Editor's Note: Beginning with the District Bulletin of May 25th, Erika Baldino (Paterson Rotary Club) will take over as the District Bulletin Editor.
All District information for that point and beyond should be sent to Erika at Bulletin7490@gmail.com. Next deadline for DISTRICT News is Monday, June 5th.
All individual club information should continue to go to June Bertini at jbertini@aol.com.
presidents' ball and banner exchange
the brownstone, june 29th, 2023
Something new will be added! In addition to honoring our current Rotary Club Presidents, we are also going to have a mass installation of all of our 2023-24 District 7490 Presidents. Of course, your club should still plan your own installation, but this way we can honor everyone all at once.
We are now accepting ads for next year's District Directory, which DGE John Cosgrove will publish. In the past, the District Directory has raised enough money to help our District bring in new members, improve our District's social occasions and even provide some scholarships for RYLA students. The Directory generally pays for itself. Please use attached form and send the check to PDG Joe Dino at JosephDinoJr@optonline.net.
Arthur A. Fenniman Award: This award is one of the most prestigious awards in our District and is sponsored by the Maywood Rotary Club. It is given to an outstanding Rotarian who demonstrates his or her commitment to the “Four Way Test” and truly exemplifies the Rotarian way of life. The award is named after the late Art Fenniman, a Rotarian’s Rotarian, and a former member of the Maywood Club. Sent to DGN Scott Reddin at scottreddin2003@hotmail.com. Call Scott at (201) 446-7286 if you need his mailing address or want more information.
Florie Scialla Award: This is an award created in honor and memory of devoted Past President of the Paramus Rotary Club, Florie Scialla. which recognizes outstanding community service or a community service project completed by an individual or a District 7490 Rotary club. If you know of a District 7490 Rotary club or individual you feel is deserving of the recognition and honor bestowed by this award:
Kindly submit, no later than May 31, 2023, a no-more-than 3-page narrative description (with photos, if possible) of the service(s) performed or project(s) completed during this Rotary year beginning July 1, 2022 by a District 7490 club or individual.
The selection committee will award this honor at the Presidents’ Ball/Banner Exchange at the Brownstone in Paterson on June 29th.
All applications should be submitted to PDG Emil Geering (Paramus Rotary Club) via e-mail: limegeer@gmail.com. If you need more information, call PDG Emil at 201-368-3000. (No application form, just send narrative to Emil.)
music mends minds
Several of the Rotary Clubs in District 7490 have already begun to involve Senior Citizens in their communities (in nursing homes, rehab facilities and Senior Centers) in fabulous Music Mends Minds Joyful Noise drum circles led by certified drum circle facilitators. Fair Lawn Sunrise Rotary has already held six drum circles and Park Ridge held their third one at a memory care residence on Wednesday. Secaucus Rotary held its first drum circle on March 28th. Also Fort Lee Rotary's first drum circle drew 50 people who enjoyed themselves immensely at the town's Senior Center.
The largest expense in running a drum circle is to pay the certified and trained drum circle facilitator. We are very happy to announce that in collaboration with Music Mends Minds and Rotary District 7490, William Paterson University will hold a drum circle facilitator course at their college in Wayne on October 19 (one day course, which will cost $100 but won't certify you) and October 20-22 (three day course which bestows full certification at a cost of $400/person). Once all expenses for the trainer and the WPU staff and facility have been paid, the remainder will be donated to the Rotary Foundation and to Music Mends Minds. Watch this space for more news!
Many of our District 7490 Rotary Clubs plan to take part in this year's Walk to End Alzheimer's on Saturday morning, October 14th, in Overpeck Park in Ridgefield. As we did last year, we will be holding a drum circle for all the volunteers just prior to the walk. If your club would like to be part of this, or if individual Rotarians want to be part of a District 7490 team, click below.
RYLA 2023: This year's RYLA will be held at Happiness is Camping in Hardwick Township, Warren County, NJ. The program will be from the morning of Sunday, June 25 through the afternoon of Wednesday, June 28. Over 80 students have been sponsored by clubs thus far with payments received for most.
