The Highlighter
November 2011
Vol 85 No 5
Table of Contents
Governor's Message
Doug Fowler
November
is Foundation Month
When
the Rotary International Theme for 2011-12 was presented to my
District Governor Class at the International Assembly earlier this
year, I took special pride in how RI President Banerjee encompassed
such a short but powerful statement of why Rotarians do what we do.
"Reach Within to Embrace Humanity" touches all aspects of our
multi-faceted organization, but really hits a grand slam when the
topic is the Rotary Foundation. Do you realize The Rotary
Foundation is supported entirely by voluntary contributions?
With our contributions to the Rotary Foundation, we are able to send
thousands of Ambassadorial Scholars abroad each year, allow a group
of young professionals to experience their vocation in another
culturally different country through the Group Study Exchange
Program, and help fund the many Matching Grants with projects
initiated by Rotary Clubs throughout the world. Our District
receives a credit of 50% of our total contributions to the Annual
Programs Fund (APF) three years after the contributions are made.
Our contributions to the (APF) have gradually declined over the past
five years, with a majority of this decline helping fund the
Polio-Plus Project. A review of various Rotary Foundation
reports support this fact, and show the Rotary Clubs in District
5300 have contributed $478.4 Million towards this challenge.
Yes, we are inches away from eradicating polio. In fact,
Rotary has recently announced that our global Rotary forces have
contributed $189 Million to date, and the $200 Million challenge
should be achieved very shortly, but let's not turn our backs on the
(APF). We all need to continue to support the Rotary Programs
to the best of our individual abilities to allow our Rotary Club to
be effective. During my club visits I have been able to
confirm each club's pledges to the APF and to the 3rd and final year
of the Polio-Plus Campaign. Please feel free to contact either
Greg Jones, District Rotary Foundation Chair, or myself if you are
unaware of your club's commitment to these programs.
Now that we have completed the first third of our Rotary year and
have many more miles on this dusty trail to help improve the lives of
others, I would like to share some results reported by RI in recent
weeks. District 5300 is one of 14 Districts that comprise Zone 26.
For the 2010-11 Rotary year, Zone 26 placed second in the world for
total contributions to the Rotary Foundation. Additionally, we are
anxiously awaiting word from RI about our District Wheelchair Project
receiving an RI Grant to make our $72,000 in pledges an even bigger,
better, and bolder project this year. If approved it would allow
those clubs who are participating in the project to receive Foundation
credits that they can then use to award additional Paul Harris Fellows
in their respective clubs as well as those deserving community leaders.
Now let's go and LASSO the LEGACY.
November 6
November 13
November 16
November 19
2011 Southern Nevada
Interact Conference
November 24
December 13
May 6-9
A Bulletin for Rotary Clubs and Districts in The USA, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Mariana Islands, and US Virgin Islands
Just a reminder that the deadline for filing IRS Form 990 is 15 November, as noted in the attached document: US Rotary Clubs and Districts and the IRS.
While Rotary clubs and districts are exempt from paying federal income tax, the law does require Rotary clubs and districts to file an annual information return (Form 990, 990-EZ) or submit an annual electronic notice (990-N). The version a club files is dependent upon its gross receipts for the year.
This report is required annually. Failure to meet the annual filing requirement for three consecutive years will result in revocation of the tax-exempt status of the club or district in question. To learn more about this requirement, visit the US Treasury website at: http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=184445,00.html, or call the toll-free number: 877.829.5500.
2013 Council on Legislation
The
Council on Legislation is an important part of Rotary's governance
process. While the Board of Directors sets policies for Rotary
International, the Council is where Rotary clubs have their say in the
governance of the association. Every three years, each district sends a
representative to the Council, which reviews proposed legislation. Every
club and district is entitled to submit legislation to the Council, and
some of Rotary's most important work has resulted from Council action.
Women were admitted into Rotary because of the action of the 1989
Council on Legislation, and PolioPlus was born as the result of the 1986
Council.
The Council comprises more than 500
representatives from every part of the Rotary world. Voting members
include one elected representative of the clubs of each Rotary district.
The next Council on Legislation will be in April 2013 in Chicago.
If your club is considering proposing legislation for the Council,
please click on the link below to follow the instructions for submitting
the proposal.
www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/col13_how_to_propose_legislation_en.pdf
Who May Submit Legislation?
Clubs, districts, the RI Board, and the general council
or conference of RIBI may submit legislation. However, legislation
proposed by a club must first be endorsed by the clubs of the district
in order to be presented to the Council.
How Does My Club Submit Legislation?
