District News / InformationRotary International President Ray Klinginsmith to visit Indiana
District Govenor Salim is pleased to announce that RI President Ray Klinginsmith and his wife Judie will be visiting our disitrict on September 24, 2010. All Rotarians from around the state are invited to attend the two events scheduled.
Carmel Rotary Club noon luncheon on September 24th held at the Oak Hill Mansion, 5801 E. 116TH Street in Carmel. Lunch is $12 and reservations are required. Please contact Judie Hagan no later than September 21st.
Friday Evening Reception and dinner hosted by PDG Jim Graham. Location and time is still to be determined. Contact Jim Graham for reservations.
Rotary International Hosting Webinar to help Clubs Develop Websites
Registration is now open for a FREE 60-minute webinar from RI called "Developing a Club Website." There will be two webinars. One will be held 13 October at 10 a.m. CDT, and the other on 20 October at 6 p.m. CDT.
Register for the 13 October, 10 a.m. webinar is at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/548070072
Register for the 20 October 6 p.m. webinar is at https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/604778209
Rotarians will also serve as panelists for the webinar. For more information about the series of free webinars offered by RI, visit http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/Multimedia/webinars/Pages/ridefault.aspx
Submitted by the Rotary International Linked In Group
The Lasting Effect of Rotary
Long time Lebanon Rotarian Russell "Doc" Hardin (think 59 years of service) recently shared with the club a very special card sent to him on the occassion of his 90th birthday. It refers to a project that occured many years ago.
“The photo is one of three schools built in rural Brazil by the efforts of Doc and the Lebanon Rotary Club. The project was initiated by Dave and Inga Randle, Peace Corps Volunteers to Brazil in 1964. A lot of little children benefited and would sure wish him a 90TH HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Thank you for all you’ve done for our local community, national and international communities. Happy Birthday and many more.
The gift that keeps on giving - Rotary!
Westfield Rotary Adopts Freedom Trail Park with new Sensory Gardens
The Westfield Rotary Club has chosen for their signature project, the planning, managment and maintaining of the Freedom Trail Park that will include a very special Sensory Garden. The partnership and collaboration with the Westfield Parks Department will provide stimulation, outdoor accessibility and joy for all persons with physical and cognitive disabilities. The Sensory Garden is unique to most in the region and in the state. Photographed is Mayor Andy Cook, who handled the ribbon cutting duties amongst a crowd of support on August 11th. The Hamilton County Autism Support Group is also participating, recently presented the Westfield Rotary Club with a check for $1,000, bringing the Rotary Club closer to their first goal of $5,000 for the Sensory Gardens. For more information or to contribute, contact Cindy Olson. To read more about the park, click here.
Rotary International Advises with New Tax Information for Rotary Clubs
Rotary International has recently issues a revised document regarding important information for non-deductibility of dues as a charitable contribution as well as important new information for clubs with with gross receipts of $100,000 or more. You can view the document here as well as in the Forms and Download section of the website.
Nominations for Rotary International Service Above Self Open
Since 1992, the RI Service Above Self Award has honored Rotarians who deomonstrate exemplary humanitarian service and embody our motto of Service Above Self. This award recognizes Rotarians for their humanitarian service, rather than their service to Rotary, and offers a means of honoring those who might otherwise go unrecognized. As of November 2009, RI directors, past RI presidents, and past Foundation trustees are ineligible. Deadline for submission is Septmber 1st. DG Najjar is interest in receiving input from the district for this honor. Please contact DG Najjar with any suggestions.
Rotary Service Day is Observe by State of Indiana
Saturday, October 2nd has been proclaimed Rotary Service Day by Governor Mitch Daniels and Rotary District 6560 Governor Salim Najjar. The expectation for this will be a statewide iniative whereby every Rotary Club in Indiana participates with service projects that showcase Rotary's desire to Build Bridges in our communities. District Governor Nominee Craig Sherman has been appointed the coordinator for District 6560 clubs. Presidents of each club are asked to share their plans with Craig by September 1st in an effort to coordinate the opportunity for the media. Craig can be reached here
Lebanon Rotary Brings Earth University to Indy
Produce more. Conserve more. Improve people’s lives. That’s the message that the Lebanon Rotary Club's latest project, Earth to Indy, is helping Monsanto and Purdue University Agronomy to deliver. By 2050, according the United Nations’ experts, our planet must double food production to feed an anticipated population of 9.3 billion people. That’s 40 percent more people from today’s 6.8 billion. Factor in a pressure for water supply, an energy-supply crunch and climate change, there are numerous obstacles to surmount.
