QUEST
MAGAZINE
Edition 05 - DECEMBER 2017
DISTRICT 6930
December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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CONTENT
Quest Rotary District 6930
The Official District Magazine
Small clubs making a big difference
Page 9 & 10 WHY ROTARY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUSTAINABLE INVESTMENTS
Page 12
Promote Rotary! Distribute this magazine to your place of business, family and friends.
Spread the word!
Editor
Dini Heizer
Graphic Designer
Andre Heizer
Contributors
Harry Lerch Kenyetta Haywood
ROTARY DAY AT THE BALLPARK MARCH 10TH, 2018
Page 15 & 16
Maureen Saltzer Robert Kelley Debbie Avery Gabriela Heizer Donna Moden Gaiser Julia Babbitt
WHAT MAKES YOUR INTERACT CLUB GREAT?
Marc Gingras Denise Roeser
Page 33 & 34
Published by:
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CONTACT: rotaryquestmagazine@gmail.com Quest Magazine * Edition 05
GOVERNOR MESSAGE Making a Difference The theme for Rotary 2017-2018 has a special meaning for all Rotarians throughout the world. RI President Ian Riseley has put forth a special challenge to become more involved in not only Rotary, but also your own community. “Through Rotary, we are Making a Difference in the world, and the more involved we become, the more of a difference Rotary makes to each of us. Rotary challenges us to become better people: to become ambitious in the ways that matter, to strive for higher goals, and to incorporate “Service Above Self” into our daily lives.” District 6930 has special challenges ahead as we incorporate the results of last year’s Council on Legislation that opened the door to new opportunities in making each club more accessible to new and existing members. There are some new requirements for each club, including the fact that the Treasurer MUST be a member of the Board of the club. This is to incorporate the Rotary International Errors & Omissions Policy into each club, for the protection of all of us. With over 35,000 clubs there could be problems somewhere. Each club is now required to provide access to board meeting minutes to every club member within 60 days of the board meeting. This is the desire to provide transparency and openness. This year we will be adding the object of attacking the horrible disease of Alzheimer’s to our district objective. Every one of us has or will be subjected to this disease through close family or acquaintances. While other diseases such as cancer and heart disease are seeing a decline, Azheimer’s is growing in impact at an alarming rate. We will be joining with the Rotary Coins for Alzheimer’s Research Trust (CART) program to help find a cure. You should not be limited by this one program and I encourage each club to participate in the attack on this disease in one form or another. Josh the Otter was introduced to Rotary by our own member Jim Underwood and has become a major program to protect children from the biggest cause of death to children under the age of 5 years. We have the tools and materials to allow each club to launch this project in their own community. It is not an easy result to measure, but I believe we will see an impact in Florida in the next few years. We will end the year for our District with the most exciting District Conference in the history of District 6930. The conference will be aboard the Royal Caribbean Empress of the Seas from June 2-6, 2018. We are joining with District 6950 to do a joint conference that will begin the cruise in Tampa and spending a day in Havana Cuba. We will be the first group of Rotarians to visit Havana in almost 60 years. What an exciting experience this will be. And finally, next year’s Rotary Convention will be in Toronto, Canada June 23-25, 2018. Let’s Make a Difference!
Dave Freudenberg
District Governos 2017-2018 December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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CALENDAR December Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
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DISTRICT LEADERSHIP District Governor
David Freudenberg (Dave & Pat) Office: Club: Boca Raton Downtown
DG-Elect
Julia Babbitt (Jula & Clint) Office: Club: Indialantic
DG-Nominee
Donna Marie Gaiser (Donna & Carl) Office: Club: Okeechobee
iPDG
Eric Gordon (Eric) Office: 561-308-9305 Club: Royal Palm Beach
District Secretary
Deborah Freudenberg (Deborah & Mike) Office: 561-299-1429 Club: Boca Raton Downtown
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District Treasurer
Terri Marie Wescott (Terri) Office: 561-270-8800 Club: Boca Raton Downtown
Assistant District Governor (Area 1)
Stanley M. Fertel (Stan & Charna) Office: Club: Boca Raton Sunrise
Grants Committee Chair
Eugene B. Burkett (Gene & Linda) Office: 321-631-0383 Club: Merritt Island
Vocational Service Chair
Gregory A. Reader (Greg) Office: Club: Vero Beach Sunrise
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PolioPlus Chair
