November is Rotary Foundation Month

November is designated as Rotary Foundation month. The mission of the Rotary Foundation is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.  The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world. Donors can be reassured that 100% of their donation is used to carry out humanitarian and educational projects across the world. Much of the funds are used by local Rotary Clubs and Districts to carry out worthy projects worldwide.

When an individual's donations accumulate to total $1000, he or she is eligible to become a Paul Harris Fellow - an award created in memory of Paul Harris, the founder of Rotary, as a way to show appreciation for contributions to Rotary International Foundation's charitable and educational program.  Paul Harris Fellows receive a pin for the 1^st $1000 contributed, and then additional pins decorated with sapphires to commemorate any additional $1,000 donations, thereby identifying him or her as an advocate of the Foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding.

Norm Mayer was presented with a 3^rd level Paul Harris Fellow pin at the November 19th meeting. Our club presently has 69 Paul Harris Fellows and our donations to the Foundation since its inception total $155,000.  

Our Foundation chair, David Stolee, reminded members that our goal is to have each member become a "Sustaining Member" by donating $100 US per year to the Rotary Foundation. The first year that a member makes a $100 donation, the Club will match that donation. Sustaining Members are critical to the Foundation. If every club member worldwide contributed $100 every year, Rotary could nearly double its efforts to help needy people worldwide and support the continued growth of its programs.