Feb-March 2009 Toolbox

WWW.CAPITALREGIONROTARY.ORG

WATERVLIET CLUB The Watervliet Rotary Club is holding their ANNUAL 20 WEEK RAFFLE TICKET FUND RAISER - They sell $20.00 Raffle Tickets ~ Weekly drawings for 20 weeks - It starts in March and concludes in June and the odds of winning at least once is 4 to1 - Grand Prize drawing of $300.00 ~ In all, there are 41 chances to win $10.00 or $20.00 during the 20 weeks ~ Purchasers can send an E-mail to dkhavnen@nycap.rr.com and provide a name and address. They will send the requested tickets to you with a stamped return envelope to be returned with a check for the number of tickets requested ~ Checks will be sent to all winners.

RACING CITY ROTARY PRESENTS… Last Saturday of the Month Breakfast WHERE: Senior Citizens Center of Saratoga Springs 5 Williams Street, Saratoga Springs call Bill Davis at 584-1621 for more information COST: $6 per adult and $5 for seniors & children 5-12 Scrambled Eggs, French Toast, Pancakes, Sausage, Hash, Pastries, Fruit Cocktail, Cereal, Milk, Juice, Coffee, Tea

MENANDS CLUB April 3rd - Friday - The Menands Rotary Club will hold their ANNUAL SPRING CHICKEN BARBECUE Menands School.

DISTRICT EVENTS • • • • •

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March 13th-14th - Friday-Saturday Multi-District PETS - Syracuse, NY April 4th - Saturday - RYLA Dinner MurryAikins Dining Hall, Skidmore College 6-8 PM April 18th – Saturday – District Assembly – 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM ~ All Rotarians Welcome May 1st-2nd - Friday-Saturday - District Conference June 21st-24th - Sunday-Wednesday International Convention - Birmingham, England June 29th – Monday - District Changeover Dinner

SCOTIA ROTARY CLUB Annual Brooks BBQ Chicken Dinner on Wednesday April 8, 2009 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM (eat in or take out) at the Glenville Senior Center, 32 Worden Road, Glenville, NY 12302. Cost of Full Dinner is only $9.00.

All profits are donated. Get there early as the over 1,200 dinners go fast. First Come, First Served.

TWIN BRIDGES ROTARY CLUB Saturday April 11th at the Elks Club on Mac Elroy Road in Clifton Park. Admission is ONLY $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children ages 6-12, and children under 5 are free!

Enjoy breakfast, beverages, and a chance for children to have their picture taken with the Easter Bunny (a nominal charge applies). Don’t forget to join in on the Eater Egg hunt – prizes all day!

THE GLENS FALLS CLUB The Glens Falls Rotary Club announces Saturday May 9, 2009 for the WATER WALK ~ To be held at Crandall Park

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AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

benefit from incredible year of study, who has outgoing personality to be an ambassador of Rotary, and who has the ability to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace. This year has the potential to change the student’s whole life as well as the lives of people he/she meets and with whom he/she interfaces.

District 7190 is now accepting applications for an Academic Ambassadorial Scholarship for the 20102011 academic year. This scholarship provides a maximum award of $24,000, to a student who desires to study at an academic institution in a foreign country. An applicant must be at least a junior in college or already in graduate school.

I look forward to hearing from you, Charles D. Lindholm

This educational program is one of the most exciting scholarship opportunities being offered to graduate students. The goal of the Ambassadorial Scholarship is to further Rotary’s objective of promoting peace and understanding in the world. During the period of study, each Scholar will have a unique opportunity to experience being an ambassador of goodwill to the people of the host country.

The Rotary Foundation also provides a Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship for those students who desire intense language study and cultural immersion.

Of particular interest are candidates in helping professions (police, social workers, medical personnel, etc.) who could benefit from enhanced cultural knowledge and language proficiency in serving their clients. There is a three-month program, which grants an $11,000 scholarship, and a six-month plan provides a $16,000 grant.

We encourage Rotarians to be observant for excellent students, who are sensitive to needs of people in the world around them and who may see an opportunity to develop a service project. This could have a positive effect on the goal of Rotary to be of service and work for world peace and understanding.

