can-eatoysters,raworroastedoverawoodfire,steamedclams,alongwith afullmealincludingBBQandfriedchicken,anddrinks Beerisincludedintheticketprice Dancealldaytolive musicandaDJ TheClubalsohasashuttleservicetoprovideridesto/fromdesignatedoff-siteparkinglocations
AccordingtoCindyStover,PresidentoftheCapeHenryRotaryClub, “Lastyearourguestsandamazingsponsorshelpedraise$33,000which supportedavarietyoflocalcharities,scholarshipsandRotaryYouth Conferencefees WeknowtheseHamptonRoadscharitiesaremakinga differenceinourlocalareaonaday-to-daybasis Ourcommunity, includingmanyfellowRotariansfromotherClubs,havebeengreat supportersofourOysterCrusheffortsandwearehopefultheywill continuethatsupportin2024”
FormoreinformationaboutOysterCrush,andtopurchasetickets, seewwwoystercrushcom
Shown kneeling are Roger Saunders Aimee McLendon Paul Miyamasu Left-R are Carol Mitchell Nancy
Members of Rotary Club of Farmville have an ongoing volunteer relationship with FACES Food Pantry in Farmville.
Frequently on Saturday mornings, at 7:30 to 10:30, a group of us will meet at the distribution center located at 482 Commerce Road to volunteer. We typically will stuff farm grown vegetables into small plastic bags and get them ready for the vehicles that come to get the food. Last week, we happened to have quite an abundance of hummus to distribute. Many recipients received an entire case of hunmus each!
Submitted by Andrew Payne
North Suffolk Rotary recent guest speaker was Audra Bullock, founder and President of Tidewater Friends of Foster Care (TFFC) TFFC is one of the core non-profit organizations that our club supports Audra presented an overview of TFFC, ways to get involved and how our support helps them with their mission. TFFC continues to provided a positive impact in the lives of foster children throughout Hampton Roads by providing them with an opportunity to grow and thrive Club members were honored to provide TFFC a check to continue their mission
Thank you Audra and the team at TFFC!
Rotary Flowers - Join Rotary Club of Innsbrook in supporting our community by participating in our Annual Flower Sale.
Since 1993, we have raised nearly $350,000 to support local, national, and international causes Innsbrook Rotary is dedicated to helping children and focuses on seven key areas of support Help us continue this great work by purchasing flowers today.
The Magic of Rotary
The District is excited to announce that it has awarded $120,746 to Fourteen projects for the Rotary year 2024-25. These grants address a diverse range of community needs, from supporting food banks and constructing outdoor bike repair stations to revitalizing parks and enhancing outdoor learning environments for children. They also include initiatives aimed at improving the education, care, and treatment of special needs youth, among other important causes
In the coming months, we’ll be spotlighting some of these remarkable projects For example, the Innsbrook (Richmond) and Western Henrico County Clubs are collaborating to build an early learning trail at Henrico County Park. This innovative trail will provide parents, caregivers, and communities with engaging outdoor activities designed to boost preschool children's school readiness. Featuring expert-approved learning games and interactive activities for both kids and adults, this $10,080 investment reflects Rotary’s dedication to advancing education and fostering community engagement Thanks Innsbrook and Western Henrico for creating some of The Magic of Rotary
Submitted by John Padgett
The Bailey Center for Special Needs, located at 219 E Atlantic Street in South Hill, and Mandi Calhoun is the co-founder of F E A T Families Embracing Autism Together, an organization aimed at promoting education, awareness and activities for people of all ages with special needs and their families. Jessica LaFoon, handles marketing, event planning and shares the day-to-day operational responsibilities with Calhoun Lynn Williams who was also a part of the planning team for the center and its programs is a F.E.A.T. board chair
The name F E A T suggests that the group and the Bailey Center are focuse but that is not the case, LaFoon said. F.E.A.T. reworked its initial mission to en persons with disabilities
The check presentation was made to Jessica Lafoon and Mandi Calhoun by Rotary Foundation Chairperson Randy Cash and Club President Charles Wright.
Submitted and photo by Lisa Clary
The day we, Chesapeake Rotary, have worked for since 2022 finally arrived! What a great day for our City and Rotary. The mobile medical clinic will impact the lives of thousands in the community and region. Thanks to Chesapeake Regional Healthcare for partnering with us and thank you to the many Rotarians from multiple districts for supporting this project.
