| Rotary Intenational District 5930 Vol. 3 No. 1 Newsletter July 2006 Print |
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Governor's Schedule July 13 Edinburg August 1 Pharr |
 Governor
Marilyn
writes . . . .
Lead the Way…This year’s Rotary theme resonates so well for me! Rotarians have been leading the way since 1905 – the first and the still the largest non-political, non-sectarian service organization in the world. Rotarians led the way toward world peace, before there was a United Nations. Rotarians led the way toward eradicating polio in 1985, before the World Health Organization and UNICEF began working on it. We’re leading the way to bring humanitarian aid to the hungry, the disabled, those without steady supplies of drinkable water, those without clinics or libraries or schools, victims of natural disasters and victims of wars. In order to lead the way, one must know the way. Rotarians know what The Way is: it is service to others, service above self - sacrificing our time and wealth to benefit others. Soon during this Rotary year we’ll have opportunities to learn more strategies to come together lead the way and to network with one another. The district will be offering seminars to help you lead to:
We are blessed in District 5930 to have so many leaders – leaders within our clubs, leaders in the district, and leaders in our zone. I look forward to meeting many more of you, as I begin making official visits to club in the middle of this month. I look forward to learning more about the ways in which you and your clubs plan to lead the way in the year ahead. |
What inspired RI President Bill Boyd's choice for the 2006-07 RI theme?
Choosing
a theme is getting more difficult, as so many of the basic values of
Rotary have already been used in themes. I wanted something that was
inspirational and practical, and I had been thinking about the idea
that Rotary is looked on more and more for leadership by major
international institutions and by our communities. That thought
influenced me. The idea behind Lead the Way is to
challenge Rotary as an association, and all our clubs, to accept the
challenge of showing leadership in the issues that confront our
communities and our world. I want to challenge every Rotarian to be an
example in those basic qualities of integrity, tolerance, honesty, and
service.
There are those who feel that annual themes are no longer necessary, and often they confuse motto and theme. Our motto is, and I hope always will be, Service Above Self. The theme is more internal in its use, being a focus for one year on how we use and respect the strengths of Rotary. I hope that Rotarians will want to Lead the Way. Rotarian, March 2006
President Bill signed the banner while at Lone Star PETS.
Train to Lead the Way
We are having our Rotary Multi-District Training Institute in Austin on July 22 – 23 at the Howard Johnson Plaza.
The focus will be training the district chairs primarily responsible for the Club Leadership Plan. We are anticipating attendance by some key RI staff.
Suggested Attendees:
- District Trainers – This Institute will answer the question of “Who trains the trainers”; In addition to discussion/facilitation we plan on allowing time for practice facilitation for the trainers;
- District Rotary Foundation Chair and committee – Advance topics on Permanent fund; Annual Fund, Grants, Programs, putting on a foundation Seminar, etc
- District Membership Chair – Focus on creating action plans for the clubs; discussion on recruitment, retention, extension, Rotary Information, & putting on a membership Seminar, etc
- District Public Relations Chair – how to spotlight Rotary’s image in the district and each club
- DGs are always welcome, but it is very understandable that you have other things to do.
- AGs – this is NOT AG training, however, this is the area that an AG should be knowledgeable to be effective
- Following year membership chair, trainer, PR, etc.
- Anyone on any of the above district committees
- PETS discussion leaders
- Anyone else that would like to know more about the key areas of Rotary
The agenda
calls for general breakout sessions for everyone starting on Saturday ~
1.00 PM; from 3 – 5 PM we will be in specific breakouts;
Saturday night banquet; Sunday 9 – 11 AM specific breakouts;
Sunday lunch – all together for remarks and thank you. All of
this is subject to change.
At our January 8, 2006 board meeting, the following mission statement
was adopted:
“The purpose of the Multi-District Training Institute is to
develop a cohesive team of trainers for the districts, who will have
the necessary skills, knowledge and motivation to support the districts
in developing effective clubs.”
