Friday 27 June 2014

June 27 - Regular meeting of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 for the week beginning Friday, June 27





PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR MEETING PLATFORM 

HAS CHANGED!


Click this link to transfer to our new meeting platform for 2014-15!


Thanks for stopping by!




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To "attend" the meeting, scroll down the screen, review all the information from top to bottom, view all the videos, read all the information, and enjoy your time here with us at our Rotary meeting.




Dear Fellow Rotarians, visitors and guests!

WELCOME TO OUR E-CLUB!

Thank you for stopping by our club meeting!  We hope you will enjoy your visit.

Our E-Club banner is shown at left!  Please send us a virtual copy of your club banner and we will send you a copy of our new club banner in exchange.  We will also display your club banner proudly on our meeting website. 

We are now officially a fully-fledged chartered Rotary Club in District 7020.  We celebrated our Charter Gala with the meeting posted the week of January 24.  Our charter date is August 12, 2013.  We hope you will find the content of our meeting enlightening and will give us the benefit of your opinion on the content.

 Our club celebrates our 2014 Butterfly Storybook!  Volumes One and Two are available online.  Email us at rotaryeclub7020@gmail.com.


These links appear at the end of the meeting as well.
Visiting Rotarians.  Click this link to Apply for a Make-up.  We will send you and your club secretary a make-up confirmation. 
Active MembersClick for Attendance Record.  
Happy Hour Hangout.  Happy Hour Hangout.  Our Happy Hour Hangout on a Saturday morning is early enough so that you can join before your day gets away from you.
We meet for a live chat and sometimes business discussion.  If you are interested in dropping by, please click the link below.  Morning coffee is on the house!  (Your house, that is...)  Hope to see you there!
Please note:  Now, attending our HHH will earn you a make-up!
The link to the Happy Hour Hangout for Saturday is at the bottom of this meeting. 

Interested in joining us? Click the link Membership Application and Information.

Our President, Kitty, would now like to welcome you to this week's meeting.  Please listen in...




There are two inductions this meeting - later on as you scroll through.

  • First, a new member, Vernella.
  • A very special induction - our President for 2014-15 - Amarylis.

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ROTARY E-CLUB OF THE CARIBBEAN, 7020

 

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ABCs OF ROTARY (Cliff Dochterman)

Cliff Dochterman
RI President, 1992-93

Campaigning Prohibited 

One of the interesting bylaws of Rotary International provides that "no Rotarian shall campaign, canvass or electioneer for elective position in Rotary International."  This provision includes the office of district governor, Rotary International director, RI president and various elected committees.  The Rotary policy prohibits the circulation of brochures, literature or letters by a candidate or by anyone on behalf of such a candidate.

After a Rotarian has indicated his intention to be a candidate for one of the elective Rotary offices, he must refrain from speaking engagements, appearances or publicity which could reasonably be construed as furthering his candidacy.  The only information whic may be sent to clubs relating to canddidates for an elective position is that officially distributed by the general secretary of RI.

A Rotarian who becomes a candidate for an elective position, such as district governor or RI director, must avoid any action which would be interpreted as giving him an unfair advantage over other candidates.  Failure to comply with these provisions prohibiting campaigning could result in the disqualification of the candidate.

In Rotary, it is believed that a Rotarian's record of service and qualifications for office stand on their own and do not require publicity or special promotion.

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JOURNEY ACROSS AUSTRALIA - on a lawn mower

Craig Alford planned to ride a push bicycle across Australia to raise money for charity, but he hopped on his souped up Hustler Super lawnmower instead.

“This is so much more rewarding,” he said upon his arrival at Sydney Olympic Park on Saturday, the last of his 2014 trip, bringing his total kilometers traveled to about 2,500. “And a bit easier on the body.”

Alford, a member of the Rotary Club of Armadale and assistant governor of District 9465 in Western Australia, sells lawnmowers and other equipment at his business. He made his grand entrance by cruising past thousands of Rotarians on the main drag at Sydney Olympic Park. Then he threw down a couple of spins on the mower to get the crowd pumped up   — and to open up some wallets. He’s riding for mental health research, prostate cancer research, and polio eradication. Alford hopes to raise $1 million Australian dollars over 7 years, traveling some 15,000 kilometers in the process. He’s raised just under $200,000 Australian dollars so far.


“You come around the corner and see the expression on people’s faces of amazement,” he says.

His journey this year started in Adelaide then went up to Melbourne, on to Tasmania, back to Melbourne to Canberra, and over to Sydney. He’s averaging 200 kilometers a day. Along the way, he’s collecting all sorts of interesting stories.

“One lady had six dollars to her name,” he says, “and gave it to us as a donation because her daughter suffers from depression.”

Others just appreciate the original idea, though they should probably appreciate the execution too. Riding a lawnmower across Australia is a complicated, bureaucratic activity. For starters, he’s not allowed to cut any lawns. Australia won’t allow you to drive a vehicle with blades on roads. Secondly, he needs permits to ride in some Australian states.

“If you’re thinking of riding a lawn mower around anywhere, think hard before you do it because it’s a lot of work,” he adds. “But it’s a great adventure.”

Alford is accompanied on his rides by a support staff of 8-11 people, all Rotarians. So if you see him, give him a wave and a donation. If you’ve seen him in the past, share your stories in the comments field.

Note:  Our idea of "pushing" or "moving" something around all our 10 islands would definitely be possible.  A future project for sure!
 
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SANITATION - A NECESSITY



Meet Mr. Toilet | Jessica Yu from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo.


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YOUNG PEOPLE AND DRUGS - A TRUE STORY

(about 10 minutes)




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THE ROTARY FOUNDATION'S BEGINNINGS 

Some magnificent projects grow from very small seeds.  The Rotary Foundation had that sort of modest beginning.

