Having a Guest Speaker …No Big Deal    (FEB)

By Patti Thalheimer, Rotary Club of Daytona Beach, District 6970
Recently I was asked to be the guest speaker at a local civic organization. I was asked 2 months prior to the meeting and given 2 dates from which to choose. I was excited about the opportunity to share information about my non-profit organization and I was delighted to be invited.  The day before the meeting I was called as a reminder. At the time I thought it odd that the person didn’t ask me for a biography or any material for an introduction of any kind. No big deal.

Australian Children’s Music Foundation    (FEB)

By PDG Bob Aitken – Editor of Rotary Down Under Magazine

Eight Conversations that Engage    (FEB)

By Karen Schmidt

VIDEO - Thanks for Life / End Polio Now    (FEB)
Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) presents "Thanks for Life / End Polio Now", Part 1 of 2. This documentary, fronted by Konnie Huq of BBC TV, describes the November 2009 sub national immunisation days in India at which 86 Rotarians from RIBI helped Indian volunteers to vaccinate 67 million children in just 2 days.

Rotary Club of Chicago (Rotary/One) 105 Years Old    (FEB)
The Rotary Club of Chicago, fondly known as Rotary/One, celebrates the club’s 105th birthday on February 23, 2010. 2010 also marks the 100th anniversary of the National Association of Rotary Clubs of America, which later became Rotary International in 1922.  As the first club established by Rotary founder Paul Harris, the Chicago club will be marking its 105th anniversary at the same time Rotary marks 25 years of work to eradicate polio.

Reflections of a Santa      (JAN)

By Keith Reinke, Rotary Club of Beaudesert, D9640, Queensland, Australia

Each day has provided a full mix of emotion pure joy, sadness, excitement, disappointment, people looking for help, for reassurance, people reliving memories of happier past times, people hoping that a new year will bring a better change, of fear, love, hope, every emotion, and many times a mixture of a number of these.

Scoring an advance for science education in Estonia      (JAN)

By Peter Schmidtke 

Forty Estonian high school students rolled up their sleeves and used Matching Grant-funded science equipment to test water, air, and soil at a nuclear power plant and other sites in Latvia and Lithuania during a three-day trip in October.

Reflection, Recovery and Regeneration – Preserving Planet Earth      (JAN)

By Leonie Gale, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

Top five re support The Rotary Foundation       (JAN)

By Antoinette Tuscano

There are as many reasons to support The Rotary Foundation as there are ways to do good in the world. By contributing to the Foundation, you advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

What is Rotary?       (JAN)

By Vikki Patiño - Rotary Club of Sebastopol, California

We have just heard about Rotary’s extensive accomplishments during the past century.  We know that Rotary exists to improve communities locally and around the world and to advance international understanding. In the three years since I was inducted I have often been asked about Rotary - what it is.  Typically I answer by explaining that Rotary is a group of individuals who get together to perform public service.

Itzhak Perlman performs for Rotary        (JAN)

The global effort to eradicate polio received a major boost when violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, a polio survivor himself, joined with the New York Philharmonic to perform at The Concert to End Polio.

The Ability to Respectfully Disagree          (JAN)

By Michael Angier

A critical key to success in your career and in your life overall is developing and maintaining good relationships. Our relationships with coworkers, suppliers, spouses, clients, bosses, siblings, employees, competitors and parents affect everything we do. Our success is highly dependent upon these relationships.

Water Use & Health Education Project in Pursat, Cambodia            (JAN)

By Elise NDiaye – HOPE International Development Agency

Why I am thankful to be a Rotarian                 (dec)

By PRIP Frank Devlyn – Friend of Rotary eClub One

There is much more I am thankful for but most of all I am thankful for the fellowship and many friendships that I have made because of Rotary. In the coming weeks as you celebrate the holidays in your own way, keep the work of The Rotary Foundation and Rotary International in your hearts and minds and recommit to give it your full support so we can continue to change the world. In this way, one person at a time, one project at a time, one day at a time, working together we will eventually bring about peace.

EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES                 (dec)
By Sandra K. Trousdale, Rotary eClub One
In Galt, California, USA on March 12, 2009 the first pilot session in therapeutic horseback riding took place with 6 horses and more than 20 students.  The program, Galt Horse Assisted Learning Enrichment Program (GALEP), is a collaboration between the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District and local horse lovers and is hosted on school grounds.  The horses are furnished by volunteers and are assessed for suitability by a volunteer horsemanship expert prior to being allowed in the program. 

