Happy Birthday Rotary!

Feb 23, 1905, Paul Harris, small town boy turnedChicago lawyer by way ofPrincetonUniversity invited three colleagues to meet regularly with the intent to build goodwill and better friendships. They grew quickly and in 1907 united to complete their first service project. In 1912, they expanded Rotary to become an international movement and, by 1921 expanded Rotary to 6 continents, building friendships that transcend political, racial and cultural boundaries so much so that by 1945 Rotary International was instrumental in the founding of the United Nations at the end of WW2.

In 1917, Rotarians created The Rotary Foundation, which today builds goodwill and better friendships by inspiring club members to identify a cause worth improving, raise money, leverage it with a foundation grant and unite to make long-term improvements in the lives of others. Becoming a regular investor is easy via my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct.

In 1979, with the advent of a vaccine, Rotary became the driving force to eradicate Polio, a viral disease that swept through towns around the world, creating widespread fear and killing or paralyzing over half a million people every year. We are now incredibly close to eradicating polio from the face of the earth … forever.

Happy Birthday Rotary because you and I alongside 1.4 million members in nearly every region of the world celebrate 118 years of building goodwill and better friendships.

Happy Birthday Rotary … and many, many more.

I hope to see you soon!

Troy Willingham, Rotary District 6950 Governor 2022-23
….one of the fastest growing districts in North America
….because Rotary is too good not to share

This year we combine district conference, district and foundation awards plus the “passing the gavel” to DGE Chris Casella into one fast moving and fun weekend.

On May 19^th and 20^th we will all gather at Saddlebrook to share best ideas, best projects, individual and club achievements with the intent to inspire and equip us to create our best 2023 and beyond.

We’ll also honorFlorida ’s only past international president Herb Brown as he celebrates his centennial.

Special thanks to PDG Jeanie Germain for her hard work to make this an event to remember.

Registration opens soon. I hope to see each and every one of you there.

Troy Willingham, Rotary District 6950 Governor 2022-23
….one of the fastest growing districts in North America
….because Rotary is too good not to share

District Trainer Eric Douglas is already hard at work with other district leaders to deliver an incredibly beneficial day of leadership development and training. This fast paced day delivers leadership insights specific to all club leadership. New Member Bootcamp will again fast-start new members towards their best Rotary experience.

Registration opens very soon, in March - check the DACdb April 29 calendar date to register!

Paul Harris, Rotary’s first President-Elect-NOMINEE

Did you know that Rotary Founder Paul Harris intentionally served as Rotary’s THIRD club president. Seems he knew something that we can all learn from. Repeatedly club presidents-elect and nominees have shared that the number one best tool to their best year is working with their leadership “chain” of presidents, ideally THREE, in line behind the current. Mistakenly thought of as naming a “spare”, the REAL benefit lies in the momentum that a chain can create vs. one leader siloed in space and time. Rightsizing your club’s leadership teams and creating leadership chains for engagement, service and foundation is literally the key to maximizing your club’s Rotary experience.

PLEASE REGISTER on the DACdb calendar, so we know you're coming!
No Charge!!
1 Up Burger food truck on site https://m.facebook.com/106814098534193/
The game will be broadcast on the PHSC Facebook page including interviews between the innings with Rotarians from throughout the district.

DUE BY March 15
RI and District Invoices have been sent to all clubs via email.
RI Invoices have been emailed and the amount cannot be changed
District Invoices are calculated by you using the template and include member Dues Assessments and PETS Registration Fee for your PE
District Invoice: Make check payable to Rotary District 6950
Mail to: Julie Cotton, CPA, D6950 Treasurer, P.O. Box 44, Dade City, FL 33526
Include:
The payment form your club was emailed
Completed by
Title
Club Name
Club Phone Number
Date
And your club check!

Rotary International dues remittance invoice send TO Rotary International, not Julie Cotton. Or, pay online.

I want to recognize and thank our Club’s and Rotarian’s for their strong support for our Rotary Foundation as we “Imagine Rotary” and recognize that our donations are “Doing Good In The World”. These contributions are supporting the many projects and programs our Clubs are doing both locally and globally. 44 of our 48 Clubs (92%) have made a contribution to our Rotary Foundation so far this year, with $192K going to Annual Giving; $106K in Endowment Giving; and $59K towards Grants and Polio Plus - for a total of $357K.

Remember that 91 cents of every dollar you donate goes directly to projects and programs, allowing our Foundation to receive a 4-Star rating (less than 2% achieve this) from Charity Navigator for the past 14 consecutive years!! We ask that you consider signing up for Rotary Direct, where automatic deductions can be made monthly, quarterly, or annually from your checking, savings or credit card account, making donating both easy and painless!!