In 1917, RI President Arch Klumph told the delegates to the Atlanta Convention that "it seems eminently proper that we should accept endowments for the purpose of doing good in the world."  The response was polite and favorable, but the fund was slow to materialize.  A year later, the "Rotary Endowment Fund," as it was first labeled, received its first contribution of $26.50 from the Rotary Club of Kansas City, which was the balance of the Kansas City Convention account following the 1918 annual meeting.

Additional small amounts were annually contributed, but after si years, it is reported that the endowment fund had only reached $700. A decade later, The Rotary Foundation was formally established at the 1928 Minneapolis Convention.  In the next four years, the Foundation fund grew to $50,000.  In 1937, a $2 million goal was announced for The Rotary Foundation, but these plans were cut short and abandoned with the outbreak of World War II.

In 1947, upon the death of Paul Harris, a new era opened for The Rotary Foundation, as memorial gifts poured in to honor the founder of Rotary.  From that time, The Rotary Foundation has been achieving its noble objective of furthering "understanding and friendly relations between peoples of different nations."

By 1954, the Foundation received for the first time a half million dollars in contributions in a single year, and in 1965, a million dollars was received.

It is staggering to imagine that from those humble beginnings, The Rotary Foundation is now receiving more than $45 million each year for educational and humanitarian work around the world.

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TELEPATHY 

(A short six-minute video)

Dr. Michio Kaku explains why the ability to read minds, record dreams, and see what the brain sees is not so far off from what's in science fiction. As he reveals in this video, there are technologies in the world that can accomplish these big goals.




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FAIRNESS - IS IT FAIR TO ALL CONCERNED?

This is such a fantastic short video - under 3 minutes - and you will thoroughly enjoy it.



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A NATURAL HIGH - (one minute video)

Making programs available so that after drug addiction can be successful.





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PRESCRIPTION FOR ADDICTION


Prescription for Addiction from CAMH Education Network on Vimeo.


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ANGELINA JOLIE SPEAKS ABOUT SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Under 4 minutes...







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IDENTITY - AWARD-WINNING SHORT FILM

(Under 6 minutes)





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MUSICAL INTERLUDE - OMARI BANKS FROM ANGUILLA








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2014-15 ROTARY THEME - GARY C.K. HUANG


RI President-elect Gary C.K. Huang chose Light Up Rotary as his theme for 2014-15. Huang was inspired by the teachings of Chinese philosopher Confucius who said: "It is better to light a single candle, than to sit and curse the darkness."


"There are so many problems in the world, so many people who need help. Many people say, 'There's nothing I can do.' So they sit there doing nothing. Meanwhile everything stays dark," Huang told the 537 district governors and their spouses and partners who are attending the 2014 International Assembly in San Diego, California.

"The Rotary way is the Confucius way. The Rotary way is to light a candle. I light one, you light one, 1.2 million Rotarians light one. Together, we light up the world," said Huang, who is a member of the Rotary Club of Taipei in Taiwan.

After announcing his theme at the opening session of the five-day training meeting, Huang urged club members to Light Up Rotary in the coming year by hosting a Rotary Day in their community and including local Rotaract and Interact members in their service projects.

"How you Light Up Rotary is up to you," Huang said. "You know where you are strong, you know what your community needs, and you know how you can help."

Huang also shared his membership development goals, including the need for more women and young adults and his goal to increase membership to a total of 1.3 million members. He asked Rotarians to invite their spouses, family members, and friends to join Rotary.

"We need to assume leadership for building strong clubs, and that starts with bringing in new members," he said.

Addressing the status of the fight against polio, Huang noted that with the current momentum Rotary is on track to achieve full polio eradication by 2018.

"When we eradicate polio — and we will — we will have proved ourselves an organization capable of great things. And we'll be even better equipped for the next challenge we choose to take on. We'll have given the world a gift that will endure forever," he said.

By continuing to fight against polio, setting an example in local communities, and growing membership, Huang hopes to see Rotary shine brighter than ever.

"Light Up Rotary is our theme, but it is more than our theme. It is how we live in Rotary, how we think in Rotary, how we feel, how we work," Huang said. "It is how we make a difference — every day, in every club, every district, and every country where we serve."


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ROTARY ANTHEM





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INDUCTION OF NEW MEMBER - VERNELLA





Textof the video -

Fellow Rotarians, it is the duty of our Rotary club to add new members from time to time, so that we may not only increase our usefulness and influence as a club, but also to extend the spirit of Rotary throughout the community.   Today, I welcome to our ranks and admit to membership Vernella Fuller who comes to us from Jamaica.
     _.
Dear Vernella - You have been chosen to membership in the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 because the members believe you to be a leader in your vocation and because you manifest those qualities of head and of heart which fit you to interpret and impart the message of Rotary to those with whom you come in contact.

You are the representative of your vocation in this club, and any contribution of an educational value pertaining to that vocation must naturally come to us through you. On the other hand, you become the ambassador from us to your classification, and it becomes your duty to carry the ideals and principles of service to your work.

The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and in particular, to encourage and foster:

First: The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;

Second: High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying by each Rotarian of his occupation as an opportunity to serve society;

Third: The application of the ideal of service by every Rotarian to his personal, business and community life.

Fourth:   The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.

I charge you along with the others in our club to judge yourselves by the Rotary Four-Way Test of the things you think, say or do:

First - Is it the Truth?
Second - Is it fair to all concerned?
Third - Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Fourth - Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

The community will know and judge Rotary through your embodiment of it in character and service, and we accept you as a member because we believe our principles and organization to be safe in your keeping.

We also expect much from you in help and inspiration, which will enable us to be better Rotarians, and with this hope we most heartily offer you Rotary fellowship.

Rotary - it's not just another club. It's a way of life. You have been elected to membership because we feel you will fit into this way of life.

