Jun 30, 2015 | General News, Uncategorized
On Saturday, April 25, 2015 at 11:45 am Nepal was severely struck by a major earthquake. The magnitude of this earthquake hit a 7.9 on the Richter scale followed by several aftershock tremors. On Sunday, April 26, 2015, Nepal suffered another major earthquake, this one with a magnitude of 6.7 and followed yet again by several aftershock tremors. The devastation was widespread- nearly 6,000 men, women, and children were dead and over 11,000 more suffered injuries.
Just three days after the final earthquake, a call to action was made by Rotary District 6600’s District Governor, Rex Engle. He reached out to each of the 63 Rotary Clubs in our district and encouraged everyone to dig deep as clubs and as individuals to help lend support to Nepal. The initiative was focused on sending ShelterBoxes to as many families in Nepal as possible. As an added incentive, District Governor Rex Engle pledged that the District would match 20% of the cost to the first 20 boxes collected.
Donations began to come in from both clubs and individuals at a great pace but then something truly incredible happened. Mark Makulinski from the Toledo Rotary Club, offered to personally match $50,000 for all funds raised for the Nepal ShelterBox initiative. With this new incentive, District Governor Rex Engle challenged clubs to Light Up Rotary and reach the full potential of this generous match.
The response from the District was incredible! Just check out the numbers:
- 42 clubs participated in fundraising
- One generous $50,000 donation from Toledo Rotarian Mark Makulinski
- $59,575 collected from clubs and individuals, including top fundraising clubs Toledo and Fremont
- $4,000 District 6600 contributions
Resulting in:
- A $113,572 ShelterBox contribution from District 6600 and
- Over 100 Shelter Boxes provided to families in Nepal
This Nepal ShelterBox campaign was just one way that District 6600 Rotarians changed lives under the leadership of Governor Rex Engle this Rotary year.
If you haven’t already, just visit rotarydistrict6600.org and check out the circle counters to see the results of our Annual Fund and Polio Plus giving. Your contributions and service are truly how Rotary helps to change lives all over the world.
Learn more about ShelterBox at shelterbox.org
Apr 3, 2015 | General News, Service Projects
Medical Equipment and Supplies Abroad (MESA) is encouraging all Rotary Clubs in District 6600 to consider holding a clothing drive. MESA is District 6600’s largest service project and yearly collects medical supplies and equipment and ships the containers all over the world. Last year shipments from MESA reached Jamaica, Honduras, Mongolia, Belize, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Guatemala. The sometimes fragile equipment and long trips require each container to be packed with care and clothing is the solution. According to MESA Operations Manager Gary Davis, “We generally put 1,500-2,000 pounds of clothing in each container.”
Once the containers arrive at their destination, the second purpose for the clothing is realized. MESA Chairman and Past District Governor Bob Vincent shares, “Because the packing materials themselves are also needed by people in the area where the containers are going, they are our lagniappe, which is a French word that means ‘something extra’. The clothing sent creates a lot of excitement, joy, and goodwill as the local Rotarians in the final port unload the medical equipment and supplies.”
Gary Davis also shared that when containers are going to specific areas where we already have partnerships, sometimes the clothing is more specific. “In the last shipment we sent to Honduras we packed the container with clothing specifically for a girls’ orphanage there. It costs MESA $5,500 to send a container and we want to use every inch of that container to make a difference.”
If you or your Rotary club would like to participate in the MESA Clothing Drive, here are some recommendations from MESA:
- Clothing and bedding of all sorts is accepted.
- Children’s clothing and shoes are an important need.
- Winter clothing is accepted but should be marked as such.
- An ideal donation would include clothing in a sturdy garbage bag with no more than 20 pounds of clothing per bag. Each bag is moved and transported over eight times from donation to destination so tough garbage bags are a must.
- Bring your donations to the Rotary District Conference at Kalahari on April 17-19th, 2015. A MESA truck will be parked near the conference center to drop off your donations.
For more information about organizing your clothing drive please contact Gary Davis at logistics@rotarymesa.org or 419-348-7719.
Mar 9, 2015 | General News, Uncategorized
Recently, Gina Reuter from the Tiffin Rotary Club traveled to San Pedro Sula, Honduras on a seven day international mission trip. Gina was part of a team of 11 Rotarians from the Tiffin, Bryan, Swanton, Bellevue and Elyria Sunrise Rotary Clubs who traveled to San Pedro Sula to make a difference in the lives of girls in a local orphanage. Gina shares her experience in these words:
“After the initial shock of being immersed in the city with the highest per capita murder rate in the world wore off, and getting used to seeing the heavily armed guards everywhere, it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
We spent the week at La Casa de la Nina, a girls’ orphanage in the city. They called it an “orphanage”, but it was more of a home for girls whose parents had either abandoned them or were otherwise unable to care for them.
During our stay we made building repairs, painted, and did lots (and lots!) of clean-up work at the facility. In addition, we were able to provide each of the 14 girls with new shoes, new school uniforms and undergarments, and replenished the pantry with basic food staples. We were also able to provide them with three new computers. I think the best part though, was the interaction we were able to have with these girls throughout the week. They wanted to help us with every task and soaked up every bit of our attention. In a short time we accomplished so much, and formed a bond with them that I know none of us will ever forget. Leaving them was an emotional time for all of us.”
The trip also provided Gina, a member of the Tiffin Rotary Club since 2012, an opportunity to see how Rotarians are viewed in other parts of the world.
