rotary district 5020 newsletter november highlights the ri...

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64 Clubs done and 24 to go! What a whirlwind, but a very fun ride. Thank you to each and every Club we have visited for making our visit so special. We will have a lifetime of memories when we finish this year which is turning out much better than we thought possible. November is Foundation month and Jan and I started a little early with an “End Polio Now” trip to San Francisco October 23-25. Four Districts arranged a walk along the water front ending at the iconic Ferry Building and later in the evening on the 24 th the Ferry Building was illuminated with the “End Polio Now” laser banner. There were some technical glitches, but we enjoyed sharing the experience with AG Pete Taylor and his wife Christine. It was a pleasure getting to talk to President Ray and present him with one of our “Building Communities” tee-shirts. He was particularly pleased with the closing line “I Bring Hope”. The Rotary Foundation is the arm of RI that pays for the good works of Rotary. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions of Rotarians who share its vision of a better world. Polio eradication is certainly the most visible program the Foundation supports, but it is not the only effort the Foundation funds. District and Global grants fund all of the Club projects for clean water and sanitation, literacy, disease prevention and treatment, microcredit, economic development, and the list goes on. Ambassadorial scholarships, World Peace Scholarships, and Vocational Training Teams are all funded with Foundation dollars, your dollars. Half of the money each Rotarian gives to the Foundation comes back to the District to be used for Matching Grants of the District’s choosing. The other half goes into the World Fund and any Club can apply for larger, sustainable grants that meet one of the six (6) areas of focus of the Future Vision Plan. This month in particular I would ask that your Club have one or more programs highlighting the Foundation. This is OUR Foundation and all Rotarians need to be educated regarding its structure and purpose. On November 13 there will be a Foundation Seminar in Lacey,, WA and one or more of your members should attend. You may register at: [email protected] Volume I • Issue 5 • November 2010 Rotary District 5020 Newsletter ‘The Best Gear in Town’ November Highlights the RI Foundation by District Governor Bob Martin —See DG, page 3

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Page 1: Rotary District 5020 Newsletter November Highlights the RI ...files.ctctcdn.com/5c22840a001/b40abb1e-c2e7-4ec3... · the proposal was considered withdrawn. 4. To request the RI Board

64 Clubs done and 24 to go! What a whirlwind, but a very fun ride. Thank you to each and every Club we have visited for making our visit so special. We will have a lifetime of memories when we

finish this year which is turning out much better than we thought possible.

November is Foundation month and Jan and I started a little early with an “End Polio Now” trip to San Francisco October 23-25. Four Districts arranged a walk along the water front ending at the iconic Ferry Building and later in the evening on the 24th the Ferry Building was illuminated with the “End Polio Now” laser banner. There were some technical glitches, but we enjoyed sharing the experience with AG Pete Taylor and his wife Christine. It was a pleasure getting to talk to President Ray and present him with one of our “Building Communities” tee-shirts. He was particularly pleased with the closing line “I Bring Hope”.

The Rotary Foundation is the arm of RI that pays for the good works of Rotary. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions of Rotarians who share its vision of a better

world. Polio eradication is certainly the most visible program the Foundation supports, but it is not the only effort the Foundation funds. District and Global grants fund all of the Club projects for clean water and sanitation, literacy, disease prevention and treatment, microcredit, economic development, and the list goes on. Ambassadorial scholarships, World Peace Scholarships, and Vocational Training Teams are all funded with Foundation dollars, your dollars.

Half of the money each Rotarian gives to the Foundation comes back to the District to be used for Matching Grants of the District’s choosing. The other half goes into the World Fund and any Club can apply for larger, sustainable grants that meet one of the six (6) areas of focus of the Future Vision Plan.

This month in particular I would ask that your Club have one or more programs highlighting the Foundation. This is OUR Foundation and all Rotarians need to be educated regarding

its structure and purpose. On November 13 there will be a Foundation Seminar in Lacey,, WA and one or more of your members should attend. You may register at: [email protected]

Volume I • Issue 5 • November 2010

Rotary District 5020 Newsletter‘The Best Gear in Town’

November Highlights the RI Foundation by District Governor Bob Martin

—See DG, page 3

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The Governor’s Newsletter is published on the first of each month, is posted on the Rotary 5020 website and electronically sent by the Webmaster to Rotary International, each District officer, District Committee person, Club president and Club member who is served by the ClubRunner mail system.

