Governor's Message

 

As I write this,     

 

 

I'm struck by how a Rotary Year is so much more than a year. Dist. Gov. Elect (DGE) Sarah has attended International Assembly and conducted training for her Assistant Governors (AGs) and Leadership Team already, yet this year has nearly 6 months to go. I smiled a lot when I heard about R.I. President Elect Ron Burton's theme, "Engage Rotary, Change Lives." Hopefully, 6440 will continue to do just that, for the balance of this year, and far into the future. See his theme announcement by clicking here.

 

I think this is how Betsy would like us to remember her.

As someone who witnessed Betsy Demaray's fight against Cancer, I can tell you that it was long, hard, and the outcome predictable. I will miss her personally, and all of us in Rotary benefitted greatly from her dedication.

 

The Official Visits may be over, but the club visits continue to be a highlight of the year. I've lost count of how many breakfasts and lunches I've eaten, how many miles I've driven, how many members I've inducted, and how many Paul Harris awards I've presented. Each and every one has been a pleasure for me, and I look forward to being invited to YOUR meeting or YOUR event as the year progresses.

 

Somehow, the calendar still appears full. Next month, I will have the privilege of giving hands on service in Guatemala. Plans are shaping up for District Conference. I hope you have it on your personal calendar to be at at least one event April 19-20. And, another International Convention, this time in Lisbon, is on the horizon. There will be fun times at The Wolves' game February 24, and the Kane County Cougars June 1.

 

I hope each of you is asking yourself the same questions about their clubs that District Leadership is asking about 6440.

• What can I do personally to increase our numbers?
• Is everyone in the club getting the opportunity to be an engaged Rotarian?
• Have I met the last three people who joined?
• Have I sat at the same table as each of the last three people who joined at least once?
• How can we make better use of social media?
• What's the new fund raising idea that will bring in money from the public, rather than Rotarian's pockets?
• What's one thing we've been doing better this year than we did last year?
• What's the one thing we need to do better on for the rest of this year?
• Do we lose new members in the first two years? How can we stop losing them?
• Are we ready for Future Vision?

 

The answers may not be easy, but they're answers we need to grow the organization, and do more good in our local communities and the world. As each of the President Elects (PEs) starts to work on their Planning Guides as a prelude to President Elects Training Sessions (PETS), think of these questions, and how you can answer them to the benefit of your club. Seek input from club members. Develop an overall strategy and objectives. You can't possibly get to where you want to be if you haven't identified your destination.

 

The winter doldrums are a perfect time to re-energize yourself and your club by doing service to others. Please, if you haven't participated in a service project this Rotary year, commit to one in February, If you have, commit to another one.

 

Yours in Rotary Service 

 

Gov. Mike

  

Rotary Youth Leadership Training (RYLA) Registration is in Progress.

The RYLA camp dates this year are March 7-10 and April 4-7.   RYLA has five amazing, educational and inspiring speakers at both weekends.  This program is rated very highly by participants: it is extremely popular and motivating program for tomorrow's future leaders.  Rotarian's are encouraged to come up to Camp Edwards Camp and Conference Center In East Troy Wisconsin to witness the speakers and activities.  You will be inspired and proud of what we as Rotarian's are doing for today's youth, tomorrow's leaders!  RYLA is open to High School students in Rotary District 6440.

Camp RYLA March 2012

Many clubs have already submitted their candidates and applications.  Schools in your community should at this point have the registration materials.  If your club has questions or does not have the materials, please contact Sean right away, 630.688.5165.  There is still plenty of time. He is able to help if you are behind getting the materials or explaining the program to local schools in your community

Recognize friends, family, spouses, and colleagues for the many valuable contributions to your life. Recognize a local volunteer, business owner, professional, or teacher for their service in the community.  You can do this by giving them a Paul Harris Fellow award -- donate to the Foundation (and earn "Foundation Recognition Points"), to Annual Programs Fund, PolioPlus, or as a sponsor portion to a Foundation grant.

Said one Rotarian, "I'm planning on making my grandson a PHF (Paul Harris Fellow) for his first birthday!"  For more information on recognition points, click here.  Questions - contact your club's Foundation Chair. 

Traveling abroad or in the USA?  Before you go, look up the Rotary club at your destination. Websites give info on meeting day, place and time.

Can't attend meetings but want to meet local Rotarians? Send an e-mail to club presidents. Ada Kahn did that recently in Israel and enjoyed visits with four Rotarians in two cities.  