Developing Our Strengths while Managing Our Weaknesses                (dec)

By Chuck Gallozzi

Many are painfully aware of weaknesses that hold them back. Yet, surprisingly, they are unaware of their many strengths. Focusing on our weaknesses while ignoring our strengths can be a source of discouragement and failure. And glorifying our strengths while ignoring our weaknesses can be equally unproductive. It is only when we give equal weight to our strong points and faults that we can realize our potential. Also note that we must choose our friends carefully because each relationship nurtures our strengths and weaknesses.

News from the Pacific Disaster Area             (dec)
By DG Leanne Jaggs
Rotary Club of Manukau City Sunrise, New Zealand, Governor, District 9920
With horrific disasters in Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa affecting District 9920, the Pacific region has seen how fast Rotarians can react to an emergency. As we have so many Island nations in our Rotary District, we’ve come to expect some kind of disaster in most years, but this one has come from left field.

We all know how important it is to focus on what we want. But what happens when we LOSE focus? It’s easy to do, isn’t it? We get distracted. Something captures our interest and diverts our attention away from our chosen objetive. We suffer setbacks. Things don’t work out as planned. Someone lets us down. Circumstances change and good plans go bad. We get interrupted. An important matter takes precedence—sometimes for long periods of time. We, or members of our team, get sick or hurt. We don’t have the energy we had before and often find it slow to get back in the game.

Video - Stamping Out Polio - A Technical Perspective                (dec)
Although an effective polio vaccine is widely available, there are four countries in the developing world in which the virus remains. To wipe polio out completely, every child in every region where the virus still lives must be vaccinated. Watch this video to find out how researchers, governments, and public health professionals are collaborating to find all these children and stop this disease in its tracks.

Video - Fighting Poverty through Education               (dec)

Kindersley Rotary Club’s “Road Trip” to Mexico      (nov)

By Marilyn RogersRoad Trip to Mexico

How could it be? Only six chickens were to feed over 100 children at the orphanage. A handful of garlic, a pot of water and chicken meat with bones made the only meal these children had that day. On some days, there was only a tea, made of hibiscus blossoms that dulled the hunger. For the past fifty years, Padre Macias Llama had faith that the children would be provided for by caring people. Where would the support come from since there was no money coming from the Catholic Church or the Mexican Government. Through caring individuals, groups and small business owners who donated food, clothing and credit

November is ‘The Rotary Foundation’ Month     (nov)

By Gerry Roberts, PDG

Foundation Chair, Rotary eClub One of District 5450

District Governor Bob Eurich (District 5230 USA) provided much of the material for this article and I want to acknowledge his contribution because much of what he has said makes very good sense. his month is a great time “to consider your personal connection to The Rotary Foundation (TRF).” It was in 1917 that Rotary International President Arch Klumph proposed that an endowment fund be set up “for the purpose of doing good in the world.”  What was left over from an International Convention, some US$26, was put into the fund.

ROTARY SUPPORTS TEACHER TRAINING PROJECT IN CAMBODIA     (nov)
By Roderick D Fraser, Principal, Ivanhoe Grammar School, Melbourne, Australia

The Ivanhoe Grammar School community in Australia is committed to nurturing and developing a social conscience through community and vocational service. One of the major ways this commitment is translated into action is through our involvement with the Teacher Training Project in Cambodia – a joint project between four International Baccalaureate Schools (in Sydney, Hong Kong, Phnom Penh and Ivanhoe Grammar School in Victoria) and the Cambodian Ministry of Education. 

TO BE OR NOT TO BE  - THAT IS THE QUESTION!     (nov)
By Angus M Robinson, Past President, Rotary eClub One
With apologies to Shakespeare, for a Rotarian these days to figure our how to be or not to be (i.e. how to exist or live) in this rapidly changing world of converging communication technologies presents many challenges. For the older Rotarians, the transition from rudimentary telephone communications supplemented by telegrams through the telex and fax age through to the current plethora of ’real time’ voice, data and multimedia options delivered no matter where you are in the world has been quite a journey.

The Lifestyle Revolution       (nov)
By Jonathan Chew

Much of the year has passed, and you wonder what has happened to those great health, fitness and exercise goals you’d set at the start of the year. Well, Zoukout is just around the corner, and there is a pressure to show off that body that doesn’t quite look the way you want it to. You need to do something fast, so nail the reason that has held you back these last months and get down to it.

