The one thing I absolutely dreaded about being President of your club is to announce difficult news. Unfortunately, our Rotarian brother, Marv Thomason, has passed away. I will send more information as it is available. Marv joined Rotary in May of 1978. He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. My memories of him are mostly how much he loved to sing. He was a unique melodious tenor. His last time gracing our club with his music was in March when he sang "Kathleen" and then explained the origin of the song. He loved to sing holiday tunes. He did a presentation for the club about his parents' amazing history in regard to civil rights. RIP, Dear Marv. The angels needed a tenor and you were the perfect one!
In other news...what a week it's been! I'm still in Houston for Rotary Convention as I write this but headed home in a few hours. Our club was represented well by Madam President-Elect Kay Rendleman, Club Secretary Tina Dewey, International Director Jordan Fontaine, Past President Caryn Adams, Past International Chair Donna Dell'Olio, Assistant District Governor Maile Foster, Zoom leader, and soon-to-be Youth Director Fabrizio Labate and me.
On Monday, Donna, Massimo Cassanelli, Nadia Di Liddo and I led a breakout on Global Grants through the Rotary Friendship Exchange. Everyone who attended from our club was there, including our District Governor Becky Smith. (Well, one club member had to return early but watched us on the live stream!) From the questions and comments, it seems we had a very informative breakout session and many went away newly invigorated and inspired to seek out relationships with Rotary Clubs outside their own country to be able to share in a Global Grant! And this relationship with Bisceglie brought us the opportunity to participate in an eye clinic in Italy for financially challenged individuals in Bisceglie, Italy. You can all be very proud to know what a difference we are making!
Massimo, Nadia, Donna, Becky, and Massimo's District Governor from Italy and I were then asked to sign a formal Twinning Agreement. It was very exciting and I'm proud to have taken part during my presidential year!
Dr. Heather Beem from Practical Education Network in Ghana is being inducted into her Rotary Club in Accra West, thanks to Rotarians Martin Cook and Judy Casey who are personally paying for her membership. That relationship with PEN and the Accra West Rotary is growing and we hope to do big things with them!
One of the themes throughout the convention so far has been accessing clean water, which many countries face every single day. It really hit me just how grateful we can be in our own country that those needs are met. I never have to think about where I will find water to drink (let alone CLEAN water) when I wake up in the morning. I'm so grateful that by luck of the draw, I was born into a life of privilege, and have never had to wonder if I would be taken from my parents and forced into slavery as have many children in India. I've always had clothes, a roof, a mode of transportation, an education, and a family who loves me. And because of that privilege, it's my responsibility to create or find ways to help those more vulnerable.
We learned about a water filtration system that is run 100% on solar power and will last for 25 years. We learned about new ways that ShelterBox is meeting the needs of those displaced by disaster and we got to see some of the products they are now providing that are downright brilliant! We learned about the crisis in Venezuela, Honduras, and Uganda in regard to migration. And we learned that we cannot pretend this isn't critical and we should definitely be part of providing a solution.
The gentleman who presented about the crisis in Uganda said that when you go to these areas to help and see firsthand how poorly these humans exist, it truly changes you. Are you ready to join me??
I got to talk to a lot of different Rotary Action Groups who are all doing meaningful service all over the world! You can find information for those through google! Also, many many Rotary Fellowship groups!
Next year's convention is June 4-8 and it's in Melbourne, Australia. Do I recommend it? Absolutely!! I would love to see more of our club members experience the inspiration. It's also exciting to meet Rotarians from around the world!
This week's Random Awesome Deed suggestion is to think about what really inspires you about being in Rotary. Share that. Brag a little about what our club does for the world. Think about all those polio vaccinations that our service organization provides worldwide. Did you know that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation matches our polio dollars 2:1? They don't double the match with any other project (according to Rotary leaders here this week.) And once you've thought through all of that, be grateful that by the luck of the draw, you were born into a part of the world where you have access to clean water and freedom from child slavery. You have a voice that is allowed to be powerful. You have shoes on your feet and access to medical care. You aren't forced to walk miles and miles to escape your country with only what you are wearing. You aren't forced to wait in long soup kitchen lines to get the very basic sustenance just to keep you alive. We really do have so much to be grateful for! Time to do what we do as Rotarians and pay it forward!
Now let's go forth, and be great stewards of Rotary and Catalysts of Caring in our Community!
Please be well, be safe, and be kind. There are a lot of people needing just that.