You have been admitted not only to the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020, but to a worldwide association; and by virtue of your membership in this club, you will be welcomed into the fellowship of any Rotary club in the world.

Membership in Rotary is an honor and privilege, and every privilege has its corresponding obligations.

The honor and privilege of Rotary membership carries with it duties and obligations. You – along with all your fellow members in the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 – will  be expected to attend the club's meetings regularly, to perform your share of club service, and to place your knowledge and talents at the disposal of the club in its task of carrying the principles
of Rotary into the daily life of the community.  Rotary is like everything else – you get out of it what you put into it. 

Always remember Rotary’s motto – Service Above Self.

Rotarian Vernella, in the name of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 I now formally admit you to membership in this club and affix to your lapel our emblem.

Fellow Rotarians, I commend to you our newest member, Rotarian Vernella who has been loaned the classification of writer and business owner, and charge all of you to welcome her.


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INDUCTION OF OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT, AMARYLIS





Text of the video -

Dear President-Elect Amarylis

You have been chosen by your fellow Rotarians to be the President of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 for the coming year.

As President, you are assuming new duties, new obligations and responsibilities and these will make demands on your thoughts, your time and your energy.   We are confident that you will carry out your tasks with the same enthusiasm that characterizes all Rotary actions and you are assured of the co-operation from your fellow members.

Rotary’s object, with its Five Avenues of Service,  will be your guide, and  I know you will be sustained throughout your year  by the fellowship and respect of us all.



Amarylis, I present you with your President’s pin and collar and the Club Charter and now officially induct you as President of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 for the year 2014-15.

Dear Fellow Rotarians -

May I introduce to you - and present to you - your E-Club president for 2014-15 - Amarylis Davila.

Now let us all celebrate!







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A HUMOROUS INTERLUDE -  Nina Conte

For those who want a smile... under 15 minutes...



 
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READ THE CARIBBEAN PARTNERSHIP NEWSLETTER FOR JUNE, 2014






Click this link  to read the June 2014 issue of the Caribbean Partnership newsletter.

Remember to click your browser's BACK button to return to the meeting.












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TO END OUR MEETING

To end our meeting, please recite aloud (on your honour!) the Rotary Four-Way Test of the things we think, say, or do.  

Sheila Bethel, Lindsey Cancino, and Karen Pinder lead us.  An excellent trio!





1.  Is it the TRUTH?
2.  Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3.  Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4.  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?












 

...and official close of meeting




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Thank you for stopping by our E-club meeting!   We wish you well in the next week in all that you do for Rotary!

The meeting has now come to an end.  Please do have a safe and happy week!  If you have enjoyed our E-club meeting, please leave a comment below.

Rotary cheers!

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Visiting Rotarians.  Click this link to Apply for a Make-up.  We will send you and your club secretary a make-up confirmation.
Please consider a donation to our Club.  Just as any Rotarian visiting a Rotary Club would be expected to make a donation, we hope you will consider a donation to our Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020.   Please click the button below:


 

Active Members.  Click to indicate your Attendance.  

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HAPPY HOUR HANGOUT - Saturday morning, June 28

 •   9:00 a.m. Atlantic Time
•    9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Miami Time)
•    8:00 a.m. Cayman Time (Jamaica Time)

Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 is inviting you to a scheduled Happy Hour Hangout on Saturday morning, June 28.

This is a recurring meeting so the link is the same each Saturday morning.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

•    Go to https://zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 602 689 205
 

 OR
•    Click this URL to start or join. https://zoom.us/j/602689205

Join from dial-in phone line:

    Dial:  +1 (415) 762-9988 or  +1 (646) 568-7788
    Meeting ID: 602 689 205
    Participant ID: Shown after joining the meeting
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference

Friday 20 June 2014

June 20 - the regular meeting of the Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 for the week beginning Friday, June 20



To "attend" the meeting, scroll down the screen, review all the information from top to bottom, view all the videos, read all the information, and enjoy your time here with us at our Rotary meeting.




Dear Fellow Rotarians, visitors and guests!

WELCOME TO OUR E-CLUB!

Thank you for stopping by our club meeting!  We hope you will enjoy your visit.

Our E-Club banner is shown at left!  Please send us a virtual copy of your club banner and we will send you a copy of our new club banner in exchange.  We will also display your club banner proudly on our meeting website. 

We are now officially a fully-fledged chartered Rotary Club in District 7020.  We celebrated our Charter Gala with the meeting posted the week of January 24.  Our charter date is August 12, 2013.  We hope you will find the content of our meeting enlightening and will give us the benefit of your opinion on the content.

June is Rotary Fellowships month!  And in July, we begin a new Rotary year!

In July, we welcome our new President, Amarylis Davila, along with her new Board.

Visiting Rotarians.  Click this link to Apply for a Make-up.  We will send you and your club secretary a make-up confirmation.
Active MembersClick for Attendance Record.  
Happy Hour Hangout.  Happy Hour Hangout.  Our Happy Hour Hangout on a Saturday morning is early enough so that you can join before your day gets away from you.
We meet for a live chat and sometimes business discussion.  If you are interested in dropping by, please click the link below.  Morning coffee is on the house!  (Your house, that is...)  Hope to see you there!
Please note:  Now, attending our HHH will earn you a make-up!
The link to the Happy Hour Hangout for Saturday is at the bottom of this meeting. 

Interested in joining us? Click the link Membership Application and Information.

Our President, Kitty, would now like to welcome you to this week's meeting.  Please listen in...




Please note that two additional items are included in the meeting.

  • The President's Year -End Review (roughly 11 minutes)
  • Presentation of  President's Awards  (roughly 3 minutes)


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ROTARY E-CLUB OF THE CARIBBEAN, 7020

 

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ABCs OF ROTARY (Cliff Dochterman)

Cliff Dochterman
RI President, 1992-93

Disaster Relief Program

When great natural tragedy strikes some area of the world, it is quite possible that within hours the Rotary Disaster Relief program may be at work relieving suffering of hapless victims.  Modest rotary grants of up to US $5,000 may be immediately provided by the RI president to people left homeless by  hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, and other disasters.

