I would like to thank everyone for attending a fantastic Mid-Year Presidents meeting last Wednesday! It was great to look back on the previous 6 months and celebrate the amazing work we have accomplished thus far! We heard about great Membership and Public Image initiatives, an update on our district conference, our HHI imitative as well as an informative panel discussion ranging on topics - the benefits of club mergers, satellite and service clubs, and how we could make a long lasting legacy in our communities.
This is our year, our time and our opportunity to create positive influence in our communities! We are halfway through this year, but our work will continue to produce change!
Let us continue to Be a Gift to the World"!
See you at our World Peace and Understanding Dinner on February 10! Register here!
The PE's were enthusiastic and excited as their new theme was revealed, "Rotary Serving Humanity".
In the breakout session the Presidents-elect received information about Presidents-elect Training Seminar (PETS) that will be held in Framingham from March 10-12th. Randy Lindel coached our incoming presidents about how to successfully input their club's goals and Liz Cullen talked briefly about grants and how the money moves in and out of the foundation so that clubs can do all of their amazing projects. Roles of the District Support team including assistant governors and district committees were presented by Joan Arsenault and Christina Harris. Other discussions included Visioning, ClubRunner/websites and Rotoplast. The PE's had a facilitated discussion with much of the content revolving around different club models such as satellite clubs and service members.
A big shout out to the hundreds of amazing people who participated in the Polar Plunge on Saturday. Whether you plunged, donated or cheered us on, thank you! Just shy of $71,500 with a $10,000 surge over the weekend! Let's keep asking for pledges and get to $100,000 or more!
Thoughts from a Plunger
Well the Polar Plunge happened yesterday. It was surreal, really. Its one thing to go in the water - but the 25° temp and the 40 mph winds had whipped up the surf, which just happened to be at an astronomically high level. Even if any of us had still thought we could stay in for very long, the riptides put an end to that.
Still - load and loads of fun. I don't know if it was the weather or if the wind really saps the body heat that much more, but this is my 5th plunge, and I don't remember any of the others being so brutally cold as we got out of the water and headed back to change. Even the sand was more ice than sand.
Christina and I joined the Interactors at Village Pancake House to warm up. Best Hot Chocolate I've ever had!
Yes, it is that time of the year again. District 7930 is accepting applications for Outgoing Global Grant Scholars for Rotary year 2016-2017. Over the last five years, since Rotary International revamped the Foundation rules, District 7930 has awarded several Global Grant Scholarships totaling over $100,000.00 with a RI match of over $100,000.00.
As of November 1, 2015 clubs in District 7930 can begin presenting Outgoing Global Grant Scholarship applicants to the Outgoing Global Grant Scholarship Chair, David Hart from the Malden Club. The application deadline is February 10, 2016. Interview of the applicants will begin March of 2016. Scholarship winners will be notified no later than the end of March 2016.
Requirements to apply can be downloaded here. For those clubs that have sponsored a scholar some of the requirements have been changed. The applicant must fill out the Global Grant Scholarship Application, provide two letter of recommendation, unofficial transcripts a headshot picture of themselves and a current resume. You can also download the Press Release for Global Grant Scholars and try to attract those interested in learning more or applying for the available scholarship(s).
Please remember that Rotary Clubs sponsoring a Scholarship Candidate must be an approved club by District 7930.
District 7930 is looking for a few Scholarship Committee members. If you are interested please contact David Hart at the information below.
RYLA 2016 will take place at Camp Rotary, Boxford, MA on Friday June 3 through Sunday June 5, 2016. Eighty RYLArians will make up eight families and experience everything from ropes courses to group challenges. Ask any graduating RYLArian, it is a life changing weekend!
Again this year, both High School Juniors and Sophomores are invited as the program migrates from a Junior program to a Sophomore/Junior program. Each Rotary Club in our district is allowed to send up to 5 students at $150 each. Student applications for RYLA 2016 are available on the here or from your club president. The applications are being accepted for the 80 spaces and RYLA will be accepting places for alternates. Acceptance is on a first received - first accepted basis. No places will be held. Applications and payment must both be received to hold a position. Applications and payments should to be sent to Tracy Arabian of the Rotary Club of Gloucester:
Tracy Arabian
33 Maplewood Avenue, Unit 206
Gloucester, MA 01930
See your club RYLA representative for more information or contact Jim Babbin, Youth Services Chair or email Jim.
The 3rd Annual Cornhole Bonanza is coming to Amesbury during the last weekend of January! This year's event comes with a twist, as it is an indoor tournament during the middle of winter. With no football on the schedule the last weekend of January, there's no better place to be than tossing a few bags, and trying to take down over $800 in prize money. Come on down to Seacoast United's Indoor Soccer venue to enjoy an evening of Cornhole, food, drink, and music.
There will be dozens of 2-person teams competing in group play format - guaranteeing each team at least 3 games - with the top teams advancing to a single elimination playoff. Registration begins at 4pm with a shotgun start at 5pm.
Teams consist of 2 players, and prize money will be awarded to the top three teams; 1st Place - $500, 2nd Place - $150, 3rd Place - $60. There will even be a consolation round for those not advancing to the playoffs which will be awarding another $100, and side games offering the possibility to reel in more cash.
Join Amesbury Rotarians, family and friends this great opportunity for fun and fellowship!
The second Rotary Means Business (RMB) gathering, held at McLane Middleton at the 128 Trade Center in Woburn, was quite the success! Rotarians and non-Rotarians from all across our district took part in an engaging session that focused on what it takes to be a good mentor. The previous RMB meeting centered on another vital business proficiency – crafting a good elevator sales pitch.
Among many takeaways from the session, I learned that to be a good mentor, the mentor needs to teach ethical behavior to her or his mentee. Alan Wheelock from Jones River Consulting presented the basics of implementing a mentoring program. While RMB is a Rotary fellowship, Rotary was not the main topic of conversation at the meeting. However, what I have learned by being a Rotarian made it much easier for me to grasp the mentor-mentee relationship!
As we all know, the second Object of Rotary is to have morality in our business daily practices. When I look back on my career, I recently realized that all of my great mentors were Rotarians! One of the driving forces for me to become a Rotarian was to be an ethical businessperson and I learned that from those Rotarian mentors.
In addition to personal development, RMB gives all participants an opportunity to engage Rotarians in a business-centered conversation. Some clubs are stricter with talking about business at meetings than others, but at RMB the focus is business and who better to do business with, but another Rotarian?
