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Rotary District 5400 Idaho, USA
     42 Clubs       1800 members
 
Uniting Leaders to exchange ideas and take action
to improve communities everywhere
January 29, 2017
 
GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE
District Conference
 
Preparation for District Conference is progressing nicely.  All of our speakers are identified and scheduled.  I will send more information in March. 
 
I do want to encourage all Rotarians, but specifically new members to join us in Sun Valley.  The Sun Valley Resort is world-class and affordable during the Conference.  It is an opportunity to see the scope of Rotary in our District and to better understand the larger Rotary world. 
 
The conference is a time to celebrate what we have accomplished during the year.  Please join us in Sun Valley, May 19-20!  Registration will open soon.
 
Atlanta Convention
 
The Rotary International Convention is Jun 10-14 in Atlanta.  Please join me and another 45 District 5400 Rotarians and their spouses at the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Foundation.  I really want to encourage you attend.  Meeting Rotarians from all over the world you will find that as Rotarians we are all friends, but many cases we just have not met.  Visit http://www.riconvention.org for registration and more information.
 
Peace
 
One of the most important goals of Rotary is to bring peace to the world.  Rotary has Peace Centers around the world to develop peacemakers.  District 5400 is sponsoring a Rotary Peace Scholar, Zach Tilton, from Rexburg.  Zach is studying at the University of Bradford in the United Kingdom.  I am confident that Zach and his peace colleagues will make the world safer and bring more peace to our troubled world. 
 
Much of what Rotary does impacts peace.  How can we have peace when people are hungry and do not have clean water to drink.  Many in the world do not a have basic education and many cannot read.  A third of the world lives on less than $2 per day.  In much of the third world, there are not resources to help with economic development.  Basic health care is not available to mothers and their children.  All of preceding needs are part of Rotary’s areas of focus.  Through our projects in Rotary, we are contributing to peace in the world.
 
A more peaceful world benefits all of us.  Proud to be a Rotarian!
IDAHO ROTARY 100 UPDATE
As you may know, in June 2017, we will celebrate the centennial of the founding of our service movement in Idaho with the anniversary of the Rotary Club of Boise.
Save The Dates - Our plans are for two celebrations:
  • A family picnic in the soon-to-be-completed Rotary Grand Plaza in Julia Davis Park, June 22nd, and
  • A gala dinner on June 24th
These are ticketed events, and the public is invited.
For information and updates, as they become available, about events, tickets, commemorative merchandise, host hotel information, and sponsorship/advertising opportunities visit http://idahorotary.org/
For more information, contact event coordinator Beth Markley at beth@markley.com, 208-484-4424
NAMPA ROTARY BESTS KIWANIS
 
Rotarians Honey Goodman and Capt. Michael Halverson were joined by Nampa Kiwanis Club President Andy Rodriguez on January 16 for the exciting conclusion to the annual Red Kettle challenge in Nampa. The two clubs compete annually in a friendly rivalry to see who can raise the most money. At a joint meeting at the Boys & Girls Club of Nampa, Rotary prevailed with $5,388 over the Kiwanis Club’s $4,491. Perhaps most importantly, the two clubs raised nearly $10,000 for our friends at The Salvation Arm. The Salvation Army. 
Walt Miller, left, and Michael Fuss were among more than members of the Rotary Club of Nampa who rang bells for The Salvation Army.
 
POLIO UPDATE
Three weeks and counting - No New Polio cases reported this week.  But keep in mind that it often takes a couple of weeks to confirm a new case with lab tests.
     
What is that Polio Eradication Picture?    Leaping into action - The detection of polio in Nigeria was a serious setback for the polio eradication program. With no cases detected in Nigeria or any other African country for two years, there was hope that Africa was polio-free. But, the outbreak response was swift and comprehensive, with Rotary, the Governments of Borno and Nigeria, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF conducting an immediate emergency vaccination response.                
 
Polio Eradication Fundraising - A continuing column featuring a weekly Polio Eradication Fundraising Idea.  
The #27 Polio Fundraising Idea is - Even Small Amounts Count - Change collected weekly or monthly at your Club and District meetings can add up.  Keep track of the amount collected and make a big deal of counting, announcing the total, reporting it in your local press, and sending it in to The Rotary Foundation each couple of months.  It adds up!           
      