Frances Virgin Owen (Betsy & Mike) Office: Club: Delray Beach
Nominating Committee Chair
Louis Venuti (Louis & Loretta) Office: 321-286-7475 Club: Titusville Rotary Club
Young Professionals
Michael F. Walstrom (Michael) Office: Club: Boca Raton Downtown Literacy TF Chair
Gay S. Voss (Gay)
Office: Club: Boynton Beach-Lantana Newsletter Editor
Dini Mancebo Heizer (Dini Heizer) Office: Club: Boca Raton West
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CLUB DIRECTORY
Intracoastal Brewing Company
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INTERNATIONAL
Small clubs making a big difference
On a sunny morning in July, two dozen preschool children from Brown Bear Daycare inspect a bed of milkweed plants for monarch butterfly eggs, holding magnifying glasses to the underside of leaves in search of the tiny, off-white objects. Preschool children from Brown Bear Daycare plant a young tomato plant. The class visits the garden every Monday morning spring to fall. Curiosity stoked, the five-year-olds and their teachers move to the shade of a large tree to listen to a master gardener explain the role these butterflies play in gardens. The preschool class visits the community garden in Harvard, Illinois, USA, every Monday from spring to fall to learn about garden-related topics and even help out. “They get to taste the vegetables, some that they have never even seen. They get to experience what it is like to plant a garden from the planting to the picking to the eating,” says Sheila Henson, executive director of the day care center and a member of the Rotary Club of Harvard. “At the end of the summer, we have a parent night where the parents come and get to see the different things their children have been involved with.” With the goals of alleviating hunger and educating the community, master gardeners from University of Illinois Extension planted the garden in 2001 on a half-acre parcel donated by the city and adjacent to the public library. Over the years, the master December 2017 * Quest Magazine
gardeners have enlisted the support of many busine sses, organizations, and clubs, including the Rotary Club of Harvard, making the project a communitywide effort. As many as 250 needy families benefit from the 10,000 pounds of vegetables that are grown and donated every year to the local food pantry. The fresh produce serves as a safety net for many families. Roughly a quarter of the community’s 9,200 residents live below the federal poverty line, a result of the limited employment opportunities in small farm towns across Illinois. The already fragile economy was further affected by the closing of a Motorola plant here in 2003 after only seven years of operation. “In this community, the only way we can get by is by helping each other,” says Dave Decker, site director for the Harvard Community Food Pantry. “Everybody needs a little help now and then.” The Rotary Club of Harvard took on the project seven years ago, looking for a way to address hunger and help the community. With only seven members, the club has had an impact far beyond its size, amplifying its efforts by working with the master gardeners and other groups. “Harvard is definitely a better place because of the members of this club, and that is what keeps us going,” says Mike Morris, the club’s president. “It’s the expertise of the master gardeners, individuals in the community, farmers who help, and the education provided through the day care that makes this an amazing team effort.” Cont. page 10
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everybody in the country,” he says. “It’s just a matter of the logistics of getting it from the farm to their table.” On a July morning, about 20 people – Rotarians, master gardeners, and community volunteers – are scattered among the 14 rows, each 125 feet long, pulling weeds and picking vegetables. The garden is behind schedule this year because of heavy rains, and today’s harvest is smaller than normal. At the food pantry, Nelmes weighs each crate: 9 pounds of broccoli, 6 pounds of kohlrabi, 8 pounds of peppers, and 22 pounds of zucchini. Later in the season, many more hands will be needed to harvest. Reina Montes began volunteering at the garden after a back injury forced her to stop working temporarily and she had to go to the pantry to supplement her groceries. When she learned about the garden, she persuaded her daughter, Elizabeth Sanchez, to join her on Mondays to help plant, pick, and weed. Montes moved to Harvard from Mexico City more than 20 years ago and fell in love with the smaller town. Her daughter now has two college-age daughters of her own, whom she hopes to teach the value of community service. “Thanks to the garden, we can feed people who can’t afford to buy fresh food at the supermarket,” says Sanchez. “I believe it is everybody’s responsibility to help the community. If our children see that there is unity, love, and support, they are going to do the same thing. We are leaving them a legacy.”
