Our Current Newsletter

The District Dispatch

 

The Monthly Newsletter of Rotary District 6250

February Edition

Important Note: Deadline for district newsletter submissions is the 25th of each month.
The newsletter will be distributed by the first full week of the month.

 

District Governor's Message

I hope as you read this you are warm, and safe.  As I write this, though I am warm, I am acutely aware that in our own district, there are many who are not warm, and therefore not safe.  The near-record cold spell in January produced an immediate spike in the demand for adequate warming shelters.  Many of us Rotarians like to look to underdeveloped nations and their problems, and how we can help solve them.  Times like these remind us we have problems at home that need solving as well.
 
Problems as basic as keeping warm on a cold winter night are about as fundamental as they come.  This level of unmet human need is often the source of conflict in the world.  People believe the government of their homeland is – at some level – supposed to care for them.  When they believe it is not doing that at such a basic level, they become fertile ground for those who would sow the seeds of revolt, terrorism, or other types of conflict.
 
You can be proud as a Rotarian that our global organization has for decades worked to lessen global conflicts.  Today we have representatives in many leading international organizations that devote large resources to promoting peace.  Our own district is proud to sponsor both Peace Scholars and Ambassadorial Scholars.  Both contribute to improving our world in so many ways, and all those little contributions are steps toward a more peaceful world.
 
If you have any thoughts about someone who might make a good candidate for either of these scholarship programs, contact Lyn Kenney.  She heads our district Peace and Global Scholarship subcommittee.  Her email is lynkenney@aol.com (also elsewhere on the district web site).  Who knows?  Your referral might wind up helping a future world leader!
 
In case you’re look for a reason to celebrate all of these wonderful things Rotary can do, this is the month in which to do it.  Thursday, February 23, 1905, is recognized as the first meeting ever held by the first Rotary Club.  Paul Harris, a young attorney; his friend Sylvester Schiele, a coal dealer, Gus Loehr, a mining engineer; and Hiram Shorey, a tailor met in Gus Loehr’s office and decided to form a club.  Today Rotary is world-wide, and recognized as one of the leading forces for good in so many places in the world.
 
Celebrate our anniversary – and be proud.

 
With Rotary pride,



Bill Hoel
District Governor 2018-2019
Rotary District 6250

 

District News, Events and Announcements

Update on our Global Grant Scholar in New Zealand:  Sakrh Munassar

Below is an update on Sakhr Munassar our Global Grand Scholar in New Zealand sent to Lyn Kenney.

I hope you and your family had a great holiday and new year! 
I had a great time and finished one of NZ 4 great walks, we hiked the Able Tasman 52 kilometers. I have also attached a link of our regional news papers, where they featured me in it. I thought you would like to see it. https://www.odt.co.nz/lifestyle/summer-times/working-children-former-refugees-amazing?fbclid=IwAR2uew_aGxDzNPT1MN1bQcDGnC9Xok4siXxBtND_pfP315Bo0abguEvYNZk 
 

End Polio - the Fight is not over!

Edwin Bos met with the RI Director in South Dakota and received updated Polio data in an email. The data is very current and specific and shows that the fight is not over.

Polio this week as of 22 January 2019
 


Headlines: 
  • In an extraordinary joint statement by the Chairs of the main independent, advisory and oversight committees of the GPEI, the Chairs urge everyone involved in polio eradication to ensure polio will finally be assigned to the history books by 2023. The authors are the chairs of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization (SAGE), the Independent Monitoring Board, the Emergency Committee of the International Health Regulations (IHR) Regarding International Spread of Poliovirus and the Global Commission for the Certification of the Eradication of Poliomyelitis (GCC).  The Endgame Plan through 2018 has brought the world to the brink of being polio-free.  A new Strategic Plan 2019-2023 aims to build on the lessons learned since 2013.  The joint statement urges everyone involved in the effort to find ways to excel in their roles.  If this happens, the statement continues, success will follow.  But otherwise, come 2023, the world will find itself exactly where it is today:  tantalizingly close.  But in an eradication effort, tantalizingly close is not good enough.  The statement therefore issues an impassioned plea to everyone to dedicate themselves to one clear objective:  to reach that very last child with polio vaccine.
  Afghanistan: 
  • No wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) case was reported in the past week.  The total number of WPV1 cases in 2018 was 21.
  • Seven WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported this week: three from Kandahar province, two from Jalalabad district, Nangarhar province, and two from Lashkargah district, Hilmand province.  All samples were collected on 26 December 2018.
 Pakistan:
  • Two cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported this week. One case is from Lakki Marwat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and the other is from Bajour Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas. The onset of paralysis was 16 and 25 December 2018 respectively.
  • Five WPV1-positive environmental samples were reported in the past week: one each from Peshawar and Bannu districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, one from Lahore in Punjab province, one from Quetta in Balochistan province, and one from Karachi Gadap in Sindh province. Samples were collected from 10-27 December 201
  Nigeria:
  • One case of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) case in Baruten LGA in Kwara state (close to Benin border). The case had an onset of paralysis on 5 December 2018.  The total number of cVDPV2 cases in 2018 was 34.
  • Three cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported in the past week: one from Maiduguri LGA in Borno state, collected on 11 December; one from Zaria and one from Ikara LGAs in Kaduna state, collected on 30 November and 11 December 2018 respectively.
  • No cases of wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) were reported. The most recently-detected WPV1 case, from Borno state, had onset of paralysis on 21 August 2016.
 

