Can you believe January 2024 is over and it is now February?💗
Thanks to everyone for sending in great content!
Moving on to March 2024🍀
I am now collecting material for the March 2024 issue. Please send me your content as soon as you have something to share. This will assist me in drafting the newsletter and blocking in content throughout the month. The soft deadline is the 15th of the month, the hard deadline is by noon the third to last day of the month, followed by publication on the 1st of the month. Specific dates are listed on The Last Page of the newsletter for easy reference.
Yours in Rotary Service,
-Chris
-- Christine Haase
District 7170 Newsletter Editor P.O. Box 6565 Ithaca NY 14851 7170newsletter@gmail.com (for newsletter submissions/questions only please)
Message from Christine Haase, District 7170 Newsletter Editor
Today's Rotary Foundation Minute focuses on financial stewardship of grant funds. Is your club planning to apply for a 2024-25 District Grant? There is an encore CNY District Grants Management Seminar coming up on Zoom on next Monday, April 1st. To qualify for a grant in the new district, clubs need to send at least two members to one of these seminars. Register today at: https://cnyrotary.org/foundation/
Rotary Foundation Minute
WHAT ARE THE BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICES FOR GRANT FUNDS?
Because grant funds come from donor contributions, it’s important for sponsors to manage these funds prudently, transparently, and in accordance with Rotary Foundation policies.
Some good ways to do that are to:
Follow your spending plan to distribute and use grant funds for their stated purpose and in a timely manner.
Make project-related payments by check or other traceable method.
If payments are made electronically by one person, maintain a paper record showing that the payment was approved by both signatories.
Maintain detailed receipts and record each transaction. Your ledger should list each transaction and note the date, the amount, and the reason for it.
Share information so you can manage grant payments smoothly and keep funds secure.
Thank you for helping Rotary maintain the highest level of grant oversight.
The December issue for ESRAG follows. Each month ESRAG continues to grow and get organized on environmental sustainability. The ESRAG strategy is holistic and broadly addresses protecting our natural assets, bio-diversity and the climate challenge. The staff is very approachable. We have worked with almost everyone associated with this issue.
The ad for the Lithium-Ion recycling project in the newsletter was developed by ESRAG for our event in Endwell New York. Members of Endicott and Endwell staffed the event. We will do another event in the spring and hope other locations will join in. We can help you get started with contacts from ESRAG and Redwood Materials. This year we will be polling businesses and municipalities that may have product to recycle. The local Sierra Club started a new project to pick up, reuse and recycle materials from students that are leaving at the end of the school year. Typically this material is left at the curb for the landfill. This year the Sierra Club is exploring the potential for collecting lithium-ion batteries and devices from the students that could feed our recycling event. Many businesses will state they have a service provider for these materials. In most cases these providers are not recycling the batteries in a manner that produces critical materials needed for manufacturing of Lithium-Ion batteries.
Now ESRAG offers free curriculum for teachers on environmental sustainability for ages 8 through secondary education. This is another opportunity to establish a closer relationship with our schools. Many of these students will ultimately have jobs in the many careers developing in environmental sustainability. We are moving toward a period where the relationships between community, education and employers is more seamless. A great project in this regard is the Route 12 STEAM Eco-System. Rotary needs to be a part of these seamless relationships.
There is a link to a flight carbon estimator. Themes have been developed for each month and at the end is a graphic of best practices. I have been wondering how to do this and now I just have to copy it. There is also a simple link to submit articles to ESRAG for their various media outlets. You too can be published internationally.
The network of organizations, companies, service organizations and volunteers in our 7-county district involved in environmental sustainability measures in the thousands. We have not mapped all of these contacts out, but we are getting closer. The annual Broome County river bank clean up brought 200 volunteers together including 5 Rotary clubs. We are moving forward in a way that maintains an eye on the economy. We do not just want to improve the Susquehanna River, we want to develop a nationally ranked water trail and improve tourism. We do not just want to reduce emissions, we want to manufacturer some of the products that are required. We want our colleges and Universities doing the research that is necessary to hit net zero and reduce unit costs. We want to continue to improve our eco-system for environmental and clean energy entrepreneurs. We want to train disadvantaged populations for careers in clean energy and raise average family income. We need best in class eco-systems for STEAM. We want to create "Magnate Communities" that can attract and retain the resources we require. We want to move forward with a sense of urgency and excitement.
ESRAG helps us to accelerate our efforts, reduce costs and development time. They provide an international platform that allows identification and dissemination of best practices.
