Governor's message: Awareness and Understanding

Before I use the space to discuss “awareness” and “understanding”, I want to ask again all of the district Clubs to keep working on The Presidential Citation Award.  Rotary International President Kalyan has challenged us all in two areas: Foundation Giving and Membership.  The form is on the flash drive that was given to all Club Presidents at Mid South PETS (remember that?).  You can also get it easily online. Just Google, “Rotary Presidential Citation” and you’ll find the link. Clubs must report its efforts by correct form in early April.  Be aware also of President Kalyan’s Changemaker Award, (also available on the flash drive or online). That award will recognize Clubs that make an extraordinary impact through their work in the Avenues of Service.  That form is due to me no later than March 15, 2012.  Contact me if you have questions.

The Transition from January to February is the transition from “Rotary Awareness Month” to “World Understanding Month”.   Awareness and understanding go hand in hand. In late January residents of Somerset and Pulaski County got a small dose of awareness. Construction at the water company caused a water main break which left the entire county under a serious boil water advisory. Because of the location of the break and the severity of the breach we were advised to not even bathe and wash utensils or dishes during the advisory. Thoroughout the two days of the advisory everyone shared their stories of how the inconvenience of the loss of city water had disrupted their lives.  It made me think of folks served by the handful of water projects I have worked on since having been in Rotary.  Substituting bottled water for tap water for a couple of days is no big deal.  Having to walk long distances for water that may or may not be safe is a big deal. I gained a little awareness of and understanding of why Rotary’s commitment to clean water around the world is so important.

In a related story, a Rotarian recently told me about an exercise he participated in while in a Chamber leadership class. The Rotarian and others in the leadership class “volunteered” to be homeless for about 40 hours over a weekend.  The group was taken downtown and freed of their wallets, purses, cell phones and car keys. As a group they had to go find a homeless shelter who could take about half of them and the other half had to go find another shelter. During the days the group was turned out on the street.  The Rotarian explained by the time the exercise ended on Sunday he had a much greater awareness and understanding of homelessness.

As we enjoy easily attainable necessities of our life - water, food, shelter, and medicine; we need to think about those here and abroad who do without.

District Conference - Celebrate Service in Somerset April 20 - 22

Calling all Rotarians! Please help us Celebrate Service in Somerset at the District Conference. Please see below for the link to the block of hotel rooms at the Hampton Inn. Come visit Somerset and enjoy fellowship and fun while sharing ideas with fellow Rotarians. More details to follow in upcoming editions. See you soon!

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/groups/personalized/S/SMEKYHX-ROT-20120419/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

DG Club Visits

With a visit to RC Somerset Pulaski County on January 26th, DG John Adams officially concluded his club visits. Another thank you to all of the clubs for such a warm welcome. On many occasions, John's family attended and his wife, Christie, and son, Charlie, were made to feel a part of each and every club visited. Attending club visits and meeting the district's Rotarians has been a very special part of this year.

Below is a photo of Charlie with his laptop after a particularly busy day of visiting. John is working in the backseat and Christie is driving.

Please remember to let John know of any upcoming events, fundraisers, etc. He will do his best to attend and, if appropriate, Charlie and Christie may tag along, too!

Baby Charlie with his Daddy after another hard day of Rotary business : )

Rotary Matter: Notification of Nomination - District Governor 2014-15

This notice was e-mailed pursuant to Rotary International Bylaw 13.020.6 Notification of Nomination. It is published here for the convenience of all District Rotarians.

The District 6740 Nominating Committee selected Rotarian John Salyers of the Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky as District Governor Nominee-designate to serve as District Governor of Rotary District 6740 in Rotary Program Year 2014-15. The committee executed its function on January 28, 2012 and this notice is sent within 36 hours thereof.

Club officers should announce this selection at their next meeting. Please also forward this notification to the Club’s newsletter or bulletin editor for publication.

Please note no hard copy will be sent to the Club Secretaries.

Thank you for your attention to this matter of Rotary governance.

