7 01 2 L RI P A
N IO T DI -E
09
Content
Quest Rotary District 6930
The Official District Magazine
REGISTRATION Open for the 2017 district conference Page 11
Promote Rotary! Distribute this magazine to your place of business, family and friends.
Spread the word!
Editor Dini Heizer
Graphic Designer Andre Heizer
ROTARY DAY AT THE BALLPARK
Pages 12 & 13
Contributors
Governor Eric Gordon Juan Ortega
ROTARY GRANTS UPDATES
Pages 30 & 31
Harry Lerch Debbie Avery Cynthia Scherpf
Angelica Blakely
TELL YOUR STORY Pages 47 & 48
Jeannette Weiss
Gabriela Heizer
Published by:
Governor Message
Only 1 1/2 months until the celebration of District 6930, our clubs, and fellow Rotarians at the 2017 District Conference to be held at the Hutchinson Island Marriott on May 19th – 21st. The 2017 District Conference opens at 1pm on Friday. Join us as we salute our men and women in the armed forces and Rotary International Area of Focus Peace and Conflict Resolution. Special guest Josh the Otter will be there to greet you too. Come aboard Friday night on the Island Princess for our Gilligan’s Island Night. Set sail for a 3-hour tour with dinner, open bar, music and more. Boarding passes are going quickly and will be gone soon so register now as we are limited to only 100 passengers. Then finish the night with your fellow Rotarians and guests in the hospitality suite back at the resort. Saturday, we will have speakers, awards, hands on workshops followed by the model luncheon with more surprises to follow. After lunch take the rest of the afternoon off and enjoy all that the resort has to offer including the Regatta which is within walking distance from the resort or join us for our Stop Hunger Food Packing Project Saturday night dinner is the Black Tie Optional Governors Ball. Great food, open bar, even more awards, special presentations, and music. Don’t forget, it is the 30th anniversary of allowing Women into Rotary so you won’t want to miss the celebration. The conference will end on Sunday as we honor those that are not with us anymore, Polio Plus activities, and more inspirational speakers. Rotary’s online tools play an important part of your rotary experience so Online Tools workshops will be offered. Don’t forget to create Rotary.org and dacdb accounts. If you have a web-enabled mobile device, such as a tablet or a laptop, you are welcome to bring it to the conference so we can answer any questions you have during our My Rotary and dacdb session. Your participation in all general sessions, idea exchanges, and workshops will provide a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with your fellow Rotarians from around our district, make new connections and have fun. The quality of this event will depend on how actively you participate, so please take advantage of every opportunity for learning, fellowship, and FUN. Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the 2017 District 6930 Conference. Yours In Rotary Service, Eric Gordon
Quest Edition 8
3
Calendar
April - Maternal and Child Health Month The offices of WGI, 2035 Vista Parkway, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 The main entrence is on the south side of the building
Sat Apr 08, 17
Sun Apr 09, 17 thru Mon Apr 10, 17
4
12:30P
PLEASE REGISTER FOR THIS EVENT! ZONE 33-34 Coordinators Team Training ZONE 33-34 Hilton Garden Inn Charlotte North Rotary Coordinators Team 9315 Statesville Road District Training Charlotte, North Carolina 28269 7750 (click to view a list of Phone:(704) 597-7655 registrants)
Tue Apr 11, 17
06:00P
Wed Apr 19, 17 thru Sun Apr 23, 17
05:00P
Sat Apr 22, 17
09:00A
This GRANT Seminar is being conducted to Rotary Foundation provide our newest club the opportunity Grant Seminar to participate in Grant activity. They had not (Special event) had their first meeting at the time of the Grant Seminars last fall. Others wishing to participate are welcome including Rotarians from clubs that had previously qualified or those from clubs that had not
12:00A
Royal Palm Membership Social Beach
Reserve a Hotel Room NOW Total Wine and More 960 South State Road 7 Wellington,Fl.33414
District 6930 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
Rotary Leadership Institute – REGISTER AT: www.rlitraining.org Sunshine Division nd Saturday, April 22 2017 Presents Rotary Hilton Rialto 200 Rialto Place Melbourne, FL 32901 7:00 A.M. – 3:30 P.M. From US Hwy 1 - West on Nasa Blvd to Airport Blvd – South on Airport Blvd; 2 blocks on left From I 95 – East on US192 to Airport Blvd – North on Airport Blvd; .08 mi on right
March 2017 Quest
District Leadership
District Governor Gordon, Eric (Eric) Office: 561-308-9305 Club: Royal Palm Beach
PolioPlus Chair Owen, Frances Virgin (Betsy & Mike) Office: Club: Delray Beach
District Treasurer Herschbein, Ira (Ira) Office: 561-287-4312 Club: Boca Raton Sunrise
DG-Elect Freudenberg, David (Dave & Pat) Office: Club: Downtown Boca Raton
District Secretary Miller, Jeanette K (Jeanette) Office: 863-763-7711 Club: Okeechobee
DG-Nominee Babbitt, Julia (Julia & Clint) Office: Club: Indialantic
Public Image Kaye, Jon A (Jon) Office: 561-3925166 Club: Downtown Boca Raton
iPDG Burkett, B. Eugene (Gene) Office: 321-631-0383 Club: Merritt Island
Quest Edition 8
DG-Nominee Designate Gaiser, Donna (Donna & Carl) Office: Club: Okeechobee
Asst Governor (Area 1) Fertel, Stanley M. (Stanley) Office: Club: Boca Raton Sunrise
5
Asst Governor (Area 2) Etzler, Candace (Candace & Emil) Office: 561-398-4403 Club: Delray Beach
Asst Governor (Area 3) Walker, Barnie G. Jr. (Barnie) Office: 561-422-2021 Club: Pahokee
Asst Governor (Area 4) Kollmer, Marianne B. (Marianne) Office: Club: Jupiter-Tequesta
6
Asst Governor (Area 7) Gingras, Marc (Marc) Office: Club: Sebastian
Asst Governor (Area 8) Sutter, Richard Daniel (Rich) Office: 321-723-3352 Club: Eau Gallie
Asst Governor (Area 9) Mulberry, Brenda (Brenda) Office: 321-453-7453 Club: Cocoa Beach
Asst Governor (Area 5) Tobin, Patricia A. (Pat) Office: Club: Stuart Rotary Club, Inc
Asst Governor (Area 10) Angel, Baerbel (Babs) Office: Club: Titusville-Sunrise
Asst Governor (Area 6) Gaiser, Donna (Donna) Office: Club: Okeechobee
Membership Chair Hodge, Arthur W (Arthur) Office: 772-778-3910 Club: Vero Beach Sunrise
March 2017 Quest
District Rotary Foundation Chair Ortega, Juan F. (Juanfer) Office: 561-537-4504 Club: Wellington
Vocational Service Chair Hattwick, Richard (Dick) Office: Club: Lake Worth
RI Convention Promoter Asch, Christina (Christina) Office: 321-267-3376 Club: Titusville-Sunrise
DCO-District Comm. Officer Thorne-Shearer, Betty L. (Betty) Office: 772-971-5720 Club: Port St. Lucie
Newsletter Editor Heizer, Dini Mancebo (Dini) Office: Club: Boca Raton West
Quest Edition 8
Youth Service Chair Susin, Matthew (Matt) Office: 321 726 6550 Club: Suntree
Trainer Sutton, Carol (Carol) Office: Club: Northern Palm Beaches
Matching Grants Chair Lustig, Philip Harry III (Phil) Office: 561-212-6554 Club: Boca Raton Sunset
Literacy TF Chair Voss, Gay S. (Gay) Office: Club: Boynton Beach-Lantana
Member Walstrom, Michael F. (Michael) Office: Club: Downtown Boca Raton
7
Club Directory 8
March 2017 Quest
International
Celebrate World Water Day
Quest Edition 8
9
“Cross Egypt Challenge” start on October 12 and will last for 10 days and will pass by Egypt›s top attractions and off the beaten track destinations.