For a club to propose legislation please click on the
above link for the specific directions.
Is There a Deadline?
Yes.
Legislation from clubs and districts for the 2013 Council must be
received at RI Headquarters on or before 31 December 2011. There are no
exceptions to this deadline.
What
Are the Types of Legislation?
There are two types of legislation: proposed enactments and proposed
resolutions. Proposed enactments seek to change RI's constitutional
documents (the RI Constitution, RI Bylaws, and the Standard Rotary Club
Constitution), while proposed resolutions seek actions by the Council
that do not amend the constitutional documents. For recent examples of
enactments and resolutions, see the 2010 Council on Legislation Report
of Action (available on www.rotary.org).
What Is a Memorial to the Board?
Instead of proposing a resolution to the Council, a club
may wish to consider submitting a memorial to the RI Board, which is a
petition to the Board for action on a specific matter. The process
allows clubs to bring issues of concern to the Board for consideration
and possible action at its regular meeting. The RI Board hears memorials
at every meeting, and you may receive a more rapid response through this
action than by submitting a resolution to the Council, which only meets
every three years.
Thank you for electing me to serve as your District Representative to the 2013 Council on Legislation. I am honored to represent my District.
Cowboy Logic
Next month's theme
Family of Rotary
Click here for publishing guidelines.
[Editor's Note] We would like to have participation and contributions from members of your Interact Clubs. Please encourage them to contribute to The Highlighter. Interactors can receive The Highlighter by sending their names, club names, and email addresses to highlighter@district5300.org.
District 5300 Rotarians Attend the 80th
Anniversary of Rotary Club of Tijuana
On
Thursday, October 6th, 2011, District Governor Elect Dr. Sylvia
Whitlock, Assistant Governor Ted Jones, and El Monte/South El Monte
President Ernest Villegas, had the high privilege and distinct honor of
attending the 80th Anniversary Dinner of the founding of the Rotary Club
of Tijuana (Club Rotario De Tijuana) in District 4100. The event
took place at the Marriott Hotel in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico.
The guest of honor was none other than 2011-2012 Rotary International
President, Kalyan Banerjee. His attendance was quite an
accomplishment for Tijuana Rotary Club President Ivette Casillas.
She has done a remarkable job of leading her club in fulfilling our
motto of "Service Above Self." I personally observed the joy
displayed by RI President Banerjee, as the guest of honor, at this
milestone of "CLUB ROTARIO DE TIJUANA." Baja California
State Governor, Jose Guadalupe Osuna Millan, was in attendance and he
congratulated the Club on their continued involvement in the community.
Claremont Sunrise Rotary Raises
Funds to Clear Landmines in Cambodia
Claremont
Sunrise Rotary's international service project raises funds for the HALO
Trust, whose mission is to clear landmines in war torn countries.
Claremont Sunrise Rotary committee chair Lisa Hann-Smith, and committee
members Ann Swire, Jane Anderson, Rene Yang, Mark Goor, and Denise Hayes
hosted a benefit dinner with over 80 attendees. Dinner, raffle
prizes and a speaker presentation were held Friday October 28 at six
o'clock in the evening at the Claremont University Consortium
Administrative Campus Center at 101 South Mills Claremont.
Donations to the HALO Trust will be matched 1:1 through a matching grant
with the U.S. State Department. 
Guest speakers included Robert Walton, CEO of the Claremont
University Consortium and Amy Currin, HALO Trust USA Program Officer.
Ms. Currin led a photographic journey and discussion of her summer of
2011 clearing landmines alongside local Cambodian women "de-miners" in
Cambodia. Mr. Walton shared stories and photos from his travels to
de-mining operations in Cambodia.
The HALO Trust
clears landmines and unexploded ordnance from war-torn countries so that
some of the world's most vulnerable people can plant their crops,
rebuild their homes and raise their families in safety. Founded in
1988, HALO is the world's oldest and largest humanitarian landmine
clearance agency. HALO has a simple mission, "getting mines out of the
ground, now." As leaders in the mine action community, HALO has cleared
over 13 million landmines and other explosive remnants of war—more items
than any other organization. With over 8,000 locally recruited staff,
HALO invests in local leadership, keeping the mine-affected communities
integral to the process and providing employment in areas where there
are few opportunities. For more information on HALO, visit:
www.halotrust.org.
Rotary Comes to the Aid of Elderly
Couple
On
October 15, 2011, the Rotary Club of West Covina Noontime joined forces
with Sylmar Hang Gliding Association to help an elderly couple in need.
