Stories

TURN AROUND.   Making a difference in someone else’s life usually begins as a total inconvenience.   Opportunities to do good in someone else’s life usually come to us while we are on our way to do something else.  The norm is that we generally just sail right on past the opportunity. We mind our own business. We look the other way.  When we do that, nothing changes.  

The year that I served as club president the RI theme was “Be a gift to the world.”  At that time I thought to myself, “How can an insignificant club in an obscure town in Idaho ever be a gift to the world?” Then I thought about the exchange student that came to our club from Italy that year.  This boy had never heard of Idaho before he came here. I recall he got up in one of our club meetings just before he left to go home. With tears streaming down his face, he thanked us for giving him the gift of living for a year in our community!  When he returned home he told everyone in Italy all about his experiences here in his new second home.  He treasured his time in Idaho. Collectively we continue to be an influence for good in his life. That is when it occurred to me that through Rotary we can be A GIFT TO THE WORLD! 

In the many visits I have made in recent months to clubs around the District, I have found that fewer and fewer clubs are “SINGING CLUBS” these days.  Singing used to be a mainstay of Rotary Clubs all over the world. Multiple copies of quaint Rotary songbooks filled with fun Rotary songs would be passed out at every meeting and members would stand up and sing together, sometimes multiple times throughout the meeting....

Reports on all open Rotary Foundation District Grants are due on May 15, 2019.  If your project is completed please fill out the final report form (located on the administration side of the description tab of your grant at www.matchinggrants.org and upload it as a pdf along with your receipts to the documents area of the grant. 

Rotary’s mission statement ultimately focuses on peace. But what must you have, before you can have peace?  You must have fundamental basics. People can only dare hope for peace, when those fundamentals are in place; fundamentals like water, disease prevention, health care, and literacy.

Once a year, District 5400 holds a gigantic, stupendous, and incomparably inspiring two-day leadership summit.  This event is open to all Rotary leaders and those who want to be Rotary leaders. Leadership is another form of SERVICE in Rotary: Service to your club.  RLS + PETS give you the opportunity to really learn, plan and set goals so you can do more good in the world.  Here are the top 10 reasons why you should attend this year.
 

Each year, Rotary funds some of the world's most dedicated and brightest leaders to study at Rotary Peace Centers.  Through training, study, and practice, Rotary Peace Fellows become catalysts for peace and development. Many go on to careers with governments, NGOs, the military, law enforcement, and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.

Brand new, freshly minted, we are so excited to be able to contribute to Rotary efforts in our District. Our club was formed using a charter from the former Portneuf Pocatello Club. We are grateful to them for their stewardship in extending their charter and enabling Rotary to innovate in this way. 

Beginning in February, you’ll be able to edit or cancel your recurring giving through Rotary Direct by signing in to My Rotary and going to Donor Self-Service.  The change is intended to make recurring giving faster, easier to manage and more secure. Your email address is your user ID at rotary.org. If you have questions or need assistance using Donor Self-Service, call the Rotary Support Center at +1-866-9Rotary (+1-866-976-8279) or email rotarydirect@rotary.org. 

The Paul Harris Fellow recognition was started by The Rotary Foundation in 1957 to recognize $1,000 in cumulative giving.  Adjusted for inflation, $1000 in 1957 is equal to $9,103 in 2019, yet a PHF continues to be awarded for $1,000 in giving.  Are you a Rotarian who might be able to give more than the suggested annual contribution of $100? Are you a Rotarian who would be willing to join the Paul Harris Society pledging $1,000 annually to Annual Fund, PolioPlus and/or an approved global grant? We started the year with 54 Paul Harris Society members in the district, and we’ve grown to 58. Our goal was to increase by 10%.  Will you join us?  To join, complete the form on the Paul Harris Society’s webpage (look for the JOIN button to open the form).

"As a Volunteer Attorney with Family Advocates, Jim has served twelve children in the last two years alone. Jim consistently goes above and beyond to answer Guardian ad Litem questions and regularly communicates updates in a clear and concise manner so GALs know what they can expect from the legal aspect of each case. Jim recently undertook the drafting of a new motion for our program, which ultimately resulted in enhanced advocacy for a family group. Without his expertise and dedication, it may not have been possible to serve this family in the best way possible. Through his years with CASA, Jim has referred colleagues to volunteer with our CASA program and provides guidance and mentorship when possible.

