Cookie Billings ROTARY DISTRICT 7690 • OCTOBER 2013 • DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER "Engage Rotary Change Lives" Cookie Billings, 309 Winrow Dr., Jamestown, NC 27282 Rotarian Generosity - The Tip Of The Iceberg but until this year, we have not gathered the information to view what lies below the tip of the iceberg. Our clubs are providing generous dollars to many projects and countless (at this point) service hours to our communities and our larger world. Con- gratulations to our clubs, thank you to DGN Larry Lassiter for compiling this information, and thank you to our creative District Public Image Committee for sharing this data with our commu- nity and our clubs. The club accomplishments during Immedi- ate Past District Governor Rick Snider's year, 2012-2013 is admirable and amazing! The energy and enthusiasm our clubs are demonstrating in service projects and the generosity of spirit our members are showing in giving and caring is inspiring. As we applaud ourselves for what was accomplished last year, can I challenge you to go beyond it in giving and service this year? We ask clubs to support Our Rotary Foundation by striving for 100% Sustaining Clubs and 100% Paul Harris Clubs. We also request that clubs support our District Sandler Training Polio Fundraiser, to be held October 21, 2013. We will all continue to give to our communities and will also continue to support Rotary's International efforts to change lives around the globe. Indeed, our International reach through Our Rotary Foundation is what distinguishes Rotarians from other service organiza- tions. This year we Engage Rotary and Change Lives, all over the world. Please read the exciting front-page article in this month's Piedmont Rotarian. We are so pleased to be able to share this story, which some people have referred to as the "iceberg" in our district's financial giving. We have always been able to identify the district's generous history of donations to Our Rotary Foundation, District Rotarians Break The Million-dollar Mark in Giving Generous hearts as well as helping hands distinguished the 51 Rotary clubs in District 7690 during the 2012-13 Rotary year. Rotary clubs in the 15 county district contributed over $1,000,000 to various local, national, and international charitable organizations. District clubs also donated more than $700,000 to the Rotary International Foundation. Contributions to projects supporting children and youth were an important part of Rotary giving. Of the total given, more than $133,000 was awarded to district students in scholarships to help fund their college or community college education. Looking farther afield, Rotary clubs also fund scholarships for international students at Greensboro's Eastern Music Festival. Rotary clubs support Little League teams and provide funds to purchase educational supplies and sports equipment at public schools. Leadership training and encouragement of community service for young people is a major area of interest for Rotary clubs. The district-wide Rotary Youth Leadership Program brings some 50 high school students together for a week in the summer at no cost to the students. Several district clubs also sponsor leadership training for high school students in their communities. Rotary clubs also help fund Rotaract and Interact clubs in high schools and colleges. District Rotary clubs regularly provide funds for humanitarian aid after such disasters as Superstorm Sandy. International projects include youth programs in Pakistan, clean water projects in Africa, nutritional programs for malnourished children in Colombia, and support for cancer treatment programs in Moldova. Contributions to international projects are often matched by Rotary International Foundation grants. District clubs continue to support Rotary International's Polio Plus effort to eradicate polio. Rotary clubs are also heavily involved in supporting organizations in their communities that provide a wide range of assistance and help to those in need. Rotarians donate their time as well as their dollars and spend countless hours actively participating in com- munity projects. District Governor Cookie Billings says that the more than 2,600 district Rotarians value greatly the Rotary ideal of "Service Above Self" and see the opportunity to engage in philanthropy and volunteer service as benefits of being a member of Rotary.
Transcript
Cookie Billings
ROTARY DISTRICT 7690 • OCTOBER 2013 • DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S NEWSLETTER
but until this year, we have not gathered the information to viewwhat lies below the tip of the iceberg. Our clubs are providinggenerous dollars to many projects and countless (at this point)service hours to our communities and our larger world. Con-gratulations to our clubs, thank you to DGN Larry Lassiter forcompiling this information, and thank you to our creative DistrictPublic Image Committee for sharing this data with our commu-nity and our clubs. The club accomplishments during Immedi-ate Past District Governor Rick Snider's year, 2012-2013 isadmirable and amazing!