In Rotary Service,
Kathleen Saltmarsh-Voss
President
Rotary of Colorado Springs
Topic: Weekly Rotary Meeting
Time: June 10, 2022 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 852 1712 5280
Passcode: 4039519754
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Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbQttQn2G1
Vivian Cobb is a multipreneuer. She’s the owner of Cobb Real Estate, a boutique brokerage in Colorado Springs and Vivian Cobb Speaking where she brings all her life experiences, storytelling talent, and vibrant personality to the stage as an international inspirational speaker. She is a TEDx speaker, a TEDx Speaker Coach, a Distinguished Toastmaster and is currently President of her Toastmaster Club, Colorado Orators League.
Vivian is also an emotions advocate, understanding how important it is to embrace emotions rather than hiding from them. This role evolved through the devastating loss of not only her husband, but also her home, her money and her buying power. She believes emotions are the baseline from which we operate and love rules supreme.
Vivian’s near death experience with Covid 19 in 2020 was her wake up call, changing her motivation and perception of life and what is important in our journeys as humans.
She has authored two adult coloring books, “The Receptacle” and “Negativity Clouds Truth.”
One of our Rotarians, Kerry Pearson, has worked tirelessly to create entries on the WWII National Registry from every member of our club who served! While the information is there, we want to include a picture of the veteran to be included on their online plaques. The Registry charges $10 for each picture that we upload to their registry. We have discovered 97 members of our club who served in WWII! You can do the math and see that to put a photo in each online plaque would cost our club just shy of $1,000.
We are asking our current club members to consider sponsoring individual veterans on the list below.
If you would like to donate to this effort, you can email Karen Mooty at
with the amount you would like to donate and the names of veterans that you want to sponsor OR you can simply email Karen with an amount that you would like to donate toward this cause! So far, our club members have generously donated $640.00! We still need $330 to complete this project! Thank you to any and all who want to be part of this! This is an amazing opportunity to honor some of our club heroes!
"Poker has the feeling of a sport, but you don’t have to do push-ups." – Penn Jillette
"I tell ya. Las Vegas, they got slot machines all over, even in supermarkets. I went in to buy a container of milk. Cost me $238." – Rodney Dangerfield
For the last 30 years, there has been a monthly low-stakes poker game. The core group of players has been Rotarians and we are looking for a couple of new members. The game rotates between host houses the second week of the month (except December). If you are interested in joining our group please contact any of the following Rotarians for more information.
We need a leader for Diamond Awards! This committee has such a meaningful task ~ Reading and rating student nominations for the most impactful teachers in each high school in School District 11!
If YOU are interested in stepping into this position, please contact Cass Daley.
Come have a beer with your friends and help raise money for Flight 2022!
$1 from every pint purchased goes to The Rotary Club of Colorado Springs's Community Service Fund
August 2, 2022, 5-9:30 pm
2727 N Cascade Ave #123
Proceeds go to The Rotary of Colorado Springs' Community Service Fund which in turn benefits local schools and other service fund projects throughout Colorado Springs!
Rotary International PolioPlus continues to work on polio, measles, COVID & other disease eradication.
PLUS assisting in providing access to clean water, food, and healthcare. Our latest challenge has been providing food aid that had been coming from Ukraine. While other breadbasket regions of the world are being explored as a resource, food aid is being stretched from those who were merely hungry to those who are starving. You can help by donating to PolioPlus, the Rotary International Foundation, or Disaster Relief.
Here is a link for PolioPLUS donations to share with your club members:
FLIGHT XV committee meets every Friday directly after the weekly club meeting. The zoom link is available below for those who cannot attend in person.
For more information, please contact Tina Dewey, FLIGHT XV Chair at tinadhomes@gmail.com.
Flight 2022 is well underway and we are excited to be back in person at the Boot Barn Hall on September 24th. As many of you know, getting Flight “aloft” is a significant effort and our largest fundraiser in support of the many great service initiatives of the club. We are actively seeking sponsorships at this time. If you or your business can contribute to this worthy cause, you can find additional detail at www.csflight.org/sponsors. Please also think about other contacts you have in the community that are good sponsor candidates. You can either refer the contact information to Tom Naughton (tjnaughton55@gmail.com) or Lynne Pearson (lypearson24@gmail.com) or if you prefer to contact them yourself, the sponsor brochure and commitment form are available at www.csflight.org/sponsors.
Meeting ID: 865 2228 1182 Passcode: 274601 One tap mobile +12532158782,,86522281182#,,,,*274601# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,86522281182#,,,,*274601# US (Houston)
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We are in the initial stage of forming a Veterans Group in the COS Downtown Rotary Club. This group will serve as a cohesive unit in community service projects (thanks, Samantha Chapman, for including us!), have its own space on the ClubRunner page (thanks, Mike McGrath!), and strengthen both Rotary and Veteran bonds. The first initiative for the Veterans Group is to honor World War II Veterans. (Thank you, Kerry Pearson, for your legwork on this project!)
