The
Highlighter
December 2009
Vol 83 No 6
Table of Contents
Governor's Message
Tom Novotny
Friends
As many of you are aware, December is designated as Rotary Family Month. I am somewhat in a dilemma as to whether I approach this from ‘The Family of Rotary’ angle or from a personal family aspect. Being an astute leader, I think I’ll try to weave them together as they are intricately and intimately related.
Please take the time to reflect on and thank your families for the unconditional support they give us so that we can be true Rotarians. Speaking personally, my family eats, works, and lives Rotary right along with me. If you have heard me speak, you will recall that I always give credit for their assistance. You see, without their support and help, I couldn’t do what I do. I mean that sincerely. And the GOOD NEWS is I am not alone! I know the vast majority of you all have the same assets working with you!
Neither our District nor Rotary International can ever thank these unsung heroes properly for their important contributions. Never-the-less, please pass along thanks from the Novotny family. We are in awe of them all!
We share a kindred spirit with Rotarians worldwide. We all want to do what we can to make this world a better place to live - a better place than what we found. We could not succeed at this without The Family of Rotary.
We know that if we ever need help in any part of the world, we just need to contact fellow Rotarians in the area. Everyday Rotarians are accepted into the most volatile areas because they are Rotarians, regardless of the country they are from. Time and again, Rotarians are the first volunteers in a disaster area. We are let in because everyone knows we will leave politics and judgments aside and just get the job done!
We achieve this through The Family of Rotary. I know of no other organization that can claim the same thing. We all have examples of miraculous accomplishments due to this FAMILY. In these very trying times, we all should take great pride in the power of our Rotary families.
There are always times in our lives when we question why we are Rotarians. If we just remember all the good works these Families of Rotary accomplish in our communities and around the world, doubts would quickly disappear. Each and every one of you should be very proud that you are a member of this thing called-The Family of Rotary.
If everyone knew what we accomplish as Rotarians, why wouldn’t everyone want to be one of us?
We just enjoyed our Thanksgiving. I hope all of you gave thanks to your families both biological and associated. Robin and I are proud to know you all and we are very thankful for all you do!
District Training Calendar
PDG Gene Hernandez reminds members to check the District Training Calendar for additions, deletions and changes regularly. Click here to go to the updated Training Calendar.
December 15
District 5300 Speaker Bureau
Looking for a speaker? Try our speakers bureau: http://www.district5300.org/speakers/index.html
Have a speaker you want to recommend?
Just send the contact information of Chris (webmaster@District5300.org)
Tax Receipts for Calendar Year 2009 Contributions
All contributions requiring 2009 tax receipts must be postmarked on or before 31 December 2009 and received at The Rotary Foundation by Friday, 9 January 2010. Allow seven (7) days for mail delivery. Any contributions postmarked after 31 December 2009 will receive 2010 calendar year tax receipts.
Mailing address for TRF contributions
The Rotary Foundation 14280 Collections Center Drive Chicago, IL 60693Credit Card Contributions
Online credit card contributions via MasterCard, Visa, and American Express will be accepted until 2400 hours Central Standard Time on 31 December 2009 through Member Access at www.rotary.org. Online contributors must print out their own tax receipts.
Contact Center credit card contributions
The Contact Center is now accepting secured credit card contributions by phone for the United States during normal business hours, 830 hours to 1700 hours, Central Standard Time by calling 1-866-976-8279. Questions may be directed to the Contact Center at: contact.center@rotary.org or call 1-866-976-8279. Please note that credit card contributions received from outside of the United States are not eligible to receive the tax benefits from their respective countries for these contributions made online at www.rotary.org or through the Contact Center.
TRF 2008-2009 Club Banner Recognition
Top Three Per Capita Giving; EREY Club and 100% Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member Club annual banner recognition have been sent out to all of the current District Governors with a list of recipient clubs. Included with the banner shipments were Certificates of Appreciation for clubs that met the US$1,000 contribution commitment to Rotary’s US$200 Million Challenge for polio eradication in 2008-09. (In 2009-10, all Rotary clubs are asked to make a US$2,000 commitment to the Challenge using Fundraising opportunities rather than out of pocket contributions from Rotarians whenever possible). For those qualifying clubs not receiving proper recognition please direct your inquiries to: apf@rotary.org and they will be reviewed on a case by case basis.
Matching Grants Update
Congratulations to
Such a project meets multiple goals - to have clubs working together to do larger, sustainable international projects; it fits within TRF Future Vision Plan guidelines of the six categories future matching grant projects must fall within; it uses available District funding resources - at up to $4500 per club on a 1:1 match. Money that came from our Rotarians who made contributions to the Annual Program Fund of The Rotary Foundation three years prior.