The Rotary club has provided $400 to buy seeds and starter plants from a local nursery every year since 2011. It also purchased plastic drip irrigation tubing and fertilizer valves after a drought threatened the garden in 2012. This year, it provided a letter of support needed by the master gardeners to secure a $5,000 grant from the McHenry County Community Foundation for an organic compost mix that will add nutrients back to the soil and help keep weeds at bay. Morris has made the garden his special focus and enlisted every member of the club to help with planting, weeding, and harvesting. Henson also recruited day care employees to volunteer. The garden needs everyone for planting, says Dale Nelmes, one of the master gardeners who volunteer every week. “Many of us master gardeners are up there in years and can’t get down on our hands and knees like we used to,” he says. “I was so impressed with Rotary and Sheila, who brought all these young volunteers in. It was incredible how much we accomplished.” The Harvard Rotarians also used a Rotary grant to buy a new freezer, which allows the food pantry to store vegetables longer. Last winter, Morris secured another Rotary grant for $2,000, which, when combined with $5,000 from club funds, funded seven weeks of food deliveries from the Northern Illinois Food Bank. A mobile unit from the food bank set up at Brown Bear Daycare once a month from October to April, each time distributing 9,000 pounds of meat, vegetables, boxed goods, breads, and fruits. Morris says growing up on a farm in northwestern Il- By Arnold R. Grahl Photos by Monika Lozinska linois played a big part in his interest in fighting hunger. “I know we can produce more than enough food to feed 10
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What excites me about Miles to End Polio
On World Polio Day, I watched Rotary’s livestream event and realized that I really am in the middle of history in the making. As part of the Rotary staff Miles to End Polio team, I will be riding 106 miles on 18 November in the El Tour de Tucson. Riding that far is not something I’ve ever done before. But it gives me a great sense of accomplishment to feel like I can be a part of an effort that is having such a significant impact. As I watched Bill Gates announce his belief that this year will be the one where polio is finally stopped, I realized how close we really all. The support I have received from family, friends, fellow staff, and fellow Rotarians has been amazing. Beyond contributions, they have asked me about my training and preparation, offered tips on the right gear and proper nutrition to keep me going, and otherwise helped me get ready for what will be a long 8-hour day of cycling through the hills of Tucson. Peace Corps experience While I am relatively new to long distance cycling, I do have some experience with long rides. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Zimbabwe, I sometimes had to cycle for hours to visit various projects I was involved with as a small business development volunteer. I worked primarily with women basket weavers, teaching bookkeeping, helping them to negotiate contracts with curios shops in Bulawayo, and finding sustainable sources for the ilala palms needed for the crafts they made. On my visits, I would frequently pass large colorful December 2017 * Quest Magazine
tents that dotted the countryside amid the thatched rondavel huts. Most often, this was a sign that a funeral was taking place, a reminder of the prevalence of HIV/ AIDS in the country. During my time in the Peace Corps, 30 percent of the adult population of Zimbabwe was HIV positive. The terrible disease was ravaging families in the rural villages I visited, but I was powerless to do anything to stop it.
Impacting communities What excites me about the Miles to End Polio ride is that I feel like now, many years later, I do have the chance to impact communities regarding a communicable disease, this time polio. As a member of the Evanston Lighthouse Rotary Club and on staff at The Rotary Foundation, I have seen the power of volunteers and global institutions as they have devoted themselves to eradicating this disease. And when it is gone, the world can turn its attention to combating other diseases using the lessons we have learned from this effort. I am so grateful to The Rotary Foundation for the opportunity to be part of the final push to end polio. Kea Gorden is a planned giving officer for RI and one of several Rotary staff members who will join General Secretary John Hewko and Rotarians from District 5500 and around the world in El Tour de Tucson in Arizona 18 November to raise money for polio eradication. By Kea Gorden, planned giving officer 11
Why Rotary scholarships are sustainable investments
After receiving an Ambassadorial Scholarship from Rotary in 2011, I put a lot of pressure on myself to “do it right,” or in other words, give Rotary a solid return on its investment. With each passing month in Ghana, what I had first deemed as peripheral – the friendships, conversations, and breakdown of stereotypes – were actually advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. How ingenious that this scholarship allowed me to advance Rotary’s mission subconsciously?
decade before and was excited by the idea. If it weren’t for that serendipity, I’m not sure the project would have materialized.
Despite all these “non-tangible” returns, at the end of my master’s program in Ghana I was itching for real-world action. While waiting for my thesis review and graduation schedule (sometimes a yearlong process), a Rotarian from my host club told me about her NGO on the outskirts of Accra. She mentioned the community suffered from a large waste pile contaminating their water. With my background in environmental health, I immediately latched onto the potential project but didn’t know how to help make it happen.
Sometimes the activation energy required to start a project is daunting, but once a snowball begins to form, it rapidly increases in size. What started as one Rotary scholarship turned into countless lifethe necessary club contributions. long relationships, three successRotary’s amazing network came ful Rotary projects, and a career in through when it mattered. And it global health. Rotary scholars reccouldn’t have happened if not for ognize that we are investments. We my scholarship. truly appreciate the help in creating What started as one Rotary schol- sustainable returns! arship turned into countless lifelong Download the Global Grant relationships, three successful Ro- Scholarships Supplement to learn tary projects, and a career in global more about making an investment health. in future leaders.
Key takeaways We tried to crowd source funds to no avail. I was back in the US presenting at a district conference and figured it wouldn’t hurt to mention the project. As it turned out, the president of the Houghton Rotary Club at the time had immunized children against polio in Ghana a 12
It was also good timing because I knew the incoming district governor; past president of the Appleton Rotary Club, which sponsored my Ambassadorial Scholarship. So, when I returned to Ghana to write a global grant, I had the support of leadership back in the US finding
A takeaway for other scholars from my experience is that giving many, many presentations back in the US after my scholarship allowed me to become a familiar face. That helped as I reached out for assistance on the grant. A takeaway for Rotarians on my experience is that scholars are receptive for project opportunities
(not just one-time service outings). Our energy, on the ground experience, and role as liaisons between clubs and countries can be invaluable for projects.
