Happy New Year!!! I hope everyone has survived the Holiday season in one piece. What a great month for Karen and me. We have attended many holiday functions, Christmas parties and events. All were very enjoyable.
Just look at these two Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Woonsocket.
That is current Woonsocket Rotary Club President David Lahousse along with PP, and presently a Polio Ambassador, Mike Dubois in custom tailored off the Macy’s shelf Santa and Snowman suits.
By the end of the night everyone had a turn with one of these jackets while on the dance floor. Just a great night horse drawn wagon and all!
Now for a little business. This month our DGE Steve Certa will be off to the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego. It is here we will learn his new theme and logo for his 17-18 year. A very exciting time for an incoming Governor! Have fun Steve and enjoy the ride!
Some dates to remember and save for the next 6 months are.
- February 11, 2017 Mid-Year/PrePETS Whites of Westport
- March 9, 10, & 11, 2017 North East PETS Sheraton, Framingham MA
- March 25, 2017 Rotary Leadership Institute, AMICA, Lincoln RI
- April 1 2017 District Assembly Whites of Westport
- April 28-30 2017 Multi District Conference, Providence RI- Please register early for the conference. The next tier of early bird conference pricing ends February 28 2017. Please review the information below.
- May 15, 2017 District International Night
- June 10-14 2017 Rotary International Convention Atlanta GA
Tournament of Roses Parade Float
Check out the Rotary Float for the 2016 Tournament of Roses Parade as broadcast by three networks: ABC, NBC and HGTV. Our Rotary International float won the "Princess Award" for the most beautiful float under 35 feet long. Look for our good friend RI President John Germ and his wife Judy proudly waving as they represent Rotary International riding on the Rotary float along Pasadena Avenue.
RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. In our district, it is a three day weekend where students who are sophomores and juniors in high school come to become better leaders and discover more about themselves and others. RYLA isn't your average leadership camp, we become a family. The program is mostly student run, including the service project we complete on the last day of the weekend.
This year we are focusing on homeless people in our area and creating hygiene packages to be donated to shelters. We already have made contact with two shelters in the area and they are very excited to receive the packages!
Presidential Citation HUMANITARIAN SERVICE
Clubs must achieve 3 of the following goals:
- Sponsor at least one Rotary Community Corps to enhance community engagement and ensure project sustainability. Note: Your club’s RCC must be certified with Rotary International. To ensure your status as an RCC sponsor or co-sponsor is recorded, your club president can check RI’s records in Rotary Club Central Reports, and can contact rotary.service@rotary.org to report any errors.
- Ensure that at least one club member belongs to a Board-recognized Rotarian Action Group (www.rotary.org/actiongroups). Report in Rotary Club Central.
- Partner with the Foundation by sponsoring at least one project funded by a global grant or a district grant. Note: Your club can contact your district to verify whether it is registered as a global grant sponsor or is listed as a district grant sponsor in the original spending plan submitted with your district’s 2016-17 district grant application.
- Have at least one club member attend a grant management seminar. Report in Rotary Club Central.
- Implement a project with one of Rotary’s service partners. Note: Rotary has several partners that work directly with clubs on projects. See a current list of service partners at www.rotary.org/ partners. Report in Rotary Club Central.
- Establish a partnership and conduct a project with one or more corporations, government entities, or nongovernmental organizations. Report in Rotary Club Central.
- Enhance a project’s scope and visibility by partnering with at least five other Rotary clubs in your region. Report in Rotary Club Central.
Martha’s Vineyard Youth Exchange
At left is a picture I received of one of our high school exchange students: Monica Carroll (far right). Monica spent her first three years of high school at Martha Vineyard Regional High School and is spending this year on the Spanish island of Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands. It is ten times the size of Martha's Vineyard. This gathering of Rotary Exchange Students of Tenerife also includes students from South Korea, Belgium & Germany.
Monica has already traveled to Madrid and is looking forward to seeing the rest of Europe at the end of the school year.
On another note: Martha's Vineyard club president Joe Gervais' sister Mary and her family will be hosting Wakefield, RI's exchange student for the first quarter of '17, a girl from Thailand named Mint. Mary and her husband Bobby live in Kingston, RI. Their daughter, Sabrina, is a freshman at URI. Their son, Cristian, is a high school junior. Mary was a Rotary High School Exchange Student.
20 Answers to the Question: Why Join Rotary?Last month we covered reasons 1-5, this month we continue with 6-10.
6. Continuing Education: Each week at Rotary there is a program designed to keep one informed about what is going on in the community, nation, and world. Each meeting provides an opportunity to listen to different speakers and a variety of timely topics.
7. Fun: Rotary is fun, a lot of fun. Each meeting is fun. The club projects are fun. Social activities are fun. The service is fun.
8. Public Speaking Skills: Many individuals who joined Rotary were afraid to speak in public. Rotary develops confidence and skill in public communication and the opportunity to practice and perfect these skills.
9. Citizenship in the World: Every Rotarian wears a pin that says “Rotary International.” There are few places on the globe that do not have a Rotary club. Every Rotarian is welcome – even encouraged – to attend any of the 29,000 clubs in 194 nations and geographical regions. This means instant friends in both one’s own community and in the world community.
10. Assistance when Traveling: Because there are Rotary clubs everywhere, many a Rotarian in need of a doctor, lawyer, hotel, dentist, advice, etc., while traveling has found assistance through Rotary.
Some Words from the District Governor Nominee
Happy New Year! I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead!Congratulations to the Rotary Float Committee for winning the Rose Bowl Princess Award for the Most Beautiful float under 35 feet!
The Continuity Team which includes past and present Governors, elect, nominee and designate are working hard to support all the clubs and members of District 7950. They are trying to improve all events and meetings to make them more relevant and time efficient.
I am looking forward to meeting old and new friends at the Multi-District Conference on April 28-30 at the Providence Convention Center and at the International Convention in Atlanta on June 10-14 celebrating the 100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation.
Lastly, I want to congratulate everyone who has donated $26.50 to Polio Plus this year. By your contribution, you will have guaranteed your place in history in the eradication of Polio!
Thank you for all you do!
William (Bill) Tennant DGN