As Hoosiers, we are used to seeing endless acres of corn and soybean fields, and many remember their first jobs of detasseling - fondly. But through the eyes of a young woman from Costa Rica, not only do our fields look very different but they hold the key to a new vision of agriculture. Catalina Mora Hernandez and her fellow students from Earth University in Costa Rica are very much aware that our world faces growing challenges. At Earth University they are learning to become agents of change through a belief that you can grow sustainable agriculture, take care of the planet and make a profit. Currently, Earth University is largely organic. This past week, Catalina was one of four students who spent a week with host families from the Lebanon Rotary Club while touring key agricultural sites with Monsanto and Purdue University’s School of Agronomy. The mission was to gain an understanding of how pivotal biotechnology will be to the future of agriculture – in producing more, conserving more and improving lives.
Pictured above from left to right: Amos (Haiti), Dennis (Cotsa Rica), Mariana (Mexico), Catalina (Costa Rica).
To read the rest of the story - click here.
Westfield Rotary Engages National Junior Honor Society
In keeping with our 2010-2011 theme of Building Bridges, the Westfield Rotary Club has set the pace by working with the National Junior Honors Society of Westfield to promote a Dodgeball Tournament for a great cause. Through team entry fees and concession sales, the NJHS presented the Westfield Rotary Club with a check for $316.00 to benefit the Sensory Park Project in Westfield. Reaching out and working with the future leaders of our communities is the framework for bridges.
Left to Right: Jim Dahl, Kalie Pluchel - Recorder, Jessica Green - Secretary, Pierce Dahl - Treasurer, Briana Leonard - Vice Pres., Priscilla Peterson - NJHS Advisor and WMS Teacher, Nate Thomas - President, and Westfield Rotary President Kurt Wanniger
Salim K. Najjar Installed as District Govenor
Salim K. Najjar, member of the Rotary Club of Carmel has been elected 2010-2011 Governor of Rotary District 6560, serving 45 Central Indiana Rotary Clubs. The installation ceremony was held at Oak Hill Mansion in Carmel by the Rotary Club of Carmel and attended by over 350 friends and Rotarians from around the state. Salim joined the Rotary Club of Indianapolis in 1982 and was an active member of several committees before serving a two-year term as a member of the Board of Directors 1988-90. He also served as a member of the Indianapolis Rotary Foundation Board in 2001-03. In 2001, Salim led the District 6560 Group Study Exchange Team to Brazil. Since then he has championed the work of the Rotary International Foundation and especially global projects. He served District 6560 as Group Study Exchange Chair or Co-Chair for five years and as Assistant Governor for two years.
In 2003, Salim transferred his membership to the Rotary Club of Carmel, where he had been regularly attending his second Rotary weekly meetings since 1998. In 2006-07 he served as President of the Rotary Club of Carmel. Salim is a 1962 graduate of Trine (formerly Tri-State) University in Angola, IN, and has resided in Indianapolis and Carmel since completing college. He is retired from Fink Roberts and Petrie, a consulting engineering firm in Indianapolis, where he was employed for 38 years, serving as the firm’s President from 1989 to 1998. He is a member of the Board of Directors of an engineering firm in Binghampton, NY and frequently serves the engineering industry as a trained Peer Reviewer.
Salim and his wife Paula are parents of six children and twelve grandchildren. He is a Paul Harris Fellow (named in honor of Paul Harris, one of Rotary’s founders), member of the Paul Harris Society and a member of the Bequest Society. His wife and two of their children are also Paul Harris Fellows. As an added emphasis to Rotary International’s 2010-11 theme of “Building Communities… Bridging Continents,” Salim, a professional engineer who designed bridges issued a call to action to fellow Rotarians to “Build Bridges.” Salim stated, “Let us work together this year on behalf of Rotary International and the Rotary International Foundation to “Build Bridges” here at home and all over the world. I also encourage community leaders in Central Indiana to consider membership in their local Rotary Club.”
Submitted by Public Relations Chair Tom Farris
Winds of Change - A message from Rotary President Ray Klinginsmith
What an amazing world! Advances in technology are happening so quickly that they cause constant changes in our businesses and professions. Yet about one-third of the world’s population is still living at a subsistence level with little change in their lives. It is a stark contrast and a cause for concern.
