Just eleven short days ago, Spring arrived! And just as predictable, we've enjoyed more snow, wind, and rain. Oh and the sun! Thank goodness for the sun!!!
Spring brings lots of reasons to be grateful. These are 13 of mine.
The smell of spring ~ so fresh!
All the colors ~ every bloom in every hue. If you're like me, you delight in the pink, peach, rose, blue, purple, and yellows. And don't forget every single imaginable shade of green. When spring arrives, I'm like a dog without a leash. I have to stop, admire, touch, and smell everything!
The sounds of spring! People are venturing outside. Birds are singing. The car windows are being rolled down so you can hear the music on the radio. Patio parties and barbeque invitations have been sent!
The seasonal microbrews have arrived!
If I was 7, I'd say "later bedtime!" but I'm not 7 and I'm wondering why I still can't go to bed early.
The Easter-related holidays and whatever that may mean for you and your loved ones!
The weather is much milder although the winds do whip up at times. The warmth of spring and the more typical soft breezes greet us for our afternoons and evenings when we can enjoy more sunlight!
Two words: Sidewalk Chalk :)
Post-Easter...white pants are back on the rack! (Actually, I have it on good authority that white pants/shoes are perfectly acceptable to wear all throughout the year but it's the residual conditioning from finishing school that gives me anxiety when I do.)
Garden delights! Fresh produce at the Farmers Markets!
Baseball!! "Shwing, batter batter!!"
Cadbury eggs. Cuz Cadbury eggs.
And my favorite...people are way more positive in the spring! Sunlight affects us that way so I'm happy that we can always look forward to spring!
This week's Random Awesome Deed suggestion is to start pulling your spring/summer clothes out and as you do, consider donating coats/hats/gloves to one of the many charities in town that accept items for people without housing. We are still experiencing cold nights so someone could certainly make use of your donations. We ARE Rotarians after all!
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: April 1, 2022 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 852 1712 5280
Passcode: 4039519754
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Meeting ID: 852 1712 5280
Passcode: 4039519754
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbQttQn2G1
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,
Every year at this time, we reach out to our District 11 high school counselors and offer their graduating seniors an application for college, vocational, and trade school scholarships. As a committee, we read all submitted applications between May 1 and May 12 and determine which candidates we will award the scholarships to. And because we are a service organization, our 1500 word essay that the student reflects on is about, "Service Above Self". All
applications are read online- there isn't a physical meeting. We confer on a "reply all" email basis.
If you are interested in being a part of this important committee or have further questions, please email or call to discuss.
Every year every Rotary club is given the opportunity to do Rotary Grants Training online for the purpose of qualifying to request district and global funding for club projects. Our next training is Saturday, April 30 from 9 am - 12 pm. If interested, please register:
You are invited to Rotary District 5470 Grant Management Training Seminar via Zoom. The Grant Management Training Seminar is a required training event for Clubs intending to apply for a Global Grant or a District Grant. This event will be virtual. Click on the link below and register today!
When: April 30, 2022 09:00 AM - 12:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Be sure to flag the email or add the event to your calendar as the link in the confirmation is your access to the training.
Below you will find REGISTRATION Links to several options to attend this spring's Rotary DISTRICT 5470's ASSEMBLIES. Both Assemblies will have the same curriculum which is designed for 2022-2023 Rotary Club officers and Board members especially Presidents elect, Rotary Foundation, Membership, Public Image, and Community Service chairs and members.
If you will be serving in one of these roles next year or have an interest in doing so in the future, one of these Assemblies is for you.
I look forward to seeing you either in Colorado Springs on April 24, or Montrose on May 14.
Please use the links below to register for Rotary 5470 District Assemblies. You may select one of two assemblies, one in Colorado Springs on April 23, or in Montrose on May 14.
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.
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
This month we are collecting donations for One Nation Walking Together throughout the month of March and all donated goods will be delivered in April.
One Nation Walking Together was created to make a positive impact in the lives of Native Americans. They load 53-foot Semi Trucks and deliver up to $2 million worth of donated goods to reservations annually, ONWT provides hope and services to between 30,000 and 40,000 Native Americans in Colorado and eight other surrounding states.
Kindest Regards,
Samantha Chapman
Community Service Director, President-Elect Nominee 2023-2024
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.
