November, 2020

 

Don Meyer, District 5970 Foundation Chair

 
Foundation First newsletter
November, 2020
 
 
 
Dear Rotarians,
 
REMEMBER NOVEMBER!  This month is Rotary Foundation month in the Rotary Year calendar.  It’s my favorite month of the year!  It launches us into the spirit of giving that is so prominent at year end.  Just like the retail world, nonprofits gear up for the holiday season.  We have to.  Thirty percent of all annual giving occurs in December with 10% of that total happening within the last three days of the year (according to Nonprofits Source). 
 
Remember that your gifts to the Foundation’s Annual Fund provide the funding our District receives for district grants.  In other words, your gifts are returned to you when your club is awarded a district grant. 
 
This year District 5970 also received two $25,000 Disaster Response Grants in the last 8 months.  One provided help for fighting Covid-19 and the other provided help to those impacted by the derecho.  Gifts to The Rotary Foundation save lives. 
 
Thank you for promoting The Rotary Foundation in your clubs this month.  We have a great team of folks who can present a program at your club meeting—in person or by zoom.  Please let me know if you would like a presenter and I will connect you with one! 
 
 
EREY—Every Rotarian, Every Year
 
Many of you give every year to The Rotary Foundation.  Thank you!  There are also Rotarians in our District who have yet to get started in their giving to The Rotary Foundation.  If your club is looking for a way to encourage giving to the Foundation, a good step is to run a campaign to be an Every Rotarian Every Year Club.  To qualify for that title, every member must give at least $25 in the Rotary year and have the club average $100 per member.  I challenge you to go for it!
 
        Click here for the EREY promotional brochure.  
 
 
Rotary Rush Is Coming!
 
Once again we have a Major Donor in the District who will be matching your gifts to the Annual Fund of the Foundation with recognition points.  This is a terrific opportunity to reach your first or multiple Paul Harris Fellow level in your giving!  The opportunity will run from this  December through next February.  Watch for more details to come! 
 
 
Global Scholar Rebecca Draus Is In Scotland!
 
 
Our 2020-21 Global Scholar, Rebecca Draus, has arrived in Scotland.  She was fortunate to make her way to Glasgow, Scotland safely.  Here is her first update:
 
I arrived in Glasgow on September 14th and, after arriving at the University of Strathclyde, I collected the keys to my flat and began my two week quarantine. Students who have to quarantine are asked to stay in their rooms, except to use the kitchen or collect deliveries. The University provided two boxes of food, and I am so very grateful for my host Rotary Club (Rotary of Glasgow Charing Cross) for gathering some kitchen supplies for me. The Charing Cross Rotary Club also took the time to call and email me throughout my quarantine time to make sure that I was doing okay and to ask if I needed anything. I have also been invited to visit with various Rotary Clubs through Zoom, which has been a wonderful way to meet people in Glasgow and learn about their charity activities (and participated in a charity Zoom bingo event!) during this time of COVID.
 
During the second week of quarantining, I started my classes online. They are set up for us to watch recorded lectures and do some reading, and then have Zoom classes once a week for discussion and questions. Originally, classes were supposed to start online and then transition to blended learning after a couple of weeks. Unfortunately, they have seen an increase in COVID cases in the UK and they have put some more restrictions in place to help slow the spread, which means we probably will continue with online classes through the rest of this year. These restrictions also make it a bit difficult to meet new students. The current rules say that only 6 people from 2 households can gather at a time, but if case numbers go down this rule will change.
 
This past Monday, I was finally done with quarantine and was able to go out for a walk around Glasgow with four of my flatmates (the fifth one hadn’t moved in yet). We had a wonderful time walking around the city centre, and getting to know each other and sharing about the countries we come from - China, South Korea, Italy, Greece, Hong Kong, and, of course, the USA. We have spent some time together when eating, and some evenings hanging out enjoying each other's company.
 
This week has been an awesome mix of classwork (and getting to know my classmates better virtually), exploring part of the city, and hanging out with my flatmates. I am excited for this year, and, while it may be different from my original expectations, I can’t wait to meet more people and do some small trips around Scotland. I am so grateful for this opportunity and all those who have helped make it possible.
 
Becca Draus
 
Yours in Rotary,
Don Meyer
District Foundation Chair                                                                                                                              
 
 
                                   

Donald Meyer

District 5970 Foundation Chair

donald.meyer@wartburg.edu