Rotary District 7730

District Rotary Foundation Challenge

Remember, our District will award one Paul Harris Fellowship to the Club with the highest per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation as of 31 December 2007. Just make sure that the contributions remitted to the Foundation are postmarked by 31 December 2007. For more about this challenge or other Foundation matters, contact our District Rotary Foundation Chairman, PDG Bevin Wall at Bevin@RLI33.org.

Don’t Let Membership Growth Stall

For the most part, people don’t like change. Rotarians at club meetings tend to eat at the same table each week, or at least the same area of the room. Many people are assigned to the same committees year after year; and, in some clubs, people would like for their dues to remain at the same level they were twenty years ago. Unfortunately, this preference for the “status quo” has resulted in serious problems for Rotary as an organization. Our members are becoming older, our clubs are often becoming smaller, and, as a result, our outreach becomes more limited. Without positive membership growth, nothing else in Rotary will matter. If you need help with your Club’s membership program, call our District Membership Chairman, PDG Johnny Robertson at 910-843-5211 or at johnsfuel@embarqmail.com.

Lights! Camera! Action! See the Stars

The 99th Annual RI Convention is in Los Angeles, California, 15-18 June 2008.

The early bird registration deadline is 15 December 2007 ($265.00). After 15 December, the registration fee will be $305.00 until 31 March 2008 and onsite registration will be $345.00 Register now!! And $ave, go to www.rotary.org for more registration information.

Many of the clubs in our District send their President-Elects to the RI Convention. Every Rotarian should experience at least one Rotary Convention. Come and See the Stars! For more information contact DGE Lee Dixon — Office — 252-247-2127; Home — 252-240-0118; Cell — 252-241-1868; E-mail — ldixon@EDApa.com.

District Simplified Grants

Final Reports Needed — Our 2007-08 DSG money ($19,500) cannot be released to Clubs until we have received the final reports for the 2006 - 07 grants that were previously awarded to the Clubs — final reports from the following Clubs are needed:

Morehead City — Noon Park & Trees
Burgaw Fire Truck to Mexico
South Brunswick Islands Interact Book Project
Wilmington Boy Scout Sports Club
Sneads Ferry Flagpole & Flag

Paul Harris Reflects on Rotary

“Christmas is a practice day. Men put into practice the best precepts that they have learned, the best that they know, the best that it is possible for them ever to know. Giving takes the place of gaining. If the future growth of Rotary is as remarkable as its past and if Rotary remains true to the highest ideals, every day will be Christmas by and by.” (From an interview in The Rotarian, December 1915)

A Hundred Million Thanks

For the first time in the Rotary Foundation’s history, contributions to the Annual Programs Fund exceed $100 million in 2006 - 07, reaching $103.3 million. The real success, however, will be spelled out in the programs and projects that can now be funded as a result of this increased support.

RYLA Deadline, Coming Fast

Applications are due to our RYLA Chairman, Keith King, not later than 21 December. Send the applications to Keith at 2172 Hardy Bridge, Road, LaGrange, NC 28551. He can be contacted via E-mail at kking@monrovia.com.

The Weekly Rotary Foundation Thought

This week’s Rotary Foundation Thought is about Group Study Exchange.

Group Study Exchange (GSE) was founded as an educational program of the Foundation in 1965. In fact, 2007-08 will mark the 42nd anniversary of GSE!! As a result of this popular program, thousands of young professionals from more than 100 countries around the world have received vocational training, experienced another culture, and benefited from Rotarian hospitality around the world. This is the Rotary approach to creating an internationally minded workforce and building cross-cultural friendships. Our district recently sent a team to Japan and is preparing to send and receive a team to/from India.

For so many, life would be different if it weren’t for Rotary. Create world understanding and peace with your contribution to The Rotary Foundation.

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

“Rotary Shares”