You can now start to register for Winter/Spring 2023 RLI NEA Sessions
Our first session for 2023 will be held in-person in Disrict 7910 in Marlborough, MA at the Assabet Technical High School, 215 Fitchburg Street, Marlborough MA on Saturday, January 21st from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm. All levels, including the Graduate level on Advanced Strategic Planning will be offered, pending adequate registration. Cost is $85; Rotaract members pay only $50. For more information, contact Joan Arsenault, Regional Vice Chair, at joan@massteximaging.com or Mark Vital, Site Chair, at vital@amsacs.org.
Our second RLI session will be our first-ever virtual weeknight RLI session, sponsored by District 7930-Wakefield, MA, held over two evenings, on February 28th, 2023 and from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm and March 2nd from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. You must attend both nights in order to receive credit for the part you are taking. The cost is only $25 for both sessions. Parts I, II, III, & Graduate level. For information please contact Event Chairs Linda Doliber, Site Chair, at ldoliber@hotmail.com or Joan Arsenault, Regional Vice Chair, at joan@massteximaging.com. Anyone from any Rotary District is welcome to join these special virtual sessions. You must attend both sessions to receive your certificate, beginning on February 28th, 2023.
Our third session for 2023 will be held at Upper Cape Tech, 220 Sandwich Road Bourne, MA 02532. Parts I, II, III & Graduate will be offered, pending sufficient registration. The fee is $75; Rotaract members pay $50. For more information, contact Elizabeth Griffin, Site Chair, egriffin170@comcast.net or Joan Arsenault, Regional Vice Chair, at joan@massteximaging.com.
Also scheduled, but not yet on the website, in-person RLI session on Saturday, April 15th at West Orange High School, West Orange, NJ, co-sponsored by District 7490 and District 7575 (now NJ9). Watch for more information closer to the date.
To register for any of these courses, go to www.rlinea.org and click on the session for which you want to register!
Anyone from any Rotary District can attend these sessions.
Expand your horizons and meet new friends and Rotarian colleagues!
The Multi-District Membership Committee is bringing you another installment of Membership Monday, but this time it’s in a short video. As a continuation in their series of highlighting the five pillars of a vibrant and growing club, this month we’re talking about strengthening club leadership.
We interviewed some experienced Rotarians to get their best tips for strengthening leaders in our clubs and we hope you find it helpful. Check out (18) Strong Rotary Leaders - Part II - YouTube for four and a half minutes of inspiration.
On June 30, the Rotary Club of Carapachy in Buenos Aires, Argentina, delivered equipment and software for the Perinatal Training Center located in the Hospital and Maternity Santa Rosa in the Municipality of Vicente Lopez. The Center is a fundamental tool to improve pre and postpartum of pregnant women and newborns through simulation and training. Through a Rotary Global Grant, our District 7170 is pleased to have supported this project through its donation of District Designated Funds.
The President of The Rotary Club of Carapachy, Alejandra Ferriol, thanked us in a recent e-mail and stated, “… this Global Grant placed Maternity in one of the highest positions in our country, as well as the professionals who manage it and that many doctors and nurses are competing to be able to carry out their training in it. “
Rotary Internation on recent polio detections in U.S., Europe
August 18, 2022
The recent detection of the vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 case in New York, USA, and isolates in several environmental samples collected in London are stark reminders that as long as polio exists anywhere, it is a threat everywhere. It also highlights the importance of vaccination as the only form of protection against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases and the work that needs to be done in our communities to encourage the uptake of vaccines. Also, as the world gets closer to zero wild poliovirus cases, it is increasingly important to track all forms of the virus wherever they may appear, including in polio-free regions.
The U.S. is still considered low risk for paralytic outbreaks of polio due to the high level of vaccine coverage across the population. If a child has received the entire course of vaccines, the risk of becoming paralyzed by polio is negligible. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 92.6% of children aged 24 months are fully vaccinated against polio, slightly below the 95% World Health Organization target.
The best things countries can do to protect themselves from polio until the disease is eradicated from the world are to: maintain high vaccination coverage and robust disease surveillance and be ready to respond in the event of an outbreak to minimize the risk and consequences of polio re-introduction or re-emergence anywhere.
The world currently has a unique opportunity to stop virus transmission for good. Still, all parties, including donors and country governments, must re-commit to polio eradication by fully supporting the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) 2022-2026 strategy. This focuses on adopting an emergency posture while generating greater accountability and ownership from country governments to eradicate wild polio and end variant poliovirus (cVDPV) outbreaks.