Dear
fellow
Rotarians
around
the
world,
We have appreciated the support of various Rotarians and clubs around the world who have written back to us in the past couple of years or joined our Cross Egypt Challenge initiative and helped us raise awareness and support our beautiful country, Egypt.
A normal practice we are used to conduct during Cross Egypt Challenge is an annual “Sahara Rotary Meetings” where riding Rotarians along with Rotaracts from our organizing team conduct an official Rotary meeting in the Egyptian Desert – please view attached image -, a practice that we happily repeat at each new season. Cross Egypt Challenge provides a very rewarding and challenging experience for participants from around the globe as it combines the best of adventure travels and extreme sports. The 2017 season of Cross Egypt Challenge will include one of the best routes in the history of the challenge and will pass through many of Egypt’s finest spots including modern cities, coastal resorts, historical sites, Egyptian western and eastern deserts and Egypt’s Nile Valley.
The members of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Cosmopolitan - District 2451 – Egypt are happy to renew their invitation to you and the members of your prestigious and respectful club to learn more about and share our Rotary organized I invite you, your club and the members of your club to initiative, “Cross Egypt Challenge” that aims to promote support our initiative by: tourism to Egypt and prove that Egypt is still safe for tourism 1. Register for the rally, and ride or join one of your fellow riders in our chase vans this October in The world as we knew it is rapidly changing, and Egypt Egypt, and enjoy a once in a life-time experience (a has been suffering from bad media and is being looked at motorcycle and scooter rental option is recently as a dangerous place to visit. However, the reality available for international participants). Direct of things is: Egypt remains a very safe country to visit. link to the registration application which can be completed in 10 minutes is: www. Unfortunately the media focuses on the action taking place in crossegyptchallenge.com/registration.html neighboring countries and generalize, and this affects Egypt, a country depends highly on tourism as a main source of income. 2. Share the news about Cross Egypt Challenge We as Rotarians from this side of the planet feel it is our duty to with your fellow members and invite interested let our fellows worldwide know that Egypt is still a marvellous Rotarians to ride in this season’s tour. and safe place to travel to, and to enjoy some of the best sights in the world. We send an assurance message to our fellows 3. Spread the news out to your local community and everywhere in the world that the situation in Egypt is very safe local press to promote this Rotary initiative, and and we invite you to experience this first hand by taking part in the image of Rotary worldwide. our initiative: Cross Egypt Challenge which was also recently For more information or to register, please visit our featured in the January issue of the international “Rotarian website: www.CrossEgyptChallenge.com and LIKE our Magazine” - please click here to read the Rotarian article. Facebook page: www.facebook.com/CrossEgyptChallenge Cross Egypt Challenge is an international cross-country We look forward to hearing back from you, welcoming you motorcycle and scooter adventure tour conducted as a rider in Cross Egypt Challenge 2017 and host you in our throughout the majestic and fascinating Egypt. annual Sahara Rotary meeting. Participation is not only open to Rotarians or professional riders, but also open to average riders and their For any more information, please do not hesitate to contact accompanying spouses or friends from around the globe. us. This amazing Rotary project started in 2011 and for the past 6 years, Rotarians and riders from over 40 countries took part in the adventurous challenge. This year the challenge will
10
Ahmad Elzoghby, PHF, Rotary Club of Alexandria Cosmopolitan Rotary International – District 2451 March 2017 Quest
District
Registration open for the 2017 Distirct Conference Dear Rotarian I am excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2017 District Conference to be held at theHutchinson Island Marriott on May 19th – 21st. It will be a weekend of learning, camaraderie, fun, and celebration of the 2016 -2017 year. The 2017 District Conference opens at 1pm on Friday with great speakers and presentations. Join us Friday night aboard the Island Princess for our Gilligan’s Island Night. Set sail for a 3-hour tour with dinner, open bar, music and more. Unlike the original tour, we will make it back to shore. We are limited to 100 people so register now. Of course, the night would not be complete without an invitation to join your fellow Rotarians and guests in the hospitality suite back at the resort. Saturday we will have awards, hands on workshops followed by the model luncheon with more surprises to follow. After lunch take the rest of the afternoon off and enjoy all that the resort has to offer including the Regatta which is within walking distance from the resort or join us for our Stop Hunger Food Packing Project Saturday night dinner is the Black Tie Optional Governors Ball. Great food, open bar, even more awards, special presentations, and music. Don’t forget, it is the 30th anniversary of allowing Women into Rotary so you won’t want to miss the celebration. The conference will end on Sunday as we honor those that are not with us anymore, Polio Plus activities, and more inspirational speakers. To
make
it
as
easy
as
possible
I
have
included
the
registration
link
below:
Register NOW for 2017 District Conference
You must book your hotel room directly with the Hutchinson Island Marriott. Let them know you are with Rotary to receive our special rate of $135 per night. If you book online use the group code: RYDRYDA. There is also a resort fee of $15 per night (which will be discounted to $10 upon checkout) and tax of 10%. This special rate is only good until April 20th, 2017. Rotary’s online tools play an important part of your rotary experience so Online Tools workshops will be offered. If you do not have one please create Rotary.org and dacdb accounts. If you have a web-enabled mobile device, such as a tablet or a laptop, you are welcome to bring it to the conference so we can answer any questions you have during our My Rotary and dacdb sessions. Your participation in all general sessions, idea exchanges, and workshops will provide a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with your fellow Rotarians from around our district, make new connections and have fun. The quality of this event will depend on how actively you participate, so please take advantage of every opportunity for learning and fellowship. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our District Conference Chair Donna Gaiser atdgaiser08@gmail.com Thank you and I look forward to seeing you at the 2017 District 6930 Conference. Yours In Rotary Service,
Eric Gordon
eric@ericmgordon.com Quest Edition 8
11