“The Rotarians in San Pedro Sula provided a wonderful example to me of what it means to be a Rotarian. It began immediately at the airport where nearly a dozen Rotarians were on hand to greet us and welcome us to their city. It wasn’t long before I realized what a special group this was. For the entire week they spent their personal time and resources to transport us wherever we needed to go, and made sure we were safe at all times. They invited us into their homes and treated us to great food and fellowship. No matter what we needed, that need was met with a true sense of generosity.
It also became obvious that they were highly respected members of the community, and that being a Rotarian was considered to be a great honor. They put their words into actions and I could tell they were really making a difference in their community. Getting to know them made me proud to be a Rotarian.”
A trip like this, although only seven days long, can impact a lifetime.
“It truly was an amazing experience and I learned that even though our lives here are so different, they are still the same in so many ways. We’re all human, you know? We laugh at the same things and cry about the same things, in any language. I hope to be able to look at life from another perspective from now on, with a sense of simplicity and gratitude. I encourage any Rotarian who has a similar opportunity to take it – you won’t be sorry!”
Thank you, Gina, for sharing your story. To learn more about International Service in District 6600, contact Jeremy Watson.
Feb 19, 2015 | General News, Training
Please join us for the First Grant Management Seminar (GMS) of 2015!
The District 6600 Grants subcommittee has developed a Grant Management Toolkit. Within this kit you will find all pertinent information on how to consider, apply, and manage a district grant. At the GMS we will be walking you step by step through the grant process as we explain this new resource.
Highlights of the GMS include but are not limited to the following:
2014-15 District Grant Report
Changes in the Grants from RI
What’s involved in doing a district grant
How do I apply – walk through the application
Rules and Regulations – The MOU and addendum
Records – why we need to keep them and why they are important!
Global grants – why we need to get involved and how we can do it
Grant deadlines for 2015-2016
Plan on breaking for lunch on your own at the resort and continuing into the early afternoon. We hope to finish by 2:30 p.m. at the latest.
IMPORTANT: In order for a club to be qualified for grants in the 2015-2016 Rotary year, AT LEAST two Rotarians from a Rotary Club must attend a GMS. We encourage you to send as many people as possible to learn about the process. FACS and Club President Elects are strongly encouraged to attend as well as Grant Chairs in clubs that have created that position.
For questions on this event please email District Rotary Foundation Chair, Joe Ludwig at jludwig67@gmail.com
REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT HERE.
Feb 12, 2015 | General News
District Governor Rex Engle is calling for nominations for awards to be presented at The Safari Adventure. While certain awards are awarded solely by the district governor, others are forwarded on to Rotary International for additional consideration. District Awards and R.I. award nominees will be recognized at the 2015 District Conference. These awards include:
- Club Builder Award for up to ten deserving Rotarians in District 6600 who have significantly supported and strengthened their Rotary Clubs
- Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service to honor members who have been actively involved in service activities related to The Rotary Foundation, such as serving on a Foundation committee, participating in a grant-funded project, or supporting a Rotary Peace Fellow.
- Rotary International Service Above Self Award is Rotary’s highest honor recognizes up to 150 Rotarians each year who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents.
- Significant Achievement Award recognizes a club in our district whose local project has addressed a significant problem or need in your community (international projects are not eligible). One club per district will be recognized each year.
In addition, there are awards that can be given to Rotarians by club presidents as well. These awards may be presented by the club president at a special occasion such as the transition to new officers and directors in June. Submission to the District Governor is not necessary. The awards include:
- Avenues of Service Citation honors a club member who participates in service activities in each of the five Avenues of Service: Club, Vocational, Community, International, and Youth.
- Family and Community Service Award recognizes individuals or organizations that are helping families in your community, as well as Rotarian family members who make positive contributions to a Rotary club.
The following award can be initiated by any Rotarian:
- Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award is the Foundation’s highest service recognition and is given to Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Foundation. Recipients must have received the Citation for Meritorious Service four years prior to be eligible for this award.
Where applicable, nomination forms are available for download and completion here. Where no nomination form is provided, please submit a letter via e-mail to DG Rex Engle of not more than two pages. Nominations for awards conferred by or forwarded by the district governor must be received no later than March 15, 2015.
Feb 2, 2015 | General News, Uncategorized
With great excitement, it is a pleasure to announce that the Nomination Committee has selected Deborah Cheney of the Waterville Rotary Club to serve as District Governor in the Rotary year 2017-2018.
Deb is a native of Van Buren, Ohio. She received her degree in Elementary Education at the University of Findlay and her Masters’ Degree in Elementary Administration at the University of Dayton. Deb was an elementary teacher for over 20 years. She was the Principal of the Waterville Primary School in the Anthony Wayne District for seven years before retiring in 2011. She currently supervises Student Teachers for BGSU and the University of Toledo.
Deb is very dedicated to Rotary and Interact. She joined the Waterville Rotary Club in 2004 and served as the President of the club during 2012-2013. Deb was instrumental in forming the Interact Club at the Anthony Wayne High School. She is currently serving as the Assistant District Governor, serving the clubs of Maumee, Swanton, Reynolds Corners, Holland-Springfield and Waterville. In addition, she is also currently on the Rotary Foundation and Public Relations Committees of the Club.
Deb is also committed to her family and involvement with Waterville United Methodist Church. She and her wonderful husband Chris live in Waterville but spend a lot of time traveling to Michigan to see their daughter, son-in-law and two favorite grandsons, Blake and Landon. They also travel to Charleston, San Francisco, and Indianapolis visiting their other four children. She enjoys baking, reading, traveling, and gardening.
Join me in congratulating Deb.
DG Rex Engle
rxdg1415@gmail.com