Rotary, a global service organization with over 1.4 million members, has been at the center of the worldwide effort to eradicate polio for over three decades. Every year, through our funding partnership with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary commits $150 million to the global effort to eradicate polio. We have contributed more than $2.6 billion and countless volunteer hours to end polio forever. Together with our partners, we engage communities everywhere to encourage high vaccination rates, immunizing over 400 million children annually. More than 20 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralyzed because of our efforts and those of our partners in the GPEI.
The time for urgent action is now. A new vaccine has been deployed – novel oral polio vaccine 2 (nOPV2) – which is more genetically stable to stop outbreaks of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus effectively. With sustained political and financial commitments, the GPEI is confident that we can achieve a world in which no child is paralyzed by polio again.
Rotary Internation on recent polio detections in U.S., Europe
We are sad to announce that Cindy Kain has decided to step down as District Governor Elect for personal reasons. We thank Cindy for all that she has done the past two years as she has been an asset to the DG Track. Cindy will continue to be an active member serving on several committees and the transition team to CNY Rotary. Cindy has requested that DGN Wendy Deis move up to the DGE position, and Wendy has accepted the position.
Wendy joined Rotary in 2010 as a member of the Owego, NY club. She has held many leadership positions include Club President, Foundation Chair and Program Chair. Wendy has served the District in many capacities including Foundation Area Director, Grant Committee Member and Public Image/Social Media point person. Wendy is also a member of the transition team for CNY Rotary, serving as the Liaison for the Public Image Committee.
Wendy is celebrating 30 years of marriage to her husband Tim; they have one adult daughter Melanie. In Wendy's professional career she worked in the Intensive Care Unit as a Registered Nurse. In 1984 she moved to Philadelphia to work as an Organ Procurement Coordinator for the cities 6 transplant centers. She was then recruited by the University of Pittsburgh working in organ procurement and later for the CT Surgery in the Heart and Lung Transplant Program. Wendy has been happily retired for the last 14 years.
Please help us congratulating Wendy on accepting the District Governor position for 2023-2024. We believe that Wendy will be a great District Governor continuing the leadership and message of Service Above Self throughout our district and transition to CNY Rotary.
Congratulations Wendy!
Wendy Deis Becomes the Next District Governor Elect
To order you must submit a DMV application as well as a proof of membership form (Please have a club officer sign proof, a template is available) The design and fee structure for the new plates are shown below.
The Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Southern Tier YP Summit is still happening, in a brand-new innovative format! They’ve re-designed the conference to take place as a completely virtual experience while also offering it as a small, 50 person conference at the Double Tree Binghamton. This day is the biggest opportunity in the Southern Tier for young professionals from all backgrounds to come together for meaningful conversations, leadership development, and personal growth. The full-day gives YP’s countless options to engage with each other, including:
Nationally-known Keynotes and Featured Speakers
Virtual breakout rooms
Roundtable discussions with community leaders
Live-streamed webinars
Live-streamed Trivia with Prizes
And so much more!
The line-up of high-quality speakers and topics are timely for the young professional ranging from diversity and inclusion, mental health, and building habits for success, so that attendees can come out stronger and re-energized in their career and personal growth.
Don't miss this opportunity on October 15 by registering for a virtual or in-person ticket. Learn more.
On May 18,19, and 20, Rotarians representing 31 of the 44 clubs in our Rotary District came to SUNY Oneonta to have fun and be inspired. From a pre-conference FUN Bus tour of Otsego County to a service project to youth exchange talent and much, much, more, we got together to recharge our batteries.
It's my last Governor's Greeting, and the final month of the Rotary year. What an honor it has been serving as your District Governor! I've said it before, the very best thing about this year has been the time I've spent visiting clubs. From this perspective, I could see the amazing things each and every club does for their community and the world. Our local area is much better off because of you!
We have a lot of club activities coming up this summer, and many of them are highlighted in this newsletter. I've also done some recaps of the District Conference - the awards, the service, and the FUN! If you didn't make it, this will give you a taste of what you missed.
Finally, the District Pass the Gavel is on Tuesday, Jun 19th from 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm at Stella Luna Ristorante in Oneonta. More details are available here. Please join me in cheering on Jeff Smith as he begins his year as District Governor.
