June 18, 2007
Today, June 18: We have our annual club picnic at West Street Park. We can enjoy the gazebo this club built and have a look at some of our passed members' memorial trees. Find directions here.
June 25: This year our annual officer induction meeting will be at noon at the newly renovated Howell Opera House. Jim Gilligan will pass the gavel to Ron Hingst to begin Ron's year as club president.
It looks as if we are going to have a very good turn out this year. We need to give the caterer a final head count by this afternoon so please R.S.V.P to Ron today if you haven't already. The sign up sheet will be circulating at the picnic.
Please bring a check for $30 per person and give it to Kim Dane today or at the luncheon on the 25th.
July 2: No Meeting. It's Independence Day week, a traditional week off from our weekly meeting.
July 9: Club Assembly. We'll hear Ron's platform for the 2007/2008 Rotary year and then break into committees.
The West Street Park Gazebo is another
successful Howell Rotary Club Project!
The Latest News From Sarah Heddon
Hi Everyone!!!
I hope this email finds everyone well and enjoying the beautiful summer sunshine. Many exciting things have been happening on the Bitone front over the last few months!
Branco has returned to Kampala and is doing very well. He is busy supervising the bustle of a new school term, catching up with Bitone administration, friends and family, and plodding through the piles of administrative paperwork!! The Bitone Center in Kampala has achieved international non-profit status and is also busy working with Rotary Clubs in the Kampala district.
Before Branco returned, The Bitone Project in Albion, MI was able to complete successful workshops with students of Starr Commonwealth and Albion Youth Theater. Almost 50 postcards were created, along with a beautiful mural highlighting the beginnings of this incredible relationship, linking young people across the world through art. Bitone Children received these projects and are working to create their own mural and postcard messages to return to all who participated. Many thanks to all who were involved, especially Mr. Schuler of Starr Commonwealth, Dr. Madhok of Albion Youth Theater and Uncle Che' Parker for documenting the whole process. Mr. Parker's documentary, which includes footage from our African Dinner/Fundraiser held in April, along with footage of the mural displayed in the KC, has aired on the Battle Creek Public television station!! Pictures from these workshops will be up on the website soon!
Congratulations to all members of The Bitone Project class of 2007 who have recently graduated. New on the leadership board is Emily Weber and Jamie Venia, both Albion College Seniors. Emily just returned from time abroad in Spain and morocco, studying human rights issues around the globe. Jamie will also be a passionate leader and Branco is love with her, I might add. Look forward to hearing much more from these ladies!!
Now, for the EXCITING NEWS of the century....
The Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club in Traverse City, the Kampala East Rotary Club and Kampala South Rotary Club of Uganda announce the formation and approval of a Rotary World Community Service Project!!!!
The WCS proposal was approved by Rotary international! The project seeks to offset costs for basic humanitarian aid and provide basic day to day operational costs at the Center in Kampala. Read this clip from the press release below and see the attached documents for ways to become a sustaining partner in this process.
"Now, Bitone has partnered with several organizations in the U.S. to build a sustainable plan to maintain and grow the Bitone Center. The Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club along with Albion College, have assisted to develop a WCS project proposal with the Rotary Clubs of Kampala, Uganda. By leveraging our collective clubs technical and financial assistance with a matching grant from The Rotary Foundation (TRF) the project will first seek to offset costs for basic humanitarian aid to the Children of Bitone.
In Subsequent year's the project will strive to acquire additional resources and assets and compensate the five fully volunteer staff. We can accomplish our initial goal with only about $1000 US per child for the an entire year. With Rotarian partners on the ground in Uganda and the U.S. - we have and will also provide technical, professional and physical aid to the Center through the WCS project format. Our partners at Albion College have already visited the Center in January of 2007, and are now developing a short documentary for public awareness and promotion of Bitone, A web-site ( www.bitonechildren.org ), brochure, WCS project proposal and matching grant."
I encourage you to continue to support Bitone through TC Sponsorship Team. This is a great way to become an annual supporter, with funds going directly to Bitone Center in Kampala, Uganda, through the structure of local Rotary clubs and Rotary International, an amazing organization, who supports hundreds of projects like these around the world. If you'd like to donate to Bitone, this is truly the best way, as our Group at Albion College has yet to achieve 501-c status.
Contact me, Branco or Mr. Klaus Heinert of the Traverse City Club for more information!!!
In other news, many thanks to Haslett Friends of Bitone! They have donated a printer/scanner/copier for Bitone Center in Kampala and I will be scheming up ways to transport it in the near future! I will be returning to Bitone Center near the end of July, early August on my way to Tanzania. I will be sure to pass along all greetings and love to Bitone staff and Children.
While in Kampala, Branco and I will meet with Project Focus co-founders, a really inspirational organization based in Chicago. Their group also works with in the arts, and have developed an extremely unique photo exhibition featuring photos taken by Ugandan children. I am extremely excited about this opportunity and hope to be able to discuss potential plans for bringing Mr. Schuler's Big Think art for peace to Kampala! Also, Bitone Children will hopefully perform at an exhibition hosted by Project Focus later this month. Stay tuned for more on this exciting event where art is truly uniting some incredible people and ideas.
Please let me know if you have an questions, comments, or concerns!!! My email address will stay the same, so no worries!! I'm looking forward to keeping in touch from E. Africa.
Peace and Smiles,
Sarah
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