ShelterBox Relief Efforts Underway

When disaster strikes, ShelterBox is typically one of the first on the ground. And this has been the case in the areas suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Matthew. ShelterBox is an international disaster relief charity that provides temporary shelter and life saving supplies to displaced families. Our Rotary District 6910 ShelterBox Chair, Mike Freeman, asked that this update be shared.

ShelterBox USA President Kerri Murray was interviewed by CNN.  See the interview here.  "ShelterBox is preparing every single day for the worse day ever." - Kerri Murray from the CNN interview.

Key points:

• While Hurricane Matthew made landfall elsewhere, Haiti was the worst hit.
• Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries, and was only just starting to recover from the catastrophic earthquake in 2010.
• While reports are still coming in about the level of devastation, Hurricane Matthew is the worst storm to make landfall in Haiti for more than 50 years.
• At its height, the storm had wind speeds of 155 miles per hour.
• Torrential rains have caused mass floods in many communities.
• Extensive damage to main bridges and other transport networks has left some parts of Haiti completely cut off, leaving communities extremely vulnerable.
• Reports are being updated still, but the death toll has surpassed 1000.
• Reports suggest that more than 330,000 people have been affected by the hurricane.
• Some areas are still cut off, but officials have said that parts of the south of the country of Haiti have suffered between 90-100% damage.
• The first cases of cholera have been confirmed and medical facilities are overwhelmed by the amount of people wounded by the hurricane.

ShelterBox Response:

• A ShelterBox response team, including volunteers from the UK, the US and Canada arrived in the capitol of Port-au-Prince on Friday night.
• They have started to work with contacts in the country, including local Rotary contacts and representatives from IOM (the Organization for Migration) to get data on the affected areas.
• These Rotary contacts have helped us gain information on some of the areas that have been inaccessible up until now.
• The team will be carrying out thorough assessments to work out the level of need, as well as the most suitable selection of aid for each community.
• We already have limited stocks of aid in Haiti and we are working with the Dutch Navy to transport many more stocks from our nearby storage locations.
• We are exploring every option to get aid to Haiti as quickly as possible.
• We are also looking at the possibility of partnering with fellow aid agency ACTED who we have worked with on several projects, including our response in Nepal. Working in partnership could give us more flexibility and capacity to reach isolated communities in the country.
• The team includes Rebecca Swist, who lived and worked in Haiti for six months, and Yi Shun Lai, who took part in the ShelterBox response to the earthquake in Haiti in 2010. They will be able to provide invaluable insight into working in the country.

Why does ShelterBox need support?

• Haiti is one of the world's poorest countries. Many families are incredibly vulnerable and live in shelters made of flimsy materials. Very few of these shelters will have been able to withstand the strongest storm in more than 50 years. While we don't yet have a clear picture of the situation, we expect the devastation to be huge. Torrential rains have caused flooding and landslides, which are likely to bring life threatening illnesses like cholera.
• We need to be able to send ShelterBox aid to Haiti quickly.
• We already have stocks of aid in Haiti, as well as on the way. 
• Even with boxes and equipment already on the way and more coming, our stocks of aid won't be enough. With each new report that comes out, the situation becomes more desperate,
• We need people to donate to ShelterBox so that we can send more aid, along with more response teams to reach even the most remote communities to ensure that no family goes without shelter.

ShelterBox Experience in Haiti

• ShelterBox has worked extensively in Haiti, with the largest response after the 2010 earthquake.
• ShelterBox played a major role in the provision of tented shelter after the 2010 earthquake, which displaced 1 million people. ShelterBox provided more than 30,000 boxes for that emergency, which represented a third of all tented shelter provided for the displaced families of the earthquake.

About Accepting Donations

• Because ShelterBox is currently assessing still the best way to respond and the most appropriate aid for the situation, the full scale of the response is not yet known. Therefore, donations cannot be restricted to the Hurricane Matthew response.
• It is requested that donor support be provided to help provide emergency aid to families affected by the hurricane, support people affected by disaster in numerous other ongoing responses around the world, and enable replacement of exhausted aid supplies.
• Deployment Essentials or Unrestricted funds would be most appropriate at this time.

