District Governor's Message
November is Rotary Foundation Month
Tom Marshall
As we all know, November is Rotary Foundation month and this is always one of the most exciting times of the year. This is one of those times that we think about all of the wonderful things that Rotarians do throughout the world to make things better. This is the time that we concentrate on world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the hard work that we do through the improvement of health, educational support and the reduction of poverty. Certainly, as good Rotarians, we are always thinking of these things but November is the month that we like to highlite all of the good that we do in the world.
"Every Rotarian, Every Year" is a program that every Rotarian in District 6250 should take part in. We are all asked to contribute a minimum of $100 to the Rotary International Foundation. This would be a great month to do that! This comes out to approximately 28 cents per day for each of us. Certainly this is affordable and when we think that last year Rotarians throughout the world, contributed well over $113,000,000, we realize that we want to be a part of this amazing program. Because of our generosity, children are healthier, students are learning to read and water is becoming cleaner. Polio is slowly but surely disappearing and we are beginning to realize that peace in our world is a real possibility. Please give serious consideration to the EREY program and make your contribution today so that your dollars can begin working.
We, in the United States, are blessed to be polio free. However, this horrible disease is still out there and we, as Rotarians, need to keep out promise of eradicating polio in the entire world. I believe that we are in the last stages of the fight against polio and our goal of eradication will be accomplished in the not too distant future. As you know, I have asked every Club to contribute a minimum of $1000 this year and for the next two years so that we can meet the Gates Foundation wonderful challenge grant. If your Club can contribute more that that, it would be terrific!
Let's not forget that the Rotary Foundation is OUR Foundation. The responsibility of keeping our International Foundation strong and healthy is a responsibility that we all must take very seriously. Let's all work hard at this and encourage all of our Rotary colleagues to become involved in the greatest Foundation in the world.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Let's Continue to MAKE DREAMS REAL Throughout The Year!!
Tom
Click Here to View District Governor Tom Marshall's Club Visit Schedule
Save the Date! 2009 District Conference, May 1-3, 2009, Hotel Mead, Wisconsin Rapids.
Make your Hotel Reservations Now! Call 1-800-843-6323 and mention Rotary.
District News, Events and Announcements
District 6250 Approved for Two GSE Teams in 2009-10
This past week we received notification from the Rotary Foundation that District 6250 had been approved for two GSE Teams in 2009-2010.
The first exchange will be with District 2740 in Japan. This exchange will involve a team of professionals from a cross section of professions/vocations. Because their district conference occurs in the October, our team will visit Japan September 26-October 24, 2009 while their team will be in our district April 26-May 23, 2010 in order to participate in our district conference in La Crosse on May 20-22, 2010.
The second exchange will be with District 4730 in Uruguay, generally considered to be the “Switzerland of South America”. This exchange will have an “agri-business” focus. The intent of the agri-business focus is to recruit team members from areas of the district that have not participated in this great Rotary program before. This exchange will be simultaneous and will coincide again with our district conference.
It is never to early to begin the process of recruiting both team leaders and team members. The leader must be a Rotarian and the team members must be non-Rotarians between the ages of 25-40 who are residents of the district and employed. Further information is available from the District GSE Chair, Rob Stroud or from DGE Dean Dickinson.
District Governor Nominees Sought
This is the time of year when we recruit for leaders in the coming Rotary year. We are accepting nominations until the end of month for 2010-2011 District Governor. Your club president, secretary and Assistant Governor have received nomination information and application information can be retrieved at the link below. Having served in this capacity, I can report that it is one of the most heartening activities I have ever undertaken. To be able to listen to the stories of modern day miracles that happen in each and every club-and to support them in some small part-has been a once-in-a lifetime privilege. Our Rotary District continues to need strong leaders who can motivate and assist clubs in their endeavors to do good works in their communities and the world.
District Leadership Opportunities
The reason for the existence of the district, and the leadership provided, is to assist Rotarians and Rotary Clubs in achieving success in their Rotary directed activities.
Being a member of a district committee carries little prestige, is general ly not appreciated by most of our members and involves a time commitment that most people don’t want to make. On the other hand, if you are committed to the idea that Rotarians can and do make a difference in the world, if you want to learn a whole lot more about this great organization and if you want to join with some of your fellow Rotarians in some real ly meaningful work and in the process make lifelong friends, then please consider joining one of our district committees.
There are openings in virtually every committee, Training, Membership, Foundation and Group Study Exchange to name just a few. Sandee Macht our District Grants Coordinator will be moving on to other responsibilities in the district and we real ly need a good person to take her place. Sandee will work with her successor to provide all of the training required for this important work.
Give Dean Dickinson, DGE a call 608-397-5888 or send an e-mail logan63@aol.com. He would be happy to help you find a job!
The 10 Minute Club Membership Energizer for December
During December, clubs are encouraged to highlight the importance of THE FOUR-WAY TEST, the essence of the ethics of every Rotarian throughout the world.