Following an initial grant, the Secretariat will customarily issue a call for help, which could be answered by gifts of money, supplies, food, clothing and household items from Rotarians around the world.  Usually the process continues for several months as additional assitance is sent to the appropriate clubs and districts in the disaster area.

The Rotary Disaster Relief Fund was established by the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation to provide small grants which could be immediately available when a catastrophe strikes.  The President of Rotary International may act to meet the immediate needs of food, blankets, shelter and first aid supplies for disaster victims, working through the district governor in the area of the tragedy.

The Disaster Relief Fund is one of the significant ways that gifts to The Rotary Foundation build goodwill and understanding around the world.


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SPEAKER - Jon Mooallem


Jon Mooallem is the author of "Wild Ones: A Sometimes Dismaying, Weirdly Reassuring Story About Looking at People Looking at Animals in America."

What do we see when we look at wild animals -- do we respond to human-like traits, or thrill to the idea of their utter unfamiliarity? Jon Mooallem's book, Wild Ones , examines our relationship with wild animals both familiar and feral, telling stories of the North American environmental movement from its unlikely birth, and following three species who've come to symbolize our complicated relationship with whatever "nature" even means anymore.

Mooallem has written about everything from the murder of Hawaiian monk seals, to Idahoan utopians, to the world’s most famous ventriloquist, to the sad, secret history of the invention of the high five. A recent piece, "American Hippopotamus," was an Atavist story on, really, a plan in 1910 to jumpstart the hippopotamus ranching industry in America.

Click this link to view the video.

Click your browser's BACK button to return to the meeting - or click the meeting TAB at the top of your menu bar.



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Rotaract project in Australia




Rotaract - Wanda Beach from Rotary International on Vimeo.

   

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OUR HAPPY HOUR HANGOUT SCHEDULE FOR JUNE


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THE YEAR-END PRESIDENT'S REVIEW 

(roughly 11 minute video)





Text below:

Distinguished guests, ladies, gentlemen and my fellow Rotarians.  Sunny greetings to all!

As my year as Charter president draws to a close, it is a great privilege to look back and take stock of what we may have accomplished in this, our first Rotary year.

My goal as President, and the role of any president in a Rotary Club, has been to ensure that the club functions effectively and is a better club at the end of the year than it may have been at the start of the year.  I hope that we can all agree that this is the situation with our own Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020.

I must thank each and every member of our E-Club for your individual dedication and participation in each of our activities.

What are our accomplishments?

We have gained members – 20 to begin, plus a few additional.  We have lost members, and our final tally of members at June 30 is very close to 20???  We have a very recent new member in Lesli, and we will have another outstanding new member in Vernella beginning in July.  So, we have managed to maintain a very creditable membership number.  We continue to attract interest of other passionate and dedicated Rotarians, and we must be careful to preserve our identity in the best way as we grow.

We have worked effectively as a Board – meeting once a month on the second Saturday of each month.  The Board members have participated very effectively and consistently in the club activities, and we have made good progress.

  •  We have officially partnered with Rotary E-Club of District 9220.
  •  In our literacy project, we have partnered with RC of Les Cayes in Haiti.
  •  We have partnered with several clubs in our pen-pal project.
  •  We have held a joint meeting with Rotary Club of St. Thomas East
  •  We held a very effective Happy Hour Hangout at the District Conference where five of us were able to meet each other personally. 
  • We also – and very importantly – have donated over $2000 to The Rotary Foundation!  We have been a very effective Rotary Club!

These partnerships and activities have shown us that this outreach to other clubs may be the way of the future for us – extending our reach into the communities that represent District 7020.

We have implemented successful projects – most notably The Butterfly Storybook and The International PenPal Project.  We have not only worked successfully on this storybook, but we have improved it and taken it to the next level - from a project, to a fund-raiser, and then to an excellent service project where we are able to donate storybooks in three languages to children in our district and beyond.  This is an outstanding achievement – and this signature project is one that has made a very significant impact upon our own district and beyond. We will continue to improve this literacy project in future years.

The PenPal Project has had a very successful start, thanks to Devorath, and we look forward to promoting this cultural and literacy exchange in the future.  Thank you Devorath for all your hard work and your tenacity in making this the success it has become.

We have supported the Rotary Foundation through financial contributions.  As we grow, we can increase our participation through other programs.  Several of our members have earned the Paul Harris Fellowship, and each one is to be congratulated.    This recognition demonstrates each member’s significant support for the wonderful work of the Rotary Foundation.

  • We have educated our members through the weekly posted blog-style meetings. 
  • We have educated our members through speakers arranged at the Happy Hour Hangouts. 
  • We have provided fellowship very effectively through the Happy Hour Hangouts.
To give us a clear direction, this year we tried to follow the goals outlined for each of the awards offered for the year – the DG’s award, the Presidential Citation, and the Zone Public Image Award. And we have achieved honours in each of these programs. 
  • At the District Conference, we were recognized with the Platinum Award, the highest level possible in the district.
  • We were honoured by achieving first place in March for Club-of-the-Month
  • We received the Zone Public Image award
This year has been a team effort, and each one of you can be proud of this achievement! 

We tried to engage all members through the monthly teams – getting members involved in the Happy Hour Hangout planning.  I believe that this has been somewhat successful, though there is room for improvement, and these efforts can be enhanced in the future.

One goal that has not yet been achieved is the goal to have each member participate in the weekly meetings by recording the Four-Way Test so that we could add that to the weekly blog-style meetings to show participation from each member.  That will continue to be an ongoing goal.