Ludwig Von der Luhe, 78 and his wife Laura, 80 are forty year residents
of West Covina. The couple faced eviction from their home due to unsafe
living conditions. The city has shut the power off to their home because
the exposed wiring is a fire hazard.
The clean-up
effort began at 7:00 a.m. and lasted until 7 p.m. Two commercial
dumpsters, donated by Athens Disposal, were filled with tons of debris
and trash. Trucks were loaded with usable goods that were hauled and
donated to a local thrift store and abandoned cars were hauled off by
tow trucks. Sylmar Hang Gliding Association has volunteered to donate
the funds it will take to replace the outdated and dangerous electrical
wiring so that the Von der Luhe's may get their electricity restored.
If you know of a reputable electrician in West Covina, please contact
Toni Villanueva at 909-241-5079.
A Holiday Charity Project for the Whole Family
For
our annual Holiday project in 2010, members of the Las Vegas Fremont
Rotary Club chose Operation Christmas Child. This program works
throughout the world to provide children in impoverished areas with the
most basic of necessities – a toothbrush, toothpaste, a comb, shampoo,
soap, a small toy, pencils, erasers, paper, etc. Many times the
toiletries are shared within the family, including a single toothbrush
being used by an entire family.
We were touched
by the story of OCC and with donations of money, supplies and time, we
gathered together as a Club with partners, children and friends on a
Thursday evening to wrap 151 shoeboxes in brightly colored wrapping
paper and fill them with treasures for the kids. It was one of the
most enjoyable evenings we have spent as Rotarians! We received
confirmation that some of our boxes were delivered to Panama & Indonesia
several months later. For 2011 we are committed to completing 200 boxes
and may even exceed that a bit due to very generous donations of
supplies this year. 14,563 shoeboxes were shipped from Las Vegas
in 2010 - enough boxes to stack six times higher than the Stratosphere,
which is 1,149 feet high! And, this was an increase of 46% over
the year before. If your Club hasn't selected your Holiday
charity, consider Operation Christmas Child.
Southern Nevada Rotarians Caravan to
Support Caliente Club Project
On the morning of September 17th, a caravan of Southern Nevada
Rotarians headed up Highway 93 to the tiny Nevada town of Caliente.
Members from the Las Vegas West, Green Valley, Las Vegas, Fremont,
Mesquite, Summerlin, and Las Vegas North Clubs filled their vehicles
with school supplies and delicious picnic dishes to join our friends in
the Caliente Club for their Fresh Start Picnic in the park.
The Caliente Club is one of the longest operating Rotary Clubs in
our District. They have been helping people in their community for
over 50 years. But now they needed our help. Their
membership is dwindling, and they need new members to keep the Club
thriving. Caliente Club President James Gatzke and his wife
Holly Gatzke, along with PDGs Tom Novotny and Roy York and Randy Pote of
the North Las Vegas Club, organized this Fresh Start Picnic combining
both a back-to-school supply drive and a membership drive.
In
typical Rotarian fashion, within minutes of arriving, several tables
were filled with school supplies, fires were burning for hamburgers and
hot dogs, and the Rotary banners were flying. A quiet city
park was transformed with activity and buzzing with children and adults
enjoying a beautiful fall day.
One newcomer to
the town, the new City Manager, had just moved to Caliente from Indiana.
After interviewing applicants for her open staff positions, she
developed a vision of starting a mentoring program for high school
students to show them vocational skills: interviewing, resume and
cover letter writing, and dressing for success. I explained
to her that her vision would make a perfect Rotary project.
Certainly, the Caliente Club members could help her make this vision a
reality. She was excited about the possibilities and filled out an
application to become a member of the Club.
By
the time the Las Vegas Rotary members had loaded up their cars to return
to the Valley, the Caliente Club had a stack of new member applications.
And, as so aptly put by Randy Pote and PDG Tom Novotny, the Caliente
Rotary Club knows that Southern Nevadans are only a phone call away.
Did I hear there is a pumpkin carving party coming up? I think the
caravan will be returning soon.
Arcadia Rotary Welcomes Former UNLV
Football Coach
The
Arcadia Rotary Club was proud to welcome former University of Nevada,
Las Vegas football coach and longtime Arcadia resident, Harvey Hyde, as
their keynote speaker earlier this month.
Passionate about football, following graduation from the University of
Redlands, Hyde began his coaching career at Riverside's Norte Vista High
School. He then went on to become assistant football coach at
Pasadena City College, taking a team to the Junior Rose Bowl.