The energy and enthusiasm our clubs are demonstrating inservice projects and the generosity of spirit our members areshowing in giving and caring is inspiring. As we applaudourselves for what was accomplished last year, can I challengeyou to go beyond it in giving and service this year? We askclubs to support Our Rotary Foundation by striving for 100%Sustaining Clubs and 100% Paul Harris Clubs. We alsorequest that clubs support our District Sandler Training PolioFundraiser, to be held October 21, 2013. We will all continueto give to our communities and will also continue to supportRotary's International efforts to change lives around the globe.Indeed, our International reach through Our Rotary Foundationis what distinguishes Rotarians from other service organiza-tions. This year we Engage Rotary and Change Lives, all overthe world.
Please read the exciting front-page articlein this month's Piedmont Rotarian. Weare so pleased to be able to share thisstory, which some people have referred toas the "iceberg" in our district's financialgiving. We have always been able toidentify the district's generous history ofdonations to Our Rotary Foundation,
District Rot arians Break The Million-dollar Mark in Giving
Generous hearts as well as helping hands distinguished the 51Rotary clubs in District 7690 during the 2012-13 Rotary year.Rotary clubs in the 15 county district contributed over $1,000,000to various local, national, and international charitableorganizations. District clubs also donated more than $700,000 tothe Rotary International Foundation.
Contributions to projects supporting children and youth were animportant part of Rotary giving. Of the total given, more than$133,000 was awarded to district students in scholarships to helpfund their college or community college education. Looking fartherafield, Rotary clubs also fund scholarships for internationalstudents at Greensboro's Eastern Music Festival. Rotary clubssupport Little League teams and provide funds to purchaseeducational supplies and sports equipment at public schools.
Leadership training and encouragement of community service foryoung people is a major area of interest for Rotary clubs. Thedistrict-wide Rotary Youth Leadership Program brings some 50high school students together for a week in the summer at no costto the students. Several district clubs also sponsor leadershiptraining for high school students in their communities. Rotaryclubs also help fund Rotaract and Interact clubs in high schoolsand colleges.
District Rotary clubs regularly provide funds for humanitarian aidafter such disasters as Superstorm Sandy. International projectsinclude youth programs in Pakistan, clean water projects in Africa,nutritional programs for malnourished children in Colombia, andsupport for cancer treatment programs in Moldova. Contributionsto international projects are often matched by Rotary InternationalFoundation grants. District clubs continue to support RotaryInternational's Polio Plus effort to eradicate polio.
Rotary clubs are also heavily involved in supporting organizationsin their communities that provide a wide range of assistance andhelp to those in need. Rotarians donate their time as well as theirdollars and spend countless hours actively participating in com-munity projects.
District Governor Cookie Billings says that the more than 2,600district Rotarians value greatly the Rotary ideal of "Service AboveSelf" and see the opportunity to engage in philanthropy andvolunteer service as benefits of being a member of Rotary.
the Piedmont Rotarian2
District Governor's ClubVisit s October-November
10/1/2013 Western Forsyth
10/2/2013 Archdale Trinity
10/3/2013 Carthage
10/3/2013 Troy
10/10/2013 Gate City
10/15/2013 Lexington
10/17/2013 Willow Creek
10/22/2013 Alamance
10/29/2013 Greensboro Airport
11/1/2013 Reynolda
CALL FOR DISTRICTGOVERNOR CANDIDATES
Any club wishing to submit acandidate for District Governor for2016-2017 Rotary year must submithis or her name with completequalifications NO LATER thanOCTOBER 31, 2013. Forms havebeen emailed to club presidents. TheChairman of the NominatingCommittee is PDG Wes Patterson.The candidate must be available foran interview on Wednesday,November 6. Completed forms shouldbe mailed to the Rotary District Office,114 Willoughby Park, High Point, NC27265 and must be received byOctober 31, 2013.
Art: Martha Shelley 2013
Rotary District 7690 Office114 Willoughby Park Dr., High Point, NC 27265www.Rotary7690.org www.Rotary.orgMargaret Padgett, [email protected]
UPCOMING EVENTSFor more information on the events andto register, go to the district's website
(www.rotary7690.org)Click on the District & Club Database/ "Calendar"
October 10, Pinewood Country Club, Asheboro Ray Taylor District 7690 Golf Tournament
October 21, Sandler Training Event , Greensboro
November 7, High Point Country ClubTRF Banquet
SUMMIT ROTARY'S 2013-2014
BOARD MEMBERS
Greensboro, NC- Summit Rotary is proud to announce the 2013-2014 Board Members pictured with District Governor Cookie Billings,Assistant Governor Ken Keller and District Governor Elect 2015-2016 Larry Lassiter. This group of energetic individuals have anincredible year planned full of "Service Above Self" projects and fundraisers. Be on the lookout for ways to help get involved and supportyour communitythrough Rotary.