Snowball effect After having one global grant experience under my belt, I was able to give more presentations on that project. This led to my involvement with another global grant for a water project in Sierra Leone and a district grant for a water project in Ghana.
Sarah Ehlinger Affotey was a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar in 20112012. She studied Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana and now works for the Milwaukee Global Health Consortium. By Sarah Ehlinger Affotey Quest Magazine * Edition 05
First outbound Rotary Youth Exchange from Nepal During the 2016-17 school year, I was thrilled to be the first outbound exchange student from Nepal. Being blind, I have to admit I was a bit scared at first, as home life in the US was much different than in Nepal. I was used to sleeping in the same room with my sisters and with other girls in the dormitory at school. With my host family, I had my own room. But it did not take long to adapt, and enjoy an amazing experience during which I grew in many ways. I stayed with my first host family, the Roses, during the school year. My second host family, the Camruds, included mom and dad and two younger host brothers. Being in a large home was very different and exciting as I got to explore every room and orient myself so that I could move about safely and quickly. It didn’t take me too long to be able to find everything by myself. It seems funny now that when I first arrived I asked my hostmom where the water bucket and pitcher was for flushing the toilet, like we do in Nepal! Dish washing made easy We always wash dishes by hand in Nepal and I had never experienced a dishwasher before. However, I quickly learned how to load and empty the dishwasher to be of help to my hosts. Using the washer and dryer was also a new experience for me. My host family put Braille dots on the appliances so that I could learn how to use them. My advice to other exchange students is be preDecember 2017 * Quest Magazine
pared to gain new ideas, grow your confidence and become more independent. I have made great improvements with my English skills and I am now able to converse and make friends more easily. I have grown in my ability to adjust to different circumstances. I am also more comfortable speaking in front of large groups of people. I had many amazing experiences. Sledding in the snow, ice-skating, horseback riding, pop-music concerts and American holidays. One that particularly stands out was my visit to the Bellevue, Washington Police Department. On my birthday I was totally surprised to be picked up at home by Captain Lisa and given a ride in a squad car to the station where I learned how the police department worked. I checked out a police motorcycle, practiced self-defense on a rubber dummy, and got to go into a police holding cell. No uniforms, two days off a week With school, I was so surprised we did not have to wear uniforms, that students get to choose their own classes, that we had to move from class to class after each period, and that we got two days off each week (we only get Saturday off in Nepal). Each teacher assigned a fellow student to be my sighted-guide to help me move from class to class which helped me make many wonderful friends. Youth exchange will definitely change your perspective. My advice to other exchange students is be prepared to gain new ideas, grow your confidence and become more independent. By Seema Tamang, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Kathmandu, Nepal
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Building peace in Colombia
Over the last three years, as a doctoral researcher, I have been studying the loss of territory by San Basilio del Palenque, a town located in the Colombian Caribbean, due to the armed conflict, business developments, state demarcations and the war on drugs. San Basilio is considered the last Colombian Palenque, communities built by runaway slaves during the 17th century as shelters.
Land grabs As a human rights lawyer, my main aim for my research is to serve as evidence that the community can use in their claims against land grabs. On 15 June this year, I arrived in the town of San Basilio del Palenque, just in time for the celebrations that commemorate the Patron Saint of the community: St Basilio. I feared the high temperature and celebration preparations would prevent people from joining the seminar on The Role of the Archives in times of Peacebuilding. But participation actually beat my expectation, with 40 attendees, including students, academics, activists, campesinos, community leaders and local representatives. They exchanged ideas about the importance of the archives to the current community land claims, as part of the peace process that has been taking place after more than 50 years of war.