I've been busy getting ready for the District Conference and End Polio Now 5k later in May. Clubs have also been having Open Houses to attract new members, and it's working! Get some Open House best practices at http://rotarydistrict7170.org/Stories/open-house-best-practices
(if you can't see the video play it at https://youtu.be/dJZCc2sNpTw)
Rotarians of the month are “Power Couple” Dennis Gray and Maricelis Acevedo of the Ithaca Noon Rotary Club for their passion and action in international development. Dennis is a native of Ontario Canada where he was a long-time Rotarian and a member of the Water and Sanitation Action Group. Maricelis is a native of Puerto Rico and has a background in plant pathology. She took a position at Cornell University in 2016 and the couple relocated to Spencer New York. They immediately joined the Ithaca Noon Rotary Club and are making great strides in International Development through their vocations and through Rotary.
Rotarians from the eastern part of District 7170 got together to connect and discuss Rotary in their area. It was arranged by the Rotary Club of Milford and at least eight clubs were represented.
The keynote address was given by Dr. Ashok Malhotra and Linda Drake of the Ninash Foundation. Ashok is a well-known (and recently retired) professor from SUNY Oneonta who has dedicated his life to helping educate poor children in India. Through his foundation, he has established schools in three communities in India. The hope is that local Rotary clubs, and clubs we have connected with in India may be able to come together with the Ninash Foundation in an education project.
This light-hearted evening also featured a fan favorite - Rotary Jeopardy with Tom Rathbone.
This means that our District Training Assemblies and Grants Management Seminars are right around the corner. This is your chance to learn tips and techniques that will help your Rotary Club and make your life easier. Plus, if you are going to apply for a District Grant (and I hope you are planning to) then a member of your club must attend the Grants Management Seminar. We have three options to choose from (click on the links below to get more info and to register.)
My video greeting is short this month, because I've included a longer video that we took at president-elect training in Syracuse. A group of 'people of action' helped renovate the Salvation Army shelter in Syracuse. A special thanks goes out to Jason Browne from the State College Downtown Rotary Club for producing the video!
Brittany Hall, a member of the Rotary Club of Binghamton, NY is this month's Rotarian of the Month. Brittany is Executive Director of the Binghamton Philharmonic (BPO), Broome County's only professional symphony orchestra. She was recently honored as an emerging leader by the League of American Orchestras. Read more about that honor here.
Jesse Katen, President of the Rotary Club of Binghamton, says of Brittany, "Brittany is an inspiring and dynamic young leader who brought fresh energy and a unique perspective to our club. She’s a delight to be around and all of our members have a great time sitting with her at lunch. Her talents were recognized right away and she was elected onto our board, where she has served for several years. Her invaluable knowledge about nonprofit administration, institutional budgets, and fundraising has been vital to our club’s development and success."
Interested in achieving the Rotary (Presidential) Citation?
Here are some resources for you:
District People of Action Awards - these awards will be given to individual Rotarians, and Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary Community Corps members. Find out more by clicking here.
2017 is winding down and we have a lot to be thankful for. I'm thankful for family, friends, and my family of Rotary. We do so much for our world, it's hard (if not impossible) to list everything.
I'm very pleased to announce that Matt Adler from the Rotary Club of Owego will serve as our District Governor in 2020-2021. Congratulations Matt! Matt is well-known throughout the District because of his role as Membership Chair. In case you haven't met Matt, here is a quick bio.
Matthew Adler is honored to have been chosen to represent District 7170 as District Governor for the year 2020-2021.
Matt has been a Rotarian since 1984. He is a member of the Owego Rotary Club and is a two time past President, past Assistant Governor and current District Membership Chair and RLI Site Chair. He has also served numerous District Governors on their District Conference committees. He has been a facilitator at multi District-PETS and District Assemblies. In 2014/2015 he was honored to have been named District 7170 Rotarian of the Year.
Ithaca Rotarians enjoy participating in the Books For The World Project. Rotarian Ed Kokkelenberg recently sent more information on procedures, underscoring the complexity of the project and emphasizing the need for many participants at the club level. These procedures are attached as a Word Document.
The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs are helping communities battered by severe weather and earthquakes.
How to contribute
Three Rotary Foundation donor advised funds have been set up to accept donations for hurricane and earthquake victims.
Mexico earthquakes
Account name: Mexico Earthquake Recovery Fund Account number: 613
Hurricane Harvey
Account name: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund Account number: 608
Hurricanes Irma and Maria Account name: Hurricane Emergency Relief Fund Account number: 296
You can contribute by check or wire transfer or online with a credit card. You'll need to provide the DAF account name and number listed above. When contributing via credit card, please check the address box to share your address with Rotary.
