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Avon Rotary Newsletter |
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President's Message
Dear fellow Rotarians and friends.
I don't know about you, but I keep running into errors in the member listing in the 2010 Club Directory. Obviously, I did a poor job of verifying information prior to publishing it. (I handed out copies throughout July, but if you didn't get a Directory, be sure to ask me at an upcoming meeting.) So, I'm starting a little campaign to get our member data up-to-date. And to improve my success rate, I'll be using the carrot-and-stick approach.
Here's the carrot: I will contribute $5 to the Rotary Foundation for every member who sends me corrections
to their Directory listing (phone numbers, home and email addresses, partners, classification, Rotary anniversary year, etc.)
via email or paper note
BY AUGUST 31, if I could have known the correct data by June 15, when the directory was printed.
(Telling me in person doesn't count, because I forget.)
And here's the stick: You will be fined $5 AFTER AUGUST 31 for errors found in your directory listing (by any member)
that could have been corrected by June 15 and that you haven't already corrected (via email or paper).
In other words, get your corrections in and make me pay, before we make you pay!
This past Tuesday, 17 of us, as well as several spouses, Interact students and our exchange student Sandra, visited the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp for handicapped children. We enjoyed a wonderful picnic prepared by Ernie, and an interesting, informative and inspiring presentation about the Camp by Directors Brian Bartalo ("Mr. Bart") and Mark VanDurme. We also had the opportunity to explore the Camp area (some of us with guidance from a camper from Avon!) This Camp is a major program for our Club as well as several other Rotary Clubs in the Valley. (We contribute many thousands of dollars per year; and they sure could use more, since several other major sources have dried up in the past couple years.) The incredible amount of work of love donated by the many volunteers to make this camp a success goes a long way to explaining the significance of this camp in the lives of over a hundred handicapped children. For most of these kids, this is the only vacation, camping-in-the-woods, having-fun-with-peers experience they have in their lives. And the same goes for their families: for many of them this is the only respite they have from the labor-intensive, time-consuming and emotionally demanding caring for their children. And you make it possible! If you didn't get the chance this year, be sure to go next year! (Tuesday, August 16)
I'm excited about this Tuesday's program. Dr. Doug Stockman, a clinical associate professor at the University of Rochester's Department of Family Medicine, will be speaking on the Clinic in Intibuca, Honduras that his department operates as part of their Global Health Program. The Program addresses many needs in the community, in addition to providing medical care and supplies.Which brings me to our own international project. Now, between the Cornfest just concluded and the Auction not yet under way, is a good time to start laying the foundations. We'll have a short kick-off meeting next week (8/31) after the regular program. Many members have expressed an interest in this special project, and you will be receiving an email with more details. If you're interested but didn't get a chance to sign up, don't worry, we'd love to get you on board too! Just let me know.
We are Rotary - we are "building communities, bridging continents"!
Looking back on...
| Tue 8/17 | Special Meeting |
| Program: | Visit the Genesee Valley Rotary Camp |
| Attendance: |
Present were Marcia C, Julie C, Mark E, Bill G, Dave H, Barbara H, Bob H, Dan J, Ed K, Linda K, Hans K, Jim T, Kevin T, Kirk V, Laurie V, Tom V, Ernie W.
President Hans encourages all who missed a meeting to call
another absentee and do a make-up together. For nearby make-up
options, check the back of our paper directory or the on-line list of
District
club meeting times and places. If you do a make-up, please tell
Secretary Barbara
about it right away, so the correct numbers are reported to the District.
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| Reflections: |
Lots of wonderful impressions, but none were reflected this week. Our mirror (dear Barbara) is not broken, just taking a break... |
| Reflections 2: |
Update: reflections from a different angle, by special contributor Laurie: Despite the 45 minute drive, which goes by fast, car pooling provides the ever popular fellowship opportunity. Arrival at 6 to a fine picnic fare ready and waiting, providing opportunity for relaxing and observing our peaceful wooded surroundings. Short break to wander and begin witnessing the many campers and volunteers, mainly in the dining/group activity building. The theme for the week was that of a Mexican Fiesta. We sat and listened to Brian & Mark give their overview of the camp and mission. Very inspiring indeed! It is amazing the number of volunteers dedicated to this week long program and the number of children and families this touches in life inspiring ways. For the last few years that I have visited, I always leave feeling inspired, after witnessing the workings there and thankfulness for the gifts in my life. I am proud to be a Rotarian, working hard at our club fund-raisers and helping support GVRC.
Your President-Nominee,
Laurie Vonglis |
Looking forward to...
The Avon Rotary calendar is also available at http://www.avonrotary.org/calendar.php.
Other news
District Oratorical Contest
The District would like to encourage our participation in the Oratorical Contest for high school juniors. On Wednesday August 25 there will be an information meeting on what the Oratorical Contest is all about. The dinner meeting will be held at Lillian's Restaurant, 2200 Penfield Road in Penfield (map). The phone number there is (585) 377-1300. Ideally, a member of our Club with ties to the high school will get involved, but don't let that stop you. If you are at all interested, please let me know. For more information, feel free also to contact District Chair Don Collins, 394-3282.
Group Study Exchange
Here is a fantastic opportunity that is international and sponsored by The Rotary Foundation. The Group Study Exchange program (GSE) will be sending a team to District 4190 located in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. The exchange will be during the month of May 2011. The goal of GSE is to build international understanding, goodwill, and friendship through month long exchanges. Our district has begun its search for qualified candidates for both GSE Team Leader (Rotarian) and for Team Members (Non-Rotarian and can not be directly related to a Rotarian). If you are interested in being the team leader, or know of potential candidates for this exchange (young professionals, ages 25-40), please contact Rotary District 7120 GSE Chair, Robert Hunt (rhunt1@rochester.rr.com). Information, requirements, promotional materials, and application forms can be found at www.Rotary.org.
Rotary Leadership Institute
The Rotary Leadership Institute provides terrific courses on Rotary, from your basic Rotary 101 to advanced leadership training. Although courses are given all the time all over the world (see north-east calendar), the one closest to us will be on the first Saturday in November (11/6) in Canandaigua. Registration is at 7:30, and classes run from 8:00 - 3:30. There are four training levels. New Rotarians, Board members and committee chairs (current and aspiring) are especially encouraged to attend. (Yes, I will be attending. Let's go together!) The cost is $65 per person, and the Club can help with that. Also, District 7120's session of RLI is always extremely well attended, so get your reservation in early!
Reminder: don't forget to order your meal!
Please submit your favorite sayings, noteworthy
events, etc, and we'll gladly include it here.
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The Avon Rotary Newsletter
is published more or less weekly during Pres. Hans Koomen's reign. Day of issue tends to be Sunday. If you have any items you'd like to include in the newsletter, please send Hans a note by Saturday! |
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