Motivational speaker Juan Ortiz told Sycamore Rotarians “Anything is possible if you are willing to change.” Ortiz described the hardships he faced starting out in life but explained how he has been able to move from welfare to millionaire. Now at age 60, he pieced together the different stages of his life experiences and said that family and friends helped him overcome obstacles to achieve success. Ortiz has authored two books to help others in their life journey.
Ortiz spoke about the different decades of his life experiences. He said from birth to age 20 he survived abuse from a father who was an alcoholic and frequently high on drugs. Ortiz even survived a period of separation from his parents and siblings. His father ended up spending 18 years in prison while his family lived in poverty. Ironically, his father came from a well-off family in Mexico but was cut off from support for his lack of responsibility when he married Juan’s mother who was 16 and went to the U.S. He credits his mother as the stabilizing influence in his life in those growth years and for instilling in him to “always learn”. He said his bilingual skills in reading and speaking became an asset as he entered the workforce. He described the period from ages 20 to 40 as learning to live life. He met and married his ever-supportive wife and they began to raise a family in a way far different from his own childhood. As he approached 40, Ortiz said he began his path to tremendous financial success. He joined a company and was mentored by the owner, eventually becoming part-owner. The sale of the company made him a millionaire.
Ortiz said the examples from his life’s journey show you do not take steps to success all by yourself. He concluded by quoting scripture from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10…”Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”
Posted by Kathy Kwiat-Hess, District Foundation Chair on Mar 11, 2022
This is being sent to all Rotarians in the district. I know we are all watching the situation in Ukraine with heavy hearts and looking for ways to help. DG David Bills recently sent out an email outlining ways to donate. One of those ways is contributing to the Disaster Response Fund at The Rotary Foundation.
Every year the district receives money back from The Rotary Foundation in District Designated Funds. The amount we receive is based on what was given by our district to the Annual Fund three years prior. Those funds are then used for grants, both global and district. When The Rotary Foundation announced last week that districts could donate District Designated Funds to the Disaster Response Fund for use for what is needed in Ukraine, the district leadership made the decision to donate $50,000 of our DDF to that fund. That donation was made a couple of days ago.
All funds donated to TRF's Disaster Response Fund between now and April 30 will be earmarked for Ukraine. Keep in mind that donations to that fund still gives you credit toward your Paul Harris status.
I am so proud to be a part of an organization that promotes peace and can do so much good throughout the world.
In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for Rotary members around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.
To this end, The Rotary Foundation has approved:
Now through 30 June 2022, designated Rotary districts that border Ukraine and the Rotary district in Ukraine may apply for grants of up to $50,000 each from the Disaster Response Fund. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to provide relief to refugees or other victims of the crisis including items such as water, food, shelter, medicine and clothing.
During this same period, other impacted Rotary districts that wish to offer support to refugees or other victims of the crisis in their district can apply for $25,000 grants from the Disaster Response Fund.
Now through 30 April 2022, Rotary districts can transfer unallocated District Designated Funds (DDF) to support the Disaster Response Fund, directly supporting these Ukraine-specific humanitarian grants.
Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund in support of Ukraine can be made here. All funds need to be received into the Disaster Response Fund by 30 April 2022 in order to qualify for use in support of the Ukrainian relief efforts.
Although the Disaster Response Fund will be the main avenue for Rotary Foundation support, Rotary and Rotaract clubs are also encouraged to create their own responses to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
In addition to support provided through the Disaster Response Fund, the Foundation is coordinating with partners and regional leaders, exploring effective solutions to the increased humanitarian needs.
We are in contact with the United Nations High Commission on Refugees – USA to prepare for and respond to the needs of those being displaced in Ukraine and to neighboring countries.
ShelterBox, our project partner for disaster response, is in communication with Rotary members in Eastern Europe to explore how it may offer support with temporary transitional housing and other essential supplies.
The Rotary Action Group for Refugees, Forced Displacement, and Migration is also mobilizing its resources to assist in this crisis.
A million people have fled Ukraine and are in dire need of emergency aid. The United Nations estimates that number 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.
We will continue to monitor the situation in Ukraine and neighboring countries. Visit My Rotary and follow Rotary on social media to stay updated on how clubs can get involved and what actions Rotary members have taken and the impact it has had for people in the region.
For all other questions and to obtain more information, please contact the Rotary Support Center at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org.
Donations are currently being requested for the Sycamore Food Pantry. Bring a bottle of laundry detergent...or $10 for Julie Sgarlata to purchase one. Money is easier to handle.
Personal hygiene items (bar soap, shampoo, etc.) are also being sought.
March 14, 1879 – Albert Einstein is born in Ulm, Germany. His theory of relativity led to new ways of thinking about time, space, matter, and energy. He won the Nobel Prize for physics in 1921.
March 15, 1767 – The seventh U.S. President, Andrew Jackson, is born in a log cabin in Waxhaw, South Carolina. He was a hero from the War of 1812 and in politics he helped form the new Democratic Party.
March 16, 1751 – James Madison, the fourth U.S. President, is born in Port Conway, Virginia. He played an important role in formation of the U.S. Constitution and was President during the War of 1812.
March 18, 1837 - The 22nd and 24th President, Grover Cleveland, is born in Caldwell, New Jersey. He is the only president to serve two non-consecutive terms in office.
March 15, 44 B.C. – Julius Caesar was assassinated in the Senate chamber in Rome by Marcus Junius Brutus and fellow conspirators. His death is immortalized by playwright William Shakespeare and the line “Et tu, Brute?”.
March 17, 461– Ireland, and eventually anywhere in the world where the Irish gather, pays homage to the death of St. Patrick of Ireland, the fifth century missionary and later bishop who brought Christianity to Ireland’s masses.
March 18, 1974 – The five-month-old Arab oil embargo against the U.S is lifted. The embargo was in retaliation for the American support of Israel during the Yom Kipper War of 1973 in which Egypt and Syria suffered a crushing defeat. The embargo caused U.S. gas prices to soar 300%.
March 19, 2003 – The U.S launched an attack to topple Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. Troops made rapid progress and conquered the capital, Baghdad, in just 21 days ending Hussein’s rule.
.png)