Billy Settles is the registrar for this event. For more information contact him, (361) 575-0474, Fax (361) 575-3484, . Register using this form.
Port Isabel's infectious literacy program spreads like crazy
The Port Isabel Rotary Club has a literacy program that gives personalized dictionaries to all the third grade students in its local school district. Two years ago Bill Foster, formerly of a Kansas Rotary club and now a Port Isabel member, brought it to the club. Here's the history as he wrote it.
In 1992 a lady in Savannah, Georgia, named Annie Plummer who had dropped out of school in the eighth grade to have a baby and worked as a maid all of her life bought 30 paperback dictionaries and gave them to children passing her house on the way to school. Some people heard of her efforts and gave her money to buy more. She died in 1999 but Mary French, a Rotarian and former school secretary heard of it and started it in Charleston, South Carolina. She had observed that if a kid did well in the third grade learning came easier, but if the child did not master reading at the third grade level future studies were much more difficult, so she decided to concentrate on the third grade. She didn't have the money but started soliciting money from stores, etc. and her husband who worked in the street department in Charleston kept up the books while her two children boxed them. Some of her contacts suggested a 501(c)3 which she got and within three years had given a dictionary to every third grader in South Carolina.
This has spread from Rotary Club to Rotary Club since. After Port Isabel started the program in 2004 it was mentioned at a meeting and a visiting Rotarian named Jim Wells from Rochester, Indiana, was making up and asked about it. The club sent him information on it, and when he was back visiting last year said that not only his club did it, but another club in Indiana heard of it at his club and also did it.
The program's value is reflected by the comments of the teachers and principals of the schools where dictionaries are distributed. The Port Isabel club gets letters not only from the kids, but also from some parents. Stan's favorite from last year was, "Dear Rotary Club. Thank you for the dictionary. I like it very much. I'm already on page 20." Another was from a little boy who said, "Thank you. If you hadn't given me this dictionary I would have to go to the internet to finds words."
Stan's old Rotary District (6110) also has a web site on the program which gives information on it, www.rotaryliteracy.com. Article submitted by Stan Hulse.
Victoria Sunrise connects books and babies
Victoria Sunrise Rotary continues its "Books and Babies" project in which every new mom at both hospitals in Victoria goes home with a book for her baby, which the other children in the family can also enjoy. Sunrise Rotary began the project and then involved the Victoria Business and Education Coalition, Friends of the Library, and the University of Houston-Victoria in the ongoing project. The RN Student Nursing Program students assemble the packets. Supplies are replenished through continued funding. Article submitted by Donna Bentley.
Laredo Rotary donates books to advance literacy
The Laredo Rotary Club will contribute books to the Public Library and will feature a librarian as one of the program speakers for July. The donated books will have a name plate honoring the weekly guest speakers and giving Rotary visibility. We will also be sharing back issues of the Rotarian Magazine with the school supplies bags. Article submitted by Cecilia Garza
Earn your Presidential Citation
In order to earn the 2006-07 Presidential Citation, your club needs a net growth of one member. To help meet this goal the District will hold a Membership Development and Retention Seminar, Saturday, July 15, 10 AM - 3 PM, in the Student Union Building Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Check the District web site for latest details.
Who should attend? Everyone in the club
who is working on membership issues--president, president-elect,
secretary, membership chair--should be there to learn strategies to
recruit and retain more members.
Andy Smallwood will be our speaker. There is no lunch program; you will
be on your own and may eat in the Student Union cafeteria.
The Rotary
Club of Corpus Christi awards 2006 Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Corpus Christi received over 40 scholarship applications from Corpus Christi high school seniors planning to attend Del Mar College or Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. The Club is pleased to announce that Roy Miller High School senior, Ja’Lisa Moore, was awarded a four-year, $6,000 scholarship to attend Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi this fall. Also, Richard King High School senior, Nina Garza received a two-year, $2,000 scholarship to attend Del Mar College. The club invited both young ladies to attend Rotary on June 1, 2006, but only Nina Garza was able to attend. Article submitted by Odette L. Middelsteadt.