Update on one of our District Peace Fellows: Elizabeth Nigere

Elizabeth studied for 3 months in Thailand under the Professional Development Certificate program.  
Here is a recent email from her to Lyn Kenney that I felt all the district should read and know what a difference we make!   

Dear Lyn,

Receive my greetings after a long silence and I sincerely apologize about that. Hope you have enjoyed your holiday seasons. I also want to wish you a very happy new year 2019.

My family is all fine and looking forward for a better happy year ahead. Just to give you a little update of how I have been doing, I was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was in Thailand
for the training and it has taken better part of the year to undergo treatment since I came back. I'm also glad to tell you that I got immense support from all my classmates
that I met in Rotary training, my director and all the staff.
 
Apart from knowledge received from this training I also received a gift of life and good health because without their financial support, I could have not made it.

I also got a partnership with one of the classmates who has an organization in Huston and we are already working on some projects. She will be visiting me in Kenya next year.


Thank you for being part of my journey.
ELIZABETH
 

 


Grant Management Seminars Announced

The community of Zapote, Guatemala suffers from an unreliable water source. Often water is contaminated or unavailable. The community of Zapote is located in the Western Highlands of Guatemala, near the municipality of Joyabaj.
 
A partially completed project consisting of a 15 kilometer water distribution system could provide over 600 community members with a reliable, clean source of potable water. Currently, a select group of people in the community obtain water from neighboring water systems, but these systems are incredibly unreliable and may be shut-off for months at a time. Those who are not on this system commonly drink from contaminated sources of water such as nearby rivers, and many store these reserves, leading to further contamination. People in the community suffer from dyhydration and water borne illnesses.
 
After the Zapote Water System’s completion, 100 households, a school and a church will, at long last, all have access to the most basic of human rights, clean water. The Madison Breakfast Rotary Club is pleased to partner with the Los Altos Rotary Club in Guatemala on the completion of the Zapote Water Project. This massive project is spearheaded by the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Chapter of Engineers Without Borders, and they hope to complete their project in 2019 with the help of District 6250!
 
Kevin Frost of the Madison Breakfast Rotary club is working with the UW Chapter of Engineers Without Borders and hoping to get a global grant. If you would like to hear more about the project and, perhaps join in funding this project, please contact Kevin through Madison Breakfast Rotary at MBRotary6250@gmail.com.

The photos below were taken by the University of Wisconsin - Madison's Chapter of Engineers Without Borders.



RYLA Announced - May 17-19, 2019 Upham Woods, Wisconsin Dells

What Is RYLA?

Established as a Rotary Structured Program in 1971, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people.

The Rotary District 6250 RYLA program is a camp designed to build future leaders and Rotarians who exemplify the four way test.

  • Is it the Truth?
  • Is it fair to all concerned?
  • Will it build good will and better friendships?
  • Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Who Can Attend?

  • Each year Rotary Clubs can sponsor students from local high schools to attend (it is strongly suggested sophomores be chosen, however this is not a requirement)
  • Adult Rotarians are always welcome and needed to help facilitate the Conference (and to come have fun!)

RYLA 2019 Forms Now Available



Club News, Events and Announcements


Jeferson Rotary Club Beer & Wine Tasting Event
 

 



 Jefferson Rotary Club  2019 Beer & Wine Tasting

 
 
When:  Saturday, February 16, 2019
Time:  6 - 9 pm
Where:  Woolen Mills, 222 Wisconsin Drive, Jefferson, WI
Tickets:  $40 in advance / $45 at the door

Tickets available through Facebook or your favorite Rotarian!

Oregon Rotary
10th Annual Artisan Cheese and Wine Tasting Event

 
When:  Saturday, March 9, 2019
Time:  6:00 - 8:00 pm
Red Brick Gym
at the Gorman Building
200 N Main Street
Oregon, WI 53575
Tickets:  $25  -  includes all cheese and wine tastings
Purchase online at:  tickets.oregonrotary.org

2019 Rotary International Convention
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
 
Our celebration at the Rotary International Convention in Hamburg, Germany is fast approaching.  There are only a few days left to register and save money! 😊  The registration fee will increase on December 16.  Please join us and register today!
 
Attached is our Zones 28 & 29 newsletter.  As you will see, we are having our annual Northland event on Saturday, June 1.  Please join us!  Registration is now available.  The link is in the newsletter or click here to register: https://zones28-29.org/sitepage/hamburg-beer-fest/welcome
 
We are looking forward to celebrating with you in Hamburg.  Please forward this information to all Rotarians throughout your district.
 