Rotarians or those related to a Rotarian cannot make application for this scholarship. If you desire any more information, and want to request an application, please contact the Chairman of the Scholarship Committee, Dr. Charles Lindholm, at cdlind@nycap.rr.com or by telephone at 518-399-1202 or 518-265-197 4 (cell) and by visiting Rotary’s website, www.rotary.org Applications must be submitted by June 1, 2009

WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE I haven’t had any feed back regarding WCS, does that mean everyone already has a project going??

I know it’s a tough economic time and many Clubs are supporting local programs but we also need to think WCS, remember, you don't have to fund an entire program, sometimes as little as $50 helps, especially if hundreds of Clubs do it also. If you are looking for a project, go to the Rotary Website, click on Projects Link, you can find a project just for your budget. If you have a question, contact me I will attempt to answer or find an answer. Depending when your Club meets I may be available for a program if you need one. Also don't forget, if you are doing a WCS project, be sure and send a report to the Dist Gov, in June he has to send a report to RI regarding WCS in our District.

Yours in Rorary Tom (duffysgf@yahoo.com)

Duffy

WCS

Chair

This program is a great opportunity for Rotary members to provide an Ambassadorial Scholarship to a worthy student, …to someone they know who possess the intellectual acumen and the outgoing personality and who would The Toolbox: Volume 64

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WATER WALK SLATED FOR MAY 9TH You’ve done it scores, even hundreds of times, each year. Each time it has been so effortless; you hardly noticed you had done it. You did it to fulfill an immediate need but never once celebrated the fact that you could even do it.

It was as simple as reaching out and turning a spigot; yet millions of people worldwide will never enjoy this simple luxury.

In rural Honduras, the prospect of potable drinking water flowing from a faucet is as remote as flying to the moon. In the slums of Port au Prince in Haiti; the ageing infrastructure offers only flakes of rust instead of cool running water to quench your thirst.

In remote villages of Guatemala; houses are too far apart to offer an affordable piped water supply to each home.

These are scenarios facing thousands of people that have been served by the international projects of the Rotary Club of Glens Falls. The club has for the past four years offered hope to communities in Honduras, Haiti and Guatemala.

Five years ago the club embarked on a journey that has taken its members to these countries to help these people fight the challenges of providing safe drinking water.

“Water, water everywhere…”

The problem is not often a supply of water. In many cases, there is adequate water available. The water is more likely unfit to drink due to surface contamination or the presence of parasites. These parasites invade the intestines of the children and adults leading to illnesses and diarrhea. Children are most vulnerable as they grow. They appear undersized for their ages and sometimes have developmental issues as well.

The Rotary Club of Glens Falls found the answer in an organization called Pure Water for the World (PWW).

PWW had been founded by the Rotary Club of Brattleboro in Vermont. That club saw a need to offer water solutions to poorer, rural areas of the world where regular water systems were not neither affordable, nor practical.

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The answer: Bio-sand filters.

Safe drinking water was available through the construction and installation of free-standing bio-sand filters. The technology is so simple: the filter would provide physical filtration from the sand and gravel inside them. The bonus came from a biological layer that developed in the filter to combat the germs and parasites in the water supply.

Filter users rely on shallow streams and water holes as well as occasional deeper wells for their sol water source.

Unfortunately, the water source is often contaminated by animal faeces and human activity (washing clothes, washing vehicles and themselves).

Each filter is about the size of an office water filter and weighs nearly 400 lbs. The shell is made of concrete and weighs close to 300 lbs by itself. Added to this are two layers of differing sized gravel in the bottom and a larger layer of pure sand. A diffuser plate and PVC piping complete the unit.

Maintenance-free.

The beauty of the filter is that it contains no moving parts, requires no maintenance and can be used effectively by locals with only a rudimentary education.

Engineers estimate at least a 50 year lifespan per filter; with many believing that they could last nearly double that. Pure Water provides all the education and follow-up on-site that makes them a valuable partner to the Rotary Club.

The club knows that every aspect of the project will be covered with care and they receive regular reports outlining the progress of each project and analysis of how every dollar is spent.

