THE ROTARY FOUNDATION - PDG BRIAN TRENERY
The Chair Jim Dwyer introduced Brian Trenery as our speaker. Brian has been a member of this club since September 1991 and has served in many positions including Club secretary three times, various Director positions and Club President in 1996-97.
In 1998, Brian led a Group Study Exchange Team to America and on returning, was invited to Chair the District Group Study Exchange Sub-committee of the Rotary Foundation, a position he held for several years.
Brian has held several positions at District level including District Secretary, District Conference Secretary, Assistant Governor, Committee member for the International Recreational Fellowships, is a R.L.I. facilitator.
Brian is currently the Chair of the District Rotary Foundation Committee. He is a member of the District Board, a member of the District Governor’s selection panel and is the mentor for the incoming 2016-17 District Governor Ray Herbert.
In April this year, Brian will represent our Rotary District at Rotary’s Council on Legislation in Chicago and has been appointed as Assistance Regional Co-ordinator for The Rotary Foundation for the next three years.
Brian is a Past District Governor, a Paul Harris Fellow, a recipient of the Avenues of Service Citation, the Cliff Dochterman Award and The Rotary Foundation District Service Award.
Brian provided a brief overview about how the Foundation works and described some of the projects in our District, i.e. In India children born with disabilities are able to receive wheelchairs, aids and crutches; a school in a slum area receives funding to establish a computer laboratory; a village is taught how to plant and grow vegetables which can feed the village as well as providing them with an income; providing water tanks and clean water for a hospital in PNG; street swags for the homeless.
Polio eradication was started in the late 1908’s by a Rotarian Queenslander, Clem Renouf, in partnership with WHO, UNICEF and Infectious Diseases. In 1980 there were 160 indemic countries and now there are two – Afganistan and Pakistan. Last year there were 19 outbreaks in Afganistan and 52 in Pakistan – to date there are none.
Everyone is encouraged to contribute to the Foundation which transforms gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary, the Foundation is able to tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into priorities such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.
Strong financial oversight, a stellar charity rating, and a unique funding model mean that the Foundation makes the most of contributions.
For more information about Rotary Foundation, see our website or go to the link below which also details how you can donate.