Articles and pictures (including captions) should be sent to [email protected] by the 20th of each monh to be published by the first of the following month. Governor Bob’s orders: “Ignore nothing!” Articles should not contain pictures imbedded within the article and pictures should be in jpg or pdf format. If your club has an announcement for an upcoming event, it will be printed as a word formatted item unless the club prepares its own clip art to accompany the announcement. No more than 1/8 page, please.

Articles and news releases should generally be limited to 250 words. If you want additional details made available to other Rotarians, a link to your own site or other contact information should be contained in your submittal.

The Newsletter is edited by Editor Paul Alvestad and Assistant Editor Regan Gonzalez from the Gig Harbor Rotary and the rest of the Rotarians of District 5020 who submit articles for publication.

Contact Information

DISTRICT GOVERNOR

Bob [email protected]

ASSISTANT GOVERNORS

Area 1A - David Nelson [email protected] Area 1B - Lana Eagle [email protected]

Area 2A - Michael Procter [email protected]

Area 2B - Brenda Grice [email protected]

Area 3 - Roger Painter [email protected]

Area 4A - Tav McPherson [email protected]

Area 4B - Troy Alexander [email protected]

Area 5 - Pat Cooper [email protected]

Area 6A - Joanne Croghan [email protected]

Area 6B - Larry Iverson [email protected]

Area 7 - Peter Taylor [email protected]

Area 8 - John Anderson [email protected]

Area 9A - Jerry Obendorf [email protected]

Area 9B - Karen McCarthy [email protected]

Area 10 - Leon Bowman [email protected]

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even more your help. Talk to them please: Brian Beagle (Foundation Chair) [email protected]; Terry Toone (Polio Plus Challenge) [email protected]; Treacy Duerfeldt (Permanent Fund and Major Gifts Chair) [email protected]; John Hough (Vocational Training Team Chair) [email protected]; Skip Triplett (Scholarship Chair) [email protected]; and Ron Adkins (World Peace Scholar Chair) [email protected].

Be Proud and Have Fun!

DG Bob

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DG, continued from page 1

His Excellency the Right Honorable David Johnston, the new Governor General of Canada, was a 1963 Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar sponsored by the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, (District 6290).

After attending the University of Cambridge in England, he became an author, received honorary doctorates from twelve universities, and achieved status as a Companion of the Order of Canada. He served as president of the University of Waterloo, president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada, became the founding chair of the National Roundtable on Environment and the Economy, and became the only non-US citizen to chair Harvard University’s Board of Overseers.

He became Governor General on October 1, 2010. In his inaugural address as Canada’s 28th Governor General, he challenged Canadians to join him in a stepped-up journey to “support families and children, to reinforce learning and innovation and to encourage philanthropy and volunteerism” as the country approaches its 150th birthday in 2017. For our friends south of the border, the Governor General of Canada is selected by Queen Elizabeth II to serve an indefinite term to represent her to Canada and vise versa. The position generally alternates between a Francophone and Anglophone. A Companion of the Order of Canada is administered by the Governor General and is a three-tiered order that recognizes the achievement of outstanding merit or distinguished service by Canadians who, through life-long contributions in every field of endeavour, have made a major difference to Canada. It also recognizes the efforts made by non-Canadians who have made the world better by their actions.

Canada’s Newest Governor General attended Cambridge University as Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 1963

Governor GeneralDavid Johnston

or call 360-731-9956. There is a $25.00 charge for this 9:00 A.M. - 3:00 P.M. seminar.

This month would also be a great time to encourage individual donations or, even better, to hold fundraisers with the Foundation as the beneficiary. Get together with another club and share the work. Our District is very good when it comes to Foundation giving, but it can be even better with your help.

The following leaders in our District would love to answer your questions, but they would love

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Ross White: The Council on Legislation

This is the final in a three-part series by former 5020 DG (2002-03) and current CRCID Representative Ross White commenting on the Rotary International Council on Legislation (COL) held in April 2010. This article will focus on RI Administration-related enactments and proposals from District 5020.

