SEPTEMBER IS BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY MONTH
District 7950 is committed to Basic Education and Literacy. Clubs all over the district support scholarship programs, read aloud initiatives, books-to-own, dictionary and thesaurus projects, backpacks to support our school children and any manner of tangible support to promote a literate population.

In this edition, I would like to highlight just one of the many literacy focused projects, this one the brainchild of the Rotary Club of Providence. As you will see below, this club has adopted child literacy as the overriding focus of its philanthropy. Well Done, Providence!

 

focuses on literacy
T. Bryan Cook, President/Rotary Club of Providence

As an urban club, RC of Providence has long done service projects and made charitable grants relating to children and education. Starting two years ago, however, a movement arose simultaneously from several sources to suggest that the club could and should do more in the critical area of childhood literacy.

 

After multiple conversations it became clear that the idea of focusing the bulk of the club’s service and philanthropy to supporting literacy in Providence’s elementary schools had overwhelming buy-in from club leaders, foundation trustees and members at large. Community response has been positive as well, with the initial fundraiser for the Childhood Literacy Initiative raising over $100,000.

 

In the initiative’s first year – 2019-20 – Providence Rotarians donated hundreds of person-hours assisting teachers in the classrooms and purchased teaching materials to help students raise their reading levels. All of that took place as the state was taking over the Providence schools and the pandemic was totally disrupting education. With continuing uncertainty, plans are currently being made for Year Two.

 

 

ROTARY’S FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT
I must admit to feeling some extra excitement when I learned that Jennifer Jones has been nominated to become the first woman president of Rotary International for 2022-23. Women have made great strides in Rotary and I think this selection is a tribute to all Rotarians.

 

 

A member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, Jones is founder and president of Media Street Productions Inc. She was chair of the board of governors of the University of Windsor and chair of the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce. 

 

A current Rotary Foundation trustee, Jones has been a Rotary member since 1997 and has served Rotary as RI vice president, director, training leader, committee chair, moderator, and district governor. 

 

She and her husband, Nick Krayacich, are members of The Rotary Foundation’s Arch Klumph Society, Paul Harris Society, and the Bequest Society.

 

 

The home page features a rotating carousel of photos showing Rotarians as People of Action. I know this is just a small sample of the service projects being performed by 7950 clubs all the time, so I’m asking everyone to open up their archives and dig out images of your club’s members in action. Send the image, with a sentence or two about what’s being shown, to Public Image chair Art Norwalk (artnorwalk@gmail.com) so he can change up the photos and keep the presentation fresh.

 

Also on the home page is a box titled Club & District Events. This can be a great resource, but only if clubs post their events on it. It’s easy to do when you’re ‘creating’ an event in Club Runner: just click the box where it says “Show on district website.”

 

If you’re chairing a district committee with information that needs to be shared, send it to Art for posting. Let him know if it should be restricted to members only and the page can be set to require a login and password.  

 

Thanks to Art for making our new website a reality.

 

 

COMMUNITY ROTARACT CLUB
The Rotary Clubs of Middleboro and Plymouth Sunrise have joined forces to create a community Rotaract club for young adults ages 19 – 32 who live or work on the Massachusetts South Shore.

 

It has been almost four weeks since they first met; now they have several members from each Rotary Club, a service project is being planned, promotional flyers with tear-off contact information are being hung on display at high visibility locations and our club Advisors are feeling a group momentum.

 

Members of the planning group that got the project going

were the presidents of both the Plymouth Sunrise and Middleboro Rotary Clubs, Club Advisors Tara Frare, with the Sunrise Club and Cherie Becker, a member of the Middleboro Club, and Joel Kopke, AG and Youth Services Director for Plymouth Sunrise.

 

 

As you’ve probably heard, the African continent has just (finally!!) been declared free of the wild polio virus!!

Now, there are just two countries remaining - Pakistan and Afghanistan. And until Polio is fully eradicated, it is only a plane flight away from coming back to anywhere.

 

WE ARE THIS CLOSE! With the Gates Foundation Match, a $1 gift becomes $3, enough to positively affect the lives of 5 children.

 

Closer to home, John Kramb, Zone 32 Polio Plus Coordinator, has a unique challenge to present to all of us. John is doing a 10k mile ride to raise funds for Polio Plus. (He has done this before!!) John is a motorcycle enthusiast, also a survivor of polio, and has worked tirelessly to support Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio worldwide.

 

Please consider donating to his fundraiser and sharing to further its reach. Give online at https://raise.rotary.org/John-Kramb/challenge  

 

I have verified that all Rotarians’ donations will be credited to their own personal Polio Plus account.

 

 

JOIN THE ALZHEIMER’S WALK
Rotary International has taken a real interest in combating Alzheimer’s & Dementia. In fact, there is some feeling that this will be one of our ‘Great Big Goals’ after we eradicate Polio. This year’s walk will be a little different. The particulars are outlined below.

Many clubs are fielding their own teams, but, if yours is not and you would like to join Rotary's national team, click here. Every registered walker receives 5 free lawn flags this year. This is an opportunity to create a huge following and start a movement..

 

 

In spite of Covid 19, IPDG Steve, IPD Administrator Jill, and current DG Charlene met to perform Steve’s masked and socially distanced Pin and Plaque Ceremony, marking his exceptional (in oh so many ways!) year of service to Rotary International and District 7950. Immediate Past District Administrator, Jill Albright, did the honors. Thank you, once again, IPDG Steve Albright for a truly outstanding year – in spite of it all!!

 

 

MEMBERSHIP REVISITED ….
Membership Development is too important to relegate to one month of the year, so here is a link to an incredibly interesting way to approach Membership Development.  Enjoy!!  (And – You’re Welcome!)

M&M’s – Make Membership Memorable, Jason Browne, 2020 Rotary International Assembly. 

 

 

PASSINGS
It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of our own Linda Silveira, Past President of the Rotary Club of New Bedford, 2015/2016. Linda was an integral part of the New Bedford club, working tirelessly to help raise thousands of dollars for needy charities. Linda battled courageously for a year. She was a kind person, who set a good example for those around her and she will be greatly missed.