John Adams
Rotary Club of Somerset-Pulaski County
District 6740, Governor 2011-12

February and March events

February
11 - RC Bluegrass and RC Richmond Diamonds and Denim
25 - RC Corbin and RC London International Dinner in Corbin

March
3 - RC Somerset-Pulaski County International Dinner
22 - 25 Presidents Elect Training (PETS) in Nashville, Tennessee

Rotary Clubs worldwide meet $200 million fundraising challenge!

from rotary.org

http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/120117_IA12_polio.aspx

Rotary International has succeeded in meeting the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s US$200 million match in funding for polio eradication, raising more than $202.6 million as of 17 January.

“We’ll celebrate this milestone, but it doesn’t mean that we’ll stop raising money or spreading the word about polio eradication,” Rotary Foundation Trustee John F. Germ told Rotary leaders at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA. “We can’t stop until our entire world is certified as polio-free.”

The fundraising milestone was reached in response to $355 million in challenge grants awarded to The Rotary Foundation by the Gates Foundation. All funds have been earmarked to support polio immunization activities in affected countries where the vaccine-preventable disease continues to paralyze children.

“In recognition of Rotary’s great work, and to inspire Rotarians in the future, the [Gates] foundation is committing an additional $50 million to extend our partnership,” said Jeff Raikes, chief executive officer of the Gates Foundation. “Rotary started the global fight against polio, and continues to set the tone for private fundraising, grassroots engagement, and maintaining polio at the top of the agenda with key policymakers.” Raikes also addressed Rotary leaders at the International Assembly.

The new $50 million grant from the Gates Foundation is not a challenge grant.

Since 1988, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99 percent, from about 350,000 cases annually to fewer than 650 cases reported so far for 2011. The wild poliovirus is now endemic in only four countries: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan. However, India on 13 January marked a full calendar year without a case, paving the way for its removal from the endemic list.

But other countries also remain at risk for polio cases imported from the endemic countries. In Africa in 2011, Chad and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had significant outbreaks. Also in 2011, a small cluster of polio cases in China, which had been polio-free for a decade, was traced to Pakistan.
Rotary club members not only reached into their own pockets to support the Gates challenge, but also engaged their communities in a variety of creative fundraising projects, such as a fashion show in California that raised $52,000, benefit film screenings in New Zealand and Australia that netted $54,000, and a pledge-supported hike through Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, that brought in $38,000. Many events were planned around 24 October, widely observed as World Polio Day.

To date, Rotarians worldwide have contributed more than $1 billion toward the eradication of polio, a cause Rotary took on in 1985. In 1988, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention joined Rotary as spearheading partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. More recently, the Gates Foundation has become a major supporter. In 2007, the Gates Foundation gave Rotary a $100 million challenge grant for polio eradication, increasing it to $355 million in 2009. Rotary agreed to raise $200 million in matching funds by 30 June 2012.

Reaching children with the oral polio vaccine in the disease’s remaining strongholds is labor- and resource-intensive due to a host of challenges, including poor infrastructure, geographical isolation, armed conflict, and cultural misunderstanding about the eradication campaign.

For more information:

• Learn about Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio
• Read "Rotary celebrates India's first polio-free year"
• Check out the new Rotary Voices blog and get insider details from India National PolioPlus Committee Chair Deepak Kapur and Bill Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
• Help End Polio Now

RC Whitesburg's Imagination Library - Opened January 26, 2012!

RC Somerset-Pulaski County International Dinner March 3rd

RC Pikeville recognizes Paul Harris Society member

On January 25, long-time Rotarian Dr. Mary Wiss was recognized by the Pikeville Rotary Club for her continued support of the Paul Harris Society. “Sis” as she is fondly called by her friends and Rotarians was presented with a gold Paul Harris Society pin with 3 sapphires by Past District Governor Carrie Cinnamond Rose.

The Paul Harris Society is named after the founder of Rotary International. The society recognizes friends of The Rotary Foundation who annually contribute US$1,000 or more to the Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, and other approved Foundation grant activities. Those Rotarians who give at the level of $4 - 5,000 are acknowledged with a special pin with inset sapphires.