How You Can Help

• Social Media - One of the quickest ways to help is by sharing updates with your entire network and encouraging them to share.  Please be sure when posting to social media or emailing information to link to ShelterBoxUSA information (not ShelterBox).
• Donate now.

- Submitted by Mike Freeman, District 6910 ShelterBox Chair

Georgia Rotary Student Program Conclave 2016

Representatives from Rotary Clubs across the state of Georgia gathered on the campus of Augusta University August 26-28^th to greet the 51 international students who make up this year’s class of GRSP students. District 6910 has 63 clubs sponsoring 19 students for the 2016-17 school-year (there are 73 clubs in D6910). The students are from countries as diverse as Iceland, Columbia, Lebanon, and Pakistan, as well as the numerous European countries we see represented each year. 

The conclave allowed the students time to get to know each other and offered them a chance to meet the officers, directors, trustees, staff and host families who do the work that makes the whole GRSP experience possible. Our District Governor, Kim Waters, greeted the students and let them know how much she looks forward to seeing them at the District Conference in October.

Every year the highlight of the Conclave is the Student Cabaret that takes place on Saturday night. This year the Student Cabaret featured a theme of “Peace” through music, dance and the spoken word. The GRSP students had just 41/2 hours to put this show together and what a show it was. Many of the students were dressed in their native clothing as they performed songs and dances from their home countries. The show was topped off by a group musical performance of such songs as, All You Need Is Love and What a Wonderful World. The students left Augusta on Sunday fully committed to helping the Rotary Clubs of Georgia spread peace through understanding as they spend this academic year on college campuses across our state.

The Georgia Rotary Student Program (GRSP) students will gather for their first club sponsored weekend on September 9, 2016, for the Maynard Knestrick Memorial Weekend sponsored by the Clayton County Club. This will be the first of five big student weekends planned for the 2016-17 school-year. In addition, all of the GRSP students from District 6910 will be attending the District Conference in October. I encourage you to attend the conference and take the time to meet our GRSP students. They are fine ambassadors for their countries and we hope when they return to their home countries next year that they will become fine ambassadors for the state of Georgia and the spirit of Rotary International around the world.

Submitted by: Dale Van Cantfort – District 6910 Trustee

GRSP Students of District 6910 with trustees; GRSP Vice-Chair Bert Guy, District Governor Kim Waters and GRSP Chair Terry Gordon at front.

Canton Rotarians Take Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS

For the second year in a row, the Rotary Club of Canton did the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise funds for research and public awareness about ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Joined by Cherokee County department heads and members of the Cherokee Rotary Community Corps, members of the Canton Rotary Club lined the steps at the back of the Cherokee County Administration Building, where the club meets for lunch every Tuesday, and cascaded icy water from the uppermost Rotarian to Club President Matthew Thomas sitting at the bottom awaiting his frigid dousing!

It was all for fun, raising research and family support money, and warm Rotarian fellowship notwithstanding being greeted by a bucketful of ice cold water by the person on the step above! By the end of Ice Bucket Challenge and the club program about ALS preceding the fun-filled event, Cherokee County Rotarians Fighting ALS had raised $1,150 for the ALS Association of Georgia!  

Canton Rotary Club President Matthew Thomas being drenched in icy cold water in the club's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Past Assistant Governor Peter Gleichman gets soaked with icy water from both sides during the Canton Rotary Club's ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

The Canton Rotary Club ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in process on the steps at the back of the Cherokee County Administration Building in Canton, where the club meets for lunch every Tuesday

Canton Rotary Club Immediate Past President Jerry Cooper with his arms around President Nominee Lynn Epps (left) and Past President JoEllen Wilson. Apparently, Jerry forgot to bring his shower cap!