Rotary Day at the Ballpark Here are the basics: When last year’s big league baseball season was over, Eric Gordon, Phil Lustig, and I arranged a visit with Brady Ballard, the General Manager of the new Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, which was to be the spring training home of the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals. Our thought was to arrange a Rotary Day at the Ballpark, in which our Rotary District could welcome the Nationals and Astros to southern Florida, an event which would assure future big league spring training in our area since we would then have the Cardinals, the Marlins, the Mets, and now the Astros and the Nationals. Brady Ballard welcomed us graciously, and personally took us on an awe inspiring tour of the ballpark facility. The teams had removed all the tree trunks and stumps from a 160 acre disposal site and were well on the way to converting it into a state-of-the-art Big League spring training facility and Community Amenity. They had squeezed 13 major league ball fields (including at 7000 seat stadium) as well as agility and practice fields and 3 future soccer fields, lighted basketball courts, and a traffic free jogging track onto the 160 acres between Military Trail and Haverhill Road just to the south of 45th Street. Our unanimous thought was that Rotarians should be the first to see this amazing new facility. Since there was no guarantee that it would be finished by the target opening date of February 28th, we looked at the schedule and suggested that the first Sunday game between the Nationals and the Astros on March would be our best choice for the first Rotary Day at the Ballpark. We hoped to involve 100 to 200 Rotarians for this first time event. Brady “blocked” 200 seats for us. With the approval of the team owners, Brady offered us discounted tickets and a block of seats in sections 101 and 100, as well as a guided tour of facilities, recognition on the electronic billboard, he opportunity to throw out the first ball, sing the Star Spangled Banner, have public service announcements on the P.A. system, and kids run the bases after the game. After some discussion, we accepted.
12
March 2017 Quest
As March began, Jim Underwood brought Blake Collingsworth, the founder of the Josh the Otter water safety program, to a special reception and the President Elect Training seminars. We were soon inspired to include Josh in the Rotary Day at the Ballpark if a Josh were available and if the Ballpark approved. A quick check with Jim and Blake seeking “a few” Joshes for the Ballgame immediately brought a message from Jim that “like Mickey Mouse and Smokey the Bear, there is only one Josh the Otter.” Chastised but relieved, we happily turned to Tony Lorenzo of the Port Salerno Rotary Club, who not only had his Josh the Otter suit, but also had two tickets for the Rotary Day at the Ballpark. Talk about divine inspiration! Two hurdles had been overcomed instantly! Then, with Rotary Day fast approaching, we still needed approval from the owners. Quick research disclosed that other mascots of T.V. stations and possibly others, had been denied permission to appear in the Ballpark. We made our request to Brady, emphasizing the charitable and life safety nature of Josh, and late on Saturday afternoon after receiving approval from the owners, Brady approved! Josh would be the first non-mascot animal in costume to appear at the Ballpark other than team mascots! On Sunday at 11am, 70 or so Rotarians walked passed the field where the starting players of the Nationals were taking batting practice literally an arm’s length away, and gathered at the southern boundary of the National’s facilities. There they all met Brady Ballard. Brady gave us the story of the Ballpark and described all of the facilities. He introduced the Club House Manager as the Nationals players wandered back to their club house, just a step or two behind us. After many questions and answers, we moved on with Brady to the stadium, where Brady gave us another orientation in front of the Welcome ROTARIAN District 6930 message on the huge Centerfield billboard (first photo).. The message was there for three hours before the game and during each inning during the game saying Welcome to Rotary Day at the Balpark. We were particularly blessed to gather with Eric Gordon, Josh the Otter (played by Tony DeLorenzo), and our respective wives and photographers at Home Plate for the throwing in of the first pitch. After the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and D.G. Eric’s throwing a perfect strike (“is it the truth?” well, perfect by “first pitch” standards, Screetch caught the ball, and, after all, there was no umpire!). When the national anthem ended, I turned to Nationals Manager Dusty Baker standing just to my right, and I said “Dusty, thanks for your incredible leadership of the Nationals.” He thanked me, and I said “Dusty I want you to meet or District Governor Eric Gordon, and Josh the Otter.” And we all shook hands (and paws) as recorded in the second photo. From there, as they say, the rest was history. The entire Ballpark staff was courteous. The facilities were new and clean. The weather was perfect. Eric mingled with the several hundred Rotarians in attendance, with all speaking in favor of a Rotary Day at the Ballpark next year. The Ballpark is encouraging it. The Boca area clubs would like a tailgating opportunity, and many would like a better and more congenial gathering spot to watch the game. Thanks everyone for coming! We hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. And stay tuned! By Harry Lerch Chair of the Rotary Day Committee Quest Edition 8
13
14
March 2017 Quest
Peace Pole Re-dedication by 5 Rotary Clubs Friday March 17th, 2017 Humiston Park, Vero Beach Peace Pole Re-dedication by 5 Rotary Clubs in honor of the 100th Year of Rotary Foundation Kevin Anderson, president of Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach wanted to honor the 100th Anniversay of the Rotary Foundation so he chose to go back to Rotary planted Peace Pole in Humiston Park and invited Vero Beach City Manager Jim O’Connor to attend as well as Marc GinGras, Assistant District(6930) Governor and Sebastian Club member, Joe Falzone president Sebastian Rotary, Russell Twiss president of the Vero Beach Club and Daniel Fourmont incoming president, and Vicki Soule president of the Oceanside Club. Also attending were Bob McCabe the Sunrise Rotary Foundation treasurer and Jane Burton the Foundation Chair. Some information on the Peace Imitative in Rotary and the Rotary Foundation: Conflict and violence displace millions of people each year. Half of those killed in conflict are children, and 90 percent are civilians. We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts. HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN Through our service projects, peace fellowships, and scholarships, our members are taking Quest Edition 8
action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources. Rotary makes amazing things happen, like: Improving quality of life. Rotary members founded the People for People Foundation, which has helped 10,000 families afford food, clothing, rent, utilities, medications, and other necessities. Raising awareness of bullying. Rotaract clubs in the Philippines conduct antibullying campaigns in schools to teach children how to handle conflict peacefully from an early age. Protecting domestic violence survivors and their families. The U.S. state of Louisiana has the fourth highest incidence of death caused by domestic violence. Local Rotary members met this issue by helping a shelter provide food, clothing, legal advocacy, and counseling to over 500 women in one year. The Foundation is the $1 billion charitable arm of Rotary International. To mark the centennial, Rotary aims to raise $300 million by July 2017 for its campaign to eradicate polio and for service in communities around the world. Established in 1917 with a donation of $26.50, The Rotary Foundation is dedicated to advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. Through grants and other resources, Rotary members develop sustainable projects that promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and