On to Hamburg as we “Capture the Moment!”
 
Nicki and Chris
 
Nicki Scott and Chris Etienne                                                                                                         
Hamburg Promotions Committee
Rotary International Zone 28 & 29
rotarynicki@gmail.comcetienne@bayharbor.com
riconvention.org

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RI News

 

The Rotarian Magazine

The Rotarian Magazine is our link to the greater Rotary world. The pictures and stories tell us of the wonderful work that is being done, in and through Rotary, to make the world a better, safer and a more peaceful place…all because we are advancing the key elements of social justice, health projects, and educational opportunity and alleviating the dire effects of poverty.

A person is not free if they are hungry. A man is not free when he has to watch his children die because of the lack of clean water or adequate food. A mother will not be free if her sick child cannot receive medical care and when people are not free they will seek social justice even if it means going to war to achieve it.

Our magazine, paid for in our RI dues, is not junk mail. It makes you and me “literate” in the great story of Rotary. Read it. Share it with others. Drop it off in a public area where literature is offered, a dentist's reception area, the waiting room at your local hospital or when you go to your accountant's office to pick up your tax filings. Plant the seeds of Rotary by sharing our great story.

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Friendship Exchange News

Four Rotary Friendship Exchanges Planned for 2019: India, Australia, Netherlands and New Mexico

Contact the one of our chairpersons, either Dave Clemens at drdave@dellsdental.net, Mark Moody at moodymb@charter.net, or Mark Etrheim at mark@mchlax.com  if you are interested in hosting or traveling.

Four Rotary Friendship Exchanges Planned for 2019: India, Auistralia,Netherlands and New Mexico

Contact one of our chairpersons, either Dave Clemens at drdave@dellsdental.net, Mark Moody at moodymb@charter.net, or Mark Etrheim at mark@mchlax, if you are interested in hosting or traveling.

 Rotary Friendship Exchange between our District 6250 and District 2981 in India. 

Our Rotary District 6250 Friendship Exchange Committee has arranged an exchange with Rotary District 2981 in IndiaThis district is on the southeast coast of India and includes the city of Pondicherry. We will travel to their District 2981 from Jan. 3 – 18, 2019.  Our Rotary District 6250 will host an inbound group from this district from May 5-19, 2019. Host families will be needed.
Hosts on each end of the exchange program support the visitors with room, board and some entertainment/activites and local transportation while in host city.


 














Rotary Friendship Exchange between our District 6250 and District 9640 in Australia

Our Rotary district has arranged a Rotary Friendship Exchange for 2019 with District 9640 in Australia which is in the State of Queensland, south of Brisbane.  A group from our district will travel to Australia from Feb. 15 to March 4, 2019.  A group from Australia will visit our district from July 12 to 26, 2019.


 
Rotary Friendship Exchange between our District 6250 and District 7680 in Holland  

Our District Governor Elect, Edwin Bos, has arranged an exchange with Holland in 2019. Our group will travel to Hoogeland, Warfflum, Holland, as seen on the map midway between Amsterdam and Hamburg, Germany.  This exchange will take place just before the annual Rotary International Conference. Our group will travel to Holland from May 24 to June 1, then go to the International Conference from June 1-5.  We expect a group from Holland to visit our district in the fall, with dates to be determined later.  More details can be found on our District web site. If interested in this trip, contact edwin@bosdesignbuilders.com. We expect to determine who will go by the end of January. We expect to get more interested persons than number that will travel together. Only firm commitments to travel will be accepted.


 

 

 

 

 

Rotary Friendship Exchange between our District 6250 and District 5520 in New Mexico
 
Our District has arranged an exchange with New Mexico. This will be the first Friendship Exchange within the United States, so language will not be a barrier. We expect a group from New Mexico to visit us for two weeks from October 3-11, 2019.  Host clubs and families will be needed.  A group from our district will travel to New Mexico from October 28 – November 5.  Please send a request to drdave@dellsdental.net if you are interested in taking this trip. There will be more interested applicants than we can send, so only serious applicants should apply.

 


Zone News

 

Update on Annual Giving


New RI Foundation Donation Forms

Club executive members can now download a Multiple Donor Form that is pre-populated (filled out) with details of club members including their ID number. This form is on Rotary.org at member access. Club presidents and club secretaries have access to this form. Also club treasurers and club Rotary Foundation chairs can get this form if they have been registered on member access by the president or secretary. Select the club members who have donated and add the amount of each donation. The new form makes it easy to forward donations from a group of club members who contribute weekly, quarterly, etc. More information about the Foundation can be found at Rotary.org.

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Attendance Report

Reporting Tool for District Attendance is now in Club Runner.  All Secretaries automatically are designated to update the data in club runner.  If you are having trouble accessing the Club Runner screens or just don't know where to go, please contact the Rotary District 6250 Office at 608.204.9835 or rotarydistrict6250@morgandata.com.  

 

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