I cannot believe it's already March! I'm not saying the year is flying by. No, the year is stumbling mostly forward with a couple of nose dives into the pavement but still, it's March! Rotary says that it's Water and Sanitation Month which seems the perfect time to have Rotarian Jon Kaufman present to us about making villages self-reliant. Jon has a LOT of background in this subject so I know his presentation on March 11 will be very enlightening!
It's difficult for us in the land of plenty to imagine what not having clean water would be like. Many years ago when my children were young, Colorado Springs had a huge blizzard, and our power then water was knocked out for about 4 days. After 18 hours or so, we left the area and checked into a hotel. I'm not a snob but I am pretty dependent upon simple things like utilities. I'm grateful to be living in a country where basic necessities are common. I do appreciate these basics, which is one of many reasons I don't go camping. (I am, however, not opposed to glamping!)
Please check this link out: https://bit.ly/3hQjxBz where you can learn how Rotary helps provide water and sanitation to areas of the world where it's not readily available. Be proud that you are part of an organization that solves basic yet serious problems all around the world.
This week's Random Awesome Deed suggestion is an idea that a friend shared with me recently. Carry a few bottles of water in your car. Have them handy for when you see someone who looks like they could use it. Keep some by the front door and when you hear the doorbell with a delivery person, offer one up to them! Think kindness with water this week!
Now let's go forth, 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: March 4, 2022 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 852 1712 5280
Passcode: 4039519754
One tap mobile
+13462487799,,85217125280#,,,,*4039519754# US (Houston)
+16699006833,,85217125280#,,,,*4039519754# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 852 1712 5280
Passcode: 4039519754
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbQttQn2G1
Rotary is uniquely qualified to mentor the poor towards independence. Too often philanthropy creates extended dependence on the donor. The H2OpenDoors project has been working towards disrupting this conventional charity model with something far more regenerative.
Jon Kaufman has been a Rotarian for over 10 years and joined to start a global water project. He is a Major Donor, and has a Donor Advised Fund at TRF for H2OpenDoors. Jon is also CEO of an impact investment firm called Global Water First. He has also recently been named a steward of the Council for Inclusive Capitalism at the Vatican.
I've received a few inquiries about how the district, clubs, and Rotary members can support the people of Ukraine. I've been waiting for a communication from Rotary International, but feel an urgency to let you know there are already several ways for your club to support the people of Ukraine through Rotary channels. Once I hear something from RI, I will zip you another quick email!
Here are the sources that have identified specific focus areas for Ukrainian support:
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
This fund was developed to support areas in the world that suffer from natural disasters. As of yet, RI has not designated these funds to go to Ukraine. I'm told they are developing a process for clubs and districts to donate directly to efforts related to Ukraine and the refugees. Once I receive a link from RI, I will send it to you!
Please consider inviting someone you know that might be interested in being part of the oldest, largest Rotary Club in Colorado Springs! This is an informal gathering where we can share a drink and get to know prospective Rotarians while telling them about how great our club is AND spend some time with fellow Rotarians as well! We will be meeting at Brakeman's Burgers (behind The Antlers Hotel) at 10 S. Sierra Madre St., Colorado Springs.
If you are interested in being part of the party that is FLIGHT 2022!, please come to the weekly Rotary meeting directly AFTER the club's weekly meeting on Friday or tune in to the following zoom link.
There is help needed with the fabrication part of FLIGHT 2022. If you are available or able to move butterfly/dragonfly parts around, please contact Tina Dewey, FLIGHT 2022 Chair at tinadhomes@gmail.com.
Meeting ID: 865 2228 1182 Passcode: 274601 One tap mobile +12532158782,,86522281182#,,,,*274601# US (Tacoma) +13462487799,,86522281182#,,,,*274601# US (Houston)
Dial by your location +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma) +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston) +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose) +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC) +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago) +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) Meeting ID: 865 2228 1182 Passcode: 274601 Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdCCxdvGaP
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.
The next International Committee meeting is Friday, March 11 right after the club's weekly meeting and we will be meeting in Sportivo's.
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
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!
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.
Rotary Rally ~ (TONIGHT!) Thursday, March 3 @ 4:30 - 6 pm