children, and grow local economies. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985 and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative along with the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and more recently, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Rotary has contributed more than $1.5 billion and countless volunteer hours to eradicate polio. Through 2018, every dollar Rotary commits to polio eradication will be matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, up to $35 million a year. Since the initiative began, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to less than 71 confirmed in 2015. To find a Rotary Club near you visit www.rotary.org or visit one of the local clubs: Vero Beach club meets at the VBYC at12noon on Thursdays; Oceanside meets at the Indian Shores Community Center on Tuesday evenings at 5:30; Orchid Island meets at the VBCC at 12 noon on Wednesdays; Sebastian meets at Vic’s Pizza & Italian Restaurant on Thursdays at noon; Sunrise meets at Grille on the Green at Vista Royal Wednesday’s at 7am. By Debbie Avery
15
16
March 2017 Quest
Clubs
Port St.Lucie Sunset Rotary Club
Turned 25
The club was chartered on February 25, 1992 and Club President Jeannette Weiss was presented with the 25-year marker at our March 21 meeting buy District Governor Eric Gordon. Quest Edition 8
17
Delray Beach Rotary Club DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA…The Delray Beach Rotary inducted its newest member on Tuesday during the Club’s weekly Luncheon meeting at The Delray Beach Public Library.
President Fred Bonardi administered the induction protocol to ; TROY MEINDERTSMA. Troy is an associate with TITLE SOLUTIONS of Fort Lauderdale and a resident of the Delray Beach community.
Rotary is an international association of over 3.2 million members around the world. Membership in the Delray Beach Rotary grants admission to over 32000 Clubs in hundreds of countries. The Rotary International has contributed to the elimination of POLIO in all but three countries on the planet and has donated millions of dollars to combat water issues and health concerns worldwide.
The Delray Beach Club meets weekly on Tuesday at Noon at The Delray Beach Public Library .Interested parties may contact: tomcoyne1@mac.com or Roger Caine: rcainedc@ comcast.net
18
March 2017 Quest
Boca Raton Rotary Club
Quest Edition 8
19
Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club School’s Grace Pack Program, contact Moore at 772626-0026 or julie.moore@stlucieschools.org. To assist anywhere in the school district, contact Laura Klosterman PORT ST. LUCIE – On March 1, Port St. Lucie at www.gracepacks.org. Sunset Rotary Club members delivered enough food to Morningside Elementary School’s Grace Pack Program For more information about Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary, to send 46 food-insecure students home with a weekend’s please visit www.pslsunsetrotary.com. worth of meals.
Supports Grace Pack Program
“Before we received this donation, our entrée shelf was completely bare,” said Julie Moore, teacher coordinator at Morningside Elementary School in Port St. Lucie. “Literally, all those shelves were completely bare.” Moore said that the school sends home two breakfast items, two lunch items, two snacks, two juices, and two dinner entrees with 46 schoolchildren every Friday during the school year. “We are the wealthiest country in the world and we have such need,” she said. “Over the past two weeks, members of the Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club went out and shopped for easyto-serve food for Morningside School. Our members signed up to bring at least 50 individual food items each for the children, paid for out of their own pockets,” said Jeannette Weiss, the club’s president. “Helping Port St. Lucie’s children is part of our club’s mission.”
About the Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club The Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary is a local branch of Rotary International. The club is 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 call Jack Lutz at 772-879-8700 ext. 132 or visit our website at www. pslsunsetrotary.com.Those interested in speaking to the club, may contact george.seliga@sci-us.com.
Feeding America’s 2014 study, Map the Meal Gap, found that 26.1 percent of St. Lucie County children are food insecure. Grace Pack programs are provided through many of St. Lucie County’s schools and each program relies on community donations. Moore said teachers volunteer their own time to unpack, sort, and pack the food for each child each week. Ideally, the food should be individually wrapped in single-serve unbreakable packages. Juice boxes, fruit cups, cheese crackers, individual mac-andcheese cups, canned soups, tuna fish, oatmeal packs, ramen noodles and similar items are always needed. To volunteer for or donate to Morningside Elementary
20
Nathan Clopman (left) and George Seliga of the Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Club deliver food for Morningside Elementary School’s Grace Pack Program March 2017 Quest
Okeechobee Rotary Club
The Rotary Club of Okeechobee welcomed new Chief of the Okeechobee City Police Department, Bob Peterson to their March 14th regular meeting. Pictured are Chief Peterson and District Governor Designate Donna Moden Gaiser.
Quest Edition 8
21
Sophia Faust
Orchid Island Rotary Club
March Student of the Month The Rotary Club of Orchid Island is pleased to announce that its March Student of the Month is Sophia Faust of Indian River Charter High School. Sophia exemplifies the well-rounded student. She is accomplished academically, is a remarkably talented artistic student and is devoted to improving her community. She has achieved a weighted 4.40 grade point average while successfully maintaining dual enrollment in the Charter School and Indian River State College, where she is set to earn an Associate of Arts degree this Spring. She was selected to be a member of the National Honor Society and was recognized as an “A” Honor Roll recipient each year of high school.
schools to read and act out scenes from popular children’s books. Her theater troupe visits Boys and Girls Clubs to read to the children and help make literacy come to life. In addition, Sophia has a special interest in the renovation of the historic HUB Downtown Theatre. She has spent many hours performing in this theater to promote further renovations and future theater development. Serving as President and an original member of the Students Offering Service (SOS) organization gave Sophia opportunities to help other local nonprofits too. The SOS students regularly assist Habitat for Humanity as well as the HALO animal rescue group with fundraising and volunteer activities.
