A note from Governor Ineke.

Transcription

1 A note from Governor Ineke. Happy Birthday Rotary Bob and I are excited about this month s birthday celebration for Rotary. We are the best story never told, but that s about to change. On Friday February 19 the Charlotte Business Journal will have a full page dedicated to Rotary. On Saturday February 20 we are having our Global Swimarathon to End Polio Now. On Sunday February 21 the Charlotte Observer will deliver 150,000 newspapers with a 20 page Rotary insert. We are incrediblly proud of the 15 Rotary Clubs that stepped up to have a page dedicated to all their work in Rotary. On Monday February 22 the Duke Energy building in downtown Charlotte will be lit with our own colors blue and gold. Special thanks to Laura Collinge, our District PR Chair, for making this happen. Give the gift of Rotary. Consider making a birthday gift to Rotary to mark the organization s 111th year, on 23 February. When you give to Rotary, you empower your fellow leaders to improve their communities and make a lasting impact. Public Image: A Great Opportunity for our Clubs to tell their story! Save your Rotary insert from the Charlotte Observer and display it in your office, your waiting room, etc. and share the Rotary story. Thanks to the following clubs for participating: Ballantyne, Cabarrus County, Charlotte, Charlotte Dilworth, Charlotte End of the Week, Charlotte North, Charlotte Providence, Charlotte South, Charlotte Southpark, Concord, Gastonia, Monroe, Union West. Also featured featured are Trees Charlotte, Rotary Butterfly Gardens, Kilimanjaro, Youth Exchange, SFTL, District Map and all our 59 clubs. Mid-Year Assembly January 30 at Charlotte UNC Center City We had a full house at Charlotte UNC Center City. Thanks to Rotarian Jerry Coughter for letting us use his great facility, to Georgia Oakes for arranging everything and to Deb Corbett for handling registration. Over 200 Rotarians learned about the upcoming projects, District Conference, the district team and heard an inspiring and truly memorable message on membership from Michael Angelo Caruso. Michael will be back on Saturday April 9, speaking at Queens University at the Summit for Tomorrow s Leaders organized by Rotaract and Rotary District Please come and invite prospective Young Professionals (age 20-45) who are interested in joining Rotary.

2 February 20 in Huntersville February 21 in Concord Swimarathon Raise money for End Polio Now Contact Kam Chandan Be a Part of the World's Largest One Day Swimming event. 100% of the donations received will go toward eradicating polio, which, when completed, will represent the largest public health feat in human history. Swim on Feb 20th at Huntersville Family Fitness & Aquatics and Statesville Family YMCA. Swim on Feb 21st at West Cabarrus YMCA #nctoraryswim #endpolio Register to Swim or Make a Donation online Saturday February 27 in Cornelius Grants Training Does your club want to apply for a district grant in the future? Do you want to learn more about Rotary Foundation Grants? Do you have questions about the grants process? This training is for YOU... Each club should send at least one representative to training. This is a requirement if your club plans to apply for a district grant. Register on Bethel Presbyterian Church, Bethel Church Road, Cornelius, NC from 9 to 12. March 12 in Charlotte - Trees Charlotte Planting Day Cochrane Middle School & Devonshire Elementary (CMS schools) 6200 Starhaven Dr, Charlotte, NC Goal: Plant 350 Trees! Time: Saturday from 9 am to 12 noon, rain or shine. Check-in starts at 9:00 am. Bring: Gloves, protective clothing, and extra shoes Food: Lunch provided after tree-planting VOLUNTEER: Friends, family, Interact members. Register by March 1 at TreesCharlotte.org CONTRIBUTE: Help to raise funds. Plant a tree to recognize/honor someone. Questions: Sean Gautam Meet at Cochran Middle School April 2 in Mooresvile - Rotary Learning Institute RLI Dynamic, Interactive & Fun Event for New Rotarians and Prospective & Existing Rotary Club Leaders. Network, Share and Learn with the Do'ers of Rotary. Go to for details and registration. April 9 in Charlotte - Summit for Tomorrow s Leaders On Saturday April 9 at Queens University our Rotaract students are planning a Summit for Tomorrow s Leaders to get young professionals interested in Rotary. Invited are young professionals (ages 20-45) who are interested in networking and providing service in the community. Guest speaker will be the incredible Michael Angelo Caruso. April 15 in Charlotte - Native Plant Pollinator Garden Planting Day Charlotte s Mayor Jennifer Roberts signed the proclamation for April 15 as Native Plant Pollinator Garden Planting Day. On April 15 Edna Chirico with Green Teacher Network will be planting 15 Rotary Butterfly Gardens at local schools. If you already have a Butterfly Garden or are planning on planting one let Anna know. She will add your garden to the Rosalynn Carter Butterfly Trail. Contact Anna Davis - annadavis@bellsouth.net. Anna is also available if you need a presentation for your club.