 - Submitted by Peter Gleichman, Past Assistant Governor, Rotary Club of Canton

District 6910 Governor Message - August 2016

In Rotary, we celebrate membership in August. August is Membership and New Club Development month. Had it not been for our club, The Rotary Club of Hall County, being chartered June 2009 in Rotary District 6910, I might not be a Rotarian today. Forming new clubs is still a part of growing our reach as Rotarians. Recent changes approved by our 2016 Council on Legislation allow for greater membership flexibility. But something simpler than starting a new club is inviting someone to attend your meeting this week.

Many people we come in contact with on a regular basis might appreciate the gift of this invitation. That person might be right within your own family or household. I encourage you to invite your spouse or your adult children. Think not only about your friends and family, but the people you do business with on a regular basis. These potential members are typically all people who want to see the world and local community as better places, serving those in need. 

As our Rotary International President said in a recent message: "We need more willing hands, more caring hearts, and more bright minds to move our work forward."  But these new members won't magically appear. They often just need an invitation. Be the giver of that gift. Strive to invite someone to Rotary every week, especially this month, as we strive in August to "Bring a Friend."

I thank you for all you do in your club to see that your club is vibrant and relevant. Share the opportunity with those qualified prospects around you, helping them to join with us in Rotary Serving Humanity.

Kim Waters
District 6910 Governor
2016-17

First Week of Governor Visits in Rotary District 6910

Wearing my Rotary Serving Humanity theme jacket and scarf.  Each Rotary International president chooses a theme jacket and scarf that each district governor wears during the official visit.

As district governor, I am tasked with visiting each of our 73 clubs in Rotary District 6910, an area encompassing 49 counties in North Georgia, roughly the area above I-20.  I made my first club visits this past week. What I find most fascinating is the unique club culture of each individual club. Each club I attended this past week has quite a history, ranging in age from the 27 year club at Social Circle to the 78 year old club at Calhoun and Cartersville's 92 year old Rotary club.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle meets at the historic Magnolia Manor, a private events venue,  in downtown Social Circle.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle had a special treat in store for me as I had the honor of inducting a new member,  Tyrone Oliver, Social Circle's Police Chief.

New member, Chief Tyrone Oliver, was pinned with sponsor Paul Posner and President Farren Elliott next to him.

The Rotary Club of Social Circle meets on Mondays at noon in a beautiful historic building called Magnolia Manor in downtown Social Circle. The club's signature project and fundraiser is the annual community fair held each October. The club's focus centers on pre-school literacy and scholarships for graduating seniors. Making a difference in the lives of children, one book at a time, the club supports Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. Since the club's inception in 1989, the club has contributed $42,000 to The Rotary Foundation. The club has provided over $127,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors which have been used to attend technical schools, universities and universities. The club ended its 2015-16 Rotary year with 19 members. Per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation in 2015-16 was $65 with total giving in 2015-16 of $1,369.  In honor of our Rotary Foundation Centennial, the club is aiming for an increase in giving to our Annual Fund in 2016-17 with a goal of $2,000. The club also supports the Georgia Rotary Student Program with a student at Georgia Gwinnett College this year. Charter Member Anne Peppers was honored during my visit for serving as club treasurer for 25 years. With many of Anne's family in attendance, club member Harold Dally, the Social Circle Mayor, proclaimed 11 July as Anne Peppers day in the City of Social Circle.   

With Rotary Club of Social Circle Club President Farren Elliott.

Charter member Rebecca Dally cuts the red velvet cake emblazoned with a Rotary gear in honor of fellow Charter member Anne Peppers for her 25 years of service as club treasurer.

Mayor Harold Dally presents his fellow club member, Anne Peppers, a plaque commemorating July 11 as Anne Peppers Day in Social Circle.

One of our district's oldest clubs is The Rotary Club of Cartersville, chartered in 1924.  The club is doing a great job promoting #100ActsofGood in honor of our Foundation's Centennial on its Facebook page. Very active with youth - Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts,  both Pack 24 and Boy Scouts of America Troop 24 were chartered as community outreach programs of the club.  The club also recognizes Star Students and Star Teachers from area high schools at club meetings. The club ended the 2015-16 year with 41 members and $95 per capita giving to The Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Club of Cartersville has donated just over $184,000 to our Rotary Foundation since its inception.  The club meets at Cartersville Country Club, overlooking a scenic golf course, at noon on Wednesdays.  