Historic moment of peacebuilding As a peace fellow, I have been committed to furthering discussions about how to take advantage of this historic moment of peacebuilding in Colombia. The Peace Agreement, which was signed between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC-EP) in November 2016, permits ethnic communities to make claims for territory lost during the armed conflict. San Basilio del Palenque falls into this category and my findings can contribute as evidence for territorial reparation. Another purpose of my work is to create a local archive in San Basilio, allowing the people and younger generations to examine and interpret the colonial records. Much help is still needed to fulfill this dream, and we expect that the Rotary International family can extend us a hand in the search for territorial justice for the disadvantaged communities in Latin America. By Ana Laura Zavala Guillen, 2011-13 Rotary Peace Fellow at the University of Bradford 14
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DISTRICT
Rotary Day at the Ballpark MARCH 10TH, 2018 It was a perfect day for baseball early last March when more than a hundred Rotarians gathered at the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches for our first “Rotary Day at the Ballpark.” Little did we realize when the two home teams took the field we were watching the soon to be 2017 World Series Champions, the Houston Astros, facing off against the National League Easter Division Champs the Washington Nationals. Imagine, two of the winningest teams in the major leagues, playing in their own spanking new stadium, surrounded by their own custom facilities and another dozen of their own ballfields. The early arrivers were treated to a batting practice spectacle in which Steven Strasberg and other Nationals pitchers seeing who could hit the longest home runs in the practice field which duplicates all the measurements of the National’s home stadium in D.C. The Astros have a similar “duplicate” practice field. We enjoyed a tour led by Brady Ballard, the General Manager of the Ballpark, and entered the stadium itself greeted by Rotary Day At The Ballpark emblazoned across the huge centerfield screen. Then District Governor Eric Gordon through out the first pitch, accompanied by our own Josh the Otter! Josh received a glowing review by the public address announcer, and was introduced to the National’s mascot. Several Rotarians were unable to arrive early for the tour, or missed the game because of other conflicts. So we are going to do it again, bigger and better! The Second Rotary Day at the Ballpark will be on Saturday, March 10. So mark your calendar. This year the World Champion Houston Astros will be the home team and our hosts. More details will follow! Harry Lerch December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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WEST PALM BEACH
ROTARY CLUBS
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NEWS
Port St. Lucie Sunset
November 2017 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TACT: Maureen Saltzer 772-359-5011
FOR INFORMATION CON-
Sold-out Jack Daniel’s event helps local veterans Port St. Lucie, November 8 – The sold-out Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club’s Evening with Jack Daniel – A Whiskey and Steak Affair, held on November 1 in Port St. Lucie, drew more than 60 whiskey fans and raised funds for two local veterans’ charities. Chef Steven and the culinary team at Sam Snead’s Tavern created a special five-course menu to pair with four different Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskeys. Proceeds from the dinner and tasting will go to United Veterans of St. Lucie County and Honor Flight Southeast Florida. Everyone had a great time, the food was wonderful, and the paired whiskeys were enthusiastically enjoyed by everyone,” said Rotary Club President Jeannette Weiss. “The hand-rolled cigars and the engraved bottles of Gentleman Jack were additional treats.” Weiss said the event was so successful she is already planning to have the club host it again next year. In-between tasting notes for each of the whiskeys, provided by a Jack Daniel’s representative, and menu highlights, the 69 dinner guests learned more about the real reason they paid $100 each for the event. Roy Brewer of United Veterans of St. Lucie County spoke about the services his nonprofit offers to local veterans; including transportation to VA clinics and the VA Hospital, assistance with housing and automobile needs, and other help for veterans or the families they have left behind. Dr. Shamsher Singh updated the group on Honor Flight Southeast Florida. Singh, who has been on 21 Honor Flight trips as a chaperone at his own expense, described how important it is for veterans to have a chance to see the memorials in Washington, D.C. “Thank you to everyone who attended, the staff at Sam Snead’s and the Hilton Garden Inn, our club volunteers, and all of our sponsors for helping make this event so successful,” said Carl Torchia, the event chair. Event sponsors included the Hilton Garden Inn PGA Village, Sam Snead’s Oak Fired Grill & Tavern, WalMart Distribution Center, Southern Eagle Distributors, Breakthrough Beverages, Jack Daniel’s, Cigar Goose, PGA Golf Club, Evergreen Golf Club, Palm Cove Golf Club, Keurig, and SuperPlay USA. About the Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club The Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary is a local branch of Rotary International. They are involved in more than a dozen local, national and international causes, including polio eradication programs, clean water projects, and educational projects. The Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club is the recipient of the 2010 Philanthropy Award for Outstanding Group Supporting Philanthropy in St. Lucie County. The group meets at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at PGA Golf Club, 1916 Perfect Drive, Port St. Lucie. Those interested in attending a meeting or joining the organization may contact Jack Lutz at JLutz@PGAhq.com or call him at 772-467-1300 X132.
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Port St. Lucie Sunset December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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DELRAY BEACH
Student and Teacher of the Month
Mr. Rico Vega, Student of the Month Ms. Barbara Clark, Teacher of the Month and Mr. John Fischer, President 20
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BOCA RATON December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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WEST PALM BEACH
West Palm Beach Rotary Club Awards $500 Grants to 19 Principals
On October 31, 2017, the Club gave $500 grants to the Principals of 19 elementary schools in West Palm Beach. This is the 19th year of their Principals Grants Service Project. The Club honored the principals at a luncheon held at the Kravis. Principals described exciting and creative ways that they use these grants to increase students’ academic achievements. Also, Dr. Christiansen, Deputy Superintendent/ Chief of Schools thanked the Club for supporting the District’s students, schools, and staffs.