Generous gifts like those of Dr. Wiss advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty. Contributions support activities such as:

• Vocational and on-the-job training for land mine victims in Cambodia

• Hand-washing stations, training for teachers, and in-depth hygiene training for students at a school in Ecuador

• A scholarship for a Japanese student to study effective adult learning methods abroad

• Milking cows for farmers in Russia

• Microcredit loans to women in Togo

• Reading and mathematics textbooks for students in the United States of America

The Pikeville Rotary Club is proud to acknowledge Sis Wiss, a dedicated Rotarian since 1988, for her continued support of the Paul Harris Society and all the humanitarian work it represents.

7 ways to get more out of Rotary in 2012

from Rotary.org http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/120103_news_resolve.aspx


Try something different in 2012 to attract new members and keep existing ones. Here are a few ideas to help you do more with Rotary in the new year.

Be part of Rotary's efforts to End Polio Now
Consider planning a fundraiser for polio eradication, or having your club or district light up a landmark as part of Rotary’s anniversary celebration on 23 February. Rotarians have made great progress in the push to end the disease, but the job isn’t finished yet. As little as US$0.60 can help immunize a child against the incurable disease. Contribute to PolioPlus, and learn more about Rotary's eradication efforts.

Think strategically and set club goals
A new online assessment tool will be launched in July to help clubs set goals and track their accomplishments, such as contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Available in Member Access, it will replace paper-based tracking methods and help RI measure Rotary's global impact. Help your club work more efficiently by using the tool to set and measure club goals.

Help the Foundation fulfill its mission
Make a resolution to donate to the Foundation’s Annual Fund in 2012. Skip one latte a week, and you'd have US$100 or more to contribute to your club's Every Rotarian, Every Year effort. You can make a one-time contribution or a recurring gift. Learn how your club or district can make a difference in one of Rotary's six areas of focus with a Foundation grant.

Get inspired at the RI Convention
The 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, 6-9 May, will feature speakers including Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus and Global Poverty Project CEO Hugh Evans. And, along with thousands of your fellow Rotarians from around the world, you’ll be able to attend workshops on topics such as membership, leadership, and Future Vision. Register today.

Celebrate 50 years of Interact
Interact will celebrate its 50th year in 2012. Since the first club was established in 1962 at a high school in Melbourne, Florida, USA, thousands of communities worldwide have benefited from Interactors putting Service Above Self. The program has helped countless youth develop leadership skills, meet new friends, and become more familiar with Rotary. Rotary clubs that sponsor an Interact club gain fresh insight into service and help develop future Rotarians. If your club isn’t already involved in Interact, consider sponsoring a club.

Publicize your good work
PR grants enable districts to raise Rotary’s profile and promote the global and local work of Rotarians by placing public service announcements on television and radio, in print media and on billboards, and on the Web. Help your district apply for a grant by 4 March. To further promote your club’s signature activities, be sure to update your website with information about your projects and meetings. Also, start a social media page, and follow what Rotary is doing on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Connect with alumni
Rotary Foundation alumni can be effective speakers at club meetings, and many are potential club members. Reach out to them.

RC Ashland celebrates 95 years!

On Thursday, December 8^th, at the Bellefonte Country Club, Ashland Rotarians and their significant others enjoyed gathering together to celebrate Christmas.  District Governor John Adams was a special guest at the festivities that evening and Sister Reddenhair treated us with entertainment with music by The Beatles and filled the air with Christmas spirit.  Wonderful food was provided by Bellefonte Country Club- Apple Walnut Salad, Chicken, Beef, a rich Cinnamon Bread Pudding for dessert and spirited drink was on the menu.  Everyone looked their holiday best and had a wonderful time.

President Cheryl Spriggs with District Governor

John Adams and President Elect Vincenzo Fressola pictured

It was also the 95^th Birthday for the Ashland Rotary Club.  The Club was established on December 1, 1916 and is the second oldest Rotary Club in District 6740.  The first President, Mr. Theodore J. Shout and the nascent Rotary Club could not have envisioned how successful the Ashland Rotary Club would be today.  Today the club boasts 86 members and growing and its diverse group of members, from every age group, represent most every aspect of the community. 

The week of the 21^st the Ashland Rotary had their very first strategic planning session to lay down a roadmap for the continued success of the club.  The club wants to have the collective wisdom to know what is needed to meet and exceed their expectations serving the community; supporting it to build on their ability to create the future they envision.

