Rotary District 7620 Newsletter October 2019 INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Membership Summit Summary 1 Upcoming Events 2 Rotary Leadership Institute 3 Carroll County Oktoberfest 4 Bonds Meadow’s 25th Anniversary 4 Rotary Featured in Carroll Times 5 CTC’s Health Project in Nigeria 6 Dr. Sever’s Ending Polio Strategy 7 Rotaract 8 53rd Annual Oyster Festival 9 Murder Mystery Dinner 9 Disaster Aid USA 10 World Polio Day on October 24 11 Quote of the Month 11 By Quentin Wodon, District Membership Chair On September 14, some 70 Rotarians gathered at Howard Community College for our District’s membership summit. After a great breakfast, Emcee Jennifer Coppit introduced Peter Kyle, Rotary International (RI) Director-Elect for zone 33, and Barton Goldenberg, our District Governor, for the opening session on the importance of membership. While membership in Rotary has remained stable globally at around 1.2 million members for the last two and a half decades, membership is growing in Asia but we are losing about 5,000 members per year in the United States. RI is testing various new strategies for growth, including a Membership Leads Program (whereby individuals declaring interested through the Rotary International website are referred to Districts), direct club outreach with training provided by RI staff, and new models for membership as well as a marketing pilot. At the level of our district as well, DG Barton mentioned several new initiatives that were discussed during the summit. The first session of the summit focused on how to generate and close “leads”, namely prospective members. Presenters included Monica Smith and PDG Jay Kumar on youth, corporate, family, and other memberships. Many clubs are proposing reduced cost membership to specific categories, such as individuals under 35 years of age or spouses of Rotarians. Corporate memberships are another alternative to grow the membership. Next, Ashley Waters talked about new initiatives related to social media, including our district’s digital marketing pilot. The aim is to use social media advertising to drive potential new members to area “meet and greet” opportunities so that multiple clubs in those geographic areas can introduce participants to Rotary and their particular club. Think of Open Houses on steroids, with support from digital marketing to drive interest from target groups in local communities to come to the events. Finally, Sonia Liu demonstrated how the new Customer Relationship Management module in DACDB can be used by clubs to manage potential leads more effectively. Moving forward, we are encouraging all clubs to use the CRM module for prospective new members. (continued on page 2) ROTARY MEMBERSHIP SUMMIT: A QUICK SUMMARY [Above] 70 Rotarians convened for the Rotary Membership Summit on September 14, 2019.
Transcript
RotaryDistrict 7620Newsletter
October 2019INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Membership Summit Summary 1
Upcoming Events 2
Rotary Leadership Institute 3
Carroll County Oktoberfest 4
Bonds Meadow’s 25th Anniversary 4
Rotary Featured in Carroll Times 5
CTC’s Health Project in Nigeria 6
Dr. Sever’s Ending Polio Strategy 7
Rotaract 8
53rd Annual Oyster Festival 9
Murder Mystery Dinner 9
Disaster Aid USA 10
World Polio Day on October 24 11
Quote of the Month 11
4
By Quentin Wodon, District Membership Chair
On September 14, some 70 Rotarians gathered at Howard Community College for our District’s membership summit. After a great breakfast, Emcee Jennifer Coppit introduced Peter Kyle, Rotary International (RI) Director-Elect for zone 33, and Barton Goldenberg, our District Governor, for the opening session on the importance of membership. While membership in Rotary has remained stable globally at around 1.2 million members for the last two and a half decades, membership is growing in Asia but we are losing about 5,000 members per year in the United States. RI is testing various new strategies for growth, including a Membership Leads Program (whereby individuals declaring interested through the Rotary International website are referred to Districts), direct club outreach with training provided by RI staff, and new models for membership as well as a marketing pilot. At the level of our district as well, DG Barton mentioned several new initiatives that were discussed during the summit.