The Power of Education and Literacy: A Rotary Foundation Focus
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month, a time when Rotary International emphasizes one of the most powerful tools for change: education. Our goal is clear—to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy Rotary believes that education unlocks the potential of an individual and it is our commitment is to support education for all children and literacy for both children and adults
The global literacy challenge is immense. Over 775 million individuals over the age of 15 are illiterate, representing approximately 14% of the world’s adult population. This staggering statistic underscores the critical need for sustained efforts in literacy and education
Rotary’s commitment to literacy is rooted in the values of our founder, Paul Harris, for whom reading was a lifelong passion. Evenings at Comely Bank, his home on Chicago’s South Side, were often spent reading aloud from the novels of Charles Dickens. His speeches and writings frequently quoted poets such as Robert Burns, John Greenleaf Whittier, and James Russell Lowell, as well as New England transcendentalists like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau Harris believed in the power of words, and today, Rotary carries forward that belief, fostering literacy and education as an area of focus
In the spirit of our founder, Rotary takes action. District 7600 works tirelessly to provide books, desks, and to adopt mentoring programs to help people improve their reading skills. Each year, the District provides both District Grants and Global Grants that support educational initiatives We know that education can change lives, as reflected in the lyrics of the popular song, “Teach Your Children Well” by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young: “Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by.” This sentiment captures the essence of Rotary's mission—to break the cycle of illiteracy and empower the next generation through education
Through these efforts, Rotary is helping to build a world where every individual has the opportunity to read, to learn, and to thrive Yet, it can only happen through our contributions to the Rotary Foundation and our efforts to implement sound grants and projects. Let us continue to champion education and literacy, knowing that each book opened, each lesson learned, and each skill gained brings us one step closer to a more literate and just world Together, we are making a difference one person, one community at a time
Submitted by John Padgett
Meet Tibeb Abate: Rotary District 7600 Peace Fellow Candidate
Tibeb Abate is a recent recipient of the Rotary Peace Center Fellow She is sponsored by Rotary District 7600 and endorsed by the Rotary Club of Richmond for the 2024-25 academic years and will start her studies this fall at the Duke University/University of North Carolina University, Chapel Hill campuses Rotary Peace Fellows are selected annually to earn a Master’s Degree This joint University program offers a unique curriculum that provides field-based learning activities that examine peace and conflict theory through various frameworks. Rotary Peace Centers such as Duke/UNC Chapel Hill are supported by Rotarians, Rotary districts, individuals and foundations worldwide
Fellows are chosen for their ability to have a significant, positive impact on world peace throughout their careers. Tibeb Abate is a humanitarian expert with over sixteen years of experience in managing various food security emergency programs including USAID (Ethiopia), Catholic Relief Service and World Vision Ethiopia For more information see: https://www rotary org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships
Submitted by Mike Little, District 7600 Foundation Peace Fellow and Global Grant Scholarship Chair
PolioPlus Update August 2024
The effort to eradicate the poliovirus continues, but only with your help. In the Rotary year ending on June 30, 2024, District 7600 contributed a Grand Total of $285,034! There were two very substantial anonymous donations that totaled $155,000 With the 2 to 1 match from the Gates Foundation, a total of $855,102 will be contributed to PolioPlus and the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Thousands of children will be protected from this debilitating, and sometimes deadly, disease.
Unfortunately, the poliovirus does not respect the calendar, and cases of polio affecting children continue. As of August 19, 2024, there are 25 cases of polio – eleven in Pakistan and 14 in Afghanistan Ongoing conflict in several regions of the world is the enemy of public health According to the GPEI, the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF are requesting a humanitarian pause on the Gaza Strip to conduct to vaccination campaigns. These campaigns will provide two drops of the vaccine to 640,000 children under 10 years of age. In July 2024, the poliovirus was detected in environmental samples in two locations, and three children have presented with suspected acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), a common symptom of polio
Over 1 6 million doses of nOPV2, which is used to stop cVDPV2 transmission, will be delivered to the Gaza Strip. The deliveries of the vaccines and the cold chain equipment are expected to transit through Ben Gurion Airport before arriving in the Gaza Strip by the end of August. It is essential that the transport of the vaccines and cold chain is facilitated at every step of the journey to ensure their timely reception, clearance and delivered in time for the campaign
Your club can make a difference by encouraging contributions and educating members on the importance of this effort. October 24 is World Polio Day, presenting a wonderful opportunity to hold an event, invite a speaker to your club meeting, and make a difference. Consider putting out “red cups” at each meeting for the month of October and encourage contributions. All contributions, whether it be paper or coin, make a difference As a Club member, you can commit to joining the PolioPlus Society, which is a pledge to contribute at least $100 per year to PolioPlus until the disease is eradicated Contact me at valleyrose99@gmail com for more information about joining the PolioPlus Society
We are always looking for polio advocates that would like to help. If you are interested in joining the District PolioPlus Committee, please contact me.