Rotary International also audits projects where it has contributed matching or grant funds to a project.

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What $100 buys. $US 100 buys you the construction, installation and follow up on a water filter in a household. It also covers the pre-installation education and parasite control medical costs for each household prior to each filter going in. The program only works, however, if an entire village is done at the same time. That requires a total “buy-in” from the community. Less than total commitment runs the risk of crosscontamination and loss of any gains the program makes.

The cost to do a village may run $20,000 or more for any sizeable community.

Smaller villages may cost less.

The economy of scale does come into play when estimating costs for a project.

Transportation cost can increase dramatically where homes are sparsely scattered and require distant delivery on often unmade roads.

The Water Walk.

In response to that need; the Rotary Club of Glens Falls held its first Water Walk in 2006. Involving the whole club; it raised a meager amount that was enough to fund a Pure Water project in southern Honduras along with funds from other Capital region Rotary Clubs.

Members of the Club traveled to Honduras to observe the work first-hand.

This is the second year of raising money for the Nuevo Santa Rosa project and the club hopes that the money raised will really boost their efforts.

This year’s Pure Water Walk will be held on Saturday May 9th from 9 am to 3 pm in Crandall Park, Glens Falls. The relay event is the culmination of months of preparation by the club. The event allows the teams who raise money for the club’s Pure Water projects a fun day in the park. The relay has teams walking, running or whatever around the marked course in the park. Each team has only one member on the course at a time and then “hands off” to another team member as they finish each lap. Teams with the most laps, best team outfits, most money raised, etc will be presented with certificates.

Participation, learning the key.

With economic conditions harder this year, organizers know that money raised may be lower than in previous years. The club wants all teams to raise the most that they can of course. However, awareness to the plight of millions of people without fresh drinking water is a key factor in the event.

Children from schools and youth groups are welcome to register a team and use the opportunity of the event to discuss water issues Worldwide.

To register a team or find out more – visit the club’s website at www.glensfallsrotary.org for information on the walk and to download all the forms and materials needed. Register now and start raising money for this worthwhile project.

Ian L. Williams Publicity Director Rotary Club of Glens Falls bendigonian2002@yahoo.com

The following year, ex- Glens Falls resident, Charles Adams asked the club to consider his Water projects in Haiti. This work is ongoing with the club’s help. Last year and this year the focus has been working in rural Guatemala.

The club has partnered with the Glens Falls Medical Mission to focus on their work in Guatemala’s Santa Rosa region. The Medical Mission has been working there for over a decade and the opportunity to further their work through the provision of bio-sand water filters appeals to the Rotary club.

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DISTRICT PR CORNER SHARE YOUR STORY! I'd like you to take a second and think about a time in your Rotary life that means a lot to you. Maybe it was an event, or something that happened during a project you were involved in. It could be something very small or quite large. Maybe it is something as simple as a great time you had socializing with your fellow Rotary members.

Bring yourself back into that moment. Immerse yourself in it. See it, hear it…. Feel it. Stay there while I share a story with you.

In 2004 I had the honor of participating in an international project in Zimbabwe. I was on board for the project as soon as I heard about it. Months of planning and anticipation finally had come to fruition as I exited the small plane in Victoria Falls. Everything was different… the sights, sounds, smells – the air even felt different. I was in complete sensory overload.

The colors were so vibrant, the amber tone of the soil, the green of the trees, and the brilliant blue sky was completely clear with the one exception of a small cloud in the distance – which was the mist that builds up over the Victoria Falls.

After a night’s sleep the team was off to the school we were helping to rebuild. The morning began in song, exchange of gifts, introductions and speeches. Jim, a team mate, and I took a break from work and went to play with the kids. Jim brought all the sport supplies he could fit into a duffle bag. We played soccer (which they call football) and we showed them how to toss an American football, then we tried batting practice. BAM – we hit upon something (no pun intended). These kids had never seen anything related to baseball in their lives, yet swung like champs. Jim and I decided to teach them the game. We laid out the bases, broke out some mitts, balls and bats – battled a language barrier and started taking the students through the basics of baseball. We lined them up for throwing practice, had them run through some batting practice and set up 2 teams. Unfortunately, time ran out and we had to head back to the lodge for the night.

