District 6910 Governor Message-March 2017

We have just over three months left in this Rotary year and so much has been accomplished. We have set a new record in District 6910 giving to The Rotary Foundation in celebrating the Centennial and I know that number will continue to grow as Rotarians continue expressing their desires to 'do good in the world' by giving. As of today, our clubs show increased membership of 100 members in Rotary District 6910. 

This Friday, 31 March is final day for registering with savings for the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. Currently, we have 653 registered for the convention from our district. If you're not registered, please consider getting it done this week to avoid the walk-in registration fees. Register here. In addition to the inspiring speakers like Bill Gates, there will be informative break-out sessions. One of the best parts of the convention will be the events. You can get registered for those fun events here. Entrance to the biggest House of Friendship ever is included as part of your registration, and that will be a highlight of your convention experience.

Here are some helpful convention notes:

To Register: http://www.riconvention.org/en/atlanta/register

Last day for preregistration discount March 31 - $415.  After March 31 - $490

To Volunteer: http://www.rotaryconvention2017.org/volunteer

You must be registered to volunteer. Volunteers are need to staff events and at 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

In Georgia, the three Rotary districts will be celebrating on the evening of June 9th at the Georgia Aquarium with a Million Dollar Dinner. Those donors who have given $10,000 or greater to The Rotary Foundation, either outright or in the form of a bequest, during this 2016-17 Rotary year will be receiving invitations to attend. Rotary International John Germ will be the keynote speaker, delivering a personal thank you, for your support of our Rotary Foundation. If you're interested in making a bequest gift, please either contact me, our Million Dollar Dinner Chairperson, Rich Panyik or visit The Rotary Foundation's Endowment Fund for more information.

Our 100% Paul Harris Fellow Clubs continue to grow in District 6910. Here are our outstanding clubs celebrating this achievement. Congratulations, and thank you!

Our clubs need more caring hearts, willing hands and bright minds with new ideas. Please share the gift of Rotary by inviting someone to attend your next meeting, social event or service projects. Consider who amongst your family, friends, clients, or business providers might be waiting for the invitation to attend. Consider how many of the people we know aren't Rotarians simply because they haven't been asked.

Yours in Rotary,

Kim Waters

Rotary District 6910 Governor

Gwinnett County Rotarians Bowl to End Polio

Rotary members in Duluth, Georgia gathered together  to reach out, raise awareness, funds and support to end polio – a vaccine preventable disease that still threatens children in parts of the world today.   

Since Rotary and its partners launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative nearly 30 years ago, the incidence of polio has plummeted by more than 99.9 percent, from about 350,000 cases a year to 26 confirmed as of Sept. 19, 2016.  To sustain this progress, and protect all children from polio, experts say $1.5 billion is urgently needed. Without full funding and political commitment, this paralyzing disease could return to previously polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk.  

The Gwinnett Mosaic Rotary Club along with 5 other Rotary and Interact Clubs joined together in service and fellowship at the “Bowlio for Polio” fundraising event to help End Polio Now! 

Rotary has contributed more than $1.6 billion to ending polio since 1985. The “Bowlio for Polio” event raised $4,000 which is matched with a contribution from the Gates Foundation to total $12,000. 

Submitted by Jennifer Hibbard - Rotary Club of Gwinnett County, Club Secretary

Oconee County Rotary Expands-Makes a Difference

The Rotary Club of Oconee County has made great gains in growing membership under the leadership of President Marion Butler. The club leads the district in membership growth at 31% compared to its starting year July 1 membership. Recently, several new members were inducted.  

Children of Oconee County receive dictionaries from Rotary Club of Oconee County.

The club is making a difference in the community, providing dictionaries to area youth. Every 3rd grader in Oconee County recently received a dictionary.  Approximately 800 dictionaries were given out in five elementary schools and three private schools.

President Marion Butler on left with Assistant Governor Gerry Taylor on right surround new members recently inducted into the Rotary Club of Oconee County.

Canton Rotary Partners with Canton Elementary

By all measures, the Canton Rotary Club's $5,000 grant to run Canton Elementary School STEM Academy's first-ever Fall Festival and Book Fair on Saturday, October 22 was money well spent! The event was held to promote family involvement in the school, which serves a 85% free-and-reduced lunch student population.

A glorious fall day saw dozens of families come out for children to play games, pet animals, have their faces painted, win cakes and tickets to a Halloween show at a cake walk, and choose a free book for each child. Most of the Rotary District-Canton Rotary grant funded a free paperback book for each of the 800-plus children at Canton Elementary, many of whose families do not have enough disposable income to buy a book.

Smiles and laughter abounded throughout the school during the three-hour festival which saw special appearances by Schmee the Yiddish Pirate, who ran the cake walk, and Geronimo the Mouse, who meandered through the festival and danced to the continuous upbeat music.

The dozen Rotarians who helped run the event so that teachers and their families could enjoy the event were assisted by a dozen members of the River Ridge High School Interact Club and Faculty Advisor Lyn Orletsky. Many thanks to all those who participated in the Canton Elementary School Fall Festival and Book Fair, an event that will be remembered for many years to come!

A River Ridge High School Interact student face painting at the Canton Elementary School STEM Academy Fall Festival and Book Fair.

Canton Rotary Club Sergeant at Arms Bill Cornelius ran the duck pond game.

Schmee the Pirate (Past Assistant Governor Peter Gleichman) helped these students do the cake walk instead of walking the plank!

River Ridge High School Interact Club Faculty Advisor Lyn Orletsky dancing with Geronimo the Book Mouse a/k/a Canton Honorary Rotarian Francisco Lozano at the Canton Elementary School STEM Academy Fall Festival and Book Fair on Saturday, October 22. 

Canton Rotary Club Immediate Past President Jerry Cooper encourages a student doing the ring toss at the Canton Elementary Fall Festival and Book Fair.

Submitted by Peter Gleichman - Rotary Club of Canton, Public Relations Chair