Rotary has both a distinguished heritage and a bright future. My primary task as president is to enhance the vitality and viability of Rotary clubs and to enable them to succeed in the midst of societal changes. This is an important task because it is the clubs that address and alleviate the root problems of society and thereby make the world a better place.
Wind of change was a new and significant phrase when I was a Rotary Scholar in South Africa in the early 1960s. It is serendipitous that the phrase that was first publicized in my host city of Cape Town is now applicable to Rotary as we contemplate the changes in society that dictate some corresponding changes in our organization. The phrase is now better known as winds of change.
We are currently enjoying a culture of innovation at Rotary International. We have the ability to look at all of our programs and practices to see if they can be improved, even as we steadfastly maintain our core values. I hope many Rotarians will take advantage of this opportunity to identify and implement improvements in their clubs and districts as well.
Rotary lives and breathes in our 33,000 clubs, and it is the clubs that improve lives by Building Communities – Bridging Continents. If we succeed in helping clubs to become Bigger, Better, and Bolder in the next year, then it will be clear that the best days of Rotary are still ahead. We are fortunate to be Rotarians! Together, we can make the world a better place!
Submitted from www.Rotary.org
Rotary International Convention Coverage
Thousands of Rotarians from around the world gathered in Montreal to celebrate Rotary's 101st Convention. Enjoy a plethora of articles and photos from the convention at www.rotary.org
The Kick Polio Out of Africa Campaign, which following the same tradition as an Olympic Torch, kicked a soccer ball across Africa prior to the World Cup to raise awareness about Polio and Rotary's promise to END POLIO NOW. This ball was signed by a host of dignitaries and was presented to RI President John Kenny upon it's arrival at Centre Bell
on the 21st of June.
Rotary Sponsors Zoo Exhibit .jpg)
The Walrus and Polar Bear Interpretive Graphics at the Indianapolis Zoo are a gift from the Indianapolis downtown club.
Nice Signage!
Action Required - Rotary Youth Exchange Committments for 2011 - 2012
Each year the youth exchange program committs to the number of students we will accept into District 6560 at the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange summer conference at the beginning of July. Each year, we committ as to the number of clubs that will host. Chairman Joe Mitchell, is asking that clubs apply to host a student for the 2011-2012 school year, and show you club's committment to the program. He will report that number at the conference.
The form available below, should be returned to Chairman Mitchell no later than June 30, 2010. Snail Mail Only. A brochure is also available below.
Form for Student Committment
Youth Exchange Brochure
Contact Rotary Youth Exchange Chair, Joe Mitchell
Andy & Elmer's Apple Dumpling Adventure - Rotary Literacy Program
Over the past three years, approximately 50,000 children have learned about the Four Way Test and about Rotary through the "Andy & Elmer's Apple Dumpling Adventure". Perhaps you have heard of the Rotary International Literacy Resource Group in Rotarian Magazine, but if you're not familiar, the RI Resource Group invites you to check out their program at the link below.
There are many ways to utilize this important program - from giving books and bookmarks to children in your local shcools, to simply keeping a few books on hand to give to guest speakers throughout the year. Our hope is that you will find the project to be a vaulable tool in helping your club to share the Four Way Test with children in your community.
More Information of Andy & Elmer Click Here
Contact Information for the Resource Group Click Here
Here She Comes, Miss America Katie Stam....
Hear Miss America, Katie Stam speak at the Fisher's Rotary Club, Friday, June 11th at 7am! The event is free, but seating will be limited, so please registered in advance at the link below. Children ages 10 and up are welcome, but should be accompanied by an adult. Fisher's Rotary meets at the Forum Corporate Conference Center, 11313 USA Parkway in Fishers. The program will be about Fostering A Service Heart in the Youth and Adults of America. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you won't want to miss!
And the Winners are.....
Awards at the district confrence this year where spread out over the the two day conference. Individual Awards were presented by District Govenor Judy Hollander as follows: The Richard Kendall Award for Service to Humanity Awards was presented to Jayne During, known to many as the Mother Teresa of Kenya; The Robert Shoemaker-Thomas Branum Award for Service to Rotary was presented to Hugh Baker, a PDG from the Indianapolis Club with a long history of service and support to Rotary; The Service Above Self Award was presented to Jim Graham for his work in Afghanistan, building a school in honor of Quadrat, RYLA receipients went to Jim Thompson and Paul Del Re; a Special recognition went to LeeAnne Nash for her creation of this website.