3 May 13, 14, 15 in Asheville - District Conference RENAISSANCE HOTEL RESERVATION: Hotel room $159 per night Call to reserve a room or CONFERENCE REGISTRATION: Includes Friday & Saturday dinner and Saturday & Sunday breakfast. Early registration (paid before April 1) $100 per person. Registration (after April 1) $150 per person. Register on Rotary International Rose Parade Since Rotary returned to the Tournament of Roses Parade in 1980, the New Year s Day pageant has become a highlight on the Rotary calendar. Seen in Pasadena by over 700,000 people, television coverage of the floral extravaganza reaches about 80 million more around the world, providing Rotary with the valuable opportunity to showcase our programs and activities. The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is a gift to Rotary. Although the float is not a project of Rotary International, the success of the float is a tribute to the dedication of the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee consisting of volunteer Rotarians from across North America. Their efforts are supported entirely by voluntary financial contributions from Rotary clubs across the United States and Canada made this the 37th consecutive entry in the parade. This year Rotarians wanted to let everyone know about the 138 peace parks and many smaller parks that they are creating, and also let everyone know about the Rotary Centers for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution. Rotary Serving Humanity John Germ unveiled the presidential theme to incoming district governors on 18 January at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. I believe everyone recognizes the opportunity to serve Rotary for what it truly is: not a small opportunity, but a great one; an opportunity of a lifetime to change the world for the better, forever through Rotary s service to humanity, said Germ. Rotary members around the globe are serving humanity by providing clean water to underdeveloped communities, promoting peace in conflict areas, and strengthening communities through basic education and literacy. But none more important than our work to eradicate polio worldwide, he said. After a historic year in which transmission of the wild poliovirus was stopped in Nigeria and all of Africa, Germ said we are closer than ever to ending polio. We are at a crossroads in Rotary, he added. We are looking ahead at a year that may one day be known as the greatest year in Rotary s history: the year that sees the world s last case of polio. Last year s milestones leave just two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, where the virus still circulates. Polio would be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated. Germ, a member of the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA, encouraged attendees to return to their clubs and communities and spread the word about Rotary s role in the fight for a polio-free world. Enhancing Rotary s image isn t the only way to boost membership. We need clubs that are flexible, so our service will be more attractive to younger members, recent retirees, and working people. He added: We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward. Youth Service 7 new Interacts Hickory Grove Christian School Charlotte Providence Rotary Reid Park Academy Interact Charlotte West Rotary & Charlotte End of the Week Rotary Independence High School Interact Charlotte International Rotary Ardry Kell High School Interact Ballantyne Rotary & South Mecklenburg County Rotary Statesville Christian School Interact Greater Statesville Rotary Mooresville Senior High School Mooresville Rotary & Mooresville Lake Norman Rotary North Mecklenburg High School Interact Charlotte University City Rotary, Huntersville Happy Hour Rotary & Davidson Rotary