Paul Harris Society initiated at the District Assembly
In l956 The Rotary Foundation developed Paul Harris Fellow recognition for those whose contributions were at least $1000. After few gifts at that level were received, the Trustees decided that more money could be collected if Rotarians were allowed to contribute $1,000 over a period of years and, if they could make contributions to honor another person. Some clubs decided to name one person who had long service or other distinguishing characteristics a Paul Harris Fellow. In some cultures, the concept developed that a Paul Harris Fellow was primarily an award for exceptional service. The Paul Harris Fellow took on a totally difference meaning than its original purpose.
In 1999, District Governor Wayne Cusick initiated the Paul Harris Society of District 5340 encouraging Rotarians to personally commit to contributing $1,000 or more annually to The Rotary Foundation. District leadership reminded their members of all the good those gifts do…especially through their financial support. As the Paul Harris Society gained momentum in District 5340, the program spread to 22 districts and the entire country of Japan. In October 2005, Rotary Foundation Trustees officially adopted the Paul Harris Society as a district administered recognition effective with the 2006-07 Rotary year.
A district Paul Harris Society makes it possible for Rotarians to further identify and work with other Rotarians around the world to grow in service to our entire community. The Trustees of The Rotary Foundation agreed to an official Foundation recognition program at the district level. They agreed to:
- Design wearable PHS recognition pins, membership certificates and membership presentation folders for production and distribution by licensed Rotary vendors available in 2006-07;
- Design and produce printed promotional PHS materials maintained by The Rotary Foundation; and,
The District 5930 Paul Harris Society was announced at the District Assembly in Kingsville. Four immediately volunteered to join adding to six who had volunteered earlier. The ten are:
- Billy Settles, Victoria Northside Rotary Club
- Albert L. Perez, Jr., Brownsville Sunrise Rotary Club
- Gerald A. Channell, Rockport Rotary Club
- Jorge Verduzco, Laredo Daybreak Rotary Club
- Olga Verduzco, Friend of Rotary
- Andrew J. Hagan, Brownsville Sunrise Rotary Club
- Russell Cain, Port Lavaca Rotary Club
- Edwardo Ramirez, Laredo Daybreak Rotary Club
- Manuel A. Benavides, Laredo Rotary Club
- Everett Driskill, Harlingen Sunburst Rotary Club
District 5930 Club Excellence Program reinstated
The District 5930 Club Excellence Program is being reinstated for the 2006-07 Rotary year to complement the Presidential Citation Program of Rotary International. District 5930 seeks to identify and recognize the District’s best performing clubs in the five major areas of the Club Leadership Plan – club administration, public relations, membership, The Rotary Foundation, and service - including 20 specific categories and additional subcategories.
The areas of excellence and the measures of excellence include the following:
Club Attendance – Clubs with high attendance at club meetings also characteristically manifest high participation in all club activities. Specific measures:
- Average attendance (percentage)
- Perfect attendance (percentage)
Public Relations – Excellent clubs develop and implement plans to provide the club members and the public with information about Rotary and to promote the club’s service projects, fundraisers, weekly programs and other activities. Specific measures:
- Best website
- Best online weekly bulletin
- Best hard copy weekly bulletin
- Best club directory – online or hard copy
Membership – Membership recruitment and retention are necessary to increase the ability of a club to provide services to members, to the community and to the international community. Specific measures:
- Membership increase (percentage)
- Membership retention (percentage)
- Membership extension
- Annual giving (dollars per member)
- Giving to the PolioPlus Program (dollars per member)
- Paul Harris Fellows growth (percentage)
- Paul Harris Society membership growth (percentage)
- Benefactor growth (percentage)
- Permanent Fund contribution (dollars per member)
- Best local community service project
- Best club service/Family of Rotary project
- Best international service project
- Best vocational service project
- Best youth program
The District 5930 Club Excellence Program activities must be accomplished during the period July 1, 2006 through March 31, 2007.