“We Are This Close”
David Rosenthal
D7600 PolioPlus Chair
“Service Puts Life Into Your Days”
Rotarians Address Mental Health Issues Head On by
Anne Stein
Rotary has a remarkable record when it comes to health initiatives. We’ve helped bring polio to the brink of eradication, and clubs have carried out myriad projects focused on preventing disease and supporting maternal and child health Now the global pandemic has brought attention to another aspect of health that is often overlooked: mental health In many places, depression, anxiety, and suicide are seen as things to be ashamed of and kept quiet. But Rotary members are recognizing the gaps in understanding and resources and are stepping up to help.
More than 264 million people worldwide are affected by depression, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“A year ago, we had 50 members of the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives,” says Bonnie Black, a member of the Rotary Club of Plattsburgh, New York, and the chair of the action group. “We’ve tripled our membership during the pandemic, and I believe it’s due to the heightened awareness of mental health and wellness ”
More than 264 million people worldwide are affected by depression, according to the World Health Organization, and although many mental health conditions can be effectively treated at relatively low cost, many people who need treatment do not receive it.
Felix-Kingsley Obialo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ibadan Idi-Ishin, Nigeria, manages the local arm of a project called Wellness in a Box, which his club has worked on in partnership with the Rotary Club of Wellesley, Massachusetts “Mental health is an area that has been neglected by many people for too long because of the stigma associated with it,” says Obialo “The involvement of Rotary clubs will gradually reduce the stigma, and more and more people will begin to be comfortable around the issue.”
To continue reading this article - https://www.rotary.org/en/rotarians-address-mental-health-issues-head-on
District 7600's Mental Health Task Force (MHTF) is dedicated to fostering resilience skills across the District, particularly for youth and Rotarians To support this effort, each month in our District newsletter, we'll spotlight a different resilience skill
This month, we're highlighting the importance of healthy relationships an essential resilience skill that helps us recover and grow stronger after challenges. It's no surprise that loneliness impacts nearly 50% of adults in the U S , especially since few of us were ever taught how to build healthy relationships, whether in school or at work
A healthy relationship is one where both individuals feel safe and supported, characterized by honesty, respect, and open communication. In our closest relationships, we can strive to be our authentic selves and invite others into our inner world. Developing self-awareness, self-management, and interpersonal skills is crucial to nurturing these relationships; these qualities are also the foundation of effective leadership
If you're interested in enhancing your ability to cultivate healthy relationships, know of youth who would benefit from this skill, and/or would like to volunteer as a co-facilitator for our Youth Resilience Skill and Peer Facilitation Program—supported by a grant from SentaraCares—please reach out to MHTF Chair Sanna Calvert at Susanna@HealingEdu.org.
District 7600 Membership Minute
Building Our Membership: Every New Member Counts
As we reflect on the past year, our District 7600 Rotary Clubs have made significant strides in setting the foundation for growth. We finished with our best year in District Membership growth in the last 8 Years. Although we concluded the year with a slight negative membership change of -9, it’s important to recognize just how crucial each new member is to our collective success In fact, had just 15 percent of the Clubs added one more new member, we would have finished the year with a positive growth rate. This underscores the impact every new member has on our overall district’s performance.
To support our continued efforts and bolster membership growth, we are excited to announce several new resources now available on the District 7600 webpage Simply navigate to the "Resources" tab and select "Membership Resources" to access these valuable tools designed to assist your club in attracting and retaining members.
