We are on our way back to our ‘real lives’, my friends!
Some aspects of our Zoom world, I am sure, will last. Training is a good example. Who needs to spend 4-5 hours travel time for a physical meeting? I have found that I can prepare for a presentation at home on my computer and then effortlessly run the program with time to spare – for questions!! Much superior.
Here’s another reason to sign into the Virtual Rotary International Conference:
Two District 7950 Rotarians will be speaking!! Both are from the Yarmouth Club. Brian Braginton-Smith is speaking at the ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) RICON (Rotary International Convention) at 1:00 p.m. and Jill Albright is co-moderating a presentation on Virtual Exchange Officers, as part of the Youth Exchange Outbound pre-conference. Thank You and Way to Go, Rotarians!
FOUNDATION GIVING
If you have been considering a gift to The Rotary Foundation, now is the time to do so. As you can imagine, I am sure, foundation giving took a hit this year with Covid. The world still needs us. Please do what you are able.
Speaking of the Foundation, The Rotary Foundation enjoys the highest charitable organization ratings there are. That level of confidence demands strict fiduciary standards and that’s the reason for the Memorandums of Understanding, Grants Training and renewed Grants Certification, each year.
We have just learned that a District Foundation report is required to be published in the last newsletter of the year and so have one prepared for you – see it at the end of this newsletter. I would like to thank District Foundation Chair Kris David for not only preparing this report, but for shepherding this process for us for the past three years.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT PLANS
ARE ON THE WEB SITE!!
Thank you to the Crisis Management Plans Team, led by Wakefield Rotarian Steve White, Esq., for their thoughtful work in preparing these plans. These plans should give Clubs some peace of mind as they plan their fundraising and youth activities. The balance of the team included Jill Albright (Yarmouth), Jack Flynn (Fall River), Beth Fernandes (Middletown), and myself. Please take a look at
https://rotary7950.com/sitepage/crisis-management (member login required) to see what the excitement is about!
RUMINATIONS. . .
This is my final newsletter as District Governor. I have really enjoyed communicating with you over the past year, as we navigated uncharted waters. In that regard, I would like to recognize my stalwart Newsletter Partner, Art Norwalk of the Providence Club, for his support in this process. Art is a good friend, a fine marketing professional and a True Rotarian! I have appreciated his wisdom and experience all along the way.
This incredible year was truly one where “Rotary Opens Opportunities!” We had the opportunity to grow our technical skills with the use of Zoom, for example. We had the opportunity to respond to increased local needs to combat the pandemic. Personally, you gave me the opportunity to be your District Governor this year! I am grateful to you for your response to each and every request and I will never forget. Again, thank you.
This is a wonderful month in the Rotary calendar! We have the opportunity to reflect on the work that has been accomplished in the year ending and we are enthused about the year ahead! Initiatives that began this year, such as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and the district 501c3 will go forward. Under District Governor Billy’s leadership, we will accomplish much, much more. Billy has many plans and initiatives that will positively impact our District. As I have said many times, the goal of each Leadership Team is to move the district forward, providing more support and value to our clubs. We are in very, very good hands, indeed.
Rotaract is Coming Back! Our academic clubs are starting up, our community based club is strengthening and further growth is expected. You will see full recognition of Rotaract clubs’ equality over the next year. As I say, we are in good hands, indeed!!
Bouncing back: June is Rotary Fellowship Month!
WHAT ROTARY FELLOWSHIP MONTH
MEANS TO ME
When it comes to getting the most out of your Rotary membership and fellowship, I’d like to offer a quick story from my experience:
I’ll never forget one of the earliest times that I walked into a Rotary District event. I got there a little bit early, so as I peered into the room, I realized that I did not know who these people were. As in, I needed to go back and check the ‘Welcome’ sign! Uh Huh. Right room.
So I went over to the registration table and saw Jim Rassol. I knew Jim because he had visited our club as District Governor. Chris Rassol asked my name to check it against registrations and she made sure in every way that I knew that I was welcome. She asked me about my home club. Then she remarked on what a wonderful club it was. This needed to end, as other Rotarians arrived and needed attention.
That moment was wonderful and reassuring. However, I turned toward the room half-filled with people I did not know and asked myself ‘where is everybody from Fall River?!!” Since I am not normally shy – and they still had not arrived - I walked up to a group of Rotarians, and smiled, and did not say ‘hello’ until appropriate. The circle instantly grew to include me.