I woke up on my second day feeling less then stellar.

My ankles had swelled badly from the long plane ride and I was definitely not feeling 100%. I had to remove my ankle bracelet as it was digging into my skin. We went back to the school, again greeted by the sound of The Toolbox: Volume 64

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children singing and dove back into work. Jim and I snuck away again and reformed our two teams. We set up a pitcher and Jim stood at first base, I at third and when the batter nailed the ball told them where to run and stop. We called outs, strikes and even got into the concept of foul balls. The teams changed sides and a new set of runners were heading around the bases.

The kids caught onto the game quickly with the help of a translator or two and we made it though a few innings with Jim and I coaching the kids along.

As the day wore on I was feeling worse. I was tired, getting achy and knew something was wrong. Playing with the kids was about the only thing that kept me going. We returned to the lodge for dinner and I had to excuse myself from the table. I went to lie down in my room and hopefully regroup. Cindy, our team leader came in to check up on me about an hour later.

She checked my temperature and trying not to sound alarmed, suggested I get looked at. Now, I am in Zimbabwe, you are not getting me to set foot in a public hospital, I told her I’d wait it out a little while longer. Cindy told the owner of the lodge what was going on. The owner was a member of the Victoria Falls Rotary club. She made one call. Another woman, a fellow Rotarian, showed up a little while later and took me to the private clinic her husband, a doctor and also a Rotarian, owned. He checked me out and took my temperature. My fever was 104.6. He noted that I had not been in Zimbabwe long enough to have gotten malaria or anything like that, so I must have picked up a virus on the plane. He wrote me a prescription for penicillin just in case and told me to check in with him in a couple of days. I don’t know about you, but there is no where in my own neighborhood that I can get a prescription filled at midnight. But the doctor’s wife was the local pharmacist and she took me to her store, filled my prescription brought me some vitamin C and drove me back to the lodge.

I had a restless night at best and woke up feeling weak and saturated from the fever. My team suggested I stay at the lodge for the day – I said hell no. The opportunity of a lifetime was happening right now, and there was no way I was going to miss a day of it. I took my meds and a handful of Tylenol and began the day. We drove the 45 min into the bush to get to the school. The van can’t be brought to the school itself as the sand is too soft, so we got out of the vehicle, gifts, bags, etc… in hand and hoofed the remaining ½ mile in the soft sand. About half way through the trek the sound of the students’ voices rose up in the distance. The morning welcome song had begun. Hearing the voices put a little spring in my step – I was excited to get back to them. The closer we got Rotary International District 7190

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to the school, the louder the voices became, the clearer the words “Welcome welcome everybody everywhere, Welcome Welcome we are happy you are here.” Simple, succinct, but oh so delightful and heartwarming. As I entered the gate of the school, already exhausted, again soaked from the fever, I looked to my right and saw some 300-400 students singing in unison as they had for us every morning.

The sound of their song washed over each of us like a welcome wave. But today, on this morning… when I looked to my left, what I saw took my breath away. A few hundred feet away were a couple of dozen students playing baseball – on their own. Now maybe it was my fever, maybe it was because I was tired, but I stood there with tears in my eyes at the site of them pitching, throwing, running bases, calling outs and changing sides… on their own. In that moment was when I got it… in that moment I realized what Rotary is truly about. I may not have saved the world, but I made a difference in the lives of a couple of kids – even if it was just to get them smiling, laughing, and playing for a few hours and forgetting about all the other things they have to deal with in the course of their daily lives. That single moment means more to me then I could ever express.

Even today – when my day is going poorly, I can take myself back to that one moment – seeing those kids playing baseball and for me, once again, all is right with the world.

Now – will this story land on the front page of the New York Times? No. Will this story bring the world to Rotary’s front door – no. It is more or less a story about short brunet from NY who traveled half way across the globe and taught a couple of dozen kids how to play baseball. Not Earth shattering my any means. But when someone asks me about Rotary – that is the story I share because it is the story that lives in my heart. Sharing this story says more about what Rotary is to me then any press release or ad campaign ever could.