In addition to these resources, we will be hosting a mini Membership Summit during this year’s District Conference on September 27th This summit will focus on key areas such as: Engagement: Strategies to keep current members actively involved Attracting New Members: Innovative approaches to bring new faces into our clubs. Innovative Club/Membership Types: Exploring different models and structures to meet the evolving needs of our communities
Please ensure that all your membership goals are updated in the Membership Success Center on DacDB. Staying current with your goals will help us track our progress and identify areas for improvement. Also, don’t miss out on the monthly MAP Webinars, which provide valuable insights and strategies for enhancing your membership efforts
As we continue to strive for membership growth and engagement, the District Membership Committee is excited to announce several new programs designed to elevate our impact We are seeking enthusiastic members to join us in these critical initiatives:
Local and Area-Focused Membership Summits: We are planning to host and organize Membership Summits tailored to specific local and regional needs These summits will serve as dynamic platforms for sharing best practices, networking, and developing targeted strategies for membership growth
Strategic Membership Growth Teams: To address the unique challenges and opportunities in various areas, we are forming strategic teams dedicated to helping clubs with focused membership growth efforts These teams will provide hands-on support, advice, and resources to clubs aiming to expand their membership
We are calling on all Rotarians who are passionate about making a difference and ready to take action. Your involvement will be instrumental in driving these initiatives forward and ensuring their success. Whether you have experience in event planning, strategic development, or simply a strong commitment to Rotary’s mission, there is a role for you in these exciting new programs
Together, we can all achieve positive membership growth. Every new member not only strengthens our clubs but also amplifies our collective impact in the community. Let’s commit to making every new member count and work towards a successful year ahead!
Submitted by
Tracy D
Lego District 7600 Membership Chair
I am Rich Salon from the Rotary Club of Goochland, and I need your help! The reason for this message is that your Rotary District 7600 needs your help! I am super excited to be in a new role for District 7600 It is the District Membership Innovation Chair position
This role is designed to inspire our Clubs to try innovative ways around Club Membership Here is the deal, for a Rotary Club to exist, it needs is a Club Charter, a Club President who attends PETS and PRE-PETS, pay dues to Rotary International and our District, and operate under Rotary’s values That is about it! Clubs have a ton of latitude in designing how they operate
Why is Innovation so important to Club Membership? I will let you in on a little secret: Most Rotary districts lose club members every year, and that may result in a reduction in community service. Innovation is not limited to just Satellite or Companion Clubs, new membership types, such as family, service, or corporate types, or how many times a club meets per month
How about ways to reduce member costs?
How about having clubs with no meetings?
How about Club meeting meals paid for by sponsoring organizations?
How about Leadership roles be posted versus being appointed?
How about a right-handed, left-brain chemical engineer membership type? Any club can create this one, as just an example of how much latitude our clubs enjoy.
Think about the barriers to joining our clubs and our ability to retain members – Time, Cost, Sense of Belonging, Bureaucracy, or just not liking fellow club members. Our clubs need to pursue innovative ways to help overcome each of these barriers Again, this goes back to our goal of having more fulfilled club members to provide more service to our communities
So, how can you participate in our innovative membership movement? Be an Innovation Sounding Board to me when I receive an idea, and I need feedback on it Send me an email if you want to be a Sounding Board Or, be an Innovation Contributor, where you just call me as often as you have an idea to share. (By the way, I really like Disruptors, as there is no such thing as a crazy idea Bring em’ on!) Hey, it does not matter if you have been a Rotarian for two days or 50 years, your District 7600 needs your help!
By the way, thanks to each of you for the magnificent work you do within your Rotary clubs, and I hope you will consider becoming an Innovation Sounding Board or an Innovation Contributor around membership
This is an all Rotarian bulletin!
Normally, we would send this email out to just the club presidents and membership chairs for the clubs. However..... MEMBERSHIP is everyone's responsibility.
The district conference is coming up fast, and we have the first ever Membership mini-summit is planned for this year
I wish more of our members engaged in projects and meetings I wish we had more service projects and ideas for other projects we can do
How can we find more members?
How do we really tell our club story so that new members come to us?
Are there alternate ways that we can structure our clubs to be more inviting to younger and diverse members? What is this whole "Companion" club thing I keep hearing about?