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VERO BEACH SUNRISE December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo March 16, 17 and 18, 2018 Riverview Park, Sebastian, Fl
SEBASTIAN
It's ShrimpFest time again! New Location! New Format! Same great Florida Shrimp and Craft Beer! Three days of Shrimp, Craft Brews, Live Music, Vendors and Kids Events! The ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo has a new venue this year: Riverview Park, US Hwy 1 & CR 512, Sebastian, Florida. Local restaurants and organizations will compete for the bragging rights to the winning recipe and the coveted "Third Annual Golden Shrimp Award". Everyone attending the festival can vote for their favorite dish. Allergic to seafood? The kids don't like shrimp? Don't let that stop you from enjoying a great weekend as pizza and other foods will be available. The event features FREE entry and parking, live music, exciting kids' activities, loads of vendors and more. Pareidolia Brewing Company of Sebastian has joined forces with over 15 Florida brewers and home brewers who will be bringing their best brews for the Craft Beer Tasting on Saturday from 1:00 to 4:00. Entry to the festival is free but the Craft Brew Tasting is $35 at the door, presales are $30 at eventbrite.com. Summer Crush Vineyard & Winery of Ft. Pierce will delight you with their selection of wine during the entire weekend. The festival begins on Friday, March 16th, with our pre-St. Patty's Day party at 3:00 pm with food, Irish music, and brew until 9:00 pm. Saturday , March 17th, the vendors open early at 9:00 am, beer sales start at 10:00 and food sales at 11:00. The Craft Beer Tasting is from 1:00 to 4:00. Enjoy the Motorcycle Show and Ride-in on Saturday from 12:00 to 5:00. Live music, beer and food will flow until 9:00pm. Kids events will be sponsored by Home Depot. Sunday, March 18th, the vendors open again at 9:00 am, beer sales at 10:00 and Food at 11:00, music and kids events all day to 5:00 pm. Enjoy a special Car Show on Sunday from 10:00 to 2:00. The ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo is a joint effort of the Rotary Club of Sebastian and the Fellsmere Exchange Club and is sponsored by the City of Sebastian. Net proceeds raised from the event will benefit local youth sports teams, the prevention of child abuse and participating non-profit organizations throughout North Indian River County. We gratefully acknowledge a new sponsor, Dale Sorensen Real Estate, and a returning sponsor, J.J. Taylor Distributing, and invite others to help sponsor this worthy fundraiser. For more information send us an email or check out our website.
Info@ShrimpFestFL.com www.ShrimpFestFL.com 24
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Okeechobee Trail of Hope Animal Rescue owners Dee Dee and John Morris shared their passion and mission with the Rotary Club of Okeechobee in November 28th. The rescue mission was formed over the summer, but only moved into the old no kill shelter in early October, the property on Route 98 just north of the Okeechobee Livestock Market. All dogs have received the required shots, veterinary inspections and neut... Melisa Claveria Jahner, Dee Dee Morris and John Morris.
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Lake Worth
GivingTuesday for Wheels for Kids
We provide custom wheelchairs to children with special needs who can neither purchase them nor qualify for public or charitable funding. Every little bit will help me reach our goal. I've chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you'll consider contributing.
DONATE
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SEBASTIAN
ShrimpFest FL - ShrimpFest & Craft Brew Hullabaloo
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Boca Raton Toy Drive
CLUBS OF BOCA RATON
Rotary Carousel Toy Drive has taken place annually since 2006. The event was created by Douglas Heizer and David Wilson, and began with The Rotary Club of Boca Raton Sunset and now other clubs have evolved under the leadership of the co-founder Douglas Heizer, from the Rotary Club of Boca Raton West. The Rotary Club of Boca Raton, Boca Raton Sunset, Boca Raton Sunrise , Boca Raton Central and Boca Raton Downtown work together to help the unprivileged kids. This event invites the people of Boca Raton to join the festivities at Sugar Sand Park and donate toys for the needy kids of our area. By doing this people get the satisfaction of helping those in need and a fun afternoon filled with people, food, and free carousel rides!