It is important that I thank individually all our Board members especially, and congratulate you all for helping us get this far so successfully.

It is an ongoing challenge to bring in new members and ensure that they become true Rotarians through learning about, and participating in, Rotary life.   Thank you to Camille for all your efforts in this area.

We have yet to put together a formal passport for membership training, though we are working on that task. 

We are working and making progress on a program for Member Wellness.  Thank you very much to Lou for your enthusiasm and your support from the very beginning.

My grateful thanks must go to Diana who has been our most conscientious treasurer as well as a most integral and important part of the Rotary E-Club board.  Diana’s enthusiasm, along with her wealth of experience and knowledge, her Rotary network, her passion for Rotary and her hard work have been one of the main reasons for the success of this club over the past year.  We salute you, Diana!

Devorath has shown outstanding leadership in so many areas, particularly with her ideas and her penpal project.  Thank you Devorath.  I am so happy that you are part of this club, and I know you will be a huge asset to us as we grow and develop in the coming years.

Paul, I must thank you for your friendship and your support through this year.  You have always had a supportive word and you have been willing to chat about any idea that may have been mentioned.  I know you will continue to be a valuable asset to the club in the next few years.

Wein, you have been an excellent support of me as the charter president and I have been grateful for your kind words through the months.  As I have mentioned to you before, you can be such an asset to the E-Club – to the global community – because of your ability to travel to so many areas of the world and still represent District 7020.  We are so very fortunate to have you as a member of our team!  Thank you!

Mioche, you are our representative in Haiti.  As a new Rotarian, you are still growing into your role within this organization.  As we all know, there is so much work to do in Haiti, and you can be the “rock” that holds us strong in that area of our district.  We look to you for leadership in this area as we move forward into our second Rotary year.

Anita, we look to you for guidance as we move forward, particularly with the challenge that is the Sergeant-at-Arms position.  We appreciate your support in Jamaica through the year, and I sincerely hope that you will be able to find more opportunities to help us in your community.

Last, but not least, I must thank Amarylis – our president-elect – for your support, your enthusiasm, your zest for life, your knowledge, your ideas, and your abilities that have helped us to reach this point of success at which we stand now.  I wish you all the success possible as you move into the leadership of this club, and I offer you my support if and when you feel that you need it.  Onward and upward!

Finally, I believe that the E-Club infrastructure has been established and has given us an outstanding public image from which we can move forward to the exciting projects that are facing us now.  The Jaipur Limb project, which we are discussing,  could allow us to have a real humanitarian project where we can impact individual lives on a day-to-day basis and to give someone’s life a meaning that it did not have before.  We can truly make a difference. 

I am reminded of the tag line I have at the foot of my Rotary emails:

"You can’t live a perfect day until you do something for someone who will never be able to repay you."

Working towards humanitarian projects gives us the opportunity not only to change another’s life but also to change our own lives by giving us a true purpose – engaging each one of us so that we can change our own lives for the better in giving that gift of mobility to others.

So, as the Rotary year draws to a close, I look forward with a feeling of great optimism for the future.  


– As UN Secretary General Kofi Annan stated in 1999
Globalization is “an irreversible process, not an option.”

So it’s onward and upward for our global village!  Thank you to each one of you, and Rotary cheers to you all!


--Kitty Bucsko, June 2014

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 LEADERSHIP

Another idea that we might consider for our club.

The Rotary Club of Franklin honored the 2014 winners of the annual Read2Me Essay contest on a recent Wednesday.

After receiving nearly 100 entries into this year's contest, winners for each of the three grade divisions were carefully selected by a team of Rotary members who volunteered as judges.

Open to all Macon County children in grades 3-8, the annual essay contest gives children the opportunity to showcase their writing talents.

The first and second place winners received a cash prize from the Rotary Club, as did the classroom teachers of the winners.


The following two essays are printed because of the topic they address.

Bullying is a form of Leadership

Leah Hoblit
Leah Hoblit
Leah Hoblit
7th grade, Macon Middle School

 
When most people think of leadership, they may think of church, or the president, or other types in which the word "leadership" is used in a positive way. However, in my tale, I am going to tell a story of a way leadership is used in one of the most negative ways. Bullying.

My story of leadership comes from a past experience with a certain girl that I will call for namesake purposes, Sally. Now in the beginning, Sally was a nice girl. She was very pretty, very smart, the teachers pet, perfect in every way.

At first, she was just a sweet innocent girl, that is, until she realized her power of leading people, and began to use it. I remember how everyone loved her. She was so beautiful and popular and nice. All the lunch ladies gave her a little bit extra food, teachers would come over and randomly hug her, all the kids wanted her to come to their parties. She was the centre of attention. And she knew it. And she most certainly liked it. The spot light was forever on her, and she was making sure that she never stepped out of it, that way no one could step in it.

We were friends at first, er, kind of. Well not really. We were nice to each other sometimes, but others, she would bully me, I would tattle (keep in mind I this was in the grades kindergarten - 5th grade) on her and she would get in trouble. Of course this, leaded to visits for both of us, separate and together, with the schools counselor. But of course since she was so sweet and perfect, she could talk her way out of it and fake the biggest smile and the sweetest apology. I was left to the dust and many, oh so many parent conferences. I didn't like Sally, and Sally obviously didn't like me.

Now to the part about leadership. Little Miss Perfect had her own little army of wanna-be girls that loved her all too much. They talked like her, walked like her, dressed like her, did anything that they possibly could do to have any chance of her approving of them more then any of the other girls. With this little army of fake Sally's, She ultimately ruled the school. Or at least the grade that we were in. She sent her army to pick on those she didn't like. One of them being, unfortunately me. Sally would tell them to not play with me and say that they were not allowed to be my friend. If they talked to me in a nice way, Sally would automatically drop them like they were hot. Thankfully, I was the bigger person and wouldn't let her get above me. However bad she hurt me, I wouldn't let her see.