Read more...
GLOBAL GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
As you know, the former Ambassadorial Scholarship is back as a Global Grant Scholar. Redesigned to fit the parameters of a global grant from The Rotary Foundation, our first scholarship will fund graduate level study at a recognized university outside the U.S. for academic year 2017-18.   No club contribution is required.
 
The scholarship will be funded with $15,000 of District Designated Funds (DDF) with matching $15,000 from the Rotary Foundation World Fund. This will be District 5400’s first endeavor to fund a global grant scholar, so we will be working through the process and making any necessary adjustments as we move forward in subsequent years.
 
The scholarship is a bit different from the old Ambassadorial Scholarship in that a selected student must study in one of the six areas of focus for global grants and must demonstrate a sustainable outcome as a result of the course of study.  The club nominating the student must find a partner club in the Rotary district of study who will agree to provide an in-country Rotary host counselor.
 
The $30,000 award requires a three-stage process:
  1. Clubs nominate worthy candidates to submit an application to the district committee,
  2. The district committee selects one candidate, and
  3. The candidate then applies to The Rotary Foundation for a global grant scholarship.
The Global Grant Application is attached to this email, and will soon be available on the District 5400 website. Candidates nominated by clubs must submit the district application to District 5400 Scholarship Chair Shari Stroud stroudsk@gmail.com not later than March 31, 2017.   The committee will interview applicants on or around April 15, 2017 and the one selected will apply to The Rotary Foundation immediately thereafter.
 
If you have questions, you may contact me at the email above, or call 208-539-5188.
 
YEAR TO DATE MEMBERSHIP REPORT
Last March, the president-elects set the membership goal for their respective clubs at President Elects Training.  The goal set for our district in membership this year is 1,888 total members.  We have four clubs that have met or exceeded their goal and eleven clubs that have a positive growth in membership since July 1, 2016.  Kudos to Boise Metro, Blackfoot, and Buhl clubs for exceeding their membership goals for the year! 
 
A quick look at the numbers indicate that we have lost 42 members since July 1, 2016 going from 1,805 to a current total of 1,763 members.  We have some work to accomplish if we are going to meet our goal of 1,888. 
 
We know that membership is about recruitment, engagement and retention.   What is your club doing in these areas to achieve your membership goals set in March 2016 for this current year?   
 
Together we can recruit, engage and retain 125 new, excited, and committed Rotarians before June 30, 2017 to impact the world. 
LEAVE A LEGACY TO ROTARY
Would you like to continue to support the humanitarian work of Rotary beyond your lifetime? https://my.rotary.org/en/endowment-fund  You can be an important part of the Foundation’s next century of doing good in the world by including a gift to Rotary’s Endowment in your estate plan.  Join the many Rotarians in District 5400 who are members of the Bequest Society of TRF by making a commitment of $10,000 or more through your will, trust or life insurance.  Be sure to tell The Rotary Foundation and our district’s Endowment Fund chair, PDG Bret Vaterlaus, when you have completed your estate plan that we may properly thank you! For more information about the Endowment Fund, go to the link above.  We’re striving to have 100 new Bequest Society members (leaving a legacy), Paul Harris Society members (giving $1000 annually now) and/or major donors (those whose cumulative giving has reached $10,000) to celebrate 100 years of the Rotary Foundation. 
2017-2018 PRESIDENTIAL THEME ANNOUNCED
In 2017-18, we’ll answer the question “What is Rotary?” with RI President-elect Ian H.S. Riseley’s theme, Rotary: Making a Difference. “Whether we’re building a new playground or a new school, improving medical care or sanitation, training conflict mediators or midwives, we know that the work we do will change people’s lives — in ways large and small — for the better.”
EAGLE/GARDEN CITY DIES FOR CHOCOLATE POSTPONED
Another weather casualty! Eagle/Garden City Rotary Club will hold their 3rd annual TO DIE FOR CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at the Meridian Senior Center from 5:30 to 8:30.  This is expected to be the biggest festival so far, with various chocolate and dessert vendors offering tastings of their delicious wares.  There will be a “wine wall” again this year, featuring wines worth from $20 to $100 per bottle or more which can be purchased by guests for a flat price.  The exciting part is that the wine will be in bags so guests will not know what wine they are purchasing until they pay their money, choose the bag they like and open it.  Adding to the fun and entertainment, will be a silent auction.  The proceeds will be used to provide incentives for Eagle Academy graduates who have overcome tremendous obstacles to go on to college. To purchase tickets or for more information contact Cathy Sears at jcsears625@gmail.com or any club member.
 