If you are a Veteran, please contact Chip Frazer at carl.frazer@gmail.com or 202.595.4295 with name, branch of service, and (if desired) dates of service and/or military campaigns. If you know a Veteran in the club, please let Chip know, since we'd like to get the word out as far and wide as possible.
Currently, we are working on the following projects:
Practical Education Network (PEN) in Ghana
Hunger project in Niger
Trampled Rose In Ethiopia
Locally Haiti
Vision project in Bisceglie, Italy
New updates for the International Committee:
Practical Education Network (PEN) in Ghana - They have their ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday. It will be live-streamed on Facebook and Kathleen and Martin will be doing a quick speech.
The hunger project in Niger - is fully approved by TRF and funds are being sent
Trampled Rose In Ethiopia
Locally Haiti
Vision project in Bisceglie, Italy
Steve Popovich letter writing campaign to Ukrainian refugee mothers and children overseas is now active and coordinating with Community Service
The Tbilisi Rotarian Club in Republic of Georgia is helping to raise funds for the School of Tomorrow. They have taken in about 30 Ukrainian children and with the costs of additional children with families who are not paying and the issues of COVID, the school is low on funds and materials. The Director of the School is a member of the local Rotary Club there.
-- Onward and upward, Jordan
If you are interested in participating in our International Committee, please email Jordan Davis at Jordan@sociallyexceptional.biz to be added to the notification list!
We are dedicated to enhancing your Rotary experience by supporting what is important to you, our members. You have consistently told us that you want Rotary to be a place that celebrates diversity, that fully represents our communities, and offers all members equitable opportunities to thrive.
You also recognize that embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) will allow us to do more meaningful work while engaging with people who know they’ll be valued for the qualities that make them unique. These sentiments were reinforced last year by the more than 31,000 members around the world who responded to our first DEI survey.
To ensure that the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion are ingrained in everything we do, the RI Board of Directors, guided by the DEI Task Force, has strengthened our commitment to DEI and is taking action in response to the survey findings.
Our DEI Code of Conduct
What we say and how we behave matter. Although free expression is important, we must take responsibility for how our words and actions may affect others. The Board has approved a new DEI Code of Conduct to help Rotary members create and maintain an environment that is collaborative, positive, and healthy for everyone.
Simply put, the DEI Code of Conduct asks you to:
Use respectful language
Be supportive
Foster a welcoming and inclusive environment
Celebrate diversity
All Rotary leaders, from club presidents and district governors to directors and trustees, are expected to apply the DEI Code of Conduct uniformly to help members recognize the impact that their words and actions can have on other people.
If you experience behavior that does not align with the DEI Code of Conduct, you have ways to respond:
If the situation can be resolved through discussion, please talk to the person directly. Often, the person who said something or acted in a way that made others feel excluded, marginalized, or targeted did not do so intentionally. Although there might be mistakes, missteps, and uncomfortable conversations along the way, having this dialogue will lead to a better and stronger Rotary.
If a discussion is not possible or the situation involves someone in a leadership role or another club, contact Rotary’s Club and District Support staff, who will review the information and follow up appropriately.
If you are in danger or your safety is in doubt, contact local law enforcement officers and notify Club and District Support staff.
As an organization, we are stronger when we embrace the diversity found in our clubs and communities. We are more effective when we offer a valuable, inclusive experience that provides equitable opportunities for people to serve, to lead, and to participate with us. To grow Rotary and become a more dynamic organization, we must take DEI seriously. And with your support, we are doing that.
Sincerely,
Shekhar Mehta, RI President and the 2021-22 RI Board of Directors
Rotary District 2241 in Romania (This information came from the DG in Southern California. She is a Romanian immigrant).
You can wire funds directly to the Rotary District 2241 of Romania. They have established a Disaster Relief Fund.
Here is the bank info for a wire transfer.
Bank:
Transilvania
Address:
str. Gheorghe Barițiu, nr.8, Cluj Napoca
Cluj-Napoca, Cluj 400000 Roman ia
Account in USD:
RO22BTRL01302205M6501800
Swift: BTRLRO22
Beneficiary:
Asociația Rotary District 2241 Romania & Republica Moldova
Address:
Hotel Ibis.
Calea Grivitei nr.143, sector 1,
București 010741 Romania
Rotary International Disaster Relief Fund
As one of the world’s largest humanitarian organizations, Rotary has made peace the cornerstone of our global mission. We are deeply concerned about the Ukraine crisis and need your help.
Rotary is made up of people of action, especially in difficult times. In response to the deepening refugee crisis, The Rotary Foundation Trustees have decided to prioritize contributions made to the Disaster Response Fund until 30 April 2022 to support disaster response grants for districts affected by these events. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to supply water, food, medicine, shelter, and clothing.
