Rotary District 7730

GSE Team leaves for Japan TODAY, Mon., Oct. 9, 7am

Our Group Study Exchange Team leaves today for Japan from the Wilmington International Airport.  Be there to say goodbye and wish them a safe and successful journey!

Rotary Zone Institute, Orlando

Our District had a great time at the Rotary Zone Institute in Orlando.  RI President-elect Wilfrid Wilkinson, Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair and Past RI President Luis Vicente Giay and Past RI President Frank Devlyn were keynote speakers.
We had great representation from our district and many of us assisted in making the Zone Institute a success.  In addition to Lee and me, in attendance were:  DGE Wilson and Bobbie Ray, DGN Lee and Glenda Dixon, PDG Phil Crawford, PDG Russ La Belle, PDG FD and Brenda Rivenbark, PDG Bevin and Pam Wall, PDG Bob and Jill Breton, PDG Johnny and Janet Robertson, PDG Milt and Toni Iossi, and PDG John T. and Jane Capps.

Johnny and Janet Robertson served as Aides to RI President-elect Wilfrid Wilkinson, Bevin and Pam served as chair of the Entertainment Committee featuring “Rotary – The Musical” on Saturday night as well as bringing back the Blues Brothers to open the first session.  Bevin and Pam also served as musical directors for the Interfaith Worship on Sunday morning.  Bob Breton and Phil Crawford served as Sgts.-at-Arms.  Russ La Belle served as Signage chair.  Serving on the Rotary Futures Committee, Milt Iossi was the luncheon speaker on Friday.  John T. Capps brought the attendees up to date on the RI Convention in Salt Lake City and was on the Rotary Foundation panel.  I was facilitator for the Action Discussion group for Membership.  DGE Lee Dixon and DGN Wilson Ray, and I, along with our spouses, participated in additional days of Governor (GETS) Training.  Everyone enjoyed the great Rotary education and fellowship.

Rotary Leadership Institute

Rotary Presidents, if you haven’t done so already, now is the time to register two of your emerging leaders for the Rotary Leadership Institute in Morehead City on Saturday, October 14th.   The cost is $85 per participant, a great value for a wealth of leadership and Rotary education.  See more at www.rli33.org

Upcoming Rotary Events:

• First District Conference Committee Planning session, Wednesday, 10/11, 6:30pm, Lily’s (behind the Greentree Inn), Wilmington
• Assistant Governors Meeting, 10/16, 6pm, Holiday Inn Express, Wallace
• Council of Governors meeting, 10/29, 2:30pm, Holiday Inn Express, Wallace - Anyone receiving this e-mail is welcome, but please RSVP to me by 10/23 if you wish to attend so we can prepare enough snacks and beverage.
• Rotary Foundation Dinners, Area 1&2; 11/13; Areas 3&4, 11/14; Areas 5&6, 11/15; Areas 7&8, 11/16.  Mark your calendars.  Further details to follow.

Barry T. Rassin will be new RI Director for our Zone

Because of health issues, Milt O. Jones has resigned from his position as RI Director.  Barry T. Rassin from the East Nassau Rotary Club in the Bahamas will assume the position of RI Director as of October 15, 2006.

Rotary Foundation Thought of the Week

Brought to you each week by PDG Bevin Wall, District Rotary Foundation Chair; and reproduced courtesy of  www.rotary.org

This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about literacy projects.

The Rotary Foundation has provided a great number of grants to support literacy projects around the world. A Matching Grant was awarded to provide 1,400 textbooks for a secondary school in Amawbia, Nigeria. Students who were unable to afford the high cost of textbooks are now able to borrow these books for the entire school year. As a result, the academic performance of the students has improved significantly. In Nepal, Rotary clubs received a Matching Grant to help provide scholarships for students at the Manasarovar Academy in Kathmandu, Nepal. This grant helped facilitate the education of approximately 150 students, mostly Tibetan refugees. In a country where young men and women have limited access to education, this project represented an invaluable opportunity for students wishing to further their education.

For more information on giving or program participation, contact PDG Bevin Wall District 7730 Rotary Foundation Chair at Bevin@RLI33.org.

Lead the Way!