Nyamphande Orphanage and Community School started in 1996, approximately 125 kilometers east of Lusaka, Zambia in Africa. Nyamphande serves the educational needs of nearly 600 children (10 % of whom have lost both parents to HIV/AIDS) as well as basic medical assistance for over 6,000 people. Originally intended to cater to the medical needs of students at Nyamphande Orphanage, the on-site Nyamphande Rural House Centre soon became a primary and essential medical resource for impoverished rural families living in the area. Local villagers, children, and other community members have relied on the Centre for treatment and management of everything from common colds and ailments to treatment for HIV/AIDS and/or TB.

The clubs of District 5400 have a long history of partnering with the clubs of District 4400 in Ecuador to identify, fund and complete humanitarian projects. Four members of the Boise Rotary Club (PDG Kevin Learned, Todd Fischer, Mannie Liu and James Slover, and James' wife Pam Becker) traveled to Ecuador in October to continue to foster warm relationships with Rotary Clubs there, visit former exchange students, view completed projects, and identify new projects where we can collaborate.

The Rotary Foundation (TRF) honors its donors when they reach $1,000 in giving by naming them Paul Harris Fellows.  Paul Harris was the founder of Rotary, and this recognition is named for him.  Are you supporting The Rotary Foundation, working toward becoming a Paul Harris Fellow?  A PHF is a milestone, not a destination, and many of our members are known as multiple PHFs, having achieved the milestone many times. 

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week. What is that Polio Eradication Picture? The battle toward Global Polio Eradication Marches On - Today's picture is of a child being vaccinated in Peshawar, Pakistan.
 

It started with the unfashionable and ill-fitting Rotary merchandise. I’m a proud Rotarian, but I’m also a young Rotarian. I want to bring brand awareness and recognition to my peers, but it’s hard to feel confident doing so when my only offerings are oversized polo shirts, $80.00 marshmallow suits windbreakers or atypical-to-my-personality rhinestones.

INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY.  Every year in January, Rotary International calls a special assembly in San Diego.  The event is called International Assembly. All District Governor Elects in the World are required to attend.  The purpose of the Assembly is to train DGEs in their duties and to meet with RI leaders. One of the exciting opportunities that International Assembly provides is the chance to meet and partner with other districts from around the world to accomplish good internationally.

Ready for some fellowship, fun & great leadership training?  District 5400 will be holding its annual Rotary Club Leadership Summit / President Elects Training 2019 on March 8 & 9, 2019 at the Burley Best Western Convention Center, from 1pm Friday to 5pm Saturday. This training is open to all club leaders and future leaders in the district. Rotaract club leaders are also welcome to attend.

An annual project of the Rotary Club of Emmett (and many other Rotary clubs) is to purchase dictionaries for all the 3^rd graders in Gem County with the financial assistance from a Rotary District Grant.  This has been a practice for many years and some people question, in this age of computers, why dictionaries?

No new Wild Polio cases reported this week.           

What is that Polio Eradication Picture?   Toward a Polio-Free Afghanistan This picture shows a child receiving the Oral Polio Vaccine in Afghanistan - one of the over 5 million vaccinated there in early November of 2018.  See the Afghanistan report below.

The Rotary Foundation Receives Highest Rating! For the 11th straight year, The Rotary Foundation has received a four-star rating, the highest possible, from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator.

For me, my heart has always gone out to disadvantaged kids. Kids that are victims of their life circumstance, and the odds are stacked against them. 

Rotary Friendship Exchange is an international exchange program for Rotary members and friends that allows participants to take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. Participants may travel as individuals, couples, families, or groups, and may be Rotary members or not. There are numerous benefits of an exchange: Building friendships, promoting peace, learn about a region’s people, food, languages, customs and history, and find partners for your grants.

During the month of Disease Awareness, we’d like to shine a spotlight on a District 5400 Project. The Gorongosa Medical Transport project was sponsored by the Boise Sunrise Rotary Club along with contributions form Boise Centennial, Boise East, Boise Metro, Boise Southwest, Emmett, St . Anthony, and Lakeville, MN.