I want to encourage all of our Clubs to continue their financial support of our Rotary Foundation and share that 38 of our 48 Clubs (79%) have actually entered their Foundation goals in Rotary Club Central for this year. PLEASE be sure your Club enters your goals ASAP so we can properly track our progress and ensure that your Club is eligible for District matching grant funding.

Please be aware that our Rotary Foundation in January established three Disaster Relief Funds to aid those affected by the war in Ukraine, the flood victims in Pakistan and the earthquake victims in Turkey & Syria. Donations can be made directly to these temporary Disaster Relief Funds through: my.rotary.org/donate.

Our District Foundation Committee members are anxious for the opportunity to come and speak to your Club and to share with your members the great IMPACT our Foundation is having around the world.

Thank you for your continued support of our Rotary Foundation as we all continue “Doing Good In The World”.

I think that too often we get our view of the foundation backwards.

Over time I have come to see giving to the foundation as an “INVESTMENT” opportunity. The money we INVEST monthly inspires clubs to identify a cause worth improving, raise money, leverage it with a foundation grant and unite to make a long-term “return-on-investment” in the lives of others.

So much easier than when my dad was club president, we can log on to https://my.rotary.org/en/document/512 and invest $9/month to be a foundation sustainer or better yet $19/week to be an investor in the Paul Harris Society.

Troy Willingham, Rotary District 6950 Governor 2022-23
….one of the fastest growing districts in North America
….because Rotary is too good not to share

SEVEN REASONS you’ll want to attend the 2023 Rotary International Convention in Melbourne!

1. You’ll (re)connect with the Rotary family. The last Rotary International Convention, in Houston, was proof there’s nothing like connecting face to face. But for many Rotary members in the Asia-Pacific region, where COVID-19 restrictions complicated travel plans, Melbourne will be their first in-person convention in four years. With five districts (representing more than 250 Rotary and Rotaract clubs) across the state of Victoria hosting the event, it’s sure to be a big reunion.

2. You’ll explore the world — all in one place. The convention is the best way to appreciate Rotary’s global scale and reach, says Rebecca Fry, founding chair of RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) Oceania and charter president of the Rotary Club of Social Impact Network, New South Wales. “The House of Friendship is a true festival of Rotary, showcasing our organization’s fellowships, action groups, and community projects from around the world.”

3. You’ll discover cities within a city. The coastal metropolis is known as the Australian capital of culture, food, sports, architecture, and theater. It’s also a shopping mecca.
Mary Barry, chair of the Host Organization Committee, proudly notes Melbourne’s regular recognition as one of the world’s most livable cities. It is a family friendly place where visitors will feel instantly welcomed and at ease. “The city looks after its tourists with excellent public transport to unique attractions,” says Roslyn Teirney, an assistant Rotary public image coordinator for Zone 8 and a member of the Rotary Club of North Hobart, Tasmania.

4. You’ll be inspired. Rotary conventions are all about an exchange of ideas. And each year’s gathering brings you big name speakers to inspire, connect, and spur solutions to the world’s toughest challenges. Just look at the list of some past speakers: Bill Gates, Justin Trudeau, Mikhail Gorbachev, and Princess Anne of the United Kingdom. “While still early to announce 2023 program highlights, be assured only outstanding international speakers will take part,” says HOC Chair Barry.

5. You’ll get your kangaroo fix. Experience quintessential Australia with a visit to the Melbourne Zoo for a close-up and safe encounter with some of the world’s most unusual, cute, and dangerous species — kangaroos, koalas, snakes, spiders, crocodiles, wombats, and platypuses. Just 13 miles northeast of Melbourne’s central business district, the Gresswell Forest nature reserve provides spectacular sightings of eastern gray kangaroos, says Jennifer Scott, a past district governor and member of the Rotary Club of Central Blue Mountains.
Need more cuteness? Head to Phillip Island, 75 miles southeast of Melbourne, and check out the largest colony of little penguins in the world.

6. You’ll feel energized. Looking for a place to hang out with all your new Rotary friends once the day is over? Melbourne has endless options. Laura Telford, chair of the Rotaract Australia multidistrict information organization and member of the Rotaract Club of Canberra, describes Melbourne as another of the famous cities that “never sleep.”
“Visitors will enjoy jumping on one of more than 475 trams that cover 250 kilometers [155 miles] of track to take you to every corner of this exciting city.”

7. You’ll want to see more of Australia. While the distance can be a challenge in traveling to Melbourne, visitors may fly in to Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, or Perth to make the most of a unique travel opportunity by seeing other parts of Australia. “The Great Barrier Reef, Uluru and the Red Centre, our tropical north, and the rugged coast of Western Australia all present memorable sightseeing experiences,” Scott says.