She credits the Charter School’s Theater Director, Michael Naffziger with having the most influence over her during her high school years. After her first drama class with Mr. Naffziger, she was on course to see her future in the Theater Arts field. “Mr. Naffziger has taught me so much in terms of respect for others and the art….from performing to life lessons….he has taught me an abundance of knowledge that has influenced the way I see the world, myself and others.”
Sophia has already been awarded a grant to study at Temple University in the Fall where she plans to major in Theater Arts and possibly minor in film/cinematography. Her ultimate goal is to become a stage manager for Broadway shows and large scale theater Playing softball is one of her extracurricular productions. activities. However, it is the theater that has We are proud to honor this stellar young captured her heart and become the impetus woman as Student of the Month. for many volunteer opportunities in her community. She uses her acting talents to Congratulations Sophia! assist the education-based Moonshot Moment by traveling to various elementary By Cynthia Pelicas Scherpf
22
March 2017 Quest
Boca Raton West Rotary Club
Rotary Club of Boca Raton West Essay Contest On March 11th, our club held the annual essay contest award ceremony. About 80 people participated, including the kids, parents, teachers and principals. This project, inspired by the “thank you letters” received from the students, began 6 years ago with the purpose of maximizing the relationship created between our club and all those who participated in “The Dictionary Project”. The first essay contest was about community services and the award ceremony was held in our Club, on the same day that we have our meetings. We were so touched by the support we received from the teachers and principals that we decided, from that day on, to incorporate the essay contest Quest Edition 8
as a phase two of “The Dictionary Project”. From then on, when we delivered the dictionaries we also announced the theme for the essay contest, and the prize for each of the winners – a tablet. To express our appreciation for the project’s support we also selected the most inspiring teachers to receive a gift certificate. The project grew so much that we found it necessary to move the award ceremony to a park, on Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. We provided hot dogs, popcorn, refreshments, and a variety of park activities. It should come as no surprise, then, that every year this project is getting better and better because the possibilities are truly endless. By Angelica Blakely
23
Boca Raton Sunset Rotary Club MAYOR SUSAN HAYNIE RECOGNIZES ROTARY CLUBS PROCLAIMING DAY OF FRIENDSHIP IN BOCA RATON During our meeting March 20, 2017 our Program Chair Joseph Riopel read Mayor Susan Haynie›s proclamation for International Day of Happiness in Boca Raton, which identified the six Rotary clubs of Boca Raton as providing an exemplary observation of the fundamental human goal to pursue happiness as resolved by the United Nations in declaring March 20, 2017 as a Day of Happiness.
24
March 2017 Quest
Belle Glade Rotary Club
Quest Edition 8
25
Downtown Boca Raton Rotary Club
26
March 2017 Quest
Boca Raton West Rotary Club NEW PROJECT We are pleased to announce that Rotary Club Boca Our most recent project is to reform the Study Raton West and the Little Smiles Foundation have Room of the children who remain there for most teamed up for a wonderful project! of the day after they return from school, until Many of us usually don’t think much about victims their mothers arrive from their jobs. of domestic abuse, because either such problem We count on the voluntary project of designer does not affect us directly or seems far removed Daniela Guaraciaba Amaral, who will from our reality. simply transform that room into an oasis for However the truth is that this problem has no face, is not disclosed for obvious reasons and often ends up forgotten until we see a report of some woman who suffered the last aggression before succumbing at the hands of her aggressor. But fortunately there is the AVDA, which is an Aid Association for Victims of Domestic Abuse; they have a wonderful shelter here in South Florida, currently with capacity for 50 women and 25 children. Quest Edition 8
those children.
But we need financial help to finish this project. Can we count on you? For more information about AVDA, please visit: www.avdaonline.org. Your contribution will generate many smiles!!! DONATE NOW Thank you!
27
Boca Raton West Rotary Club
Turned 9
The celebration of our club’s 9th Anniversary was a success! Highlighting the honor to our founder, Douglas Heizer, The recognition of Ana Roque and Daniela Amaral for their invaluable collaboration with the Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse (AVDA) Campaign, as well as the recognition of Monica Ribeiro (Brazilian Business Group) and Laine Furtado (Open Line Magazine) as Friends of Rotary. Our Dinner was at Fresh Harvest Restaurant at Seminole Casino; a lot of people came to celebrate our 9th Anniversary!
28
March 2017 Quest
West Palm Beach Rotary Club’s West Palm Beach Rotary Club’s Successful 4th Annual Feed Palm Beach County Day Project On Saturday, March 5, 2017, the West Palm Beach Rotary Club and the Palm Beach County Food Bank partnered to assemble 115,000 meals to help local citizens experiencing hunger. This is a greatly needed Service Project! Tony Lofaso, Chairperson of the 4th Annual Feed Palm Beach County Day explained “Hunger is a serious issue in Palm Beach County.” Also, according to the Palm Beach County Food Bank statistics “at least 16% of residents are food insecure, meaning they do not know where their next meal will come from.” Over 400 diverse, volunteers worked together to assemble 115,000 packaged meals that will be donated to the Palm Beach County Food Bank. Thereafter, the packaged meals are distributed to more than 100 local agencies that serve people experiencing hunger. The enthusiastic and caring volunteers at Feed Palm Beach County Day included representatives from business sponsors, employees of not for profit organizations, members of service organizations, college students, representatives of community organizations, and people representing several faith-based organizations. Volunteers were assigned to work varied shifts from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Gaines Park Community Center. It was inspiring to see the inter-generational and diverse teams of people working collaboratively to help others in need. The procedure for assembling the meals is very organized and fun! Each person at the meal assembly table has a specific task to perform. For example, a volunteer was assigned to measure ingredients, weigh ingredients for uniformity, and pack the assembled meal package in boxes for future distributions to those in need. You can see a glow on volunteers faces when they are leaving because they put their time, energies, and hearts into making this Project successful. Many volunteers comment about the happiness they feel because they put their hands and hearts into made a positive difference in someone’s life. For most if not all participants, Feed Palm Beach County Day was not just an interesting activity rather it was an act of care, concern, and compassion!
