Welcome to a new Rotary year and a new District Foundation team.
Dear Rotarians,
My name is John Wasta. I am a forty-year member of the Cedar Rapids club. I am honored to be your new District Foundation chair for the next three years. I am a third generation Rotarian and a former club President.
I want to introduce you and your club to the new
District Foundation team. Our goal is to expand the knowledge of and donations to our Rotary Foundation. I believe in Rotary and the tremendous good that Rotary has, is and will continue to do in our communities and in the world. I also believe that The Rotary Foundation offers each Rotarian with the means to accomplish their project goals.
Jim Coloff of the Cedar Falls club is our District Foundation District Grants chair. I introduce him first because he is already at work getting his review team together to look over and choose the District Grants we will be giving out, from the 14 club and Rotaract applications the District received before the June 15th deadline. Jim is a past District Governor and I am pleased he has chosen to continue to work at the District level.
Chris Lindell of the Cedar Rapids club is our District Foundation Global and Peace Scholars Chair. He also has already started his work and has contacted every college and university in our District to start the process of recruiting the next scholar this District will support in their journey. I am pleased that Chris chose to return to scholar work for the District as he has lead this effort in the past.
Michelle Bell of the Linn County club is our District Foundation Global Grants chair. This is a continuation position for her. Being the over achiever she is she is also our Assistant Rotary Regional Foundation Coordinator and works on the Zone level. Michelle was instrumental in coordinating one of the first reverse Global Grants from The Rotary Foundation that brought $160,000.00 of medical equipment into our District for four local Health Centers. Michelle is also a former District Governor.
Bob Rose of the Spencer club continues as our District Foundation Polio Plus chair. What a passionate Rotarian Bob is. He has recruited donations from Rotarians and non Rotarians alike. His understanding and drive to support Polio Plus inspires me every time I talk to him or one of his donor recruits. His goal is to present to every club in the District. I encourage you to invite him in.
Doug Laird of the Cedar Rapids club is our District Foundation Paul Harris Society chair. Doug started our District’s Paul Harris Society seven or eight years ago when he was District Foundation Chair. There are currently 58 members of the Society and they donate a major portion of the monies we are able to distribute on the District level through District and Global grants. I am pleased to have Doug back working on the Paul Harris Society.
Theresa Mickelson of the Cedar Rapids Sunrise club will be replacing me as the District Foundation Fund Raising chair. She will lead the effort for the Rotary Rush campaign and the District Duck Race as well as other fund raising efforts we come up with. Theresa has been an Assistant Governor and a leader within her club.
Shannon Duncan of the Decorah club is our District Foundation Stewardship chair. It is her job to make sure all the steps are followed on every District and Global grant the District provides. Shannon has also just been named our District Governor Elect Nominee-Designate so she will be District Governor in year 2024 – 2025.
Bill Jacobson of the Cedar Rapids club continues as our District Foundation Ombudsman. If there are concerns or questions about how the District Foundation committee is doing it’s work it is Bill’s job to step in and make sure the processes are being followed.
Suellen Kolbet of the New Hampton club is our District Executive Secretary and has agreed to be the District Foundation Communications chair and the District Foundation Treasurer. Suellen is essential to all things District and I welcome her expertise in keeping communications and monies flowing in the right direction.
This is my team. I invite you to contact any of them with your questions and with your ideas on how to further the District with The Rotary Foundation.
In future newsletters I will be updating you on how we are doing with The Foundation as a District and working with the club Foundation chairs to get more information to you. As you can see from the team there is a lot going on at The Rotary Foundation and it is my job to get the information out. Please contact me if I can help you on your Rotary path.