This year District 7930 decided to combine the Assembly and Conference and hold the series of weekend events entirely in the district. The Assembly kicked off early this morning, May 1st to an opening Plenary by our incoming District Governor David Manzi. That was followed by a several breakout covering information relevant for club presidents-elect, secretaries and treasurers as well as other leaders for our clubs.From great ideas about Public Image and effective use of Social Media, to Networking to How to Make an Ask to Calendar Planning and information about how the Foundation works with our clubs to fund our projects. Then there was the introduction of our District Hunger and Homelessness Initiative (HHI) which will provide numerous opportunities for Rotarians to help existing organizations in their mission to resolve these two social issues. DG Dave also introduced Rotary Days, a new initiative of RI. Keep on the lookout on how these will impact our district and our communities in the coming months. There was something for almost everyone.
Then it was time for a combined Luncheon. Whether you came to the Assembly, just for lunch or for the afternoon program for the conference, or a combination of two or more, you were treated to an incredible presentation of a Service Above Self Award. The recipient, who was nominated by both RI Director Julia Phelps and DG Peter, was Ipswich Rotarian Keith Harris. His long journey in Rotary has spanned service to his club, the Ipswich Interact club, The Rotary Foundation, District Youth Services and of course his commitment to raise money for the Foundation through Pedaling for a Purpose. Please extend congratulations to Keith on receiving this tremendous recognition. The we all learned about how Rotary HUGS the world everyday. Maybe not in person but certainly in spirit. This image was brought to life by our Rotary International Representative and Director Nominee Joe Mulkerrin. He created spontaneous hugging from everyone in the room. Incredible way to kickoff the Conference.
Do you want to enhance your club experience? Then consider applying for a District Managed Grant or Global Grant. Planning and completing a service project always seems to unite a club and provide a deep level of purpose for your members.
Now is the time for your club to get qualified to apply for grants! In order to receive grants the club president for 2015-2016 and one other member are required to attend either session. If you want to send additional members to really build knowledge of the Rotary Foundation, consider sending more than the required two members.
During this 3 hour seminar, those attending will learn about updates in the application process and the steps necessary to submit and hopefully be awarded a grant from District 7930.
The seminar originally scheduled for April 15th at Salem Five Bank has been rescheduled. The second opportunity will be during our District Conference on May 2, 2015 at DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore at 50 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, MA 01923.
Register Online by clicking on the date that you want to register.for May 2nd or May 21 here.
You can also download and return the Grants Qualification Application prior to April 15, 2015 to DRFC Ingrid Brown at 11 Granite Street in Rockport, MA 01966, email to icybee@verizon.net or by fax to 978-546-9058. Space is limited on both sessions, so please register early.
For a list of grants awarded in the 2013-2014 calendar year, please read the articlehere!
Posted by Jim Babbin
SPRING CLEANING? SAVE YOUR SHOES!
The North Andover Interact club will be collecting shoes in any condition at the District Conference on May 2nd as part of their service project for the people of Guatemala. Practical shoes (not high heels) to be used for digging in trash piles; technological trash from countries like ours.
The collection will be part of the Youth and Family program at the conference. Interactive events like Giant Jenga, human knot, photo booth, Tanzanian bracelet instruction and other surprises will be happening along with breakouts on Camp Rotary, A Library project in Kenya, and the Boston Rotaract discussing their new service initiative to help with substance abuse in young people. Be a part of an instructive and fun day!
Posted by Amy Luckiewicz
2015 POLAR PLUNGE SURPASSES $107,000
To raise awareness and critically-needed funds to fight the crippling disease polio, over 200 people plunged into the icy waters off of Gloucester last Saturday as part of the Rotary District 7930’s 5th Annual Polar Plunge. The effort benefitted The Global Polio Eradication Initiative - a public-private partnership that also includes the World Health Organization, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, UNICEF, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. This year’s effort raised over $104,000 and will be matched 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. At just 60 cents per vaccine, the effort will pay for over a half million polio vaccines.
The Polar Plunge comes at an important time in the fight to eradicate polio, which would be only the second human disease to be eradicated. Case numbers of the disease have never been lower, and only three countries (Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan) have never stopped transmission of the wild poliovirus. However, a funding gap means immunization campaigns are being cut in high-risk countries, leaving children more vulnerable to polio. If polio isn’t stopped now, the disease could stage a comeback, affecting an estimated 200,000 children every year.
Rotary has contributed US$1.2 billion, and its members have logged countless volunteer hours to help immunize more than two billion children in 122 countries. Overall, remarkable progress has been achieved in the fight against polio. Since 1988, the number of polio cases has been reduced from 350,000 a year to fewer than 700 cases in 2011. The Americas were declared free from polio in 1994, the Western Pacific region in 2000, and Europe in 2002. A highly infectious disease, polio still strikes children mainly under the age of five in parts of Africa and South Asia. Polio can cause paralysis and sometimes death. One Rotarian noted, “This event was completely fitting. This week we celebrate the 60th anniversary Jonas Salk’s polio vaccine. We’re going to fight this crippling disease until the end because Rotary keeps promises.”
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Then it was time for a combined Luncheon. Whether you came to the Assembly, just for lunch or for the afternoon program for the conference, or a combination of two or more, you were treated to an incredible presentation of a Service Above Self Award. The recipient, who was nominated by both RI Director Julia Phelps and DG Peter, was Ipswich Rotarian Keith Harris. His long journey in Rotary has spanned service to his club, the Ipswich Interact club, The Rotary Foundation, District Youth Services and of course his commitment to raise money for the Foundation through Pedaling for a Purpose. Please extend congratulations to Keith on receiving this tremendous recognition. The we all learned about how Rotary HUGS the world everyday. Maybe not in person but certainly in spirit. This image was brought to life by our Rotary International Representative and Director Nominee Joe Mulkerrin. He created spontaneous hugging from everyone in the room. Incredible way to kickoff the Conference.
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