The first session of the summit focused on how to generate and close “leads”, namely prospective members. Presenters included Monica Smith and PDG Jay Kumar on youth, corporate, family, and other memberships. Many clubs are proposing reduced cost membership to specific categories, such as individuals under 35 years of age or spouses of Rotarians. Corporate memberships are another alternative to grow
the membership. Next, Ashley Waters talked about new initiatives related to social media, including our district’s digital marketing pilot. The aim is to use social media advertising to drive potential new members to area “meet and greet” opportunities so that multiple clubs in those geographic areas can introduce participants to Rotary and their particular club. Think of Open Houses on steroids, with support from digital marketing to drive interest from target groups in local communities to come to the events. Finally, Sonia Liu demonstrated how the new Customer Relationship Management module in DACDB can be used by clubs to manage potential leads more effectively. Moving forward, we are encouraging all clubs to use the CRM module for prospective new members. (continued on page 2)
ROTARY MEMBERSHIP SUMMIT: A QUICK SUMMARY
[Above] 70 Rotarians convened for the Rotary Membership Summit on September 14, 2019.
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2 | NEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019
UPCOMING EVENTSOctober 24World Polio Day BreakfastNational 4-H Conference Center
November 3Rotary Foundation Dinner 5:30pm to 8:30pmManor County Club
November 16Rotary Leadership InstituteFrederick
November 21 or 22Youth Conference sponsored by Rotary Club of Washington DC
February 8, 2020PETS (A) Bowie
February 22, 2020PETS (B) Columbia
February 22, 2020Rotary Leadership InstituteTowson
Chesapeake PETS March 5-7, 2020
May 8-10, 2020Rotary District ConferenceHyatt Golf Resort and SpaCambridge
May 16-17, 2020Rotary Leadership Institute New Faculty and Refresher Training in Annapolis
June 6-10, 2020Rotary InternationalConvention
(continued from page 1)
The second session focused on ways to grow clubs and exploit the new flexibility in club meetings (such as holding only two traditional meetings per month, and allocating more time to service work). Jennifer Coppit talked about satellite clubs – these are essentially mini-clubs with a minimum of 8 members who typically meet separately from their sponsoring club, but are full Rotarians and members of the sponsoring club. Satellite clubs can be used as a way to expand membership, for example in a specific local community, or with a particular group of individuals such as employees of a local organization or corporation. Satellite clubs can also serve as a “test drive” before chartering a new club, which requires at least 20 members. Mark Rom and Mary Barry talked next about how to nurture new members and make sure that they are fully engaged in the activities of their new clubs. One approach used by several clubs is the “red to blue badge” list (other labels are used as well), whereby new members are asked to perform a number of tasks as they join their new club. The aim of these tasks is to make sure that the new members are fully engaged, while also learning about Rotary. One activity often required is to visit another club. Finally, Lynn Holec and Chris Zabriskie talked about the importance and potential benefits of club flagship events, including for membership. Many clubs in our district have been successful in organizing such signature events, which have strengthened their presence and visibility in their community.
The last session was about retaining and growing members. Daniel Fisher
talked about the importance of engaging new members in service activities, with a presentation (with lots of pictures!) of the many opportunities for service that are available in his club. Frank Andracchi also talked about service, and more broadly about how his club engages new members through multiple committees and “lanes” or avenues of service. Pam Kreis talked about the opportunities for new (as well as not so new) members to learn more about Rotary (or refresh their knowledge) by attending trainings sessions organized
by the Rotary Leadership Institute. Finally, DG Barton Goldenberg talked about the fact that the upcoming Rotary Family Vacation & District Conference 2020 will have a discount rate for new members … as well as yachts for hospitality suites!
He showed a great video featuring the Hyatt Golf Resort & Marina in Cambridge, Maryland, where the conference will be held on May 8-10. Barton also mentioned his call for action for youth initiative whereby a series of events will be organized by Rotaract and Rotary clubs throughout the district in coming months.
This was a fun and interesting day, and I will try to go more in depth in some of the topics that were discussed in subsequent articles for the District newsletter! If any of the topics mentioned above resonate with you or your club, do not hesitate to contact the individual Rotarians who generously gave their time at the summit to share their experience and expertise. We will also put together a number of resources from the event and post them on the district’s website in coming weeks. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me by phone or email at [email protected].
