DISTRICT 6820 Newsletter

Transcription

1 DISTRICT 6820 Newsletter July 2017 Governor Bill Walker From left to right: Lucy Anne Walker, DG Bill Walker, RI President Ian Riseley, Juliet Riseley DISTRICT GOVERNOR S MESSAGE Rotarians of District 6820, it is an honor and a privilege for me to serve this great District as your District Governor. Following the great energetic work of PDG Amanda Fontaine and building on the work and dedication of countless other District Governors and District leaders, this year will go down in Rotary history as the year of Rotary: Making A Difference.

2 Rotary: Making A Difference is more than just our theme this year, it is embedded in Rotary as an organization. Every second of every day, the work of our Rotarians is changing and saving lives around the world. We should all be proud to be part of such a well-respected organization with such compassion. The difference we make is made possible by each of us, through our monetary donations to the Rotary Foundation and contribution in time to these projects. To make history this year, join me and my District Leadership Team as we aim to increase membership and involvement within your club. Increasing membership begins by the simple act of asking a colleague/peer to join your club. With numerous events, projects, and committees (both at club and District level), there are many ways to become more engaged within Rotary: Join by participating in club and District sponsored events and activities Supporting and increasing gifts to the Rotary Foundation Rotarians and their families attending the FUN Multi District Conference in Biloxi at the Beau Rivage Resort Joining our first ever Rotary D6820 Service Trip to Mexico, in the Spring of Partnering with the organization Heart 2 Heart, we will doing various hands on projects to help change lives. There will be more information and details coming out in the following months. These exciting plans for our clubs and District in are made possible with the participation, help and support of each club and its Rotarians. So, as a fellow Rotarian, I am asking for your participation and support to help make history and for District 6820 to be known as Rotarians: Making A Difference!

3 The annual District 6820 passing of the gavel took place on June 28, as Bill Walker succeeded Amanda Fontaine as District Governor in front of a packed house at the Country Club of Columbus. Below, DG Bill is joined by immediate PDG Amanda, PDG Paul Bucurel, PDG Rob Smith, DG-Elect Pam Smith, and DG Elect Mark Fields. Congratuations, Bill! It will be a great year of Rotary Making a Difference in District 6820!

4 ZONE 31 LEADERSHIP SEMINAR IN NOLA! We have an outstanding event coming up in beautiful New Orleans! The Heart of America Zone 31 Leadership Seminar will be held on Saturday, July 22 from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn West Bank. The Leadership Seminar will focus on Public Image, The Rotary Foundation, and Membership great sessions with lots of opportunity to share questions, best practices, and how to meet the challenges you face as a Rotary leader. The facilitators leading the seminars are the best in their respective fields that we have in Zones 30-31, so this will be a day full of excellent topics and resources. If you haven t yet attended one of the Heart of America Leadership Seminars, they are lots of fun, very helpful, and a great way to meet new Rotary friends. There will be plenty of opportunity for Rotary fellowship! The Leadership Seminar is open to any Club or District leader as well as any interested Rotarian that wants to learn more about Rotary. Register today at: Holiday Inn Westbank 275 Whitney Avenue Gretna, (New Orleans) LA Rate of $89+tax Phone:

5 District Foundation & Membership Seminar Saturday, July 15th at River Hills Club of Jackson 3600 Ridgewood Road / Jackson, MS :30 a.m. 3:30 p.m. Participants are: Club Presidents, club Foundation committee members, club membership committee members, club emerging leaders and any interested Rotarians. District Governor, District Governor Elect, District Governor Nominee, Assistant Governors, District Foundation Team, Membership Team are expected to attend. Team Meetings July 17th at Lake Tiak O Khata Resort 213 Smyth Lake Rd., Louisville 6:00-7:30 p.m. July 25th at Weidmann s nd Ave., Meridian 6:00-7:30 p.m. August 14th at the Indianola Country Club 801 Westside Dr., Belzoni 6:00-7:30 p.m. August 17th in Jackson (location TBA) 6:00 7:30 p.m. August 31st in Collins at Morgan s 305 Main Street 6:00-7:30 p.m. The team meetings are for club officers, committee chairs and board members. Clubs, please attend the one closest to you or that fits your schedule best. Please send DG Bill an at least two weeks in advance to indicate how many from your club will be attending so we will have enough food and meeting space. We ll discuss membership, club projects, best practice ideas, collaborate on problems, go over District projects, and make new friends.

