Rotary District 7730

A Very Successful PETS

Saturday at noon concluded another very successful President’s-Elect Training Seminar in Greensboro where our Club Presidents for the coming Rotary Year started the transition that will ensure their Clubs have another top-rate year. Congratulations Governor-Elect Lee Dixon for putting together a great District Training Block that put us all on the same page. And thanks to the Assistant District Governors, Governor-Nominee Nancy Barbee, PDG Bevin Wall, and PDG Phil Crawford for helping him to get it done.

Congratulations — RAD Winners

Our multi-district RAD (Rotary Against Drugs) final competition was held Sunday afternoon in Chapel Hill. Our three outstanding contestants in the competition finished as follows:

>> 2nd — Kayla Underwood, Gramercy Christian School, sponsored by the Morehead City Noon Rotary Club.

>> 4th — Markisha Richmond, E. E. Smith High School, sponsored by the Fayetteville Rotary Club.

>> 6th — Ty Eason, sponsored by the LaGrange Rotary Club.

Continue to Promote District Conference

We’re hoping for a great turnout at our Conference in Williamsburg on 18 - 19 April. It’s easy to register online at www.rotary7730.org on the District Calendar page. But, we also can send you a mail-in registration form if needed. Just contact me at bronco549@aol.com, or one of our District Conference co-chairs, Janet Robertson, 910-843-2802 or E-mail janet.robertson@lumberrivercog.org or PDG Johnny Robertson at 910-843-5211 or E-mail johnsfuel@embarqmail.com.

Site of the District Conference
“Crowne Plaza Williamsburg Hotel”
For reservations call 1-800-227-6963–ask for the Rotary rate of $119.00

GSE India Inbound Team

The team will arrive in our District on Thursday afternoon, 20 March at 4:50 PM at Wilmington Airport. They then will begin their fantastic visit throughout our District, visiting our Clubs, getting to know us and enjoying memorable sights. Their visit will culminate at our District Conference in Williamsburg on 19 April. Please take the time to join us at the Airport on Thursday and give them a warm, Rotary welcome to our District.

A Reminder About Membership

At the beginning of this Rotary year, our RI President Wilf Wilkinson challenged us all to “Share Rotary” through membership. It is time to evaluate where we are in this task. Have we all invited a potential new member to a meeting? If we’ve succeeded in bringing in a qualified new member, are we helping that member to grow and succeed in Rotary? Rotary can only continue to serve if it continues to grow. For more information about improving your Club’s membership, contact me or our District Membership Chair PDG Johnny Robertson at 910-843-5211 or E-mail johnsfuel@embarqmail.com.

Congratulations–Approved District Simplified Grants

Many, many thanks to Club Presidents and Club Project Managers for working to make our communities better places to live. Following DSG’s were recently approved:

>>Jacksonville South Club — Project to replace Pecan Trees at Boys & Girls Homes.
>>Jacksonville Club — Adopt-a-School Laptop computer project.
>>Wilmington West Club — Russian Delegation Project.
>>Fayetteville LaFayette Club — Saturday school breakfast project.
>>Wilmington South Club — Dental Fair Project.
>>Newport Club — Public bench project.

For more information about how to apply for a grant or for any other information about our Rotary Foundation, contact our District RI Foundation Chair, PDG Bevin Wall at Bevin@RLI33.org.

The Power of One Combined With Many (Frank Talk 1)

“One of the most amazing things about the success of Rotary is that it is achieved entirely by volunteers. It all starts because one Rotarian wants something to happen, not because some boss tells him or her to do it, or to fulfill a mission statement that is posted on a wall somewhere. Every successful project that Rotary has ever accomplished has begun at the grass roots level in the minds and hearts of individual Rotarians.”

Our District’s Newest Rotaract Club

Congratulations to the Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington on becoming our District’s second Rotaract Club and many thanks to President Connie and the members of the Wilmington Rotary Club for sponsoring them. A fitting ceremony was held by the Club at their meeting on 11 March where most of the Rotaract members were on hand to be recognized. We understand it is currently an “all female” club but the members assured us that it wouldn’t remain so too long!!! And thanks, too, to Rotarian Alan Pacek of the Wilmington Club for serving as counselor and advisor to the new Rotaractors. Alan is co-chair with Rotarian Joe Pascal of our District Rotaract Committee.

Recycle The Rotarian Magazine

You’ve read the most recent issue of The Rotarian and now it’s under a pile of magazines on your coffee table. Gasp!!! Worse yet, when you tidy up, some of you may even consider tossing the magazine into the trash. Stop. Think about recycling–No, not in the bin. Recycle your old magazines by passing them out to friends, or keep them on hand to give to club visitors, speakers, and prospective members. Attach a letter from your club’s president that lists projects and activities along with contact information. Also, ask club members to place back issues of The Rotarian in their office waiting rooms or lobbies–or leave a copy at your local library.

The Weekly Rotary Foundation Thought

This week’s Foundation Thought is about what $100.00 can help provide:

>> Textbooks for one elementary school in Zambia.
>> Hearing aides for children in Pakistan.
>> De-worming tablets for over 100 children in the Philippines.
>> Three cataract surgeries in India.
>> A gift of $100.00 or more changes and saves lives every minute of every day.

As we strive to achieve a $100.00 per capita goal, it is vitally important that Every Rotarian make a gift to the Annual Programs Fund, Every Year. And, Thank you District 7730 Rotarians for achieving District-wide the $100.00 per capita goal for the first time during 2006-07. When every Rotarian participates, our Foundation will be able to sustain and grow the great work we do around the world and be prepared for future challenges in the years to come.

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

“Rotary Shares”