Rotary District 7730

At Home and Recovering

John T. Capps III–PDG John is at home and recovering well from a recent stay in the hospital in Morehead City. He started this week off by going to church on Sunday, followed by a hearty meal at a local restaurant. Cards can be sent to John and his partner, Jane, at 4102 Plantation Road, Morehead City, NC 28557.

Rotary Foundation Giving This Calendar Year

We need your help–our Zone 33 has a goal that each Club make a donation to our Foundation before the end of December 2007. I would like for us to meet that goal and, as of now, 21 of our 48 clubs have contributed. Please support us on this objective by making your Club’s donation and make sure it is postmarked not later than 31 December. If you have questions concerning this, please contact our Foundation Chairman, PDG Bevin Wall Bevin@RLI33.org.

Bring in New Members

Look for ways to do it–This might work in your Club–Make a list of reasons you believe people will benefit from your Rotary club. People are not going to join unless they understand how it will benefit their lives. If there are no reasons to join your club, start there!! This exercise alone could become the membership magnet you are looking for. For other ideas or more information, contact our District Membership Chairman PDG Johnny Robertson at johnsfuel@embarqmail.com.

Boys & Girls Homes of NC

Holiday Gathering–Help is needed to put this exciting event together and make sure it goes smoothly and on time. If you can spare time to help coordinate the event, work with gift funds and selection, or if you want to donate gifts please contact Lori Harris at 910-409-0202 or E-mail lharris2006@yahoo.com.

From Our Founder, Paul Harris

The Ideal of Service–In 1913 a tornado swept through Nebraska and destructive floods appeared in Ohio and Indiana. The Rotary clubs in those states, supported by those throughout the nation, leaped into action, rescuing and feeding people and animals, and helping in the necessary rebuilding work. Rotary had met its first great test as a service organization. (From My Road to Rotary by Paul Harris)

Check Your Foundation Giving History

Go to www.rotary.org and click on Member Access on the upper right-hand corner. This will connect you to Rotary Business Online, where you will enter your user name and password. Once logged in, enter your membership number (which appears on the mailing label of The Rotarian Magazine), club number, and district number. If you don’t know your club number, check with your club secretary or contact me.

Rotary Rose Parade Float

The theme of this year’s Rotary float entry is “Sharing World Literacy Day.” Eight International Exchange Students on the float will represent different parts of the Rotary World. The Rotary Float Committee is requesting Districts and Clubs donate money to this project, since the Float is not a project of Rotary International and no Rotary International funds are used in putting the Float together. More information about the project can be found at www.rotaryfloat.org.

District Youth Exchange Committee

Members are needed to serve in Youth Exchange roles of Inbound Coordinator, Outbound Coordinator, and Youth Protection Officer. Background checks will be required for volunteers with this committee and program. Any Rotarian interested in volunteering on the District Youth Exchange Committee please contact our District Youth Exchange Officer, Lori Harris, at 910-409-0202 or lharris2006@yahoo.com.

Club Attendance Reports

These monthly reports are due by the 10th of the month for the preceding month. As of today, 16 Clubs have not submitted the reports for October: Wilmington, Shallotte, Trenton, Pollocksville, Garland, Tabor City, Fair Bluff, New River (Onslow County), Morehead City, Elizabethtown, Kinston Evening, Newport, LaGrange, Clinton, Bladenboro, and Burgaw. Please make sure that Club Secretaries get this task done. If you need help on this report, please contact AG Pat Green at patgreen414@embarqmail.com.

District Rotary Foundation Challenge

One New Paul Harris Fellow–Remember, the club with the highest six month per capita giving as shown on the Monthly Contribution Report ending 31 December 2007 will receive from our District a free Paul Harris Fellow to award as it chooses. Clubs must make sure all funds remitted to the Foundation are postmarked by 31 December 2007.

Weekly Rotary Foundation Fundraising Strategy

Add Variety and Interest–Use a Foundation Game Challenge–This works in one Club in Lecanto, Florida. Make up a Rotary Foundation Test to give to club members. The Club Foundation Chair collects $2.00 from every member and divides the club into tables. Each table gets five points for each correct answer. The winning table gets $4.00 back per person, the 2nd place table gets back $3.00 per person and the 3rd place table gets back $2.00 per person. Based on Club experience, the test really increases their knowledge of the Foundation when they hear the question, discuss it and then hear the answers. Experience also shows that most tables give their winnings back to be given to the Foundation.

Give “Every Rotarian, Every Year” the opportunity to support our Rotary Foundation. For more information on devising a strategy for your club or on district giving or program participation, contact our District Foundation Chairman, PDG Bevin Wall at Bevin@RLI33.org.