The
Highlighter
September 2009
Vol 83 No 3
Table of Contents
Governor's Message
Tom Novotny
Dear
Friends,
September is New Generations month in Rotary. I ask you at your next Rotary meeting to take a look around the room and count the number of 30 something members. I am willing to bet that the number is fairly low.
In our current times of dwindling membership, a major focus for our District is membership recruitment. The generation of 30 something professionals in our communities are doctors, lawyers and business people who are looking for a way to be involved, to serve, and to give back. Millenials (born 1977 to 1998) are increasingly aware of and engaged in volunteer work, community service, and philanthropic activities. And the Generation Xers (born 1965-1976) prefer to focus on volunteering in their communities and dealing with local issues producing tangible results.
Who are the Millenials and Generation Xers that you know? Some of these young professionals are our own children. Many of them, I am sure, are ready to take that next step up. So, during the month of September take a look around you. Step up and be aware of the young professionals that you come in contact with on a daily basis (they may be right in your own backyard) and invite them to a club meeting. Get them involved in your next club project. They have the drive and energy to ensure the future of our clubs and the future of Rotary.
And once you get them there, how do you retain them?
The Generation Xers:
- Give them meaningful assignments
- Listen for their preferences and concerns, respect their skills and opinions.
- Remember that they are very good at multitasking.
- Build in socializing, fun, celebrations (food!).
- Run tight, brief, efficient meetings (including orientation).
- Have copies of all materials available (self education).
- Make it easy for people to participate.
- Recognize individual contributions*.
The Millenials:
- Promote the cause/mission or issue to attract this civic minded generation.
- Focus on issues that represent the interests of the community rather than individuals.
- Promote collaboration, team spirit and diversity.
- Talk about multiple options, parallel opportunities instead of asking them to commit to one thing.
- Offer a variety of exciting and challenging experiences*.
Please don't get caught up in the title 'New Generation Club.' This is a concept that is inclusive of others regardless of their age. It is a concept to have a Rotary Club that doesn't look or meet like a traditional Rotary Club. One group of professionals that aren't able to meet during our regular meetings is very near and dear to my heart. I think teachers would be ideal candidates for any New Generation Club! If we think "Outside the Rotary Wheel," I'm sure we can think of many professions that have been overlooked so far.
We all want Rotary and our clubs to be thriving 20, 30 or more years from now. The success of our clubs in the future depends on recruiting new members with drive and energy who will sustain the organization that means so much to us.
Take the challenge – invite young professionals to join your clubs!
* Source Merrill Associates 2003
THE FUTURE OF ROTARY IS IN YOUR HANDS!
District Executive Leadership Teams
by PDG Gene Herandez
Please note the change of the District Executive Leadership Teams session to March 20, 2010, not March 6, 2010.
Sep 15: Sunrize Rotary Golf Tournament
Sep 17:
Sep 21:
Sep 26:
PRLS,
Oct 3 & 4: Foothill Communities New Generation
(provisional) - E-
Oct 10:
Join Sunrise Rotary for the Annual WurstFest
On Saturday September 26th, Bicentennial Park at Nevada Way and Colorado Streets in Boulder City is the place to be. The Boulder City Sunrise Rotary WurstFest evokes Boulder City’s community spirit with a full day of family fun. All 50 plus Sunrise Rotarians, families and friends will host the annual event and are expecting record crowds from all over the valley, to enjoy classic cars, silent and live auctions, lots of entertainment and great, great food...
Conflict of Interest Policy
Recently your Board of Governors approved a Conflict of Interest Policy for our District. It is an effort to encourage business between the District and Rotarians while being transparent as possible. If this policy appears to apply to your business dealings with District 5300, please be pro active and fill-out the form and send in to our District Administrator, Cathy Raacke.
If you have any questions, please give DG Tom a call.
Fall Contest
September-December 2009
Simple Rules
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Each month there will be a question that can be answered by reading the current Highlighter or by referring to a link in a Highlighter article.
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Readers should submit their answers for the current month’s contest by email to the editor by the 15th day of the month in which the Highlighter is published.
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Only one entry per reader.
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The club which submits the highest percentage of correct answers to all quizzes based upon their membership will be declared the winner. The more club members who answer the questions correctly increases your club's chances of winning.
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The club which wins the contest will be announced in the January 2010 Highlighter and will receive a $100 discount coupon for the 2010 District Conference.
This Month's Question:
In what year was Rotaract founded?
Include your name, club name and RI club ID #, with your answer to:
Rotary
in Action
by Amanda Hurst, Rotaract Club of Las Vegas
What does the phrase “New Generations” mean to you? For Rotaractors, this very phrase embodies who they are and what Rotaract represents; the new, fresh face of Rotary. As some of the Rotarians in District 5300 may already know, our very own district has three Rotaract clubs. The clubs include Citrus College Rotaract (Azusa), Rotaract Club of the Claremont Colleges, and the Rotaract Club of Las Vegas. All three are relatively new in that they have been chartered within the last thirty-six months. Although the clubs are young, they are all a powerhouse in volunteer work and professional development.