“How can a club deliberately relate membership recruitment to THE FOUR-WAY TEST? Here’s an idea that might help.
Membership Recruitment and THE FOUR-WAY TEST
Purpose: To gather ideas from members of a Rotary Club about THE FOUR-WAY TEST that could be shared with prospective or new members.
At your weekly meeting, discuss at your table the following questions during your meal:
Question : 1. “What do you say to prospective members or new members of your club about THE FOUR-WAY TEST (of the things we think, say or do)?” 2. “What can you offer to your tablemates as an example of how you have used the four-way test in your personal or professional life recently (or not so recently)?
Materials: You will need a handout for each table that contains the questions above.
Leaders: Someone from the club’s Membership Committee needs to introduce and give directions about this energizer. In addition, the leader needs to ensure that someone at each table is recording highlights of the discussion.
Activity (10 minutes) : Begin by asking members of the club to recite the Four-Way Test in unison 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build goodwill and better friendship? 4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned? (1 minute).
The Leader asks a Rotarian at each table to act as the recorder. During the discussion, the recorder writes down highlights of the table discussion related to the questions above. (6 minutes).
The Leader then asks a few recorders (as time permits) to share a few highlights from their table discussion (3 minutes). The Leader then collects the handouts containing discussion highlights from the recorders.
FOLLOW-UP: The Leader gathers these handouts and turns them over to the Chair of Club’s Membership Committee. The Membership Committee could consider using these ideas when prospecting, recruiting and orienting new members.
2009 Training Calendar Set
District Governor Elect Dean Dickinson has announced the following training dates for District 6250 leadership:
District Leadership Training is set for February 21, 2009. This training session is for all District Committee Chairs and all Assistant District Governors who will begin their term of service beginning 1 July 2010.
PETS, President Elect Training, is set for March 20-21, 2009. PETS training is required for all club presidents elect and is intended to prepare incoming presidents to lead their clubs in 2009-2010.
District Assembly is set for April 18, 2009. Club Presidents Elect and their club leadership gather for training sessions intended to assist them in effective club leadership. This year special training modules have been prepared for club secretaries and treasurers. These sessions will be presented by outstanding administrators from within the district. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT ALL CLUB SECRETARIES AND REASURERS PLAN ON BEING IN ATTENDANCE.
All of the training sessions will be conducted at the Glacier Canyon Convention Center and Lodge at the Wilderness Territory located at the Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Registration information will be provided next month in the district web-site.
Membership Tips From the Zone Newsletter
Check out these great tips from the Zone 27/28 newsletter. Click here to view.
Club News, Events and Announcements
Do you have an upcoming Club Event or accomplishment that you would like to nnounce? Send your pre-written article to: rotarydistrict6250@morgandata.com.
Three Clubs Recognized for Outstanding Giving!
The International Rotary Foundation is pleased to announce that the following three District 6250 Clubs have been awarded the honor of being the Top Three Highest Per Capita Annual Giving Clubs in the District for the 2007 -2008 Rotary year. This requires a minimum US$50 per capita.
1) Madison West Towne - Middleton
2) Menomonie Noon
3) La Crosse Noon
What an amazing accomplishment!!! Congratulations to the three Clubs for their wonderful contributions to the Rotary Foundation!!! It is my wish that every Club in our District will attempt to finish in the top three this year!!! MAKE DREAMS REAL!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR is so important for all of us!!! Please consider giving that $100 minimum contribution to the Foundation!!! We need to keep moving forward to doing good throughout the world!! Thank you so very much!!!
Tom Marshall
District Governor
Visit Rotary Lights in La Crosse
Rotary Lights is an annual gift to the Coulee Region as a cooperative effort among the area's Rotary Clubs and numerous other non-profit groups and volunteer organizations.
The Rotary Lights Display began in 1995 and has grown tremendously since that time because of the fantastic support from greater
Many fun events are planned including a 5K Fun Run on December 14th. Click here to download the Fun Run Entry Form.
For more information on the full event go to http://www.rotarylights.org/index.html
Reedsburg Western Sauk County Highlight Travels to Tanzania and Visiting Exchange Students
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Eleanor Chiquoine introduced Gloria Resemini (our Exchange Student from |
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Beverly Hoege and Tammy Koenecke presented President Tom Seamonson with a Club Banner from Tanzania, District 6200 in Africa. Bev and Tammy recently visited Africa in a mission to install mosquito netting for residents to help against malaria infestation. |
RI News
Children's Book Program Partners with Local Law Enforcement
Look at this great opportunity for Rotary Clubs to become involved with their law enforcement agencies – Tom Marshall
Greetings Rotarians;
A new ly developed non-profit is sweeping over the Midwest as it reaches out to children in crisis situations! This organization, called "With wings and a halo - R.E.A.C.H. a child!" is all about donating children's books to kids in crisis through the local Police, Sheriff, State Patrol and EMS staff and volunteers. With wings and a halo supplies each emergency vehicle with a "B.A.C.K. Packet" of 10-12 various children's books for the officers to hand out to children (one book at a time) who are involved in either an accident or fire or other domestic crisis situation where children are involved! This program began in Dane County, Wisconsin less that a year ago when Paul and Chris Gilbertson, the Co-Founders of the organization, handed out 350 "B.A.C.K. Packets" (which means, Become A Cheerful Kid!) to officers and EMS at a "Kick off" meeting. Today the program has expanded into all 72 counties here in Wisconsin and over 5,000 "B.A.C.K. Packets" have been handed out with over 50,000 children's books being distributed to children in crisis situations here in Wisconsin!
