NOTE - We are meeting at the City Auditorium for our meeting tomorrow. Join us there for a unique program.
I hope you like to watch videos because we have multiple links in this week's bulletin to various short 1-2 minute videos. I hope you find them interesting.
If you enjoyed our meeting last week sharing fellowship with Rotarians from all 9 clubs in our area, you be happy to know we are planning a joint Rotary area social on May 25th. Watch this bulletin for further details as we get closer.
For those who requested a copy of Martin Cook's fascinating presentation last week, click here for the speech.
Speaking of links, we had trouble showing the video coverage of the Mock Trials and our participation in the Trials at our meeting earlier in February. Here is a link to the video so you can watch it. There is also a link to a video from Heather Beem with PEN in the International Service section later in the bulletin.
There was a great turn out at District Elleven last night and I'm looking forward to the next social which will be the end of March or early April. Watch the bulletin for more information as we get closer. Thank you to Jane Young and the Social Committee for arranging the event.
Our Community Service project for March is a Habitat for Humanity build. Cody has arranged several different days so I hope at least one will work in your schedule. It is a wonderful way to help those who are looking for a hand up to get back on their feet.
On a sad note, I just learned that Rotarian Jack Donley's father has passed away. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
This week, we are going on a field trip to the City Auditorium for our lunch meeting. We'll be getting an update on the plans for this little gem in our City and take a tour of the facilities.
Next week, we'll be back at the DoubleTree and our program will be a club assembly to have discussions about our past and present financial structure and what we might want to change for the future. We'll also be discussing what things you like about Rotary and what ways we can improve our club. We hope everyone will come and participate so that we can make our club even better and continue to grow our impact locally and internationally. Don't forget to RSVP by Monday at 5 pm for this special program.
Please take time to read the bulletin each week and check out our website that has more information about all our events, activities and upcoming speakers.
It's time again for the Rotary Club of Colorado Springs to give back our time to a great organization helping to bring homes and stability to those who need it most! Join the Community Service Committee in volunteering at Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity this season, helping with their Sand Creek development build!
Our club will be focusing on the following dates to get volunteers coordinated and able to join up in groups: March 25th, March 30th, and April 1st. Please see the details below for times available on those dates! However, if you can't make one of those dates but you still want to volunteer, please take a look at their volunteer page here: https://pikespeakhabitat.org/volunteer/ and see if one of the other days around or within that same week might work, choose the option for Sand Creek Construction Site. Pikes Peak Habitat operates every week Wed-Sat.
Send an email to Cody Burket or sign up at the Sign Up link for an available timeslot if interested in volunteering. Thank you all and I look forward to seeing you there!
Dates & Times Available:
Sat. March 25th, Afternoon Shift Only, 12:30PM - 4:30PM
Thur. March 30th, Any Shift, 8:30-12 or 12:30 - 4:30
Sat. April 1st, Any Shift, 8:30-12 or 12:30 - 4:30
PEN (Practical Education Network) in Accra, Ghana (installation of online training facility) $5,000
Science Lab at Masai Mara High School in Kenya, Africa. $2,500 (with $2,500 from the Los Altos, California Rotary Club)
Social Work Scholarships at Hubert Kairuki Memorial University (HKMU) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Two individual scholarships) $3,000
School bus purchase for Rotary Volcanes School of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico $2,000 (Tri Lakes Rotary Club project; total goal from area clubs and District grant $16,000)
Ukrainian Letter Project (supplies, printing and shipping) $2,600
Ankara Turkey disaster response $3,000
Yours in service,
Tom Nelson
Director and Chairman of the Community Service Fund
Update report from Heather Beem and the Practical Education Network (PEN) - watch the video here.
The International Committee has requested from the CSF $3000 for aid in Turkey. Funds to be wired this week to the District Governor there to be used as he directs. We will be expecting an accounting of the use in Mid March.
PDG elect Greg Sund and Jon Kaufman are working to establish a new foundation or other structure to govern the upcoming Sustainable Notes Music Festival in October. A board of directors will be chosen to oversee the responsible sale of $1 million in expected ticket sales and sponsorships, as well as the disbursement of those funds for exceptional international projects in D5470.