—See COL, page 5

Travel By-lawIn a previous article I mentioned that the COL did not approve a recommendation by the RI Board of Directors in relation to fees. This is one instance where the COL, as the legislative body, made a decision that must be followed by the Board. A second instance was the approval of an enactment requiring a travel policy for senior officers of RI (past, present and future). At two precious COL’s, the Board was asked to develop such a policy. This was not done. The outcome, in an era of transparency and accountability, was that the COL adopted an enactment to force the issue. There was a lengthy debate on the merits of whether or not this should be a policy or in the by-laws.

Expense ReportingOn the issues of fiscal responsibility and transparency, two key enactments were passed. The first is to require that the RI Annual Report show all reimbursed expenses paid to and payments made on behalf of RI directors. The second is that the Rotary Foundation Annual Report show all reimbursed expenses paid to and payment made on behalf of the Trustees.

TRF Trustee AppointmntsTwo enactments relating to TRF were passed based on proposals from the USA. The first is that TRF trustees are to be nominated by the

president of RI and elected by the RI Board. The second is that TRF trustees are to be appointed in the year prior to taking office. This will enable the in-coming president to be involved in the selection of trustees.

Selection of PresidentAt the previous COL, the delegates voted in favour of a presidential nominating committee with representatives from each zone. This was in response to some difficulty in the nominating process that occurred a few years ago. Again, on the theme of accountability, the 2010 COL felt that the additional expense and merits of representation from each zone was not necessary. As such, the COL approved the re-instatement of the process whereby 17 members would constitute the committee. One year it will be representatives from even numbered zones and in the alternate year it will be from odd numbered zones. This will provide a balance, too, across the Rotary world.

Size of DistrictD5020 is one of the largest in the Rotary organization. Besides our large geographic size we are international with 87 clubs and a membership of approximately 5,100. The number of districts that are small in size

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geographically, with few clubs and minimal members, is a concern to Rotary. Such districts are not cost effective. An enactment was passed to amend the by-laws to change the number of clubs per district from 30 to 33 and Rotarians per district from 1000 to 1,200. An amendment permits the delay until July 2010 with the hope that affected districts will make an endeavour to address the problem. Otherwise, the district will be disbanded and the clubs reallocated to other districts.

District 5020 ProposalsD5020 had five resolutions before the COL. Resolutions are only recommendations to the Board. In some instances the Board may take no action, they may take no action as the proposal is contrary to RI policy, or action will be taken. Resolutions from the COL are usually addressed over a period of time. Some resolutions have been reviewed since the COL in April but the outcomes have not yet been published.

Resolutions involving D5020:1. To ask the Board to develop the practice

of Interim Charters for new clubs. This was defeated although I believe the Board is considering the topic.

2. To request the RI Board to consider implementing a new program for Rotary Peace communities. This resolution was submitted by several districts and passed with considerable support.

3. To request the RI Board to develop a funding for Rotary Action Groups. This resolution was proposed by several districts. Regretfully, the lead district did not appear at the lectern and consequently the proposal was considered withdrawn.

4. To request the RI Board to consider proposing legislation that would permit

excused attendance for medical reasons. Prior to this resolution being presented to the COL, there were related proposals that were defeated. In the interests of time, this proposal was withdrawn.

5. To request the Trustees to consider providing Matching Grants for building construction and associated volunteer service. This resolution was jointly sponsored by D5020 and District 1250, England. The resolution was defeated.

Further information on all the resolutions may be found at the RI website. These articles have only covered a few of the highlights with particular emphasis on the club and the resolutions from the district. Individuals with questions are invited to contact me.

COL, continued from page 4

The Council on Legislation prepares for the 2010 session in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

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See Disaster Aid, page 7

NOTE: Disaster Aid Canada was recently pleased to announce that LifeBox, the original Rotary Disaster Relief Box project, with over 35 years experience in providing emergency aid boxes to victims of disaster, has officially joined the Disaster Aid International partnership. They will now be supporting and deploying Disaster Aid Boxes in conjunction with Canada, Australia and the USA.

