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Rotary District 7170: People of Action

Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas and take action on our world’s most persistent issues. We work together to

Promote peace
Fight disease
Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Save mothers and children
Support education
Grow local economies

District 7170 supports Rotary Clubs in south central New York State.

Learn About Our Causes. Get Involved.

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Make Membership Memorable

May Message from District Governor, Matt Adler

As we head into May, I know many of us are beginning to see light at the end of what has been a very long and dark tunnel. We’ve lost loved ones, lost connections, lost jobs and stability, and much more. Yet there is so much hope for the months to come.

Spring is finally here (with warmer weather here to stay, we hope!) as are vaccines --- as of April 24, approximately 44 percent of New Yorker’s have had one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine with 31% fully completed. We know this isn’t the reality for millions of people around the world – including Rotarians– and I feel lucky every day we have access to the vaccinations that will allow us to return to some semblance of normalcy.

Part of this includes the ability for Rotary clubs to begin meeting in person again...

Multi District Membership Monday Series: Shaping the next 100 years of Rotary

What do like about Rotary and should be retained? What do feel needs to be changed and why? How might Rotary be structured to enable it to flourish in our region in the next 100 years?

Join the conversation, Tuesday May 11th at 7pm.

Former RI president Barry Rassin will speak on reshaping the future of Rotary for the next 100 years.

Barry will be joined by our RI director elect Drew Kessler – the youngest RI Director in history.

Limited Time: Paul Harris Donation Match

For every $25 to $250 that you donate to the Foundation and toward your Paul Harris awards, our District will donate three times that in Foundation points!

Example a $250 gift will matched with an additional $750 in points to make you a Paul Harris.

You will need to ack quickly, this is for a limited time: May 1st through May 15.

Any donation would be greatly appreciated. If you take advantage of this opportunity, please make your Foundation donation online and let Foundation chair Doug Larison or DG Matt Adler know and we will make sure you receive the credit due.

Remember, it is what we give to the Foundation that allows us to do more through District and Global grants.

Pass The Gavel: In Person Event

Honor our outgoing District Governor, Matt Adler, who has had a very unusual and challenging year and welcome our incoming District Governor, Evan Kurtz; Rocky Martinez, incoming District Governor Elect; and Cindy Kain, incoming District Governor Nominee.

Date: Thursday June 17th

Location: Traditions at the Glen, Johnson City, under a tent, outside.

Time: Cocktails will be served from 5:30 to 6:30pm with dinner starting at 6:30, followed by our official program.

Cost: $40 per person

Reservation link: https://forms.gle/PPjUymF4r9gbW6838

COVID-19 precautions:

While we will have a buffet, it will all be served
We are capping the event participation at 200 people max (despite the tent’s capacity for 500 people)
We will be following NYS guidelines that, as of now, require masks be worn when not sitting at your table

Multi District Membership Monday Series: Trailblazer Dr. Sylvia Whitlock

Dr. Whitlock made history as the world’s first female president of a Rotary Club following a federal lawsuit requiring female membership in Rotary and many other organizations.

If you missed this opportunity to learn from a Rotarian who has faced adversity and made a difference in her community and the world, watch it now on YouTube.

Dr. Whitlock an advocate, a trailblazer, and a humanitarian who has dedicated her life to education and social justice. After decades of service and retirement as a school principal, she became a therapist, helped establish an AIDS clinic in Jamaica, and supports a school in India by volunteering her time and teaching expertise. Some of her honors include the NAACP Woman of the Year, Rotary Foundation District Service Award and Global Citizen Award from United Nations.

Foundation News

It is already April. Over the last month giving to the Annual Fund is at almost 95% of the goals set by Clubs ($83,350). If Clubs want to be able to fund more local projects in the Rotary year 2024- 2025 we need to do more. Our goal should be between $125,00 and $150,000 to the Annual Fund.

Vaccination Happy Dollar Challenge: $4,700 raised to date

We are all eligible now, so let's all chip in. When you get vaccinated and contribute $100 Happy Dollars to the Rotary Foundation, alert Doug Larison, District 7170 Foundation Chair, and you will receive an innovation dollar depicting the creation of the polio vaccine.

Area of Focus: The Environment

This month's foundation newsletter is a letter from PDG Marilyn Bedell. She is from New Hampshire and is a colleague who shared information about the new seventh area of focus.

Video Education

The second video for Foundation 102 is at the following link: Rotary Foundation 102 Feb 2021 1 - YouTube

The video discusses where do you get grant ideas; how to get funding for a grant; and where does our Annual Fund contribution go?

District Grant Update

It’s time to think

about applying for a District Grant. The early deadline of May 15 will be here sooner than you think!

District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad. Each district chooses which activities it will fund with these grants.

Typically, the Grants Committee receives requests for more funding than is available and in many cases has awarded partial grants to try to make the money go farther. For 2021-2022, the Committee has decided to fully fund all worthy projects. This means that projects will be scrutinized even more closely – only the very best projects will be funded, but at the full amount requested. In previous years some clubs have submitted two, even three, projects and the Committee has sometimes awarded two grants to a club. For 2021-2022, however, only one grant will be awarded to a club so put your best efforts into your application.

As always, feel free to contact Grants Committee Chair Cindy Burger, csburger@frontiernet.net, (607) 692-3442, with any questions.

Let's get social!

If you are only using social media to watch funny cat videos and keep tabs on your second cousin, you are missing out!

Social media can help attract new Rotary Club members; improve fundraising; and strengthen club member and community connections with just a little planning. This session is perfect for Rotary Club officers and Club members alike. We'll cover:

Social networks: who are you most likely to find where, and what does each platform do best
Engaging content: how do you make it, where do you find it (and is it okay to borrow?)
Audiences and goals: engaging the right people with the right message
Owned, earned and paid: boosting your reach

If you want to learn how to make your posts more effective without spending hours online, click through to watch the presentation on YouTube.

Multi District Membership Monday Series: Cause Based Clubs

As Rotary attempts to expand its reach worldwide some new ideas as to creating new clubs are needed. One idea that is being well received is the development of caused-based club.

Bring together people with a passion for a cause

How about club that consists of US Veterans?

How about a club which is dedicated to the environment?

How about a club which is dedicated to the cause of fighting Human Trafficking?

How about a club of health care workers?

Clubs for a cause have a positive effect.

Check back for a link to this presentation that occurred April 5th.

Multi District Membership Monday Series: Young People Speak

The February Multi-district “Membership Monday” seminar “Young People Speak - It’s Time to Stretch and Listen” featured a panel of younger Rotarians from around upstate New York who shared what they want and expect from their Rotary experience.

Catch up on the opportunities they offered. See a recording of their presentation on YouTube. Slides are also available for download.