Even though the Rotaract clubs of District 5300 are still very young, Rotaract has been around since 1968. The original name was ‘Rotary in Action’ and was created to serve as a stepping stone for encouraging the youth to get involved with the mission of Rotary. The name was later combined to form ‘Rotaract,’ which is what the organization is called today. The first sponsored Rotaract club was in North Charlotte, North Carolina. Rotary International puts the number of Rotaract clubs around the world at over 7,300.
One of the common misconceptions of Rotaract is that the organization is for “college kids.” However, this is not the case. Rotaract is a service organization for young professional between the ages of 18 and 30. Rotaract Clubs can be chartered at a university or community based. The difference is that a university chartered Rotaract most often meets on campus and is able to be easily recognized as an on-campus organization. Whereas the community-chartered clubs often times meet at a centrally located location and have membership from the local community in addition to university students. Both the Citrus College Rotaract and the Rotaract Club of the Claremont Colleges are university based where the Rotaract Club of Las Vegas is a community chartered club.
There is plenty of room for more Rotaract clubs within our district. If we follow the theme “The Future of Rotary is in your Hands” closely, then we will find that the future of Rotary lies within the New Generation and Rotaract clubs.
Montebello
Rotary Sponsors Children’s Vision Screening
Members of the Montebello Rotary Club held an eye screening for over 300 Wilcox Elementary School first, second, and fourth graders. The club has "adopted" the school and in addition to the eye clinic, donates books to the school's library and provides on-going support.
“We are so appreciative of the Montebello Rotarians taking time from their busy schedules to come to our campus and screen our students,” said one teacher. “Children cannot do their best school work if they have problems seeing.”
Montebello Rotary Club members, in partnership with local optometrists, have conducted eye screenings at local schools for the past 30 years.
"This is a great program that not only combines the fellowship of working along side club members but helps identify those children with eye problems that may have continued to go undetected," said club president Martin Castro.
While one quarter of the students tested passed the exam, another quarter failed and half were borderline. School officials will now notify parents emphasizing the need for follow-up eye care.
El
Monte/South
In honor of the 100th anniversary of Rotary International, the El
Monte/South El Monte Rotary Club donated a bear statue to be placed in
Club members sold memorial bricks to raise money to purchase the
bear, part of the California Heritage Bear Project. The project is
an “original art in public places program” initiated by the City of
“The students’ artwork and design incorporate the motto of the City
of
Costs for the park will be paid through a Los Angeles County
Competitive Trails grant recently awarded to the City of
In addition to the bear, the joint Rotary club also donated an additional $1,500 to offset the cost of the ribbon-cutting ceremony which took place July 25th.
By Robyn “Queen Dean” Nelson,
On Sunday evening, August 2nd, a brave group of Green Valley Rotarians ventured into the mysterious world of TV land to assist Vegas PBS Channel 10, in one of their quarterly on-air pledge drives. A hearty group of nine volunteers handled the early shift and six more Rotarians covered the late shift. The fundraising effort resulted in raising more than $120,000 during the several day campaign.
Remaining awake LONG past his regular bedtime, Jim Frey
answered those ringing phones until 11pm! In addition to helping
out on a fun community service project, our group experienced the
behind-the-scenes element of producing a television show. Another
plus for our club was that at each break, while our volunteers were
filmed taking phone pledges, the PBS hosts mentioned that the volunteers
were from the Green Valley Rotary. This positive publicity and the
chance to provide service for such an important piece of the
The monies raised will help finance programming for the local non-profit public broadcasting television station. Vegas PBS provides educational programming for the Clark County School District, as well as a variety of news, political, scientific and educational programming for the entire community.
Son of Owego Rotarian Passes through District
5300 on PolioPlus Ride
By Tom Novotny
On
August 16, I received a call from Laura Costello, the sitting President
of the Owego, NY, Rotary Club. She wanted to inform me that her 26 year old
son, David Salai, was riding his bike back to school from
David left NY on July 21 and showed up in
He spent the night at my house and attended the North Las Vegas Rotary Club with me Friday morning. The Las Vegas North Rotary Club, under the leadership of Aubrey Branch, donated $200 to David's cause! I must compliment this Club because they had virtually no notice of David being at their meeting and by generously passing the 'Polio Pig' they raised the funds.
David found me by reading messages I left for him on his blog. You can find David' blog at: www.thepolioride09.blogspot.com.
What a great young man he is and David is on his last leg home.
There was not much time to prepare for his visit as I wasn't sure he would get my message.
Because David’s route was restricted, it wouldn’t take him near other District Clubs.