Pictured: Left to rightMike Woyahn, Jay Brennan, AG Ken Keller,DGN Larry Lassiter, Brooks Haworth(President), DG Cookie Billings, PDG Buck Campbell, Anne Murr and Cindi Hewitt.
the Piedmont Rotarian3
Organ Transplant Project Update
Our District Governor, Cookie Billings, has made organ donation awareness and signups a district wide initiativethis year. In late August we received notice that License to Give Trust Fund Commission of the State of NorthCarolina awarded District 7690 a grant of over $6,000 to help carryout this initiative. This is just one of the manylife changing and life saving projects I have witnessed in my 10 years as a Rotarian. Rotary is effective for somany reasons, but I believe it can all be summed up in the following characteristics.
Inspiration
Cookie has brought to us the inspirational story of her nephew Duncan., his battle with cystic fibrosis, near deathat age 36, and now after a double lung transplant in good health living a normal life. Duncan's story was in the Julyissue of the Piedmont Rotarian. If you missed it, I strongly encourage you to find it in the archives and read it. Youtoo will be inspired. Few of us have been where Duncan has been, but it's because of a total stranger and theirdecision to be an organ donor that Duncan is with us today. To me organ transplants are a modern day miracle.
Motivation
For over 100 years Rotarians have been motivated to improve the human condition in countless ways. Duncan'sstory and Cookie's relationship with him have motivated her to make organ transplant awareness and increasingdonation in District 7690 a Rotary initiative.
Are you motivated enough to be an active participant in this project? Here are some statistics that I hope will helpyou. At the time of this writing there are 119,077 Americans, 3,461 of which are North Carolinians, waiting for a lifesaving transplant. Many will die within a year without one. The good news is that in 2012, 28,051 Americans, 954North Carolinians, received life saving transplants. The bad news is that 6,433 Americans, 205 North Carolinians,died waiting. The last statistic can and should be changed. We simply need more people willing to be donors.Of course numbers are numbers and if that doesn't motivate you, perhaps this will. As with Cookie's family experi-ence, you or some one in your family may in the future need a life saving organ. Need for organ transplantscrosses all socio-economic lines. If needed, wouldn't you want an organ to be available to you or a loved one?
Perspiration
There is more good news. Very little perspiration (effort) and no money on your part are required. You simply needto make the decision to be a donor and sign up. Also be sure to inform your family. If you are already a donor,thank you, and PLEASE ask family members and friends to be donors. We have established a very doable goal ofone new registered donor for each Rotarian in District 7690. That equates to approximately 2,700 new donors.
Here's what you need to do. Register online at www.donatelifenc.org. It will take you through the process in just afew minutes. Be sure when you reach the "how did you hear about us" question that in the drop down box you click"special events." Then click Rotary 7690. That allows us to track our progress and credits District 7690 for ourefforts. Another method is to use paper enrollment forms which are available from your club or from the RotaryProject Manager, Rebecca Howorka. You can reach Rebecca at [email protected]
If you have any questions or concerns the www.donatelifenc.org web site has a wealth of information. Also, feelfree to contact me, Ken Burkel 336-397-7101. Over 28,000 lives were saved last year because of people just likeyou, your friends and relatives agreeing to be donors. At the end of the day inspiration, motivation, and perspira-tion all boil down to one thing, getting the job done. Let's get the job done and reach our goal of 2700 new regis-tered donors. Thank you for reading this article and our informative newsletter. The first one to contact Cookie [email protected] wins a free lunch with Cookie and their Assistant Governor!
Cookie, Duncan, and especially all those awaiting a transplant thank you for putting "service above self."
the Piedmont Rotarian 4
HOW DOES THE PAUL HARRIS SOCIETYMAKE A DIFFERENCE?
Rotary has been serving communities here at home, and around the world, for over 100 years. Your continuedsupport of The Rotary Foundation brings lasting and positive change to communities in need, and inspiresothers to join our efforts to do good in the world.
