Dec 6, 2016 | General News, Service Projects
Devastating fires have affected the Gatlinburg, Tennessee area and Rotarians in the affected area have organized a response. District 6600 Clubs or individual Rotarians who are interested in helping are asked to consider helping in any of the following ways:
1. COLLECT any of these items and bring to the MESA Warehouse (1370 N. Main Street Fostoria, OH) from now until Thursday, December 22, 2016 by noon: Coats (especially children’s sizes), warm gloves, shovels, rakes, water hoses, work gloves, mops, brooms, can openers, canned food, and bottled water. MESA Operations Director Gary Davis is available to accept donations. Please call Gary at 419-348-7719 to arrange your drop off time.
2. VOLUNTEER your time to the relief efforts at a distribution center in Sevier County. Contact Upper Sandusky Rotarian Bill Aubry to learn more.
3. DONATE funds directly to the Rotarian response efforts online at https://portal.icheckgateway.com/RotaryCommunityFund/ or mail checks to:
Oak Ridge Rotary Community Fund
PO Box 4183
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
Attn: David Carr
On the memo line write: Firestorm
For questions about District 6600’s Relief Committee contact Melanie Satterfield.
Oct 4, 2016 | General News, Service Projects, The Rotary Foundation
Thanks to a $100,000 pledge from an anonymous donor in District 6600 and a 2-to-1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, we have the chance to contribute nearly $600,000 to the End Polio Now campaign this year.
The details of the $100,000 End Polio Now match are simple:
- Individuals who make contributions between $101 and $1,000 will have their donation matched.
- Clubs who make a contribution of $1 or higher will have their donation matched.
- Donations must be made by May 21, 2017 to the End Polio Now campaign.
- Give now at rotary.org/give
PolioPlus began 30 years ago as one Rotarian’s idea that has since spread around the globe. Polio eradication is the one common service project among Rotary Clubs everywhere. The World Health Organization celebrates World Polio Day on October 24th with the goal of educating the world about the devastating effects of this disease.
A highly infectious disease, polio causes paralysis and is sometimes fatal. As there is no cure, the best protection is prevention. For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected against this crippling disease for life. After the successful engagement of over 200 countries and 20 million volunteers, polio could be the first human disease of the 21st century to be eradicated.
World Polio Day happens just once a year, but Rotary’s mission to end Polio happens every day. Thank you for your donations, support and commitment to this cause. Last year District 6600 provided enough funding to immunize 164,734 children worldwide with donations over $91,840. Our donations were then matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a total of 494,202 children who will never experience this devastating disease.
MORE RESOURCES
For questions on World Polio Day:
Harry Hooyenga, District Polio Chair or Joe Ludwig, District Foundation Chair
Sep 20, 2016 | General News
District 6600 is seeking applicants for our 2019-2020 District Governor. One of the most important decisions we make as a District is choosing our future leaders. We are seeking the most qualified person for the position of District Governor. If you have a demonstrated history of leadership and collaboration as a Rotarian and are willing to share your passion and talents as our District Governor, please seriously consider this opportunity.
A Governor Nominee must:
- Be a member in good standing of a Rotary Club in the District;
- Be a member of a club in District 6600 that has no indebtedness to RI or the District;
- Have served a full term as president of a Rotary Club;
- Demonstrate willingness, commitment and ability to full fill the duties and responsibilities of governor;
(Complete Duties of a Governor can be viewed at Rotary International Bylaws –article 16.090)
Applications can be submitted by US Mail or E-Mail any time prior to November 13, 2016. Please note that the form requires your club secretary to attest that the club is aware of and endorses your application. Please also include a cover letter stating why you are interested in serving as District Governor.
Please send the completed application (signed by the nominee and club secretary) and cover letter by November 13, 2016 to:
Rex Engle, PDG
795 Valley Drive
Amherst, Ohio 44001
E-mail: rxdg1415@gmail.com
Please direct any questions to Past District Govenror Rex Engle, Nominating Committee Chair, via e-mail to rxdg1415@gmail.com or by phone (440.452.4229). Receipt will be acknowledged, and if a receipt is not returned, please contact PDG Rex! Nominees will be notified of date and time of interviews.
District Governor Nomination Form (Deadline November 13, 2016)
Sep 8, 2016 | General News, Service Projects
In the midst of all of the life-saving medical equipment shipped in containers by District 6600’s organization, Medical Equipment Supplies Abroad (M.E.S.A.), a simple ball cap can seem like a relatively unimportant after thought. But shipment after shipment, these hats show they are so much more than a discarded hat.
The high-quality hats (some retail up to $18) are provided to M.E.S.A. by Pukka Inc., a custom hat and apparel company in Findlay, Ohio and owned by a Findlay Rotarian, Kent Rogers. Pukka gives M.E.S.A. hats that are unable to be sold by the company for a variety of reasons. The hats may be branded with a company logo and often end up in the company’s basement.
M.E.S.A. gives the Pukka hats to children in the area where the equipment containers land. Sometimes the hats are even offered as payment to individuals for helping to unload the containers. M.E.S.A. Operations Director Gary Davis shares, “I can only send a few hundred at a time because if I send too many the black market gets ahold of them and sells them for about $10 each, a huge amount of money in these areas.”
Whenever the hats are delivered, M.E.S.A. always receives pictures back of happy individuals wearing the hats. In turn, MESA shares those pictures with the people at Pukka who continue provide hats as they know they will end up reaching the most disadvantaged in the world.
The hats are an great example of taking items that are nearly worthless to one organization and making them invaluable to another. Hats off to Pukka and M.E.S.A. for this excellent partnership!
Pictured below are hats from a recent shipment to Tanzania. Tanzania is located on the southeastern side of Africa. Pukka hats were delivered to five different areas in the country.
Sep 1, 2016 | General News, The Rotary Foundation
On October 23, you are invited to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation in a very special way in Cleveland, the hometown of Arch Klumpf, founder of The Rotary Foundation.
This once-in-a-lifetime day marries Arch’s love of music and passion for “Doing Good in the World” with a special Centennial Concert featuring the world-renowned Cleveland Orchestra. The concert performance will be accompanied by a special video history of Arch and The Rotary Foundation.
After the concert, the dinner will highlight the many donations to The Rotary Foundation during this past year and the presentation of new inductees into the Arch C. Klumph Society. Many Rotary leaders from around the world, including Rotary International President John Germ and The Rotary Foundation Chair Kalyan Banerjee, will be in Cleveland to help celebrate The Rotary Foundation’s growth in service to humanity. Please note, a separate ticket is required for both the concert and the dinner. Tickets for these events are on sale now at www.trf100.org.
Finally, District 6600 along with Districts 6630 and 6650 are continuing to raise money toward their goal of $2.65 million raised. For information on how you can make a special Centennial donation or pledge contact District Rotary Foundation Chair Joe Ludwig today.
Just the facts:
- Centennial Celebration Dinner and Concert are Sunday, 10.23.16 in Cleveland, Ohio.
- Purchase tickets for both events and learn more at trf100.org.
- Consider a donation or pledge to The Rotary Foundation by contacting Joe Ludwig.
