Rotary District 6920 Newsletter - January 2017

 

All Star Tidbits

Pam Lightsey, District Governor

 

Happy New Year!!  2017 is here and we have some work still to do!!  How exciting it will be to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation.  We have several deadlines we need to meet that are coming up, so this newsletter will be packed with information that you will need to mark on your calendar!!
 
Some upcoming events that are time sensitive regard the Preston Johnson Speech Contest, Centennial Million Dollar Fireside Chats, Award submissions (club level and Rotarian level), District Conference, Million Dollar Dinner in Atlanta and, last but not least, ATLANTA 2017!
 
Information about the Preston Johnson Speech Contest has included in this newsletter.  Have you ever wondered why we do the speech contest? Hear directly from Past District Governor Preston Johnson. Simply click on this link to learn how it all started.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0piOmiOY0I&t=5s
 
You can be a part of this historic Rotary year by giving a gift to The Rotary Foundation that will keep on giving.  Debra Lowe, Rotary International Major Gifts Officer, will be traveling our district the week of February 20 to hold several fireside chats to share more information.  So far, we have the following locations designated:  Augusta, Glennville, Savannah and Skidaway Island.  Please let me know if you are interested in meeting with Debra. 
 
District Conference and Award submission deadlines are right around the corner.  District Conference registration is still up and will continue until February 15, so register NOW!  We have Nick Mancus, host Rotary Club dad for GRSP student Ben, from Africa joining us for a special session on Saturday. You don’t want to miss this!  Remember that grants training for next year is also included this year at District Conference, so make sure you register!!   Awards for the Governor’s All Star Award will be sent out soon.  Do you have a Rookie Rotarian that has been just outstanding?  Submissions are being accepted for All Star Rookie of the Year now.  The deadline for awards submissions is March 1.
 
Have you registered for Atlanta?  You don’t want to miss the opportunity to meet Rotarians from around the world.  When will you have another opportunity to drive to a Rotary International Convention?  Don’t miss out because there is so much planned!  http://www.riconvention.org/  Dr. Bernice A. King, the youngest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King and the chief executive officer of The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change Center, will speak at the Presidential Peace Conference.
 
But before the Rotary International Convention June 10-14, we have a few other events planned.  June 8th will be the Braves game to Strike Out Polio with Hank Aaron. Watch for upcoming details on how to be part of this EPIC game.  http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org/festival-events/atlanta-braves
 
June 9th will be our districts first Million Dollar Dinner.  It will be held that evening and President John Germ has agreed to be our keynote speaker.  You can’t purchase tickets for this event through registration, but becoming a new Major Donor or Bequest Society member will put your name on the guest list.  What is your legacy for this Centennial year?  http://www.milliondollardinner.org/
 
Have you reserved your Inch for Arch?  https://arch.rotaryconvention2017.org/  Be part of history!!  We have sold many of the squares, but still have more that are available.  What a great way to make sure your club, members or family members are preserved as part of the history of this historic year of celebration!  $26.50 goes to The Foundation and the remaining goes to help with the venue!  Your name will be at Rotary International Headquarters. The host committee has commissioned a one-of-a-kind portrait from one of the art world's masters - Rossin. Rotary Convention attendees, districts, clubs, and art-lovers around the world now have the unique opportunity of sponsoring this exceptional portrait through the host committee's 'Inches for Arch' program. Reserve your place in Rotary history and receive a commemorative 5x7 print personally signed by the artist. 

My square was purchased in 2014 and is number 1319. What number will yours be?
https://arch.rotaryconvention2017.org/square/index 
 
What a great year to be a Rotarian and a GEORGIA Rotarian!  Thank you so much for being part of the All Star Team!!  Rotary District 6920 is leading the way in so many areas of service!  Thank you!!
 
See you soon,
Pam
2016-17 District Governor

 

GOVERNOR’S “ALL-STAR” ROTARIAN CHALLENGE
Everyone wants to be a 2016-2017 “All-Star” Rotarian.  Here’s how you can qualify to make the District 6920 ALL STAR TEAM by March 1, 2017.

  1. Add a new player to the team in your club (at least 1 new member)
  2. Participate in a club service project
  3. Contribute $26.50 to ending Polio to the Polio Fund by 3/1/17
  4. Contribute to the Foundation Share program $26.50 by 3/1/17
  5. Contribute to the blue buckets on your tables – CART Fund


GOVERNOR’S “ALL-STAR” CLUB AWARD
Join the “All-Star” Club Award roster by achieving five (5) of the stats by March 1, 2017.  If a club obtains all six, they will be recognized as a “Hall of Fame” Club.

  1. 10% of club members are “All-Star” Rotarians
  2. Club achieves the Rotary International Presidential Citation
  3. Club attendance (with makeups) is 65% or higher
  4. Club PolioPlus giving is at least $26.50 per capita
  5. Club giving to The Rotary Foundation is at least $100 per capita
  6. 10 % or more of club membership (Rotarians/guests) registered for the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta, Georgia

(Don’t forget the early registration from May 26 – June 6, 2016)
YOU IN OR OUT?
 

 

 

ALL CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - ATLANTA 2017

First and foremost, let me THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!! 

The 2017 100th Anniversary of our Rotary Foundation will be one of the greatest experiences you will ever have in your Rotary lifetime. This is your time to see and understand what you have accomplished while experiencing the friendship of tens of thousands of Rotarians from around the world. There are currently over 31,000 Rotarians registered and another 8,000 waiting for visa clearances.
 
The Host Organizing Committee (HOC) is dedicated to delivering to you the best of Rotary and the best fun in Rotary, but... WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!