Chairperson Tony Lofaso welcomes volunteers Quest Edition 8
Meal assembly tables
For more information, contact Tony Lofaso at (561) 689-6775.
29
Foundation Corner
Rotary grants updates It’s been about two months since we unveiled the new Grant Center. I hope you like the changes. As I’ve mentioned, we’ll continue to make improvements in coming months. In the meantime, I have a few grant-related updates for you: Submitting global grant scholarship applications Plan ahead for your scholars! If you’re sponsoring a global grant scholar who will begin studies in August, September, or October 2017, we need your application no later than 30 June. June, July, and August are the busiest months for scholarship applications, and each year, some students miss out on scholarships because their Rotary sponsors haven’t left enough time for the Foundation to review the applications. Speaking of scholars, did you know that Foundation staff can review candidates you’re considering for a scholarship before you submit their applications? Simply email your regional grants officer with pertinent information about the candidate to request a pre-review. He or she will help you avoid applying for a scholarship for someone who isn’t eligible. Rotary/UNESCO-IHE scholarships The Rotary Foundation and UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education have extended their collaboration for two more years and will offer up to 10 scholarships for graduate study at UNESCO-IHE’s Delft campus in the Netherlands in 2017-19. For more information, review the application toolkit and scholarship terms and conditions. Searching for grants in the Grant Center Some Rotarians have told us that they didn’t know they could use the Grant Center to find all of the grants sponsored by their district, whether or not their club was involved, but you can. First, sign in to My Rotary and navigate to the Grant Center. Click Grant
30
Search, top right. That will take you to a page that has a search bar you can use to search by grant number or grant title. You can also search by area of focus, and if you select every area of focus, you will see every global grant in your district. This search feature also allows clubs to see their district’s district grants. Please tell clubs about this, and let them know that learning about the district’s other grants is a good thing to do before beginning any new global grant projects. Using delegation in the Grant Center Delegation is the feature that allows some club and district leaders to share their level of access to the Grant Center with others, allowing them to view, edit, and authorize applications. In this way, clubs and districts can customize the Grant Center to meet their needs. During the upgrade, we’ve had to suspend the delegation functionality, and it will continue to be unavailable through May. When it’s available again, I hope you’ll be able to manage your grants more easily using delegation. Grant Center webinar We will host a webinar on 5 April to introduce new users to the Grant Center. Register on the webinars page on My Rotary. The value of international partnerships Collaboration between international partners is a key feature of global grants. Thanks to the Rotary network, it’s possible to work toward a common goal with Rotarians from other countries, which makes for a wonderful opportunity to promote peace in the world. Project partners can also provide valuable financial resources, technical expertise, and project management experience. Plus, international partners can offer differing ideas and strategies, leading to more effective problem solving and innovation. We’ve heard from some Rotary clubs that they March 2017 Quest
•
•
•
Rotary Ideas, a platform that allows you to request partners, materials, or international support and contributions Rotary discussion groups, a forum for clubs to discuss project ideas and request assistance Rotarian Action Groups, groups of Rotarians and others who are experts in a particular field and involved in club-level projects
Changes to grant terms and conditions The Foundation periodically updates grant terms and conditions to clarify them and incorporate policy changes. See the current version, which reflects the following changes: Section II •
Removed “or geographical area” from “[global grants] are sponsored by at least one Rotary club or district in the country or geographical area where the grant project will take place”
•
Added criteria that global grants may support the construction of lowcost shelters and simple schools, as long as the construction is part of a comprehensive project related to an area of focus
Section VI •
Added information about tax withholdings for global grant scholarships awarded for study in the U.S.
Hydrogeological surveys Water and sanitation is the second most popular area of focus for global grants (following disease prevention and treatment). Everyone has heard stories about wells that dry up shortly after being dug. How do we prevent that from happening to global grant projects? The answer is a hydrogeological survey. The Foundation requires anyone who plans to dig as part of a water project to include one of these surveys in the project planning. It will tell you where water can be found and where it can’t. Surveys can be done by Rotarians, outside contractors, cooperating organizations, or the government. Applicants can include the cost of these surveys in their global grant budget. Project sponsors will want to follow up with water quality testing to ensure that the water is safe to drink, if that’s what it will be used for. Look for details coming soon in the grant terms and conditions. If you have specific questions, ask your regional grants officer. As always, you can send general questions to rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org. And thank you for your commitment to The Rotary Foundation.
Section III •
•
Removed “schools, homes/low-cost shelters” from the restrictions on construction
Sincerely, Abby McNear Rotary Grants Manager
Added a restriction that one global grant cannot fund multiple unrelated projects
Section V •
Quest Edition 8
Removed explanation about obtaining travel insurance
31
Rotary Youth Exchange
Emma Stack
Germany
Hometown: Longwood, Florida School: Lake Mary Sponsor District: 6980 Sponsor Club: Lake Mary Host District: 1940 Host Club: Neubrandenburg
My Bio Hallo! My name is Emma Stack, I am currently a sophomore at Lake Mary High School, and I am so excited to be able to be spending my junior year abroad in GERMANY! At home, I am the middle child of three. My parents are divorced but get along well and both are very supportive of me. I have an older brother in college and a 3-year-old brother who is into superhero puppies and robots. My friends are extremely important to me and are an amazing support system in my life. I think they have helped me to grow as a person and have given me the confidence to take advantage of fantastic opportunities. I have always enjoyed school and my favorite courses are chemistry and yearbook. In yearbook, I am often the photographer; I enjoy photography because it provides a moment, frozen in time, so that no matter how foggy a memory may get, there will always be a memento to cherish. I especially hope to expand on photography while abroad. Travelling has always been a strong passion of mine, and I have been given amazing opportunities to see and explore thanks to my wonderful family. However, I could not be more ready to embark on by far, my biggest and most thrilling journey. I am looking forward to living and experiencing life in a town different from the one I have lived in for so long. I am so eager to take in everything German, the culture, the language, the food, and everything that comes my way. I cannot thank Rotary enough for making this all possible. Expect lots of pictures and updates for I am certain there will be tons! Until next time, Emma
ďƒŞ 32
March 2017 ď‚&#x; Quest
Journals: Emma – Germany 2016-17 Hallo alles! Wow, after 2 and a half months I feel like this is the first time I can sit down and properly write this. Exchange is not something you can ever be prepared for, these last two months have been some of the best of my life and to try to put it all into words is near impossible. I have seen and done more things in this small portion of my life than I think I have ever done before. Being someone who has always never really been a fan of staying in one place for too long, I have definitely been able to fulfill that need while here. In this short time, I have probably visited over 25 museums, gone to countless beautiful cities, and made some of the best friends I have ever had. Just two days ago I arrived back from Denmark (which honestly deserves more credit because dang that is one awesome country), and prior to that I was lucky enough to go on a trip to Paris. These are places I never thought I would be able to step foot in, especially at such a young age, however thanks to this incredible program that became a reality. While here I have also had to take in a new culture, way of life, and family. Although this has been trying at times, it’s all about taking it day by day. I now find myself already adjusting to the new ways of my family and it slowly becoming normal, which is one of the best feelings I have to say. I have also noticed how much more open-minded and excited about my life I have become, when you get out of the town you have lived in all of your life, you really realize how much more the world has to offer. Everything is at the tip of your fingers, you just have to leave your comfort zone for a minute to reach it. I’m now realizing this is all over the place, but as I said, it is near impossible to put this all into words!!! I just want to thank Rotary and everyone who has made this possible for me because I can feel myself changing for the better every day. Also if you are thinking about doing exchange, I have three words for you, JUST DO IT!!! All my love and until next time, Emma Sun, November 20, 2016
Quest Edition 8
33
Local Tourism 34
CITY OF INDIALANTIC History Indialantic is a town in Brevard County, Florida. The town’s population was 2,720 at the 2010 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay–Melbourne–Titusville Metropolitan Statistical Area. •
1919-21 - Ernest Kouven-Hoven, who bought the land that ultimately became Indialantic, settled in the area, and built a wooden bridge connecting Indialantic with Melbourne[6] (Bridge #1)
•
1920s - The Indialantic Hotel was built. Its name was later changed to the Tradewinds Hotel.[7] The hotel was on what is now South Shannon Avenue, the current location of Tradewinds Terrace.
