Gulf Coast Gazette Rotary District 6840 Newsletter April, 2012 Message from District Governor Betty Gill April is designated as Rotary Magazine Month. I have asked District Trainer Janice McKellar to give us some insight on Rotary International s premier flagship publication The Rotarian: RI bylaws require all club members to subscribe to The Rotarian or one of the Rotary Regional magazines. There are 32 magazines from Africa, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Europe and are in 23 languages. All of these magazines provide valuable information to 1.2 million Rotarians. Rotary leaders, district governors, and club presidents are encouraged to support magazine editors in their country or region by submitting story ideas, promoting readership, encouraging timely subscription payments, and assisting with other communication efforts. These magazines showcase what is happening in the world of Rotary. Through these magazines, we get to know our truly inspiring world Rotary leaders and fellow Rotarians, as well as experience a sense of pride to belong to this unique world body. The magazines have a wealth of information and promotional material. These publications are tools that enthuse Rotarians to do innovative projects and share with Rotary friends. The Rotarian, Rotary s English language flagship publication, can be described as a window to the vast world of Rotary. It is Rotary s official magazine. Reading the magazine is an ideal way for new members, and old, to keep up to date on all the events, programs and work Rotarians are accomplishing around the world. An informed Rotarian is a better Rotarian. If we are to promote Rotary to others, then we need to be well informed and The Rotarian helps with that. Every Rotarian is responsible for public relations. Don t forget; when you have finished reading The Rotarian, share it with the community. This is a great way to promote what Rotary is doing around the world. The new digital edition of The Rotarian gives you the same print content you have enjoyed for years. You may subscribe to the digital version at rotary.org. Apps are also available for IPhone, IPad, IPod Touch and the Samsung Galaxy. You may choose to continue to receive The Rotarian in print as well as digital, or choose only the digital version. Whatever way you receive the magazine, keep in mind this is your monthly lesson in Rotary, updates on world Rotary events and news stories...your window to the world of Rotary. (If nothing else, enjoy the pictures!) Upcoming Events April 19-21 District Conference Best Western Landmark Hotel Metairie, LA May 6-9 RI Convention, Bangkok, Thailand May 11 June 10 GSE Team in Brazil, District 4640 May 19 District Assembly Long Beach Sr Ctr, Long Beach, MS Aug 18 Foundation, Membership, and Public Relations Seminar Pearl River Community College Poplarville, MS In This Issue Pages 2, 3, and 4, Club and District News Pages 5, 6, and 7, District 6840 Conference Page 8, RI Acronyms Page 9, District Attendance Serving Southeast Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf Coast www.rotary6840.org
Club & District News Seventeen members of the Salmen High School Interact Club (Slidell, LA) assisted the Stennis Space Center Rotary club with the painting of the Mt. Olive Food Ministry facility in Slidell on Saturday, March 17. The faculty advisor for the Interact Club is Cecelia Anderson, who worked with the Stennis Club to organize this much needed project. The Mt. Olive Food Ministry serves meals to low-income residents, and delivers to those who are home-bound or lack transportation. The kitchen facility was rebuilt following Hurricane Katrina using funds from Rotary Rebuilds Slidell, a joint project of the Rotary Clubs of Slidell and Slidell Northshore. Andy Prude was selected as the Grand Marshall for the St. Patrick s Day Parade in Slidell by the Olde Towne Slidell Association. Andy s wife Sue was the Parade Queen. Andy is a past president of the Rotary Club of Slidell. He was recognized for his community efforts to revitalize the Olde Towne Slidell area. Johnny Crow, also a past president of the Slidell club, emceed the event. Ken Thompson, past president of the Rotary Club of Slidell Northshore, was chosen as a Duke in the Royal Court. Ken represented the Slidell Heritage Festival, and ShelterBox, a project partner of Rotary International that provides emergency shelter worldwide. At a recent meeting of the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs, President Mike Streiff presented a check from the proceeds of the 5-K Run for Art, Education, and Culture to Bryant Whelan, Director of the Mary C. O Keefe Center. The annual race raises money for both the Mary C. O Keefe Center and for local scholarships. Shown from left to right are Secretary Sheila Bennett, President Mike Streiff, Committee Member Mickey Williams, and Bryant Whelan. On March 7 four business and professional people were inducted as new members of the Rotary Club of Ocean Springs. From left to right are Eddie Diaz, new member; Leah Snyder, sponsor and Induction chairman; Warren Kulo, new member; Mike Streiff, sponsor and President; Earl Darphin, new member; Jim Sukiennik, sponsor and Foundation chairman; Mark Spicer, sponsor and Service Chairman; and Norman Cupit, new member.
Club & District News (Cont.) The Rotary Club of Slidell teamed up with the Slidell Noon Lions Club to sponsor the 3rd Annual Slidell BBQ Challenge on March 30-31. The photo on the right shows (left to right) Emile Weathers, Larry Berger, Jay Rose, Joe Harvin, and Brenda Case managing one of the concession stands. In the photo below, President-elect Ron Davis (right) and Stephen Ford (center) were part of a cooking team competing in the Professional division for best barbecue. The event is officially sanctioned by the Kansas City Barbecue Society and draws professional teams from all across the country. In addition to the Professional division, prizes were awarded to the best local Backyard BBQ ers. The Rotary club donates its share of the event proceeds to Safe Harbor, a local non-profit that provides temporary shelter and counseling to victims of domestic violence in St. Tammany Parish. Ole Man River PETS District 6840 teamed up with Districts 6800 and 6820 to prepare our incoming club presidents for their year in charge beginning July 1, in a Multi-District President-Elect Training Seminar in Jackson March 9-10. Next year we will add District 6190 to the mix. DGE Don Bryan introduced the RI Theme for 2012-2013, Peace Through Service, and the goals he challenges the district and clubs to meet during 2012-2013. The Rotary International Board was well represented, with RI Director Ken Schuppert from Decatur, AL, and RI Vice President Noel Bajat from Abbeville, LA, speaking to the group of over 200 Rotarians and their spouses. Senator Roger Wicker (MS) addressed the audience, as did our keynote speaker, motivational speaker Randy Frazier who demonstrated how we can learn important leadership principles from butterflies, buzzards, and bees, and tadpoles. But the key focus of the seminar was the series of breakout sessions where future club presidents brainstormed in facilitated discussions ways to build and empower their team, develop and maintain membership, and engage in effective club projects and activities.
