All Star Tidbits

Now that all the candy has been given out, it is time to celebrate The Rotary Foundation!  November is Foundation Month and what a GREAT opportunity we have to make a real impact with our giving.  It can be $26.50 or $265,000, but the important part is that everyone participates. Why? It is the lifeline of this wonderful organization that gives so much to so many around the world, including those in our own backyards!  After all we are in the top 10 of foundations on Charity Navigator!  What does that mean?  We do exactly what we say we do with very little going to expenses!  WOW!  There are not many organizations that can say that and that is what sets us apart from being a community club, Kiwanis, Lions or any other civic/community group.  We are a people organization that cares about people!
 
We are approaching the end of the year and what can you do to make this year different from any other year as a Rotarian?  Think about becoming a major donor or a bequest society member.  Think about what your Rotary Legacy has been or will be as a Rotarian.  We are involved in an organization because we have heart!  We want to serve in our communities to help those who need a little help, to improve lives around us and around the globe, to eradicate a disease that cripples so  many children, and there are so many other reasons of why we are involved.  What is your legacy?
 
And because so many believed in giving to The Rotary Foundation we are able to participate this year in several opportunities!  Applications are being taken for the Group Study Exchange Team Leader and Team Member to Brazil.  We are looking for a student who would like to further their education in a masters level program outside the US because ONE Rotarian wanted to give a scholarship in education.  We have three global grant projects in process because Rotarians from around the district gave enough money to The Rotary Foundation three years ago for us to fund projects that will make HUGE impacts in lives around the world.  And I can’t forget about Montego Bay - 38 grants were approved for local projects and all because members in the club gave to The Rotary Foundation!  We can have 64+ grants three years from now if we can get every Rotarian in our district to shoot for the stars and make this EPIC year a real CELEBRATION of life!
 
Thank you so much to each of you that give and continue to do so!  I challenge each club to make it simple by taking what you might pay for a meal and give that to The Rotary Foundation to the Share Annual Fund or to Polio Plus!  There are so many ways to be creative in what you can do for Rotary!  Just think about this: How much money do you raise because your club uses the Rotary Wheel in your fundraising?  Now take away that Rotary wheel and would you still raise as much?  It is our trademark that lets those in our communities we know that we do what we say we are going to do.  We live by the 4 Way Test and we have the Objects of Rotary!  So why not give a little back?
 
November is a GREAT month for so many reasons!  It is the month to be thankful!  It is the time of year that allows us to focus on family!  And that includes the family from around the globe in so many ways.  It is the month we get a little break from the heat and it allows us to breathe a little easier with that crisp coolness that begins our day.  I’m so thankful for every breath I take and strive to make a difference in those around me.  What about you?  What does November mean to you? 
 
Let’s celebrate!
 
Pam Lightsey
2016-17 District Governor

ATTEND PRESIDENTIAL PEACE CONFERENCE IN ATLANTA

 

Join us 9-10 June for the Presidential Peace Conference at the Georgia World Congress Center. We’ll celebrate our work on the underlying causes of conflict and our successes in making peace a priority, while also looking ahead to opportunities to continue our commitment.

• Learn more about the event
• Register for the conference

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CENTENNIAL
The Rotary Foundation turns 100 in 2016-17! Our Foundation stands at the forefront of humanitarian service, having supported thousands of projects to provide clean water, fight disease, promote peace, and provide basic education — as well as the historic project dedicated to eradicating polio worldwide.

• Learn more about the history of The Rotary Foundation
• Find information on how to celebrate and download resources

Purchase centennial commemorative book, "Doing Good in the World"

Grant Scholarship

Regarding:  Gilbert R. Tharp Global Grant Scholarship for 2017
 
Do you know of a District 6920 college student who wants to pursue their graduate studies overseas in 2017? Tell them about the Gilbert R. Tharp Global Grant Scholarship! It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to receive substantial funding to support their study abroad costs while they engage in research and study on one of the six Areas of Focus identified by Rotary International.

Information about the scholarship can be found on the District 6920 website under the Foundation tab.  Questions about the scholarship can be directed to the Scholarship Chair, Dr. Nancy Shumaker, at nwshumaker@yahoo.com.

Let’s send a student abroad in 2017!
 