Club honors were presented as follow: Per Capita Giving - Attica-Williamsport; Membership - Indianapolis, Anderson Morning, and Connersville; Water is Life - Fishers; Interact - Anderson;
Presidential Award Winners: Anderson Noon, Attica-Williamsport, Carmel, Connersville, Crawfordsville, Fishers, Greencastle, Greenfield, Indianapolis, Kokomo Early Risers, Lafayette Daybreak, Lebanon, Noblesville Midday, Portland, Rockville.
Governor's Award Winners: Anderson, Attica-Willaimsport, Carmel, Connersville, Crawfordsville, Fishers, Greencastle, Greenfield, Indianapolis, Kokomo Early Risers, Lafayette Daybreak, Lebanon, Noblesville Midday, Rockville, Winchester
Congratulations to all the winners - who make Rotary the real winner! Remember, Rotary is in our hands!
Installation of District Govenor Salim Najjar
Carmel Rotary will be hosting an evening of drinks and dinner for Rotarians and their spouses to celebrate the start of a new Rotary year. Everyone is welcome to join fellow District 6560 Rotarians for the installtion of District Govenor Elect Salim Najjar and begin “Building Communities and Bridging Continents” in 2010-2011! When: Thursday, July 1st 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Where: Oak Hill Mansion located at 5801 East 116th Street Carmel, IN 46033-9307. Cost: $10.00 per person. Please RSVP to Rich Taylor
E-Clubs are Here to Stay!
After more than an hour of debate, district representative at the 2010 Council on Legislation voted Monday to make e-clubs a premanent part of Rotary International.
"This will allow Rotarians with physical disabilities or (scheduling) restraints to meet regularly and conduct service projects through the Internet," said RI Director Antonio Halalge as he presented the proposal to the Council. Representatives from Rotary's 531 districts convened in downtown Chicago last week to consider more than 200 proposals, some which would make changes to RI constitutional documents.
Submitted by seven Rotay e-clubs along with the RI Board of Directors, the measure makes permanent the six-year old e-clubs pilot project, which is set to end on June 30th. Enactment 10-06 defines e-clubs as Rotary clubs that meet electronically. A separate amendment, approved by a vote of 311 to 197, allows for two e-clubs per district. E-club members have the same responsibilities as other Rotarians to conduct service projects and promote The Rotary Foundation.
Some of the pilot e-clubs meet solely through online forums, while others combine electronics with in-person meetings. Each e-club makes that determiniation for itself. Noting that the average age of an e-club member is 47, supporters of the enactment noted that the clubs are an effective way to recruit younger Rotarians. "If our organization is to grow globally, we must embrace new ways to invite young members, " said Lucinda General, the representative from District 5510 (Arizona, USA).
The 14 e-clubs boast 360 members in 30 countries and geographical areas, and 586 service projects. E-Clubs conduct meetings in Chinese, English, Finnish, Greek, Portuguese, and Spanish. Collectively, they have contributed almost $150,000 US to the Foundation.
Visit Rotary.org to locate an E-Club.
Thanks to the Kokomo Early Risers for sumbitting this story!
The International Fellowships Newsletter available here
Rotary Fellowships are some of Rotary's best kept secrets. Fellowships are like micro-clubs on the international scene that cater to every hobby, interest, and passion that Rotatian possess. Click on the newsletter above and learn more!
Sacrificing Dignity for Polio
Twelve Members of the Rotary Club of Portland recently sacrificed their dignity for one of Rotary’s great causes – the eradication of polio. These brave Rotary members agreed to take a pie in the face at the Rotary booth during the Jay County Business Expo & Home Show. A silent auction for each of the Rotary “targets” was held throughout the two-day event. The person making the highest bid for each was awarded the opportunity to throw the pie which in most cases wasn’t thrown, but smashed and twisted into the face of the good-natured recipients. As the crowds gathered and the cheers were heard all over the exhibition hall, the Rotary booth became one of the highlights of the event.
District Speech Contest Winner - Gatons from Avon
With the focus on Community service, Rotary asked entrants to share their views and experieince on the topic "Service Above Self". The participants were required to deliver a 5 to 7 minute memorized speech. Senior Alison Gatons from the Avon Club was awarded first at the district contest held at Ball State University on March 6th. Every Rotarian attending the District Conference will have the priviledge of hearing Gatons deliver her award-winning speech. Congratluations Alison!
Thanks Pam Lyons for the submission!
Presidential and Govenor Citation Awards
Just a quick reminder that deadline for these Citation Awards is fast approaching. If you need the forms, you'll find them under the Forms and Download tab.