•
By 1924 The Indialantic Casino was built. Its name was later changed to the Bahama Beach Club.[7][8] This is the location of Nance Park today.
•
1941-47 - Wooden bridge is replaced with drawbridge, delayed by the war years. (Bridge #2)
•
1952 - Indialantic is incorporated with the name «Indialantic-by-the-sea.»
•
1985 - Modern causeway is built with elevated span to avoid boats (Bridge #3)
March 2017 Quest
People from Indialantic Robert F. Marx
In the left Bob Marx with the Israeli marine archaeologist Elisha Linder
Search: - Wikipedia - City of Indialantic Web Site
Quest Edition 8
Born December 8, 1933, is one of the pioneer American scuba divers and is best known for his work with shipwrecks and sunken treasure. Although he is considered controversial for his frequent and successful forays into treasure hunting, fellow treasure hunter E. Lee Spence describes Marx as the true father of underwater archaeology.
35
Rotary Curiosity
Questions
1. What year was this RI theme? 2. Who was the International President in that year? 3. Where is he from?
Answers 1. 2007-2008 2. Wilfrid J. Wilkinson 3. Rotary Club of Trenton, Ontario, Canada
ďƒŞ 36
March 2017 ď‚&#x; Quest
District Rotary Day Highlights
BALLPARK
Quest Edition 8
37
Port St Lucie Sunset Rotary Club
Grace Pack Program
38
March 2017 Quest
Pahokee Rotary Club Fishing Tournament
Quest Edition 8
39
40
March 2017 Quest
Peace Pole Re-dedication by 5 Rotary Clubs
Quest Edition 8
41
West Palm Beach Rotary Club’s
42
March 2017 Quest
Boca Raton West Rotary Club Dictionary & Essay Party
Quest Edition 8
43
44
March 2017 Quest
Rotaract Corner
What has Rotaract done for me? achieve your goals. received training in leadership, time management, project planning, event coordination, public speaking, governance, and much more. I’ve served on local, national and international committees, helping shape the future of this great organization. I’ve been given free rein to develop and implement public relations, marketing and advertising campaigns for my club and district. I’ve
I’ve been a member of Rotaract — Rotary’s community service and professional development program for young leaders age 18-30 — for ten years. As I age out or “graduate,” I’ve started thinking about what Rotaract has done for me and how it’s shaped who I am today. A decade is a long time to stick with something. So, why have Experience. At the age of 23, I? I was invited to serve on the Opportunity. Through Rotaract, Rotary District 9630 Public I’ve had the opportunity to do Relations Committee. In my first year, I helped deliver new many amazing things: I’ve traveled the world brand positioning (informed to experience different by research I undertook as part of cultures and participate in my post-graduate degree), a bus advertising campaign, a new projects. I’ve lived and studied district website, new marketing abroad as a Rotary collateral, and media and communication skills training. Ambassadorial Scholar. I’ve attended four Rotary I will be forever grateful to the International Conventions Rotarians who put their faith in (Montreal, Bangkok, Lisbon me, and gave me the opportunity and Sydney) where I’ve to test and further develop my heard from and connected skills. Not many people receive with some truly impressive opportunities like this so early in individuals who are making their careers. the world a better place.