Named after Rotary's founder, the Paul Harris Society recognizes those who annually contribute $1,000 or moreto the Annual Fund, Polio Plus, or an approved Foundation Grant.
Rotary Foundation activities work to improve communities while forging life-long partnerships and grass-rootsexpertise. Giving at a Paul Harris Society level is crucial for Rotarians to continue their good works-from localprojects to our continued efforts to rid the world of Polio. Less than 3% of Rotarians contribute at or above thePaul Harris Society level, yet it represents over 35% of the Foundation's Annual Fund contributions (whichsupports global grants, district grants, polio eradication, vocational exchanges, scholarships and more).
To join you can:
1) Notify your District PHS Coordinator, PDG David McCoy, [email protected] and he will guideyou through the easy process of becoming a Paul Harris Society member.
2) You can also contribute online at www.rotary.org/contribute or contact Dave who can help you set this up.Rotary Direct, Rotary's recurring giving program, is a great way to join the PHS in a safe, secure and easy way.This can be done monthly, quarterly or even annually. For less than $85 per month you can become amember and it is tax deductible.
PHS gifts advances world understanding, goodwill, and peace by supporting Rotarian initiated activitiessuch as:
- Giving vocational training to teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa - Providing water filters, toilet blocks, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis in a community in India - Funding a scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments to minimize mortality
rates among premature babies - Bringing peace-building seminars to 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda - Distributing insecticide-treated mosquito nets and offering medical services that help prevent malaria in Mali
Projects like these rely on the ongoing gifts from passionate individuals like you.
I sincerely hope you will consider joining this growing group of Rotary Foundation supporters.
-PDG David McCoy
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Rotary Youth Exchange is one of the most exciting and rewarding opportunities for our clubs,members, and youth in communities around the world. This year our district is focused on buildingthe capacity for Youth Exchange and expanding our numbers of youth who travel to district 7690and exchange with students around the world. Please consider contacting your local high schools,speaking to interested families, and developing host families for the coming year. Students whohave been on a Rotary Youth Exchange describe the experience as a life changing opportunity.
This is a program in which the families and children of Rotarians are eligible and encouraged toparticipate. The program is for youth 15 to 18 1/2 years old. The cost of a youth exchange isrelatively low since Rotarians organize volunteer services for food, lodging, and coordinating thecountry exchange. Parents of exchange students purchase a round trip ticket to the country andthe required insurance, which costs $69 for a short term summer exchange and approximately$740 for an outbound long term one-year exchange. Rotary clubs may share information withinterested students and families by accessing the website www.exchange.org.
ESSEX (Eastern States Student Exchange) is a Rotary organization in which our district holds amembership in order to coordinate cultural youth exchanges to promote peace and goodwill. Theirwebsite (www.echangestudent.org) provides all the information that a club and family wouldneed to take advantage of the program. Rotary numbers over 1.2 million Rotarians in more than32,000 clubs to create the extensive network that provides support for Youth Exchange. Yourservices with youth in our community will promote relationships that last a lifetime. There are over8,000 student exchanges each year in the Rotary world. Our district has sponsored youth fromGermany, Chile, Thailand, Taiwan, Peru, and other countries.
This summer, the Kernersville Club sponsored a short term exchange student with a district inItaly. The Gate City Club and the Airport Club are sponsoringa long term exchange student from Germany. The YouthExchange program is an exciting experience that awaitsyour clubs.
"What a wonderful opportunity I was given, from both the Rotary club and my family, to spread my wings, tastethe culture, and live the life."
-US exchange student to Australia -Tanya FeaginsYouth Exchange District Officer [email protected]
District Govenor Cookie Billings with theGerman exchange student "Meret"
the Piedmont Rotarian 6
October 2013 Sandler EventOur District 7690 Sandler Training Polio Seminar will be held at the Koury Convention Center in Greens-boro on Monday October 21, 2013. At this seminar Sandler Training is offering a fast-paced, thoughtprovoking day of sales, management and leadership training sessions to help increase sales, improveproductivity, and grow business. And all net proceeds from this event are donated to RotaryInternational's efforts to eradicate polio. Registration will be open until October 10 so you have time toregister for our district's signature Polio fundraising event. If you will not be able to attend you can stillsupport our District 7690 campaign to eradicate polio by donating to the event. And if you donate to theSandler Training Polio event your donation will be posted to your TRF account and you can receive credittoward your Paul Harris Society commitment.
