District Governor Rick Sterne, November 2012
DG Rick’s November Message
November is Rotary Foundation month. It is a time to focus on the wonderful work that our Foundation does. It is a time to recognize the outstanding contributions of our Clubs and members to the Foundation.
The six areas of focus of the Rotary Foundation are:
The motto of the Rotary Foundation is “DOING GOOD IN THE WORLD”.
On Friday November 16th, we held our Annual Foundation dinner at Salvatore’s restaurant in Buffalo. It was a great success with over 170 Rotarians and guests in attendance. Numerous awards were presented to many of our Clubs and fellow Rotarians. The top three Clubs in per capita giving were Ancaster -$640., Delhi -$419., and Dundas Valley Sunrise - $331. Thirteen EREY Clubs and five Sustaining Member Clubs were honoured. Twenty two Clubs were recognized for their Polio Plus contributions. Six Rotarians received Foundation Service Awards. Six new members of the Bequest Society were introduced, along with thirteen new Paul Harris Society members. Five new Major Donors were also thanked for their support of the Foundation.
Our guest speaker for the evening was Past Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson, who is currently Chair of the Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. His remarks were inspirational, and well received by all. It was truly an honour to have Wilf back with us in District 7090, in view of his very busy schedule travelling the world in support of the Rotary International Foundation. He confirmed that Rotary has pledged an additional seventy-five million dollars to polio eradication. We are working with the leaders of the three remaining countries, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan to finish the job by 2015. We are very close and hope to declare the world Polio Free three years later, in 2018.
My HIGH FIVE! theme has asked every Rotarian to make the Rotary Foundation one of their charities of choice. I have asked them to place a jar on their dresser and every week to put two dollars in the jar. At the end of the Rotary year, they should send those funds into the Foundation and become Sustaining Members of the Rotary Foundation. I have suggested that those who can afford it put $20.00 a week in the jar and become Paul Harris Society members. I hope that every Rotarian of District 7090 makes some financial contribution to our Foundation this year. This is a painless way to support our Foundation and the good work that it does. I have every confidence that we will have more than thirteen EREY and five Sustaining member Clubs by the end of this Rotary year. I thank you for your support.
The GSE Team that visited us from the Philippines was truly exceptional. They were five bright personable individuals who touched many Rotarians of our District. I had the opportunity to hear them on several occasions, and each time I learned more and was inspired. A farewell dinner was held on November 8th and it truly was a sad occasion as we had to say goodbye. I’m sure many in our District will keep in touch with them, and several Clubs are planning to work with them on projects in the Philippines.
Last Saturday, our outgoing GSE team to the Philippines was chosen. Eight excellent individuals applied and it was very difficult picking the four finalists. They will be led by Brantford Rotarian Sherry Kerr on an exchange for a month next February/March. Bob Gosselin, Dan Smith, and the GSE committee have done an excellent job this year. Thank you. They will now begin putting the criteria together for the visits next year under Future Vision.
This year’s Rotary UN Day in New York City, November 3rd, happened in spite of hurricane Sandy. Almost the entire Rotary International Board of Directors was in attendance as we heard numerous speakers discuss different aspects of “Peace through Service”. President Tanaka was thanked for this year’s theme as the entire Rotary world has embraced it. President Tanaka also spoke at the Eastern Cities dinner in Rochester on November 4th, which was also a great evening.
Congratulations and thanks go to the Le Roy and Batavia Rotary Clubs who under the leadership of Le Roy President Samantha Vagg have collected donations of cash and items to help the victims of hurricane Sandy in the New York and New Jersey Districts of our Zone 24/32. Last Saturday, November 17th, they left with a truck load of goods for the people of Staten Island in particular. We look forward to hearing their report. Thank you to Samantha and the Rotary Clubs of Le Roy and Batavia for their leadership and for caring.
Remember: “It is not what you GET that is important in life! It is what you GIVE!”
HIGH FIVE!
District Governor
Best of Friends District 7090