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From the Governor's Desk
the gift of service... and pie!
As the Holiday Season rolls upon us we often ask ourselves, “What perfect gift we can I give someone this year?”
As Rotarians, our answer should be quick and simple: Give the gift of service to others! To the many clubs who prepare Christmas baskets for the needy or deliver toys to children or gather coats and sleeping bags for the homeless or ring bells or visit the elderly or send cards to servicemen or put on community concerts and pageants, I thank you on behalf of Rotary for your generosity and goodness.
I challenge everyone this season to find ways to also perform simple acts of personal kindness, to unburden those with trials, to lift those with depression, to give more to charities. Simple acts might include inviting someone to lunch or dinner, to compliment someone on social media, to call children, grandchildren, nieces or nephews, to write anonymous thank you cards, to share homemade goodies with neighbors and friends, to donate blood, to smile more and say “YES” more.
And we can also give a gift of service to ourselves by taking a vow of positivity, indulging ourselves with uplifting music and literature, forgiving ourselves and others and being grateful for health, shelter, comforts, friends and family. Service is the perfect gift! It always fits and comes in the perfect color. Every Rotarian can give service away abundantly.
And for everyone else on your list, you can never go wrong with PIE!
Rich Kirkham, '19-'20 District 5400 Governor
WATCH VIDEO - Playing, Planting and Peace
tip of the month! Punch out polio!
PUNCHING OUT POLIO! When I visited the Rupert Rotary Club last week I was surprised to see a punch board from the 1940s. For those who do not know, a punch board is a colorful board about 1” thick covered with holes each filled with a rolled-up printed slip of paper with a number on it. Using a special punch, you select a hole that has NOT been punched and retrieve your number as it falls out the opposite side. Back in the day this old style gaming device was a clever way to pay only a nickel for a chance to win a pack of cigarettes, a $5 bill, or an even larger cash prize.
One of the requirements for a club to get the 2019-20 Rotary citation is to hold an event to raise funds for, or to increase awareness of, Rotary’s work toward polio. I challenge every club to have an event, fundraiser, or activity like this to raise awareness and money to help PUNCH OUT POLIO
Today clubs can revive the old 'punch board' idea to raise money to PUNCH OUT POLIO! Vintage punch boards can be purchased on Ebay. Every year we get closer to our goal to eradicate polio from off the face of the earth. While the world largely is losing interest in this horrible disease, thanks to Rotary. We must increase our efforts and fundraising to keep the vaccinations going. We must never give up till the virus is gone!
Join your friends in the beautiful setting of Idaho State University’s Stephens Performing Arts Center for one of the most delightfully indulgent evenings of the new year: A Chocolate Lover’s Affair, presented by the Pocatello Rotary Club and Cole Chevrolet.
You’ll enjoy samples of chocolate masterpieces from 25 of the region’s finest restaurants, bakeries and confectioners, in all of the ways chocolate is at its best. Walk down lanes devoted to different chocolate marvels:
Cookies
Cakes
Brownies
Pastries
Specialty Candies
When you’re done sampling all of the evening’s wonderful creations, you’ll get to vote on the best in each category, and Best Overall. The vendors will be showcasing their finest work – It’s an evening not to be missed!
And because everything is better with chocolate, expect an evening of perfect balance:
A selection of wines available for purchase.
Hors d’oeuvres.
No-host bar.
Music by Rail City Jazz.
A Chocolate Lover’s Affair is sure to become one of Pocatello’s signature community events.
Boise Rotary will be doing our annual Firkin Frolic beer festival fundraiser Thursday evening, Feb 13th, at the Basque Center in downtown Boise.
Enjoy sampling unique, locally brewed firkin beers, as well as traditional beers from your favorite local brewers. Plus, food vendors, music, and more!!!
Thanks to Rotary club collaboration with The Rotary Foundation (TRF), the Tormento community of 300 inhabitants in western Ecuador will soon have safe water.