Half a million people have fled Ukraine and are in dire need of emergency aid. The United Nations estimates that the number of refugees could grow to as many as 5 million people displaced. Rotary clubs in Europe and around the world have stepped up their relief work, some working on the ground to help displaced families.
With your donation to our Disaster Response Fund, we can support communities and help rebuild lives during this tragic time. Click HERE to donate now.
Sincerely,
John Germ Trustee Chair, 2021-22 The Rotary Foundation
And from Habitat For Humanity:
Dear Friend,
As we watch the distressing situation unfold across Ukraine, Habitat for Humanity Great Britain joins colleagues across our network in calling for an end to the deadly attacks.
As an organization that passionately believe that homes should be safe havens for all, seeing people forced to flee from their homes is a tragedy.
In Ukraine, we work on energy efficiency in housing through a partner organization based in Odessa. The latest reports from our partner are that all their staff are safe, though attacks have killed people within the district.
Our colleagues on the ground in neighboring countries, together with partners from other charities and organizations in a united response, are helping assist those who have been forced to flee, as well as preparing longer-term plans to support families into more permanent homes.
Habitat for Humanity National Offices in the neighboring countries of Poland, Romania, Hungary, and Slovakia are responding by supporting refugees fleeing to find safety and shelter, as well as devising plans to support families into a longer-term shelter.
In Poland: Many of the families arriving at the border are single-headed, as many Ukrainian parents are choosing to have one parent remain in the country to join the resistance. Funds are being raised to lessen the burden of housing for the Ukrainian refugees.
In Romania: An assessment team from Habitat for Humanity Romania has traveled north to the Ukraine-Romania border. The temperature is currently below freezing, so the priority here is to source air heaters for people sheltering in tents on the border. The team is also working to secure hotel rooms as temporary shelters for refugees.
In Hungary: Our colleagues are pursuing how they can best provide support for refugees at the border.
In Slovakia: A team of staff have made their way to the border and are working on plans to support partner organizations.
More updates about our work in Ukraine’s neighboring countries supporting refugees will be provided as information comes in.
The United Nations Refugee Agency estimates up to 4 million Ukrainians could flee if the situation deteriorates further.
Without you, we simply can't do the work that we do.
In the short term, we will continue to assist governments and partners to meet the urgent needs of refugees at the Ukrainian border.
In keeping with our 'Pathways to Permanence' approach, our longer-term response will focus on supporting refugee families to reduce their vulnerability, helping move them along a path to permanent, durable shelter.
To support our continued efforts in helping those who have been forced to leave their homes, please make a donation today.
Seeing families have the most basic needs of safety and housing compromised is truly heart-breaking, but with you beside us, we'll do everything we can to be there, rebuilding shattered lives brick-by-brick - however long it takes.
With my heartfelt thanks for your continued support,
The first quarter polio reports from the two remaining countries not considered polio-free continue to be cautiously optimistic. With just six cases of the wild poliovirus reported in 2021, the trend was positive. Today that trend continues as we have had just one case of the wild poliovirus in Afghanistan this year and 441 days since the last reported case of the wild poliovirus in Pakistan.
The most encouraging information in the report is that there have been no Positive Environmental Samples since early December. Additionally, the cases of Circulating Vaccine - Derived Polio have dropped to just 34 compared with 195 at this time last year.
The eradication of only the second disease from the planet remains the primary goal of Rotary International. The continued support of Rotarians will see this goal achieved. Please help Rotary International with your donation to The Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Fund. With your help, we will have a polio-free world.
If you have bulletin announcements, please email the EXACT WORDING of your announcement to KSaltmarshVoss@yahoo.com by Wednesday at 5 pm. I don't write your announcements but I do make them nice 'n' fancy!
As you're doing your shopping online, did you know that you can support our Rotary Club with every Amazon purchase? Here’s how:
Go to smile.amazon.com (not amazon.com). Amazon Smile is the same company, same account, same password, but the Amazon Smile program gives one half of one percent of every purchase to charity. No, it’s not a lot, but it’s also not nuthin’ (to be exact: about $150 for the Club so far). So again, go to smile.amazon.com
Sign into your Amazon account as you normally would
On the very top left of the page, next to the AmazonSmile logo, are three horizontal bars. Click there for the drop-down menu.
Scroll ALL the way down to “Your AmazonSmile”; it should be the last option right before “Sign Out”; Click on “Your AmazonSmile”
On the right side of the page, click on the “change charity” box under Your current charity (Note: If you are currently supporting another charity, that’s awesome! These instructions are for those who are not doing so. Also, if you have not previously selected a charity, your default option will be St. Judge Children’s Research Hospital.)
Type in Community Service Fund of the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs; click Select
That’s it. You’re all set. Just remember to go to Smile.Amazon.com when you shop from now on.
