Stories
   
The Phoenix 20th November 2022

Tonight we welcome DG Mina Howard and induct two new members
Kim Mannion and Wendy Stein
Peace Bell
 
 
Click the image for more.
Peace Pole Project for Schools
100 Rotary Clubs, 100 Schools for 100 Years of Rotary in Australia.
The original idea was for 100 Rotary Clubs from around Australia, to be invited by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin, to become involved in this joint Centenary Project by donating a peace pole to a primary school in their area. Currently 190 peace poles have been reserved by Rotary Clubs around Australia. The number of Peace Poles that can be donated as part of the project is unlimited.
                       (L-R Scouts visit to the Canberra Rotary Peace Bell. Greenvale State School Students with Rotarian Bob Murry at the unveiling of their Peace Pole, St John Vianney Waramanga ACT after planting of their Peace Pole)
 
Read about the project here
RAWCS Tonga Appeal
Advice from President Val
RAWCS Tonga Appeal - Sponsor is RAWCS National – No: 42-2021-22. Click on the
RAWCS@rotary.org.au Click on Search, Projects All – the second one listed.
DG Lindsay advises to donate to this appeal. On-going support will be needed for many years.
PAKISTAN – POLIO FREE FOR 12 MONTHS

PAKISTAN – POLIO FREE FOR 12 MONTHS

ISSA SHALHOUB — JAN 28, 2022

27 January 2022 marks the first time in Pakistan’s history that a year has passed with no new cases.

Article by PDG Bob Aitken, Rotary End Polio Now Coordinator

January 27 was a red-letter day for Pakistan – Polio free for 12 months!

The welcome good news continues in the wake of ongoing successful vaccination campaigns in that country and neighbouring Afghanistan.

Rotary International’s PolioPlus Chairman, RI Past Vice President Mike McGovern, said the Global Polio Eradication campaign reached 2.4 million children. These children have been in previously inaccessible areas of Afghanistan for the last two years.

At January 11, the number of wild polio virus cases in the world were unchanged from last year - five - one in Pakistan and for in Afghanistan.

‘In Pakistan, the government and Global Polio Eradication Initiative workers are focusing on the whole country but especially in high risk union councils,’ he continued.

‘Of the four cases in Afghanistan in 2021, three emanated from a single area in Pakistan. There were 410 positive environmental samples in Pakistan in 2020 but, in the last six months of 2021, there were only six!

‘This is truly a sign of the progress being made in that the virus is now found in water samples in very few areas,’ he concluded.

Further good news from this vital campaign area is that organisers now have access to sufficient volunteers/paid workers to maintain the impetus.

The focus on controlling the vaccine derived virus across the continent of Africa remains strong.

Chairman Mike said we need to increase immunity by encouraging the use of other vaccines such as those for measles and rubella.

‘Some 85% of the vaccine derived Polio cases in the world in the last six months were in Nigeria.

‘However, COVID remains a concern and strong cooperation continues with the World Health Organisation COVID teams,’ he said.

Village children

 

FUND RAISING IS VITAL

Progressive fund-raising figures for the END POLIO NOW first six months are still being finalised but now is the time for all District Governors and Club Presidents to galvanise their Districts and Clubs back into action.

Remember our fund-raising goals shared with everyone at the beginning of the 2021/22 Rotary year –

  • All Rotarians to commit to the challenge of personal giving to Polio – no matter how large of small the amount of the donation. Forming a Clem Renouf/Bill Boyd Polio Club within your Rotary Club at just $10 per year is a great way to start; or perhaps request individual $100 Centurion membership donations to be dropped into the TRF Polio fund?
  • All Clubs to commit to RI President Shekhar Mehta’s request for a US$1,500 donation to END POLIO NOW.
  • Districts to recognise the value of the Gates/TRF multiplier and allocate portion (20%?) of District DDF to polio.
  • All Districts to continue the search for major donors to our Rotary Foundation at a minimum of US$10K each.
Happy Children of Pakistan

SUPPORTING THE ENVIRONMENT
From the The Australasian Dark Sky Alliance which is a volunteer, non-profit charity, educating the public and policymakers about night environment conservation.

Light Pollution - Increasing by 2% year on year, it is the fastest-growing pollutant in the world, leaving only 20% of the world's population a sky full of stars.

Reducing the waste caused by ineffective light at night not only preserves wildlife, decreases energy consumption, and reduces the impacts on biodiversity, but generates jobs, brings people and places together, and creates a multitude of dark-sky opportunities and experiences.”

 
image.png


To help identify ways to make it easy and beneficial to conserve our dark skies, the ADSA is asking local governments, public and dark sky places to complete the appropriate survey on the following link:

The Power of the Rotary Logo
 

New post on Rotary Voices

The power of the Rotary logo

by Rotary International

By: Charles Pretto, 2022-23 district governor of District 5340 (USA)

I like the Rotary logo — the one with the wheel and the word “Rotary” next to it. It’s not always a popular opinion though. Some members prefer the old Rotary wheel and continue to use it, even though it was retired nearly a decade ago. In some ways, I get it. We Rotary members can be traditionalists.

