President’s Message 40 of 52.

President’s Message

40 of 52.  

April is Magazine Month.  As we look into our Rotarian Magazine we see stories of what Rotarians around the world are doing to Build Communities and Bridge Continents.  Stories of health care and peace program fill the pages.  The Rotary Foundation (TRF) is the arm of Rotary that allows us to contribute to projects and programs around the world.  Our club Presidents are asked at PETS to make a commitment for our club’s contribution during our year.  One of the guidelines we use is the Every Rotarian, Every Year program (EREY).

Rotary has 1.2 million members worldwide.  The goal of EREY is to have each one of those members contribute $100 US per year to TRF (lots of acronyms).  This goes into the Annual Programs Fund (APF) which is held and invested by TRF for three years and then returned to the District in various form and can be applied for by clubs to support their programs.  Our club has had the benefit of District Simplified Grants (this year we received a grant to allow us to put the ice machine into Eagle Ridge Manor) and we have in partnership with Grahamstown South Africa contributed to a literacy project there that is sustainable and will positively affect lives of children and adults there, thanks to support of our District and TRF’ Matching Grants.

But there are many clubs across the world where $100 is not a practical goal.  So we like to be able to ensure there is going to be enough money to help those across the world or locally in our community.  I know we commit to more than the average of $100 per member to help this level.

The other part of this program is to try to get our members to actually contribute and be credited with their givings.  One of the ways we do it as a club is to have the extra $3 we can pay each week to accumulate towards our personal EREY.  Club fines are also used to top up contributions.  Extra monies that have been contributed through fines etc have been credited to our club fund which allows us to award Paul Harris Fellow to our members and others outside Rotary as we did in Keith’s year.  

As we have a positive balance in the club TRF fund we have instigated this year the $2 cards for fines that allow us to directly credit members for their givings.  

So what does this all mean?  There is club recognition identified as; 

Every Rotarian, Every Year Club 

This recognition is awarded to clubs that achieve a minimum US$100 per capita from active dues-paying members and 100 percent participation with every active member contributing some amount to the Annual Programs Fund during the Rotary year. 

100% Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member Club 

This recognition honors clubs in which every dues-paying member personally contributes US$100 or more to the Annual Programs Fund during the Rotary year. Click to see more about individual recognition for Sustaining Members. 

We are not at this point yet, but we can get there.  Is it worth it to you to support the wider Rotary fellowship?

There is also the Paul Harris Fellow recognition.  When you donate $1000 US to TRF over time you are recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow.  16 of our members have reached this level of commitment to Rotary.   These members have done it because they believe what Rotary stands for and show how Port Moody Rotarians are Building Communities, Bridging Continents.

Nick