From then on, I made it my mission to find out one thing about one new person, at every district event. My home club friends did arrive and I made a pledge to meet at least one (I sometimes set the bar too low) Rotarian at every district event. And, that is how, over time, I made friends in the district. I suggest that you speed it up. There are so many wonderful, and fun, people throughout 7950 that you want to know as many as possible!
However, for always, when you get to a district event and look around, and the only person in the room that you recognize is me, come up to me and say ‘Covid.’ We will know each other. It’s a bond that will last forever.
WHY I'M GRATEFUL
No one does anything of value alone. I have many, many Rotarians throughout the district to thank who have worked diligently to overcome challenges to make this a most successful year! 2020/2021 Club Presidents are chief amongst them! Club Presidents worked to make sure that their clubs did not go dark. Club Members supported their Presidents and Leadership Teams in those efforts. Additionally, District Committee Chairs and Members have stepped up. Many Rotarians who do not hold ‘official’ District positions stepped forward when needed! The Continuity Team was there all along the way. For all of this, and much more, I am exceedingly grateful.
I am grateful for all of the Opportunities that you have given to me over the past year. Being your District Governor is an honor and a privilege that I will hold in my heart, always.
Stay well. And, See You Soon!!
Charlene
Charlene J. Jarest
Governor, 2020/2021
Rotary District 7950
Home Club, Rotary Club of Fall River
District Grants 2020-2021
- All approved district grant projects must be completed in the current Rotary year.
- Clubs must submit a final report no later than June 1 that includes all financial statements related to the project to Jean Sullivan, the District Grants chair.
- Grant funds will be provided to clubs that meet all the requirements for use of District Designated Funds.
- A detailed accounting of these grant awards will be provided at the 2021-2022 District Business Meeting.
- $51,102 Available District Designated Funds to support District Grants.
- 26 projects that involve 28 clubs in the district and two collaborating clubs in Nigeria and Cambodia were approved for the Rotary year 2020-2021.
Rotary Club
|
Approved Project
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Barnstable Sunrise
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Provided personal items to homeless individuals on Cape Cod
|
Braintree
|
Literacy Project to provide dictionaries and thesaurus to students
|
Chariho
|
Project to provide hands-on landscape design education to students
|
Chatham
|
Provided holiday gifts for needy children
|
Cranston
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Provided items to start a Print Screening training program for adults with learning differences
|
Cumberland-Lincoln
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Purchase of a freezer for a local food pantry
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Fall River
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Happy Feet Project to purchase socks and shoes for needy children in Fall River
|
Falmouth
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Provided items for outdoor educational spaces to address COVID-19 safety protocols at local schools
|
Foxboro
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WASH project to provide wells in Nigeria
|
Harwich-Dennis
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Purchased the flooring to be installed in a Habitat Home
|
Hyannis
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Provided food to the Cape Cod Food Pantry to address the increased needs of families with food insecurity due to COVID-19
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Middletown
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Hands on project to build picnic tables to be used by families living at a local family shelter
|
Nantasket-Hull
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Spring Forward project
|
Nantucket
|
School Backpack Project
|
Nauset-Orleans
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School Backpack Project
|
New Bedford
|
School Backpack Project
|
Osterville
|
Purchased fresh fruit to be included in food care packages
|
Plymouth Sunrise*
|
Environmental Project to Restore cranberry bogs and nature trails
|
Scituate, RI
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Refurbish the community playground
|
Smithfield
|
Project to provide items for needy families to be able to provide a birthday celebration for a child
|
Smithfield
|
Literacy Mentoring project by Interactors to read to children in the Elementary school
|
The Bridgewaters
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Literacy Project to provide dictionaries and thesaurus to students
|
Westerly
|
Educational Environmental program for students to learn about the environment and the project to “Reforest the Tropics.”
|
Wakefield, East Greenwich, Providence
|
WASH project in Pursat, Cambodia to build latrines, wash stations and provide menstrual hygiene kits to girls at a rural elementary school
|
Weymouth
|
Provided meals to homeless individuals
|
Yarmouth
|
Provided meals to people dealing with food insecurity
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Administration, Related Expenses
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Zoom account to conduct Grant Management Seminars. Data Management; printing supplies; stamps
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*Project not conducted due to the pandemic