South Korean GSE Team Blog....
The GSE Team leaving for South Korea has set up a blog to give everyone in the district an opportunity to keep track of their journey and / or post notes.
Click here to enjoy the blog and enjoy their journey!
Submitted by Dottie Hancock, Team Leader. Thanks Dottie!
Water is Life documentary - World Premiere in Fishers, Indiana, April 17th
The Fishers' Rotary Club cordially invites everyone to join them for the Water Is Life Film Premiere & Celebration Event on Saturday April 17th at the Heartland Auditorium beginning at 7pm with VIP Party to follow. The world premiere of the Water Is Life documentary will be the centerpiece for a packed agenda, including special guests, entertainment and some celebrating!
The Water is Life project boast the goal of 100 Wells by 2011 in Africa and is supported by a growing number of clubs and districts coming together in support of a proposed global grant from The Rotary Foundation that will be applied for in April to fund this ambitious but doable number of wells that will benefit as many as 100,000 people that currently have no access to clean water.
The Heartland Auditorium is located at 9665 Hague Road (I-69 and 96th Street). The film will run from 7pm to 8:30, with the VIP party to follow until 11pm. Proceeds from tickets will serve as additional funding for this project.
Boone COunty Courthouse Lit up to END POlio NOw
Rotary clubs will light up the world to end polio - Boone County Courthouse to join in
In a reponse to RI President John Kenny's Call for Rotary Clubs to host a polio eradication awareness and fundraising activity surrounding Feb 23rd, Rotary Clubs will again light up some of the world's greatest landmarks with those three words - END POLIO NOW. "By lighting these historic landmarks with Rotary's pledge to end polio, Rotary is saying to the world that we will fight this disease to the end, " says Glenn E. Estess, Sr., chair of The Rotary Fondation, which oversees Rotary's polio eradication program. "People around the world will see these words and join Rotary and its partners in the historic effort to eradicate polio from the face of the earth".
Last year, the Sydney Opera House, Tower of London and the Roman Colisieum were amongst those lit. This year the group is led by the Egyptian Pyramid of Khafre. Other sites include the Taipei Arena, Taiwan; the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain; the Old Port Captian's Office on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa, with the world-famous Table Mountain as the backdrop; the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, Argentina; the Lake Marathon Dam overlooking the histroic Marathon Memorial Battlefield in Greece, the Royal Palace of Ceserta in Italy; a century old and architectually significant Courthouse in Boone County, IN and in the city where Rotary was founded a 105 years ago, Chicago's famous Wrigley Building.
In addition, END POLIO NOW postcards will be sent in a mass mailing to heads of state in some 40 countries worldwide, encouraging goverment to conintue or increase their commitment to polio eradication. Other examples of awareness efforts includes South Africa's Kick Polio Out of Africa with the symbolic kicking of a soccer ball in Cape Town, host city to the 2010 World Cup, through 22 high-risk countries on the continent en route to the June 2010 Rotary Int'l Convention in Montrel, Quebec, Canada.
To support our campaign to END POLIO NOW - you can text the word "polio" to 90999 or log on to www.EndPolio.org. This is a special website set up by Rotary International that should be shared with all our friends.
On Monday and Tuesday evening, Feb 22nd and 23rd, The Lebanon Rotary Club welcomes you to drive by the Boone County Courthouse and enjoy the lights!! Exit #139 off I-65 - turn north, you can't miss it.
The Rotary Foundation Alumni Association - Alumni News
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Alumni group is composed of all the people that have benefitted from a grant, scholarship, GSE or study abroad opportunity provided through the Rotary Foundation. Tucked inside the newsletter, which you can access at the link below, is a host of information that all Rotarians may find of interest, including an invitation to join the TRF Alumni on a Pub Crawl, March 5th at 8:30pm at Rathskeller Bar at the Anthenum. In addition, you'll find information on their Facebook page, the inbound GSE teams coming this spring, Ambassadorial Scholarship news, an introduction to our newest Rotary World Peace Fellow - Dr. Ian McIntosh, and a recap of a lovely Alumni Holiday gathering that was hosted by Jane Gelhausen, our District 6560 Alumni Chair.
While working the booth for Rotary at the International Festival, Suzann Shackleton was approched by a man in a kilt who let her know that he was once an Ambassadorial Scholar for Rotary and after his incredible experience and feeling such an embrace by Rotary, when it was over - he felt a void. There was no contact, nothing. The Rotary Alumni Association hopes to change that - they are seeking all who have been touched by Rotary, reaching out to them and allowing the networking amongst all of us be a blessing.