With Cartersville Rotary Club President John Agnew

The Rotary Club of Calhoun, chartered in 1938, has several 'legacy' Rotarians. Jim Matthews, a member since 1991 and the club's Rotary Foundation chair, is the son and grandson of Rotarians in that club. President John King has a goal of task of sponsoring Jim's son which would make four generations of Rotarians in that club.  Past President Jim Lay had a uncle who was in the club, James G. Lay; Phillip Beamer's father, James Beamer, was in the club. What a Rotary legacy in those families!  

The Rotarians of Calhoun are making a big difference in the lives of others in helping the homeless and getting involved in the lives of local youth. The club sponsors two Interact clubs, two Rotaract clubs and focuses on projects that serve the community's youth. President John has done a great job seeing that the club's goals are entered at Rotary Club Central.  The club's 2016-17 goal is to increase membership from 29 to 32 members. The club is a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation at $124 per capita and a 2016-17 goal of increased giving to our Annual Fund. The club's giving in 2015-16 included a substantial $75,000 gift to The Rotary Foundation by the Paul Whittemore estate.  Paul was active in the club for many years and a past President. Active in traditional media and social media, Lillian Towe, the club's Public Relations Chair, regularly posts to the Club Facebook page, The club meets in historic downtown Calhoun at Velo Vineyards.  I was fortunate to have husband David drive me to this meeting.  He kept saying, "This doesn't look like an area of vineyards!"  Not an actual vineyard, but an event space in beautiful Downtown Calhoun and the home of Rotary Club of Calhoun. The club will hold its 3rd Annual Open Invitation Golf Tournament on Wednesday, 24 August 2016 at Fields Ferry Golf Course in Calhoun.  If you're interested in more information, contact Joe Kauffman at 706-624-5325 or 270-217-5372.  Not only did the Rotary Club of Calhoun present me with a lovely quilt depicting area scenes, the club presented a check for $100 to The Rotary Foundation's PolioPlus fund which becomes $300 when matched with the Gates Foundation challenge match.  The Rotary Club of Calhoun meets on Thursdays at 12:15 pm at Velo Vineyards in downtown Calhoun.

With President John King

Coming soon to a club near you...

Kim Waters

District 6910 Governor, 2016-17

Multi-District Rotary Foundation Grant Project in Jamaica

Every project starts with an idea.  The Rotary District Governors of Zones 33/34 came up with an idea a couple years ago to get together in Jamaica with a Centennial project to begin their year of service together as District Governors of Rotary International in Zones 33 & 34. Further, the idea involved Rotary International President John Germ accompanying them, and ceremoneously inducting them as governors for their respective districts while there.  

This idea ultimately became two projects.  One of which involved presenting a cataract surgery machine to Cornwall Regional Hospital, a 10 story, 400-bed public hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica. This public hospital is the only hospital outside of Kingston providing specialist services treating approximately 500,000 Jamaicans annually.  The US$80,000 cataract machine project was a multi-district global grant project funded jointly by The Rotary Foundation. Twenty-one district governors of Zones 33/34 were in attendance for the presentation.

Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay, Jamaica

Rotary International President John Germ and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani (our hero for hosting and planning the event) is shown with the plaque that honors recently deceased George Tyson, a classmate from District 7610, with District Governors of Zones 33/34.  Shown here are District Governors Dan Semanza (our hero for writing the grant), Chris Runion, Lance Young, John Scibal, Cliff Hutton, Roger Champion, Tom Smith, Jon Spillman, Pam Lightsey, Eric Gordon, Gary Dills, Ladd Waldo, Mike Chapman, Marshall Butler, Sandee Brooks, Joyce Gunter, Kim Waters and Jim Finley.