Many accolades to Dr. Clive Houston-Brown, who began support for the project when his focus was on Clean Water Projects, now the District Matching Grants Sub-Committee Chairperson. His tenacity and patience, expertise in this area, and strong working relationship with the staff at Rotary Foundation assisted to be sure.
There are several other pending international Matching Grant projects, that need additional financial support. In September, the Rotary Foundation indicated their funds for the Rotary Year 2009-10 had been depleted, due to the success of the Matching Grant program, and economic losses. Projects COULD move forward, if they found additional funds to complete the project without TRF match, or down-sized the project to be able to complete it with a combination of club money and District (DDF) funds. THIS CAN BE DONE! Don’t be discouraged.
In an effort to assist the clubs, District Governor Tom Novotny has
announced that the amount the District will contribute to a project can
be up to $6000, (on a 1:1 match) vs. the $4500 previously. The
monies are available per club, so two or more clubs going together on a
project could each get a DDF matching amount, up to $6000 each on a
single project. Those clubs who have been informed that TRF funds
are no longer available are working on reducing the scope and size of
their project, or seeking partners. Go to the Matching Grants
website -
www.matchinggrants.org - to see what District projects need help.
Contact Clive Houston-Brown (
Fall Contest
Last Month's Leaders*
Green Valley with 588
Las Vegas NW with 132
Apple Valley with 25
Contest Leaders
Green Valley - 1709
Las Vegas NW - 422
South Pasadena - 189
September-December 2009
Simple Rules
-
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.
-
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.
-
Only one entry per reader.
-
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.
-
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.
*Scores are like baseball averages and represent the %of club members getting the right answer (based on 1000).
This Month's Question:
According to this issue of The Highlighter, how many District 5300 clubs have 100% of their full-fledged members become Paul Harris Fellows?
Include your name, club name and RI club ID #, with your answer to:
Submission Deadline 12/15/09
Coming Soon to a Computer Near You
We will be experimenting with home delivery of The Highlighter. Please be sure that the district office has your preferred opt-in email address on file.
January is Rotary Awareness Month
Letter from Anna
Editor’s note: Anna is an outbound
Rotary
Youth Exchange student, sponsored by the Claremont Rotary Club. She is
spending her time with a Rotary Club in
Hello to all:
First, sorry it took me so long to write, and even though I promised many of you I would actually do this yesterday, what fun would it be for me to be responsible and keep my promises??
Anyway, most of you have probably heard that I have been sick, so if you already know the story feel free to skip the next paragraph, but here is a quick recap so everyone is clear...
The Thursday before Halloween, my host mother had to come get
me from school because I felt ill. It was just fever,
headaches and general fatigue, so we thought it was just a bad
cold, but seeing as I was supposed to have gone on a weeklong
school trip the following Sunday (which sadly did not happen),
we called the family doc on Friday. He was concerned it
was something more serious than a cold and ordered some tests.
Long story short, many tests later, most of which were blood
tests, it was determined that I had serious anemia, though it
was unclear why. My red cell blood count was falling by the day,
so my dad flew out and on Wednesday we met up with him in a
hospital in
I am looking forward to going back to school. Hopefully I might actually start at the end of this week, because we are thinking it might be better for me to start going for just 2 hours a day for a day or two this week, and then start the full-blown 5 hours days next week.
This has been quite an experience, to say the least... I got to know the inside of an ambulance (the 4 hour trip to Buenos Aires), had my blood taken 9 times in the 7 days in the hospital alone, had 2 ultrasounds (don’t know if that’s what they’re called if there’s no baby in there, but whatever) and learned a whole new set of Spanish vocabulary.
I don’t have much else to share, seeing as this has kind of taken over my life for the last three weeks, but let me see...
Oh yeah and something else that came out of experience is truly feeling like a part of the family I am staying with. I already loved my host family before this, but this has definitely been a bonding experience. Seeing as I live alone with my host mom, we have become very close, and she has been extremely supportive, down to helping me bathe when I had an IV and bringing me meals in bed. I have also talked a lot with my two host brothers, who were both very concerned about me.
Other experiences: I ate cow intestine and that kind of squishy part of your throat under your jaw. The intestine had an okay flavor, but the texture was really, really gross. And the throat was just not good. And I ate a couple of other things too, but I’m not sure what they were because I asked my mom to stop telling me. It goes down easier that way.
Summer is definitely on its way here. It’s starting to get pretty humid and hot when the sun is out, although I don’t spend that much time outside.