As we aged on in school, sally lost a little bit of power. Although, she did not lose it all. Leading kids to bully and pick on others. It was such a shame for someone like her to waste all of her precious power on bringing people down. Little Miss Perfect, most popular, cheerleader, bully, yet still perfect to almost every boy and girl in school... Sound familiar? She was the perfect stereotypical mean girl, like the ones in the books and movies.

I thought if I saw her less, the problem would get easier, right? Wrong. She began doing everything in her power to lead people to take me down. She started rumors that could result in social suicide otherwise, calling me names as I walked by, starting gossip, and all possible forms of drama with me, dirty looks, telling people that I was "trying to steal her boyfriend away", and so much more. All this time I have tried my very hardest to remain positive. But sometimes, I can't take it anymore. I wish I could tell her everything I think of her, but I know that would only result in more drama between us.

During this whole experience, I've just kept wondering; Why me? Out of all the girls and boys in our school, why did she make me her biggest target? I never quite understood this, and I still ponder it today. Why me? I never wanted to have any of this. Of course, I feel a bit bad for the girl. She could have used her power over people in a good way. If only she could have started a recycling program, fundraiser, anything other then causing people to hurt. The worse part about it, is that she could have so easily don it. Leadership is a very powerful thing. Even though this story isn't on a mass scale compared to other forms of leadership, it still made a difference in my life. And that is, after all, the one that I am living. But however, when people like her try to hurt me, I just remember this: Only people that are below you can bring you down.

Printed as it appeared on the website
http://www.maconnews.com/news/community/6598-rotary-club-honors-read2me-essay-winners

A second essay on the similar topic

Leaders and Bullies – Be the Bigger Person

Genevieve Elle Maddox
Genevieve Elle Maddox
Genevieve Elle Maddox
4th grade, East Franklin Elementary

 
Hi I am Genevieve and I am here to teach and tell you how to be the bigger person.

Leadership
Being the bigger person is a huge part of being a leader. You have to set the example for others. Value your friends and peers so that you don't start a rivalry. If you want to value a good friendship it all has to do with trust. Once you have trust, don't break it. If you do there will be many consequences and you might not be buddies with them ever again! Trust is all about respect and valuing others. For example, if a bully knocks down someone's books in the hall, help them pick up their books and keep going with your day. Just that simple effort could change somebody's life. And don;t forget, being a good leader feels good too.

What to do when being bullied
Lots of people are scared of bullies and don't know that to do when being picked on. Well when you're bullied, here are a few simple ideas:
  1. Ask them to stop nicely. If that does not work then try ...
  2. Try simply using the word "So". I learned this when I was really young. Try it.
    • Bully: "Your hair is ugly." You: "So."
    • A simple "so" isn't being mean or starting a fight or making fun of them. It just takes their power away. You never would want to drop to their level right?
  3. Call over a teacher. Then they will stop unless they are just looking for trouble.
Standing up to a bully
If you can conserve enough courage then try standing up to a bully right then and there. Act with self esteem but not cockiness. Act sweet and be kind and be the bigger person. But sometimes someone will stand up for you. I remember a time in first grade when I was bullied because I had long hair. It made me feel bad and that I was being bullied in first grade. I was so young but then a girl stood up for me and I looked at her with a whole new perspective. But this just shows there are good hearts, thoughts, and people. It also shows that a couple of sentences can change a whole person's life.

Watch Your Actions
So if you have ever been bullied, then you know it feels bad - right? What if you were the bully? What if you didn't know? A way to keep that from happening is to watch how you talk, move and act towards others. But most of all, watch your words. Just one word can change a person;s entire life. Stand up to bullies by not being a bully.

Different Types of Bullying
There are different types of bullying. One form that has become more common deals with food allergies. Yep, you heard me, food allergies. Why would you bully someone with food allergies? There is no good reason. And now it's becoming dangerous. Bullies have been putting food that people are allergic to on or near them. This can cause very bad illnesses or even death. But as a leader, we can turn this around. We can be the bigger person.

Be a Bigger Person... Be a Better You!

Printed as it appeared on the website:
http://www.maconnews.com/news/community/6598-rotary-club-honors-read2me-essay-winners

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ROTARY BRIDGE CLIMB

Friday, May 30, 2014

During Friday's world record-breaking Sydney Harbour bridge climb, Rotary members raised enough money to protect 240,000 kids from polio.


Despite the physically grueling four-hour trek up and down the bridge's storied steel arches, the 340 participants kept their good spirits and stood side-by-side waving 278 flags.

Above - Rotary members climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge and break the world record for most flags flown.

"When the helicopters were going around, you just felt like one great big nation," says Graeme Davies, district governor of the Rotary Club of Kincumber in Australia.

The massive turnout eclipsed Oprah Winfrey's world-record climb in 2011 when she summited the bridge alongside 315 of her most ardent fans. But for Rotary members, the record paled in comparison to the experience and the opportunity to take a step closer to ending polio forever. The event raised 110,000 Australian dollars (US$102,300).

"It made me even prouder to be a Rotarian," said John Avakian from Healdsburg, California, USA. "It was an incredible experience of tremendous camaraderie."

Rotary members cheered for each of the 26 groups as they made way through the lobby to the entrance of the bridge climb. Cloud cover hid the sun for most of the morning, but light broke through briefly as the climbers unfurled their flags, which had been tucked into their sleeves during the ascent. Helicopters circled overhead from a variety of local Sydney news stations. Climbers cheered, danced, and even broke into the "Wave" from 400 feet above ground.

"I think that's exactly what Rotary needs," said Nate Harimoto of Thousand Oaks, California, "a show of force from all around the world."

