September 2018 News
 
News
The Rotary year is off to a good start. I am hearing about many great initiatives and new ideas that the clubs are developing. In the west valley steps are being taken to begin a new club. It is expected that this club will charter fairly soon. As Rotarians return from their summer travels and later in the fall as winter visiting Rotarians return, more and more energy in our clubs will be evident.
 
September is Basic Education and Literacy month. Many of our clubs are involved in this area. There is, of course, the Dictionary project where dictionaries are distributed to third graders in various school systems around our area of service. In the past, some have questioned why we should bother with dictionaries. They are available electronically. Yes, they are, but not all school systems can afford to make this resource available to their students. Additionally, over and over I hear how the dictionary is the first book that these kids have ever had. So kudos to all the clubs participating in this project.
 
  

How can you keep your club qualified for grant funds every year? 

It’s easy! If a club exceeds or equals the minimum threshold giving of $70 per capita to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund every year, that club will meet one of three major qualification requirements for grants. All three major requirements are listed below.

Clubs submitting applications for District Grant or Global Grant funds in 2019-20 must be qualified by the district. District 5495 has established requirements in addition to those established by The Rotary Foundation. To be eligible to receive grant funding for any grant program, Rotary Clubs in District 5495 must:

•      Have had a minimum Annual Fund per capita giving of $70 in 2017-18. (If a club fails that minimum threshold in 2017-18, it can still qualify with a minimum of $125 Annual Fund per capita giving in 2018-19.) The Annual Fund is the designated area of giving to The Rotary Foundation that provides grant funds.

•      Have one member attend the Grant Management Seminar for 2019-20 grants. It is recommended that the chair of the club’s The Rotary Foundation attend. Note: A club can send as many participants as desired. Seminars will be conducted in March of 2019.

•      Provide a signed M.O.U. & Addendum by both the 2019-20 president and president-elect.

Jim Bissonett, DRFC Chair

The International Day of Peace is celebrated around the world on September 21. Each year more Rotary clubs have started including a peace-related club project, program, speaker or youth activity during the month of September. Will your club be engaged this year? 
 
The quest for world understanding and peace has been a cornerstone of Rotary since its early days.  To follow its evolution over the years, you can read and download the ROTARY PEACE TIMELINE at the Rotarian Action Group for Peace website. Through our service projects, peace fellowships and scholarships, our members are Taking Action to promote peace and address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, inequality, ethnic tension, lack of access to education and unequal distribution of resources.
Attempting to raise money for Rotary projects in Rural Arizona is especially difficult. In most small towns, there are more than 10 charity raffles going at all times. A benefit dinner for someone or something happens almost every weekend, and straight donations in depressed income populations, just don't happen. 
 
That's why, years ago, the clubs of the White Mountains, (Springerville, Silver Creek and Show Low) came up with the idea of the Rotary Masquerade Ball. The event was very successful for 3 years, but when all our clubs took a membership hit, we had to drop the event for lack of workers. Well, we decided to bring the event back this year, since our clubs are really struggling to fund all our projects, which mainly focus on Children and Education. 
 
Even though the Show Low club has had to bow out because of membership, the Silver Creek and Springerville clubs are going ahead! So, on October 13th, 2018 at Hon Dah Resort & Casino in Pinetop, AZ, we will be holding the premier gala event of the White Mountains. With ball gowns, tuxedos, and masks, the evening will be one to remember. 
 
If you would like to attend, the fall colors will be magical and the weather will be cool! Tickets are $50/ea or a table of 10 for $450. Check out our facebook page HERE, or the website HERE for more information and to buy tickets.
 
We hope to see you there!
Sedona Red Rocks sponsored a donation collection drive at its meeting on August 1 to support the Verde Valley Sanctuary. The Sanctuary is the Verde Valley’s twenty-eight bed domestic violence shelter for women and children. The club’s members contributed much-needed personal hygiene items including shampoo, soap, deodorant—and, always an important item—diapers. Red Rocks Rotarian Donna Hawk, also a weekly volunteer at Sedona’s Twice Nice thrift store that directly supports the shelter, loaded up her car and delivered the cartons of items on August 7. This year marks the Verde Valley Sanctuary’s 25th Anniversary of operation. Red Rocks Rotary plans to hold a monthly collection drive for tangible items needed by the many valuable non-profit organizations that serve the Sedona area.

Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary had another great opportunity to continue to partner with Vista del Camino, which is the City of Scottsdale’s social services network. 

The back-to-school program provides essential school supplies, backpacks, clothing and shoes to 1,025 Scottsdale-based, Kindergarten through 12th grade, income-eligible students at an event at Scottsdale Stadium in July. A broad partnership of city, school, civic, faith and business organizations collaborate on this program that equips students for school success.

Scottsdale Sunrise provided volunteers for two shifts to assist in the distribution of the supplies to the kids. In addition, a group of club members went to Vista del Camino in August to help sort, inventory and pack leftover items. 

The back-to-school program would not be possible without the generous support of individuals, groups, and organizations that donate, sponsor and volunteer for the program.

Working with Vista del Camino has allowed Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary to become more involved in the community. Believe it or not, there are families in need in Scottsdale and our club takes every opportunity to lend a hand.

Sponsoring food drives, volunteering at senior care homes and raising money for local charities are just a few examples of what students at Peoria high schools are doing to help their community.
 
Those efforts and more were celebrated during a banquet held August 21 to honor the efforts of Peoria high school service clubs. The banquet, held at Southwest Indian Ministries Center in Peoria, was sponsored by the Peoria Rotary Club. The event was intended to highlight activities by student service clubs that emulate Rotary’s mission of “service above self” and “doing good in the world.”
 
District 5495 is proud to promote our very first District Resource Summit.
 
 
 
 
District leaders are encouraged to maximum attendance and participation.
A critical element to creating a successful District is providing effective planning and collaboration among District leaders. When club officers are well-prepared to perform their duties, club members are better served. This makes the member experience more positive, which leads to a quality club experience and increased member retention.
 
Without proper planning and collaboration among leaders at every level, districts and clubs cannot meet members' needs or introduce the benefits of Rotary to others.
Date: October 20, 2018
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.  Lunch will be served.
Location: Pendergast Learning Center, 3841 N. 91st Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85037  (623) 772-2203 | Click Here for a map & directions.
To utilize the limited time at the District Resource Summit most effectively, there will be a pre-summit webinar to discuss first steps for the summit. District leaders, please plan to attend.
 
Pre-Summit Webinar: September 24, 2018 at 6 p.m. Login information will be distributed to District leaders. Contact DG Jim Erickson or Angel Aguirre for questions.
Goal: Provide an opportunity to inspire District committee chairs and assistant governors to collaborate with each other and plan strategically for a strong future, while creating a succession plan for committees and District leadership.
 
Objectives:
  • To provide District committee chairs and assistant governors with an opportunity to plan and cross collaborate.
  • To provide a forum where district resources can share information and insight on the three Rotary Essential Issues—Support and Strengthen Clubs; Enhance Public Image and Awareness; and Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service.
  • To educate assistant governors about the resources available and obtain insights on how we might work together for the benefit of their clubs.
  • To provide understanding of the District resources and functions for interested District Rotarians.
  • To motivate Rotarians to serve in positions at the District and possibly at the Zone and International levels.
Opportunity to attend as a guest:
The District strongly encourages Rotarians to serve in positions beyond the club and possibly at the Zone and International levels, however, the Resource Summit is a working summit. Therefore, apart from the District leadership roles, there are only a limited number of seats available for interested Rotarians in the District. Contact DG Jim Erickson or Angel Aguirre for information on how to apply to attend.
What is it?  What does it mean to you?
 
In 2011, Rotary International embarked on a multiyear initiative of unprecedented scale to strengthen the Rotary image.  In addition to expanding public understanding of what Rotary does, we want to motivate, engage, and inspire current and prospective members, donors, partners, and staff.  The two images at the top of this story have two distinctive names — do you know them?  They are explained at the end of this message.
 
