District Governor's Message
Let the Celebration and New Year of Rotary Begin
Tom Marshall
I am honored and humbled to serve as your District Governor for 2008 - 2009! Joey and I look forward to meeting all of our District's Rotarians during our official visits and as we attend other special events throughout the year. Please be sure to keep us informed of your various activities.
Our 2008 - 2009 Rotary International President, D.K. Lee from South Korea, has chosen as his theme, "Make Dreams Real." Upon learning that more than 26,000 children under the age of five years, die every day from preventable diseases, he became convinced more than ever that Rotarians should attack the root causes: lack of clean water and sanitary facilities, illiteracy and malnutrition and a variety of other mortality producing concerns.
I am asking that every club in our District become involved with some type of community or international project that will help children from all over the world to be able to dream about what the future will hold for them. As Rotarians, we need to take action and become involved with reducing the rate of child mortality. This action is the first step that allows each and every club to receive the prestigious Presidential Citation which will be presented at the District Celebration in Wisconsin Rapids on May 1, 2 and 3.
Once again, polio eradication is another focal point for Rotarians all over the world. We need to get rid of that horrible disease! Most of you know that we have received a wonderful challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in the amount of one million dollars. Rotary needs to match that over a three year period. I am asking that each and every club contribute $1000 a year for a three year period. I understand that this may be difficult for some clubs but not for others. With this understanding in mind, if $1000 is not workable, than I am asking that every Rotarian donate $20 a year for the three year period. Please help! We need your involvement.
Membership, of course, is another huge focus for us this year. If we are going to continue to do all the wonderful things that we do for people throughout the world, we need more Rotarians! As you well know, it is such an honor to be a Rotarian! People are absolutely delighted to be asked to join Rotary! It's an honor! Please do some serious thinking about your neighbors, colleagues, relatives and friends! There are many individuals in our communties who have not been asked! Let me know if you need any kind of assistance!
There is much more that I will be writing about in our next newsletters. This will truly be an exciting year! There is much that needs to be accomplished but we must never forget that Rotary needs to be fun! Working together as a District team, we will make it fun and we will do our very best to accomplish our goals. Please keep me informed about your activities and always let me know if I can be helpful in any way!
MAKE DREAMS REAL!
Tom Marshall
District Governor
Click Here to View District Governor Tom Marshall's Club Visit Schedule
District News, Events and Announcements
Group Study Exchange India & Philippines Seeks Team Leads and Members
District 6250 is going to have two Group Study Exchanges in 2008-09 and the first of these is months earlier than our past exchanges.
Click here to read the full announcement for India.
Team lead applications are due July 15, 2008.
Team member applications are due by July 30, 2008.
Click here to read the full announcement for Philippines.
Team lead applications are due August 15, 2008.
Team member applications are due by August 31, 2008.
Please direct questions to rstroud@stroudlaw.com
Ambassadorial Scholarship Applications Available
Dear Club Presidents,
Your club has a unique opportunity to support a graduate student abroad through RI’s Ambassadorial Scholar program. Applicants are reviewed, selected and funded by the District. All you have to do is encourage students to submit application information prior to August 15, 2008, to study in 2009-2010.
The Foundation of Rotary International sponsors one of the largest international scholarship programs in the world. Scholars study in a different country, where they serve as unofficial ambassadors of goodwill. Since 1947, more than 47,000 scholars from 110 countries have received scholarships of more than $476 million through The Rotary Foundation.
The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.
July-August 2008
Applicants should complete the 2009-10 application available on the RI website, carefully researching possible institutions of study. There is no need to apply for or take language tests at this time. Applications must be submitted to local Rotary clubs by August 15, 2008. Applications should be submitted to Marsha Barwick by August 22, 2008.
Downloadable Form: http://www.rotary.org/RIdocuments/en_pdf/139en.pdf
September 2008
A selection committee comprised of individuals throughout District 6250 will review applications, interview applicants and select award representatives. Clubs and individuals will be notified.
February 2009
All 2008-09 scholarship recipients will receive a packet of information from the Foundation. This material outlines the steps they’re required to complete in preparation for their term.
Please share this information with your Rotarians help us appoint outstanding candidates to represent District 6250 abroad. Please refer questions and applicants to me. Thank you for your consideration and assistance.
Yours in Rotary,
Marsha Barwick
District 6250 Ambassadorial Scholar Chair
1226 W. Jefferson Street
Marshfield , WI 54449
Day Phone: 715.389.3430
Fax: 715.387.9080
District Governor's Welcoming Party Kicks Off New Rotary Year
On Saturday, June 28th, the Columbus Rotary Club hosted a gathering of Rotarians from around the District to help begin a new Rotary year in District 6250. District Governor Elect Tom Marshall shared some of his goals for the year and indicated that this will be another excellent year for the District!!
A highlight of the evening, was a presentation from Rotary Youth Exchange Rebound, Chelsea Biba, from Wisconsin Rapids. Chelsea spent her entire exchange year in France. She discussed her excitement for the program and how it has so positively impacted her life. Chelsea wants to stay involved with the District Youth Exchange program an will do whatever she can to assist in making Youth Exchange a priority for students throughout the District.
Recognition of District Governor Mary Kessens, Past District Governors, Assistant Governors and Committee Chairs was also a large part of the program.