Oh, and something funny. Ziploc bags don’t exist here. I kind of miss them. My younger host brother, who is on exchange in Colorado and who I Skyped with yesterday, showed me a Ziploc bag through the camera and was fascinated with how they “use them for everything” in the United States.
And something kind of funny happened in the hospital ... When I first arrived an elderly lady came in my room and explained that she was a volunteer at the hospital, and asked me if I was Catholic. I said no, and she looked kind of taken aback (seeing as everyone is Catholic here). After this, she said that she would pray for me anyway! Okay, maybe not that funny, but I found it amusing.
Okay well as usual here is a rather disorganized e-mail, but I hope you all feel a little more updated and CALM. Seriously I am doing great, so no one is allowed to worry!!!
I won’t even say I’ll try to write soon because we all know it doesn’t mean much coming from me.
Love and thanks to all for your concern. I hope all is well back there, you Yankees! (as we are called here).
Un gran besito a todo,
Anna
On a Saturday, the Rotary Club of Rancho Cucamonga’s “Happy Feet” program put a new pair of shoes and socks on 176 children ages 4-13 just in time for school.
The Rotary Club worked with C.O.R.E., Northtown Housing Development,
and the
The event took place at the Payless Shoe Store in the Terra Vista shopping center. The children were invited and chaperoned by some 26 Rotarians and their spouses and as they selected their own shoes and socks while their parents enjoyed a continental breakfast.
Payless Shoe Store opened early to accommodate the event and offered a discount so the Rotary Club’s money would provide more shoes and socks for the children.
The Club’s “Happy Feet” program continues to provide a fellowship partnership with community, parents and children. By giving the children the opportunity to choose their own shoes, it helps to build their self esteem. It is heart warming to see a child exit Payless Shoe Store smiling from ear to ear. They are so proud of “their shoes”, said Karen Leever chairwomen of the event.
Tracy Wirtes is the president of The Rotary Club of Rancho Cucamonga.
The club meets on Tuesdays at 12:00 P.M. at
Rotary
Club of
Thursday, February 7, 1985, 2:00 pm:
DEA agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena locks his badge and service
revolver in his drawer and leaves to meet his wife for lunch. He crosses
the street to his pickup truck; five men pull him into a waiting car and
speed away. This is the last time Kiki is see alive. One month
later his body was discovered in a shallow grave, 70 miles from
Saturday, October 24, 2009, 6:00 am:
Wiping the last remnants of sleep from their eyes, set up crews gather and begin to prepare the field for the Twenty-First Annual Red Ribbon Rally at West Covina High School, in honor of slain DEA agent, Enrique “Kiki” Camarena.
Crews
set up tents, tables and chairs. Banners are hung. Bouncy playgrounds
are inflated to keep the little ones amused. A West Covina Fire
Department truck, S.W.A.T. Humvee, CHP car, and Mounted Enforcement
trailer grace the basketball courts. A CHP helicopter has landed on the
playing field. Balloon bouquets dance in the morning air; inviting one
and all to join in the festivities. The griddles are fired up.
Pancake batter is sizzling and bubbling; and there is a stack of
“Browns” waiting for the crowd to “Packer” them in!
In the trenches, our line consisted of Rotarians, California Highway Patrol and the Elks. They kept “battering and battering” to feed the “on rushing” hunger of the fans. The “griddle iron” teemed with Interact kids; intercepting pancakes that were passed off to the waiting fans. First down were the pancakes; second down; the butter, third down in came the syrup and at the goal line was the milk, juice and coffee!
The
half-time entertainment started off with the Pledge of Allegiance led by
the Naval Cadets followed by performances by the WesCove Aires, West
Covina High School Band, and Hip-Hop Dancers.
As the line grew, it was easy to see that this was a sold-out game!
These days are trying for all; unemployment is at an all time high;
houses are in foreclosure; individuals and families are without health
insurance. In spite of these “penalties” that our community and our
nation as a whole has suffered, coming together as one to feed our
hungry scores a “TOUCHDOWN!”
On
November 19, 2009, members of the South Pasadena Rotary Club helped to
serve an early Thanksgiving dinner to 700-800 people in El Sereno at the
Barrio Action Youth and
The South Pasadena Rotary Club takes pride in having participated in
the Thanksgiving Dinner. Barrio Action Youth and
Chili
Cook Off - Cooks Up Cash
The chili pot has been washed and put away for another year, but what a year 2009 was, as the Rotary Club of Apple Valley presented the 8th Annual Wannatouchama Chili Cook Off on October 24. It was a little spicy, a little saucy and a whole lot of fun! Blessed with perfect weather and a great group of cooks, vendors, and volunteers, the Club raised nearly $15,000.