The modern Rotary logo has something that the old one doesn’t though: name recognition — literally. The word “Rotary” (or Rotaract) is in big letters. It’s easy to read and most importantly, it’s easy to identify. I experienced that difference first-hand when I started wearing the modern Rotary logo on my lapel pin.

From my dental hygienist to the person bagging my groceries, I was getting asked about Rotary everywhere. I never had this level of engagement before! You know why? Because we aren’t a big corporation like Starbucks with a logo you just know. The wheel doesn’t mean anything to the public. By adding “Rotary” to the wheel, our logo becomes much more identifiable. And because of that, I’ve had many delightful conversations with people. Some have even joined our club meetings to learn more about Rotary. It’s been a great recruitment tool.

Recently, the RI Board of Directors began asking Rotary and Rotaract clubs to update their club logo to include the Rotary logo and their club name. I realized that if every club did this, it would tie us all together as one global Rotary network.

When I begin my term as district governor, my goal is to get all 60 clubs in my district to update their club logos. I’ve already started talking about it with my district public image chair and presidents-elect.   

I know public image can’t be a priority for every club — they have other issues and challenges to focus on. So for those clubs who need additional assistance, but lack the resources to do it, I am starting a program in my district that will connect Rotaractors who are studying marketing or a related field with clubs that needs help with their branding and public image. It’s a win-win situation! Rotaractors who need real world experience will get it by using their talents to help clubs increase their public image in the community.

If your club wants to update their logo but you don’t know where to start, I recommend reaching out to your district public image coordinator to see what resources might be available from your district.

When we all use the Rotary logo, it really pops! And the awareness of our logo can help engage more individuals, welcome more people into Rotary, and do good in the world.

Charles Pretto is a member of the Rotary Club of San Diego, California (USA). He’s a big believer in the power of the Rotary logo. So much so, Charles plans to give every member in his district a Rotary pin. He hopes it will help start more conversations between members and the next generation of Rotarians and Rotaractors.

District Conference
 
The Conference was held yesterday and was a great success
International Convention 2022
 
 
 

As Rotary members, we use our connections to create lasting change in our communities and around the world. And although we’ve all faced the challenges of the pandemic for the past year and a half, we’ve continued to take action, solve problems, and make a positive impact. So we are optimistic that we can gather in person to explore new opportunities for friendship and service at the 2022 Rotary International Convention, 4-8 June in Houston, Texas, USA. We invite you to join us!
At the convention, you will:

  • Develop new friendships and strengthen old ones
  • Share your Rotary experiences and learn more ways to get involved
  • Find inspiration in the family of Rotary

Register now to take advantage of our reduced rate, available until 15 December. You’ll be able to cancel for a full refund, minus a $50 per person administration fee, until 30 April. 
Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your passion for Rotary.

 
How to recruit and support Rotary Peace Fellow candidates
 
Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peacebuilders by recruiting Rotary Peace Fellows and helping them stay involved with Rotary after their studies. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degree programs and 80 for professional certificate programs at the seven Rotary Peace Centers around the world. By supporting a peace fellow, your club or district can engage with the program in meaningful ways. 

“Through years of being involved in the peace fellowship process, I’m still thrilled and admire the serious and high quality of the candidates who apply to the program,” says Gideon Peiper, Rotary Peace Fellowships subcommittee chair for District 2490. “It’s a wonderful experience to follow this process, developing a personal connection with Rotary members and knowing that peace fellows will have a memorable experience that will contribute to their professional as well as their personal life, all made possible by the tremendous support of Rotary members worldwide.”

Districts interview applicants and endorse candidates for consideration by The Rotary Foundation. Clubs can help in these ways:
  • Recruit candidates.
  • Support candidates. Complete an online training course in how to do this effectively.
  • Provide a club recommendation for a candidate, which is optional but highly encouraged. 
  • Encourage members to join your district’s Rotary Peace Fellowships subcommittee, which interviews candidates. 
Contact your district Rotary Peace Fellowships subcommittee chair or district Rotary Foundation chair for more information.

Learn more about members’ role in selecting peace fellows.
Presidents meeting Feb 22
A summary of the President's meeting here
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
MEMBERSHIP CORNER
from RISPPO Regional Membership Officer  Barbara Mifsud
Last month we held the third webinar in our “Engaging Members + Delivering Value” series titled “Expanding Our Reach.” During this webinar we spoke to participants who are sharing Rotary’s values with new audiences and creating different ways to engage people with Rotary. If you couldn’t attend, watch the recording (EN only), share with your club and have a conversation on ways you can expand your reach in your community.
What do you know about Rotary
Diversity of Rotary International Presidents.
1942-43 Fernando Carbajal (civil engineering)  
Rotary Club of Lima, Peru
 ROTARY VISION: The application of practical action in solving problems, locally and worldwide
" The prevailing Rotary attitude is rendering service is practicality. Its aim in performing a useful action is to be helpful and serviceable, not sentimental...As Practical idealists, we temper the fanciful flights of the dreamer with the limitations of common sense."
 - Address to 1943 Rotary Convention, St Louis, Missouri, USA
Advertisement for ClubRunner Mobile