Lowell Rotary Foundation 101 (Jun 25, 2018)

Announcements

Annual Picnic, Wednesday, June 27, 5:30 pm social and 6:00 pm meeting--Don't miss out on the fun at Fallasburg Park as we remember another great year of service to the community, recognize the achievements of others and welcome a new club president.

Lowell Rotary Club Raffle Fundraiser--Raffle tickets for our summer fundraiser were distributed to members. They cost $10 each and every Lowell Rotary member is expected to sell at least 10 tickets to friends, family and other people. Our club will also be selling raffle tickets during the Sizzlin' Summer Concert Series. We need volunteers to sign up to sell tickets on Thursday nights. The volunteer sign-up will be distributed at Rotary meetings.

River Valley Credit Union "Skip a Payment" Fundraiser--We are excited to announce that Lowell Rotary Club has been chosen to be the 2018 charity recipient for River Valley Credit Union's annual "Skip a Payment" fundraiser. Current members with loans through the credit union will be given the opportunity to pay $30 to skip a loan payment during the month of June. For every member that participates in this great program, Lowell Rotary Club will receive $5. For more information visit their website at https://myrivervalleycu.org/skip-a-pay/.

2019 Rotary Auction--Make plans to attend the 2019 Lowell Rotary auction in April. The final date of the event is yet to be determined; however, we will be taking it to a new venue this year--Noto's Old World Dining. Stay tuned for more details in the weeks and months to come. We need lots of help planning so if you would like to lend a hand, please contact Dave Abel.

Rotary Leadership Institute

Embrace the opportunity to be a life-long learner by participating in the Rotary Leadership Institute. The purpose of the institute is to help future and current leaders of Rotary in acquiring knowledge about the organization and important leadership skills that are transferable in every aspect of life. The Rotary district to which we belong (6290) believes in the importance of the institute so much that for every member a club sends to training, the District will cover the cost of a second member to participate. There are 3 levels to the training and various dates provided each year for members to take advantage of the wonderful learning opportunities available. For more information on the institute and how to register, please visit http://www.ridistrict6290.org/page/rotary-leadership-institute .

Upcoming dates and locations for Rotary Leadership Institute:

July 21--Ann Arbor, MI

October 20--Detroit, MI/Windsor, ON

Presentation Highlights: Lowell Rotary Foundation 101

Rotarians Deb Wilks and Mark Mundt shared important information on the Rotary Club of Lowell Community Foundation. Here are some highlights from their presentation:

The foundation is a 501c(3) organization and was established in 1997. It provides educational scholarships to students in or from the Lowell, Michigan area. The endowment fund is managed by Edward Jones and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation. Up to $17,000 per year is distributed to students.
There are currently 6 different scholarship funds: Christoff Family Scholarship (4 year renewable for Cornerstone student), Donald and Ellura McPherson Scholarship (2 year renewable for Grand Rapids Community College), Doyle Family Scholarship (2 four year renewable scholarships available), Eva and Lee Lampkin Scholarship (4 year renewable) and the Hahn/Rotary Club of Lowell Schloarship (4 year renewable).
All public, private and home school students in or from the Lowell Michigan area are eligible to apply. Recipients are selected based on their dedication to living a life of "Service Above Self". Students are asked to write an essay in addition to sharing ways in which they serve others. The scholarship committee reviews the applications and selects finalists for interview. There are so many great student leaders in the community, so the committee has tough decisions to make.
This foundation is an amazing resource to the students of our community and everyone has an opportunity to contribute toward making a difference in the lives of the next generation! There are two ways to help: contribute toward an existing scholarship fund or create your own scholarship. Many people believe that one must be independently wealthy to establish a scholarship, but it is really within reach of people of average financial means. For as little as $1,000, you can begin your own scholarship fund. Over following years, you can continue contributing toward the fund. Once it reaches a balance of $20,000, students will be able to enjoy a scholarship born from your generosity.
We don't live forever and we can't take it with us at the end of our days. If you haven't considered what kind of legacy you want to leave behind, it is never too late or too early to make a plan. There are a variety of options available such as an outright gift at death, a bequest, establishing the foundation as a beneficiary and a charitable remainder trust.
For more information, contact Deb Wilks and Mark Mundt or visit the Lowell Rotary website at www.lowellrotary.org.