RC Paris Celebrates A Birthday and Serves the Community

Paris Rotarian George Rassenfoss recently celebrated his 95^th birthday at his weekly Rotary Club meeting. A long time Rotarian, George has had over 60 years of perfect attendance. At the weekly meetings, song leader John Galloway recognizes the birthdays of Club members and leads the Club in rousing renditions of “Happy Birthday.” 

G. Davis Wilson was the featured speaker on January 11. He discussed his role as Bourbon County Attorney and discussed the duties of his office. According to G. Davis, over 3,000 felonies and misdemeanors occurred in the County over the past year, with 90 to 95% of the offenses related to drugs and drug abuse. Illegal drugs and pills are a growing problem in the County as well as an increase in crimes by juveniles. Additionally, police recently discovered the

 first “meth lab” in Bourbon County and will be prosecuting the case.

Rotarians volunteering at the backpack program.

The Paris Rotary Club supports the Operation Backpack that provides food for disadvantaged children. Rotarians volunteers once a month to work the program, packing over 250 backpacks per week. The club also contributes $2000 of financial support to the service project.

Liz Kingsland, Extension Office, Casey Wiley, Extension Office and, Miranda Reynolds (Rotary Chairperson for the Backpack program) presenting a check for the Backpack Program

Paris Rotary Club's "Coats, Jackets & Blankets Drive" was a great success as over 300 items were donated by Rotarians and from the Community. Pictured are Rotarians Bill T. McConnell, President Ethel Welsh and Tom Brannock. These items were delivered to the First Christian Church where they will be distributed to the Community.

RC Pikeville presents scholarship funds

Pikeville Rotary Club President Jeanne Clark recently presented UPike VP of Development (and Rotarian) Eric Becher with a $1,000 check for the Rotary/ Rediford Damron Endowment Scholarship Fund. The club has support this endowment for many years in memory of Rediford Damron who was the Dean at Pikeville College. Rediford was the Pikeville club president in 1969-80 and the district governor in 1985-86.

Get your Club's best golfers & tee it up at the Commonwealth Rotary Golf Challenge

The First Federal Savings Bank and The Frankfort Rotary Club Present:			May 2012
Annual Commonwealth Rotary Golf Challenge
Juniper Hills Golf Course Frankfort, KY May 11, 2012 Cost: $75 per player First Come Registration Limited to 18 Rotary Teams Enjoy a complete program of special events, 18 holes of golf (including cart), lunch, door prizes for each player and an exciting awards ceremony. All for just $75 / player. Benefiting Need Based College Scholarships. ·      4 player teams counting 3 best scores each hole ·      Longest drive contest ·      Closest to the pin ·      Hole in One New Car ·      Rotary Club Members Only – No Ringers ·      Winning Rotary Club team shares in net registration fees collected ·      Traveling Banner for Winning Club Team Tel: 502.226.0973		Modified Four Player Team Best Ball Format Welcome! This year’s event will be held Friday, May 11, 2012 at Frankfort’s Home of the Governor’s Open, the Juniper Hills Golf Course.  Registration begins at 11:30 AM (EDT), with shot gun start at 1 PM. The cost for this event is only $75 per player. This price includes entry into all events, 18 holes of golf, riding cart, lunch and door prizes.  This annual Rotary event benefits the Frankfort Rotary Club Youth Scholarship Fund.  Traveling banner AND net registration proceeds shared with the winning club!  There will be an awards presentation directly after golf at the course. Click here to register online or go to the following website:  http://goo.gl/xJzxm Following online registration, please make your $300 check payable to: Frankfort Rotary Youth Fund P.O. Box 93 Frankfort, KY  40602 Local accommodations may be reserved by visiting:  www.visitfrankfort.com Golf attire is required. Collared shirts. Soft spikes only. Rotarians, Please join us for this inaugural event and take home the club prize for the Commonwealth Rotary Golf Challenge! Hosted by the Frankfort Rotary Club, competitors must be members in good standing of Rotary Clubs from across the Commonwealth.  This friendly competition among Rotary Clubs benefits the Frankfort Rotary Youth Fund, providing college scholarships to need-based college freshmen.  We are making a difference in the lives of worthy students and we will share the net proceeds from this tournament with your club. Sign up today and help us celebrate great fellowship, friendly competition, championship golf, and worthy Rotary projects. See you in May! Chris Harrison President Frankfort Rotary Club

