The Early Bird catches the worm – and Early Birds who register for this year’s District Conference in February save $45 and guarantee themselves a spot – and fun! And new this year, your club can pre-purchase a spot at the Conference and name the Rotarian attendee later, guaranteeing savings!

It is hard to believe that the end of our Rotary year is in sight! District Governor David and the committee have a very special Conference planned for everyone this year. As we strive to keep our Conference local and continuing on this year’s theme of “Being a Gift to the World,” we are “Gifting It Forward” at our Conference on May 13, 14, and 15 held at the Harvard Club in Boston. Along with fellowship and mystery dining on Friday evening, we will be performing a group service project in Boston Saturday morning, enjoying lunch, breakouts, dinner and awards, plus our memorial service and brunch on Sunday morning.

The Early Bird rate for all Conference events is $350. Friday Night Mystery Dining is a separate $75 cost (limited to the first 60 registrants).

 

 

Details for our Saturday afternoon District Assembly will be coming soon!

 

We would like to take this opportunity as the new year starts, to remind you about Rotary Global Rewards, our member benefit program featuring special offers that allow you to do a lot more for a lot less—no matter what you’re doing.

Whether you’re working on your club’s community projects, enjoying a night out with friends or sharing your Rotary story with someone new, you can take advantage of discounts and special offers on  airfare, hotels, vehicle rentals, and entertainment.

Would you like to offer discounts from your business to other Rotarians? Help build the program by adding special offers from your own company to the growing portfolio of Rotary Global Rewards. To learn more, visit the Global Rewards site.

Please share this exciting news with your members. You’ll find promotional tools on the Rotary Global Rewards website that will help you introduce your Rotarian friends to the program.

The good you do comes back to you!

 

 

Did you know that your IRA can now be rolled over as a charitable gift? The law that allows you to make a tax-free gift from your individual retirement account directly to charity has been reinstated and made permanent! Known as the IRA charitable rollover, this law no longer has an expiration date so you are free to make annual gifts to The Rotary Foundation from your IRA this year and well into the future. The recently reinstated law allows individuals 701/2 and older the ability to transfer up to $100,000 from their IRAs directly to a qualified charitable organization without being subject to federal taxes on that distribution.

 

Are you eligible? You must be 70 1/2 or older at the time of the gift; You may transfer up to $100,000 from your IRA. This law applies only to IRAs; you may transfer outright to one or more qualified charities; and the legislation does no permit transfers to charitable trusts, donor advised funds, charitable gift annuities nor supporting organizations. An IRA charitable rollover gift can satisfy all or part of your minimum distribution requirement, and is a great way to meet your Paul Harris Society goal through a gift to the annual fund.

 

For more information go to www.rotary.org/foundation.

 

On Saturday, January 23rd, several Rockport Rotarians braved the frigid ocean water and whipping winds to raise money to end Polio worldwide. Bob Gillis, Janelle Favaloro, Katie Favaloro, Andrew Maddox, Gus Campbell, and exchange student Luma Piantino from Brazil were our brave representatives.

Each year, Rotary District 7930 has a Polar Plunge to raise funds for the eradication of Polio. This year was the 6th annual plunge, which took place at 11:15 am with an air temperature of 29 degrees in 6-8 foot waves and winds of about 35 mph. The water temperature was rumored to be 42 degrees.

 

Over 200 participants plunged into the icy Atlantic to fulfill their “Service Above Self” commitment. The event was held at the Gloucester end of Long Beach. Due to the high winds and waves, plungers were cautioned to go in with a buddy, and no deeper than their knees. Participants came from Gloucester, Rockport, Ipswich, Wakefield, and Stoneham just to name a few. Senator Bruce Tarr also attended the event and provided the all important count down to the plunge.