Posted by Jim Hogge, District Governor on Sep 25, 2016
This is Polio Plus month for Rotary and for me. Rotary World Polio Day is October 24th. I encourage your club to celebrate and raise money during this month. For the clubs that I have visited, you know what Rotary’s battle again Polio means to me. For our country, we really have not seen the Polio virus since the 1960’s. The U.S. has been Polio free since 1979. Many of our children and grandchildren do not know about Polio and that is good thing.
Sadly, much of the world did not see Polio leave their countries until recently. The good news is that Polio is almost gone. The World Health Organization stated recently that we are measuring the expected life of Polio in months not years. So far this year we have had only 26 cases associated with the wild Polio virus. This is down from 46 last year. This is truly good news.
Polio is rearing its ugly head more now than ever with new cases popping up in Nigeria after two years of no cases placing our cause in jeopardy. This is the most important moment in this fight to end this crippling disease. Completion is key! You may ask what you can do to help in little ol’ Idaho, but the answer is simple. Ride for Polio. Join us in riding in Tucson or join me here at home and ride for polio..
Posted by Vickie Holbrook, Nampa Rotary on Sep 25, 2016
Nampa Rotarians recently gathered at Hope House, near Marsing, to see a recently completed playground, eat with students and tour the facility. Hope House is a home for unwanted children and was founded by Donna Lee Velvick in the late 70s. Hope House supports 67 students with 42 students living on campus.
Rotarians also made a donation of $5,000 for a future youth-oriented project. The donation comes from Rotary's annual Golf for Hope event that was held earlier this year. Hope House has been a long-time recipient of some of the funds raised at the annual golf tournament.
Posted by Jennifer Deroin, District Membership chair on Sep 25, 2016
Our District received a grant from Rotary International to host an event for our Rotary Young Professionals. Clubs throughout the District nominated outstanding Rotarians in their club. They participated in a day of all things Rotary: Fellowship, Service, and Development.
They loaded a bus in the morning and then headed to the Idaho Youth Ranch Hays Shelter Home to do some work in the yard and garden. While at the Shelter, thy had visits from both Ron Price, international leadership expert, and Doug Petcash, journalist and volunteer.
From there, they headed to downtown Boise to perform Random Acts of Kindness - breaking into teams and spreading the Rotary love. At lunch they heard from District Governor Jim Hogge, and Past District Governors Bret Vaterlaus and Ken Howell about Rotary's impact in their life.
After lunch, they headed to Giraffe Laugh, where the crew rehabbed the playground set, and started an exterior painting project.
Friendships made. Service performed. The summation of Rotary!
Jon Bart, President of Village Hope in Sierra Leone, reports that things are busy there! Learing to use farm equipment, plantng cassava and corn, updating their computer training and building chairs in the workshop. Some of our clubs have been supporting this effort.
Rotarians should consider including The Rotary Foundation in their estate planning. There are many ways to support the foundation in this way, from Qualified Charitable Distributions, Life Insurance, Percentage of Estate plans and including specific amounts in a will. Read more here.
Since the launch of Rotary Global Rewards on 1 July 2015, over 100,000 members have visited the site! We would like to thank you for supporting the program by spreading awareness of it among your district and clubs.
If you have not visited Rotary Global Rewards recently, we now have over 1,500 offers worldwide. We recommend using the member benefits program both locally and when you travel.
Where can you meet and mingle with 40,000+ Rotarians from 130 countries? At the Rotary International Convention, hosted in Atlanta Georgia on June 10th – 14th, 2017. What you’ll find there is a statement recently expressed by the College of Idaho Rotaract President at a recent club meeting, “We’re more alike than we are different”.
If you register by December 15th, you’ll receive a reduced rate of only $340. After the 15th, the price increases to $415.
Why should you attend?
Let us give you five reasons:
1. Meet the most inspiring people in the world
Rotary members from more than 130 countries meet at the convention every year. This is your unique opportunity to connect with old friends, make new ones, and share stories about your club’s current and future projects.
2. Strengthen your club and your passion for Rotary
The general sessions and breakout sessions offer countless ways to help you get the most from your Rotary membership and make your club stronger. In the House of Friendship, you’ll find new ideas, learn best practices, and share project successes — it’s where the Rotary world comes together!
Rotary Club of Nampa spends a crazy busy two weeks as members distribute 1,500 dictionaries to every third grader in the Nampa School District, Nampa private schools and Nampa charter schools. It’s a big undertaking by the club, but members and students have a blast, as evidenced by member Honey Goodman at Liberty Charter School.
Posted by Marianne Barker, District Foundation Chair on Sep 25, 2016
Join in the excitement of The Rotary Foundation by attending our rescheduled seminar on Nov 5 at the Clarion Inn in Pocatello:
Larry Gebhardt – India global grant
Montpelier & Pocatello Club - district grant projects
MaKia Perez – district grant scholar at ISU
Ben Nelson – what is Annual Fund-SHARE?
