July 2019 Newsletter

Welcome, Rotarians, to the new Rotary year!  

 

Our opening video message was clearly inspired by our Immediate Past District Governor Jim and his regular video messages.  Thanks to Jim (a/k/a Mr. Fun) for his dedication to Rotary and serving our clubs this past year.  And thanks to IPDG Jim for volunteering to be our newsletter editor in the new year!

 

So, let’s get this party started!  View my first message HERE.


 
With this issue of the District 5495 Monthly Newsletter a new editor is in place. Some guidelines to keep in mind are worth discussing. Kindly have all your submissions to the editor no later than the 25th of the month. Expensive software is required to pull stuff out of a pdf document.  Therefore please submit all your article in a word document or a pages document. I can deal with both. If you are submitting a photo or photos, please do not imbed them in your document.  Attach the photo(s) to your email submission.  If these simple steps are adhered to it will make the editing job much easier.  Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
 
Submit articles to:  newsletter@rotary5495.org
 
One of the best things about The Rotary Foundation is an international serviceprojectthat it financially supports.  Over the last several years in our District, we have two signature international projects that have been repeated four times each with many clubs participating.  Both multiple projects were successful because of a Rotarian who lead the way.  
This award has rarely been given, but two Rotarians were presented the award: The Rotary Foundation District Service Award.   These awards are for substantial leadership and dedication.  Both Rotarians have gone far beyond any of the normal requirements for an international Rotary Foundation project.  And with considerable personal expense.
This award was presented to PDG Craig Wilson and to PDG Abe Feder at the District 5495 Conference, June 21, 2019. 
The following are comments from the presentation
The Peacebuilders Network has been busy!  We ended our first year by hosting a Peace Symposium as a pre-conference, displaying a Peace exhibit at the District Conference, and recognizing Kevin Pitts as the recipient of the 2ndAnnual Champion for Peace Award.
 
Both individuals and clubs are encouraged to join the Network.  All are invited to visit our next e-meeting on July 2 at 5p to find out how to bring an emphasis on Peace through Rotary to our D5495 clubs.  Contact PeacebuildersNetwork@Rotary5495.org for login information.
 
This past weekend, Rotary Club of Scottsdale members, family and friends joined together to pack medical supplies as part of the Club's community service programs. The Rotary Club of Scottsdale has on several occasions helped provide medical equipment and supplies to hospitals in Sonora Mexico through support of Project C.U.R.E. in its efforts to procure, inventory, store, pack, ship, deliver, off-load, setup and assure sustainability/follow-up.  As part of this week's project, the Rotary Club of Scottsdale presented a $2,500 check to Project C.U.R.E. for use in the
organization's humanitarian efforts. 




 
 

 
     
CONNECT THROUGH GIVING
District 5495 Rotary Foundation Fundraising Campaign for 2019-20
Goal: Raise more funds and giving participation with The Rotary Foundation
• Raise $2M to support Rotary’s good work around the world through new major gifts (see
definition below) of $10,000 or more between January 1, 2019 and May 31, 2020.
• Increase the number of members enrolled and giving automatically through Rotary Direct.
Peoria North Rotary Club members joined with the Glendale West Rotary Club on June 12 to hear a presentation on the Crutches 4 Africa project from two of the six District 5495 Interact students who will be traveling to Kenya July 1 to deliver collected items. Cassidy Johnson, a senior at Desert Mountain High School in Scottsdale, and Hannah Mason, a senior at Westwood High School in Mesa, shared the history of the program and an update on this year's delivery. 
Rotary Club of Scottsdale members and guests were inspired by representatives of Brain Injury Alliance of Arizona (BIAAZ) at a recent
luncheon meeting held at McCormick Ranch Golf Club.  Rotarian Alex Cimochowski introduced Carrie Collins-Fadell who serves as Executive
Director of BIAAZ.  Ms. Collins-Fadell and her team work to ensure the efforts of all professionals who work with survivors of brain injury are
successful when the patients finish rehabilitation or medical treatment and begin to live the rest of their lives.

Since 2001, BHHS Legacy Foundation and Legacy Connection have supported projects, programs, and organizations that improve health and quality of life for those in our community who are most in need. Their funding focuses on four key areas: increasing access to healthcare; improving community health; expanding Arizona’s healthcare workforce; and strengthening the community.

Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary has had the pleasure of working with BHHS Legacy Foundation and Legacy Connection for over ten years.  We have a great working relationship with CEO,Gerald Wissink, who has assisted us numerous times with matching grants for the back to school programs we participate with Vista del Camino.

 

Smiles all around!  Youngsters at Open Arms Home for Children in South Africa pose with a sign recognizing the efforts of Rotarians in our district and around the United States.  A recent multi-district grant provided laundry equipment for the 58 children who call Open Arms "home."  With so many children, the new laundry equipment is making a vital difference in the children's lives!  What's more, two local women were hired to work in the laundry on a full-time basis. Thank you, District 5495 Rotarians for helping orphaned children and empowering the new employees

A partnership between Abrazo West Campus and the Rotary Club of Verrado to support Project C.U.R.E. — the largest provider of donated medical supplies and equipment to developing countries around the world — was recently proven successful.

And all it took was a little inspiration — and a desire to help.

Together, the hospital and Rotary donated five pallets and $250,000 of medical supplies and equipment, which will be sent to developing nations.

“When we shut down Maryvale campus, we brought a lot of their products over, their supplies and their equipment over as well. We ended up with a surplus of equipment; surplus of supplies that I felt was just too bad to waste; and I didn’t want it to just end up going to the landfill,” explained Mark Navarro, the hospital’s director of support services.

 

A record-setting 26,000 Rotarians from around the world convened in Hamburg for the 110thannual convention. Signs all over the city welcomed and helped them find their way to the Hamburg Messe, whether walking, riding in a cab or using the public transportation system…which was free for Rotarians with their convention badges.
The Opening Ceremony and General Sessions were hosted by Haresh Ramchandani who added a touch of class, and entertainment, to the proceedings. Because of the number of people in attendance, Rotary International created a new option: The Inspiration Lounge, where attendees could relax at tables, lounge chairs, high top tables or regular seating for the Opening Ceremony, General Sessions, Closing Ceremony and some breakout sessions that were broadcast to that venue. Drinks and snacks were available for purchase and Lucky Larry, a Rotarian from Nevada, won $1 registration for next year’s convention in Honolulu.