ROTARY MEMBERSHIP SUMMIT: SUMMARY
By Sean McAlister, District Rotary Leadership Institute Chair
“Action without vision is wasted, and vision without action is just a dream. Action with vision brings hope to the world.” ~ Past TRF Trustee, Luis Vicente Giay, Address to 1996 Rotary Convention, Calgary, Canada
The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is a training program established to substantially improve the Rotary knowledge and leadership skills of the future leaders of Rotary clubs and districts.
Its program consists of three full-day sessions. Trainers are carefully selected from among Rotarians with outstanding leadership abilities and prepared to conduct innovative and participatory course sessions.
RLI believes in course sessions with as much discussion/participation as possible. Discussion breakout sessions are limited to approximately 10-15 persons. Lectures are strictly limited. Course methods include discussion groups, role playing, problem solving workshops, and creating projects. Everyone participates during one of the Institute’s sessions. A course workbook containing an Institute Manual, session program agendas, faculty listings, and course outlines and materials, is
provided to each attendee.
The next RLI training program is at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Frederick, MD on Saturday, November 16th from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm. A light breakfast and lunch are included. The deadline to register is Monday, November 11th at www.rli33.org.
If your club cares about its future, it will want the best leadership possible. This
is an outstanding opportunity for each club to improve the Rotary knowledge of its key people, who will also be exposed to new ideas of leadership. The exchange of ideas with other experienced Rotarians alone makes the courses worthwhile. Please contact District RLI Chair, Sean McAlister, at [email protected] if you have any questions.
NEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019 | 3
[Above, L-R] District Governor Rich Glover initiated Brock Messenger as the newest member of the Crofton Rotary alongside incoming President James Harvey at the Crofton Rotary Club’s annual Installation dinner on July 24. Members of the Parole Rotary Club, the Annapolis Evening Rotary Club, Parole Community Association and employees of Doubletree Hotel gathered on August 24 to load back packs for students at Mills Parole Elementary School.
ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE NOVEMBER 16 IN FREDERICK
The Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow celebrated our official charter night on September 14, 1994. The sponsoring club was the Rotary Club of Westminster which first gathered a committee in January, 1994 to consider giving birth to a new Rotary club. After reporting back in March, the Westminster Rotary Club in April voted 26 to 6 in favor of beginning a new club. Those opposed were concerned that members might leave the Westminster club to join a new club. A committee of four selected Tuesday morning as the day to hold future meetings, hoping that a breakfast meeting would attract a new age and demographic group. Bullock’s Airport Inn was chosen as our meeting location. We later moved to Wilhelms, Best Western, and now Carroll Lutheran Village.
Within four weeks 25 members of the new club had been recruited and soon 17 more were added. Most were new to Rotary. When Westminster was chartered the area of the Airport Inn was merely a meadow, owned by the Bond family. The area became known as Bonds Meadow, a name adopted by the new Rotary club. 42 Rotarians became members of the new club. The “father” of our club was PDG Ken Shook. The first president was Melvin Mills. Within 10 years of our founding, the club had 70 members. From the beginning, women were always part of our club.
Special fund raising events by the club over the years have included a St. Patrick’s Day corn beef Dinner, spaghetti dinners, a classic car show, basket bingo, selling the monopoly game of Westminster,
Hearts of Gold banquet, the Rotary Roast, Oktoberfest and, in 2010, a raffle for a getaway to Jamaica.
Many dollars have been given to worthy causes over the years from a $200 donation to victims of the 1995 Oklahoma bombing to $1000 to the Literacy Council of Carroll County. We initiated an international project to combat Riverblindness in Tanzania where we also provided insecticide-treated bed bets, latrine slabs, and supported the combating of Burkitt’s Lymphoma, all in partnership with the Rotary Club of Dar Es Salem and World Health IMA. A key person in this project with Hatim Karimjee of Tanzania, a Rotarian who helped raise funds and who hosted Rotarians from Bonds Meadow when we traveled to participate in the Riverblindness project.
