November is Rotary Foundation Month. To understand what the Rotary Foundation does, you just need to remember that it manages the collective savings account of all Rotary Clubs. Just as our club raises funds and spends money on its service projects, the Foundation does the same.

This month the club’s Foundation Committee will educate Sunrise on the Foundation, we will show you how the Foundation raises funds and how it spends. In respect of fund raising, we would like every Rotarian to make a donation to the Annual Program Fund of the Foundation. Quite a few members have done so already and we are grateful for their support. On behalf of your club I would be grateful if you consider a donation to the Rotary Foundation. This month we will inform you of the many options that are available for your support.

As there are so many needs in our world and the Foundation spends a lot of money on service projects, it is essential that the system is focused, fair, transparent and they get the best bang for the buck. From what I have learned and seen over the years, I can say that they are very good at it, so any funds donated to the Foundation are used wisely.
 

Among the Foundation’s programmes are the Global Grants, these support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in Rotary’s 6 areas of focus. Grants are for humanitarian projects, scholarships for graduate level academic studies and for vocational training. A key feature of global grants is partnership between the district or club where the activity is carried out and a district or club in another country. The Foundation sets high standards for any funding, rightfully so, because it is the money from our collective savings account so the project must:

• be sustainable and include plans for long-term success after the global grant funds have been spent;

• include measurable goals;

• align with one of Rotary’s areas of focus;

• respond to real community needs; and

• actively involve Rotarians and community members.
 

The minimum budget for a global grant activity is US$30,000. The Foundation’s World Fund provides a minimum of US$15,000 and maximum of US$200,000. Clubs and districts contribute District Designated Funds and/or cash contributions that the World Fund matches. Donations from the district fund are matched at 100% and cash is matched at 50%.
 

Sunrise has not yet participated in a Global Grant, but as our club matures and more and more knowledge and expertise has been gained over the years, there is a desire to obtain a Global Grant. The International Committee is considering its options in Peru or in Honduras, in both countries Rotary Sunrise has built up long relations; in Peru the club sponsors the Feed Pirua’s Community and in Honduras the club supports the Guarama project. Both may offer good options to realize a Global Grant.
 

I look forward to your support for the Rotary Foundation.

 

Several members of the Sunrise Club visited the communities of Las Mangas and El Pital in the Pico Bonito National Park, Honduras, over the last weekend of September. Sunrise has a long standing relationship with ‘Guaruma’, a non-profit organization set up in 2002, to run after school educational programs in the area, focusing on environmental awareness for the local inhabitants. One of the main thrusts of Guaruma is teaching students the medium of photography as a focus for education, and sales of their art also provides a source of income.

 

Over several years Rotarian Dr Krishna Mani has undertaken trips to Guaruma to undertake ophthalmic examinations and provide basic treatment, which is sadly lacking locally. On this latest visit, additional medical members of Sunrise also made the trip, to provide other services alongside Dr Mani.

 

Doctors Ulrich Ecke (ENT) and Delroy Jefferson (General Practice) conducted examinations and delivered outpatient based care, including hearing tests, ear syringing, the treatment of hypertension, allergies and infections. Rachel Windhaber provided her dental expertise, with education on oral hygiene and handing out supplies of toothbrushes and toothpaste taken by the team.

 

Supported by Rotarians Renzo Escalante and his wife Sandra (who both provided invaluable translation assistance), Pat Steward, John Lee, Rotaractor Matthew Seales and his wife (Ariana also assisted with Spanish speakers), and Robert Powell, the team worked two full days, seeing a mix of patients of all ages, numbering about 60 each day.

 

The team also distributed clothing which had been donated and collected by the club in anticipation of the trip.

 

The youngsters who attend Guaruma and live in the area put on a show of music and dancing for the team, showed them a slideshow of other performances they had put on recently, and were proud to display a large papier mache model of the Cangrejal region (the communities are located in the valley of the Cangrejal River), demonstrating their team skills as artists and model makers.

 

The Sunrise group provided their time and skills voluntarily, and funded the trip entirely out of their own pockets. The doctors also donated equipment and drugs.

 

As on previous visits, the services, support and donations were extremely well received and Sunrise looks forward to further visits.

 

Rotarian Dr. Mani performing an eye exam

 

Rotarian Dr. Ecke performing a throat exam

 

Rotarian Dr. Jefferson with local translator providing a general consultation

 

Local children receiving dental hygiene supplies donated from club members

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Last year at this time we launched the Join In Recycling Awareness initiative to bring knowledge to residents of Cayman about recycling services available on Island. The initiative took off and volumes of recycling have been coming into the drop off locations. Many of you took up the challenge of incorporating recycling into your daily lives, both home and business. There are still many residents who do not recycle even though the services are available. To commemorate World Recycling Day, on Saturday, November 15, and to boost the awareness again we issue you a challenge for the next 10 days. "Keep all plastic containers (all types of plastics), aluminum cans and tin cans, glass containers, cardboard and paper products (newsprint and standard paper) out of the trash and recycle it at designated service centres on Grand Cayman". For the next 10 days, you will witness how many disposable items you would have thrown in the "trash" but indeed are recyclable items. Help keep the recyclables out of the landfill and make Cayman a better place.

For a full list of recyclable items visit www.joinin.ky or visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/joininky. Information cards will as be available at Wednesday's meeting. More information about World Recycling Day events will be coming out soon. Thank you for Recycling!

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Fred Speirs Inter School Debates
Submitted by Literacy Committee

Ms. Jennifer Weber is the Operations Manager for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society but back in 1985 she was a Rotary Youth Exchange Student. Jennifer is pleased to speak at our club during the Rotary Foundation month about this programme and how it transformed her life and career choices today. She studied in Fukuoka Japan 29 years ago but to her if feels like yesterday. She wishes to express her sincere gratitude and appreciation to every Rotarian in the world that she was afforded this wonderful experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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We need your help to assess the level of support Rotary Sunrise can offer along with the other two Rotary clubs and the two Rotaract clubs. If you are willing to contribute then please read of the basic information below about Interact Clubs watch at least one of the short videos about other Interact Clubs around the world, who have made these videos complete a short survey to help us gather information as to the viability of starting an Interact Club here on Grand Cayman (Click here for survey).

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.

As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 13,000 clubs in 138 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 300,000 young people are involved in Interact.

Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of:

- Developing leadership skills and personal integrity
- Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others
- Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work
- Advancing international understanding and goodwill
Click here for Video 1
Click here for Video 2
Click here for Video 3
Click here for Video 4
 
YIRS,
Rotarian Gina

 

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