Sep 22, 2015 | General News, Uncategorized
Hundreds of Rotarians from the United States and Canada gathered in Detroit September 10-13, 2015 for the Zones 28 & 29 Institute. More than 25 District 6600 Rotarians and partners attended the Motor City Zone held at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center.
District 6600 was prominently featured for its involvement in the Rollin’ with Rotary project in August. Highlighting activities sponsored by the Perrysburg and Sandusky Rotary Clubs, Rotarians watched a summary video and learned that we literally achieved millions of social media impressions throughout the campaign. Click HERE to watch the Rollin’ with Rotary video!
Our District also received several awards recognizing our support of The Rotary Foundation at the Zone Institute gala on Saturday evening prior to a performance by The Contours and Martha Reeves and the Vandellas. Zones 28 and 29 were the number one paired zone in the world for Rotary Giving and District 6600 Rotarians played an important part. In addition to being the number one District for ShelterBox giving last year at a whopping $123,710, we were recognized for the second highest contribution to END POLIO NOW with $155,570 and the third highest donor district in Zone 29 for Rotary Foundation giving at $603,289! In just our polio work alone, when matched by the generosity of the Gates Foundation, nearly 778,000 children will receive life-saving immunizations.
Congratulations to Immediate Past District Governor Rex Engle, District Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Joe Ludwig, and the 2014-15 class of Presidents and Foundation Chairs. And a huge thank you to the 1,984 donors to the Every Rotarian, Every Year campaign. To get a head start of your giving for this Rotary Year, click HERE to be directed to The Rotary Foundation.
Sep 17, 2015 | Events, General News, Uncategorized
Polio eradication is the one common service project among Rotary clubs everywhere. The World Health Organization celebrates World Polio Day on October 23rd with the goal of educating the world about the devastating effects of this disease.
YOU CAN HELP
To show our support, Rotarians all over District 6600 have an opportunity to support End Polio Now through fellowship and food. On Thursday October 22rd, Bob Evans restaurants around our district will be donating 15% of your bill to End Polio Now. It’s that simple. Eat breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or all three!) at your favorite Bob Evans restaurants, show the staff your flyer, and you will have made a difference. Here are a few ideas about how you can promote this event:
- Hold your regular club or committee meeting at Bob Evans
- Distribute the flyer to co-workers, friends and family
- Organize a fellowship event for your members to meet for breakfast, lunch or dinner
Download Flyer
MORE RESOURCES
In addition to our Bob Evans End Polio Now Fundraiser, here are a few other items that may help your club promote World Polio Day:
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 259,283 children world wide with donations over $155,000. Our donations were then matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for a total of 777,850 children who will never experience this devastating disease.
For questions on World Polio Day:
Tim Ryan, District Polio Chair or Joe Ludwig, District Foundation Chair
Jul 29, 2015 | General News, Service Projects, Youth Programs
The Rotary Club of Sandusky has received a Significant Achievement Award from 2014-15 Rotary International President Gary Huang in recognition of outstanding and significant community efforts with their annual “Rotary Clothes Kids” program. The nomination was submitted by Immediate Past District Governor Rex Engle. Assistant Governor Maris Brenner was the 2014-15 President of Sandusky Rotary.
Over the course of five weekends in November and December 2014, Sandusky Rotarians shopped for more than 200 children. According to Past President Brenner, “What’s special about these children is a lot of them have never gotten the chance to go shopping and pick out what they want. Their guardians will send them with a list of sizes and stuff they need. We spend between $125 to $140 on each child.” Sandusky Rotary also involved young people by partnering with students from Margaretta, Perkins, and St. Mary’s Central Catholic High Schools.
According to RI President Huang, “the Significant Achievement Award recognizes outstanding Rotary club projects that address the most pressing needs of their local communities. These projects illustrate Rotary’s avenue of Community Service in action and they provide successful models for other Rotary clubs to replicate.”
Congratulations to the leaders in Sandusky Rotary for making such an impact in the lives of young people in Sandusky!
Click HERE for a photo gallery of the 2014 “Rotary Clothes Kids” event.
Jul 23, 2015 | General News, Service Projects
My name is Brad Rubini and I’m a past president of Toledo Rotary and your Literacy Chair for District 6600. I’d like to Share My Story with you about why I believe in Rotary literacy projects and how I became so passionate about literacy.
As a child I was always in the back of the class, I was always being tested – strange glasses with color lenses, color strips to put on paper and other tests. I was a great student in art, shop, gym, cooking but not in English, math and history. Finally in my senior year of high school they figured out what was wrong- I am dyslexic. I did graduate from high school and attended college but had to take remedial English and Math 90 that is below college level. The funny part about this is my wife was a straight A student but when the children asked history questions, I remembered the answers. I just learned in a different way!
July 6, 2000, was the worst day of my family’s life. Our oldest child, Claire, died at Girl Scout camp in Defiance. Claire LOVED to read and at age 7, as I was reading to her before bed, she said, “Daddy, why are you reading the words wrong?” Boy, did that hurt! So I explained to her what my problem was and for the next three years she read to me on most nights while my wife read to our other two children.