Medical mission to Congo Republic touches 1,600 lives       (nov)
By Arnold R. Grahl 

Her vision limited by cataracts for more than 20 years, the woman explained how she had been repeatedly passed over for care, and how she had become a burden to her family and others, recalls Rajendra K. Saboo, 1991-92 RI president and 1996-97 Rotary Foundation trustee chair, who helped organize the medical mission to the Republic of the Congo.

New COATS FOR CHILDREN      (nov)
by ryan hyland

As another U.S. winter approaches, Rotarian Richard Sanford and his Pennsylvania-based nonprofit organization, Operation Warm, are gearing up to provide low-income children with the proper apparel to survive the bitter cold. In 1998, Sanford, a member of the Rotary Club of Longwood, read a local newspaper article about children suffering in cold weather while waiting for their school bus because they lacked winter coats.

Dolly Parton To Give Keynote Speech at RI Convention   (nov)
Country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton will be a keynote speaker during the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada, 20-23 June, 2010.  Parton will speak at the morning plenary session on 23 June to promote reading among preschool children. She and the Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library teamed up with Rotary International in March to help provide age-appropriate books each month to children from birth until age five.

Hairy Times For The Dozers of The Bush    (OCT)

By Leonie Gale, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

Wombats are mammals, are marsupials and native only to Australia. Wombats look somewhat like a little bear. They are nocturnal grazers and eat mainly grasses and roots. And there are two basic kinds of wombats, the Common Wombat, and the Hairy-nosed Wombat. So imagine a warren full of giant rabbits in your back yard and that pretty much describes what it’s like to have Southern Hairy-nosed Wombats in residence.

It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over!    (OCT)

By Rotarian Lynn H. Frisbie, Hawkinsville Rotary Club, District 6920

Baseball Hall of Fame catcher and manager, Yogi Berra, must surely be the most quoted and misquoted figure in athletic history.  He is credited with a number of humorous misstatements, some of which he made and others erroneously attributed to him because they sounded like Yogisms.  So many that one of his real quotes is “I really didn’t say everything I said.”  Yogisms,” like “malapropisms,” “Tom Swifties” and “Spoonerisms,” add humor to our discourse.

October is Vocational Service Month    (OCT)
By PP Hoe Boon Huat,
District Vocational Service, D1130 Singapore

In his autobiography, Paul Harris wrote “Each Rotarian is a connecting link between the Idealism of Rotary and his trade or profession”. Although he was not talking directly of vocational service, he must have the second avenue of service in mind as Rotary’s classification principle closely identifies a Rotarian with his/her occupation or vocation.

Don't text and drive     (sep)
Tredegar Comprehensive School and Gwent Police in the UK present a film that will make you think about the danger of texting and driving.   It is hoped this film will become part of the core schools program across Wales and the UK, and ultimately worldwide. It has created significant interest and support from parents in the United States where, surprisingly, 36 states still allow mobile cell phone texting while driving.

Safe Driving – Good advice for safe travel      (sep)

By Rotarian Anne Hazelton, MD, MSPH

Car crashes are one of larger public health concerns in many countries, with many young (and not-so-young) lives cut short or drastically changed in an instant.  Here are some tips, besides the obvious ones of buckling up everyone in the car, including child car seats and booster seats for small children

Urban, rural areas require different membership strategies            (sep)
By Cecilia Lopes - Rotary International 
During his year as district governor, D. Rae Carpenter made good use of his walking shoes, going door to door to promote Rotary.  "I spoke with every single business owner," says Carpenter, of District 7570 (parts of Tennessee and Virginia, USA). "I told them about the organization and the wonderful things it does for the community. When I talk to people, I always emphasize what they [as Rotarians] can do for their community."

Rotarians, like most people, need to feel like they belong             (sep)

Mike McGovern, 2009-10 Chair of the RI Membership Development and Retention Committee

That is the number 1 tip from Mike McGovern, 2009-10 Chair of the RI Membership Development and Retention Committee and past RI vice president, on how to expand membership. McGovern says many members leave their Rotary clubs because they don't see how they are contributing, or they feel disconnected from other members. "We need to connect with members of our club within our meetings and at our projects, but also outside of Rotary," he says. "

How To Help A Friend Asking For Advice          (sep)

By Chuck Gallozzi

People and problems seem to go together. For example, someone you know may be having family, marital, or relationship problems. Perhaps a friend has lost a job and is struggling to make ends meet. Or an acquaintance may be trying to cope with physical or mental illness, pain, or loneliness. People with problems often ask friends for advice. Did you ever have someone ask you for advice and then ignore it? Worse yet, did a friend ask for your honest opinion and get angry when you gave it?

