June 2023

District Calendar at-a-Glance

District Installation
Sun Jun 25, 2023 2:00 PM
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Fourth of July Parade
Tue Jul 04, 2023 08:00 AM
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Rotary District 7450 Night with the Phillies to benefit Polio Plus
Tue Jul 18, 2023 6:40 PM
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Note: To participate in these events, you must still register in advance as indicated in the stories below.

Message from the Governor

I want to thank all of the Rotarians of District 7450 for your support and for your service these last 11 months. The time has gone by quickly. District Governor is a challenging role in Rotary, but it is incredibly rewarding in the relationships that you make and the service that you get to be part of. I'm incredibly glad that I had the opportunity.

I ask that you support DGE Renee DeCoskey in her journey over the next year. She will also need the help and support of your clubs so that our District can be even better. Be sure to sign up for the July 4th parade and July 18th Phillies PolioPlus fundraiser!

Please continue to find your passion for Rotary service and inspire others to do great things in our communities and the world. I hope to see you at DGE Renee's installation!

Invitation to Installation

Fun and fellowship are on the program for Sunday June 25th as we celebrate the installation of District Governor Renee DeCoskey and her 2023-2024 leadership team.

The Sunday afternoon event will provide an opportunity to thank Governor David Houtz for his year of service as we turn the page and start a new chapter of Telling Our Rotary Story.

This chapter of our District's story is especially worth celebrating: dynamic young leaders like David and Renee stepping up to serve and Renee being the fourth woman Governor in 7450.

Hosting the event with comedic flair will be Past District Governor Kevin Katarynick from King of Prussia Rotary along with Emily Zabrodski from the Conshohocken-Plymouth-Whitemarsh club. The cost of the event is $50, which will include a buffet lunch.

Sunday, June 25th at 2pm
The Inn at Villanova
601 County Line Rd.
Wayne, PA 19087

Register NOW for District Installation

District Governor Nominee Designate Announced

District 7450 is pleased to announce that Janice Biros is the newly selected District Governor Nominee Designate. She will lead in the 2025-26 Rotary year. Jan has been an active member of the Phoenixville Rotary Club since joining in 2016.

District Governor Nominee Designate Janice has a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) from the State University of New York at Albany, and before her retirement in 2016, she served as Senior Vice Provost of Drexel University.

In the years following her retirement, she has been an active member and president of the Phoenixville Rotary Club and president of the Gundaker Foundation. She also served on the Rotaplast Committee. In 2017 she traveled to Myanmar as a non-medical volunteer on a Rotary-sponsored medical mission providing cleft-palate surgery for indigent children. Janice has also served as a board member of Alianzas de Phoenixville, an advocacy group for recent immigrants; co-chair of the Phoenixville Affordable Housing committee; and a board member of the Chester County Volunteer English Program.

DGND Janice has been married 47 years to Steve Hirsch. They have two sons, Matt and Dan. They also have two wonderful granddaughters, Millie and Rosie.

She is eager to work with fellow Rotarians throughout the District to ensure that Rotary remains strong, vibrant, and relevant to current and future members and communities.

Monthly Theme: Fellowships

What do birdwatchers, beer-lovers, and badminton players have in common? They all have Rotary fellowships to support their interests. Fellowships are international groups that share a common interest, hobby, or profession.

Joining one is a way to enhance your Rotary experience, according to DGE Renee DeCoskey, who is part of the Quilting and Fiber Artists Fellowship, as well as LEAD: Leadership Education and Development. "It's a fun way to connect with others, while fostering a hobby or learning skills you can take to the workplace."

A member of the International Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotarians, Bob Hobough of the Kutztown club, enjoys riding in different parts of the world with people he has met through the group.. "We have some online meetings and at each convention we gather for social activities."

The Rotary International website has a page dedicated to fellowships. You can read about existing groups and/or learn how to start your own. At the recent convention in Melbourne, someone was promoting the start of a fellowship for adults who love LEGOs!

Missed the Awesome District Training Event?

Rotarians from our District gathered recently in Malvern for the Training Assembly, led by DGE Renee DeCoskey, to learn more about Rotary and share knowledge and resources available to help clubs grow and prosper. PDG Russ

deFuria kicked off the general session with an exciting new way to help clubs, called Grow Rotary. DGE Renee also led a Leadership Panel with PDG Kevin Katarynick and DGN Francy Cross.

Committee leaders conducted breakout sessions for Rotarians on Public Image, Service, Membership, and the Rotary Foundation.

If you were unable to attend the event, you missed out on some great information and inspiration! (Make a note to attend next year!). But in the meantime, you can get help for your club by reaching out to District 7450 which has a team of leaders ready to assist.

The District Committees are looking for people to join them. So if you're looking for a way to share your knowledge and help others, contact one of the Committee chairs. Getting involved is great way to learn more about Rotary and network with others.

Read on to take advantage of the free resources available.

Read More

Advice for New Presidents

If you're serving as Club President (or another leadership position) starting July 1st, you might be interested in a thread of advice posted on the Rotarians of District 7450 Facebook group. Past presidents and others with leadership experience have shared some inspirational messages there.

Good luck to all the new leaders and thanks for your willingness to serve!