Imagine – In just 12 short weeks since Disaster Aid was formed here in Canada, we have put over 700 of our new unique Disaster Aid Family Packs into Pakistan, shipped another container of 192 to Sudan for refugee homesteads and are working on a full container with our charity partners to put into Haiti with our schools and water systems.

Another 5 of our SkyJuice Water systems are on their way to Pakistan to help stop the deaths in the camps from tainted water.

Over 21 of the 36 Canadian Rotary Clubs in district 5020 have already contributed to our cause or their members have donated personally. Most of this money will be generously matched by our Canadian Government’s Matching Grants Scheme.

Our SkyJuice water filter systems, which qualify as sustaining aid, will also allow us to apply to these matching grant funds to access some of

Rotary LifeBox Project Becomes Disaster Aid Canada; Now Up and Running and Reporting from Pakistan

Top: Canadian DART member Hal Singleton is shown with a member of ILAP (Interfaith League Against Poverty) with whom he is working in flood-ravaged Pakistan.

Below: a Pakistani family in possession of a life-sustaining tent supplied by Disaster Aid Canada and supported by 21 of 36 Canadian Rotary Clubs of Disttrict 5020.

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that same money to put further aid into both Pakistan and Haiti as there is always a need for pure filtered water.

* * *Below is a brief report from our first DART (Disaster Aid Response Team) member Hal Singleton of Chilliwack BC:

This has been an interesting deployment; my first. The dynamics of three countries (DARTS) is even more interesting!

As you know, this is a nasty deployment given that our work in the “field” must be done under heavily armed police escort. It is further exacerbated by the fact that it takes approx two hours driving time each working day to drive to the flooded area. Nevertheless, the smiles of approval that we get from the recipients far outweigh the risk. Many of these people have lost everything and so they are not only victims of the flood and filth that follows but they are also victims of daily terrorism.

It is now the 13 Sep, the last day of Eidul (Eid), a four-day period of celebration (like our Christmas) following a month of Ramadan, a month of fasting. During Eid, terrorists have been rather quiet but even today there have been reports of at least two people killed.

I can say that this deployment is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes even the lowest clerk can throw a monkey wrench into the expected normal flow of paperwork such a customs. We however, have not paid anything as of yet in

terms of bribery money as we work with great Canadian Charities who are well established here and they smooth the way.

In summary, this our first Disaster Aid International deployment is unique given the massive area of Pakistan affected by the catastrophic flood, approx the size of England, together with the need for emergency shelter, water, food and sanitation while at the same time working in an environment where level 4 security is the norm. Islamabad is level 3.

Take care and God bless, Hal Singleton

Disaster Aid, continued from page 6

Hal Singleton (in blue) and Disaster Aid relief workers with a large tent from LifeBox—also known in the U.S. as ShelterBoxes.

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Our Rotary Foundation

There are many charitable foundations within our communities seeking contributions so that each may achieve their stated service goals. For most of us, it becomes a matter of deciding on the merits of each to determine where our charitable donations will go. After my experience in Africa on a polio immunization mission, I learned that our Rotary Foundation has strengths that I do not believe can be matched by any other charitable foundation.

Each November Rotary members of the District Foundation Team explain the basic structure of our Rotary Foundation by reviewing its composition. There is the Annual Programs Fund (APF) which is the fund to which many contributions are made. This fund may be referred to as the Foundation “chequing (checking) account” that builds for three years, and is then used to support certain ongoing Rotary programs like Vocational Training Teams, Scholarship programs, and humanitarian grants.

In a shared arrangement, half of the money raised in a district is made available to the district so that its members may decide how it should be spent. The remaining half is held by the Foundation to contribute to these service programs worldwide.

We learn that the Permanent Fund (PF) is really the long term “endowment account” which builds over time, and this revenue is used to fund major projects of the Foundation. Rotarians can contribute to the PF by becoming Benefactors or Bequest Society members where there is a promise to provide funds from one’s estate. A Rotarian may also decide to be a Major Donor and provide an outright gift of funds or investments to the Permanent Fund of the Foundation.

We know that Rotary District 5020 is now involved in a three-year pilot program to test the viability of a new vision for Our Foundation. In this pilot our District will have greater autonomy in using funds allocated to the district by managing some global grants as well as local club projects. Many more funding decisions are now made by the District Foundation Committee.