The late George Tyson of District 7610

The cataract surgery machine

The District Governors then got involved in a hands-on project at Granville Child Care Facility (aka Granville Girls Home).  This home had 57 girls in residence on the day of our visit, with the youngest of these children, just 10 years old.  The girls here have experienced varying degrees of trauma in their lives, including sexual abuse, neglect and exposure to violence, domestic and otherwise.  Two very young girls looked to be fairly far along in their pregnancies.  The girls are most receptive to counseling in a setting such as that envisioned by local Rotarians in a Peace Garden.  The Peace Garden project was funded by area Rotary Clubs with members working alongside the Rotary International President John Germ and Zones 33/34 District Governors with spouses and some of their children too, installing the Peace Garden.

Edie Ray, spouse of District 6900 Governor Raymond Ray, shovels, while her husband, Raymond, talks with Rotary Past District Governor Gary Gunter (spouse of District Governor Joyce Gunter) as District Governor Ladd Waldo also does the work preparing the Peace Garden.

Zone 34 Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator David Stovall, spouse of District 6910 Governor Kim Waters.

District Governor Mike Chapman does some heavy lifting with Assistant Rotary Coordinator Jeremy Hurst of the Grand Cayman Islands.

As President John Germ said when he saw this, "Now that's what it's all about."  Emily Butler, daughter of District Governor Marshall Butler and Karen, befriended two of the girls at the home.

Rotary International President John Germ shovels dirt with Shya Ramchandani, daughter of District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani and Vindu.

President John Germ plants the final palm in the garden, a 'peace palm', with District 6910 Governor Kim Waters overlooking.

President John Germ, with wife Judy, in the Peace Garden, surrounded by Rotarians.

A multi-club meeting in Montego Bay started the weekend with these four area clubs sharing the good work of their area projects. President John Germ at sat the head table with four area club Presidents and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani.  Club Presidents at the head table were from the Rotary Clubs of Falmouth, Montego Bay, Rotary Montego Bay Sunrise and Montego Bay East.  Area Rotaract members also joined in the meeting as well.

Rotaract Club Vice-President Deidre Ann Brown with District 6910 Governor Kim Waters and Rotaract President Nekesha Dandy of the Rotaract Club of University of West Indies-WJC

A Rotaract leader, Paul Thompson. addresses the meeting, with President John Germ at the head table along with the presidents of the Rotary Club of Falmouth Club President Claude Thompson and District 7020 Governor Haresh Ramchandani.

The weekend culminated with an Installation Banquet.  Not only were the District Governors of Zones 33/34 installed, over a dozen Caribbean club presidents were inducted as well.  President John Germ inducted the District Governors, while Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator David Stovall and Assistant Rotary Coordinator Jeremy Hurst inducted and then presented the club presidents to Rotary International President John Germ.

As District 7020 Governor Elect Robert Leger, a surgeon from Haiti said, 'Seeing this machine at the hospital brought tears to my eyes knowing of the lives that would be changed by this.' Fittingly, District Governor Elect Robert and wife Rosa of Haiti were later presented and honored with Major Donor Recognition by Rotary Foundation Trustee Barry Rassin of Nassau, Bahamas and Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, David Stovall.

District 7020 Governor Elect Robert Leger and wife Rosa were recognized as Major Donors of The Rotary Foundation during the banquet.

This installation of district governors with a multi-district project collaboration amongst a class of governors with the participation of a Rotary International President is the first of its kind in the history of Rotary.  Truly, Rotary Serving Humanity.

District 6910 Governor's Letter - July 2016

Greetings, my fellow Rotarians,

Welcome to a new Rotary year!  This week marks the first week of our new Rotary year.  At the most recent Rotary international convention in Seoul, Korea, Rotary International President John Germ said that this could be the greatest year ever in Rotary history. With only 17 cases of the wild poliovirus in this calendar year,  we are on the verge of ending polio forever.   

How incredible that this could very well happen during the year we celebrate our Rotary Foundation's centennial.  Arch Klumph envisioned an endowment for doing good in the world at Atlanta's 1917 convention.  We will welcome Rotarians from all over the world in Atlanta June 10-14, 2017, celebrating 100 years of Our Rotary Foundation.  We in District 6910 are one of three host districts in Georgia, and together we have been preparing for several years to welcome the world to Atlanta.  To date, we have over 20,000 people registered for the convention, and we could very well see record attendance numbers.  Of course, we will need a large number of volunteers.  I hope you will be one of them if you can.  You can volunteer and register here.  Note that you must reserve your hotel rooms through this site as well, since Rotary has blocked out the rooms in Atlanta for this time period.