The organization has a goal of becoming a National Program within the next 24-36 months and already has a waiting list of over 10,000 squad cars and ambulances that would like to have the program in their community. "Our hope is that the Rotary Organization with all of its Clubs spread throughout the country would like to partner with us on this initiative" comments Paul Gilbertson the organizations CEO. The concept of giving out a children's book to a child in crisis to help them cope with the stress of a crisis situation has been well received by everyone in the law enforcement arena and EMS services field.
"At this time the program has expanded beyond our capabilities of funding it ourselves and we are looking for help from organizations such as the Rotary." exclaims Chris Gilbertson, President of With wings and a halo - R.E.A.C.H. a child! For further information about this organization please visit the website at www.withwingsandahalo.org and together, we can "put a smile on the face of a child in the time of need!" as the organizations Mission Statement reads.
Respectfully,
Paul and Chris Gilbertson, Co-Founders
Contact information :
National Office
With Wings and a Halo - R.E.A.C.H. a Child!
407 Augusta Drive , Waunakee, Wisconsin 53597
or email us at paul@withwiongsandahalo.org
or phone 608-345-7074 or toll free at 866-WW AND AH
2010 Council on Legislation
The deadline to submit legislation for the 2010 Council is December 31, 2008. Legislation must be received by Rotary International by that date in order to be du ly proposed. If you have any questions about the Council On Legislation and what they do, please contact District Governor Tom Marshall.
Update on Annual Giving
Giving Thanks to Rotarians and the Rotary Foundation
November is Rotary Foundation Month and the month in which we celebrate one of our great holidays, Thanksgiving. As Rotarians we give thanks for the many blessings we enjoy. The glass of clean water that we drink is not available to many people in the world. Rotary continues the effort to fulfill the promise to the children of the world that we would eradicate the polio virus. We are blessed with schools in every community and with a health care system that provides us with wonderful care when we need it. We enjoy blessings that we often take for granted and which simply do not exist for many people around the world.
It is the Rotary Foundation, our foundation, which enables Rotarians to carry out the mission of Rotary. We provide support in the giving of our time, our talents and our treasures. Our financial support of the Rotary Foundation funds Group Study Exchange, Ambassadorial Scholars, Peace Scholars and Educational Scholarships for University Teachers. Ultimate ly, our Annual Support comes back to our district as District Designated Funds which allows the district to provide Simplified Grants within our district and to provide matching funds for those club and district projects that improve the lives of people around the world.
Rotarians have committed to the “advance of world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, support of education and the alleviation of poverty.”
That is our mission and it is or Rotary Foundation that supports those efforts on the part of Rotary Clubs and Rotarians.
Rotarians are committed to the “advance of world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, support of education and the alleviation of poverty.”
That is our mission and it is the Rotary Foundation that provides the financial support that makes it possible for Rotary to make a difference.
Will you consider a minimum donation to our Rotary Foundation of $100 this year, and every year? That level of support amounts to less than $2.00 per week. For those who have the means you might consider a membership in the Paul Harris Society which is made up of those Rotarians who pledge $1000 annual ly in support of the foundation. Regardless of the level of support your gift will make a difference.
Thank you for all that you do to make the world safer, kinder and more peaceful through your support of our Rotary Foundation and the work you do in Rotary and a blessed Thanksgiving.
Hal Keitel
District Foundation Chairperson
Dean Dickinson DGE
Annual Programs Chair
Foundation Reports
Each club in District 6250 has established a foundation goal and the question is how are the clubs going about the achieving those goals? Have each of the clubs done an every member enrollment? Successful clubs take the time to ask each member to make a pledge commitment to the Rotary Foundation. Fulfilling that pledge might involve a quarterly billing by the club secretary/treasurer or participating in the direct deposit transfer from the Rotarians checking account to the RI Foundation account or it might mean a monthly charge to a credit card. Successful clubs establish a process that allows their members to both make and fulfill the commitment.
Click here to view the updated Club Goals Report!
Attendance Report
New Reporting Tool for District Attendance
Check out the new reporting tool for District Attendance for 2008-2009. http://www.rotary6250.org/clubs/monthlyattendance.shtml Clubs can view each month’s attendance in a visual graph. Also Club Secretary’s can request access to update their information directly online!
A big THANK YOU goes out to District 5340 for sharing this web functionality!
Click here to submit your club's attendance report
Click here to see the full Attendance Report.
