Rotary District 6860

March 2016

Fellow Rotarians,

With just four months to go, it seems that Rotary Year 2015-2016 is racing to its end.  As Roger and I have traveled throughout our District visiting the 52 clubs, it has been amazing to see, hear and learn about the wonderful things happening in each of them, regardless of size.  Each club is unique and each is a blessing to its community. 

Because leadership development and youth programs are extremely important in our district, it was so exciting to visit RYLA, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, at the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville.  This year’s participation broke all records with 126 high schoolers in attendance sponsored by 31 Rotary Clubs.  These young people came together learning about Rotary, practicing leadership skills and enjoying a mini space camp.  Through the district youth programs of Interact, Rotaract and RYLA, we are indeed greeting, grooming and growing future Rotarians.

Membership is the lifeblood of Rotary AND I thank each Rotarian and club for their efforts in inducting about 200 new members in our district this year, but we have also seen many members leave Rotary in our district.  Right now our district shows a loss of 19 members based on the beginning membership number of July 1, 2015.  Please continue to invite members who demonstrate the qualities of Rotary and induct them into your clubs.  Please explore establishing a Satellite Club in your community for those individuals who would like to be Rotarians but cannot attend your weekly scheduled meeting time.  Do you know of a community where a new Rotary Club could be chartered? Let’s overcome this deficit in membership numbers and finish the year in the positive!

Giving to the Rotary Foundation is a priority.  Rotarian contributions to the Rotary International Foundation provides the means whereby Rotary is able to fund humanitarian efforts throughout the world such as eradicating polio, providing clean water and sanitation, medical care, educational opportunities, and so much more!  Please continue to support the RI Foundation through your contributions to the Annual Program Fund-Share.

TWO very special occasions are still on the calendar this year!  Please Save the date and attend them!

May 5-7, 2016-Rotary District Conference.  It will be held in Huntsville at the Embassy Suites.  A giant step toward strengthing Rotary in Distric t6860 is to attend the district conferenc and share your club’s success stories and learn what others are doing.  This is a perfict time to make new Rotary friends and renew past friendships.  Please see the flyer on the next page of the newsletter with conference highlights and come out and help us celebrate “Be a Gift to the World”.

June 19^th, 3:00 pm, Rotary Family Day at the Park.  Rotarians, friends and family are invited to come out and enjoy a baseball game between the Birmingham Barons and the Mississippi Braves  at Regions Field, Birmingham.  Tickets are $30 and profits will go to the End Polio Now campaign. Please see the flyer about the Rotary Family Day at the Park in the newsletter.