The club assembled over 1000 Safe Motherhood Kits, a service project initiated by Pat Amass, sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Haiti. Along with other Carroll County Rotary Clubs we are currently supporting a water project in India, providing clean water to 14 schools and 1 village. It is estimated that the project will provide clean drinking water to 25,000 persons. With Rotary International, we have supported Polio Plus and the Rotary International Foundation. With a monthly donation we presently support a Compassion Child in Haiti.
Locally, one major community project in the club’s early years was to provide games and supervision for the YMCA Teen Time. (continued on page 8)
[Above] The Paul Harris Fellow recipients at the 25th anniversary of the Bonds Meadow Rotary Club on September 24, 2019.
[Above] The front page of the Sunday, September 8, 2019, Carroll County Times featured Rotary projects (see article on page 5)
25TH ANNIVERSARY OF BONDS MEADOW ROTARY
NEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019 | 5
By Akira Kyles [Excerpted from the Carroll County Times, September 8, 2019]
From India to the Bahamas, Rotary Clubs in Carroll, Maryland extending relief efforts abroad
Two women draw water from a dug well, a typical rural source of unfiltered water, in Purulia District in eastern India. Local Rotary Clubs have helped with a project to give 17 schools and a village there clean water. (Paul Mahata / Courtesy photo)
Maryland Rotarians, including from Mount Airy and Westminster, have pooled together to lend a helping hand abroad through a project in India and plans for relief in the storm-ravaged Bahamas. Nine Maryland Rotary Clubs pooled together for an international relief project in India to give 17 schools and one village clean water. The nine clubs raised money in about six months after the approval of the project in Purulia District in eastern India in 2016. “These projects are called Global Grant Projects, and they’re really big projects, typically $50,000 to $60,000,” said Paul Mahata, Mount Airy Rotary Club Foundation chair. “These projects last two to three years.”
Mahata, project manager of the Global Grant project, grew up in India and is familiar with the area. He expected the project to be complete this winter.
“I know that area well, how much they needed — clean water and sanitation,”
he said. “So, it is based on familiarity of the area and also the needs that the people have. It’s a very poor area of India; the average income in that area is about two dollars a day, it’s a rural
area. So, that’s why we chose that area.”
Along with helping with the project in India, Mahata will be venturing out to the Bahamas with other Rotarians to aid in relief efforts in response to widespread damage and flooding brought by Hurricane Dorian.
“We are doing several initiatives,” Mahata said. “From Maryland, we have a group called Disaster Aid USA, which is headquartered in Lanham,
Maryland. I’m part of that group and we are going there probably in one or two weeks to help out, especially providing water filters, and also providing generators and things like that.” Disaster Aid USA, organized by Rotarians, sends volunteers to places that could be flooding or experiencing a hurricane or wind damage. They also help with other
natural disasters like earthquakes, fires or lava flows. After a disaster, they help assess the damage and bring people back on their feet as soon as possible, according to Mahata. “We go after one or two weeks and assess the needs of the people,” he said. “It’s more of a relief operation and helping them probably build homes, or get them on their feet and give them some resources they might need to get back on their feet.” The Rotarians with Disaster Aid USA raise funds in response to different disasters. The organization is fortunate if they can raise $200,000 to $300,000 a year, according to Mahata.
The funding for the Global Grant Project is contributed by each of the nine Maryland Rotary Clubs, each
of which donated $2,000, plus a Rotary District match and a Rotary International grant that brought the total to $52,516, according to David Highfield of the Westminster-based Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow.
The Rotarians’ efforts in India are still ongoing, with three schools still underway to get clean water, according to Highfield.
The project has been able to provide clean water to 14 high schools and one village so far,
providing clean water to about 26,000 persons in total, Highfield said in an email.
“I feel very satisfied that we could help the people who need it the most,” Mahata said.
According to Mahata, the next project might be in Kenya, Africa, within the next year if the site is approved.
FROM INDIA TO THE BAHAMAS, ROTARY CLUBS IN CARROLL, MARYLAND EXTENDING RELIEF EFFORTS ABROAD
6 | NEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019
By Ariama Long
It was the harmattan season in Nigeria. At the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, two Rotarians, Harsana Showunmi and past-President Alvin Thompson from the Columbia Town Center Rotary Club, were welcomed, caught their ride and headed into town. They zipped through the occasional village among big homes and office buildings in the hazy afternoon and observed the bright colored vehicles and store fronts in the glistening sun.