Trustee Chair's message: Areas of Focus are the causes that drive Rotary

from Rotary.org  http://www.rotary.org/en/AboutUs/RotaryLeadership/TrusteeChair/Pages/Messages.aspx

Areas of focus are the causes that drive Rotary. We are now halfway through the pilot of our Future Vision Plan, and as I look to the future I think the most significant change will be the adoption of the six areas of focus -- and not just for our Foundation. I recently heard RI Director Stuart Heal, the chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, say that our areas of focus fit very comfortably into our RI Strategic Plan.

Today’s generation supports causes rather than organizations, and so we in Rotary should be able to clearly identify the causes that drive us. When somebody asks you what Rotary is, you do not have to fumble for words. Tell the person that we are an organization of service-minded individuals around the world who are working to make the world a better place with our efforts in water and sanitation, basic education and literacy, maternal and child health, disease prevention and treatment, economic and community development, and peace and conflict resolution. You can say that in 20 seconds!

You can see how this may bring new members to Rotary and increase the giving to our Foundation. If you approach corporations for a contribution, they are much more likely to respond if they know how their money will be spent, and that we will spend it wisely. We are building on a strong record of performance over a long period of time. Bill Gates has said as much on a number of occasions. He has shown his faith in us through his significant gifts for polio eradication.

While I am writing this from a Foundation perspective, the membership factor should not be overlooked. Plenty of organizations talk about issues, but Rotary is about action, not words.

RC Whitesburg welcomes new members

The Rotary Club of Whitesburg is pleased to announce the installation of two new members for the 2011-12 Rotary Year. Sherry Wright, Coordinator of Federal Programs, Professional Development and Special Education Programs for Jenkins Independent Schools; and Eileen Sanders, member of the Jenkins Board of Education were officially installed by Rotarian Barbara Ison on Tuesday, December 6th. Sherry Wright was sponsored by Rotarian Deborah Watts and Eileen Sanders was sponsored by Rotarian Brenda DePriest. New members were presented with membership certificates and pins during the installation ceremony. From L to R: Sherry Wright, Eileen Sanders and Barbara Ison. This made a total of 8 new members inducted into the Rotary Club of Whitesburg since July 1, 2011.

RC Pikeville welcomes new member

Pikeville Rotary Club Secretary Karen Roberts formally initiated new member Randy Walters on January 25. Randy has successfully gone through orientation and was presented with a packet of membership information and red badge as the club’s newest Rotarian. Randy’s sponsor was Frank Dawahare. With Randy’s initiation, the clubs ranks have grown to 104 members! Congratulations Randy!

Upcoming Events

February
11 - RC Bluegrass and RC Richmond Diamonds and Denim
25 - RC Corbin and RC London International Dinner in Corbin

March
3 - RC Somerset-Pulaski County International Dinner
22 - 25 Presidents Elect Training (PETS) in Nashville, Tennessee

April
20 - 22 District Conference in Somerset, Kentucky
21 - 22 RC Georgetown Kite Festival

Rotary receives about 2.5 million United airline miles for humanitarian projects

from Rotary.org

Rotary receives about 2.5 million United airline miles for humanitarian projects

http://rotary.org/en/ServiceAndFellowship/FundAProject/Announcements/Pages/270112_annc_miles.aspx

Thank you to all those at United -- including President and CEO Jeff Smisek -- for their generosity and the opportunity to participate in United's 10 Million Charity Miles Giveaway. And thank you to everyone who voted for us. We couldn't have done it without your participation and persistence.
For the miles giveaway, we officially came in second place and will receive 2,488,070 charity miles from United. Rotarians will use the miles for humanitarian missions, such as transporting sick children to hospitals.

Although the giveaway wasn't announced in advance, Rotarians and friends of Rotary quickly and enthusiastically got the word out through social media, and we went from 18^th place to second place. This enabled us to receive a larger portion of the 10 million airline miles that United was donating. In addition, we congratulate the Shriners, who took first place.