Last week Past President Diane Donaher and current D7430 Area 2 coordinator gave a great overview of The Rotary Foundation(TRF)-November's Rotary area of focus. She outlined the history of TRF starting out with a $26.50 endowment by Arch Klumph in 1917 which set in motion a powerful force that has transformed millions of lives around the globe. TRF is not for profit supported by our voluntary contributions turns those gifts into service projects throughout the world. TRF makes judicious use of the gifts with 100% financial performance metrics and has continuously received the highest-four star rating-from Charity Navigator.
The Rotary Foundation has had 6 areas of focus:
1. Building Peace & Conflict Resolution
2. Disease Prevention & Treatment
3. Maternal & Child Health
4. Community & Economic Development
5. Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
6. Basic Education & Literacy
And a new area of focus:
7. Supporting the Environment
There are three funds: 1. Annual Fund (primary) 2. Endowment Fund 3. Polio Plus. The efforts of TRF can be found from Bethlehem to Mumbai, India and beyond. Individual Rotarian Recognition can start as a sustaining member at $100 each year. A Paul Harris Fellow is achieved at $1000, and multiple Paul Harris Fellows up to level 9. Please consider making your yearly contribution now or starting on the path as a sustaining member. Please contact Diane or me with questions or requests for more information. You can make your contribution directly to RI online or you can send your contribution to Diane and she can handle the rest. Let's keep Rotary making an impact around the world!
I had the pleasure of my first Paul Harris Fellow presentation of the year to Fred Fensalau. His gift will help transform lives of people and Bethlehem Rotary congratulates him for his commitment to the programs of The Rotary Foundation.
Winston Alozie became our third new member inducted this Rotary year. Winston is CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Bethlehem. A graduate of Freedom H.S. and Edinboro University, he is very active in our community and Minister of Music at John A.M.E. Zion Church in Bethlehem. I can see some new possibilities for future Rotary music groups with Winston and some other new members with musical talent. And stay tuned, he is working on a great community project with members Rocco Damato and V.P. Hopeton Clennon that soon we will be learning about. Welcome aboard Bethlehem Rotary Winston.
This week is our Annual Thanksgiving Rotary Joint Meeting with other Area 2 Rotary Clubs, please sign on early enough for some "virtual" social time with fellow Rotarians from the area. Our speaker will demonstrate the power of our gifts to The Rotary Foundation to transform lives. Elias Thomas, Realtor by profession and Rotarian by avocation will share his story of 40 years of working with Polio Plus and seeing the need in India for clean water which led him to develop and implement drinking water and irrigation projects there with the help of The Foundation. His story is inspiring and will make you proud to be part of Rotary. Click this
LINK to learn more about Elias Thomas
See you Wednesday!