This city, however, was not even close to the final stop on their journey. After retreating to the hotel near her brother-in-law, Kolade, Showunmi and the guys settled in for the night. Before sunrise they set out for Gombe state. It would be ten long hours later before the team would finally arrive at their destination.
Arriving in Kaltungo Local Government in Gombe, the team was there to attend
the cervical cancer screening event, a major achievement of their international Cervical Cancer Education Project. This entire program and the screening event was the product of hard work and team collaboration initiated and
led by Columbia Town Center Rotary Club. Collaborations involved on-the-ground partnerships with the Kaltungo Rotary Club and Better Health Initiative for Women and Children Inc. (BHIWC Inc.) and additional financial support from Rotary District 7620 and Columbia-Patuxent Rotary Club.
The project started with cervical cancer prevention talks and presentations for over 600 women. It included the distribution of 1,000 informational pamphlets to the community. At the end of the two-day cervical cancer screening event, 150 Nigerian women were screened for this preventable disease, free of charge, at two separate health care centers in Gombe State.
Bukar, who was present for the event, noted that the women were happy, willing, eager, and grateful to the staff and volunteers for the screenings. “This sensitization program of cervical cancer, doing lectures for women, has impacted a lot of knowledge of what cervical cancer is, to all the women that attended the screening,” said Barrister Maryam Bukar, BHIWC Chief Operating Officer and Rotarian member of Kaltungo Rotary Club.
May 2019, all results were in and 98.6 percent of the screening results are negative, rounding out the whole project on a positive note.
One woman went back to the hospital a follow-up pap smear in July and after confirming findings that the abnormal cells were precancerous, underwent a LEEP procedure to remove the cells. Bukar translated for the client as she spoke about her experience with the organization. “I really appreciated the help,” said the patient, whose name has been omitted. “I am very happy. And may God increase the knowledge and the power of this organization to keep on doing this kind of program. I will continue to tell people about this program.”
Education normalizes prevention through screening and combats any stigma there may be about female health issues. When we educate about the importance of cervical cancer screenings, awareness increases, costly treatments can be avoided and lives can be saved.
IN THE FIGHT AGAINST THE BIG C, IT TAKES A VILLAGE
[Above] Barrister Maryam Bukar giving out cervical cancer pamphlets and presenting to a group of women in Kaltungo Local Government, Gombe State
[Above] Harsana Showunmi (middle) with Kaltungo Rotary Members speaking to the women on the day of the screening event
[Below] Attendees of the cervical cancer screening event with Rotary members from Columbia Town Center and Kaltungo Rotary Clubs present.
INEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019 | 7
ROTARY’S STRATEGY TO END POLIO BY PDG DR. JOHN SEVER AS PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 2019 ROTARIAN MAGAZINE
By Monique S. Toussaint, District Rotaract Chair BONDS MEADOW
ROTARY CLUB’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
(continued from page 4)
We helped with a holiday party at the Boys and Girls Club of Westminster, volunteered at a Fall Fest booth, sponsoring the July 4th fireworks, sponsored youth to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards conference, cleaned up a walking trail, walked in the Relay for Life, and rang the Salvation Army bells. We continue to distribute dictionaries to 3rd graders, collect school supplies for Shepherd’s Staff, fund two scholarships for high school students in memory of deceased member Randy Rager, run a speech contest for high school
students, fix up houses with Habitat for Humanity, and, in cooperation with the Women’s Club of Westminster, read Dr. Seuss books to kindergarten and first grade students as Sandymount Elementary. that had been to Australia.
As much as anything, our 25 years have been about friendships and relationships among member Rotarians.
All of us have done our best and supported each other by living the four way test and by living our motto “Service Above Self.” Happy 25th anniversary, Rotary Club of Bonds Meadow!
