Dec 14, 2017 | General News
District 6600 in Northwestern Ohio is pleased to announce the selection of Keith Hodkinson from the Tiffin Rotary Club as the the District Governor for the 2020-2021 Rotary year.
Keith Hodkinson has been a Rotarian for 34 years. He is the only two-term President of the Tiffin Club (in 1997-1998 and 2012-2013. He has earned a Paul Harris Fellow and was awarded a second by then District Governor Do Nguyen for distinguished service to District 6600.
Keith started The KWH Company, Ltd. In 1987 and manages several businesses under its umbrella including WTSC-Seneca County Radio, Future Stars Sports Photography and Pegasus School Images.
Keith was one of the “Founding Five” that, in 1984, developed the Tiffin Rotary Community Auction, a locally televised auction that raises money for the local Tiffin Rotary Foundation and Rotary International. In its 33 years the auction has raised over $750,000 for both local and international efforts.
Hodkinson attended his first District Conference in 2012 in Toledo where he admits it was there that he ‘drank the blue and gold kool-aid’ of Rotary International. “I had been in Rotary over 25 years at that point but never understood what being a real ‘Rotarian’ was all about.”
At that conference he heard presentations by global leaders of Rotary International and by individuals that had been affected by Rotary’s help in water and sanitation projects. He also met RI Board Member Jennifer Jones for the first time. “Her dedication to the greater cause was infectious”, Keith said.
As president of the Tiffin Club for the second time in 2012-2013, Keith kicked off a program called the Rotary Technology Initiative where the club purchased 30 iPads and charging unit security cart to be used in place of textbooks at the Tiffin Middle School for science classes. Each iPad proudly carried the Rotary logo.
In 2014, as past president and a member of the Tiffin Rotary Club Foundation he helped encourage the club to move into supporting major international efforts. Tiffin became one of several district clubs that helped fund the Honduras project. In 2015 Keith and eight other Rotarians went to San Pedro Sula, Honduras and began a week long mission trip working with teenage girls at a small, local orphanage repairing toilets, water pumps, computers, windows and general construction. Even though there was a language barrier, Keith walked away committed to the Rotary way.
In 2015, District Governor Gary Newton asked him to take over as Assistant District Governor for a number of clubs in the north central portion of District 6600. In 2017, Keith served as Sponsorship Chairman of the District Conference and worked with a local production company to put together video footage of the event.
Locally, Keith has a great love of rescue dogs and was the chief developer of the Tiffin Bark Park project, a 1.5 acre off leash dog park in Tiffin that in one year has grown to nearly 300 registered users. He serves as the non-profit corporation’s president, raising funds for the park’s on-going maintenance and improvement.
Keith is the father of three sons Eric (35), Alan (32) and John (27).
Please join us in congratulating Keith on this distinguished honor.
Oct 30, 2017 | General News, The Rotary Foundation
Two girls wash their hands at a public faucet in Santa Maria, Guatemala.
November is quickly approaching which means that clubs and districts around the world are preparing to celebrate the great work of The Rotary Foundation. Foundation Month is a great time to highlight projects that clubs in our district are doing with The Rotary Foundation and to educate members on how the Foundation works.
Here are some ideas to consider:
- Show a short video at each meeting in November that will help educate your members about The Rotary Foundation. Leaders can find videos here or here.
- Ask fellow leaders to write thank you notes to new donors in their clubs. To get a list of new donors in your club, officers can log on to My Rotary and select Foundation Reports.
- Promote our District’s updated 2017-18 Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) PowerPoint presentation as a way to educate members.
- Use Rotary’s Event Planning Guide to help you create a thoughtful community celebration.
- Plan an activity to get donors excited about #GivingTuesday – this is the perfect day to offer a matching points campaign to boost calendar year-end contributions by using your club’s Foundation Recognition Points. Click here for more information about using individual or club points to inspire giving.
Foundation Chairs and other club leaders can consult this one-page document listing several resources to help with club efforts. For additional support of your Rotary Foundation promotion in November and throughout the year, contact District Rotary Foundation Chair Rex Engle.
Sep 21, 2017 | General News
District 6600 is seeking applicants for our 2020-2021 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 District 6600;
- 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 25, 2017. 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 25, 2017 to:
Gary Newton, PDG
801 Briarcliff Drive
St. Marys, Ohio 45885-9251
E-mail: garynewton1@hotmail.com
Please direct any questions to Past District Governor Gary Newton, Nominating Committee Chair, via e-mail to garynewton1@hotmail.com or by phone (419-300-9392). Receipt will be acknowledged, and if a receipt is not returned, please contact PDG Gary. Nominees will be notified of date and time of interviews.
District Governor Nomination Form (Deadline November 25, 2017)
Dec 12, 2016 | General News
District 6600 in Northwestern Ohio is pleased to announce the selection of Carolyn Huston as District Governor for the 2019-2020 Rotary year.
Carolyn joined the Lorain Rotary Club in December of 1999. She served as the Club Treasurer for twelve years before becoming President-elect, then President in 2015-16 and is presently the Immediate Past President and Membership Chair. She is a member of the Paul Harris Society and a Major Donor to the Rotary Foundation. Carolyn is a graduate of RLI (the Rotary Leadership Institute), and is a Faculty Member of the Great Lakes Division teaching in Districts 6630, 6650.
Carolyn became involved at the district level of Rotary after attending her first district conference in Toledo in 2012. She has served on the Foundation Committee in the administration of district grants, chaired the Annual Program Fund (EREY) sub-committee, and is currently making Polio Plus presentations. Currently Carolyn serves as chair of the Paul Harris Society. She is an active member of MESA and has attended three Uniendo Project Fairs. Recently Carolyn participated in a pilot program for MESA in Morazan State in Honduras. The program sought to organize local clubs to determine the needs of medical clinics in their areas and communicate these needs to MESA. MESA has successfully organized 4 clubs to participate and work as an organization with MESA. Carolyn is an advocate for Rotarian leadership and involvement.
Carolyn is involved in her community. She is an alumna of the Leadership Lorain County program. She served for six years on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Fund at the Community Foundation of Lorain County – first as Treasurer and then as Co-chair. She served for the past three years on the board of Genesis House/Lorain County Safe Harbor – Lorain County’s domestic violence shelter. Six years ago she founded the Genesis House Pajama Party which is held every January to raise awareness of the Genesis House and is also a major source of in-kind donations for the shelter.
Carolyn is employed as the CFO of Superior Electric Supply Co. in Elyria since 1984. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree with a dual major in Accounting and Business Management. Carolyn and her husband Bob of 45 years reside in Amherst. They are the proud parents of four children and have five grandchildren.
Please join us in congratulating Carolyn on this distinguished appointment.
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