4 Community Service TreesCharlotte The three-year tree-planting initiative has been a unique District-wide initiative and it was started at the request of our Past District Governor Luther Moore. Charlotte North Rotary was proudly selected as one of the co-champions for this project, along with the Rotary Club of Charlotte. The idea for a broad district-wide initiative came from DG Ineke to showcase to the community what great things Rotary does and continues to do in our communities. The project also received a boost through the publicity in The Charlotte Observer and from WCNC-TV s coverage of the project. This year's tree-planting will be attended by CMS Superintendent Ann Clark and there will be additional publicity planned around it. Thank you for supporting our Rotary District's third year for the tree-planting initiative. In recognition of our district and club's financial contribution, our name will be engraved on a permanent memorial (called the Honorary Garden) at Freedom Park in Charlotte. See photo of the proposed garden. This recognition will serve as a permanent reminder of our district's and club s support for the environment and the community. Vocational Service Charlotte Dilworth South End Rotary Club Chooses Shark Bite Treating EMT as First Responder of 2015 The Charlotte Dilworth South End Rotary Club today honored Emergency Medical Technician Marie Hildreth as the club s First Responder of the Year. Mrs. Hildreth treated Kiersten Yow, a 12-year-old shark bite victim, while vacationing in June on Oak Island. Kiersten lost part of an arm, but could have lost her life if Marie had not been there to stop the bleeding and treat her. The shark attack occurred in front of the beach house the Hildreth family had rented for that week. A graduate of Butler High School in Mecklenburg County and the University of Utah, Mrs. Hildreth has 12 years of experience with MEDIC. Club Past President John Barringer presented her award. After the award was given, Executive Director Joe Penner, her boss at MEDIC, presented a program on MEDIC. Mrs. Hildreth s award was a result of Rotary District 7680 s project urging Rotary Clubs in the district to honor first responders in emergency medical service, law enforcement and fire service. Our law enforcement, fire fighters, and emergency medical personnel do a superb job of responding to all types of emergencies, sometimes putting their own lives in danger. They deserve to be recognized for their service. Community Service Dictionaries for all 3 rd graders Rotary Clubs in Cleveland County, Rockingham Rotary supplied all schools in Richmond County, Albemarle Rotary and West Stanly Rotary in Stanly County and Union County schools were handed dictionaries from Monroe, Monroe-Union Breakfast and the Waxhaw Weddington Rotary Club.

5 End Polio Now Cyclists raise over $4 million in Miles to End Polio ride The campaign to eradicate polio got a major financial boost from the annual Miles to End Polio bike ride, held as part of El Tour de Tucson, on 21 November in Arizona, USA. Rotary General Secretary John Hewko and a team of eight RI staff members helped raise $4.4 million. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will match the funds 2-to-1, bringing the total contribution to PolioPlus to more than $13.5 million. End Polio Now - Pakistan and Afghanistan For the first time in history only two polio endemic countries remain: Pakistan and Afghanistan. Both countries shifted their focus to the children who are being missed on vaccination campaigns in order to bring this number down and remove the final hiding places of the virus. In Pakistan this has resulted in almost half a million children being protected against polio who were previously missed. Afghanistan has taken steps to improve its program through strengthened political commitment and coordination, and large swaths of the country remain polio free. By Jeffrey Kluger - Editor at Large for TIME. Even though the Quetta attack showed the Taliban is still bent on disrupting Pakistan's attempts to eradicate polio, a one-on-one encounter proves instructive. There s a special place in hell for the suicide bomber who killed 16 people at a polio vaccination center in Quetta, Pakistan on Jan.13. There s a place too for the Pakistani Taliban spokesman who claimed credit for the attack as well as for his whole blood-soaked organization. The Taliban have been targeting polio workers for several years now, insisting that no children can be vaccinated because the vaccine contains HIV or is designed to sterilize Muslim girls, and that vaccinators are CIA spies in disguise a fiction that gained currency after agents pulled just that masquerade while hunting for Osama bin Laden. Still, after decades of work, victory might be at hand in the fight to eradicate polio. As recently as 1988, the disease was endemic in 125 countries and paralyzed or killed 350,000 children every year. By last year, polio was down to just two countries Pakistan and Afghanistan with a total of 70 cases between them. On Jan. 14, the country completed a National Immunization Day, distributing one dose of vaccine to each of the 35.5 million children under five in the country. A second dose will follow in March, and three regional immunization days in February, April and May aim to reach 5 million children each time. In all, 86 million doses of vaccine could be delivered and administered. Armed forces were dispatched last year to contain the Taliban when vaccinations are under way and imams have been enlisted to spread the word that the drops are safe and to remind parents that the Qur an instructs them to safeguard the health of their children.