Climbers from Taiwan, Australia, China, Japan, United States, and dozens of other countries and regions supported each other during the event. They watched each other's backs, literally and figuratively, helping to steer climbers' heads away from hanging steel beams. For a day, their commitment to help others also became a commitment to help each other. And in the process, they raised enough money to show the world how committed they are to polio eradication.

For Leilani Ross of Queensland, however, the climb was also about closing an important family chapter. She had long wanted to climb the bridge with her father, but didn't get the chance before he died a few years ago.

"The friendliness is just wonderful," Ross said. "Everyone is very welcoming."

Cheryl Drozdowicz, a former Youth Exchange student from Wisconsin, USA, who stayed with Ross 35 years ago, watched her go up. After the convention, Drozdowicz will travel back to Queensland for the first time since her program all those years ago.

"I always feel like a piece of my heart is still there," Drozdowicz said.

Fondly known as the "Coat Hanger," the bridge officially opened in 1932. The bridge is also referred to as the "Iron Lung" because it employed so many Australians during the Great Depression. Tourists began climbing the bridge in 1998, which is now considered a tourist must with over 3 million visitors from more than 130 countries in that time.


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INGENUITY - so interesting!





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HELP ERADICATE POLIO





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MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH  







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MY ROTARY STORY  ~ World Interchange Project 


...from Ray Pavlove, long-time Rotarians in Rotary Club of Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada

In October 1976, Rotarian Ken Dobson and I attended the Canadian Rotary Institute in Peterborough, Ontario. One of the sessions dealt with fund raising.

An idea that caught our attention was one where a Rotary Club sent a $10.00 cheque to one hundred Rotary clubs around the world asking them to send back an item of interest from their country. All items received were then auctioned off at a gala promoting world understanding. Not only did they receive interesting items at a far greater value than $10.00, most Rotary Clubs returned the $10.00 cheque.

Ken and I discussed the idea and felt it had an interesting fundraising dimension but more importantly, it had potential to create a greater global awareness and an appreciation for others.

At the time, I was teaching Grade 8 at McDougall School, Parry Sound. Ken and I decided that I would approach my principal, Mr. Bud Stevenson, to see about involving my Grade 8 class in contacting one hundred schools around the world inviting them to send us a package of information and items from their country. In lieu of sending them $10.00, the McDougall students would prepare a package of items and information representing the Parry Sound area and send it to them.

Mr. Stevenson was initially guarded about the idea, but could see the educational value of student participation in such an international project.  He gave the idea his blessing. The project idea was presented to my students the first week of November 1976. They saw it as an interesting and possibly a profitable fundraiser.

Identifying one hundred schools from around the world that would be willing to participate was a challenging issue, as no internet access was available in the 1970’s. We decided to contact Rotary International District Governors and Canadian Embassies in all corners of the world to assist us in locating one hundred schools that would be willing to exchange items and information with us.

Over the next few weeks, the students had to decide what items and information would best represent the Parry Sound area and our school community, and where would we get the money to send these items to one hundred schools around the world.  Twenty-two items were selected and a tabloid was published describing each item.

Items included a Canadian flag, winter carnival button, pine cone, snowman (made of paper mache), small jar of maple syrup, poppy, snow machine (made from cardboard), laminated maple leaf, small piece of the Canadian shield, a Canadian nickel, Canadian  penny, handcrafted Ojibway artifacts, picture of Bobby Orr, Christmas cards, valentine cards, local newspaper, comics, sales flyers, map of the District of Parry Sound, map of Ontario, booklet of Ontario Canada and samples of student’s work from every grade.

The tabloid also included the results of a survey of one hundred families in our school area covering the following topics: Family Size, Family Make Up, Languages Spoken, Leisure Time Activities, Number and Kind of Pets, Type of Work Done, and Number of Years Lived in our Area.

The students named the project, The World Interchange Project (WIP). It was a great learning experience and quickly evolved into unexpected situations and activities for the students and community. Our one hundred packages were assembled and ready to go by mid February when we had  confirmation  for participation from over  fifty schools representing every continent.

The packages, plastered with the  different denominations of Canadian stamps were quickly mailed. By the end of the school year, in June, we had almost reached our goal of one hundred schools and received  hundreds of items and information from over forty different countries.  Additional packages arrived over the summer and into the next school year.

The students decided that the items were too interesting to auction off and would be better appreciated by displaying them in display cases around the school. The students produced an audio visual-slide presentation which described the process of their involvement in WIP. It was used to solicit financial assistance from organizations like the Rotary Club of Parry Sound and the Ontario Ministry of Education.

WIP caught the attention of CBC, CTV, Global, and local television stations who came to McDougall school to cover the project. CBC Radio did a  national Remembrance Day program on it. The students were invited to attend various educational conferences, schools and Rotary Clubs around the province to share their story of creating a greater global understanding and appreciation among nations. In addition, invitations were received to make presentations at The World Education Fellowship Conference, Detroit, Michigan and  the World Congress of Comparative Education Conferences in Ypsilanti, Michigan and Paris France.

It was important to me that every student, regardless of ability, was directly involved with speaking with the media and giving  presentations. They took turns. The support of our Principal, Bud Stevenson, Al Snider, Director Education, (also a Rotarian) West Parry Sound Board of Education, McDougall School staff, Rotary Club of Parry Sound and the entire school community all contributed to its success. They were kept informed of the progress and developments of WIP.

What started out as Rotary fundraiser grew into a huge wonderful international learning experience for the students, our community and me. Interest in the various countries around the world was expanded. Two students, involved with WIP, became Rotary Exchange students.

As time went on, we could not meet the demands placed on us regarding requests for information on WIP. It was a situation that got out of control. Teachers from across Canada and parts of United States wanted information on who to contact and how to contact them. Fortunately, The Canadian Organization for Development Education at Canadian International Development Agency came to our rescue and provided funding to reproduce multiple copies of the audio visual-slide presentation and support material, and agreed to act as a “clearing house” to respond to those who requested information.