But the great strength of Our Rotary Foundation is that we have a network of 33,000 Rotary clubs in the world making it possible for Rotarians to work together to be certain that any funds raised for service work in one part of the world will be a applied appropriately for the greatest good. Dedicated Rotarians, working together around the world, separate Our Foundation from any other.

Our Rotary World 2010-2011by Norm WattsDistrict Trainer

Our Rotary World is a wonderful family of more than one million Rotarians from over 200 countries and geographical areas who value the motto “Service Above Self”, enjoy great fellowship, emphasize high ethical standards, and seek the development of world understanding and peace.

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Kitsap Peninsula Rotarians have joined forces with other volunteers to plan, fund and construct the Therapeutic Playground at Madrona Day Treatment School on the Kitsap Mental Health Services Campus.

The school provides specific education to children with autism spectrum disorders as well as those exhibiting symptoms from fetal alcohol effects, Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome, ADHD, major depression and severe anxiety.

Autistic children in particular have difficulties regarding body coordination, standing, walking, and managing sensitivity to their outer environment. The playground lends itself to occupational therapy activities which involve feats of balance, climbing, sliding, swinging and strength-building.

East Bremerton Rotary, Silverdale Rotary and Bremerton Rotary all made significant financial contributions to the project and all, as well as Bainbridge Island Rotary, ‘pitched in’ with their labour on September 26, when the playground was constructed. A ribbon-cutting and celebration took place that afternoon and was attended by over 70 community supporters.

After concrete was poured and wood chips were added for the surface, the playground was ready for use later that week. Initial reports are that the kids love it!

Kitsap Rotarians ‘pitch in’ to build a Therapeutic Playground for Local Kids with Sensory Issues

The Therapuetic Playground takes shape on the cam-pus of Madrona Day Treatment School on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington, USA.

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This is one of several articles to update 5020 Rotarians on the Equadorian studies of Globar Grant Scholar Michelle Story.

Saludos! Today I celebrate my three-week anniversary here in Quito, Ecuador where I’ll live for around two years as I study as part of the Rotary Global Grant scholarship. I’ll be studying in a Masters Degree program at the Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar called Latin American Studies. I’m also taking classes for a focus in International Relations.

This semester I’m taking four classes, including Politics and Society in Latin America, International Relations Theory, Conflict Management and Resolution, and History of Latin America. My classes involve lots of reading, and I spend a significant amount of time reading and preparing for class. Still, my Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Economics and minor in Comparative Sociology from the University of Puget Sound have given me a good base from which to launch into my advanced studies. I’ve found time to meet some of my other classmates, who are all very friendly.

Classes are a really interesting mix; I have lots of classmates from Colombia, and a few from Bolivia, Peru, Sweden, France, Norway, Italy, and even another American! My classmates have studied International Relations, Political Science, Anthropology, Law, Cultural Studies, and Social Work to just name a few, so it

makes for good variety and perspective in class discussions.

I learned to speak Spanish in Chile, and I’m forever amazed at how different the Spanish sounds in each country—vocabularies are different and even tones and phrasal melodies are totally unique in each country. My experience studying abroad and working in Chile has made me infamous as “la gringa que habla como chilena”, a sweet way of calling me “the American who talks like a Chilean”.

The Chilean way of speaking is fairly unique, and—to borrow a Chilean phrase in English—the accent hit me hard! Not surprisingly, this was also how I was introduced to many Rotarians

5020 Global Grant Scholar Begins Studies in Equador

In a playful moment Michelle attempts to feed a banana (typically Ecuadorian) to a statue of Simón Bolívar, the continent’s liberator and the namesake of the University. The caption on the wall says “somos un pequeño género humano”, which means “we are a small human race”—a famous quote by Bolívar himself.

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—See Scholar, page 11

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at my first Rotary meeting with my host club, Quito Norte. The Quito Norte meeting was a lot like meetings in District 5020 except for one obvious detail: the secretary spent a full twenty minutes providing the Rotarians with a detailed account of how the national and international futbol teams were doing! The Rotarians in Quito have been nothing but hospitable and friendly, frequently checking in with me to see how I’m adjusting and if I need anything.