David will make a great Rotarian when invited to join and I can guarantee you he has a great story to tell. I intend to stay in touch with him. Call me if you have difficulty contacting David online.
By Laura Greenberg
Achieving a long-time goal of Past District Governor Tim Siu,
The newest Paul Harris Fellows were awarded their pins
and medallions by Governor Tom Novotny on the occasion of his official
club visit on August 4, 2009. Assisted by Past District Governors Siu and this year’s District Rotary Foundation Chair, PDG Christine
Montan, 14 Paul Harris Fellows were awarded. Many of the fellowships
went to newer club members.
"Each of the awardees are honored by the designation and have committed support to The Rotary Foundation,” said Tim Siu. "We are proud to have been able to reach this milestone in our club's long and rich history."
District Rotary Foundation Update
by Christine Montan, Past District Governor 2006-07
District Rotary Foundation Chair 2009-10
Thanks to all the Rotarians who attended the Rotary Foundation
Seminars held in California East and
Matching Grants – Due to the world-wide economic downturn, Rotary Foundation monies allocated to Matching Grants have been severely curtailed – cut by 70%. Those that submitted in the second half of Rotary year 2008-09 will be the first considered, and those that are in NOW are being considered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as monies remain.
If your club was considering a Matching Grant application, but has not yet submitted this to the District, contact MG Chair Clive-Houston Brown to discuss. There are options.
District Simplified Grants - Applications are being considered now for any NEW local or low-cost international service project, where the District will match club funds up to 50%, and up to $1500. Is your club considering a new project? Apply! Applications and project criteria are found on the District website, under Foundation.
PolioPlus Challenge – Clubs are busy with the second year of fund-raising to meet our goal of $50 average donation for each Rotarian. Governor Tom and Co-Chairs Larry Bettis and Shirley Pozzuoli ask clubs to plan and implement campaigns that reach outside the club members’ pockets and into the community to raise both awareness and funds.
Annual Fund Giving – Reports just out show a decline last Rotary year in giving to the Rotary Foundation Annual Program Fund. Understandable, given the economy, declining membership numbers, and the advent of the PolioPlus campaign to which Rotarians diverted funds. But it is more important than ever. 50% of the funds raised this year for APF come back to the District in 3 years for us to allocate. These funds help support the Matching Grants and District Grants projects that clubs conduct. Please give!
District Simplified Grants for 2009-2010
by Christine Montan, Past District Governor 2006-07
“Applications for
District Simplified Grants (DSG’s) are now available on the
District’s website,” says Yvonne Flint (
Rotarians attending either of the Rotary Foundation Seminars held on August 1 and 8 had the opportunity to hear first-hand about the benefits of using District funds to match club funds to establish new service projects. The application is simple, and the Commitment Letter establishes that the project ‘manager’ and Club President are using the funds for what they say they are, and that a final report will be submitted after project completion.
Funds can be used for local, or low-cost international service projects. The main criteria is that the project must be a new project and not one for which District funds will be used to support an existing project a club can no longer afford.
District 5300’s Rotary Foundation team has added a new criterion that will be applied to all District Simplified Grant (DSG) applications submitted. If an individual club made no contributions to the Rotary Foundation’s Annual Program Fund last year (the 2008-2009 Rotary year), applications for a DSG will not be considered.
The funds the District uses for DSG’s are District Designated Funds (DDF). Funds are 50% of the contributions made to the Annual Program Fund (APF) three years ago. These funds are returned to the District as DDF to be used for Matching Grants and District Simplified Grants.
It is important that Rotary clubs and their members contribute to the Annual Program Fund as an integral part of belonging to Rotary International. After three years, 50% of the money contributed is returned to the District to spend on qualified projects. A club that chooses to make the Rotary Foundation Annual Program Fund a priority in its focus should also have priority in receiving the benefits of those funds down the road.
Not sure if your club contributed last year? Contact Yvonne Flint at yvonne@yfcpa.com
Getting to Know the Rotary Foundation's
by Christine Montan, Past District Governor 2006-07
Many times Rotarians have questions about the Rotary Foundation that their district leaders are unable to answer. Hard to believe, I know!
Did you know that the Rotary Foundation has a
Some of the services that the friendly and knowledgeable staff provide are:
- Confirming contribution and recognition information
- Explaining contribution transfer requests and Paul Harris Fellow recognition point transfers
- Forwarding your individual donor history by email or fax
- Researching and resolving contribution or recognition point discrepancies
- Requesting expediting shipment of Paul Harris Fellow recognition materials when appropriate
- Answering general questions about the Rotary Foundation
Since opening in October 2006, more than 135,000 calls have been processed. It's an excellent resource.
The Contact Center provides services in English and Spanish and can be reached at contact.center@rotary.org or by telephoning toll free to 866-9-ROTARY (866-976-8279) between 8:00 and 17:00 USA Central Time.