The Rotary Club Of Festival City

President:  David Moore

Minutes of the meeting of Jan 24, 2012

Club email:  festivalcityrotary@gmail.com

Club web blog: www.festivalcityrotary.blogspot.com

ClubRunner site: www.festivalcityrotary.ca

 

Guests:  Norm Bird and Rob Ritz are from the Stratford Rotary Club. Allan Loiselle is from the London-Lambton Rotary Club. Phanuwat Kongwattananon (Nu) is our Rotary Exchange Student. Also in attendance were Ann Brailsford-Child and Gezahgn Wordofa.

 

Draw Prize: Jane Kirkpatrick was the winner of a pair of classic Star Trek star ship models donated by Jack West.

 

Announcements:

  1. Dinner of the Month Draw: Dianne Yundt described how by sending out emails to friends and associates she was able to sell 10 books of tickets. Proceeds from the ticket sales support many of the local projects our club participates in.

 

  1. El Salvador Literacy Project: In a letter to the club and circulated at the meeting Jane Kirkpatrick reported that $16200 was raised locally for the project.

 

  1. Bingo: Volunteers are needed to assist with the February 10 bingo and celebrate the birthday of Governor General Adrienne Clarkson (born this day in1939). Bingo starts at 5 PM. Any volunteers to bake a birthday cake?  Sign up on ClubRunner.

 

Guest Speaker: Carol Rock introduced Allan Loiselle, chairperson of the Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation.  Through the use of a slide show presentation Allan outlined how the Foundation works.  RF is divided into three funds: the Polio Plus Fund, the Permanent Fund, and the Annual Programs Fund.

 

The Polio Plus Fund is a restricted fund because all the money raised goes to Polio eradication programs. Because of the narrow focus of the Fund money is quickly distributed. This is the largest program in Rotary and has received over ½ billion dollars.  Donors can earn points towards a Paul Harris Fellow.

 

The Permanent Fund receives donations which are invested permanently. Interest income is used for program spending. Donations must be large and donors are not eligible for a  Paul Harris Fellow.

 

The Annual Programs Fund. Donations are invested for three years to earn interest. Funds are then released and split evenly between the World Fund and District Designated Funds.

World Fund programs become matching grants to support health, hunger and humanitarian initiatives around the world. It also supports Peace Fellowships.

District Designated Funds return to district clubs as matching grants for local projects. DDF also supports GSE teams, Ambassadorial Scholarships and Polio +.

 

As Rotarians we should give back a little through annual giving to RF by outright gifting, by including a donation in your will or becoming a sustaining member of RF.

Remember that a small contribution pooled with others makes a big difference.

Make a donation by filling out a donation card or by donating online.

A donation of $100 makes you a sustaining member.

A donation of $1000 qualifies you for a Paul Harris Fellow.

Allan was thanked by Etienne Leushuis.