FOUNDATION YEAR OF 100S
We’re halfway through our Rotary year. Now is the time to cement your club’s plans for celebrating the 100th anniversary of The Rotary Foundation in June. Will you help us as a district celebrate by the 100s whereby 100% of clubs achieve their Annual Fund goals, 100% of clubs support PolioPlus, clubs become 100% Paul Harris Fellow Clubs, and more.  Your PolioPlus contributions are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Annual Fund-SHARE contributions support grants and activities chosen by clubs in our district.  Six of our clubs have already met their Annual Fund goal. Review your Club Recognition Summary to see who in your club is eligible for the district match, as this money from the district will count toward your goal.  To be part of the March payment your requests need to be turned in to the district before March 1. Twenty-seven clubs have contributed to PolioPlus so far.  Will the rest of you join us?  Districtwide we are 73% of the way to our PolioPlus goal and 60% of the way to our Annual Fund goal. 
BOISE ROTARY AND FIRKIN BEER
Enjoy a firkin beer with the Boise downtown club, 5 pm February 9th at the Boise Basque Center. Early bird tickets at www.boisefirkinfrolic.com which make great stocking stuffers. Next time you get fined at a club meeting pay up with a firkin ticket; you will put a smile on someone's face. Six local breweries will tap and serve a firkin created especially for this party. A firkin is a "Real Ale" that hasn't been cold filtered, pasteurized, carbonated, or screwed up by any other source. You will be drinking a free range, cage free beer, just like those back in the first days of beer drinking. So a firkin is a time machine to take you back when beer was actually beer and a Firkin Frolic is a great place to enjoy that real beer with real friends.
BE SURE TO CHECK OUT GLOBAL REWARDS!
                                                                                       
BOISE CENTENNIAL PLANNING WINTER WINE'D UP
The Rotary Club of Boise Centennial will be hosting its 7th annual Winter Wine’d Up on Friday, February 24th, 2017. The popular wine tasting event runs from 6:00 to 9:00 at the Arid Club, 1137 W River Street in Boise, Idaho.
 
This year we're featuring samplings from Crossings, Cold Springs, Sawtooth and 3 Horse Ranch vineyards, in addition to Boise Brewing and Meriwether Cider. Delectable hors d’oeuvres will be provided for attendees, along with a no-host bar. Through a wine pull, paddle raise, silent and live auctions, the evening offers opportunities to take home excellent gifts and prizes while contributing to a great cause and getting to know your community on a unique level.
 
Proceeds from the Winter Wine’d Up will benefit Giraffe Laugh, a local non-profit.  Giraffe Laugh provides early care and education to young children by ensuring school readiness, empowering families and building strong futures.  Giraffe Laugh works to ensure that every child in the Treasure Valley has access to quality early care and education and that all parents are empowered and supported through the early years of parenthood.
Read more...
Upcoming Events
District Visioning
FairField Inn, Twin Falls, ID
Feb 18, 2017
9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
 
DLC
Internet - Go-To-Meeting
Mar 03, 2017
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
Assistant Governor Training Assembly - Webinar
Go-To-Meeting
Mar 04, 2017
8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
 
PETS 2017
Burley Best Western Plus Burley Inn and Convention Center, 800 N Overland Ave, Burley, ID 83318
Mar 10, 2017 1:00 PM –
Mar 11, 2017 3:30 PM
 
District Training Assembly
Idaho Falls
Mar 25, 2017
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
District Training Assembly
Twin Falls, ID
Apr 01, 2017
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
District Training Asssembly
Boise, ID
Apr 08, 2017
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
 
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Editor  John Biggs, Boise Metro, District 5400 and Zone 27 Public Image Coordinator   john.biggs@rotary5400.org