Enjoy the Alumni Newsletter Winter 2010 Here
A Word About Ambassadorial Scholarships 2011-12
Normally we would be actively seeking candidates for Ambassadorial Scholarships for 2011-12 by this time in the Rotary year. However, since we are a pilot Future Visions Plan District, we are not participating ni the Ambassadorial Scholarship program. Rather we will be offering scholarships under the guidelines of the Future Visions Plan. We expect the Rotary Foundation to issue more guidelines in April and begin to promote scholarship recruiting at that time. Rotary Scholarships are known world wide and are the olderst program of the Rotary Foundation.
Mark Weir of the Indianapolis Club will be the Scholarship Chair for the upcoming year and will be assisting Judy Bush, the current chair in selecting the recipients. Click here for more information on how the new grants will work and contact numbers.
PETS 2010 (President-Elect Training Seminar)
District 6560 and 6580 announce the 2010 Hoosier PETS, to be held at the Wyndham Hotel (formerly Adams Mark) on the southwest side of Indianapolis. The program begins at 1:00pm on March 12 and concludes at 4:30pm on Saturday, March 13. A highlight of this year's PETS is that a vendor of Rotary clothing and supplies, International Logos, will be with us to sell their wares from Friday morning through Saturday noon. Everyone is welcome to come and buy! Featured speakers for this year's seminar are Larry Lunsford, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator; Tom Ashford, Regional Membership Assistant; Craig McKee, Past President, RC of Terre Haute; and Phil Anderson, Past President, RC of Carmel. Remember: All President-Elects are requried to attend!
Click here for registration information
C.O.T.S - Club Office Training Seminar for the District - February 27th
Formerly known as the District Assembly, "COTS" or Club Officer Training Seminar will be held on Saturday, Feb 27th at The Fountains in Carmel.
A new and REQUIRED feature is Foundation Future Vision Grant Management & Qualification Training. Every club that applies for a grant, whether local or international, must be "qualified". One requirement for qualification is attendance at this training session.
The seminar is open to any Rotarian and will include small group break-out sessions for Secretaries, Treasures, Club PR chairs and Webmasters, Membership committees along with Club Service, Youth Program, Community Service and Vocational Service chairs. Last, but certainly not least, there will be an open discussion of proposed changes to the RI By-laws, which affect how we run our clubs. PDG Bill Batt will be our district delegate when all 534 RI districts meet to vote on proposed changes this year. This only happens once ever three years - your comments are welcomed.
This is excellent training and frankly a darn good time. The full agenda and registration information is available at the links below.
C.O.T.S. Agenda
C.O.T.S. Registration Form
Help for Haiti
In light of the recent earthquake and in support of our fellow Rotarians and the people of Haiti, we feel it would be a privledge for each club to have the opportunity to make a contribution towards the relief effort. We would like to suggest that each club contribute $10 per member, however, any amount is appreciated.
Our district has already pledge $1,000 and all contributions will be added to that amount. Any individuals wishing to contribute above and beyond, may send checks made payable to: World Community Service Foundation. Please put Haiti Relief on the memo line and send checks to: District 6560 Treasurer, K. Roeder, 11506 Hartford Lane, Fishers, IN 46038.
Thank you! District Govenor Judy Hollander
Noblesville MidDay Enjoys New Location
The Noblesville Midday Rotary Club announced that effective the 12th of January that they have moved to a new location. The club is now meeting every Tuesday at Noon at the Sagamore Country Club. Sagamore Country Club is located at 10900 Golden Bear Way in Noblesville. President Gloria Davis would like to invite all fellow Rotarians to be their guests at a future meeting.
It's Raining Big Bucks for Local Charities
On Tuesday, January 19th, it's going to start raining money. Big money. Hallelujah for local charities getting soaking wet! The Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis, will award $255,400 to 43 local organizations and service committees during a time when the giving barometer has hit and all time low.
More than 76% of organizations submitting letters of intent will be the beneficiaries of this financial windfall. Established in 1947, with a philosophy of "Service Above Self", The Rotary Foundation of Indianapolis supports a wide variety of community organizations. The Foundation funds approximately $300,000 annually to important community projects and programs. Since 1993, the Foundation has made over 800 awards totaling over $3.7 million to local organizations and Rotary Club of Indianpolis committee sponsored projects.