6 But if the campaign is going to succeed, hearts and minds in the tribal regions will also have to be changed. That s something Aziz Memon, a leading Pakistani textile manufacturer and a chairman of Rotary International s campaign to wipe out polio, knows something about. It is Rotary that got the global eradication movement started in 1988, and has done more than any other organization to see it through, raising and distributing $1.5 billion to vaccination efforts over the years. In a recent conversation with TIME, Memon described an experience he had when he visited a hospital in Peshawar to drop off some wheelchairs and took a break to have tea and a biscuit. A hospital worker told him that a Taliban chief and his 18-month old son who had been stricken with polio and lost the use of his legs were in a room nearby. This was the kind of man who could make a difference if he could be persuaded to support vaccinations. Memon went into the room to have his tea and chat with the man while the child played on the floor. Eventually the topic of the boy s illness came up and Memon chose to tell the father a hard and candid truth. If you had given this baby two drops, he said, he d be running now. The man, who was wearing a gun on his hip, grew visibly angry. Are you God? he demanded. It was his destiny to suffer this way, and now you are challenging me. Memon apologized for giving offense and the two fell silent. At length he noticed that the room had become overly hot and that the boy, who was wearing two sweaters, looked uncomfortable. He recommended that the father remove the sweaters but the father refused, saying that his family came from a cold, mountainous region where the boy was used to bundling up, and he didn t want him to get flu or pneumonia. Memon saw his moment. But wouldn t that be his destiny? he asked. Now I am challenging you. The Taliban chief, hardly a sympathetic figure, nonetheless did what an ordinary father would do, which was to grow teary. You said you could have given him two drops before, he said. Could you give him four drops now? Memon nodded his head. No, he said. It s too late. Nonetheless, Memon did extract a promise from the man: that he would take some vaccine with him when he left the hospital, vaccinate the rest of his family and offer the drops to his neighbors as well. In a world of the bloody and bad, it may take only a single human exchange to produce bits of fragile good. How will your club raise money to End Polio Now? At any fundraiser or service project get the kids involved and teach them about what Rotary does. Why do they get a purple pinkie when children get immunized? A great way to create awareness! Need bookmarks? Let us know. Are you swimming in the Global Swimarathon to End Polio Now? Are you eating with the World s Greatest Meal to End Polio Now? Are you climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to End Polio Now? Are you climbing the basecamp of Mount Everest to End Polio Now? Are you running for Rotary to End Polio Now? Are you biking to End Polio Now? Are you writing a check to End Polio Now? Whatever you do,thank You!! It will make a difference in the life of a child!!

7 End Polio Now Giving so far! In red... our clubs that gave $1000 or more. Albemarle - $5 Alleghany - $100 Ashe County - $5 Ballantyne - $5 Belmont - $500 Boiling Springs - $800 Cabarrus County - $1850 Charlotte - $2,470 Charlotte Dilworth - $700 Charlotte End of the Week - $450 Charlotte Evening - $200 Charlotte International - $5 Charlotte North - $ 860 Charlotte Providence - $1,575 Charlotte South - $1,725 Charlotte South Park - $1,000 Charlotte University - $5 Charlotte West - $120 Cherryville - $5 China Grove - $500 Concord - $5 Concord Afton Sunset - $5 Davidson - $60 Gaston Breakfast - $475 Gastonia - $4,500 Gastonia East - $4,400 Gastonia Evening - $5 Greater Statesville - $130 Hamlet - $5 Huntersville Happy Hour - $1,000 Kannapolis - $60 Kings Mountain - $200 Lake Norman Huntersville - $3,400 Marshville - $5 Matthews - $380 Mecklenburg South - $1,000 North Mecklenburg County - $220 Rockingham - $1,000 Shelby - $1100 Shelby Breakfast - $75 Statesville - $5 Statesville Fourth Creek - $275 Taylorsville - $500 Top of the Lake Mooresville - $1,800 Union West - $350 Wadesboro - $2,900 West Stanly - $5 Club Service Attendance from July till December Are your members engaged? Do they come to service projects, social events, board-meetings, visit other Rotary Clubs, they attend District events? If yes, those count for make ups. When 3 Rotarians meet, it counts as a make-up. Do you let your attendance secretary know that you had a makeup? It counts towards your club s attendance. Are you leaving for a long period on vacation or are you at home for health reasons and cannot come to the club meetings, ask your board to put you on Leave of Absence. That way you re missing attendance won t affect the club. Your secretary can go back in the database and add / change your attendance record. Over 75% attendance for a club is fantastic. Keep it up!! At the District Conference we will have awards for the clubs with the highest overall attendance.

