Tuesday, April 4, 2017



Rotary District 6920 Newsletter - April 2017

All Star Tidbits

Pam Lightsey, District Governor
 
     WOW!!  Where do I begin?  I want to say thank you to the 320+ individuals who
registered for the All Star Conference!  Thank you for being part of a weekend that
celebrated all the great things we are doing in Rotary.  We were fortunate to have
Sylvia Whitlock, the first female club president after the Supreme Court decision
to allow women in Rotary, as a guest speaker. Additional guest speakers included
Nicholas Mancus of Africa who serves as Chair of Operations for WASRAG
(Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group), Past District Governor Alicia
Michaels with the Rotary Health Days Rotarian Action Group, William
Nordmark, a Polio survivor; Rodney Bullard, VP of the Chick Fil-A Foundation;
Past District Governor Bill Kemp via video discussing Rotaract - The Beginning;
 Nishan Wijesinghe, a former Georgia Rotary Student who discussed social
media and connecting with community and our President's Representative
John Matthews. What a line up!
     We finished up the 3rd quarter of our Rotary year with 368 new Paul Harris
Fellows, 17 new Benefactors, 17 new Bequest Society members and 4 new
Major Donors. WOW!  We have three more months to show the world that
District 6920 stands behind The Rotary Foundation!  During the weekend of
June 10-14, we will have more than 39,000 Rotarians from around the world
coming to Georgia and we still have time to register more!  Please get your
contributions in by the first part of June so that they can be shared with all of
those in Atlanta!  Let's reach for 100% participation in some form to The Rotary
Foundation. And don't forget that a portion of your funds given to the Annual
Fund will come back to your clubs to use for local projects. Congratulations
to the following clubs that have become 100% Paul Harris Fellow Clubs: Downtown
Macon, Macon North, Waynesboro, Ocilla, Reidsville and Tifton. There are
several others who are working to get there as well. Let's finish 2016-17 with
a BANG!
     Usually after the District Conference, the District Governor works on
finishing up the year with reports, final visits, presentations and tying up loose
ends. However, we will still have one of the biggest events to come this year - the
100th Anniversary of The Rotary Foundation. The  Rotary International Convention
will be in Atlanta and is an opportunity to be a part of history. This is the last time
you will be able to drive to an international convention that is this close to home.
There is still time to be part of the Million Dollar Dinner. We are close. What is
your legacy?  Please consider becoming a new Bequest Society member or
even a Major Donor.  The Rotary Foundation is #3 in the WORLD with Charity
Navigator.
      Thank you from the bottom of my heart for showing your passion for Rotary
 this year!  It has been amazing to see how many are actually part of Rotary and
not just a member on the sidelines. Thank you for everything you do to make a
difference.  Remember it only takes ONE person to change the life or lives of so
many. That is why we are part of this organization. We are joining leaders,
exchanging ideas and taking action!
      Have a GREAT week and I look forward to seeing many of you again!

Pam
2016-17 District Governor



SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS APRIL 15
 
     Do you know a college graduate receiving their bachelor degree and would like to study abroad?  We still have a scholarship over $30,000 to award!!
     Do you know of a District 6920 college student who wants to pursue their graduate studies overseas in 2017? Tell them about the Gilbert R. Tharp Global Grant Scholarship! It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to receive substantial funding to support their study abroad costs while they engage in research and study on one of the six Areas of Focus identified by Rotary International.
     Information about the scholarship can be found on the District 6920 website under the Foundation tab. Questions about the scholarship can be directed to the Scholarship Chair, Dr. Nancy Shumaker, at nwshumaker@yahoo.com.



Guide to 2017 International Convention
June 10-14, 2017

 
To Register: http://www.riconvention.org/en/atlanta/register
Last day for preregistration discount March 31 - $415.  After March 31 - $490
See schedule highlights on reverse side.

To Volunteer: http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org/volunteer
You must be registered to volunteer.

We need volunteers to staff the different events and the airport

To Have Fun: http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org/festival-events
Thurs., June 8, 7-10:30pm – Atlanta Braves Game – Strike Out Polio $85
Sat., June 10, 7:30 – 10am – 3K Walk/run to End Polio Now $20
Sat., June 10 6PM-11 – Blue Jeans & Blue Grass: Opening Night Celebration $50
Sat., June 10 9:30PM -10:30 – Candlelight Vigil to End Slavery and Human Trafficking $0
Sun., June 11 7 – 11PM – Gone with the Wind $20
Mon, June 12 1-4PM – Delta Flight Museum Tour $40
Mon., June 12 6:30-10PM – Evening at the College Football Hall of Fame $75 or $90
Mon., June 12 7-10PM – Evening at The World of Coke $75
Tues., June 13 1-3PM or 3-5PM – Habitat Home Build $20
Tues., June 13 7-10PM - Centennial Celebration Block Party $60
The following are sold out: Athens Night, Peace Tour, CDC Polio Tour, Host Hospitality Night

Schedule Highlights

Thursday, 8 June

Friday, 9 June

Saturday, 10 June

Sunday, 11 June

  • Interfaith service | 08:30-09:15
  • House of Friendship | 09:00-18:00
  • Opening Ceremony – first seating | 10:00-12:30
  • Opening Ceremony – second seating | 15:30-18:00

Monday, 12 June

Tuesday, 13 June

Wednesday, 14 June

Get the Rotary Events app from Google Play or the Apple App Store

ATLANTA CONVENTION REGISTRATION CONTEST
 
Register now for Atlanta!!  Let’s see if we can get our numbers up and show the world that District 6920 welcomes them to Georgia!  Contest ends April 30!