They secured funding for transportation that would allow government medical professionals to reach areas that are difficult to access because of road and climate conditions. The Global Grant improved the health care of the communities surrounding Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park by extending the reach of existing medical services to the remote communities surrounding the park.

On 1 July 2017, trustees of The Rotary Foundation approved a ground-breaking initiative to raise support for Rotary’s peace-related activities. It is called the Peace Major Gifts Initiative (MGI) action plan.

In addition to the Rotary Peace Centers, the Peace MGI seeks endowed and directed gifts and commitments for global grants in the Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Area of Focus.

Marking each tree will help Fish and Game  more-accurately mow the area and make rodents more vulnerable.

When I first joined Rotary, I couldn’t understand why I would contribute funds outside of my community (Nampa). The schools have a significant reduced and free lunch population – an indication of poverty. For a few years, that was my perspective, but then my perspective changed.

I attended for the first time, a Rotary International Convention. I hadn’t traveled much internationally and thus my world view was very limited. At the convention I met Rotarians from around the world.  We shared stories and talked about what they were doing in Rotary, and why they were a Rotarian. I realized that week, that we are more alike than we are different and my definition of community changed.  I realized that I wanted to support my community and I was no longer bound by a zip code.

One new wild Polio case reported this week.

 

Global Leaders and Key Donors took the stage on 6/12/17 at the Atlanta RI Convention to pledge their support for the effort to End Polio, committing a total of $1.2 Billion toward the Global Polio Eradication $1.5 Billion funding gap. Our 2017-18 Goal will be $50 Million (as it will be each of the next three years) - which the Gates Foundation has pledged to match $100 Mil to our $50 Mil per year.

 

World Polio Day - October 24, 2017 - See this link for ideas about How to Host Your Own World Polio Day Event. Many Districts leave part or all of their District Designated Funds (DDF) unspent. RI President Ian is asking each District to donate 20% of their DDF to PolioPlus. I am proud to report that District 5890 did so this week - giving $44,034  to END POLIO NOW.

 

Quote of the day - "Optimism is what brings us to Rotary. But Rotary is not a place for those who are only dreamers. It is a place for those with the ability, the capacity, and the compassion for fruitful service.”  Sam F. Owori, 1941-2017     

       

Syria - No new cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported in the past week.  The total number of cVDPV2 cases remains 27. 

The Final Three Endemic Countries:

With at least 6 members in attendance, District 5400 was well-represented at the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta June 11th-14th.

One of the highlights included Rotary International President John Germ announcing that eradication efforts would require another $1.5 billion dollars, $50 million of which would come from Rotary over the next three years. Following this announcement, The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pledged a 2 for 1 match, making a collective commitment of $450 million. Other agencies and countries followed suit and in total, $1.2 billion was raised to end the fight against Polio. Gates noted, "It's easy to forget why this fight is so important, but to me, there is one particularly important statistic; 16 million people can walk today because they didn't contract polio."

Coca-Cola's CEO James Quincy made his first public appearance at the RI Convention, voicing Coca-Cola’s commitment to clean water, empowering women and other humanitarian efforts. This was followed by shared Cokes among supportive attendees.

We are proud to say that Rotary Club of Nampa member Kenton Lee was featured on the front page of the RI Convention program for efforts of his nonprofit The Shoe that Grows. He also hosted a booth at the House of Friendship.

Another highlight included the inaugural Women in Rotary awards at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum, which featured homage to Sylvia Whitlock, the first woman Rotary Club President in 1987-88.

Jennifer Deroin and Rhea Allen, Rotary Club of Nampa

On June 21st, members of Boise Centennial headed over to Giraffe Laugh, a non-profit that ensures school readiness for area children, and determinedly cleansed and repaired the center's deprecated, damaged and disheveled items. They finished the evening with an organized organization and a trailer full of items for disposal.

