May 2008 Newletter

In this issue...

Heartland PETS

MidAmerica PETS

We Will Miss Richard Siegel

Membership Records Question

2008 Rotary Institute

September 11-14

Indianapolis Hilton

REV IT UP!

With Rotary in Indy!

Look for information and

registration materials in

the mail next week!

Register online!

For more information, contact Karen Wentz, Institute Registration Chair

rotaryinstitute@yahoo.com

L.A. Convention

June 15-18, 2008

Don't forget to register for the Los Angeles Convention. 

INTEROTA Registration

INTEROTA is an abbreviation for International Rotaract Conference. It started in South America in 1981. The 10th conference will be held  in Seoul, Korea 17-23 August 2008. Refer your  Rotaractors to www.interota2008.org for more information.

A Tip From Your Editor

A tip from Editor Karin Blue . . . 

Have you heard of the Rotary Video Magazine?  Also known by simply "RVM", the Rotary Video Magazine is just what it sounds like - a magazine - about Rotary - but it's a video.  You can order or subscribe to RVM and get a DVD by mail . . . or, you can just watch them on the Rotary website.  Check out the Rotary Video Magazine online by clicking here!

Do you know the rules about club and district use of Rotary marks, including logos?  Click here to see what you can and cannot do.

Zone 29 Districts

District 5710 (Kansas)

District 6040 (Missouri)

District 6060 (Missouri)

District 6080 (Missouri)

District 6110 (Parts of Akansas,  Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma)

District 6150 (Arkansas)

District 6170 (Arkansas)

District 6190 (Louisiana)

District 6460 (Illinois)

District 6490 (Illinois)

District 6510 (Illinois)

District 6820 (Mississippi)

District 6840 (Parts of Louisiana and Mississippi)

Zone 30 Districts

District 6560 (Indiana)

District 6580 (Indiana)

District 6670 (Ohio)

District 6690 (Ohio)

District 6710 (Kentucky)

District 6740 (Kentucky)

District 6760 (Tennessee)

District 6780 (Tennessee)

District 6800 (Parts of Mississippi and Tennessee)

District 6860 (Alabama)

District 6880 (Alabama)

Future RI Conventions

For those of your who like to make long-range travel plans, these are possible sites of future Rotary International Conventions:

2009 - Birmingham, England, 21-24 June

2010 - Montreal, Canada, 20-23 June
2011 - New Orleans, Louisiana

2012 - Bangkok, Thailand

2013 - Lisbon, Portugal

2014 - Sydney, Australia

2015 - Latin America or Western USA

2016 - Seoul, Korea

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The Heartbeat:  Rotary Heart of America News

Thomas A. Branum, Sr.,

RI Director 2007-2009

May 2008

Greetings!

 

Linda and I  have just had a very enjoyable week in Brazzaville Congo with the friendly Rotarians of District 9150.  Having enjoyed many district conferences in the past, we agree that it will be a challenge to find a more sociable and dedicated group of Rotarians anywhere.

Sometimes we could be tempted to think of countries, such as these ten in west central Africa, as being those who depend on members in more developed countries to support The  Rotary Foundation. In fact, per capita contribution here rivals and even exceeds some districts in our Heart of  America zones 29-30.

The need is great here and our fellow Rotarians do not shirk the challenge.  We are further impressed that the district has seen more than ten percent increase in members over the past four years. Rotary is, indeed, alive and well in District 9150.

Rotary Thrives in Africa

District 9150 Conference was held in Brazzaville Congo with about 250 people attending. This is a very large district, composing  ten countries and a more than 1,300 Rotarians. About 2,000 miles from  north to south,  the district is approximately as large as our  Heart of America Zones 29-30.

Patrick Villanova is a polio survivor with the Rotary  Club of Masuku, Gabon. Two friends brought him 1,000 km by car, slowed by  frequent  roadblocks, to  receive his PHF at Brazzaville.

Major Donor Yaovi Tigoe introduces four new major donors, all from his Libreville, Gabon club. In addition, ten new Paul  Harris Fellows were recognized, plus seven others who received stones for  additional contributions.

A large and enthusiastic group of  Rotaractors from all ten countries held a concurrent conference. A few are pictured here.

 DGN Marceline Enganalim will be the first female District Governor.

2008-2009 DG Pierre Kasango is invested by  DG current DG Herve Leon ILOKI as DGNN and Conference President Roland Rizet looks on.

Heartland PETS

Heartland PETS , held in Salina, KS had four districts from three zones working together to produce  an outstanding event. Guest speakers included PRIDs/Past Trustees Ray Klinginsmith  and Frank Goldberg, as well as Trustee/PRID Ron Burton. 

Left to right, DGEs Tom Martin (D-5690, Zone 25), Vickie Randel (D-5710, Zone 29), Your Humble RID, Sharon Wherry (D-5650, Zone 27), and Ron Britt (D-5670, Zone 25)

MidAmerica PETS 

Mid America PETS was scheduled to take place March 7th and 8th in Ft. Smith, Arkansas - an early March storm with heavy snow closed roads to the south forcing a cancellation.  Rescheduled for April 4th and 5th, the MAPETS did get off the ground with a flair!

Shown here are the DGE snowbirds themselves, and the band played on!  DGE's from left; Ron Petersen, Sr., D6110, Ray Keller, D6150, Bruce Willson, Jr., D6190 and Jim Davis, D6170.  Who said they can't sing?

We are sad to learn of the death of D-6690 PDG Richard Siegel  who served 1991-92.

Why don't my membership records match district reports from RI?

This answer comes from Donna McDonald , Division Manager of  Membership Development at Evanston.

This is primarily due to the fact that the district is closer to the clubs, and clubs are likely to report new and terminated members more quickly and frequently to the district than they are to RI.  Clubs are only required to report membership changes and pay dues twice each year during January and July semi-annual report periods.  As such, more than 90% of clubs make changes only during those periods, and the majority of those changes are done on paper, not through Member Access.  As a result, Rotary International membership numbers will lag behind district reports until the end of the next semi-annual reporting period.  Governors can mitigate this lag by strongly encouraging club presidents and secretaries to use Member Access to immediately report every new member and every terminated member and to pay semi-annual dues.

 Food (or perhaps drink) For Thought

"RID Fred Hahn says, "Rotary embodies Three Cups of Tea and beyond. The first cup Rotarians share with one as stranger, the second an honored guest and the third, family. We would do anything for family." This is the title of a book Fred and Marge have been reading that they recommend to all.