Contest Categories
  1. District with the highest registration by percentage of district membership from each zone (excluding the three Georgia host districts*).  The DG will win reserved seating for the DG and guest, onstage recognition at a general session and a group photo with RIP John Germ and Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee at the 2017 Atlanta Convention along with a Certificate of Recognition signed by RIP John Germ and Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee. 
  2. District with the highest registration by percentage of district membership worldwide from all Zones (excluding the three Georgia host districts*).  The DG will receive a special recognition photo with RIP John Germ, Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee and ICC Chair Barry Matheson at the 2017 Atlanta Convention. 
  3. Top three districts worldwide with the highest percentage of NEW registrations between January 20 and April 30, 2017.  DGs will win reserved seating for the DG and guest, onstage recognition at a general session and a group photo with RIP John Germ and Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee at the 2017 Atlanta Convention along with a Certificate of Recognition signed by RIP John Germ and Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee.
* The DGs from the three Georgia host districts will receive their own special recognition from RIP John, Trustee Chair Kalyan and ICC Chair Barry.

Numbers are based on paid registration only.  Percentages are calculated based on district membership as of January 1, 2017.  Contest ends April 30, 2017.


HOUSE OF FRIENDSHIP IN ATLANTA
     Do you know someone that you want to find out more about Rotary?  Why not invite them to come see the House of Friendship in Atlanta?  This person can’t be a Rotarian or a spouse of a Rotarian, but someone in your community. Maybe it is someone you have been trying to get to join your club.  Fill out the information so I can invite them to come to Atlanta for the day to see Rotary, The BIG Picture.
     The House of Friendship will consist of 27,872 square feet of committed space. There are 11 Pipe and Drape booths and 32 hard wall booths left.  If you know of a business that would be interested in being part of the House of Friendship, you still have time to join this amazing group of people.
     Click on the link to see a real time floor plan http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org/house-of-friendship/floor-plan-exhibitor-list 




ROTARY DIRECT

     We are still looking for more members to sign up for Rotary Direct.  Rotary Direct allows you to give your gift to The Rotary Foundation each month, each quarter or annually.  It is a great way to start as little at $25.00 a month and become a sustaining member.  It is posted directly to your account and you receive your credit and points immediately each time your contribution is received.  It is easy and and simple!  If you select the Shared –Annual Programs, those funds will come back to your club to do projects locally. Sign up today!


WORKPLACE GIVING PROGRAMS
  
  Did you know that there are more than 15,000 companies with matching gift programs to encourage your support of The Rotary Foundation. When you give, your employer gives!  When you volunteer, your employer gives!
     Find your employer's matching gift campaign with Rotary's company matching gifts tool online at www.rotary.org/matchinggifts.


WATER AND SANITATION ROTARIAN ACTION GROUP

Join the Water and Sanitation Rotarian Action Group. Visit http://www.wasrag.org/ for more information on how you can help.




WASH AND WOMEN


DISTRICT CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

THE POWER OF ONE
     Many of you heard me during my official visit talk about our Georgia Rotary Student in Augusta, Ben.  It truly only takes one person to make a difference in the life of another.  We were fortunate enough to have Nicholas Mancus, Ben’s host Rotary Club contact from Africa, with us during the All Star Conference.    
     With the help of GRSP Past Chair Jim Drake, we were able to name him the newest Will Watt Fellow and present him with the special A Commendation from the Governor’s Office. Many Rotarians do what we do because we want to do it.
     Not many of us know the impact of what we do on others, but we had an opportunity to say thank you to someone who gave so much because he loves what he does. Are you that person in your club? It truly takes only one!


HOW ROTARACT BEGAN
     Did you know that we have a very special gem in our district that was part of starting Rotaract?  We do and it is Past District Governor Bill Kemp. Bill was going to be part of the District Conference and share information about Rotaract and the beginning of this amazing group of young adults.  Please see the video of how it all started.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3dGXdYa7-o&feature=youtu.be 
Polio survivor Bill Nordmark from District 6900 shares his story during a general session.

Scott and Pepper share some great tips about membership during one of the general sessions.

Celebrating 30 years of Women in Rotary. Past District Governor Sylvia Whitlock, the first female to become a club president after the Supreme Court decision to allow women in Rotary, was a guest speaker. She is pictured with District 6920's 2016-2017 female leadership team.


Pam and The Pips closed the conference on Saturday night.





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