The New Year for Rotary has started off with a bang! $1.2 Billion was pledged to finish the job to eradicate polio at last month’s Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. Rotary International pledged to raise $50 Million per year for the next three years and The Gates Foundation will match this with an additional $100 Million per year for a total of $450 Million pledged. In an effort to support this cause, District 5830 will be holding a raffle for 2017 F-150 Super crew Pick-up Truck along with some very nice additional prizes. We are asking each Rotarian to sell or purchase Four- $25 raffle tickets. Our target goal is raise $120,000 for Polio Plus by our District Conference on November 10th and 11th. This is very doable, and it will certainly make a tremendous impact on the eradication of this dreaded disease. Lives will be saved by our support! Tickets are being distributed the first few weeks of July and the selling of tickets will take place from July 15th until October 15th. Club Presidents and Foundation Chairs will be coordinating this effort at the local clubs. Each club will be credited for the money they raise.
As your District Governor, I will be starting my club visits in the middle of July. I am looking forward to coming to each club and seeing and hearing about all the wonderful things you are doing to “Make a Difference!” RI President, Ian Riseley, has selected a very succinct and on point theme for this year. Every club in 5830 is making a difference in their community. Most of our clubs are also supporting causes on the international level. I hope to help all our clubs begin or increase the amount of humanitarian service they do internationally during the 2017- 2018 year. International Service Chair, Dan Carpenter- S. Tyler Rotary Club, will be giving assistance with communicating with clubs the potential projects that are available. There will be a number of opportunities for clubs to join together to provide support for these projects. Together we can do more!
I know most of the clubs in 5830 have put their goals into myrotary.org. It is not too late to do this! If you need assistance, please contact our new District Administrator, Shirley Pinnix-Evans, at 903-787-8275 or Rotary5830da@gmail.com. She will gladly help answer any questions you have regarding Club Runner, Rotary District 5830 Website, Rotary International Website, along with My Rotary. RI President, Ian Riseley, has asked for all clubs to include the following two goals for this year:
- Track monthly, the number of service hours performed by the members in your club and the amount of money raised for service and report it to the District Administrator.
- Every Club plant One Tree for each club member (size of trees is NOT stipulated) in an effort to support the environment.
Each of these goals is very doable and will help each club in their effort to achieve the Rotary Citation.
I look forward to hearing the stories and sharing them as we promote all the good we do in the world.
Wishing every Rotarian, a great year!
DG Ted Huffhines