We have a number of ways to mark and celebrate our Foundation’s centennial.  

• 100% Paul Harris Fellow Club - To commemorate our Foundation’s centennial, District 6910 is working toward all 73 clubs becoming 100% Paul Harris Fellow clubs prior to the convention.  If your club is working toward this, I would suggest setting a goal deadline such as March 31, 2017 to make sure you're there by June 2017.  Our District Foundation Chair, Bill St. Clair, is spearheading this initiative, and has a team throughout the district ready to help your club achieve this recognition.

• Seek to increase your club's giving to our Annual Fund by at least 10%. What we are able to do in our local communities is only determined by how much we are willing to give.  
• #100ActsofGood - To mark the Rotary Foundation centennial, members everywhere are encouraged to do 100 acts of good throughout the year,  letting others know by posting photos of yourself on social media, along with a brief description of the act using #100actsofgood.
• Clubs are encouraged to complete a special community project commemorating the centennial or in honor of the centennial.  Promote your centennial events and projects by contacting local media and using #TRF100 on social media.  Also, list your projects and events on Rotary Club Central and Rotary Showcase for even more exposure.  Our House of Friendship at our District Conference in Chattanooga will also highlight the centennial projects of our District 6910 clubs. 
• The Centennial Million Dollar Dinner will be held on June 9, 2017 at The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, with Rotary International John Germ as our keynote speaker.  Guests are those who have made a new gift of $10,000 or greater to The Rotary Foundation in the form of an outright gift or a bequest. Rich Panyik is the person to contact if you're interested in learning more about how to become a part of this exciting event.

Registration will open July 7 for our District Conference that will be held on October 7-9 in Chattanooga.  My husband, David, and I will host a river cruise dinner aboard the Southern Bell on the Tennessee River for all club presidents, assistant governors and district leadership (and spouses/significant others) on Thursday evening, October 6 to kick off the event.   Someone asked me last week who attends District Conference.  My answer to that is "Everyone!"  I hope you will plan on being there.  We have secured a great rate of $149 for hotel rooms at the Chattanooga Downtown Marriott and we have an inspiring lineup of great speakers.  For a limited period of time (from July 7 until August 8), registration is just $185.  I hope that you'll not only register yourself, but your spouse or signifiant other as well, as our speakers are sure to entertain, inform and inspire both of you.  It's a holiday weekend, so you might even want to stay until Monday.

Please also mark your calendars for our Pillars of Success Seminar.  It will be held on Saturday, August 13, 2016 at Lanier Tech's Forsyth Campus.  Everyone is welcome, but it's especially important that your club leadership is there, including your membership team, your public image team, and your Rotary Foundation team.  Regarded as one of Rotary's top trainers, RI Director Brad Howard of Oakland, California is our featured keynote speaker for the event.

My primary role is to support you.  I'm here to help your club achieve and exceed its goals and celebrate your victories.  Speaking of which, we will celebrate these achievements on May 13, 2017 at District Assembly, including Club of the Year and Leadership Awards.  The Club Awards Points listed in the District Directory & Guidebook and The Presidential Citation are meant to help guide you and motivate you throughout the year.  Our Awards Chair, Marvin Kliman can help with questions on club points.  Together, as a team in District 6910, we are out to change as many lives as we can for the better.  We are Rotary Serving Humanity.

Sincerely,
Kim Waters
Rotary District 6910 Governor, 2016-17

A New Rotary Year Begins...

Rotary District 6910 has a smooth transition of leadership during April's District Conference between now Immediate Past District Governor D. Alan Smith, our new District Governor Kim Waters, and District Governor Elect David Cooper.

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REGISTER SOON!

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Meet District 6910’s Newest Assistant Governors