Your District Membership Team will be at the District Conference and will be happy to answer these questions for you. Look for us in the House of Friendship
I will personally allow you anytime that you want to talk about ways to grow your club's membership, if you reach out to me. My direct line is 757-846-8333.
YIRS " Yours in Rotary Service"
Tracy Lego, District 7600 Membership Chair
How Can My Rotary Club Grow Its Interact Club Membership? Through School Events!
Our Youth Programs have a profound impact on building strong, service-oriented communities. Interact, Rotary’s service club for young people ages 12-18, is a crucial part of this mission However, to sustain Interact clubs, we need to actively promote Interact within our communities One of the most effective avenues for this is leveraging school events.
Why School Events? School events are a great chance to introduce students to Rotary, highlighting how Interact builds leadership skills and drives local and global impact This is our time to shine Steps for Promoting Interact at school events:
Build Partnerships with Schools: Your School Interact Advisor can connect with key school contacts to ensure that Interact gets a prominent spot and receives the attention it deserves during school events
Create an Eye-Catching Booth/Table: First impressions matter. Ensure that your Interact booth is lively and inviting Use banners, DIY posters, balloons, table coverings and photos of past projects/events, etc to showcase the impact Interactors have had in their communities
For customizable marketing materials go to the Rotary Brand Center at https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us and search “Interact”
Highlight Leadership and Service Opportunities: Students today seek involvement while building skills and resumes. Emphasize the leadership and growth opportunities Interact offers. Highlight successful service projects/activities and invite them to be a part of future opportunities
Involve Current Interactors: A great way to attract new members is by having enthusiastic Interactors share their stories. Let them run the booth, talk about their experiences, and invite friends their energy will inspire others to join!
Promotional Materials and Incentives: Provide flyers, handouts, and quick sign-up sheets so interested students can easily get involved. Offering small branded items like pens, stickers, wristbands with the Interact logo or snacks can create a lasting impression
Why Your Rotary Club Should Get Involved Supporting Interact benefits both students and sponsoring Rotary clubs Growing Interact invests in future Rotarians, keeps service central to community life and ensures the legacy of Rotary International.
Call to Action: Let's Get Moving! We urge Rotary clubs to promote Interact this school year Connect with schools, support Club Day events, and encourage students to join Together, we can grow Interact, inspire future leaders, and showcase Rotary’s values.
Key Dates:
4 -10 November 2024 - World Interact Week is celebrated annually, the week of 5 November, to commemorate the founding of the first Interact club in 1962
October - 2024 Interact Awards theme and Awards submission guidelines announcement https://www rotary org/en/interact-awards
30 June 2025 – last day for Interact Club certifications submissions
15 August 2025 – last day for Interact Club Excellence Award submission for 2024-25 year (Club Presidents). Start working o
a/office-president/club-excellence-award
District Interact Chair Sasha Reynolds, Rotary Club of Prince George County, answering questions about the Rotary International - Interact Club connection and the benefits of Interact Club membership at Prince George High School Pre-Opening School orientation
The Youth Service Committee is in need of a Youth Protection Officer This role is crucial to all of our youth programs; (e g RYLA, Youth Exchange, Interact, Empowering Girls and our Mental Health Resilience Program ) Rotary International has a Youth Protection manual and we have District resources to ensure anyone that steps into the role is successful. The job description is as follows:
District Youth Protection Officer
Monitor changes in national and local laws related to youth protection
Inform all Rotary members of their youth protection obligations
Confirm that appropriate screening measures are used for all youth programs
Make sure that volunteer screening is documented appropriately.
Ensure that appropriate training is provided to Rotary members, and other volunteers.
Oversee the proper handling of allegations.
Work with the district governor to maintain confidential records
This is an exciting time for Rotary District 7600 as we begin the search for the 2027-2028 District Governor for our District!
In accordance with the RI Bylaws, each Club is invited to nominate individuals to serve as District Governor during the 2027-2028 Rotary Year In keeping with our goal to encourage and cultivate future leaders in the District, Presidents, Area Governors and Past District Governors are invited to encourage worthy candidates to consider seeking the nomination. Enclosed you will find all of the materials required to nominate a Rotary Candidate to serve in this position
Interviews for District Governor nominees will be conducted on Saturday, November 2, 2024 As the IPDG, Rudy Garcia will serve as the Chair of the Nominating Committee pursuant to the Rotary District 7600 Manual of Procedures
To submit a candidate for consideration as the District Governor for District 7600, please complete ALL of the required materials enclosed in this packet and adhere to the instructions below. The procedures follow the requirements of the RI Manual of Procedure and the District’s Manual of Procedure.