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DISTRICT 6930 - RYE STUDENTS
RYE STUDENTS
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Quest Magazine * Edition 05
FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY
ROTARACT CLUBS As we close out the semester at Florida Atlantic University, I can’t help but reflect on the amazing semester our Rotaract Club has had. We increased our membership by 100%! All of these new members are passionate about the Club and our community. This is apparent by the service projects we have done this semester and how everyone is always so eager to attend. We have, once a month, gone to work at Boca Helping Hands. We serve with one of our local Rotary Clubs in the pantry and with serving dinner for their Family Dinner Night. Along with that we have gone to several Rotary events such as the Mayor’s Ball and the Jesse Dayon Event. Most impressive this semester, however, is seeing our members work with the Boca Raton Toy Drive! Their involvement started at one of our club meeting in which we built the toy collection boxes. It was a Thursday night in the beginning of November and I asked those who could to stay later to help me build these boxes. We player Christmas music and had about 10 members stay behind to build these boxes. We all had a lot of Rotaract received a fun and did great work. December 3rd was the Toy Proclamation from Drive, and these members again were amazing. A lot of them got to the event right before it started Mayor Susan Haynie at 9am and stayed all the way to when it finished at 4pm! They did a lot during this time period, and if it wasn’t for the Rotaract Club handling the operation of the event, the toy drive would not have been as successful as it was! In total so far,a little over 600 toy were collected! Not only do we serve together, but we also grow together. We have had a few fantastic speakers come in and talk to us at our club meeting. These speakers were so passionate and encouraging, it was really beneficial to the club. It was also impressive to see just what Rotary can do in the real and everyday world. This motivated the members to do more service projects and to truly make a difference. Through all of these experiences, our club has grown to be a little family. A family that is passionate and willing to serve. A family that wants to make a difference. We had a holiday party for our last meeting, and people were having such a great time that we ended up leaving later than we would have if we were having a regular meeting! This shows how they enjoy being together and how they enjoy Rotaract. I am certain that we will have an amazing Spring Semester and I can’t wait for it to start and to see the club grow! Gabriela Heizer President
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ROTARACT - FLORIDA ATLANTIC UNIVERSITY 32
Meetings: * Secound and Fouth Thursday of the month * 7:00pm * FAU’s Student Union, Sugar Palm Room * faurotaractclub@gmail.com
Quest Magazine * Edition 05
Interact CLUBS
What makes your Interact club great? In World Interact week we honor the accomplishments of an estimated half a million Interact club members. And we are recognizing the positive impact young people have made through Interact for more than 55 years. To celebrate Interact we asked clubs around the world, “What makes your Interact club great?” Here are some of the responses:
Interact Club of arson Graham Canada “We are inclusive, motivated, and collaborative. We set goals and work together to fundraise for local and global organizations and charities, such as the Harvest project and World Wildlife Fund. The best part of being an Interactor is giving back to the community, and having fun with friends and likeminded peers.”
Interact Club of Edgemead High School South Africa “We’re always passionate about making people happy and helping as much as possible. We meet new people and help others who cannot help themselves. We get to work with likeminded people and we never look for recognition because their smiles are beyond priceless. We fill others with love and hope and get our whole school involved. We do it to build our future, one kind act at a time.”
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Interact Club of Smarties Academy Philippines “Our voices may lack the respectability of age, but we have eyes that see, ears that hear, hearts that beat, and minds that think! Effecting change in our school and community, combined with our perseverance, integrity and teamwork, are what make our Interact club great!”
Interact Club of Beverly Hills High School United States “Our club members are always the first to jump at any chance to apply themselves. From district-wide events such as RYLA, to community-centered events such as our annual Candidates’ Forum (pictured above), our members find time to lend a helping hand in our city, while also making an impact in the world around us. We’re not just a club, or even just a group on campus. We’re a team!”
Interact Club of Narsingdi Midtown Bangladesh “Unity makes our Interact club great. In our club we all are like a family and we think of Rotary as a family. Rotarians are like our parents, Rotaractors are like our elder brothers and sisters, and Interactors are like the young members of this family. We believe that together we can make a change in ourselves, in our society, and all over the world.”
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Quest Magazine * Edition 05
Outbound Classs 2017 - 2018
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Annie Rementer
Thailand Hometown: St. John's, Florida School: Creekside Sponsor District : District 6970 Sponsor Club: Bartram Trail, Florida Host District: 3340 Host Club: The Rotary Club of Udonthani
My Bio Hello! My name is Anne-Marie Rementer, I go by Annie, and I'm overjoyed to say that next year I'll be on exchange in Thailand. I currently live in St. John's with my parents and little sister, my family and I moved down from Pennsylvania 5 years ago. I am a senior at Creekside High School and will be graduating in May. I play the clarinet in the Power of Creekside marching band and symphonic band. I'm also a part of my school's track and cross country team. I'm involved in diversity club, senior women, knights of the round table, and future teachers. I've always been interested in other countries and cultures; a couple years ago I started listening to Korean music and TV shows and learned a bit of the language and culture. I hope to visit South Korea someday. Other than Korean, I've been learning American Sign Language for four years in school and wish to become a interpreter in the future. I have the desire to help people communicate and understand each other and I feel Rotary will help me grow my understanding of the world and other people. I look forward to my exchange and would like to thank everyone who helped me and gave me this amazing opportunity to not only represent myself, but my country and Rotary!
