DG Jack's September 2014 Message
DG Jack’s September Message
In September, Rotary focuses on Youth Service. Is your club actively engaged in serving the youth in (y)our community? Based on my visits to over sixty clubs so far, I suspect that you ARE doing so. I can’t think of a club which isn’t supporting Rotary Youth Exchange or an Interact Club or a Rotaract Club or an EarlyAct Club or RYLA students or SLAPSHOT students (or, most likely, most of those programs). Most of our clubs are involved in multiple youth programs in the name of Rotary. Along with bursaries and scholarships, these outreaches are often the main reasons that a club is known to “LIGHT UP ROTARY” in their community. For those whom I’ve already visited, thanks again for what you do in the name of Rotary. For the clubs I haven’t seen yet, thanks to you too – I KNOW that, in your home community, you are visible and leading the rest of the community in service.
Speaking of Rotary Youth, we will again be featuring our youth and young alumni at this year’s RotaryBuffaloBash. We’ll have RYE presentations again for energy breaks and a representative program at the Bash. Our final speaker, Joe Roberts, is a champion for youth through his presentations and his Push for Change Foundation. On top of that, he is a compelling speaker whose message will resonate with adults and teens. I’ve been asking our clubs to find a way to get at least some of the teens whom you serve in your community to the Buffalo Convention Center on October 26th to see our RYE students in action and to hear Joe speak.
Another youth oriented speaker with a message you will not want to miss is Joshua Covey. His dad, the late Dr. Steven Covey, wrote the world best seller “The Seven Habits of a Highly Successful Person”. Josh and his brother Sean have applied the Seven Habits to a program for elementary school students called “The Leader in Me” with phenomenal success. He will be addressing leadership development through the seven habits and will be available to discuss the “Leader in Me” program with anyone who has interest.
I’m pleased to announce that Mr. Russell Salvatore, the Western New York restaurateur and philanthropist will receive a Paul Harris Fellowship at our “Bash” dinner on Saturday the 25th. Mr. Salvatore’s reputation for giving back to the community is known and respected throughout the 7090 region. As self-effacing as he is, he would prefer not to make a speech about his charitable endeavors but he has consented to answer some questions about his approach to community service.
A. J. Block, the Buffalo Bash's Sponsorship Chair and a member of the East Aurora Club is looking to visit some Clubs in our District prior to the October 25 & 26 Buffalo Bash. If your club would like to sponsor parts of “theBash” (in place of hospitality suites), of if you individually own or know someone who owns a business who would like to support this Rotary Day, please let him know. One of his committee members will be glad to work out the details with you. Please contact A. J. at: ajblock1@gmail.com or 716-870-0647, to get the ball rolling.
Andrea Ball (also of the East Aurora Club) is chairing the House of Friendship at “theBash”. As you know, this is your club’s opportunity to beg or brag – display information about your club’s projects and programs and let other clubs support your fundraisers. Andrea’s email address is Andrea@SignatureEventsWNY.com. Even though we have plenty of room available at the Buffalo Convention Center, we need to fix the number and layout of the tables in the next few weeks, so please reach out to Andrea as soon as possible.
Our Foundation Silent Auction (under the aegis of PDG Robb McLeod, with the idea generation of “theBash” co-chairs Amy Thompson and Sandy Vogel) will take a different twist this year. With the theme of Celebration of the Generations, you can submit your auction item in any medium you wish (bookcase, quilt, chair, lamp, toy box –anything which will display your club’s artistic skills, as long as it represents a generational character (Winnie the Pooh, Huck Finn, Robinson Caruso, Alice in Wonderland just to name a few potential characters). You should have received a flyer about the theme and the auction by now. If not, contact Sandy Vogel at williamsflorist@gmail.com and we’ll get one out to you.
I am really looking forward to introducing my fifty best friends from West Seneca to all of your clubs’ best friends on the 25th and 26th of October at “The Rotary Buffalo Bash”. See you then and there!
Yours in Rotary,
Jack
Jack Amico
District Governor
Best of Friends District 7090