Every candidate must be submitted by way of a resolution of the club The resolution should be adopted in a manner required by your club bylaws The resolution should include the facts in support of the nominee that the club would like the Committee to consider during its deliberations. The club secretary shall certify the resolution A club may only nominate ONE of its Club members as a candidate for Governor Nominee Designate Submissions must be received by IPDG Rudy Garcia no later than October 30, 2024 by 5 PM.
Submissions MUST include the following:
The Club’s Certified Resolution:The completed Governor Nominee Form certified by the candidate and Club Secretary
The signed RI Manual of Procedures DGND & DG Qualifications and Duties Acknowledgment Form
The signed and completed Supplemental DGND Nominee Data Form 3
All suggested nominees must:Meet the qualifications set forth in Article 16 070 as noted on the Acknowledgement Form
Agree to serve and perform all the duties of Governor as set forth in Article 16.090 as noted on the Acknowledgement Form
Sign the RI Manual of Procedures Article 16 DGND & DG Qualifications and Duties Acknowledgement Form
Nominations may be submitted in one of the following ways:
Mailed to: Rotary District 7600 Office | Attn: Rudy Garcia |11847 Canon Blvd Suite 10 | Newport News, VA 23606
Submitted electronically to rudy.d7600.dg2324@gmail.com with the subject line: 2027-2028 DISTRICT GOVERNOR SUBMISSION
ALL submissions must be received by 5 PM on October 30, 2024.
Should you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to call me or IPDG Rudy at 850-7769209
Submitted by District Governor Joy Kline - joy kline@comcast net, 804 677 4520
Sangkoo Yun, of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Seoul, Korea, is the selection of the nominating committee to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-27. He will be officially declared the president-nominee on 15 September if no other candidates challenge him.
Yun received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the Syracuse University School of Architecture in the U S and an honorary doctoral degree from The University of Edinburgh, Scotland He is the founder and CEO of Dongsuh Corp , which engineers and markets architectural materials, and the president of Youngan Corp., which operates in real estate and financial investment. He is involved in many civic organizations and has a special interest in the preservation of cultural heritage.
A Rotary member since 1987, when he was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Sae Hanyang, Yun has served Rotary International as a director, trustee, committee member and chair, and RI learning facilitator He served for eight years as co-chair of the Keep Mongolia Green Project, by Korean members of Rotary. His RI committee roles include the Board Administration Committee (2013-15, vice chair 2014-15), the International Assembly Committee (vice chair, 2020-21), and the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee (regional vice chair, 2023-27) He also served on The Rotary Foundation’s Executive Committee (2019-22, chair 2020-21) and Programs Committee (2019-22, chair 2020-22)
Yun received The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award in 2021-22. He was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II, awarded the Friendship Medal by the president of Mongolia, and recognized for distinguished services by the president and prime minister of Korea He is a veteran of the Republic of Korea Army and an emeritus elder at Andong Presbyterian Church
Yun and his spouse, Eunsun, are Rotary Foundation Benefactors, Major Donors, and members of the Arch Klumph Society, the Paul Harris Society, and the Bequest Society. They have two children. To learn more about Yun, read his interview and vision statement, which outline his goals for Rotary