According to Rotary Club President, Julian Peebles, "Often times, people think you can't make a difference by giving a little - be it two, three, five or ten thousand dollars. To our award recipients we help them impact the community one life at a time. Cumulatively, one by one we make a huge impact. Every person and every project is important to us."
Click here to read the full release and a list of organizations that will benefit.
Disaster Chair Appointed and Forms a Team
Mike Miller of the Plainfield Club has been asked by DG Hollander to chair the Disaster Relief Committee. There are various models in place of what other Rotarian communities are doing to prepare for the possibilities that a disaster could hit us at any time. There are also ongoing programs that support disaster relief around the world. Miller is looking for Rotarians that have experience, or who simply have a heart for dealing with the trauma, grief and suffering that disaster brings to a community, to join him in creating a team to sort through the numerous possibilities available and find the right direction for the district.
If interested, please contact Mike Miller.
Clubs Interested in Hosting GSE Teams in the Springs - Speak Up!
If you have expressed interest earlier, your are asked to do so again. We will be hosting two teams: April 2 through May 2, D3590 South Korea (diverse vocational focus) and D1550 The Netherlands (public government vocational focus).
We are looking for 4 to 5 days periods during the exchange. You may request to host one or both teams. If your club has not experienced hosting a GSE Team before, you will not regret it. It is a great experience and opportunity to show our Hoosier Hospitality and promote goodwill and fellowship with friends from abroad.
Please contact Valory Myers for more information.
Rotary Indiana License Plates
The application for the 2010 Rotary Indiana License Plate is available in the Forms and Download section. The December 31st deadline only applies to new vanity plate. So this form is good year-round. A portion of the proceeds comes back to your club when you purchase a plate. If you are interested in helping to spread the Rotary word, please download and file your application today!
Rotary - There's an App for that!
There is now an I-Phone Application for Rotary that will help you find meetings and give Rotary updates. Click here to learn more.
Thanks to the Westfield Club for the notice!
Letter from RI President Kenny for February Publicity Push for Polio
RI President John Kenny has sent a request to all district govenors and clubs to support a major Public Image project to End Polio Now between the 16th of February and March 2nd, with particular emphasis on the 23rd of February, when again iconic buildings around the world will be lit with the End Polio Now message. Last year, buildings including the Opera House in Sydney and the Coliseum in Rome among others.
He asked that each club do something to make the End Polio Now campaign visiable in their community. It can be anything from spending an hour one day handling out leaflets about Rotary to having a booth at your local shopping mall collecting money to help pay for immunization for the children. He is leaving it up to each club, knowing that we are only limited by our imaginations.
Since there are many in this country who no longer remember the horrors of Polio, finding people in your local community to share their memories and stories with the press, will help everyone understand the importance and signficance of this campaign to our own communities. People relate to people, not just posters....so sharing people's stories will be impactful.
For more suggestion from RI, you can click here
Coverage from last year's campaign, click here
Sponsorship Opportunities for District Conference, April 30 - May 1, 2010 are now available.
Rotarian businesses who wish to take advantage of the advertising opportunity presented by the District Conference to reach the almost 3,000 Rotarians in Central Indiana should contact Hugh Baker. Crystal, Gold and Blue level sponsorship opportunties are available. Leveraging a partnership with Rotary will speak volumes about your corporation's committment to community - internationally and here at home. Simply put, your support of Rotary allows all of us to be more impactful! Please join us, as the Future of Rotary is in our Hands.
Happy 90th Birthday to the following Central Indiana Clubs -
Crawfordsville, Hartford City, Lebanon, Marion, Portland, Rushville, and Shelbyville
All Chartered in 1920!
January is Rotary Awareness Month
Open World Leadership Team from Ukrain,Eurasia Seeks Hosts Clubs
Rotary International is looking for clubs to host Open World Leadership Teams from Ukraine and Eurasia for 2010. This program is similar to our GSE program, however, the teams come to the U.S. for 10 days and spend 8 days and nights with host organizations. The team focus is on the Rule of Law and other civic themes.
These programs are funded by the Open World Leadership Program of the Library of Congress and almost all expenses are reimbursed by them. Club costs will vary and depend on what extras they provide, but for some clubs have not exceeded $150 - $200. If interested contact Natalia Kunzer at RI. The deadline date is December 10th, but that's not firm and action should be taken quickly.