When I was president of Twin Bridges I had some members who had no time to commit to the club, yet still wanted to be a part of it. I told them it was fine – under one condition. Talk about the club, share your story, tell people WHY you want to remain a part of us and help us spread the word and grow. And grow we did – well over 30%, simply by sharing our stories.

If every Rotarian shared their story and allowed those around them to feel the passion, enthusiasm and meaning behind it, Rotary membership could double in a few short years, I guarantee it.

Your story is your WHY. In PR we talk about who, what, when and where – but rarely do we hit upon the WHY – and it’s the why that sells it. The why is what gets people involved, the why is what makes Rotary what it is, the why is what attracts people to Rotary because they want a “why” too.

Go share your story.

Melissa Ward, District 7190 PR Chair

Want the latest on what’s happening in District 7190?

How about starting your own blog, sharing photos and listing events to share with your fellow Rotarians?

Check out http://rotary7190.ning.com! Anyone in the district can join, share thoughts, photos, videos and more!

The TOOLBOX needs you!

A new editor for the toolbox is needed. The template is set up in Word and it’s just a matter of cutting and pasting in articles and photos. If you are interested please contact Melissa Ward: Melissa@NewWard.com

Think about your story – the one that means so much to you, a single moment where you felt proud, or humbled or grateful, perhaps even empowered because of your work with Rotary and share it. Tell it to as many people as you can. Write it down, record it – let people see and hear the passion when you tell it.

The ones that your story resonates with will be the ones that join your club – they will want to be a part of that, they will want to have that feeling in their lives.

There will be no “selling” no “pitching” no “convincing” – trust me; the story will do all of that for you.

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How can your club get involved?

Throughout the world, each time a Rotary volunteer administers oral polio vaccine, the child’s pinkie is colored purple with the topical solution, Gentian Violet, temporarily marking the child to prevent double dosage during National Immunization Days (NIDs).

In the March 2003 issue of The Rotarian (p 23) six Ethiopian boys proudly display their purple pinkies as a sign of freedom from polio.

Building on this symbolism, the Rotary Club of Lake City, FL called upon local school children to help raise funds to immunize other children from polio. For each $1.00 donation, the approximate cost of a dose of oral polio, Rotarians painted the child’s pinkie purple with the same Gentian Violet. Of course, more than one finger was painted as children brought in multiple dollars.

In 2007-2008. RI District 7190, covering the Capital Region of NYS, brought the project to the 46 clubs in the district. The EarlyAct Club of the Sharon Springs Rotary Club was the first club to participate as they were drawn to this ‘purple badge’ in their desire to help save other children from polio.

Benefits • • •

•

Most importantly, additional children will be immunized We will be closer to the goal of eliminating polio worldwide International understanding will be advanced as children from non-endemic countries are made aware of the polio problem in other nations and become part of the solution Children and their parents will be learn about the great works of Rotary in a concrete and personal way

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1. Learn about the project and what is required from club members 2. Present the project to your club board/membership. Although this is not a labor intensive project to set up many club members may be needed on Purple Pinkie Day 3. Present the Purple Pinkie Project to your Superintendent of Schools to receive permission to do the project. This project is appropriate for elementary, middle school or high school students.

Decide on your target grades. Expect to receive questions about the safety of Gentian Violet and its staining qualities. Special Note: on recent NIDs, Rotarians are using permanent Purple Marker so you may wish to substitute the marker for the GV. 4. Present the project to your local schools to see if they wish to participate. Expect varying interest.

Emphasize very little will be required on their part.

5. Print posters and parental permission slips, order GV or markers and the DVD. Write and distribute press releases.

6. Present the project to a local pharmacy to see if they might donate the GV. One bottle goes a long way and is sufficient to paint 100 or more pinkies.

The local pharmacy may be interested in matching the children’s donations and their logo can be added to the parental permission slip and mentioned in the press releases.

7. Solicit involvement of your local Interact Club.

They are a great help on Purple Pinkie Day. 8. Four weeks out – distribute posters to the schools.

9. Three weeks out – distribute the DVD 10. One week out – distribute the permission slips to the school.

11. Purple Pinkie Day – each Rotarian should be able to paint 50 pinkies an hour. Suggest two – four Rotarians at each location.