The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs are helping communities battered by severe weather and earthquakes.
“The power of Rotary is in the Foundation's ability to pull help from around the world while local clubs provide immediate relief in their own communities,” says Don Mebus of the Rotary Club of Arlington, Texas.
Two powerful earthquakes hit Mexico, destroying buildings and highways, and killing hundreds of people. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria have caused billions of dollars in damage.
Torrential rain and mudslides have caused extensive damage in Sierra Leone, Bangladesh, India, and Nepal.
Rotary's partner, ShelterBox, is providing support to families displaced by the storms.
If you have questions about how you can help, contact relief@rotary.org. To see how clubs are helping, go to Rotary Ideas.
Let me offer you a simile - Rotary International is like a car. Our 1.2 million members are the myriad parts, and our Five Avenues of Service are the major systems. When all of us are actively involved and our clubs are providing service in all five areas, the Rotary car runs incredibly smoothly and covers an amazing amount of ground. It is highly efficient and highly effective. But what if the car is missing a wheel or a tire is flat?
Jerry has been a friend of Orv Wright and Gary Williams for many years. He’s heard a lot of stories about the Owego Rotary Club and projects that have been done by ORC.
Many Rotarians want to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey and the catastrophic flooding in Texas. Events there are still unfolding, and I have the following information to share so far. I will continue the updates as they are received.
Are you interested in planting trees this Rotary year, but don’t know where to begin? Here are some tips adapted from ‘tree planting expert’ Bob Aagre of the Nimmonsburg Rotary Club. That club has planted over 250 trees already!Are you interested in planting trees this Rotary year, but don’t know where to begin? Here are some tips adapted from ‘tree planting expert’ Bob Aagre of the Nimmonsburg Rotary Club. That club has planted over 250 trees already!
In addition to the chance to meet and greet thousands of Rotarians from all over the world, the Toronto convention gives you the opportunity to enjoy what the Economist Intelligence Unit calls the fourth most livable city in the world. (That’s out of ALL the cities in the world.)
Mike Snyder (pictured on the right) is being recognized as Rotarian of the Month for D7170 for his service and participation in club projects, fundraisers, and membership efforts.
July has flown by, and I've been inspired by the clubs I visited this month. Each week, I am posting a People of Action update on our District Facebook Page (facebook.com/RotaryDistrict7170/) highlighting how each club is making a difference in our District and the world. Like or follow our Facebook Page to stay up-to-date on District happenings.
In our July newsletter, I mentioned our District's foundation giving goals for 2017-18 - $250,000 for the Annual Fund - SHARE and $50,000 for PolioPlus.
Here's an update on where we stand right now, as well as some more info on Corporate Fundraising - how we can encourage local and national employers to give to the Rotary Foundation.
On July 13th, the Rotary family suffered a huge loss when Rotary International President-elect Sam Owori died. Sam's leadership and influence touched many people around the world during his life, including several of us in District 7170. We send our most sincere condolences to his wife Norah and his family.
When asked, “What is Rotary?” many individuals will say that it is a group of older men that meet for lunch weekly or an organization that brings in exchange students. I have even heard someone say, it is a “roundabout!” So what is it anyway? Rotary is a volunteer, international, non-sectarian, service organization comprised of 1,200,000 members within 200 countries of the world. Its power lies in its ability to bring leaders and technical experts who share a mutual mission to improve health, support education and alleviate poverty. Working as partners it achieves lasting change through the combination of local oversight and the resources of an international organization.
When Rollin' With Rotary rolled through our District Conference they challenged us to create our own People of Action videos. At least two clubs rose to this challenge, Binghamton noon and Unadilla.
Shortly after it was formed in 2007, the Edmeston Central School Interact Club received a gift of $250.00 from the Otsego County Sheriff's Deputies' Benevolent Association. After researching options for the best use of the funds, our club members settled on the making of micro-finance loans through kiva.org.
Did you know that one excellent way to recruit new Rotarians is to hold an Open House or Membership Mixer?
Here are some tips and a link to an invitation letter that you can customize for your club.
DG Zoë and Membership Chair Matt are enthusiastically promoting Open Houses in the District, and would like to help your club hold one. Contact us to get yours scheduled today!
Show your Rotary colors and favorite activities in this Foundation Fundraiser. You get a cool T-shirt promoting Rotary and your favorite activity. Your club gets Foundation Points while supporting the Annual Fund!