8 Club Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average Albemarle Alleghany County Ashe County Ballantyne Belmont Boiling Springs Cabarrus County Charlotte Charlotte Evening Charlotte Dilworth South End Charlotte End-of-the-Week Charlotte International Charlotte North Charlotte Providence Charlotte South Charlotte South Park Charlotte Top-of-the-Week Charlotte University City Charlotte West Cherryville China Grove Concord Concord - Afton Sunset Davidson Gaston Breakfast Gastonia Gastonia East Gastonia Evening Greater Statesville Hamlet Huntersville Happy Hour Kannapolis Kings Mountain Lake Norman-Huntersville Marshville Matthews Mecklenburg County-South Monroe Monroe-Union Breakfast Mooresville Mooresville-Lake Norman Mount Holly North Mecklenburg County North Wilkesboro Rockingham Rowan County Salisbury Shelby Shelby Breakfast Southwest Cabarrus

9 Statesville Statesville/Fourth Creek Taylorsville Top of the Lake-Mooresville Troutman Union West (Indian Trail) Wadesboro Waxhaw-Weddington West Stanly Presidential Citation 9 clubs so far have already achieved the Presidential Citation, one of the hardest honors to earn in Rotary! Remember that new members and $100 per capita needs to be entered before April 1!! Alleghany County Charlotte Charlotte Evening Charlotte Providence Charlotte Top of the Week North Mecklenburg County Shelby Breakfast Statesville Fourth Creek Waxhaw Weddington Foundation news Giving Tuesday results are in The Rotary Foundation capped off Foundation Month by raising the most funds on Giving Tuesday since the global campaign to promote online giving began, with donors from 38 countries giving over $178,000. Not only did The Foundation raise 76% more this year than on Giving Tuesday 2014, we also had the most online donations made on a single day in the past two years. Thanks to everyone who participated and helped make Giving Tuesday 2015 a success! Happy Valentine's Day! We have a gift for you from the District. Our Rotary theme for this year is, Be a Gift to the World. Please take this opportunity to be that gift. If you will send a check for one half the amount you need to become a new Paul Harris Fellow, or to become a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, the District will match with points what you donate. This offer is good only for the month of February. As an example, if you need $ to become a Paul Harris Fellow, or a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, send in a check for $ and the District will match it. Remember this offer is only good until Feb. 29 th. Come on, take the leap!!! Make out your check to: The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund Mail to: Joe Morris, 2426 Red Fox Trail, Charlotte, NC 28211

10 Foundation Giving per Capita so far.. 19 Clubs have already reached the $100 per capita average to the Foundation and are eligible for District Grants! Next Grant Seminar is Saturday February 27 th in Cornelius at Bethel Presbyterian Church. EREY $122 Alleghany County EREY $100 Belmont EREY $158 Charlotte EREY $104 Charlotte Dilworth EREY $104 Charlotte End of the Week EREY $116 Charlotte Providence EREY $147 Charlotte South EREY $104 Charlotte Top of the Week EREY $233 China Grove Rotary EREY $249 Greater Statesville EREY $195 Huntersville Happy Hour EREY $117 Lake Norman Huntersville EREY $103 Mooresville EREY $100 North Mecklenburg County EREY $180 North Wilkesboro EREY $112 Shelby EREY $111 Taylorsville EREY $123 Troutman EREY $136 Union West Special thumbs up to: Charlotte Top of the Week North Wilkesboro Belmont Huntersville Happy Hour Matthews Ballantyne Wadesboro Mecklenburg County South Shelby 88% of the members gave $100 or more 61% of the members gave $100 or more 56% of the members gave $100 or more 50% of the members gave $100 or more 50% of the members gave $100 or more 46% of the members gave $100 or more 44% of the members gave $100 or more 34% of the members gave $100 or more 34% of the members gave $100 or more 18 clubs that reached over $50 per capita. $84 Ballantyne $90 Cabarrus County $74 Charlotte North $52 Charlotte Southpark $92 Concord $53 Davidson $86 Gastonia $67 Gastonia East $56 Matthews $96 Mecklenburg South $57 Monroe Union Breakfast $92 Mooresville Lake Norman $64 Mount Holly $51 Southwest Cabarrus $59 Statesville Fourth Creek $65 Top of the Lake Mooresville $68 Wadesboro $73 Waxhaw Weddington