Local Grants Awarded

Augusta - Community development: general - The club will participate in the refurbishing of the 2nd floor Green Room of the historical Imperial Theater; donating labor and supplies - $2,000

Augusta South - Education: literacy - Dictionaries and 4-Way Test coloring books to a local elementary school - $600

Augusta South - Health: general - Broken Shackle Ranch toiletry supplies for young men housed at this boy's home. - $1,276

Augusta West - Community development: general - The club will purchase supplies for a garden and landscaping project to help students establish a garden area at school - $600

Augusta West - Education: literacy - Sponsor a local daycare to receive books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library - read to those who will be receiving them and sign them up. - $500

Brunswick - Community development: construction/renovation - Funding will be used to purchase supplies for club members to participate in a Habitat for Humanity project - $1,100

Brunswick - Health: general - Funding will be used to support the activities of the evening with Grandparent Connection; an annual dinner honoring local community grand families of Glynn & McIntosh counties - $900

Camden County - Health: general - The club will purchase new baby cribs and mattresses that will be made available to economically disadvantaged women. Club members will be involved in the assembling of the cribs. - $1,200

Camden County - Community development: general - Club members will be involved in collecting food and distributing food bags to the poor in partnership with the Salvation Army - $720

Centerville - Education: literacy - Club will provide scholarships for GED testing fees for students who are economically burdened. Club members serve as volunteer teachers of the program. - $1,300

Claxton - Food/agriculture: general - Feeding the needy during the holiday to get a meal. - $1,000

Downtown Macon - Education: literacy - The club will create a reading nook called the Library Jungle Adventure and purchase books for children attending Boys & Girls Club of Central Georgia - $3,000

Dublin - Health: general - The club will purchase Christmas gifts for under-privileged children in the W.I.N.G.S. program - $500

Dublin - Education: literacy - The club will purchase and distribute dictionaries to every third grade student in four school systems in Laurens County. - $2,037

Fitzgerald - Education: general - Education project to be decided at later time. - $1,600

Fitzgerald - Food/agriculture: general - Purchase turkeys and prepare them for 500 Community Thanksgiving meals - $150

Glennville - Education: literacy - Purchase appropriate reading materials that are distributed to children in Tatnall County through the "Imagine the Possibilities" program. - $2,000

Hinesville - Water: sanitation - Storm drain markings in support of clean water. - $600

Hinesville - Education: general - GED Scholarships - $1,500

Jesup - Health: general - Funding will be used to support the bereavement camp for children, school grades 1st-12th. Club members volunteer at the camp. - $1,300

Kings Bay - Education: literacy - Purchase Casio scientific calculators for Camden County High School - $1,500

Macon: Education: literacy - Leader-in-Me Project. In partnership with the business community, the club will continue this leadership skills development program which is designed to introduce a teaching style and learning environment in which students can learn and succeed. The program will expand to two new schools. - $3,100

Metropolitan Savannah - Community development: general - The club will purchase supplies that will be used in a renovation project of the Fresh Air Home, which is used by at-risk children for a 10-day overnight beach camp experience. - $1,600

Milledgeville - Education: literacy - The club will purchase books for the Jill's Book Project to augment the public library's selection of approved AR books for local schools. - $1,500

Milledgeville - Community development: general - The club will purchase 4 engraved park benches and a bronze plaque that explains the Rotary 4-way test. The benches will be constructed by club members and will be located near the public library. - $4,100

Perry - Education: literacy - Purchase books for the Perry Public Library - $2,000

Reidsville - Education: literacy - Providing every third grade student in the Tatnall County School System with a student dictionary. The program is called Tatnall County Dictionary Project. - $900

Sandersville - Community development: general - Will purchase wheel stops for local hospital parking lot. They will be installed in areas where currently there are no stops, as well as replace damaged wheel stops. - $2,100

Savannah East - Education: literacy - Purchase books that club members will read to elementary school students during Read Across America Week. Books are then donated to the classes. - $2,100

Savannah South - Education: literacy - The club will purchase and distribute dictionaries to third grade students in SCCPSS. - $1,300

Savannah West - Health: general - Supporting Parent University, a parenting education program. - $1,100

Skidway Island, Savannah - Health: general - Supporting Early Learning College, a parenting education program. - $1,400

Statesboro - Community development: general - The club will purchase four wooden tables and 24 chairs for the Open Hearts Community Mission Shelter for the homeless. They will assemble the tables. - $1,500

St. Simons Island - Education: literacy - Funding will be used to sustain the Reading Rockets Volunteer Reading program at three sites and to add a research component to the program. - $3,000

Valdosta: Education: literacy - $1,500

Valdosta North - Education: literacy - In partnership with the Rotary Club of Valdosta, the club will be distributing age-appropriate books monthly to preschool children throughout Valdosta and Lowndes County. Accomplished by the Lowndes Imagination Library Team. - $1,500

Warner Robines - Education: literacy - Dictionaries to elementary school children. - $3,500

6920 - Contingency (maximum 20%) - Contingency - $4,000

6920 - Administration (maximum 3%) - Independent Admin Review - $700

6920 - Scholar/ VTT orientation - GSE/VTT with Brazil/Panama - $10,000