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In his June 2019 letter to Rotarians, as we get even closer to the end of the Rotary year when Rotary clubs and Rotarians are trying to reach the goals, Past District Governor Michael Bell, encourages every Rotarian to make a conscious effort to make a donation to The Rotary Foundation, whatever you can afford, to the Annual Programs Fund and to the PolioPlus Fund, and to the Endowment Fund. There is more news in PDG Michael's letter........
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
Here we are in June 2019, as we get ever so close to the end of the Rotary year when Rotary clubs and Rotarians are trying to reach their goals. What better time is there than right now, to ask all Rotarians to reach your goal and support our Rotary Foundation?
You will be making a difference in so many ways throughout the world. Rotarians do make the world a better place. It's your turn to Be The Inspiration.
Rotarians have long understood that our successes rely upon our continued passion for making a positive difference in our communities at home and around the world. This passion includes our time and energy as well as our financial contributions as we are able.
The Rotary Foundation has three funds available to us for making these contributions, the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus Fund and the Endowment Fund.
I hope that all Clubs have entered their Club's objectives into Rotary Club Central, for the 2018-19 Rotary Year. With ONE MONTH left in this Rotary Year, now is the time to enter the goal and ALSO MAKE YOUR DONATIONS.
I thank you all for your donations so far this Rotary Year, into all of the funds of The Rotary Foundation. And a very special thank you for your continued support of our polio eradication efforts. We need to keep this $ support strong until the end.
Are your carrying out the plans that you put in place at the start of this Rotary year?
GOALS AND PLANS FOR 2018-19:
Are your goals and plans and accomplishments in Rotary Club Central for 2018-19? Remember the requirements for the Presidential Citation.
POLIOPLUS:
Has your Rotary Club committed for the 2018-19 Rotary year, to donate at least $ 1,500 per club to PolioPlus? Have YOU made that donation? Have you reached that goal, yet? Did you know that Rotary International's goal is for EACH club to donate at least $1,500 this Rotary year to the PolioPlus Fund. There are a number of Clubs in the District that have not yet made a donation. Is your club one of them? Ask your Club President or your club Rotary Foundation Chair. Has everyone in your Club, this Rotary Year, made that same commitment to personally donate at least $20.00 for the eradication of Polio - this year? Has your club donated $1,500 to PolioPlus this year and have you committed the same amount for the 2019-20 Rotary year? Again, this Rotary Year, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will match our contributions on a 2 for 1 basis. And we sure would like every Rotarian in District 7070 to do the same. Yes, we are very close!
ANNUAL PROGRAMS FUND:
And I sure hope that your Rotary Club has set your goal for contributing at least $ 100.00 US for each member of your club for Annual Giving to the Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation for 2018-19 AND for 2019-20. I hope all District 7070 Clubs that have already made that donation to the Rotary Foundation and I hope that all of you will keep up the good work to reach your goal, this year and next year too. This is where we get our money for Grants. Last year, we did have 100% in commitments met.
I am asking that all District 7070 Presidents send their Club goals (for 2018-19 AND for 2019-20) to Past District Governor Ted Morrison, our District Annual Programs Fund Chair, at ted.sharron@rogers.com, as soon as you can. There are still 3 clubs in the District that need to get their goals to Ted and get them entered into Rotary Club Central. We thank you. There are still a number of clubs in the District who have not made donations to the Annual Programs Fund. But what is the goal of the club? Are you close to your target? Has your Club made plans to make that donation yet for this Rotary year? Have YOU made that dontion? Are your members making those donations? Have you made your donation?
EVERY ROTARIAN - EVERY YEAR:
We want to reach our goal for this year and next. We would like to see $ 100.00 US from every member, in every Rotary Club. But if your members cannot reach that target, we understand. But can they donate some smaller amount? Wouldn't it be very special to see your Rotary Club with 100% of your members contributing something to the Annual Programs Fund? This is our commitment to the Every Rotarian Every Year Campaign of the Rotary Foundation - EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year).
THE ENDOWMENT FUND - MAJOR GIFTS INITIATIVE
Are there any prospective Major Donors in the District? Please let me know if you or someone you know wishes to take this next step to support Our Rotary Foundation. More than 100 years ago, Rotarians took bold action to ensure your success and the empowerment of generations still to come — they established The Rotary Foundation to secure a better future. Gifts to Rotary's Endowment ensure that future Rotarians will have the resources they need to design and implement sustainable projects year after year. Rotary strives to increase the value of your gift to the Endowment by preserving and investing your initial contribution and spending only a portion of the earnings. This strategy supports Rotary's causes today while generating funds that will further the work of future Rotarians committed to Doing Good in the World. When you give to the Endowment today, you can watch as the value of your gift grows and investment earnings improve communities. You can secure your vision for the future by including a commitment to the Foundation in your will or estate plan. The Trustees of the Rotary Foundation have set a goal to get the Endowment fund to $2.5 billion US Funds by the year 2025.
While Rotary is a major player partnered with the Gates Foundation for the eradication of Polio, Rotary is asking clubs to be in a position to partner with other NGO’s on projects that currently fall beyond the means of our District or Global Grants programs. Accordingly, they have created the Major Gifts Initiative for each of our six areas of focus. District 7070 is leading the way. We are encouraging your club to consider the new pilot project between clubs in District 7070 and CUSO International to purchase birthing kits for Ethiopia to enhance mother and child health, another one of the six areas of focus of The Rotary Foundation and we are close to meeting our goal.
WOW. The clubs in this District really rock! To date, 22 Rotary Clubs have committed over $35,000 to the Ethiopian Birthing Kits project, and the Global Grant proposal is ready to be submitted. If you have not yet participated, please contact me if your club can make that commitment.
A number of District 7070 Rotarians have traveled to Ethiopia to see the results and help distribute the kits. We will tell you about our trip in the June Newsletter.
Many thanks to all of you for your support.
Michael
District 7070 Foundation Chair - Email: mbell1038@rogers.com