12. Order the DVD from PDG Anne Cargile, 518-8775530 or annec@nycap.rr.com Need more information? Contact Harriet Noble or download your forms here http://rotary7190.ning.com/forum/topics/purple-pinkieproject

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ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD One of the cores of any good relationship is communication and one of the tenants that we, as Rotarians, hold in highest regard is our positive ethical standards. On January 10 we brought all of our RYLA students together for day of learning about communications and ethics.

During the morning the students explored all sorts of communication styles and tactics with one of our newest Rotarians, Tony Rivera.

Surprise someone you know with a dozen roses for just $20! On Wednesday, June 3, our “Posies to End Polio” will be available for pick up at Longfellows, or local delivery. Call Karen Babin at 587-7582 to preorder and for more information.

Once we had a better understanding of communications we focused on ethics. Everyone one of us have recited the “4-way Test” at least once.

Have you ever taken some time to think about what each of those statements means to how we live and operate? In addition to the 4 way Test we explored what it means to be ethical and then worked through some challenges that demonstrated how we need to change our perspectives to keep ethical.

We finished up the day with the students working on different aspects of their final celebration dinner. Once again our students are planning their own final celebration. The dinner will be held on April 4, 2009 at a location yet to be determined. Keep that evening free to learn more about RYLA and experiences of our students.

A big Thank You goes to Tony Rivera of the Cohoes Rotary Club for lending his experiences and leadership to our January adventure. It is very important for the students to be exposed to many Rotarians. If you would like to be involved as a team coach or guest instructor please contact Nick George at Nick@KineticSymmetry.com or 926-8688.

Polio Bears: DG Michael Popolizio, PDG Anne Cargile, PDG Harriet Noble, DGN John Eaton

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Rotarian Tony Rivera has fun teaching communications to this year’s RYLA students

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OUR ANNUAL GIVING The Rotary year 2008-2009 is one-half over. We are on our way to achieve our giving goal to the Rotary Foundation for this year. The economic crises throughout the world have lessened our ability to give as much as we would like. In making our decision as to how much we can contribute we must consider not only the resources we have but understand the consequences of this crisis in the emerging countries in our world and in our own country. Food supplies are diminishing, medical assistance is fading and education is frequently being placed “on the back burner.” While our financial ability is not as great as it was, the need is growing even greater. We have been reassured by the Trustees of the Rotary Foundation that steps are being taken to assure continued support for humanitarian programs. It is equally important that the resources of our Foundation be preserved to meet future needs of our world. If we are to effectively continue to “save and change lives” we must continue contribute to the most efficient and effective charitable organization in the world.

The goals set by the clubs in our district are achievable and realistic even in today’s economic environment.

Remembering that every dollar that we give is used to make our world a better place, to care for the sick, feed the hungry and maintain a level of education which will help our world recover and prosper again. I can think of no better way to use my money than to help others survive, no, help others live. My own experience has been that whenever I give something I receive far more in return. Not only the joy of having helped another but the satisfaction of seeing our world grow into a better place to live both for me and for my children and grandchildren.

It is important that we remember that our gifts are not only used for the emerging world but in our own communities. District Simplified Grants in District 7190 have furthered educational program, health programs and programs for those in need in our own communities.

An interesting event occurred in November, 2008.

Ram Gawande, governor-elect of District 6690 (Ohio, USA) passed out new textbooks to students at the Trimble Elementary School in August. More than 800 students of the Trimble Local School District near Athens, Ohio, USA, received thousands of textbooks in August, in part through a gift from an unusual source: Indian Rotarians.

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For nearly 18 years, Ram Gawande, an Athens resident and RI District 6690 governor-elect, has been involved in projects aimed at improving communities in his native Nagpur, India. After hearing of Gawande’s election as district governor, Nagpur Rotarians decided to thank him for his years of support by raising $5,100 for a project that would benefit Athens. Gawande used the gift to provide reading and math books to middle schools in the Trimble school district, where 40 percent of families with children live below the poverty level.