ROTARACTORS SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES
8 | NEWS CONNECTION | OCTOBER 2019
[Above] Barton Goldenberg, District 7620’s Governor for 2019-20, shared his vision for the District for the upcoming year and gave public speaking tips to the Rotaract Club of Washington DC during their monthly meeting on September 18.
[Above] The Rotaract Club of Howard County held a Back-to-School drive on August 22 and was able to fill 26 backpacks with binders, spiral notebooks, paper, crayons, and so much more.
[Above] The Rotaract Club of Howard University held a professional development event featuring panelists from their sponsor Rotary Club of Dupont Circle on September 18. Rotarians provided tips on starting and growing in
your career.
By PDG Bob Parkinson
Save the dates - October 19-20, 2019 - then be there! Join the Rotary Clubs of St. Mary’s County, Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown and Lexington Park for a day of fun and food. Something for every palate and every age. It is not just about oysters. Bring your club Rotarians and your friends. Visit our website: get your tickets now, register to volunteer and get a free entrance pass, and be a sponsor. All of this is available with a few keystrokes on your computer or cell phone. Website is https://usoysterfest.com/
All proceeds go to charity, currently the major project is establishing the Feed St. Mary’s Food Bank which is supported by all St. Mary’s Rotary Clubs. In addition, scholarships for high school graduates, dictionaries for all third graders, Christmas in April, New Little Free Libraries, Marco Polo Award, Stephen’s Fund, prosthesis project in India, just to name a few of the ways we serve our community and our world.
By Bob Grill, President of DAUSA; and Paul Mahata, Chair of District Disaster Relief Committee
District Disaster Relief Committee in coordination with the Disaster Aid USA has opened two deployments simultaneously to provide urgently needed relief to the victims of Hurricane Dorian: a) One deployment is for the Bahamas, and b) another deployment is for the Outer Banks of North Carolina. In the Bahamas, 150 family tents will be installed with bed rolls, solar lighting, water filters, and hygiene products. Each tent with these items can house 5-7 family members. About 170,000 people have been displaced. We are requesting each club to adopt a family tent with $500, so that a displaced family can live there until permanent housing could be built. UPS has offered free shipping of tents to the Bahamas. The DAUSA team is working under the direction of past RI President Barry Rassin (a Nassau resident) and collaborating with international partners from Canada, UK and Ireland. At the North Carolina front, DAUSA is working closely with DG Tracey Ivey of Rotary district 7720 to provide relief to the disaster victims of Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands in the Outer Banks. Here’s how you can help the victims of Hurricane Dorian:
To donate online go to https://disasteraidusa.networkforgood.
com/projects/80168-hurricanedorian
You can also mail a check to Disaster Aid USA at 9817 Lanham Severn Road, Lanham, MD 20706 earmark for “Hurricane Dorian”.
You can visit the website www.disasteraidUSA.com and donate through PayPal system by clicking on the “Donate” button leaving a note directing your funds to “Dorian”.
If you would like to volunteer at North Carolina, contact Paul Mahata at [email protected]
We thank all Rotarians and their friends and colleagues for past support of disaster relief. We are especially thankful to the district leadership team led by DG Barton Goldenberg for creating an awareness of the needs of Hurricane Dorian victims.
DISASTER AID REACHES OUT TO THE BAHAMAS AND NORTH CAROLINA
Newsletter Editor Bob Nelson22104 Goshen School RoadGaithersburg, MD 20882-1404Phone: 301-254-7620email: [email protected] send articles and photos by 24 October.
People of Action
“Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves.
-Paul Harris, Founder, Rotary International
Please join us for breakfast for District 7620 on World Polio Day, Thursday, October 24th.
• Location: National 4-H Conference Center, 7100 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase
• Guest Speaker: Chuck Davidson, Zone 33N End Polio Now Coordinator
• Tickets: $30/ea.
• 7:30am to 8:30am Cafe Breakfast
• 9:00am to 12:00pm Presentation
[Above] Billy Louis, Rotarian and Polio Survivor gave a presentation titled “Living with Polio” at the September 26 meeting of the Potomac-Bethesda Rotary Club (with Alan Grant thanking him for his talk). The Prince Georges’ Rotarian is available to speak at your club.