Reporting forms and detailed instructions will be emailed to all club presidents and secretaries by September 1, 2006. This information with complete details is available on the District website. Synopsis of article submitted by Marilyn Spencer
District Governor installation honors those who have served
The District Governor installation held aboard the USS Lexington Museum was a fitting close for the 2005-06 Rotary year whose theme was Service Above Self and an appropriate beginning for the 2006-07 Rotary year whose theme is Lead the Way.
Excerpt from Governor Marilyn's remarks . . . The strength of Rotary comes from having lots of people working together toward our shared goal - to serve others, in order to make the world a better place. The song my family performed earlier was a lighthearted way of celebrating some of our major our goals, and what we can accomplish by working together. In Rotary, we know that many hands make the work lighter, and that many of our Rotary tasks could not be accomplished at all, without many hands. We also know that when we work toward our common goals together, and enjoy fellowship together, we become extended family. It’s a blessing to be a part of this very large and loving Family of Rotary! |
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 Jorge Verduzco (center) pinning DG pin on Marilyn Spencer (left), as Olga Verduzco (right) looks on |
 Newly installed District Governor Marilyn Spencer (left) presents plaque to Past District Governor Jorge Verduzco in appreciation for his year of service as governor |
 PDG Hollis Ray Neese (right) installing Russell Cain as District Governor Nominee, with Cherre Cain (left) |
 PDG John Bedgood installing Nancy Roos as District Secretary |
 PDG Don Ratcliff installing Kathy Funk-Baxter as District Treasurer |
 PDG Arturo Barrera (at the microphone) installing the Assistant Governors, from left to right: Lisa Brown, Ellison Crider, Annette Alonzo, Joe Truman, J.D. Simpson, Elva Short, Dennis Roberts, Martha Noell, Tony Rivera, Lauro Solis and Gilbert Serna |
 Six Corpus Christi club presidents being installed by PDG Ray Cocozza (at the microphone), from left to right: Brandon Marshall, Corpus Christi Northwest Club; John Seaman, Southside Corpus Christi Club; Jim Mailhes, Corpus Christi Club; Dana Sisk, West Corpus Christi Club; Linda Walsh, Padre Island Club; and Brian Devaney, Corpus Christi Evening Club |
Edna Rotary Club wins Dodge Ram pickup from District Fundraiser
Buying tickets for each of its members paid off for the Edna Rotary Club. Corpus Christi mayor, Henry Garrett, drew one of their numbers for the District Fundraiser's 2006 Dodge Ram pickup from Cardenas Motors in Brownsville. Andy Hagan, Brownsville Sunrise Rotary, made the arrangements for the vehicle and had it in Corpus Christi for the drawing.
The fundraiser grossed $42,255 with expenses of $10,800 making the net profit $31,465. So, 74.4 percent of each club's sales goes toward Paul Harris Fellowships. The top area was Area 1 and the top club that area was Port Lavaca Rotary Club. Port Isabel Rotary Club sold more tickets than any other Club, $3,330. Linda K. Tennison, Calhoun County Rotary Club, sold the most tickets--105 to win the $400 first prize. PDG Jorge Verduzco, Laredo Sunrise Rotary Club sold 100 tickets and claimed the $200 second prize. Karen Gale, Aransas Pass Rotary Club, won the $100 third place prize by selling 50 tickets.
PDG Bill Janecek was the sparkplug behind this successful fundraiser, but, remember, this is one of those "many hands" things DG Marilyn talked about.
| The South Texas District 5930 Newsletter is published the first day of each month. , Victoria Rotary Club, edits and distributes it. Submit articles by the 24th of the month prior to publication. | The South Texas District 5930 Web Site is maintained by Sand Dollar Digital Design. , Port Aransas Rotary Club, is our webmaster. |