DG’s Rick’s Message for June

AWARDS LUNCHEON and GOVERNOR CHANGEOVER

Over a hundred and fifty Rotarians and spouses attended our District Awards Luncheon and District Governor changeover on June 9^th at Salvatore’s Italian Garden Restaurant in De Pew, New York. Over seventy awards were presented to forty Clubs in twenty minutes, a record time. The new Governor’s Trophy for “Service Project of The Year” was presented for the first time.

District Governor Elect Kevin Crouse accepted the Governor pin and introduced his theme for next year: ENGAGE ROTARY – CHANGE LIVES. He also presented a new recognition for the first time: the HEAD, HANDS, and HEART AWARD.

AWARD RECIPIENTS

PRESIDENTIAL CITATIONS were presented on behalf of Rotary International President Sakuji Tanaka, by myself to the Rotary Clubs of: Akron-Newstead, Amherst East, Amherst South, Ancaster, Ancaster AM, Brantford, Buffalo-Sunrise, Clarence, Dundas, Dundas Valley Sunrise, East Aurora, Grand Island, Hamburg, Hamilton, Hamilton AM, Le Roy, Lewiston-NOTL, Lockport, Niagara Falls Ont, Norfolk Sunrise, Olean, Simcoe,  St. Catharines South, Stoney Creek, Waterdown, Welland, West Seneca, Westfield-Mayville.

LIGHTHOUSE AWARDS were presented by PDG Karen Oakes, our District RI Foundation Director to the Rotary Clubs of: Amherst East, Ancaster AM, Buffalo Sunrise, Dundas, Grand Island, Waterdown, Welland, West Seneca.

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AWARDS were presented by PDG Brian Carmichael on behalf of Membership Director PDG Pravin Suchak to the Rotary Clubs of: Amherst East – 27%, Welland – 22%, Fonthill – 21%, Ancaster AM – 20%, for membership growth over the 2012 -2013 year. Awards were also presented to the Rotary Clubs of: Buffalo Sunrise – 50%, Williamsville – 37%, Hamburg – 29% for membership growth over the past five years.

PEACE THROUGH SERVICE AWARDS were presented by Carolyn Seabrook-Ferguson, Co-Chair of our District Peace Through Service committee to the Rotary Clubs of: Akron-Newstead, Amherst East, Ancaster, Ancaster AM, Brantford, Buffalo, Buffalo Sunrise, East Aurora, Fonthill, Fort Erie, Hamburg, Hamburg Sunrise, Hamilton AM, Kenmore, Le Roy, Lockport, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Orchard Park, Salamanca, Simcoe, South Shore, St. Catharines, St. Catharines Lakeshore,  St. Catharines South, Waterdown, West Seneca, Westfield Mayville.

The following report was received from the Peace Through Service Committee:

“From a sprinkling of 20 club projects submitted to the PTS committee, unquestionably the impact from our district’s focus on Peace Through Service projects this year is remarkable.

• These projects engaged over 8000 youth in our community (which is probably a very low estimate), the community at large with over 14 separate community events, and our First Nation’s people.
• Our approach to Peace Through Service included a focus on our local communities with messages and sessions regarding: Anti-Bullying, Historical Trauma, Drug Abuse, Teen Pregnancy, Child Abuse, Violence Reduction, Cultural Diversity at our High schools, Faith Traditions, Healing Communities and Opening Avenues to create a culture of Peace.
• Our approach to Peace Through Service included a focus on our international communities-in the areas of clean water and sanitation, Child and Maternal Health-Medical services, and Economic and Community Development-Microcredit.
• Our PTS projects also included: Emergency response to super storm Sandy, and partnership with other local NFP organizations, clubs, individual schools and school boards.

TOP TEN PROJECTS

The top ten projects as selected by the Peace Through Service committee were announced:

Ancaster – raised funds to drill 240 wells to provide clean and accessible drinking water and construct 727 latrines in the Artibonite Valley of Haiti.

Area 13 – presented four community Peace Forums on abuse, bullying and violence; religious tolerance and understanding; investing in youth; and conflict resolution, personal reflection, and volunteering.

Brantford – partnered with the Boys and Girls Club to produce a DVD on bullying, “Bullying …Our Silent Voices”, which was produced, acted, and developed by the youth membership.

Buffalo – supported a youth violence reduction program named “Game Changers” which provided positive role models for youth at risk of violent behaviour.

Buffalo Sunrise - established a long-term partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Buffalo to promote the message of “peace through service” through facilitated planning and collaborative activities.

Le Roy – raised money, collected, and personally delivered needed relief items to the victims of super storm, “Hurricane Sandy”, on the east coast of the USA.

Lockport – conducted a “Leadership and Peace Retreat”, with 100 Interactors at the Lockport YMCA’s Camp Kenan, which also included a camp cleanup project. Both activities built leadership skills and fellowship that will encourage cooperation and understanding for a culturally diverse group of high school students.

Clubs of St. Catharines – worked with the Education Foundation of Niagara to bring “Bullying Hurts”, an interactive puppet show that incorporated video testimonials from victims of bullying, along with performing artists and backstage crew consisting of adults who have a developmental disability, to Niagara elementary schools. The goal was to educate young learners about the serious effects that words and actions can have on another person, and to help children gain the knowledge and skills necessary to change their negative behaviors and attitudes towards those who are different.

Salamanca – presented four community Peace Forums highlighting important cultural education pieces of their relations with their Seneca Nation neighbours; including Manifest Destiny, Student Forum on Indigenous People, Native Boarding Schools, and Youth Concerns such as bullying.

Westfield Mayville - joined forces with the Westfield YWCA, the Fredonia Rotaract Club and the Chautauqua Lake Interact Club, to hold a rally “Bullying Stops Here", about the negative lifelong effects of bullying on victims.

GOVERNOR’S TROPHY

A new District Award, the GOVERNOR’S TROPHY, will be presented annually to the Club or Area SERVICE PROJECT of THE YEAR. Each year the current District Governor will define the trophy criteria to place emphasis on his/her priorities, however it must always focus on SERVICE ABOVE SELF.The selection committee will consist of the DGD, DGN, DGE, DG and two immediate PDGs. The winner will get to keep and display the trophy, as well as enjoy bragging rights, until next year’s presentation. (It will be our own Stanley Cup.)

This year’s trophy criteria focused on PEACE THROUGH SERVICE projects and the Declare and Share reports were used in the judging.   The GOVERNOR’S TROPHY for the SERVICE PROJECT of the YEAR was presented to:   The Rotary Club of SALAMANCA, and was accepted by Elaine Elsen, President.

THANK YOU

Since this is my last monthly newsletter, I thank each of you for your tremendous hard work and support in helping us reach our goals. We increased our membership by more than 2% and exceeded our Foundation and Polio Plus fund raising goals. Our Clubs completed wonderful Peace Through Service projects, as well as numerous local and international projects. Congratulations to all of the Clubs that received Awards this year.

Our District Conference and our multi-District “Rotarians for Peace” Symposium were outstanding successes and the highlights of the year. In addition we all had FUN.

Thank you for your hospitality extended during my official visits and the many dinners and events that you invited me to. I have made many new friends in Rotary. Thank you for the privilege of serving as your District Governor. It has definitely been the best year of my life!

Keep up the good work that your Club is doing!

HIGH FIVE!    

Rick Sterne                                                                                                     

District Governor

Best of Friends District 7090