District Governor Message

 We are moving ever closer to our goal of eradicating a crippling disease! I have the pleasure of announcing that as of November 6th, Rotarians have raised approximately $194.7 million for Progress of The Challenge for Polio Eradication! I can only echo Harry Henderson, PDG from Sparta, IL: Keep up the great work!

NOVEMBER is FOUNDATION MONTH

Three things every Rotarian should know about our Rotary Foundation:

·PolioPlus is the top priority of our Rotary Foundation’s global effort to eradicate polio.

·Thanks to the work of Rotary Peace Fellows, resources and focused programs, more communities will benefit from safe water and health care in the coming years, thanks to our Foundation.

·Voluntary contributions make our Foundation’s impact possible!

Giving annually to our Rotary Foundation is a financially sound decision at any time! Share the Joy that comes from caring Rotarians with the vision of a better world.

·Consider Holiday Gifts in loved ones’ names for Christmas or Chanukah this Holiday Season…

·Sign up for automatic monthly deposits beginning 2012. Information is on R.I.’s website.

·Remember that donations to the Rotary Foundation are tax-deductible and yield the most bang for any buck here and abroad.

Program Opportunity for St. Louis Area Clubs

Attention Club Presidents and Program Directors:

 

Dr. Patricia Wolff is a St. Louis pediatrician who has been working in Haiti for over eight years, using peanut butter to save thousands of Haitian toddlers from brain damage and death. She founded Meds & Foods for Kids (MFK) to address the critical malnutrition of Haitian infants; her non-profit is associated with Doctors without Borders.

 

Dr. Wolff presents an eight minute video, highlighting the MFK work to produce and distribute the peanut butter formula through local Haitian clinics; and the future of local Haitian sustainability of this project.

 

If you would like her to speak at your Club Meeting, please reach her by email: pwollf@mfkhaiti.org or via office phone: 314-420-1634.

Great People in D6060

This month we are introducing two new features:

PDGs:  Where Are They Now? What Keeps Them Busy?

Interview with Todd Lindley, PDG 2010-2011

After stepping down, what was the biggest change you noticed?

Almost abruptly, as soon as July 1^st appeared, I experienced a reduction in daily volume of emails and phone calls! What had been 100 daily emails immediately decreased to 30-40 per day; phone calls followed a similar pattern.

What keeps you busy these days, on a personal level and in Rotary?

I continue to practice dentistry full time.

My current focus is on the Clean Water projects that exist in Guatemala, Sumatra, and Costa Rica. These projects are partially funded by the nationwide coffee fundraising program first begun by Cape Girardeau Rotarian and former Ambassadorial Scholar Bill Prost.

A trip to India is in the planning stages. I will have the honor to attend as a R.I. President’s Representative when Mrs. Lindley and I travel to the District 2980 Conference held in Salem, India.

How did being District Governor broaden your Rotarian View?

I became closer to the District Governors around the world; personal friendships have evolved from many of the DGs that I first met in San Diego in 2010. We continue to stay in touch, thanks to my District Governor experience.

 

Great People in D6060:

Members New and Old:

Interview with Dick Sant, owner of Sant Automotive, St. Louis, and Chairman of The Missouri Rotary Disaster Coordinating Committee

Dick, you are the first chairman to take the reins of this newly formed Rotarian committee.

How did you first become interested in this project?

The Haiti Earthquake had occurred in January, 2010. I was the President Elect of the Rotary Club of Webster Groves, so attended the 2010 PETS conference. I noticed a ShelterBox display manned by Jeff Deatherage from Leawood, Kansas. I was interested in ShelterBox because Justilien Landry from our club had taken up a collection for ShelterBox soon after the disaster. At PETS, Jeff mentioned that he was trying to set up a team to spread awareness throughout Missouri, and he asked if I was interested in helping. I became involved with ShelterBox. Then, I asked Governor Eric if he would name me the ShelterBox representative for the district so that Rotarians could more easily contact me if they wanted more information about ShelterBox. Eric said, "Sure!” but he added the caveat that the job would also include helping to coordinate Rotarians’ response to local disasters. "Not a problem, "I said. A committee was then formed that included Jon Hanson from District 6040 and Fred Hahn from District 6080. Those guys are much smarter than I, so they named me chairman. In retrospect, I never had a chance.