"This is a scenario of the poor helping the poor," says Gawande. "Rotary in the United States has done a lot for the people of India, and the people of India wanted to say thank you. We've become united under a common mission of improving literacy." The literacy project was augmented by a Rotary Foundation Matching Grant of $8,530 and donations of $2,300 from both the Athens Rotary club and District 6690.

Athens Rotarians purchased thousands of math, science, and reading textbooks from the National Geographic Society.

The school district has struggled to purchase new books with limited funds. While test scores have been improving steadily, some schools are still using books that are 20 years old. In August, Gawande and 15 other Athens Rotarians distributed books and materials to students at the Trimble Elementary School. The textbooks are bridges to the world around them, says Gawande. Since 1991, Gawande has been instrumental in several of his district's projects in India, including the digging of several water wells, providing 6,000 cataract eye exams, and purchasing hearing aids for more than 150 children. Projects that help developing countries will always be a part of Rotary, says Gawande. But he also notes there are great needs in the United States and other developed countries.

"Rotary needs to work as a two-way street," says Gawande. "We all must join hands and help the poor in every part of the world. This project is an example of Rotary working as a circle. Indian Rotarians felt an enormous amount of satisfaction for giving rather than receiving." [“Indian Rotarians help Ohio school District”

by Ryan Hyland, Rotary International News, 24 November 2008] This caring can only continue if we continue to give to the Rotary Foundation. I ask that you review your commitment to our goal for annual giving over the next few months and make an effort to meet that goal, or better, to exceed that goal in this time of increased need.

James A. Spencer, PDG Annual Giving Chair 2008-09 Rotary International District 7190

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OPERATION CRAYON IN MIDDLEBURGH The Middleburgh Rotary Club participates in annual Christmas events in our community. Poinsettias are distributed to the elderly, shut-ins and lonely people, our streets are brightened with the red, green and white lights of the season, parking meters are covered with “candy canes,” two families are “adopted” to receive food and gifts to make their holiday a joyous one and some of us read stories to the children at our library. This year the club decided to participate in “Operation Crayon,” a program sending boxes of needed items to children in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Operation Crayon was founded in 1999 when the 105th Military Police Company deployed to Bosnia requested assistance with the schools they had adopted. They were in need of crayons to accompany the thousands of donated coloring books for the children. The need was met but the program has continued and been expanded to include school supplies, hygiene supplies, food and items of clothing for children. The Middleburgh Club sent five boxes to military personnel stationed in Iraq to be distributed to the children in a local orphanage.

RECOGNITION IDEA FOR SPONSORS Here’s a great way to recognize your club members who bring in new members.

These special pins are available from several of Rotary’s licensed vendors at nominal cost.

Present this pin to the Sponsor at the induction.

MEMBERSHIP TIPS AND TOOLS One of the best Membership Retention tools you have is topical and interesting programs at your club meetings. Some clubs have outside speakers every week and some clubs incorporate club member bios (classification speeches) and club assemblies (business meetings) into the mix.

Several of the clubs I know also ask members to select their favorite topic and do a presentation on that.

Examples might be Sailing, Fishing, Travel, etc.

Linda Rozell Shannon HVBF@aol.com

Birthmark.org

changing and saving the lives of children with vascular birthmarks

Arcangela Mele aracangela@nkf.org

National Kidney Foundation

added value of screenings at your local events such as festivals, fairs, pancake breakfast, ziti dinners, etc

Edwin Graham egraham@gccrny.org

Gilda’s Club

cancer support for the whole family

Bill Corbett sponsorascholar@yaho o.com

Albany Rotary President

reducing our carbon footprint

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Feb/March 2009

The District also provides speakers and presentations

by Foundation Area Coordinators and subcommittee chairs (see the District website) as well as Membership, Publicity, Youth Exchange, RYLA, Historian-related info and many other interesting subjects.

I hope you find this helpful.

Harriet B. Noble, PDG District Membership Chair

Rotary International District 7190 Pg 10

REPORT FROM SHANE NOLAN AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLAR One of the roles of an Ambassadorial Scholar is not only to be a goodwill ambassador to your host club, but also the entire district. As the fall semester ended at the American University in Dubai, a fellow ambassadorial scholar and I decided to attend Rotary clubs throughout the district. We were assigned to District 2450, which is the largest geographical Rotary district. This district is composed of nine countries (Egypt, Sudan, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Lebanon, Jordan, Cyprus, Armenia, and Georgia) on three continents so we obviously had only the time and resources to choose a few.