The District Conference is our chance to come together and celebrate our success in 2017-18 Register today by clicking here.
Registration options:
Just announced! Rotarians attending their first District Conference can register at the discount price of $110 for the Full Conference. Choose the First Time Attendee package on the registration page. HURRY - only 40 first time packages available! $160 for Full Conference $35 Friday Only $100 Saturday Only $35 Sunday Only
The 2018 District Conference is May 18 - 20 at SUNY Oneonta
Tentative Conference Schedule (will be updated as details are confirmed)
Now that I have it – if a member of your club attended one of the grant management seminars - there are 22 of you –
And the club had a per capita giving of $50 – check that out with our District Foundation Chair – Jean Cadwallader – jeankc@twcny.rr.com or Lana Rouff, our Grants Chair at LanaRouff@gmail.com
The District Grants Committee will be accepting applications for District Community Grants until September 1st. Because we have done an outstanding job in funding raising three years ago, we are able to give a couple more grants than were accepted this spring. So, look into the needs of your community and fill out the application that is found on our district website Rotarydistrict7170.org on the right side! Up to $2500 is available per grant. Send the applications to LanaRouff@gmail.com. The committee would like to see a humanitarian project!!
Questions: -
Call Lana at 797-7727!! Rotary is Service Above Self!!
“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines…”
So begin of what are some of the most memorable lines from Carl Sagan’s book The Pale Blue Dot. I left the Ithaca in 2015 to make my home for the next two years across the Atlantic in London. Ah, and what a journey it has been to inhabit a different part of the hemisphere, a different perspective, a different way of living being exposed to “thousands of religions, ideologies, economic doctrines.” I begin this letter with thanking my Rotary district in upstate New York, the community of people who gave me the opportunity to go on this journey. I especially want to thank Lana Rouff, Nancy Potter, George Gull, and Richard Kiely – you are very special to me and you have inspired me.
A few weeks ago I took my last exam in public economics, and so it happened it was a day full of sunshine, which in the month of May could be considered a rather unexpected event in London. It was nice to finish the program on such a bright note. Often when an experience comes to an end the word most commonly used is “bittersweet,” but I felt more excited, happy and thankful. I do not feel like I am saying goodbye to the university, the community of people, my Rotary family who have made the last two years special, but I feel that this last two years have given me the tools, the spontaneous moments of inspiration, and experience to face what is to come next and to do so together. So what is next?
Currently I am in London working at an organization where I am putting to practice the skills I built in the program for the past two years. Specifically, I am using econometric techniques to evaluate the impact of social programs, such as educational initiatives. It is exciting work to me, because I am able to work with data to perform analysis and contribute to more evidence-based policies.
When I became a Rotary scholar, it was a privilege for me to join such a community and I was determined to share in some form the investment Rotary made in me to pursue my graduate studies. Since moving to the UK in 2015, the UK has transformed substantially – Brexit and the recent elections are a few of the dramatic changes. What I learned during this time is that the political discourse was alienating people due to the use of economic arguments and expert jargon that was not understood by many. What I also learned while studying at the LSE was a new growing movement of people questioning the field of economics, its assumptions, and furthermore, the way it is being taught. This is the issue I plan to address by creating a project aimed to bring economics to the public sphere, and do so in an accessible, spontaneous, exciting and new approach. I plan to use the public spaces of London to organize “pop-up” economic debates, or “guerrilla style” lectures, where the location, the speakers, the topic is secret until the day of the event. The location will serve as the theme to introduce economic concepts and open the floor for lively debates. For example, meeting in Borough Market, the largest and oldest food market in the world, people will be introduced to concepts of supply and demand, the Hotelling model of clustering, among other concepts. Through an immersive experience they will question, debate and engage in discussions. The hope is that people will realize that economics is not a discipline locked away in an ivory tower for experts, but it is everywhere, London is a city built on economics, and economics is about understanding how life works. By doing so, I hope people will feel empowered to engage in the political debates and hold politicians accountable next time arguments are made in the name of “economic growth.”
In a few weeks time the Graduation Ceremony will take place and I will be able to see classmates once again before we all go to the different corners of the world. Before graduation I will have the chance to see my Rotary family here where all the scholars and host clubs will meet for a day together. I also hope to be able to visit my Rotary district back at home in upstate New York sometime soon in the future to share in person about the last two years.
Carl Sagan finishes the quote by stating, “It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known.”