The educational value and the global impact  of WIP  was recognized with the  following significant awards; Rotary International Significant Achievement Award; Project Milestone Award, Columbia Teachers College, New York; Fred L Bartlett Award, Ontario Public School Trustees’ Associational and a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada grant.

As a Rotarian, my participation in WIP played a significant role in providing me with the opportunity to attend two Rotary International Conferences (Tokyo and New Orleans), teach in Canberra, Australia for a year, contribute volunteer work with Australian Rotarians in Papua New Guinea and participate in two summer Project Overseas volunteer teaching assignments in Thailand sponsored by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation and CIDA.

The World Interchange Project provided a variety of interesting and unplanned   opportunities for those touched by it. Looking back it is amazing what had been accomplished in a very short time. This would not have happened if it were not for Ken Dobson and me attending a session on fundraising at the Rotary Canadian Institute in Peterborough Ontario, October 1976.

By: Rotarian Ray Pavlove






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PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS AT YEAR'S END 

(roughly 3 minutes)





Text below -

Finally, before I close officially, I have a few special awards that I wish to present. 

Because we need leaders who have passion, I have chosen to present two of our members with a certificate as Rotarian of the year.  Devorath Elcock and Amarylis Davila.  Both of these members have demonstrated a true passion for Rotary.

First - Devorath is being named as Rotarian of the Year for her outstanding leadership of the PenPal Project! 

This is an award well deserved, and I do hope so very sincerely that this will give you the boost you need to continue to serve Rotary and to serve our Rotary E-Club with your kind heart!




Amarylis is being named as Rotarian of the Year for not only being a new Rotarian, but for getting so entirely involved and supportive that she is now ready to take over the responsibility of leadership of this club which has already an outstanding footprint within the district.  We all will support you and wish you well as you embark upon this challenging road ahead.  You have set a fine example to all Rotarians and have become an inspiration to the members of our E-Club.






Third, I’m creating another award - New member of the Year –and I wish to acknowledge Lou deLagran for being a quiet support, with excellent attendance and excellent ideas,  and truly coming into your own this year.   It’s been only 8 months, but I can see that Rotary is truly in your blood, Lou,  and you will soon become an outstanding Rotarian as you meet others in the district and learn for yourself what Rotary means to us all.




For the rest of the members in the E-Club, I want to welcome you all again – because we are still a very new club – and a welcome is most certainly in order – but I also want to thank you very much for all your support through the year as we have embarked on something very new to Rotary. 

Finally, I want to announce to you all something of which you may not be aware.  This year, D7020 held an Areas of Focus essay competition, and I entered because I could enter.  I had a project that I’ve been thinking about for a few years, so I took this opportunity to put it down on paper in the prescribed format, and I submitted it.  To my delight, I was named as the co-winner of the essay – and the winner of 2000 Rotary Foundation points.

I want to show you all how much you mean to me, and I hope sincerely that you will all become passionate about Rotary and continue to move forward to be the best you can be.  


A small gift to each member.  As an outgoing gift to each member,  I have taken this opportunity to share those points with each one of you.  Each one of you has been credited with 100 Foundation points to get you a little closer to the goal of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow.    I hope this will spur each one of you onward to make The Rotary Foundation the important charity of your life – so that we can continue to do the good works of Rotary around the world!  It’s a small gift, and I hope it will be an inspiration to you all.

I wish us all very much success in the future, and I challenge each one of you to a very fulfilling life in Rotary service.

As our Vice President, Paul,  likes to say – To Rotary Round the World!



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  • Peace and Conflict Resolution
  • Disease Prevention and Treatment
  • Water and SanitationIf yo
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Basic Education and Literacy
  • Economic and Community Development

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ROTARY ANTHEM







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ROTARY  IN EAST TIMOR












Here is a short video of an NGO that is working with Timor Leste.





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"THIS CLOSE" - We are ...





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TO END OUR MEETING

To end our meeting, please recite aloud (on your honour!) the Rotary Four-Way Test of the things we think, say, or do.  

Our Vice-President, Paul, lead us.





1.  Is it the TRUTH?
2.  Is it FAIR to all concerned?
3.  Will it BUILD GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
4.  Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?












 

...and official close of meeting




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Thank you for stopping by our E-club meeting!   We wish you well in the next week in all that you do for Rotary!

The meeting has now come to an end.  Please do have a safe and happy week!  If you have enjoyed our E-club meeting, please leave a comment below.

Rotary cheers!

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Visiting Rotarians.  Click this link to Apply for a Make-up.  We will send you and your club secretary a make-up confirmation.
Please consider a donation to our Club.  Just as any Rotarian visiting a Rotary Club would be expected to make a donation, we hope you will consider a donation to our Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020.   Please click the button below:


 

Active Members.  Click to indicate your Attendance.  

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HAPPY HOUR HANGOUT - Saturday morning, June 21

 •   9:00 a.m. Atlantic Time
•    9:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time (Miami Time)
•    8:00 a.m. Cayman Time (Jamaica Time)

Rotary E-Club of the Caribbean, 7020 is inviting you to a scheduled Happy Hour Hangout on Saturday morning, June 21.





Join us to chat about the year just ending and our hopes for the future!


This is a recurring meeting so the link is the same each Saturday morning.  We look forward to seeing you there!

Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:

•    Go to https://zoom.us/join and enter meeting ID: 602 689 205
 

 OR
•    Click this URL to start or join. https://zoom.us/j/602689205

Join from dial-in phone line:

    Dial:  +1 (415) 762-9988 or  +1 (646) 568-7788
    Meeting ID: 602 689 205
    Participant ID: Shown after joining the meeting
    International numbers available: https://zoom.us/zoomconference