Club & District News (Cont.) Rotary International and ShelterBox, a grassroots disaster relief organization, signed a project partner agreement in March, allowing the two organizations to collaborate more closely to provide relief and temporary shelter to survivors of natural disasters. Project partner is a special status RI gives to groups started or managed by Rotary clubs. The agreement will build on the strengths of both organizations in responding to disasters all over the world. Our Rotary friends have always been there ready to assist from generous donations to direct operational support on the ground Rotary has always been part of our DNA, said Tom Henderson, ShelterBox CEO. I feel like we have 34,000 ShelterBox offices around the world working together to help those who have lost everything when they need us the most. RI General Secretary John Hewko said the agreement will enable Rotary club members to have an immediate, lifesaving impact in communities hit by disasters. ShelterBox will be able to ensure that local Rotarians are provided an opportunity to participate in the distribution of ShelterBox containers, he said. Each Shelter- Box typically provides a tent designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, stove, water purification kit, blankets, tools, and other necessities to help a family survive for six months or more after a disaster. Henderson, a civil engineer and former search-and-rescue diver for the British Royal Naval, founded Shelter- Box in 2000. Its response teams of trained volunteers have brought lifesaving supplies to victims of more than 175 disasters in nearly 80 countries. For more than 10 years, ShelterBox has given light to over one hundred thousand families worldwide in their darkest hour, said Hewko. This project partner agreement represents our mutual goal of helping those in need. It gives RI a forwardfacing approach to immediate disaster relief. Noted Henderson: This partnership with Rotary International is a formal recognition of our good work over the past 12 years. It will help Rotarians get a better understanding of what we do. I hope Rotarians worldwide will see us as a coherent and able disaster relief organization. In March, a ShelterBox team distributed more than 550 tents to communities in Madagascar where powerful cyclones left more than 250,000 people homeless.
District Conference District 6840 Conference Best Western Landmark Hotel, Metairie, LA The District 6840 Conference kicks off with a golf tournament on Thursday, April 19, at Lakewood Country Club. The College of Governors will meet at Andrea's Restaurant. Plenary sessions will follow the opening ceremony on Friday morning, including a presentation by Brinan Carrigg on the Friends Forever Program, The program focuses on conflict resolution between Catholic and Protestant teens in Northern Ireland, and Muslim and Jewish teens in the Middle East. Our Awards luncheon will follow that. Friday afternoon Janice McKellar and Jim Foster will speak on Community Service. The final Friday session will be a presentation on Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, and Interact by Elizabeth Van Sant, Lisa Flair, Susan Simon and some of the RYLA kids. The famous Food Fest will take place Friday evening, and, yes, the Talent Show will return. Saturday begins with the Paul Harris Breakfast, a memorial Service, The Foundation Luncheon and more plenary sessions. The Rotary International President's Representative Charles Rogers will be the keynote speaker at the luncheon. Rotary Youth Exchange trainers will hold a separate session in a private room for those interested. Our morning plenary session will be devoted to not one but 2 GSE teams - this year s outgoing team to Brazil, and last year s outgoing team to England. Sharron Newton will moderate and make the introductions. Following lunch Brian Hall will lead a panel discussion on Membership Development. Our final session that afternoon will be a presentation on Grants and Public Relations led by Jennie Campbell. The Governor's Banquet will feature special entertainment by world-renowned pianist Ronnie Kole.
District Conference (Continued)
District Conference (Continued)
Rotary International Acronyms 3-H Health, Hunger and Humanity AG assistant governor APF Annual Programs Fund BOD Board of Directors CLP Club Leadership Plan COL Council on Legislation CRS club recognition summary DDF District Designated Fund DG district governor DGE district governor-elect DGN district governor-nominee DGTM District Governor s Training Manual DLP District Leadership Plan EREY Every Rotarian, Every Year GETS governors-elect training seminar GS general secretary GSE Group Study Exchange HOC Host Organization Committee IA International Assembly IAP International Assembly Participants IC international convention IO international office IPPC International PolioPlus Committee MAP Member Access Portal MCR monthly contribution report MDIO multidistrict information organization MOP Manual of Procedure NGO nongovernmental organization NID National Immunization Day OC office communication OD Official Directory OPV oral polio vaccine ORC One Rotary Center PDG past district governor PE president-elect PEFC polio eradication fundraising campaign PETS presidents-elect training seminar PHF Paul Harris Fellow PN president-nominee PRID past Rotary International director PRIP past Rotary International president RAG Rotarian Action Group RC Rotary club RCC Rotary Community Corps RFAC Rotary Foundation alumni coordinator RFSM Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member RI Rotary International RIBI Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland RIMZC Rotary International membership zone coordinator RIP Rotary International president RIPE Rotary International president-elect RRFC regional Rotary Foundation coordinator RRIMC regional Rotary International membership coordinator RSL Rotary senior leaders RWPF Rotary World Peace Fellow RYLA Rotary Youth Leadership Awards SAR semiannual report SNID Subnational Immunization Day TL training leader TR The Rotarian TRF The Rotary Foundation WCS World Community Service YEO Youth Exchange officers
District 6840 Attendance Report March, 2011