New Peace Fellow Named from District 6560
Dr. Ian McIntosh has been named a 2010 Rotary Peace Fellow. He will spend 3 months next summer at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand at teh Rotary Center for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution. Congratulations Dr. McIntosh.
Seven Matching Grants Approved
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has approved SEVEN Matching Grants from clubs in our District for the fiscal year that started 1 July, 2009.
The biggest grant of the year is for the 14-well project of the RC of Fishers. This Major Grant for a $52,650 project was approved on 22 September. The club is contributing $15,000 (some of that amount will come from other clubs); $22,550 is from TRF World Fund; and $15,000 is from our DDF. The wells will be drilled in the Bombali District of Sierra Leone.
Another is for wells to provide safe water for two schools near Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. Attica/Williamsport is contributing $1000 and we are adding $4725 of DDF. The total value of the grant is $18,900.
The Rotary Clubs of Muncie Sunrise and of Greencastle are our contributors for a grant to perform eight kidney transplants in Mexico City. They put in $2000 and $1000 respectively and we contributed $11,850 of DDF towards the total grant of $35,200.
The RC of Carmel contributed $3092 and the District used $7000 of DDF to help provide water and filters to schools near Ecatepec, Mexico. The total funding for this grant is $22,138.
A grant for fire trucks and a rescue car in Hidalgo has received $2500 of DDF. We are working with an Illinois District and the RC of Maryville, TN on this grant with a total value of $20,125.
A grant for laundry equipment for an orphanage in Atizapan de Zaragoza, Mexico, has received $2000 from the RC of Lafayette and $5245 of our DDF. Total for the grant is $20,490.
The RC of Indy East is working with a Rotary Club in Jordan to sponsor another GIFT OF LIFE heart surgery grant. We are contributing $8000 from GOL and $5000 from DDF. The Southern Indiana district is adding $5000 of DDF and the Northern Indiana District $2500 of DDF. The RC of Amman is contributing $6700. This grant was just approved on 30 September and our surgical team left on 5 October. That is cutting the timing short!
This adds up to nearly $60,000 of DDF used for great projects so far this year plus all the club contributions. We currently have a total over 30 active Matching Grants approved and being completed. The total value of all these grants is over ONE MILLLION DOLLARS! WOW!
Congratulations to all our clubs that are participating in International Projects! PDG Bing Pratt, District Foundation Chair.
District Simplified Grants Awarded to Over Twenty Clubs
As of 1 October over TWENTY of our 45 Clubs have been awarded grants for local and international projects from the $33,000 allocated. We STILL HAVE a few $$$$ for 1 to 1 matches for a handful more. These will be evaluated in the order received. The checks to the clubs have been held up by the Rotary Foundation pending final acceptance of our DSG report from 2007-08 (It was submitted weeks ago!). Bing Pratt, Foundation Chair, will receive applications, or answer questions or get you an application for a DSG. Contact him by email, fax or snail mail.
GSE (Group Study Exhange) Team News Update:
OUTBOUND
South Korea (District 3590) Team Leader is Dotie Hancock. Travel Dates for this adventure are scheduled for February 15th through March 14th, 2010.
The Netherlands (District 1550) Team Leader is Richard Moore. Travel Dates for this adventure are scheduled for April 29th through May 30th, 2010.
Team members have been selected.
INBOUND
South Korea and The Netherlands will arrive here in central Indiana, April 2nd through May 2nd. We are currently working on scheduling their club visits and hosts.
If your club has not yet applied to host teams, please do so quickly. Please e-mail Valory Myers here. We would like to complete the assignments soon for clubs to make their plans.
Ray is an alumnus of The Rotary Foundation's Ambassadorial Scholarships program, which took him to South Africa in 1961. He has served as RI director, RI Board Executive Committee chair, Foundation trustee and vice chair, Future Vision Committee member, Council on Legislation chair, and 2008 Los Angeles Convention Committee chair. The breakfast meeting was jointly sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Anderson, Anderson Sunrise, Hagerstown, Hartford City, Muncie, Muncie Sunrise, New Castle, Portland, Union City and Winchester.
Klinginsmith then attended the Lebanon Rotary Club for lunch, where he bestowed medals to three new Paul Harris Fellows, pinned five rotarians that moved up to another level of giving, and honored a major donor in Lebanon's long-timing serving member Dr. Russel Hardin. Klinginsmith noted that he has close friends in the Lebanon community and was pleased to attend the club again, now in an official capcity as Rotary International President Elect.
Thanks to Muncie Rotary who shared in posting this story....
