May 19, 2024 | Issue 46

#Rotary Responds - Brazil

Our thoughts are with our Brazil community after the devastating floods in Rio Grande do Sul. We are proud to see Rotary and Rotaract clubs spring into action, providing relief and support to the region.

The Rotary Foundation has established a temporary Brazil Flood Response Fund. It will finance disaster response grants to assist communities in southern Brazil that have experienced devastating floods.

The Foundation will soon begin raising funds for these grants. They’ll be available to help people in affected areas in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, where heavy rains and floods since early May have killed more than 100 people, displaced more than 230,000, and affected more than 1.45 million people overall. Many people there don’t have electricity or clean water. 

The Brazil Flood Response Fund will accept contributions, including District Designated Funds (DDF), until 31 August 2024 and will distribute grants until 8 May 2025 or until the funds are spent. Any unused money will be transferred to the Disaster Response Fund for use anywhere else disasters take place. 

Districts affected by the devastation in Brazil can apply for grants to supply people with items such as water, food, medicine, shelter, and clothing. To help these communities, you and your members can: 

• Donate to the Brazil Flood Response Fund 
• Contribute District Designated Funds 
• Learn more about the fund and how to apply for disaster response grants 
• Fundraise among your colleagues, friends, and family through Raise for Rotary

As a global humanitarian organization, Rotary continually takes action to assist communities in need. We appreciate your support of member-led projects to help people at the times when it’s most urgent.

Source Rotary.org

John Tabor

District Governor

DISTRICT CALENDAR

August 10, 2024

Rotary Learning Institute

Sante Fe College

Gainesville, FL

A packed house of fellow Green Cove Springs Rotarians, family and friends were on hand to honor PDG Russ Miller in Penney Farms at the club meeting on Monday, May 13. Russ had been recognized at the recent District Conference via video conference, but the meeting on Monday provided an opportunity to honor Russ in person. PDG Jeanette Loftus spoke of her appreciation of Russ' friendship and mentorship over many years. Russ was involved in the creation of the Williams award and spoke of his relationship with Brent Williams and the influence on his Rotary journey.

PDG Jeanette Loftus, Susan Miller, Pres. Richard Knoff, Russ Miller, DG John

Photos Credit Anna Barbary, Public Image Chair for the Rotary Club of Green Cove Springs

Heroes. They sacrifice for us. They inspire us. And we honor them.

Flags For Our Heroes celebrates our heroes, living and deceased, in a touching tribute to the people who mean the most to us. Memorial Day weekend, a Field of Honor located at Memorial Park, Jacksonville shimmers with more American flags fluttering in the gently warming Spring breezes. The flags are sponsored by corporations and individuals who want to honor their heroes. 

Each flag bears the name of the sponsor and the sponsor’s hero on a information tag honoring the hero. 

The flags fly for a variety of heroes: The men and women who are serving or have served as members of the military. Police Officers. Firefighters. First Responders. Parents. Teachers. Coaches. Mentors. Community Leaders. They fly for all the people who have made a difference in our lives.

Rows of American flags flying in the Spring breeze outline Memorial Park and transform it into a hallowed space to recognize the deceased and thank the living. For some visitors, it is a place of contemplation and for everyone, it becomes a place of reflection for the people have been the heroes in our lives.

The Event will end with a concert sponsored by the Memorial Park Association celebrating 100 Years of the Park’s founding in 1924. The Concert is planned for Memorial Day, May 27th, from 5PM to 8PM. Memorial Park - 1620 Riverside Ave, Jacksonville FL 32204

Flags For Our Heroes Jax is a new event for Rotary Club of Riverside. Find more about our club and its programs at: https://www.jaxriversiderotary.org

President Josh Hull and Past President Bob Wiltfong present a ceremonial check to

Mission to End Student Homelessness of St. Augustine.

Josh Hull, President of the Rotary Club of Ponte Vedra, reported recently that thanks to the generosity of many PV Rotarians and other amazing donors, the Club had achieved its ambitious Save Our Students (SOS) $20,000 goal. "That we succeeded in our mission", Hull added, "means that many kids living in poverty among us will benefit in many varied ways which will help make their lives less stressful and their school years more successful."

PV Rotary launched Save Our Students last Fall after learning that poverty was no stranger to many students living in Nocatee, St. Johns County where the Club meets. The Club discovered that over 100 students at Valley Ridge Academy (VRA) were so affected by poverty that they couldn't afford basic items such as school supplies, extended school day tuition, field trips, medical equipment and transportation, prescription eye glasses, school t-shirts and, sadly, even housing. The teachers, administration and parents at VRA had been pitching in to help, but the needs had grown to exceed available resources.

In the Fall of 2023 PV Rotary enthusiastically embarked on an ambitious initiative to raise at least $20,000 by the Spring of 2024 to assist local students living in poverty. To accomplish its mission, the Club partnered with VRA and St. Augustine-based 501c(3) Mission to End Student Homelessness (MESH).

Anyone wishing to donate to SOS may still do so by sending your tax deductible check to the Ponte Vedra Rotary Foundation, 101 Marketside Avenue, Ponte Vedra, FL 32081, contributing online at pontevedrarotary.org or giving via Venmo @PonteVedra-Rotary, reference "SOS".

Meet your District Leadership

Karla Greenway

Assistant Governor Membership - Area 11

RC Ocala Sunset

Past President

Rotarian 9 years

Karla Greenway is originally from Lakeland, Florida and a graduate of the University of

South Florida in Tampa.

She moved to Marion County in 2002 and served as the Director of the Guardian ad Litem Program for the 5th Judicial Circuit of the Courts.

In 2010 she became the CEO of a local non-profit, Interfaith Emergency Services. She currently

serves on the board of Open Arms Village, Non-Profit Business Council, and Community

with a Heart.

She is a member of the Ocala Sunset Rotary, Ocala Women’s Network,

United Way Vision Council on Financial Stability and the advisory council to the Ocala

Housing Authority. Karla considers it an honor and a calling to serve her fellow Marion

County residents.

She is married, raised 3 children to adulthood and just became a grandmother.