We all like to read about successes. We're encouraged by the achievement of others and inspired to hear about how they overcame difficult odds. But what happens when things don't go as planned? What happens when we just don't make it? 

The 3rd Annual WASRAG/WRG Rotary Water Summit            (sep)
Montreal, Canada

Save the date … Saturday - June 19, 2010 (Prior to the RI Convention)

WASRAG (Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group) was launched on March 22nd, 2007. It was authorized by Rotary International in response to Rotarians' desire to have a more significant impact on the life and livelihood of people through the provision of safe water and sanitation.

The Rotary Club of Jerusalem – 80 Years of Service          (sep)

By Benad Avital, Lucien Harris and Don Edelstein
Many Rotarians visit Israel to see its antiquities and historic sites. Most may not be away that they can make-up at the Rotary Club of Jerusalem that meets on Wednesdays at 1:00pm for lunch at the Jerusalem International YMCA, 26 King David Street (directly across from the King David Hotel).

Clear Rounds for Clean Water        (aug)
By Rotarian Jo Jo White – member Rotary eClub One
In the summer of 2006 I was on my way to the Richardson East Rotary luncheon, in Richardson, Texas.  It was very hot, I was late and the traffic was so slow that I could have walked faster than I was driving.  All of these factors did not bode well for being particularly engaged by the program offered this day at my Rotary.  I was wrong! 

Taking the Pennant      (aug)

By Susan Hanf
One of the more colorful traditions of Rotary is the exchange of club banners. Rotarians traveling to distant locations often take banners to exchange at make-up meetings as a token of friendship. Many clubs use the decorative banners they have received for attractive displays at club meetings and district events.

August is Membership and Extension Month      (aug)
Attending club meetings allows members to enjoy their club's fellowship, enrich their professional and personal knowledge, and meet other business leaders in their community. Club meeting times vary to accommodate members' family and professional commitments. Some clubs meet during the traditional time of the lunch hour, while others meet in the early morning, after work, or in the evening. Some Rotary clubs meet via the Internet.

RI CONVENTION BIRMINGHAM - CLOSING PLENARY SESSIOn
Jane spoke about the need to make informed choices in community centered conservation, while John Kenny spoke about his theme, "The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands"

Making the Connection         (aug)
I was in a briefing with a client who I had spoken for and we were constructing a full day program for his team as an extension to the keynote that I have previously delivered.  We got talking about Clarity of Purpose and my client wasn't sure it was the best thing to talk to the group about.  This interested me as I am a real believer in us understanding why we do what we do, on so many levels.

Visualize Your Success     (JUL)

By Michael Angier
How Visualization Can Become Reality 0f you've had any kind of exposure to success technologies, you've certainly heard about the power of visualization.  Well, it's true. It works. We attract what we think about. And we do it all the time--consciously or unconsciously. The key is to direct our visualization in a positive rather than a negative fashion--to take charge of what we visualize in order to attract what we want.

ShelterBox Shipments to Pakistan          (JUN)
ShelterBox has set up a camp for up to 2,500 people who have fled the fighting between the army and militants in northern Pakistan. Tarakai Camp has been set up in Swabi district in the North West Frontier Province. “This is an area where hundreds of thousands of people have fled to escape the bitter fighting,” says ShelterBox Response Team leader Mark Pearson. “There is a massive need for our help here. Most people are living in very overcrowded and unsanitary conditions.”

Going For It

By Michael Angier

I've always been fascinated by stories of spectacular achievement. My library is filled with books about people of great accomplishment. It's easy to admire those who have overcome difficult circumstances …people who have taken great risks and won.

PROGRAM The Last Hurdle - Polio Immunisation Day in India     (JUN)

A Message Concerning Rotary Grants     (JUN)

PRIP Jonathan B. Majiyagbe, Chair, The Rotary Foundation Trustees 2008-09
Like all foundations, we have experienced substantial unrealized investment losses, forcing us to suspend Matching Grant applications in March of this year. These losses will also have an impact on the amount of money available for program awards in the coming year.

Celebrate Your Success       (MAY)

By Michael Angier
The problem for many of us is we never quite feel successful, because as soon as we reach one goal or pass a certain mile- stone, we're already going after the next one. Too often, we don't stop to revel in the feeling of accomplishment. We're too focused on the next rung of the ladder-- that's if we've even noticed we've moved up another rung.

Indiana Rotarian Assists AIDS Orphan from Uganda  (MAY)
By Peter Schmidtke

Allan Akamura's friends used to push him to school in a homemade wheelchair. Now the 13-year-old from Uganda, who has cerebral palsy, pedals himself around on a tricycle through the corridors at University Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.