For many years in Northwest Ohio, the third Saturday in May is now “Claire’s Day,” the largest children’s book festival in Ohio and maybe the whole country (visit Claire’s Day for more information). One of the highlights of the event is recognizing the most improved reader in the classroom. We presented over 800 students this award last year. I am passionate about literacy!
Many clubs in the district do a great job promoting literacy in their communities. If your club doesn’t have an active literacy program or you’d like to enhance your current program, you can get started for as low as $60. Here are some ideas that may help your club:
The Dictionary Project. A case of 24 student dictionaries for presentation to classrooms your club might sponsor to promote literacy and the work of Rotary – all for $60!
Apple Dumpling Book Program. This Literacy Project was developed by the Rotary Club of Fairborn, Ohio and is centered on a children’s picture book featuring, Andy and Elmer, designed to promote literacy, ethics and the Four-Way Test. The Fairborn Rotary Club was awarded the 2006-07 North American “Lead The Way” Literacy Award from the Rotary International Literacy Resource Group for this project.
Four-Way Test Bookmarks. Spread the word with these inexpensive royal blue ribbon bookmarks that feature the Rotary International emblem and The Four-Way Test hot-stamped in gold. Sold only in packs of ten.
Create a Rotary Club-sponsored “Little Free Library” in your community.
Start your own Rotary Club Claire’s Day Event. Click HERE or contact me for more information.
I’m excited about what we can do to promote literacy through Rotary. And I’m here to help. Please let me know how I can work with you in this vital area of focus.
Brad Rubini
District 6600 Literacy Chair
brad@toledospring.com
(419) 704-3890
Jul 6, 2015 | General News, Uncategorized
The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women in their initial years of professional life. Rotary districts in different countries are paired to send and receive professional study groups of four non-Rotarian team members and one Rotarian team leader to travel for four to six weeks, staying in the homes of Rotarians when possible.
We are pleased to announce that District 6600 and District 1020 located in Southern Scotland have agreed to an exchange. We will we send a GSE Team to Scotland in March 2016 and a return team will visit from District 1020, tentatively in the 2016-17 Rotary year. District 1020 is located in Southern Scotland and spans from coast to coast. The northern border of the district is along the River Forth and reaches south to the border of England. The district includes the major cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh.
The District 6600 GSE Committee is now seeking applications for a Team Leader and four Team Members to visit Scotland. We need your help to identify candidates for these positions, and especially to encourage eligible young professionals to apply.
The GSE Team Leader must be a Rotarian from District 6600. Rotarians with proven leadership ability and international travel experience are encouraged to apply. The District Governor, his spouse, the Immediate Past District Governor and his spouse, are not eligible to serve as Team Leader. Otherwise, all Rotarians in District 6600 are eligible. The GSE Committee will accept Team Leader applications until August 15, 2015. DOWNLOAD TEAM LEADER APPLICATION
The remaining four GSE Team members must be non-Rotarians between the ages of 25 and 40 who have been employed for at least two years in a recognized profession. They must either live or work in District 6600, and must be free to travel abroad during the month of March 2016. The team members may not be spouses or linear descendants of a current Rotarian. Team member applications will be accepted until September 1, 2015. DOWNLOAD TEAM MEMBER APPLICATION
Completed applications should be returned to:
Ron Stoner, District 6600 GSE Chair
Email: stonerron@gmail.com or by mail : 220 Western Ave., Bowling Green, OH 43402
This will be an incredible opportunity for not only the selected team members but our entire District as we have the opportunity to share Rotary with a group of emerging leaders.
Download a PDF with more GSE Details from Rotary International
Jul 1, 2015 | General News
Gary Newton has been a Rotarian since 1996. He is a member of the St. Marys Club and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Gary has served as President of the Northmont Club in District 6670 and was honored as that Club’s Rotarian of the Year. He has also served more recently as the President of the St. Marys Club in District 6600. In addition, he has served on the Boards of both Clubs and many committees.
Gary has served District 6600 as an Assistant District Governor. He has been Chief of Staff for the District Governor Elect and the District Governor. Gary has also served on three District Conference Committees.
He is a former CPA having worked in both public accounting and private industry. He also owned and operated Newton’s Book Store in Englewood for 19 years.
Gary is a graduate of Wright State University in Dayton with a B.S. in accounting.
He serves as the Chair of the Administrative Board of his church. He has served on the Boards of the Northmont Area Chamber of Commerce, and Partners for Community Living. Gary has also served for the past 15 years as the President of Resident Home Association in Dayton.
Gary is married to Debbie, a Certified Nurse Midwife with ProMedica in Toledo. Debbie is also a Paul Harris Fellow. They are the proud parents of four children living in Ohio, Texas, and California, and three grandchildren.
See more photos from the District Installation of Officers held on June 26, 2015 in Lima, Ohio.