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Journals: Annie-Thailand Blog 2017-18 It has been 3 months seen I've been in Thailand. A lot of things have happened and I'll try to touch on all of them. I've finally settled in my host family, school, and community. First I want to talk about school here and the differences. School starts at 8:00 and ends around 4:00 on Monday-Wednesday and Friday. Thursday we don't have school because there is military training for the students who want to join after graduating. The day starts with everyone meeting in the courtyard for morning announcements and to sing the national anthem as the flag is risen. One of the differences between American high school and Thai high school is in Thailand you stay with the same students and just move to different classrooms. Everyday has a different schedule on which classes to go to. I follow my class to their different subjects but since I am the only exchange student in my school I also go to my own classes where I learn Thai language, traditional Thai dancing, Thai food, music, and Muay Thai. We all wear uniforms, which can get very hot, especially when there is no air conditioning. However we survive by using fans and ventilated classrooms. What I did not expect was there are a fair amount of stray dogs that live on the school property. People feed them and give them names so the dogs are more like pets than anything else. There is one named ไข่หวาน which literally translates to 'sweet egg'! My new friends from school are super energetic and helpful. They always teach me new words and
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will randomly quiz me on them. My friend Sharon, who knows the most English, always points at things and ask me what it means in Thai or what color it is. It's been really helping me learn. I do have some struggles and obstacles but I try to learn at least one word a day. I've already grown so much since I've been here. I recently had a big turning point in my attitude and mind set. Since I'm the only exchange student in my whole school I get stared at a lot. People randomly shout hello at me and watch me pass by everywhere I go. In the beginning, I thought it was cute and had problem with it but after a point I began to see it more in a negative light. It was like it was a zoo and I was the attraction. I looked very different from everyone else and I weighed much more than all the other girls at my school. I started dreading going to school but one day I took a step back and realized somethings. People aren't staring at me to be mean or to judge me, they're just curious about America and Americans. They're not focusing on my weight, they're looking at my hair color or how my eyes are green. They're fascinated with the differences but not in a bad way. I'm becoming more comfortable with myself and the cultural differences here in Thailand. My new friends and teachers from school really help me through each day. I am really enjoying learning the language and culture of my new home. Thu, November 9, 2017
Quest Magazine * Edition 05
LOCAL TOURISM
City of the district 6930
City of Palm Bay History The Ais Indians, attracted to the mouth of Turkey Creek at the Indian River by freshwater springs, fish, oysters, and wildlife, are thought to have been the first inhabitants in the Palm Bay area. The earliest place names for this area on early maps of the late 1700s were Turkey Creek, Elbow Creek and Crane Creek. An 1870 map of the Indian River by John Andrew Bostrom shows the area void of any settlements within about 15 miles of Turkey Creek. The first prominent settler was John Tillman in the late 1870s. Tillman's wharf marked the mouth of Turkey Creek. By the late 1880s, Tillman was operating a profitable orange and banana grove on the north shore of the creek. He had the most notable banana grove on the Indian River. Being a steamboat stop, Tillman's wharf lured settlers into the new hinterlands to the west. Tillman was formally changed to Palm Bay in the 1920s when the community applied for a charter as the city of Palm Bay.
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Things to do in Palm Bay Indian River
Fishing, alligators, lagoons, and rivers The Indian River is a 121-mile long brackish lagoon in Florida, and is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, which in turn forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It was originally
Indian River Lagoon
Lagoon The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida; it is the most biodiverse lagoon ecosystem in the
Turkey Creek Sanctuary
Trails & a nature center with exhibits 130-acre preserve with a boardwalk, jogging trails & a nature center housing exhibits & a gift shop.
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge
People from Pahokee
Natural preserve for sea turtle viewing Refuge created to provide sea turtle habitat offering trails, beaches & guided turtle-viewing walks.
Chris Heston
American professional baseball pitcher
Search
Xavier Carter
2006 NCAA Championships 38
- Wikipedia - City of Palm Bay
Quest Magazine * Edition 05
TELL YOUR STORY
ROTARIAN STORY
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Quest Magazine * Edition 05
EDITOR MESSAGE Hello my fellow Rotarians! It is with great honor that I am here this new year continuing to provide for you The Quest Magazine. This is a project I think is so important because it shares the wonderful things that our district is doing. The Quest is made to promote you and your club. As such, I need your help! You know what is happening on your club, so I ask you to send me articles and photos. Anything that tells the district the great work that your club is doing. The Quest is only successful because of you. I want to encourage you all. The 2017 and 2018 Rotary International theme is “Making a Difference”. Interesting how he chose the verb “mak-ing”. He did not use a past tense, not future, not passive. He used the active form of the word make. This means that we, as Rotarians must actively work to make a difference. We must actively do service projects around our community. The Rotary Clubs must actively work with the youth clubs. We may not be able to change the whole world, and maybe we will not be able to end world hunger this year, but together we can really make this community better and that’s what I want the mission to be. We must act locally, and eventually that will ripple globally. I am very excited for this new Rotary Year. Thank you.
Dini Heizer District 6930 Newsletter Editor 2014-2018 rotaryquestmagazine@gmail.com RotaryDistrict6930
December 2017 * Quest Magazine
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Quest Magazine * Edition 05