I think beyond the economics, econometrics, policy analysis tools that I have learned, far more profound has been the character-building experience that has cemented in me the simple idea that be an aspiring policymaker, an entrepreneur, an employee, a neighbor, a citizen, to deal more kindly with one another…
Just a reminder that applications for 2017-18 District Grants are now being accepted for community and international projects. Up to $2500 can be awarded for projects in your community and up to $5,000 for an international project. The applications are due no later than May 31st and can be found on the district website: Rotarydistrict7170.org – on the right side of the home page.
In order to qualify for a grant your club must have a $50 per capita combined giving to the TRF Annual Fund and Polioplus as of June 30, 2017. This is $15 higher than last year.! And at least one individual from your club must attend one of the upcoming grants management seminars - April 1st in Oneonta and April 8th in Dryden prior to submitting the proposal. Registration for these seminars will be posted at a later date on the website.
Incomplete applications will not be accepted – nor will any application submitted by a club whose previous year’s project report is due. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for further requirements on the application.
The Rotary Club of Ithaca is pleased to announce that Ted Schiele has been named Rotarian of the Year for 2015-16. The award is given every June in honor of an active club member who exemplifies the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
I am writing this update after just finishing the half-way point in my club visits. I am truly enjoying my visits with all of you and hearing about your unique strengths and plans for the future. In this update, I want to focus on the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation.
The 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation is a major milestone for one of the best humanitarian organizations in the world today. This entrepreneurial journey began with a small meeting of fellowship in 1903. Today we are an organization of over 1.2 million in over 200 territories and countries. Our results are measured in lives saved, gallons of clean water, conflict resolution and hope for the future. The Polio Plus story alone is a testament to the power of sustained focus and collaboration that is achievable. The skills we have honed in this journey can be applied to some of the greatest challenges we face here at home and across the world.
I feel truly blessed to have the opportunity to serve as District Governor. To have this honor during the 100th anniversary is truly special and I am committed to making our District, bigger, better and bolder.
This July 3 and 4 the Town of Union and sponsors like Endwell Rotary organize the annual Extravaganza at Highland Park. This event is free to the public and could be an opportunity to display critical information on the services you provide or special projects.
The Binghamton Breakfast Rotary Club will be having our Annual Pancake Breakfast
on Parade Day in Binghamton - Saturday March 5th from 8-11 AM at the American Legion Post 80 on Main Street in Binghamton. Anyone interested in tickets can contact me at bphillipsjr@airtemphvac.com.
Rotary Club Night – Thursday, January 21st Binghamton University Men’s Basketball
Binghamton University athletics has partnered with Rotary Club #64 in designating the Thursday, January 21st men’s basketball game (vs. Vermont) beginning at 7pm as “Rotary Club Night”
Each $20 ticket provides a reserved, chair back seat along with exclusive access to the DEN-hospitality area available pre-game and during half-time.
The District Conference Registration Form is ready!!
Rotary District 7170 is so fortunate to have experts from Cornell University and Cayuga Medical Center to present programs about new and interesting topics. Friday, there will be optional tours and wine tasting available. Saturday will be packed with sessions about your health, the health of your community and your Rotary club. On Sunday, our Memorial Service will be followed by our final plenary session, which includes a fellowship brunch.
Please click on the link below to go online and register for the District Conference to be held April 1-3, 2016 at the Statler Hotel, Cornell Campus, Ithaca, NY.
David was born in 1942 in Washington, DC, but grew up in Los Alamos, NM. He graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1960. David then attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN, graduating with a BA (majoring in history) in 1964.
After a very brief time at Yale Divinity School, David went to work for Shell Chemical Company in New York City as a Distribution Analyst. When Shell moved their headquarters to Houston, TX, in 1969, he left the company and moved to Roscoe, NY to manage a pure-bred polled Hereford operation.
Rotary honors six ‘Global Women of Action’ at the United Nations for their leadership and humanitarian service
Rotary will honor six women – all members of Rotary clubs across the globe – at its “Rotary Day at the United Nations” event on Nov. 7. Rotary’s ‘Global Women of Action’ will be recognized for donating their time, talents and expertise towards helping thousands of people in need throughout the world.
Nimmonsburg Rotary is holding its 65th Annual Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, November 14, 7AM-11AM, at the Chenango Bridge United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, 740 River Road, Chenango Bridge. Donation adults $5.00, children under 12, $4.00.