6 The Carthage Rotary recently awarded three $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from the club s three area schools: Ke'eric Odom (Leake County HS), Megan Boyd (Leake Academy), and Anna Burns (Leake Central HS). Scholarship Committee Chair Steve Watson and Club President Jimmy Henderson presented the scholarships. Scholarship funds are raised through events like the club s annual pancake supper. Speaking of pancakes, the Rotary of West Jackson held a pancake breakfast at IHOP of Ridgeland on May 13th! Funds go to the club s upcoming service projects, including dictionaries for elementary students in west Jackson! From left to right: David Johnson, Jade Cowan, Shirley Young, Devasia Spires, Renee Donaldson, and Michael Smith. The Rotary of Flowood inducted new members Jace Ponder and Becky Morgan into the club on June 27 while passing the gavel from outgoing President Nancy Fletcher- Smith to new President McCall Stern. Nancy also presented club treasurer Brandy Bryant with her Paul Harris Fellow certificate. Congratulations!

7 One of the Yazoo City Rotary Club's favorite local service projects is sponsoring the Between the Lions literacy program at A to Z Preschool. Great work! On June 9, the Eupora Rotary Club celebrated their 80th birthday! Eupora Rotary Club #3945 was formed on June 11, All former Rotarians of the club were invited to join current Rotarians in the celebrating the 80 years of service to the community. Pictured are new President Robin Mixon and Immediate Past President Hays Burchfield. Happy birthday!

8 The Rotary Club of Winona welcomes a new board for , including President Jonathan Graves and his proud papa, PDG Bob Graves. President Witt Ruffin (at the podium) will lead the Rotary Club of North Jackson in Officers include President-Elect Anna Powers, Secretary Greg Campbell, Treasurer Lee Carney, Foundation Director Suman Das, Membership Director Lee Jenkins, Service Director Steele Dehmer, Club Administration Director Uriel Pineda, and PR Director John Sewell.

9 Madison-Ridgeland Rotary Club members Jim Jeter and Glenn Helman stand with the display that was exhibited in Atlanta for the Rotary International Convention in Atlanta. Jeter and Helman, both past-presidents of the M-R club, joined other volunteers to exhibit and discuss the international service projects supported by District Jeter spoke to his club June 22 about the display and volunteer experiences while at the convention. Jim (far left), who has partnered with the Rotary Club of Edinburg on sanitation stations, flanks a group of District 6820 Rotarians in front of a mock sanitation station that he put together at the RI Convention House of Friendship. Pictured with Jim in the adjoining photo is Star, a club President from Nigeria. Well done, Jim! Thanks for your hard work!

10 Brooks Buchanan was installed as the new President of the Rotary Club of Jackson, succeeding Jill Beneke. Brooks asked each member to commit to sponsoring at least one new member during the year, and he challenged each member to get to know at least one club member each month that they did not previously know well. Brooks will lead a club that did some great things during Jill s tenure: membership growth, participation in Stop Hunger Now, Dictionary projects, and the Rotary Raffle! In June, the Rotary of Flowood awarded Ian Clarke and Hannah Adams service-based scholarships valued at $500. The presentation was made by Past President Nancy Fletcher-Smith and Interact Chair Randy Tinney. Flowood has Interact clubs at Northwest Rankin High School and Hartfield Academy.

11 Ready to start an Interact club or Rotaract club? It s fun and rewarding for your club to watch the young people you re mentoring run the new club on their own, and it s also a Presidential Citation requirement. District Chair Steve Jackson at SteveJackson@BankPlus.net to get started! BE SURE TO LIKE OUR ROTARY DISTRICT 6820 FACEBOOK PAGE!! Questions or concerns about the District 6820 newsletter? Contact DG Bill Walker at bill@brickerton.com To submit content to the District 6820 newsletter, contact PDG Amanda Fontaine at afontaine@msburn.org The District 6820 newsletter is edited by Joe Lee. Contact Joe at dogwoodpress@bellsouth.net