Through my club visits I’ve met 63 Santa Clauses! Each leads a small army of industrious elves who serve day after day, week after week.
The work our clubs do locally and internationally is unprecedented.
It far exceeds most other districts in the world. Our generosity was singled out last year as #1 in the two-paired Zones 28 & 29 Institute in Detroit. That generosity was just under $800,000 in Annual Fund giving, $274 in per capita giving, and almost $2.1 million in total giving. In fact, in three of the past 10 years, we were in the top 10 giving districts of the world -- and there are 538 districts!
This generosity directly fuels the work of our top-rated Foundation. Additionally, it funds the huge amount of projects our district’s clubs tackle every year. We fight disease, provide clean water, promote peace, support education, maternal health and grow economies literally every day.
I hope that each of you shares in this joy we spread to others. My personal thanks to each of you.
RI President Ravi closes his article in the Rotarian this month, “By sending joy out into the world, we do not sacrifice it for ourselves; we multiply it. As we enter this season of giving, let us multiply the gifts we have been given by sharing them with others. Through acts of caring, kindness, generosity, in our clubs and through our Foundation, we become and remain a gift to the world.”
May this special season fill you with the joy you give! – DG Murph
Did you get a flu shot? If so, your goal is to stay healthy and active through the dark days of winter. Mid-Term Assembly is a similar shot in the arm!
Represent your club on Saturday, January 16 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center. Re-energize for the rest of the Rotary year! Network with fellow Rotarians and learn about activities around the district. All Rotarians are welcome to attend; club presidents, board members and committee chairs as well as Assistant Governors and District leaders are strongly encouraged to attend.The registration deadline is 12/28/15.
Each club can send up to 10 membersFREE as part of their district training fee. Continental breakfast and (optional, reserved) lunch is included. Click on link toRegister.
Posted by Fundraising Chair Bob Halagan (Buffalo), DG-N
Yikes! How are we already at the end of 2015? This is a time when most people review their financial picture and do last-minute tax planning, including considering charitable contribution to reduce their tax liability for 2015. I encourage you to make Rotary your charity of choice for year-end gifting. It is the only charity that allows you to direct how your funds are spent, on which projects you choose, and for the beneficiaries you most want to help. Donations to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) from District 5950 Rotarians come back to our district each year in DDF dollars (District Dedicated Funds). Clubs apply for district grants and matching international grants, then use these awarded funds on projects they’ve designed.
TRF is recognized annually as one of the top five charities in the world because of its strength, its efficiency and its commitment to humanitarian projects and action. The DDF dollars that come back to District 5950 are spent entirely on programs. Not a single DDF dollar is spent by our district on administration or overhead. All funds go to programs selected by our clubs and individual Rotarians.
So make Rotary your charity of choice and talk to your club and family members about doing the same. Our communities -- and the entire world -- will benefit from that choice.
Thank you for your year-end gift to The Rotary Foundation (TRF)! To ensure that your donation is credited during the 2015 tax year, please note these dates.
Credit card contributions:
Via Rotary.org – must be authorized by midnight on Thursday, December 31, 2015.
Via fax (847-328-5260) or phone (866-976-8279) – must be received prior to the close of business on Thursday, December 31, 2015.
Mailed contributions:
Checks mailed at the end of December 2015 – intended as early gifts for January 2016 – will be treated as December 2015 gifts.
Both the postmark on the envelope and the date written on the check must be no later than Thursday, December 31, 2015, and received by Friday, January 8, 2016.
Mail to: The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Drive, Chicago, IL 60693.
Securities:
Securities must be received in The Rotary Foundation’s gifted securities account by Thursday, December 31, 2015.
Posted by PI Chairman Diann Kirby (Bloomington), PDG
District 5950 has allocated $6,000 for Public Relations Grant funds for 2015-16 to help clubs improve public awareness and understanding of what Rotary does within their local communities.
Increasing awareness of Rotary within a community attracts the interest of potential members and inspires existing Rotarians. Grants for up to $400 are available until April 1, 2016, or until funds are depleted, whichever comes first. Click on linkfor PR Grant guidelines and an application form.
Is there a public relations project that your club would like to pursue but need more funding to make it happen?
For example, the first approved grant will help the Rotary Club of Edina finance two new 96-inch dasherboards at Braemar Arena. The dasherboards will be seen by thousands of hockey fans at Edina High School boys’ and girls’ hockey games and tournaments. Since many games are televised, this will expand the reach of the ads.
Apply for matching grants of up to $400 to help your club improve its visibility in your community. Potential public relations projects could include:
Revamped websites
Social media campaigns
Club brochures
Print ads
Or something else – creativity is encouraged!
A key requirement of the District 5950 PR Grant is that clubs must use the new Rotary logo in their projects. Logos are available for download at Rotary’s website: https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-GB. (Use your Rotary.org username and password to access.)
Click on image to learn how The Rotary Foundation helps make health care available for hundreds of orphans in Uganda.
Rotary's top priority is the eradication of polio, but our members take on far greater responsibilities to fight disease. They set up health camps and training facilities in undeveloped countries and in communities struggling with HIV/AIDS and malaria. They also design and build the infrastructure for doctors, nurses, governments, and partners to reach the one in six people in the world who can't afford to pay for health care.
Disease prevention and treatment takes on many forms, from supporting studies to helping immunize people to improving drinking water and the sanitation infrastructure. The world relies on Rotary to tackle these global challenges, and to set an example for others to follow.
The Eden Prairie News featured the growing STRIVE program which has members from both the Eden Prairie AM and Noon Clubs mentoring students at Eden Prairie High School.
TheEdina Magazinehighlighted District Governor Tim Murphy and his life of service, quoting him: “The glory of Rotary is that it provides us the opportunities to give of self to positively impact the world"
Willmar's West Central Tribune shared that the Willmar Rotary Club sent students to Camp Enterprise (which is sponsored by both the Edina and Edina Morningside Rotary Clubs) and supports many other community initiatives.
The Edina Sun-Current had front-page coverage highlighting this year's Veterans Day Lunch co-sponsored by the eight Rotary Clubs in Area 3 (Bloomington Daymakers and Noon, Eden Prairie AM and Noon, Edina Noon and Morningside, Richfield and South Metro Minneapolis Evening)
TheSunThisWeek published a half page article in both the Apple Valley and Rosemount editions about the Polio Survivors Conference and the check for $1000 from Apple Valley Ford for Polio Plus.
The Plymouth Sun-Sailor reported that a collaborative grant by Rotary Clubs is providing equipment to Courage Kenny’s adaptive ski and snowboard program at Hyland Hills
If your Rotary Club has been in the news lately and you'd like the rest of the district to know, please email jeanne.zetah@hotmail.com to share some details and include the link to the article.