Every Rotarian Every Year

As the Rotary year comes to a close, “Imagine a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality” – Jennifer E. Jones, RI President, 2022-23

As Rotarians, we can help make our dreams a reality by meeting our goals for the 2022-23 Rotary year.

One of our goals is to contribute to the Rotary Foundation and the Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative. EREY encourages all Rotary club members to contribute $100 every year to help support the Rotary Foundation.

Your contributions to the Annual Fund make it possible for Rotary clubs to transform lives worldwide. Your generous support funds local and international projects that advance The Rotary Foundation’s mission.

As of May 7, 2023, only 35% of our District 7450 clubs had attained EREY for 2022-23; and 12.5% had made no donations. The remaining 52% of our clubs’ members gave an average of between $6 and $93 each.

Imagine our impact if more met EREY this year. Please give today!

Here is the link for online giving: Donate | My Rotary.

Here is the link if you wish to mail your payment: Reports | My Rotary, and select the mail contribution option.

Walk in Philly’s Independence Day Parade

Rotarians have an opportunity to participate in a one of a kind experience: marching in the 4th of July parade in the birthplace of America. The 1.4-mile parade steps off at 2nd and Market Streets at 11am, travels west on Market Street through the historic district, continues into Center City and ends at Arch and North Broad Streets.

District 7450 will provide a vehicle for those who cannot walk the entire parade route. Bring your club banners and your festive spirit. Each participant will receive a Rotary t-shirt.

Time is Running Out to Reserve Your Tickets, Rotary District 7450 Night with the Phillies!

Celebrate the return of our National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies at Rotary District 7450 Night with the Phillies, Tuesday, July 18, 2023, 6:40 PM vs Milwaukee Brewers.

Invite your friends and family to enjoy an exciting night of Phillies baseball with other Rotarians and friends of our District. Each ticket purchased includes a $10 donation to help eradicate Polio.

Here are your seating and pricing options:

Section 241-242, scoreboard porch area, $30 per ticket and includes a $10 donation for Polio

Section 138, left field foul line, $47 per ticket and includes a $10 donation for Polio. LIMITED SEATS AVAILABLE IN THIS SECTION.

Dont miss out! RESERVE your Phillies tickets HERE (click the link, order your tickets – no payment needed online at time of ordering.)

A Pregame Tailgate event is currently in the planning stages. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFO!

Chestnut Hill Club Receives Award from International Disaster Response Organization

Chestnut Hill Rotary received the Shelterbox "HERO" Bronze Award, which recognizes Rotary clubs that have shown commitment in making an impact on worldwide disaster response, by providing financial support of more than $1,000.

HERO Clubs enable ShelterBox to have the resources and time to be ready when disaster strikes by allowing the organization to purchase and pre-position aid in or near countries where they often needed, resulting in a more efficient and timely response.

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PDG G. Holger Hansen

With great sadness, we learned recently that one of the “giants” in Rotary, G. Holger Hansen, passed away. He was a tremendously active volunteer whose work in Rotary spanned more than four decades.

Known affectionately as “Hogie”, he joined the Rotary Club of Swarthmore in 1977, transferred to the Rotary Club of Ardmore in 1980 when he accepted a position at Haverford College. He returned to the Rotary Club of Swarthmore, where his wife Anne is a member, in 2021.

“I'm grateful for the time he shared with us,” said DG David Houtz. “Hogie made a commitment to Rotary that few can or do.” Hogie was always kind and welcoming and his passion for Rotary was apparent in all he did, said DGE Renee DeCoskey.

Read More

Member Profile: Richard Li

By Paul Quintavalla

Dr. Li’s family had been farmers in the mountainous Sichuan Province, China since the Ming Dynasty. Richard took advantage of opportunities offered when China opened doors to the outside world. He graduated Cum Laude from West China University of Medical Sciences, with a degree in internal medicine. He stayed at the university for a few years, practicing medicine while lecturing and furthering his studies. Read More

Welcome New Members

We'd like to extend a warm welcome to all our new members who joined us in our District this past month.

Aimee Bowers Kennett Square	Glenda Brion West Chester	Daniel Embree Longwood
Deena Lee Fiore Middletown Township	Sheri Gardner West Chester	Maureen Matterro Media
Alyson Miller Conshohoken-Plymouth-Whitemarsh	Tamarah Moss Bryn Mawr	Matthew Parkhurst Conshohoken-Plymouth-Whitehmarsh
Tyler Peskin Philadelphia	Penelope Reed Swarthmore	Anthony Stover Philadelphia
Suzette Webb West Chester

This Month's Club Community Calendar

Have fun while supporting Rotary District 7450 clubs' efforts to help our community! If you want your club's event listed here, please e-mail details to DistrictDispatch7450@gmail.com.

Event Name	Date/Time	Event Description	Link for Information
64th Annual Fishing Derby	June 3, 9 a.m. to noon.	NE Philadelphia, Cheltenham, Rockledge Rotary is sponsoring the Fishing Derby at Kleinheinz Pond on Tookany Creek Parkway. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Prizes awarded! Children must be accompanied by an adult.	Contact Roy Hollinger 215-565-5786.