When I’m not reading for class (a rarity now that classes have started), I’ve been trying to get to know Quito a bit better. I found an apartment within walking distance of my University, and now I’m concentrating on other sectors.

Quito is divided into two clear sections- the old part which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is full of churches, colonial architecture, and historical plazas, and the new part which has several malls, a tourist neighborhood flooded with international food and hostels, and a busy business sector. The historic center is rich with culture and history, and is a photographer’s paradise with an enormous statue of the Virgin watching over everything from a nearby hill. Yet the newer part of the city makes sure that all of my cravings for things like tofu, peanut butter and other non-Ecuadorian foodstuffs are met. I think that Quito and I will be good friends throughout my stay here!

Michelle Story

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Scholar, continued from page 10

Washington State Rotarian Named 2010 World Citizen by World Affairs Council of Seattle

As the 2010 World Citizen Award recipient, Rotarian Ezra Teshome is being recognized for his outstanding leadership in working to eradicate polio in Ethiopia and, in the process, engaging and educating Washingtonians about the impact of global health issues.

As a long-time Rotarian, Teshome has spent more than a decade leading groups of fellow Rotarians and friends on annual trips to administer the polio vaccine to children in Ethiopia, immunizing about 200 children per day—efforts for which he was named by TIME magazine as one of ten Global Health Heroes at their Global Health Summit. Teshome also arranged the delivery of ambulances to his home town in Ethiopia, led teams to build more than 100 homes for poor women in Ethiopia, helped to build a library and computer center in Addis Ababa which is now used by 500 children every day, and established micro-credit programs to help families become self-sufficient. In 2004 he became a leader of a comprehensive plan to bring safe water to the most critical area in Ethiopia, an ongoing project for which he has raised millions of dollars.

Ezra is a member of the University District Rotary Club in Seattle, District 5030. He has worked with Rotarians in several districts, including 5020, to raise awareness and funds to improve conditions for the citizens of Ethiopia.

Ezra Teshome

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More than 300 Comox Valley residents gathered in the Cumberland Recreation Hall on Saturday evening, 2 October, to support the Rotary Club of Cumberland Centennial’s Sixth Annual Extravaganza Italiana.

The event, which in part connects the club to the history of the Village of Cumberland and the Italian-Canadian community of the past, featured a family-style dinner and a silent and live auction. Very generous Valley businesses and individuals provided the goods and services offered to the spirited crowd of bidders.

Cumberland Centennial Rotarians Celebrate Success of 6th Annual Extravaganza Italiana Auction

A packed house of supporters dined and participated in the silent and live auctions of the Rotary Club of Cumberland’s 6th Annual Extravaganza Italiana at the Cumberland Recreation Hall on Saturday evening, October 2.

by John Challender

Linda Oprica, past president of the Rotary club, who has led the organization of the event for five of the six years, thanked donors, those in attendance and the 31 members of the club for their terrific support. Funds raised will help the club to partner with the Village administration to create an universally accessible playground in the Village Park.

The Seventh Annual event is scheduled for Saturday, 1 October 2011. Some attending this year’s event have already booked tickets and tables for 8 or 10 people. This popular dinner/auction has sold out every year since it began so avoid disappointment and reserve your tickets early for next year by calling John Challender at: 250-339-4068 or e-mail: [email protected]. For more information on the club and its work, please visit: www.rotarycc.org

RI President Ray Klinginsmith with DG Bob in San Francisco, where Bob presented him with a District 5020 Building Communities tee-shirt.

President of RI presented with one of DGs Community Tees

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And in Other News...ROTARY SHORTS

Sunrise Qualicum Beach Refurbishes Clubhouse

Ambassadorial Scholar Selected

Zone 25-26 Institute Awards 5020 Foundation Giving

The Sunrise Club in Qualicum Beach recently thought it was time to redo their clubhouse. After priming, painting, and installing new trim, flooring and lighting, they now have a bright “new” clubhouse for their breakfast meetings and other club activities.

The Qualicum Beach evening club, which uses Rotary House for their meetings during the winter, gave them a cash grant to support their redecorating efforts.