In photo, Ada P  Kahn, Pres-elect, Rotary club of Evanston,  receives a banner  from past presidents Yaacov  Mishori (left)  and  Yehuda Brin (right) of the Rotary Club of Tel Aviv-Yafo.while visiting Tel Aviv in January, 2013.  To read of Ada Kahn's experiences, click here.

Here's an example: 

Rotary Club of Wheeling Grant Fund's Wheeling Food Pantry

Presents- -Steak Dinner-Casual Night-Bring your significant other

Enjoy a Meal and a Dance to the Music for all Ages

ALL PROCEEDS TO THE WHEELING FOOD PANTRY

To read more about their event and the food pantry, click here, or write Jim Bradley jcbplanner@aol.com. 

"Mystery Machine"

• Travels of GSE (Group Study Exchange) Team - read of their travels and activities in India through their  BLOG and on Facebook.

      

• EPN (Eradicate Polio Now) EVENTS -- Cubs stars of the future.

  In addition to The Wolves game on 2/24, we'll be raising money for Polio, and having fun at The Kane County Cougars game on Saturday evening, June 1.  You'll see Cubs stars of the future, be able to have your pinky painted purple, and enjoy a spectacular fireworks show.  This is an ideal family fellowship opportunity for each club.

   

• Vocational Scholarships are available
  -- for careers that require LESS THAN A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.  15 scholarships will be awarded @ $1,000.  For info and contact name, click here. For application, click here. 

   

• Rotary International President-Elect Ron Burton's theme is...
  "Engage Rotary, Change Lives".   Said Gov. Mike, "Hey, I like it. I'm sure the engaged Rotarians of 6440 will be behind this new theme in Rotary Year 2013/14."  Click photo to see the speech.  

        

Ron Burton theme speech

 

• Date and Supplies for Rotary Reads/Family Literacy Day -- it is November 21, 2013. Requests for free materials from the Secretary of State's Literacy Office should be sent by March 1, 2013, use the state order form by clicking here.

• The fight against polio was on the January 14 cover of TIME Magazine. Read about the progress in fighting polio and Rotary's role in eradicating this crippling disease.
  
  "Thanks to aggressive global vaccination programs led by Rotary Inter
  national, UNICEF, the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, and, most recently, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the year just beginning could be the disease's last."   
      

   
• District Governor Elect Sarah addressed her leadership team January 26 after returning from the International Assembly in San Diego. Let's Engage Rotary & Change Lives!
   
   

District 6440 is proud to announce that the prestigious award was

Gururaj Kumar

given to Gururaj Kumar by the trustees of The Rotary Foundation.  Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Evanston Lighthouse, he will be able to pursue peace studies for three months at Chulangakorn University, Bangkok, Thailand this year. 

Gururaj is a native of Michigan and lives with his wife on the north side of Chicago. His leadership potential was first recognized by Rotary when his hometown Rotary club selected him to participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.  To read more about him, our past winner (2002-2004), and the award, click here, or contact Jill Brickman, JillBr@aol.com, 312-805-1980.  Also see the Rotary International website page for more information about this inspiring program.    

Our District Trainer, Cynthia Tomusiak, said, "I would like to publicly welcome Julie Clark as Deputy District Trainer.  She is enthusiastic, highly motivated and a great addition to the District Leadership team.  I am looking forward to working with her!

"The District Conference Team is hard at work putting together a fabulous District Conference! Kudos to them and I am looking forward to this year's Conference. In addition, as we did last year, District Assembly will be held on the Saturday of District Conference. The Leadership team is focused on making the most of training and fellowship time for our District's Rotarians!

"The President's Elect Training (P.E.T.s) is coming up, the President's Elect are busy with "homework" as I send out chapters of the President's manual to them in preparation for PETS!

"I am very lucky to work with such a great group of Rotarians! Yours in Rotary, Cynthia."

Continuing a successful campaign begun in January 2012, Rotary District 6440 delivers millions of ads to Facebook users living in northeast Illinois. The campaign is funded with a Rotary International PR Grant and contributions from District 6440 Rotarians through their annual dues.

The campaign features more than two dozen different ad executions in five themes: "Reasons to Join Rotary", "What's Rotary?", and ads promoting GSE, Rotary Youth Exchange and RYLA.  To read more about the creative and expansive campaign by click here.