Club News, Events and Announcements
Do you have an upcoming Club Event or accomplishment that you would like to announce? Send your pre-written article to: rotarydistrict6250@morgandata.com.
Kids Against Hunger Satellite Formed by Rock County Rotary
As anyone who’s ever strolled through the “House of Friendship” at a Rotary International Convention can attest – there is no shortage of worthwhile projects to look at and learn about. The sheer number can be overwhelming. That is what then President Elect Mary Deem of the Beloit Club and David Warren of the Janesville Noon Club thought as they wandered the floor in Salt Lake City.
Not traveling together, fate seemed to draw them to a particular display at precisely the same time. They listened intently as the founder of Kids Against Hunger, Mr. Richard Proudfit, explained the food relief organization he had founded almost 8 years before. His non-profit corporation was setting up satellite food packaging organizations around the US to help achieve his goal of eliminating the childhood starvation he had witnessed many years earlier on a trip to Honduras.
Mr. Proudfit explained that the cost to fund a new satellite was $8,000 which would include equipment, supplies and food to produce about 35,000 simple nutritious meals. Volunteers including school groups, church groups, and civic groups would provide all the labor. As the two Rotarians listened intently, they realized this was probably too big a project for either of their clubs to tackle alone…. but perhaps working together could still be accomplished.
Upon returning to Wisconsin, Dave and Mary called a meeting, inviting President Mitch Pelsue of the Janesville Morning Club and Victor Gonzalez of the Edgerton Club to join the effort. The idea was later presented as a program to all four clubs and taken to their respective Boards for approval. Subsequent meetings were held with interested members from each club and in the spring of 2008, Kids Against Hunger – Rock County Rotary, Inc. (KAH-RCR) was born. This was the 33 rd Kids Against Hunger satellite founded, the first in Wisconsin and the first as a Rotary project.
With a separate Board of Directors, led by President John Wong of the Beloit club, and equally represented by members of all four clubs KAH-RCR began its operation on May 18 th in a donated Janesville building. Over a 4 hour period, a group of about 50 volunteers packaged 18,144 meals of which about half were distributed to a number of Rock County food pantries and half sent along with a shipment of medical supplies to Jinja, Uganda, Africa. Two subsequent packaging sessions have resulted in an additional 15,571 meals which have been earmarked to aid local residents including flood victims.
The goal of the new organization is to bring members of the entire county together to learn about the problem of hunger, to work together to help those in need and to experience first hand Rotary’s motto of Service Above Self. According to Dave Warren, “We’d like to package at least 100,000 meals our first year. With an actual food cost of about 10¢ each, it’s certainly doable.”
Emblazoned on all the groups printed material is the saying “Local people making a world of difference”. That does seem to describe exactly what these four Rotary Clubs are doing! For additional information please contact Dave Warren at dave@davesace.com or John Wong at john.wong@micorp.com .
Sun Prairie Rotary Club Book'n It Run for Literacy
A joint Sun Prairie Rotary Club and Sun Prairie Public Library event includes: 5 and 10K Run, 5K Walk and a 100 Meter Fun Run (ages 10 and under). Proceeds benefit literacy projects. Registration fee includes t-shirt and raffle prizes.
8 a.m., Saturday, August 9
Sheehan Park , Sun Prairie
For more information: www.booknitrun.com
Holmen Rotary Helps Bring Clean Water to Thousands in Peru
The efforts of the Holmen Rotary Club will mean clean, safe drinking water for hundreds — maybe even thousands — of people in a poor section of Lima, Peru.
Click here to read the entire article by Randy Erickson of the Holmen Courier.
RI News
Child Mortality the Focus of Presidential Citations
Consistent with our International Theme for the 2008 - 2009 Rotary year, we need to do our best to MAKE DREAMS REAL in our world. We need to focus on child mortality. Rotary International President DK Lee has said that 26000 children under the age of five years, die every day in the world! Whether it's diseases, lack of medicines and vaccines, water issues or even something like improper installation of child car seats are causing the deaths! Many of these deaths are very preventable!!
Currently, Wisconsin ranks 24th in the country with child mortality. Water safety and drowning deaths really take a toll in our state.
Governor Tom Marshall is asking each Club in our District, to get involved with reducing child mortality---either locally or internationally. Rotarians are encouraged to talk with their local health officers in an effort to determine ways to be helpful.
Having a project that deals with child mortality is a requirement for a Club to receive the Presidential Citation.
Eradication of Polio Remains a Huge Focus of Rotary World
District 6250 must continue our quest to eradicate polio in the world!! We are well on our way to eliminate this horrible disease but there is still work to be done! Four countries still are impacted--- India, Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan!!
All of you know about the wonderful challenge grant that we have received from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. A total of 100 million dollars was gioven to Rotary and we must match that over a three year period. We are off to a good start as we have already raised a little over 20 million dollars. District Governor Tom Marshall is asking every Club in our District to contribute $1000 a year for three consecutive years. Realizing that this may be difficult for some Clubs, it is hoped that some of the larger Clubs will contribute additional money for this worthy cause.
Governor Tom would like for the Clubs to initiate a project or event in their area that would assist with the raising of this money.
Update on Annual Giving
Foundation Reports
Click here to view the updated Club Goals Report!
Attendance Report
Click here to submit your club's attendance report
Eau Claire Maintains 14% Growth Thru 3 Quarters!
Click here to see the full Attendance Report.