What are your hopes for this project?

Our mission is to coordinate Missouri Rotarians’ response to our state’s disasters.

Does the committee envision this as a "hands on” response from Missouri Rotarians?

Our primary goal is to recommend policy regarding the collection of funds and the coordination of available Rotarian manpower in the event of any state disaster. The "hands on” aspect is still iffy; but we are talking to agencies like SEMA, the State Emergency Management Agency, to see how Rotarians can best serve.

Are there any ways that interested Rotarians and state Clubs may assist the Committee during the planning stages?

At this point, the three Rotary Districts in Missouri are working to recommend policy as to how each of the districts should organize its disaster relief efforts. Currently, we envision a system whereby funds would be collected by and from Rotarians and delivered to Rotary clubs in affected areas. We will likely set up a 501(c) (3) corporation to accept donations and from which our Rotary District will distribute funds directly to clubs nearest to a disaster.

The thought is that disasters are local and that those closest are best equipped to assess needs. So to answer your question, any thoughts or suggestions are certainly welcome, but each Rotarian and each Club should also think about preparedness and about how they could best respond should a disaster strike home. Finally, be ready to serve.

Great Moments in D6060

Rotary’s History with Youth

Rotary has a long history of service to youth. Last month’s column featured the history of Interact clubs. I had hoped to list the clubs sponsoring Interact but didn’t get the names in time. During a recent District Council Meeting I learned that seven clubs sponsor Interact clubs. They are, Crestwood-Sunset Hills, DeSoto, Florissant, High Ridge, St. Louis, St. Peters, and Sullivan. Additionally, the St. Francois Club is looking into starting a middle school Interact club and the St. Louis County Club is starting an Interact club within the Mehlville School District. If there are other Interact Clubs not mentioned here, please let me know, hendersonmartha@sbcglobal.net

Does your club sponsor, or is it thinking about, sponsoring an Interact club? If so, our District now has a New Generations Chair – Katie LaMarsh. Katie is a member of the St. Louis Club, is a marketer by profession, and is ready and eager to connect with District Interact clubs and other New Generation programs. You can contact Katie at klamarsh@gobrandgo.com

Has your club established a New Generations Committee? If not, it is time to get started. In 2010, New Generations Service became Rotary’s Fifth Avenue of Service. This new service includes Rotary’s youth and young adult programs including Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) and Rotary Youth Exchange.

Rotary’s history of working with youth dates back to the 1920’s when many clubs took part in an international event known as Boys’ Week. First held in New York City in May 1920 by the Rotary Club of New York, the event was part of an effort to promote youth development in the areas of education, citizenship, health and hygiene, and vocation. In 1934, Boys’ Week became known as Youth Week and in 1936, Boys’ and Girls’ Week.

The RI Board of Directors voted to discontinue Rotary’s official sponsorship of Boys’ and Girls’ Week in 1956 in order to support new youth efforts. Those efforts grew into Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary Youth Exchange.

The New Generations Service is the next step in providing positive influences for youth as we develop tomorrow’s leaders.

 

Martha Henderson

District 6060 Historian

Council On Legislation - Final Call

Rotary International’s Council on Legislation meets every three years to debate and vote on proposed legislation submitted by clubs, districts, and the RI Board. The 2013 Council’s deadline for submissions is December 31, 2011. Submissions must be received by that date; there are no exceptions.

Legislation proposed by a club must first be endorsed by the clubs of the district in order to be presented to the Council. For the required form, guidelines, and complete details on the how-to process, please refer to the Council on Legislation page of Rotary.org.

Contact our District Foundation Chair; Stacey Self: rotaryhalfpint@yahoo.com, should you have any further questions.

DG Eric's Closing Remarks

Thanks much to all our contributors this month!

We have members - old and new – continuing to serve their fellow man in and out of our District. Help me cheer them on! Drop me a line so I may include some of the Unsung Heroes in future newsletters.

Lastly, Donna joins me in wishing you and your loved ones a safe, bountiful and blessed Thanksgiving Day!

Sincerely,

Eric

P.S.: Thank you once again to Annette Johnson for assisting with this month’s newsletter. Annette is a Club 2353 Washington MO member, freelance business writer and owner of AJB Enterprises; her email is:annette.brochier@gmail.com.