Fellow Rotarians;
 
As we prepare for this year’s RYLA program, the committee is excited about the various opportunities that are available for the youth in our communities with the upcoming RYLA Camps.  For the past few years, RYLA Pinerock in Prescott has been actively working with The Manzanita Meal Packing Program and this past April RYLA Ponderosa in Heber completed their first meal packing event – together both RYLA camps packed 75,000 meals this year alone! Meals that have ALL been distributed to hungry families here in Arizona. RYLA 5495 has paid for many of those meals through the Arizona Tax Credit. This year, the RYLA 5495 Committee elected to combine our fundraising efforts.  We are “One RYLA with Two Camps”!  Donations received will be distributed proportionately between the two camps.
Dr. Harry Tamm, MD, affiliated with Honor Health, was luncheon speaker at a recent Rotary Club of Scottsdale meeting held at Scottsdale's McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Pavilion. When introducing Tamm, Rotarian Gary Baker said that Tamm is a neurologist in Phoenix and is affiliated with other hospitals in the area, including Banner University Medical Center Phoenix and St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center.
 
Tam received his medical degree from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. His internship was at the St. Louis Jewish Hospital and his residency work was at Barnes Hospital/Washington University Medical School. He received his board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology in 1977. Tamm is well published and has focused much of his studying on Parkinson's disease.  
The Rotary Club of Tempe Downtown inducted a new member this week. Kavisha Saraswat found Rotary through our online membership lead system. Rotary Membership Leads are inquiries that come through the Rotary.org website. Each lead is distributed to a District based on location and ultimately down to the clubs for a personal invitation. You might be wondering how exactly our District handles these leads. Past District Governor Jeanie Morgan, from the Mesa West Rotary Club, supports our membership leads and helps introduce prospective members to local clubs. This communication includes reaching out directly to prospective members as well as forwarding the lead to local clubs.
Congressman David Schweikert, United States House of Representatives Arizona CD6, was luncheon speaker at a recent Rotary Club of Scottsdale meeting held at Scottsdale's McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Pavilion.  When introducing Congressman Schweikert, Rotarian Jim Bruner said that Schweikert is serving his fourth term in the United States Congress. Congressman Schweikert holds a seat on the Ways and Means Committee, having previously served on the Financial Services Committee. Congressman Schweikert sits on the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, co-chairs the Valley Fever Task Force, and is Republican co-chair of the Blockchain Caucus, the Tunisia Caucus and the Caucus on Access to Capital and Credit. 
What is it? What does it mean to you?
In 2011, Rotary International embarked on a multiyear initiative of unprecedented scale to strengthen the Rotary image.  In addition to expanding public understanding of what Rotary does, we want to motivate, engage, and inspire current and prospective members, donors, partners, and staff.  The two images at the top of this story have two distinctive names — do you know them?  They are explained at the end of this message.
 
Rotary’s Public Image is how Rotary is perceived by the world.  Rotary’s “Voice” is the unique tone and style in which we communicate.  There is no organization quite like Rotary.  By using a unified "voice" in all our interactions, we ensure our communications capture our distinct character — and how people experience Rotary.  By speaking, writing, and designing in one voice, our communications will look, feel, and sound unmistakably like Rotary.
Congratulations Chandler on your new Family Advocacy Center. An advocacy center is a comprehensive, victim-focused program based in a facility that allows law enforcement, child protection professionals, prosecutors, victim advocates, forensic interviewers, medical professionals and mental health providers to work together when intervening and investigating violent crimes against children and adults.
Chad Johnson, senior vice president and executive director of Phoenix Children's Care Network, was the luncheon speaker at recent Rotary Club of Scottsdale meeting held at Scottsdale's McCormick Ranch Golf Club's Pavilion. When introducing Johnson, Rotarian John Abbs said that Johnson joined Phoenix Children's in January 2015. Since 1983, Phoenix Children's Hospital provides hope, healing and the best healthcare for children and their families.