Learn more about Rotary Club of Boise Centennial

District Governor Hogge honored some of our special clubs for their outstanding work this year:Humanity in Motion Award: Boise Sunrise  Honorable Mention: Boise and EmmettMembership Star: Boise MetroPublic Image Star: Boise & Idaho FallsYouth Exchange Star: Boise SunriseRYLA: Idaho FallsSpecial Award: Kevin Bradshaw, Twin Falls (for all his support for District 5400)

Five Baker City Rotary members had the opportunity to attend the annual Rotary District Conference for district 5400. Our club has been in district 5100 (mainly Oregon) since 1956 when it was chartered. We made the decision for geographical reasons to move to the "Idaho" district and we decided to attend the conference to get more familiar with what we will be involved in beginning in July!

• 50% - The fund from which we match the first $100 of a person’s Paul Harris Fellow.
• 25% - Rotary Youth Exchange Program
• 25% - Rebated to clubs based on their ticket sales.

This year the District has already matched a bunch of Rotarians starting new Paul Harris Fellows with a $100 contribution to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation.  Creating a more peaceful world “one student exchange at a time” costs money, and our D5400 RYE program is a success in part because of your ticket sales.  All you have to do to get your rebate is have someone from your club attend the district conference.  Let’s see if we can’t make $55,000 in gross sales….that’s only about 3 tickets per Rotarian on average.  At the very least, we hope to see every Rotarian support this effort by buying at least one ticket.  Many of you will buy your entire book.  Thank you!

•          Per capita = $122.30 ($26/capita more than 2008-09, our previous high)
•          Clubs who gave = 100%
•          Clubs who met their goals = 35 of 43 (beating 29 of 42 in 2010-11, our previous high) 
•          Clubs at > $100/capita = 23 of 43 (beating 18 of 42 in 2010-11, our previous high)

•         Per capita = $36.86 ($11/capita more than in 2010-11, our previous high)
•         Clubs who gave = 93% (40 of 43)
•         Clubs who met their goals = 28 of 43
•         Clubs at > $20/capita = 29 of 43

1. Membership growth of 5%  through each club developing or refreshing their unique vision, finding and defining their relevance in community, refining their unique selling proposition for members, and building a membership plan to bring key target community leaders and professionals into their clubs.
2. Establish a New Generations strategic plan to align RYLA, Rotaract, Interact, and Youth Exchange into an integrated youth leadership program which not only serves our youth, but also provides a seed-bed of future Rotarians.
3. Improve understanding of and passion for The Rotary Foundation such that 90% of Rotarians in the District contribute to global humanitarian service through TRF.

The 2015 Rotary Peace Fellowship application is now available online. The application deadline is 1 July. Click here for complete information.

• Membership and Retention must be a high priority
• The "Happy Clap"
• Clubs Big, Medium and Small are VERY different
• Revisit visioning
• "Expect the unexpected"
• If everyone sold all their raffle tickets, we'd make $190,000
• 22 of us work for Idaho Power!
• What does Paul Harris look like, anyway?
• 39 Youth involved in Youth exchange this year!
• Gate City Poky sings a song to their meeting guests!

Find this expanation on their website here:

"The Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action group was formed in 2007 as a group of Rotarians, recognized by Rotary International, focused on water & sanitation work.

Rotarians are uniquely qualified to deliver sustainable solutions. They understand the culture and values of the local communities to which they belong. They are attuned to political considerations and can pinpoint problems before they become hurdles.

The world is discovering that effective programs take 3 to 5 years to be sustainable – local community engagement and appropriate technologies are keys to success. Solutions need to consider complex realities: geography, geology, climate, local culture for example. Ensuring a project is based on best practices isn’t easy, requiring skills often not readily available to Rotary Clubs.

Wasrag was created to provide the know-how, consistency and credibility essential to success over the long term. This has come together in a program called “Start with Water”."

The Project Enhancement Process (PEP) is an initiative by The Rotary Foundation (TRF) to strategically utilize its volunteer and staff resources to sharpen Rotary’s focus, enhance the technical quality of projects, support sound project design, make effective grants, and measure our impact in the areas of focus. The pilot will concentrate on achieving these objectives in the water and sanitation area of focus.

Just before the International Convention in Sydney, Wasrag will hold its annual WORLD WATER SUMMIT on May 30, 2014.