PRESIDENTS & ASSISTANT GOVERNORS
Name
Name
Mark Baird
Jeffrey LaVelle
Robert "Bob" Cochran
Drew Klammer
Katherine Nunez
Jon Berry
Jeff Jacobs
Katie Wood
Raleigh Martin
Debbie Wall
Marva Dunn
Thomas Arnold, Sr
Douglas Stanley
Jeff Fuller
Galen Butler
John Aaron
Tracy Keller
Robert Dreelin
Jack Hilgers
Arnie Cohen
Urbanczyk, Williams
Virgil Hazelett
Tavorise Marks
Randy Hall
Raghavan Sadagopan
Travis Rabb
Debbie Snow
Christopher Ayers
Susan Z-W
Brian Johnson
Sean Danowski
Dominic McCummings
Travis Hall
Barbara Lipkis
Jeremiah Cronin
Leonard Provost
William McClung
Jeffrey Trimbur
Kristal Clemons
Club Ashland Blackstone Bon Air Brandermill Cape Charles Chesapeake Chester Church Hill Churchland
Colonial Heights Emporia
Exmore
Farmville
Fluvanna County
Franklin Goochland
Great Bridge
Hampton
Hampton Roads
Hanover County
Henrico East
Henrico North Hopewell
Huguenot Trail
Innsbrook
James CC
James CC (Sat)
James River
Lawrenceville
Mechanicsville
Midlothian
New Kent County
Newport News
Norfolk
Norfolk-Sunrise North Suffolk
Onancock Oyster Point (NN) Petersburg
mrk baird@sbcglobal net jbmtlavelle@yahoo com bobcochran@comcast net klammerd@ymcarichmond org fairkate10@verizon net jonberry@gmail com jjacobs935@aol com kwood2124@gmail com raleigh martin rotarian@gmail com debbievt88@comcast net bobieblue@aol com sawdust16@verizon net dpstanley2020@gmail com jtf031557@gmail com gfbutler63@gmail com john gosports@gmail com tracyk@gsccc org rdreelin@aol com jackhilgers@earthlink net arnoldsidney1@gmail com seedlife2002@yahoo com swhandvrh@gmail com tavorise marks@gmail com Randallhall@msn com
Rotarian Raghavan@gmail com rabbgt2@gmail com debbiesnow12@gmail com ayerscs@gmail com zwrotarydg1819@gmail com president@mechanicsvillerotary org sean danowski@gmail com nickmac95@gmail com travis s hall@me com blipkis@gmail com jerrycronin2000@yahoo com lprovost@hciva-gc com billmcclung@vaumc org jtrimb@gmail com kristaltmoore@gmail com
Rick Maddux
Stephen Heretick
Julie Manning
Brian Manning
Pamela Kelleher
Tracy Pendleton
Christopher Rufe
Larry Saint
Christy Puckett
Charles Wright
Cory Metts
Tamra VanDorn
Tom Bozek
Robert Gerling
Ross Loomis
Elizabeth McCoury
Holly Kidd
Trey Arnold
Mark Deutsch
Michael Brennan
Marc Morin
Name
Jay Shively
Penny Guiles
Retha Valederas
Lee Weisiger
Jeff Hume
Bill Mulvihill
Carolyn Jacobs Beverley Coleman
Joy Stump
Susan ZW
Tom Powell
Bob Tassone
Bill Ziglar
Charles Owens
Paul Peter
David Oakley
Tommy Arnold
Deloris Thomas
BJ Crowder
Club Petersburg (Breakfast) Portsmouth, VA
Powhatan
Prince George County
Richmond Sandston
Short Pump, Henrico County
Smithfield
South Boston
South Hill
South Richmond
Suffolk (Downtown)
THT-Williamsburg
Town Center VA Beach
Virginia Beach
Virginia Peninsula
Warwick CC Newport News
West Richmond
Western Henrico County Williamsburg Yorktown
Email rimadu@aol com
Steve@Hereticklaw com juliemanning1676@gmail com bmanning@arls org pjembrey@gmail com 1tependleton@gmail com chris rufe@tquist com lsaint52@msn com cpuckett@commonwealthal com charles wright bv3y@gmail com cory@themettsgroup xyz tvandorn@scaknights org tbozek@cox net rlgerling@gmail com rloomis@gmail com elizabeth mccoury@gmail com HollyKidd Rotary@gmail com chester a arnold@gmail com mark@markdeutsch com mdb99@bellsouth net morinmarc 1999@yahoo com
Email jcshively@comcast net pennyguiles43@gmail com retha@vfscpa com lee weisgner@ajg com jhumm@himmelhume com bmulvihill2@gmail com hattiejl629@gmail com beverley coleman1@verizon net dstanley@co prince-edward va us zwrotarydg1819@gmail com tom@theaddisongroup com enossat@yahoo com billz@abbitt com enterprisemediagroup@gmail com p b peter@att net doakley@pbp-attorneys com sawdust16@verizon net deloris thomas@gmail com wjcrowder@henrico k12 va us