“This event brings in people from all walks of life, but it also gets our members involved,” said chili chair, Kathie Martin. “Over 40 members – more than half of our membership – participated hands on to bring this event to our community.”
Sanctioned
by the International Chili Society, the cook-off attracts world class
cooks hoping for the top prize of $1000 cash. There are also
divisions for community cooks, restaurants and a
For more information, or to see pictures and video from the event, visit www.AppleValleyRotary.com and click on the chili pepper!
Rotaract
Club of Las Vegas Promotes World Polio Day at Mayor’s Cup Event
The Mayor’s Cup is an annual weekend-long soccer tournament that
takes place all over
Saturday,
October 24th was the second day of the Mayor’s Cup and the Rotaract Club
of
The Rotaractors got really involved and took turns holding signs, the donation bucket, and brochures. At the end of the day, after only a few hours of spreading the word about polio eradication and encouraging ordinary people to take part, the donations reached just under $100.00. President of the Rotary Club of Las Vegas, Karen Whisenhunt, calculated that with the money raised, given the small cost of polio medication, 238 will be saved. Thanks to the efforts of the family of Rotary, we are truly on our way to ending polio.
The
La Verne Rotary Club issued checks totalling $4,610 to
The mini-grants are awarded to teachers who want to develop new ideas to enrich students’ classroom experiences. The mini-grants are awarded to teachers, who would not otherwise have sources of funding or who would have to use their own money to support the project.
This year’s mini-grants went for projects ranging from reading, science, and geometry to cultural projects.
Steve Johnson is in charge of the project.
$8,100.00
Teacher Mini Grants
The Rotary Club of Industry Hills gave out $8,100 to 27 teachers
in the Bassett and
On
October 18th, seven Russian leaders who are participants in the
independent Open World Leadership Program at the Library of Congress
began visits to Pasadena Child Protection and Foster Care programs. The
Open World Program is designed to enhance understanding and capabilities
for cooperation between the
During their eight-day stay in
“The American hosts who welcome Open World delegates into their homes, and the professionals who are so open to trading ideas and experiences with their Eurasian counterparts, are what makes this program a success” says local Open World Program coordinator and Rotarian, Florence Helmberger.
The
Rotary Club Of
In a special ceremony, thirty members of our club were officially
recognized as Paul Harris Fellows. This was made possible by a bequest
from the Living Trust of C. Birk Lefler, a past-president of the San
Marino Club and, later, a member of the Leisure Hills Club in Laguna.
Upon the death of both Mr. and Mrs. Lefler, the bequest was given to The
Rotary Club of Claremont through his daughter-in-law Marla Lefler, who
is a past president of the
Our club is now one of only three clubs in District 5300 to have 100% of its full-fledged members become Paul Harris Fellows.
We recognized Dr. John Ilsley, who celebrated 57 years of perfect
attendance on
Polio
Plus Challenge Campaign Continues Strong!
Our Rotary Clubs are making great gains towards encouraging and receiving PolioPlus Challenge donations towards the world-wide goal of $200 million to match the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation donation of $255 million to eradicate polio. But we must keep the goal of $50 per Rotarian in our District in the fore-front of our minds. Club Foundation Chairs and Polio Plus Committees are working with their members, with local businesses, with schools, and Interacts Clubs to collect funds.
The holiday season, the tough economic times, our own club projects that benefit our local community to address those needs at this time of year, can all cause us to lose focus. And there is only so much we can do. But let me suggest the Rotary Foundation as your “charity of choice” this season. Whether it’s because of the 2009 tax deduction you will receive, the warm feeling you get from knowing you are a part of something global and significant - no matter your motivation: PLEASE GIVE.
Monies directed to PolioPlus must be specified on the TRF Global Contribution Form. All monies collected to date this Rotary year MUST be submitted to the Rotary Foundation and postmarked not later than December 31, 2009. Donations can be made securely online at www.rotary.org.
See the District 5300 website for the
PolioPlus Challenge campaign newsletters for more information or
contact your PolioPlus Challenge Chairs: Larry Bettis (
Holiday Greetings (PC)
Best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low stress, non-addictive, gender neutral, winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most joyous traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, but with respect for the religious persuasion of others who choose to practice their own religion as well as those who choose not to practice a religion at all;
Addtionally,
a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling, and medically uncomplicated recognition of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions have helped make our society great, without regard to the race, creed, color, religious, or sexual preferences of the wishes.
(Disclaimer: This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others and no responsibility for any unintended emotional stress these greetings may bring to those not caught up in the holiday spirit.)