From December 9-13th we went to Cyprus. We had to opportunity to present at five Rotary clubs in Cyprus and a Rotaract club. While there for only a few days we got to see a lot of the country because of the help of Rotarians. They provided transportation, food, and a place to stay. They also brought us to historical areas throughout Nicosia, Pathos, and Limassol which gave us a better understanding of their country and traditions as a whole. One of the Rotarians there even frequents Saratoga during the track season, and said he will come and visit the Saratoga Springs Rotary Club when he returns this summer. Overall, the most interesting thing I learned from this trip was the political turmoil that still exists over Northern Cyprus which is still under the occupation of the Turkish.

After finishing our finals on December 17th, we headed to Lebanon from December 18-26th.

In Lebanon we met with seven Rotary clubs and gave presentations to nearly all of them. One of the clubs even aired interest in doing a joint project with District 7190.

The goal of the project is to promote environmental awareness in the youth of Lebanon.

While in Lebanon, we also met with two Rotaract clubs. One of which we will be organizing a joint project with the Rotaract club we are forming in Dubai.

Also, I had the opportunity to partake in another Rotaract club's project on Christmas eve in Beirut.

This involved giving gifts and food to families in need in the poor districts of Beirut. We spent Christmas with a Rotarian that we met in Cyprus. While in Lebanon, we also had the opportunity to see a huge portion of their country. This includes the Cedar Mountains, historical sites, and the Jeita Grotto.

Rotarians again provided us with places to stay, more food than I could bear at times, and transportation.

The Toolbox: Volume 64

Feb/March 2009

From December 26th-30th we went to Jordan. We met with two Rotary clubs in Amman, and a Rotaract club who brought us to Jerash. While in Jordan we also went to Petra, swam/floated in the Dead Sea, and went to the place where Christ was Baptized. It was amazing being at the Jordan River which creates the border between Israeli and Jordan. In the distance you could see the start of Jerusalem. This was also on the day that Israeli started their air strikes on Gaza.

On December 30th we returned to Lebanon. For the two days we spent here we only had time to say goodbyes to the Rotarians we had previously met the week before. On January 1st we flew to Yerevan, Armenia. After a prolonged stop in the airport we finally arrived. Clearly the weather here is colder than where I had been for my previous travels, but it was tolerable. The first day a Rotarian picked us up from the airport and showed us around Yerevan. We even got to meet his son during visiting hours in a military barracks. This gave me a different perspective on things. After staying with this Rotarian for a few days we went to Georgia by train to meet with other Rotarians in Tbilisi. The weather here was milder which gave us the opportunity to explore even more.

One Rotarian here who didn't even realize that we were coming till the day of, took two days off of work to show us around his country. In Tbilisi, we again got the chance to meet with both Rotary and Rotaract clubs. During our stay in Armenia and Georgia we also got the opportunity to celebrate Christmas again since they don't celebrate Christmas till Jan 6th and 7th.

Tomorrow morning I return to Dubai and start classes on Sunday for the spring semester. Looking back on my past month, I realize how amazing of an experience it was to see how Rotary impacts communities throughout the world. Whether it is projects that Cyprus took on of giving food, and aid to the Lebanese during the 2006 war, or a Lebanese club taking on the task of planting one million cedar trees throughout Lebanon, or District 7190 Rotarians jumping into frigid Lake George to raise money for Polio Plus and the Rotary Foundation, to support its charitable activities in the world. It is amazing to see the impact Rotary projects have in people’s everyday lives.

Overall, this experience has given me a complete new understanding of what "Service Above Self" and "Make Dreams Real" means. Sincerely, Shane Nolan

Rotary International District 7190 Pg 11

65 Robinwood Drive Clifton Park, NY 12065

Photo of the Month – GOL Dinner Dance

The Toolbox: Volume 64

Feb/March 2009

Rotary International District 7190 Pg 12