Hyde's love of the game led him next to the University of Hawaii where
he served as defensive coordinator for two years. He then returned
to Pasadena City College as head coach where he remained until 1981,
winning four national championships. His next stop was the
University of Nevada, Las Vegas for four years, coaching the team to
victory in its first Division One bowl game.
"When the
university had a change in administration, I was let go along with the
school's basketball coach. I had to decide what to do next and
chose to go into broadcasting," said Hyde. "Today it would seem
odd not to have a former coach on a sports program, but it was not
always that way."
Hyde decided to start his own
production company in 1985, and went on to do sports radio for KSHP
radio 1400 in Las Vegas. He also joined the USC football pregame
show team for ESPN radio 710 in Los Angeles. He hosts Sunday
morning's LA Trojan Brunch from 9 am to 11 am on ESPN radio, and is
doing a podcast for uscfootball.com year round.
Hyde
shared his thoughts on amateur athletics with the Rotarians, explaining
a college coach has an extended family of close to 120 people.
"The kids are in the spotlight. If someone gets in trouble,
it's big news," he said, adding "while it may be referred to as amateur,
it's a business." He also stressed the funds needed to run college
athletic programs need to be raised and "you have to win."
"College athletics give kids an opportunity to see new places and do
things they never could have imagined," he said, adding that not
everyone going to college needs to be a doctor or a lawyer. "We
need to consider vocational classes. Plumbers and other tradesmen
make good money and we need their services."
Hyde was
adamant that student athletes should not be paid, but should be allowed
to take out loans.
"Harvey is an amazing individual!
You can see why he was such a good coach! So full of energy that I
never wanted him to stop talking!" said Eric Barter, Arcadia Rotary Club
President-Elect. "Speakers, such as Harvey, make the Arcadia
Rotary Club a great club to be a member of."
Dr. John C. Mayne, 56 Year Rotarian,
Memorialized
On
the National "Make a Difference Day", October 22nd, the Rotary Club of
Industry Hills, dedicated a memorial stone marker for Dr. John C. Mayne
at the Historic Rowland Home picnic area. Dr. Mayne was an active,
dedicated member of the Industry Hills Rotary Club for 56 consecutive
years. As a medical doctor, Dr. Mayne made a difference in our
Rotary Club and in the community. He started with house calls, helping
out whenever and wherever he needed, and retired as the Director of
Queen of the Valley Hospital. The Rotarians and Interact Club members
worked to clean up the original "Rotary Park" that was created at the
Rowland Home in 2004. Trees were trimmed and the stone benches and
tables, along with the Rotary Mosaic marker (handmade by Matt Briglio),
were cleaned and reset on new ground cover. The dedication ceremony, led
by Pat McIntosh, was held with Dr. Mayne's family in attendance.
TEAM ROTARY Is
Recruiting Rotarians for the Dodger Stadium "Walk for a Cure" of
Juvenile Diabetes
As in previous years, we are again
looking forward to the annual "Walk for a Cure" (of Juvenile Diabetes),
which takes place at Los Angeles Dodger Stadium on Sunday, November 6,
2011. The immediate beneficiary is the Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation, but the ultimate beneficiaries are children around the world
who are afflicted with juvenile diabetes. We are again
participating as "Team Rotary" captained by our Arcadia Rotarian Mike
Ojeda.
The existence of Team Rotary reflects the
fact that Type One Diabetes has become a growing international epidemic,
unrelated to life-style or obesity. Children around the
world unable to receive the medical supplies required to keep the
disease in check will probably not live beyond a year after diagnosis.
For this reason, as well as the need to find a cure, Rotary
International has teamed up with Lions International and diabetes
organizations such as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation to
persuade the United Nations to declare November 14 "World Diabetes Day."
On that day the Empire State Building and other monuments around the
world embellish themselves in blue light.
Famous
actress Mary Tyler Moore, herself a victim of Type One Diabetes is
international spokesperson for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(or J.D.R.F.)
Team Rotary started at Arcadia Rotary in
2010. In 2009, Arcadia Rotarians formed part of Team Miranda
Sarah. Here is a link to this year's fund-raising video of Team
Miranda Sarah:
http://video214.com/play/NX3kwcEb0j92M5SEiGM4Ig/s/dark
This is a friendly competition between teams to see who can raise the
most money for this cause. Please consider donating, and/or
yourself participating in the Walk and raising funds as a member of Team
Rotary. Team Rotary is captained by Michael Ojeda, a member of
Arcadia Rotary Since the competition is friendly, the main thing
is the contribution, but we personally are giving the greatest emphasis
to our own Team Rotary.
You are invited to join us on
November 6 for a healthy 5K walk around Dodger Stadium and the infield
as we help to raise money.