What would it take to Change the World?   (MAY)
Here is a new video from Rotary International that describes how Rotarians work locally, regionally, and internationally to combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, and eradicate polio under our motto Service Above Self.

Engaging Recruitment Strategies   (MAY)
By Karen Schmidt
If you want to attract the attention of the best candidates in the market, you need to stand out from the crowd of employers by creating an engaging experience from the start. This is particularly relevant if you want to attract younger candidates or you are targeting a different style of employee than your competitors. Here are some examples of what leading edge organisations are doing to stay ahead of their competition.

Rotary's first wheelchair GSE teams  (APR)
By Harold Sharp, Rotary Club of Crows Nest, NSW, Australia

The words of US President, Barak Obama were: “Yes We Can”.
Well, District 9680 and District 5490 said: “Yes We Can” and we did something very special.

On Saturday, February 21, the first ever wheelchair Group Study Exchange team arrived in Sydney Australia from District 5490, Arizona, USA.

Of course there are large numbers of people who manage to hold onto their job simply by doing their job. But I'm talking about working unsupervised. I'm talking about taking the initiative, setting a goal or taking on a project, and sticking with it until it's accomplished.  The vast majority of people can show up for a job they dislike but can't seem to set and achieve goals on their own.

WATER – How precious a resource is it?    (MAR)

By Gerry Roberts, PDG, Foundation Chair Rotary eClub One

In a recent white paper written jointly by Sandia National Laboratories (in the US) and the Washington, DC think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), these two agencies said “The lack of clean water can create conditions that lead to destabilization in regions of the world that are already poor and having problems.”  They further say “Lack of potable (drinkable) water can result in famine, conflict over resources, and poor governance.

How Full is Your Cup?            (MAR)

By Michael Angier

I'm reminded of the story of the young mystic who traveled a great distance to study at the feet of a revered sage. When the young man arrived, he proceeded to try and impress the master with how much he knew and how wise he was. Instead of asking questions, the student went on about his beliefs and philosophies. The master listened quietly for a long while.

Cambodian Village Builds Their Own Rotary School           (feb)

By Rotarian John Mann, Rotary Club of Beaudesert, D9640, Australia

Do you take pictures, or Are you a Photographer?        (feb)

By PDG Gerry Roberts – Rotary E-Club One

I take pictures – I am not a photographer.  I have taken classes in photography, but the reason I take pictures is for the pure enjoyment of recording what I see. This morning the Weatherman predicted snow showers and sunny later in the day.  My wife, Dee, and I wanted out of the house – Wyoming winters can be long and a bit tedious if you do not plan to have something to do each and every day.  So, at breakfast, I said “Let’s go take some pictures on ‘Tincup Pass’.”  She agreed and off we went.

SHELTERBOXES IN VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA       (feb)
Australia has suffered its greatest bushfire disaster, massive infernos that destroyed whole towns to the north of Melbourne, in the state of Victoria. The death toll stands at 181 but, as police forensic investigators continue their search, this number of victims is likely to rise.

Time to Take a Look Back          (feb)
By Karen Schmidt

CLUB ROTARIO PUERTO VALLARTA SUR              (JAN)

COMMUNITY SERVICE IN OUR BACKYARD …IN WYOMING      (JAN)

By PDG Gerry Roberts
Our home and our backyard are in Lincoln County, Wyoming, USA, where there are lots of wide open spaces and not very many towns or cities.  Of the total estimated population for 2008 of some 16,000 souls, by my count, the County contains one city – Kemmerer (est. 4,500 people), seven towns and 13 villages in an area that is 120 miles long, north to south and about 50 miles wide (at its widest spot), east to west, or 4089 square miles.

Going In Circles   (jan)

By Mark Johns

Many years ago, French naturalist John Henry Fabre filled a flower pot close to the rim with dirt. He then carefully arranged some processionary caterpillars in a circle around the rim of it, so that the lead caterpillar actually touched the last one, making a complete circle. In the center of the pot he put pine needles, their favorite food.

GIVING SERIES by Enid Ablowitz
Chose from a list of enid's past articles   (SERIES)
Enid Ablowitz is the Vice President for Advancement at the University of Colorado Foundation, Inc., and Director of Advancement for the Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities.  She has been working as a donor advocate for more than a dozen years.  Her book, Making Money Matter:  Eight Steps to Thoughtful Giving contains many of the tips you will find in these artic   

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