There are almost 4,400 Zone 34 Rotarians registered for the Convention, and only approximately 3% of you have signed up to be volunteers at the convention.  The host areas usually have up to 50% of their registered Rotarians signed up as volunteers. The success of the convention will be determined by many factors. One of the most important will be the volunteer support.  The volunteer effort is designed to make sure that Rotarians from all over the world have an enjoyable experience during their stay in Atlanta. As such, the volunteers have several responsibilities.

These are...

  1. Welcome traveling Rotarians  at the airport. Greet them with true SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY.
  2. Direct them to the luggage areas and then to the taxis or MARTA areas.
  3. Support the House of Friendship as greeters.
  4. Provide Rotary visibility and ticket taking at HOC events.
  5. Staff the HOC ticket booth (HOC events).
  6. Stuff “goodie” bags.

Volunteers are expected to serve one four-hour commitment. You can serve more if you choose to do so. Also, some group leaders will have six hour sessions to ensure a smooth transition between volunteer groups. Most of these commitments will not interfere with any Convention plenary sessions. Each volunteer will be provided with a commemorative vest and hat, and a special volunteer pin that you can keep. You will also have a training session provided during the late 1st quarter of 2017 and then repeated prior to the Convention. You will be provided with a MARTA pass.  In order to volunteer you must take the following steps:

  1. Visit www.rotaryconvention2017.org/volunteer.
  2. Click on the Volunteer Registration Form link.
  3. Fill out the form completely.
  4. Click on the Send Volunteer Registration

IT IS PAINLESS AND WE NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!!! If you have any problems signing up, please send me an email describing the issue.
 
Hope you have had a  happy and healthy Holiday Season  and I look forward to seeing the support from all of you.

Bill Woulfin
District Rotary Foundation Chair 2010-2013
Governor, District 6900, 2007-2008
HOC Executive Committee, 2017 Convention
Endowment Major Gift Advisor 2013-2014
Director’s Nominating Committee for 2012-2013
 
Email:  billw.rotary@mtshealth.com 
Voice:  404-542-8626

 

 

 

Rotary Rose Bowl Parade Float Wins Princesses' Trophy

 

 

 

Rotarian Photo Contest - Call for Submissions


Do you have a great shot from a club project or fundraiser? Did you capture a memorable moment at the convention or during an international trip? Enter your images in The Rotarian's 2017 photo contest and you might see them in the pages of the magazine. You may enter up to three photos taken since 1 January 2016. While some photos might have elements of all three, select one category to enter your photo. Our previous guest judges have included Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers David Hume Kennerly and Carol Guzy and Kathy Ryan, director of photography for the New York Times Magazine. This year's judge will be announced soon.

For information about contest guidelines, go to on.rotary.org/PhotoContest2017

Deadline for submitting photos is February 15, 2017.

 

Preston Johnson Annual High School Speech Contest
 

In 1997, Dublin Rotarian and PDG Preston Johnson initiated the High School Speech Contest as a special project engaging Rotarians, Educators and Students in District 6920. The contest was designed to give the students a meaningful and rewarding opportunity for personal development  and learn about Rotary. The contest requires the student to do research on either the 4 way test or the current RI Presidents theme.  They give a short speech on  their chosen topic at the club level and the 1st and 2nd place winner then advance to the next level referred to as Zone Level competition. The 1st place winner from each of the "Zones" present  their speech at the District Conference for all attendees to hear.  In 2016 District 6920 honored PDG Preston Johnson by passing a resolution naming the Speech Contest after him.

For 2016-2017 the addition of the Rotary Foundation theme was included as an additional  topic to honor the Foundations 100th anniversary.

The Zone level contests will be held as follows:
 
Eastern Zone:  Feb.11,2017
Richmond Hill City Center
Coordinator: Rafe Semmes
 
Northern Zone: Feb. 18, 2017
Oconee Fall Line Technical College- Sandersville Campus
Coordinator: Jan Horadan
 
Western Zone: March 4, 2017
Middle Georgia State University- Warner Robins Campus
Coordinator: Heather Kellen
 
Additional Information, forms and contact information for Zone Coordinators can be found on the District Website under "Activities" which are linked to the  Speech Contest information.
 
Don't miss out on this great opportunity to showcase the remarkable talents of high school students in your community.

 

 

CLUB NEWS

 

Byron Rotary Club Celebrates Rotary Day
 

The Byron Rotary Club hosted Cynde Covington - Rotary’s own champion against Polio - to share with our club in celebration of Rotary Day.  Cynde updated us about Rotary International’s ongoing efforts to eradicate the final vestiges of Polio in the world.  She also shared information about the Bill and Melinda Gates Match which would match any donations on a level of two to one.
 
Of course, Polio is a concern for all Rotarians but few in our club have been directly impacted.  Club President Rob Aromatorio shared a personal story about the impact that the horrible disease had on his family.  Rob’s uncle Gene was diagnosed with Polio at an early age and was confined to the hospital for the greater part of 1951.  Gene was president of his high school class during that time and displayed remarkable courage in his fight to overcome the disease. Rob’s late father Ray often shared stories of his brother Gene and how this disease impacted their parents and their seven children. Gene went on to live an amazing life with a family of his own and a huge business that he developed.  Although he struggled with dramatic post-Polio issues later in life and passed away several years ago, Gene was a symbol to the family and to any that knew him of the strength that it took to overcome this horrible disease.
 
The Byron Rotary Club donated $500 to the fight against Polio - a donation that immediately became $1500 with the Gates Match!  The club continues to work to raise additional funds to reach higher goals in the fight against polio.