One of the first uses from outside of Qualicum Beach was a District 5020 Workshop on Membership and Communications held on October 16 (see page 14).

A Master of Science candidate from the University of Victoria was selected as the 2011/2012 Ambassadorial Scholar for District 5020. Branden Beatty will attend the London School of Economics to study market based mechanisms to promote conservation.

Beatty’s studies will concentrate on small-farm agricultural cooperatives with a goal to bringinging the model to South America where he has previously done extensive field work as part of his University of Victoria research. South America is becoming increasingly aware of adverse environmental impact of clearcutting trees in the rain forest. Upon his return from London, Branden will renew his South America acquaintences as he assists with the cultivation of sustainable and marketable crops under the canopy of native forests.

District 5020 Rotarians are the best!

On October 1 at the Zone 25/26 Institute in Bellevue, WA, District 5020 Governor Bob Martin accepted four 2009-10 Rotary Foundation Zone 25 awards on behalf of District 5020 PDG Alex Alexander. The Zone 25 2009-2010 Rotary Foundation Awards are:

Three First Place awards:1. Donations to Annual Programs Fund2. Donations to Polio Plus3. Total overall giving (APF, Permanent Fund, Restricted Giving, and Polio Plus)

One Third place award:4. Restricted Giving

All this is possible because District 5020 Rotarians generously donated to The Rotary Foundation. Way to go, Rotarians! See facebook reference at http://www.facebook.com/RotaryZones25.26Institute.

Pictured left to right: Past RI President and Chair of the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, current RI President Ray Klinginsmith, and District 5020 Governor Bob Martin.

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Rotarians Honour Service of Cumberland Couple

Rotarians Participate in Malawi Educational Project

On Saturday, 2 October, Rob and Margaret Neal of Cumberland were made Paul Harris Fellows to honour them for their dedicated service to others. The presen-tations were made before the 300+ sellout crowd at our 6th Annual Extravaganza Italiana on Saturday, 2 Octo-ber. Rob, who is club secretary, and his wife Margaret are known and respected for their hard work and dedi-cation to club activities and the community in general.

And in Other News...ROTARY SHORTS

Membership Workshops Completed

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A number of District 5020 clubs have contributed financial resources and manpower toward the Atsikana Pa Ulendo, a Malawi/Canada organization to benefit remote regions of Malawi.

In a country where only 27% of the girls are literate, the assistance provided to a school enabled all 80 of its girl students to pass the literacy test. In turn they returned to their respective communities to encourage other girl residents to assert themselves and stay in school rather than marry at age twelve (12).

Other improvements include connection to an electrical grid and connection to a new water system.

For more information see www.malawigirlsonthemove.com.

October 23 marked the completion of a series of four workshops on Membership and PR that had been planned for this fall by Michael Syer, Chair of the District Membership Committee, and John Challender, District Chair, PR and Communications Committee.

In September a workshop was held in Tumwater and another in Poulsbo, and this month one in Qualicum Beach and Chemainus. Several Rotarians in the communities where the workshops were held helped by booking venues, arranging for meals and providing other resources we needed and for this help we thank everyone involved. DG Bob, DGE David and several AGs attended workshops in their areas to lend their support to our efforts. Their presence was very welcome and sent a clear message to all of us that they considered these activities to be important for the good of Rotary. Thank you to all who registered and participated in the sharing of ideas and talents. It was a great experience to spend four days in the presence of so many dedicated and enthusiastic Rotarians.

Back to School: Club Membership and PR chairs from around District 5020 gathered for a series of Member-ship workshops.

Page 15: Rotary District 5020 Newsletter November Highlights the RI ...files.ctctcdn.com/5c22840a001/b40abb1e-c2e7-4ec3... · the proposal was considered withdrawn. 4. To request the RI Board

Check the District Website (http://www.clubrunner.ca/portal/home.aspx?did=5020) in mid-November for Contact Information and Registration Packets .

Governor Bob says this will be one to remember—hope to see you there!

SAVE THE DATE!

The Rotary 5020 DISTRICT CONFERENCE

June 3-5, 2011

The Hotel Murano Bicentennial PavilionTacoma, Washington

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