Preparation is underway to create the Rotary Pavilion at EarthX in Dallas April 20-23. This will give us the opportunity to exhibit our innovations and projects to 200,000 expected attendees to the world's largest environmental and climate conference.
A few expedition opportunities will be ready to announce next month for the balance of 2023. These will include Kenya, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico and Panama. All will allow participation in water installations, eyeglass fitting clinics and computer lab installs and training.
The CSF and an anonymous contributor also helped to fill a funding gap last November at Maasai Mara and our water enterprise install there. RC of Prior Lake Minnesota had made a charitable investment of $80,000 through a Program Related Investment. But we were still short by $9000 for shipping and Customs. All equipment has been installed, an 800 foot borehole completed, and within a couple week, 20L bottles of purified water will be sold. Here is a link to a 30 minute video package that describes the PRI funding concept, an interview with the PDG in Minnesota on why they went this route, and an interview with Amos Kipeen of the Maasai community explaining the enterprise they are launching. https://vimeo.com/797966292 The CSF contribution of $2500 for completion of a science lab at Maasai Mara High has been spent on plumbing and lab equipment.
Warmly,
Jon Kaufman
P.S. If you are interested in participating in our International Committee, please email Jon Kaufman jk595@aol.com to be added to the notification list!
Turkey and Syria were struck by a devastating earthquake on 6 February that has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, and left people across the region without shelter in bitterly cold winter weather.
The Rotary world responded to this catastrophe immediately. RI President Jennifer Jones activated our disaster response efforts, communicated with the affected districts, and encouraged governors in those regions to apply for disaster response grants and share information about their relief efforts so that Rotary can amplify the calls for support.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees decided that all donations made, from now until 31 March, to the Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund will be used to aid earthquake relief projects. In addition, the Trustees made available more than $125,000 to Rotary districts affected by the earthquake through Disaster Response Grants.
Rotary's project partner ShelterBox also has an emergency response team assessing the needs in the region and how it can respond. That team is communicating with Rotary district leaders. Rotary's service partner Habitat for Humanity International is also working on its response. Many Rotary members are asking how they can help. Here's how to have the greatest impact:
Give to Turkey/Syria Disaster Response Fund. Donations help clubs and districts provide aid and support rebuilding efforts where the need is greatest. The funds are distributed to affected communities through disaster response grants. The Disaster Response Fund can accept cash contributions and District Designated Funds (DDF).
Support local initiatives. As we learn about local response efforts that are being led by clubs and districts, Rotary raises awareness about how to support them. People can then support these projects by working directly with Rotary members in the region. If you want us to publicize information about local response efforts, write to relief@rotary.org.
Be a part of the first and largest online network of shoppers, stores, and worthy causes dedicated to turning everyday online shopping into much-needed donations. It's never been easier to support a great cause - just by shopping and searching online.
FREE membership. Great deals.
iGive.com is totally free, and you'll never pay more by shopping through their mall. In fact, smart shoppers will love iGive's free shipping deals and exclusive coupons.
Shop at 2,000+ top-notch online stores, & maybe save on your taxes.
Participating stores include Chewy, Walmart.com, QVC, Staples.com, HSN, Kohl's, Macy's, and many more. Best of all, up to 26% from each purchase is donated to us. Your contributions could even be tax-deductible*.
Why not raise money every time you search the web? Try iGive's search engine and enjoy free, easy fundraising for a good cause.
What's the catch?
There isn't one. It's free. No "spam." Total member privacy. iGive.com was established in 1997 with the goal of changing all consumer transactions so that a percentage of each purchase can benefit worthy causes close to home. We're proud to say that our members have raised almost $10 million for their favorite causes! * Donations are tax-deductible only if you are supporting an IRS-recognized nonprofit organization.
Turn your online purchases into much-needed donations: www.iGive.com/ColoradoSprings-RotaryClubId1154
If you have bulletin announcements, please email the EXACT WORDING of your announcement to kay.rendleman@comcast.net by Wednesday at 5 pm. I don't write your announcements, but I do make them nice 'n' fancy!