I’ve attended RYLA (Rotary
Youth Leadership Award), a week-long personal and professional development program that helps you figure out what you want in life and equips you with the skills you need to
Quest Edition 8
Confidence. Long gone is the girl who was terrified of public speaking — or even putting forward opinions in a meeting. Rotaract helped me overcome my fears. It’s amazing how fear slips away when you are in a comfortable, supportive
environment, surrounded by people who share your passions. As president of my club, I gained invaluable people and project management skills, and developed the confidence to chair meetings, plan projects and run training sessions. I’ve since served as a keynote speaker and panelist at local, national and international conferences, speaking to audiences of 200-plus people. I’ve also established a reputation at work for being calm and confident under pressure. Life-long friendships. Rotaract has given me the most amazing network of friends — here at home and in almost every corner of the globe. These wonderful individuals have made my life so much richer. They are passionate and talented, and make a real and tangible difference in the lives of others. We’ve shared many adventures and I look forward to sharing many more. This week is World Rotaract Week. It’s the last time I’ll be celebrating as a Rotaractor, but not the last time I’ll be celebrating this great organization. If you’re a young adult aged 18 to 30 interested in helping others, developing new skills and having a great time, then Rotaract is for you. Find a club and get involved — you won’t regret it! By Emily Wood, Rotaract Club of South-West Brisbane, Australia - Rotary Voices
45
46
March 2017 Quest
District Rotarian Story
Why I am a Rotarian Russell Marion Crofutt was born on December 17, 1931 in a little town in Pennsylvania not much bigger than an intersection. Born the youngest of ten children into a “coal mining” family, Russ’s destiny seemed pretty apparent; go to school, work the mines. But Russ’s future took a different turn when he was diagnosed at the age of 4 with poliomyelitis, “polio”, a viral disease that can affect nerves and can lead to partial or full paralysis. Russ was sent to a hospital a great distance from his home, where he would reside for nearly two years. The distance was far too great for his financially strapped family to visit, and there were too many other children at home to care for. Yearning for his mother, little Russ would cry himself to sleep most nights, begging to be allowed to go home. Unfortunately, fate was not kind to the beleaguered family. Russ never saw his mother again. While Russ was in the hospital, his mother contracted tuberculosis, died and was buried on Russ’s 6th birthday. Russ returned home eventually, cared for by his older siblings. At 14 years of age, he was forced to quit school in the 8th grade to work in the mines. Tragedy struck again when he watched his father drown in a raging creek behind their home. Devastated and orphaned, Russ believed his only hope for any kind of future was to join the military. Because of the polio though, one of his legs was much shorter than the other and he walked with a noticeable limp. This single result of the disease was enough to make him ineligible for military service. Years went by, and through the help of his older siblings, Russ was able to leave the coal mines and find other safer and certainly more lucrative work. Although he never did realize financial success in today’s terms, after he moved his family to Florida, he found great satisfaction in work and volunteering. He remembered his childhood, all the difficulties he faced, and his struggles just to survive. Russ had a hard life, but he enjoyed most of his last few years, taking great joy in giving to others. Russ died young, at the age of 57, the result of a massive heart attack, but he suffered many debilitations throughout his life that were thought to be from his early bout with polio. I’m able to sit here and memorialize Russ today because this likeable, caring and generous man was my father. My father taught me the responsibility we all share of helping others, especially those less fortunate than us. In 1999, several years after my father’s death, I was asked by my then boss, Maureen Saltzer, now a fellow Rotarian in our club, to attend the Fort Pierce Rotary Club meetings in her place. As the publisher of the local newspaper, in one of the fastest growing communities in Florida, she was unable to attend as often as was required. I joined (I often say I was forced to join Rotary by my boss), and thus began my life as a Rotarian. I started learning about Rotary and began feeling that this was an organization I could really wrap my arms, and my heart, around. I was active in the community already, serving on many boards, including a stint as Chamber of Commerce President, so I wasn’t “looking” for a cause or organization to be a part of. But several things about Rotary spoke to me. The 4-Way Test resonated with me; it seemed to me to be the standard by which all businesses and organizations should be structured, and the way all people should conduct themselves. Cont. page 48 Quest Edition 8
47
When I learned about Rotary’s mission to be a part of eradicating polio worldwide, I was surprised. I honestly didn’t know it still existed. Learning that there were still children in the world who were contracting the very disease that so impacted my father’s life was an eye opener to me. I had never really thought much about helping those in the world outside my community, but this new knowledge seemed to awaken something inside me. I knew I wanted to be a part of stopping this disease from continuing to leash its crippling effects on babies and small children. Just as important was learning about Rotary’s other missions. I learned about children and adults drinking water just yards downstream from where animals defecate in the very same waterways. I think about my own grandchildren and their tendency to open a bottle of water, take two sips from it, and dump the rest, their ignorance of the need for this precious commodity in other parts of the world a bit heart wrenching for me. I learned about the young by the age of 10 are giving and lives pre-destined by a Tenamit Foundation means a mother at a very early age skill or trade, contribute in community, and postpone older. Being a mother is one in the world, but not one young.
girls in Guatemala who birth, their own futures lack of education. The Ak’ the difference between being or learning they can have a other valuable ways to their motherhood until they’re of the most important roles that should be taken on so
I think about all the ways world around us. I am very a small but extremely hard We donate to more than our community, and in fact “Philanthropy Award”. Foundation and for Polio Tenamit Fund. And we community to share the good work of Rotary.
that Rotarians help the fortunate to be a member of working and generous club. a dozen worthy causes in have won our community’s We raise money for The Plus. We donate to the Ak’ reach out to others in our
I also think every day about my father. My father came from such humble beginnings, but he never complained. In fact, I learned about his childhood from his sister as he was not one to look back or talk about the past. I grew up knowing he had polio of course and as an adult learned the devastating effects it had on his life. But I never truly learned about his life as a child until later in my own life. I wish I had known all this when he was alive. I would tell him how proud I am that he not only survived, but he lived to be a good person, a contributing member of the community and an honest, hard-working, ethical man. I would also tell him that it is because of him that I strive every day to be a good Rotarian. I can’t think of a better reason to be a Rotarian, or a better way to honor my father. By Jeannette Weiss
President 2016-2017 - Port St. Lucie Sunset Rotary Cub
48
March 2017 Quest
Editor Message
Dear Rotarian, In this edition, I want to talk about social media! We are in the 21 century; we are witnessing things that some never imagined would be possible. Researching about Cocoa Beach, I started reading about NASA and remembered about the astronauts, a profession that requires a lot of courage. And I also remembered the moon! When would you have ever imagined that man would be able to go to the moon? It’s unbelievable-- beautiful. It gives us abundant courage as we were able to achieve the unimaginable! Now we have social media which is can be used to show the world what we Rotarians throughout the world are doing. The internet has allowed us to see beautiful things, and it has helped us connect more than ever before! This led me to think about Facebook, and how this is a tool we need to utilize more as Rotarians. How many of us don’t like this modernity, don’t know how to handle it directly, or are scared? We need to let go of this fear! I want to encourage you to put all the great things your club does on Facebook so that you can show the world what you club is doing for your community. Recently, I have observed in my research for Quest that many clubs have a Facebook, but they are not active on it. I even saw one club whose last post was made in 2013! What a shame because someone had the idea but it was not continued or it was not passed down to the other Rotarians. This causes a gap online of the beautiful story of the Club. Tell your story and go update your club’s Facebook page! If your club does not have a page, create one! And if you don’t know how to create one, just ask for help! You are building the history of your club when you develop your online presence. The story of a group and a marvelous family that we call Rotary! Let’s do this together! Success!!!!
Dini Heizer
District 6930 Newsletter Editor 2014-2017 rotaryquestmagazine@gmail.com
RotaryDistrict6930 Quest Edition 8
Issuu.com
49
50
March 2017 Quest