Joining our winning team is
easy! First, sign up with "TEAM ROTARY" captain Michael Ojeda (
mike.ojeda@equitytitle.com
) or register online at
www.jdrf.org. Second, simply ask your family, friends and neighbors
to sponsor you by making a contribution to Juvenile Diabetes Research
Foundation, or to walk with you on "TEAM ROTARY". You can even
fund-raise online at JDRF's Walk Central to raise even more money.
Third, join us as we Walk to Cure Diabetes!
Should you
wish to donate to J.D.R.F. in the name of Team Rotary, here is a
link to the fund-raising page of Team Captain Michael Ojeda.
http://www2.jdrf.org/site/TR/Walk-CA/Chapter-LosAngeles4041?px=1687591&pg=personal&fr_id=1395
In the memo space of your checks payable to Juvenile Diabetes
Research Foundation, please write "TEAM ROTARY".
Peacemaker of the Year Award (March 24 2012)
The Rotary International District 5300 established the PEACEMAKER OF THE YEAR AWARD in 2009 to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of outstanding individuals or organizations that have made significant contributions to world peace and conflict resolution or have promoted non-violent resolutions to community conflicts.
Nomination forms are available and the deadline for application is February 11, 2012.
Click here for more information or to obtain a nomination form.
Hensel Ethics Contest
Hold the George R.
Hensel Ethics Contest at Your Club
It's easy.
There is little or no cost. Your Club can celebrate outstanding youth in
the community. Your winner could win $3000 from the endowment.
All the information is on district5300.org!
How
a Club Gets Started
1. Name a local
Contest Chairperson.
2. Contact local high
schools in September and propose contest participation.
3. Ask that the essay become an assignment in a class.
4. Schedule a program in March in which the winner and
runners-up of your local contest are recognized. Your Club has the
option to award scholarships to the winner and runners-up with local
funds. Also, invite the press to the program!
5.
Submit the Club Entry to the District Chairperson no later that March
31.
6. If your Club entry is named winner or
runner-up at the District level, be prepared to sponsor your student and
parent or mentor to District Conference for recognition.
Tell the Students - Topics and Rules
- Write on an ethical dilemma that has touched your life.
Include your view of the importance of ethics in this particular
situation.
- You must include your personal definition of ethics.
- The essay must be 500 to 1,000 words.
- The essay must be the original, unpublished work of the student,
and only one essay per student may be submitted.
- The essay must be submitted to your local Rotary Club either by
email (MS Word or PDF format) or U.S. mail no later than Tuesday,
February 28.
- You must be enrolled in a high school or live in District
5300. And you must be in the 9-12 grade on March 31, 2012.
PDG Garbis Der Yeghian to Represent RI
President in Turkey
District
5300 is proud to announce that one of our distinguished members, PDG
Garbis Der Yeghian, has been invited to represent RI President Kalian
Banerjee at the District 2430 Conference in Antalya, Turkey.
Obviously the RI President cannot possibly attend every single
district conference. To show how seriously President Banerjee
takes supporting each district, he strives to appoint "very
knowledgeable and dedicated individuals to represent [him] at each
conference this year."
Per the President, the
Rotary Code of Policies sets out a number of specific responsibilities
for president's representatives. These include meeting personally as
many Rotarians and spouses as possible, inspiring and motivating
district conference participants through formal presentations, providing
information on the RI president, the RI theme for the year, and special
RI programs and emphases for the year, as well as sharing a wide range
of information about Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation.
It is a great honor to be selected to represent the RI President.
District 5300 is singularly well represented by Armenian American PDG
Garbis Der Yeghian.
C. Ray Carlson Selected
District 5300 nominee for the Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award, C. Ray Carlson, has been selected as our Zone 26 nominee to be submitted for that distinguished international recognition. Congratulations Ray and good luck.
Editor's Tip
My
2¢ Worth - Improving Your Article Photos
With
almost everyone (except me) running around with a smart phone, it's easy
to get candid photos of your club's events. Here are a couple of tips
for submitting GREAT photos. Everyone likes to see pictures of
themselves. Make the pictures better by showing folks in action. Group
photos might be nice to put on a trophy wall someplace, but action
photos in an article drive home the point. Catch the important action;
crop out the background clutter. Identify the folks in your pictures,
even if their backs are toward the cameras. Zoom in on one, two, or
three people; catch them in action. A close-up of a kid scarfing down a
wurst is more interesting than a panorama of a crowd sitting in a field
watching an oompah band. Leave the talking heads to the TV news.