Jennifer Moss – Ride for Polio
Rotary Foundation Centennial – 2017
TRF reports and how to use them for your club’s success
Points for Rotary Direct
Jedd Thomas - Reporting requirements for district grants
Please pre-register at www.rotary5400.org now!
Presidents: make your year strong;
Presidents-elect: start thinking how The Rotary Foundation can help you realize the mission of Rotary
Treasurers: enhance your role in Foundation affairs;
Foundation chairs: lead your club in TRF support and obtaining grants.
Save the Date for Semilla Nueva's Annual Planting the Future Celebration!
WHEN: NOVEMBER 30TH, 2016
TIME: 6:00 - 8:00 PM
WHERE: ZIONS BANK, 8TH & MAIN BUILDING, BOISE, IDAHO
Thanks to you, last year's event was a huge success, and we cannot wait for you to participate with us again this year. Join us to continue creating lasting solutions to malnutrition in Guatemala!
The annual Rotary Leadership Institute held its Boise session this weekend. Twelve Rotarians from several clubs participated in the event which discussed topics such as Leadership, Team Building, My Rotary World, Public Image and Communication. Allan Bosch organized the event; facilitators were Don Reiman, Dawn Hickman, Marie Baker, Ken Howell, and John Biggs. The program was shortened this year to accommodate our busy schedules. Sessions were consolidated and presented over a two day period, Friday evening and Saturday. Food was provided by The Fork.
Posted by Terry Ziegler, District 5890 on Sep 25, 2016
The Final Two Endemic Countries:
Pakistan - No new Polio cases reported this week. Fourteen Polio cases reported in 2016 with 54 cases recorded in 2015 The most recent case, with the onset of paralysis on 07/27/16 was from the South Waziristan agency of FATA. No new Polio-positive environmental samples were collected last week. In Pakistan, both the oral polio vaccine and the inactivated poliovirus vaccine are being used hand in hand to boost immunity; and committed healthcare workers are going to great lengths to build trust and to ensure every child is vaccinated.
In 1999 the U.S Congress, through the State Department, created a program called "Open World". The Open World Program brings current and future leaders from post-Soviet countries of Eastern Europe to the US to get a first hand look at the American system of democracy and free enterprise. Rotary Clubs partner with the program acting as hosts and creating an experience for the week-long visit.
In October, the Boise Metro Rotary club will be hosting eight Russians from Tomsk, Siberia. They are young medical professionals, mostly in research or education connected to the Siberian Medical State University. They are interested in learning about entrepreneurial methods for success and particularly as it relates to workers with disabilities. They are members of a Rotary e-Club.
On September 17, 2016 at the Marriott Louisville Downtown in Louisville, Kentucky, our friend Kurt Bowen of Semilla Nueva, was awarded a Muhammed Ali Humanirtarian Award for Dedication.
The Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awards were created in 2013 as a way to publicly recognize and celebrate the greatness of people from around the world.
This annual fundraising gala honors people who are making significant contributions toward securing peace, social justice, human rights, and/or social capital in their communities and on a global basis.
Each year, the Ali Center pays tribute to a number of high profile “seasoned humanitarians” who are named as Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Awardees.
In addition, they honor six young adults, age 30 and under, who are serving as advocates, activists, and role models in ways that are ultimately transforming communities and bringing about positive change in the world. Each of these six winners are recognized for one of Muhammad Ali’s Six Core Principles: Confidence, Conviction, Dedication, Giving, Respect, and Spirituality.
You Greenbelt fans will know that the newest section, from Joe's Crab Shack to Ann Morrison, is now open. Three Treasure Valley Rotary Clubs have been working behind the scenes to design and build "The Rotary Park on the Greenbelt". Boise Metro, Eagle/Garden City and Centennial are joining forces to raise funds for a rest area along the new section which will feature a re-furbished 1930's monument and be a tribute to the 50 years of Greenbelt efforts. It will include benches, a bike repair stand, little free library and more. Funds will be raised through the sale of commemorative engraved bricks and sponsorships. You will be hearing a lot more as the plans finalize. John Biggs of Boise Metro, who is spearheading the project, says "this will be unique for the Greenbelt. We're telling the fascinating story of the Sons and Daughters' monuments and celebrating that this new section of Greenbelt is the last piece, within the city limits, of a project that's been going on for 50 years!"
Join 250 Golfing Rotarians and partners from up to 30 countries, for fun at this world championship event. All handicaps welcome. Join the 51 people who have signed up already.
Proceeds will go to local charities such as the Food Rescue Network and the international Rotary project to End Polio Now.
(Note: this is only one of hundreds of Rotary Fellowship groups!)
Part of moving Rotary forward means providing you and your clubs with the tools you need to succeed. A project that I’m proud to have launched this year is the upgrade of Rotary Club Central. We’ve listened to your feedback and are currently working to create a platform that is easier, faster, and more user-friendly by 30 June. Updates will be provided as they become available.
There are several upcoming events in the Rotary world.