District 7170 5K Run/ Walk Fundraiser to Fight Polio
When: On Sunday, October 18 at 10:00 AM
Where: Binghamton University
What: Rotary District 7170 Polio 5K Run/Walk. This event is a project of Binghamton University’s Rotaract club and will kickoff Polio Awareness week. The Run/Walk will bring together area Rotarians, students in Rotaract and Interact clubs, as well as our district’s exchange students and their host families. This run aims to help build the next generation of Rotarians as well as bring all of our district’s clubs together.
How to register? Complete event details and on-line registration can be found by clicking right here.
(Individual Rotarians interested in making donations directly to PolioPlus can also do so on via this webpage.)
District contact: District Governor Doug Larison at drlarison@gmail.com
Polio Walk/ Run at University of Binghamton October 18
The Spending Plan, which lists all grants that the district desires to fund, will be submitted to The Rotary Foundation after July 15.
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We should have approval of the Spending Plan by Sept 1, 2015, and will then provide official notice to the clubs. Note that clubs cannot spend funds related to the grant until after they receive official notice of approval.
The per capita amount donated to the Foundation remains at $30 in order for a club to be qualified for a district grant. It will be based upon the donations to the Annual Fund and Polioplus in the 2014-15 year. Donations to The Rotary Foundation can be made up to June 30, 2015 in order to be counted.
Those clubs that do not meet the per capita giving can no longer partner with another club.
If you register for the District Conference online, you must click pay by check, BUT you will have the ability to pay by credit card via paypal by following the directions on your confirmation e-mail.
The Zaytawun School, in the Bagan area, which is the historical heartland of Myanmar (Burma), has only a few thousand people and the children are very poor. Donations from our District 7170 clubs and individual Rotarians pay for the school supplies, as well as many of the needs of the local clinic, which serves the rural people in an area of several hundred square miles.
I contacted you after the Rotary International Convention in Sydney and hope that your governorship is going well now that you are into the second month. We began our fiscal year for Alliance for Smiles at the same time as Rotary and have a number of missions lined up between now and the end of June. We especially will be having one in March to Bangladesh where we have great relationships with the Rotary Club of Gulshan Lake City and will be planning to write a VTT Global Humanitarian Grant. We will be most likely writing another grant application for a June 2015 mission but that site has not as yet been determined. Last year we were successful in getting two VTT grants -- one for two sites in China and another Tanzania -- and a third Global Grant for Nigeria. We are going to try for grants for China as well but will be meeting with Rotary Clubs in Hong Kong to determine if they want to do it again and act as the host club.
So, my primary concern right now is getting the process going and donations pledged. The VTT Grant that the Kingspark Rotary Club completed for China involved 26 Rotary Clubs in 4 countries. We would love to have more Rotary Clubs and Districts buy into these grants and for the Bangladesh and June grants have two Rotarian volunteers in Georgia ready to write them.
I look forward to hearing from you about the possibility of this type of a collaboration. There will definitely be opportunities for individuals to volunteer both in medical and non-medical slots for these missions.
I’m so honored to have been selected as the 2014-15 District Governor for District 7170. The district is here to support and strengthen the clubs in the district. We are available to provide training and help you in any way we can. I have a passion to serve Rotary. So, let’s work together in our goal of “Service Above Self”. As this year’s Rotary International theme says, let’s “Light Up Rotary” together for 2014-15.
I was so proud to have a good representation from the Endwell Rotary Club at the “Pass the Gavel” ceremony at the District Conference. I had several members of my family attend- Mark’s sister Laurie and her husband Brad Cumming, Brad’s brother Don and his wife Leslie. My daughter, Jennifer, and my beautiful granddaughter, Jaylynn. Last, but not least, my son, Dan, who flew in from Africa to surprise me. My husband, Mark had signed him up for the conference as he is a YE Alumni, but didn’t tell me. I have to say, District 7170 kept the secret very well.
I was proud to be able to present District Governor Tom a nice award for his work in Youth Exchange and his great work as District Governor for 2013-2014. The Youth Exchange program inspired my husband Mark to serve as District Governor in 2006-2007 and now me to serve in 2014-2015. It was so wonderful that our Youth Exchange Alumni son, Dan, was able to be here for this conference.
On May 18,19, and 20, Rotarians representing 31 of the 44 clubs in our Rotary District came to SUNY Oneonta to have fun and be inspired. From a pre-conference FUN Bus tour of Otsego County to a service project to youth exchange talent and much, much, more, we got together to recharge our batteries.
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DG Zoë's Goals for 2017-18
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