Rotarians,
I'm going to start this off with a shot of positivity. I know this last 10 months has been challenging for us all, in all facets of our life. If you are feeling the weight of the world these days, JUST BREATH, YOU GOT THIS! Keep in mind that you cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you. We have some positive signs. Positivity rates are leveling off if not on the decline, vaccines are going into arms and the days are getting longer again. The temps will soon be warming up, and we will be making plans to share friendship in person again.
This week's club updates...
37 Paul Harris Fellows...Did you know that Rotary Central recognizes this club for a total giving all time giving of over $350,000 to RI and its various funds that include the Annual Fund, and Polio Plus. We have 37 active members who are Paul Harris Fellows. We have 2 members that have achieved the Major Donor Mark with giving to a level well beyond Paul Harris Plus 8, that's when they stop counting! Thank you all for not only being community leaders but making an impact in the world. Often times it is in ways we will never get to know but no doubt our dollars are changing lives for the better, and those lives can then potentially change a life for the better. The ripple effect is endless. Don't know who Paul Harris is? You can learn more via the following links.
Paul Harris Society | Rotary International
Paul Harris Fellow recognition | Rotary International
History | Rotary International
Rotary Sponsors The Neighborhood Table...We have financially sponsored the meal that will be served on Thursday March 11. No volunteers are needed as it is "Drive through" only, without a sit down meal. If you feel the need to clean tables that night I can give you my address and I can put you to work at the Ironside residence.
District Grant Applications Are Now Being Accepted and we need your ideas...Now is the time for our club members to think about and suggest projects that our Club can do during the next Rotary year so we can apply for matching funds for our District. Chuck Gibbons has attended the District grant seminar and is willing to assist any club member who has an idea. Chuck number is 715-459-1301, email cgibbs71@charter.net The District 6250 Grant Subcommittee is accepting grant application now until May 25, 2021 (early submittals the better) for the 2021-2022 rotary year. Grant applications are for a minimum of $500 and can be up to $5,000 for a single club, $10,000 for two clubs working together and up to $14,500 for three clubs working together on a project. That means our Club could do a $10,000 project or partner with the morning club to do up to a $20,000 project. District grants match club funding dollar for dollar.
Project Grants must broadly fit into one of the seven areas of Rotary focus:
- Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Water and sanitation
- Maternal and child health
- Basic education and literacy
- Economic and community development
- Protect the environment
The basic qualifications and requirements for District grants include:
- Starting after July 2021 and be completed by May 2022,
- Must be a tangible project. Grants are not awarded for general operating expenses,
- Must be Club sponsored and have Rotarian involvement, not just handing out a check,
- Must have a specific confirmed need and benefit to the community or beneficiary,
- Must have Rotary publicity and public recognition of Rotary,
- If part of a larger project must be a specific element of the project. Example; The children's playground equipment as part of the development of a large park by the City,
- Must have a specific benefit and demonstrate sustainability, who is going to maintain the Rotary Garden after it is built?
- Long term outcome for as many people as possible.
We have had a few great suggestions. A portion of the idea list includes projects around food accessibility, education for the incarcerated, elementary school landscape beautification, outdoor classrooms, garden and growing curriculums, orchards for local youth consumption, and support of the Rapids Area Athletic Complex development. Maybe these ideas will spark your own idea to grow. Keep the ideas coming...
Welcome February Youth Rotars - Joining us from LHS we have Jack Lila, Emily Weber, and Rachel Bredl. As always make them feel welcome, help introduce them to what Rotary is and does. We are community role models.
Please provide your ideas for programs for 2021 - Shelly Mondeik and the programming committee is asking you to help direct your weekly programming topics. They have done a fantastic job of keeping our lineup full of interesting programs but want help from you to submit a speaker or topic. If you're not able to make the connection, the committee can assist you in reaching out and solidifying the program speaker and details. Many hands make light work. The next openings include, 4/19, and 4/26. Send your ideas to mdironside@uwalumni.com or Shelly.Mondeik@mstc.edu
Next Membership Committee Meeting – Feb 1, 2021 following the Noon Meeting. Same Zoom Link.
Fundraising committee Meeting – Feb 22, 2021 at 5:00pm
Rescheduled Next Club Board Meeting – Friday, Feb 12, 2021 at 7:30am via Zoom.
Next Club Foundation Board Meeting – Friday date TBD, 2021 at 8:00am via Zoom, likely to be in March.
Unless posted as closed sessions these are always open meetings. Please reach out to the either board president for the meeting link if you wish to sit in.
The Club Zoom Noon Meeting Zoom link will remain the same from now through June 30 - To this point we have had separate links each week. From this meeting forward the link will remain the same. It will continue to be sent out in the Weekly Ripples and on other various occasions for convenience however it will remain the same for all our Noon time meetings for the remainder of this Rotary Year.
There will be no Feb 8 evening event...No meeting 2nd Monday this month.
