November is Rotary Foundation Month. I can’t think of a better tool to use than our own charitable foundation that provides grants and programs for Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to embrace the mission of Rotary . . . . . advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. If your club would like to participate in a humanitarian grant in a struggling part of our world, contact Pam McKinley of R/C Pocatello-Portneuf (pmmckinley@cableone.net) to learn what other clubs in the district are working on and how you might join in.
Polio eradication is on everyone’s mind these days with the confirmation of 13 Type I cases in Syria. A large-scale immunization drive targeting 1.6 million children with vaccinations for polio, measles, mumps and rubella started there on Oct. 24. Multiple large-scale SIAs (Supplemental Immunization Activities) targeting 22 million children in countries including Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Iraq and Palestine will continue over the next 6 to 8 months. Please make a donation through your club or at www.rotary.org to PolioPlus now, and help Rotary keep its promise to the children of the world to eradicate polio once and for all. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has committed to matching Rotarian contributions 2:1, up to the $35 million/year through 2018. Jerome leads the way in D5400 PolioPlus support at $86.21/capita.
As we move closer to Thanksgiving, let us remember our own good fortune, doing whatever we can to walk the Rotary talk, making the world a better place for all through our personal generosity and goodwill. $20 buys polio vaccine for 100 children.
We are well into our Rotary year and its always helpful to see how we're doing in meeting our pledges to the Rotary Foundation Annual Program Fund and Polio Plus. Check it out here:
Rotary clubs around the world are pledging emergency aid to communities in central Philippines after last week’s massive typhoon flattened entire coastal towns and villages,
killed thousands of people, and displaced nearly 600,000 more. Rotary President Ron Burton is urging our 34,000 clubs worldwide to continue to assist storm victims.
So far, through mid-November we have added 14 new members to our ranks, while losing just 7. That +7 is a great number! However, for the year to date, since last July 1, we are down a net 18 - that's not good news. Congratulations to Mountain Home (+4) and Boise Metro (+3). Remember, our TV ad campaign (funded by our Public Image Grant from RI), will begin in January. Have you invited a prospect this month?
On November 4, the Idaho Falls Rotary Club received notice from Rotary International that Interact Club of Idaho Falls has been chartered (September 9, 2013)!
Efforts have been under way to form the club since last spring. The club is made up of students from all District 91 high schools. The club includes 19 board members, 9 of which attended RYLA in 2013, and 75 members. The club meets twice a month and has consistently seen 50-60 attendees at each meeting. So far the club has learned about Interact and Rotary, Polio, community needs, and is preparing to do a number of small projects in time for the holidays. The photo shows the students opening up one of their meetings with an ice breaker.
Posted by Rotary Foundation Chair Gene Hoge
on Nov 17, 2013
November is Foundation Month. Recently we had 3 Foundation Seminars in our District. Many thanks to those who participated! The purpose was to inform Rotarians about the Foundation as we enter into Future Vision which began 1 July, 2013. With the help of Kevin Bradshaw, we hope to get the presentations on our website. Our Foundation went from 7 committees to 13 in this past year. We have a very strong team that was created to help the clubs. Just ask yourself "what can the District Foundation do for me"? Please go to our website:rotarydistrict5400.org and click on the Foundation link. The District 5400 Foundation Leadership Team is a download on the left. The contact information is found by scrolling on page 2.
All Rotarians need to know there is a supply side to the Foundation where we give, i.e. Annual Program Fund, PolioPlus and Endowment. There is a spend side where we feature District Grants, Global Grants, Scholarships, PolioPlus and Vocational Training Teams. The best way to be informed about the Rotary Foundation is to watch videos from the Rotary International website. Just go to:rotaryinternationalvideos. My favorites are vimeo.com/51087896 (We are"This Close"), 49343906 (Good-Bye Polio). There are lots of Rotary videos on YouTube - you'll find the link to them on the District homepage. These videos can be shown at club meetings. They will motivate members to realize they are part of a larger body that involves 1.2 million members in 33,000 clubs worldwide. Would you be willing to show a video once a month to promote Rotary and the Foundation?
There is great enthusiasm this year in our District. Our District 5400 had only been asked for $18,000 from the clubs for District Grants in any year in the past. This year 2013-2104, our clubs asked for over $102,000 in District Grants. The amount awarded to the clubs was $46,589. This increased amount was the highest ever and will bless many communities. Again go to the rotarydistrict5400.org website and go to Forms. The District Block Grants Approved 2013-2014 list will show the 22 grants approved.
The biggest challenge we had with FutureVision was to have a digital website for our District and Global Grant process. We now have it. Please go to matchinggrants.org and you will be very impressed! There is a step by step process for you to get involved. You can follow any District or Global Grant. We currently have 31 clubs that are qualified to apply for a Global Grant. Anyone interested can contact Pam McKinley, Russell Johnson or Gene Hoge.
Boise East Rotary Club held its Beer and Brat fundraiser on Tuesday Oct. 29, 2013 at Smokey Mountain Pizza on Parkcenter Blvd. during our normal meeting time from 5:30-7:30pm. The event was held to help raise funds for Global Gardens. It was a nice success, in the amount of people we were able to bring together, while having a great time meeting new people from outside the Rotary clubs of Boise.
Our friends at Semilla Nueva have launched a campaign to raise $20,000 to expand production of pigeonpea in Guatemala. The program will run through Dec 12th. Proceeds will be used as follows:
Provide seed to 2000 farmers in 2014
build a seed bank
experiment with different varieties
host education programs
promote new recipes
connect with international markets
Pigeonpea has incredible promise to bring our farmers out of poverty.
UPDATED!! In response to the challenge issued by our Public Relations grant, several District Rotary Clubs have stepped up and opened new websites to promote their clubs. The Grant, which will pay for some 1600 TV spots in January of 2014, challenges all our clubs to have an "internet presence" in order to promote membership in Rotary. Although they are still "under construction", the clubs that have opened new websites since our grant was approved are:
Preston
Salmon
Burley
Western Treasure Valley
Pocatello Portneuf
Gooding
Jerome
Buhl
Meridian
St. Anthony
Pocatello Centennial
Aberdeen
Congratulations! There are still 7 clubs that need to "get on board" and create a website!
November is Rotary Foundation Month. I can’t think of a better tool to use than our own charitable foundation that provides grants and programs for Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to embrace the mission of Rotary . . . . . advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education and the alleviation of poverty. If your club would like to participate in a humanitarian grant in a struggling part of our world, contact Pam McKinley of R/C Pocatello-Portneuf (