Polio eradication is the signature project of Rotary and the Sandler Training Polio Seminar is the signa-ture polio fundraising event for District 7690. We truly are "this close" to eradicating this horrible diseasefrom the face of the earth, but until every child is safe no child is safe.
Polio can and does cross borders, including ours! Although the number of wild polio virus cases in thethree remaining endemic countries of Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Pakistan is reduced from last year, thetotal number of WPV cases is increased, precisely because polio can and does cross borders. We haveseen a breakout of WPV in the Horn of Africa because someone from West Africa crossed a border.Rotary has just approved a $500,000 emergency response grant for Somalia where the majority of thesecases have been identified.
As part of the "Endgame Strategic Plan" endorsed by the World Health Organization Executive Board andadopted by the World Health Assembly, Rotary is committed to the ultimate goal of eradicating polio bythe end of 2014 and ensuring that the disease is gone forever by 2018. Bill Gates and the Gates Founda-tion have issued another challenge match to Rotary and will match 2 to 1 for every dollar donated byRotarians up to US 35 million dollars per year for the next five years, or over 500 million dollars.
By registering and/or donating to the Sandler Training Polio Seminar you can leverage your donationthrough the Gates Foundation challenge match and satisfy your Paul Harris Society commitment. Visitwww.training.sandler.com or the District 7690 website at www.rotary7690.org for more information and toregister or donate.
It's About Membership!It's About Membership!It's About Membership!It's About Membership!It's About Membership!Our Fall Seminars yielded informative membership news as Paula Matthews, our Zone 33 & 34 MembershipCoordinator, reminded us of our goals for this year:
1.Build Stronger Clubs *Engage and Retain * Encourage Diversity * EncourageParticipation * Develop Leaders * Encourage Strategic Planning * Increase Foundation Giving2.Goal: 1.3 Million in Membership by July 2015 and 91.5% Retention Rate3.Foster Innovation & Flexibility
Don't be afraid to use service activity to count as a meeting or have meetings without meals to save on cost.So many good ideas were offered for attraction and engagement -here are a few more:
-Create Team Competition-Remember the 4 P's: People, Passion and Projects with Purpose-Build on Our District Theme of "One Member Per Member" and Get Members to Make the Ask-Have Your Elevator Speech Ready-Give Out Sponsor Pins, Send "We Miss You" Cards, Wear Your Pins-Plan Business After Hours Socials, Have Engaging Programs, Spotlight Members
We'll offer more ideas, stay tuned next month. But in the meantime, go out and ask, "Have you ever been in aservice club before?" Do it this week and you'll surprised at the result!
Cindi Hewitt/Cory Newton , District 7690 Membership Co-Chairs
CLUBS MEMBERS CURRENT MONTHLY MONTHLY % CLUB IDAS OF 6/30/13 MEMBERS MEETINGS ATTEND NO.
Rotary Club Central: The following resources are available to all members in the Learning Center, located on My Rotary (www.rotary.org/myrotary) under Learning & Reference.
Promotional Flier – highlighting the advantages of using RC Central to have all goals and progress data in one place and accessible for all members to view, which fosters continuity in leadership, transparency, and realistic goal setting.
Rotary Club Central: What’s in it for you? – webinar providing a general overview of the tool and user experiences on the benefits.
PowerPoint Presentation – provides an overview of the tool, including navigation and how to view and enter goals. This may be a helpful resource for training events.
Club Reference Guide and District Reference Guide – contains step-by-step instructions on the how to view and set goals in each goal category. Includes information on additional functionality available to district leaders.
PETS Planning Worksheet – contains a list of all the goals a club can set in RC Central.
Membership Reports – webinar providing an overview of RC Central, how to interpret the membership data, and why it’s important: https://vimeo.com/74770383.
My Rotary (www.rotary.org/myrotary)
Registration and sign-in tips - http://sites.rotary.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/pdf/rotary_web_registration_tips_EN.pdf
Announcements – under Member NewsAnnouncements (or on your profile page after logging in), you can see website issues we have been made aware of and are working to resolve.
Videos – o Public site video tour – http://vimeo.com/73964180 o My Rotary video tour – http://vimeo.com/73963261 o Brief and fast-paced overview - http://vimeo.com/73694281
*In the future, we are looking to add these videos and more resources on the website under the Learning & Reference section.
