Foundation Seminar on September 12 at USD Kroc Institute of Peace & Justice.

 

Plan to join your fellow Rotarians at the Rotary Foundation Seminar at the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ) at the University of San Diego on September 12, 2009.  We will begin the day with a continental breakfast and registration on the patio at 7:30 AM, the Convocation will begin at 8:30 AM in the IPJ Theatre.  We will hold three breakout sessions where you can find out more about Ambassadorial Scholars, Group Study Exchange Teams, Water Projects, and Planned Giving.  We will reassemble in the theatre for a presentation on Polio and the Future Vision Pilot program.  Bring your Red Badgers, spouses, and friends to learn more about the magic of Rotary.  There is limited space so sign up early. You can register for the Seminar online at our District website (http://www.rotary5340.org/registration/seminar0909.html).

 

 

LEAD Camp holds Inaugural meeting at Camp Palomar on September 26 & 27.

Our first LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, and Determination) program for 8^th grade students will begin its inaugural program at Camp Palomar.  Over 100 middle school students will join a group of Rotarians for an educational weekend together.  The curriculum will include discussions of Ethics, the Rotary 4 Way Test, and Leadership skills.  Paul Pierce, (pepierce@cox.net)  Encinitas Rotary Club, is chairing this event and is still looking for clubs willing to sponsor a teams of students and Rotarians to facilitate this event.  Please contact Paul for more information or to help with sponsorship.

 

Rotary Youth Exchange Program has Successful “Run” in San Diego area this summer

Our short-term Rotary Youth Exchange Program brings young musicians from all over the world to study with our award winning San Diego Youth Symphony.  These students stay in the homes of Rotarians and have fun activities in addition to their rehearsals and performances while they are in San Diego.  They performed together on Saturday, August 1, at the beautifully restored Balboa Theatre in Horton Plaza and will perform excerpts of their performance at the District Council dinner on August 4 at the Escondido Center for the Arts.  Many thanks to those Rotarians who have supported this program through the years.

 

October Regional Councils—A New look in District events

Responding to surveys of recent Club Presidents, we will kick off our Regional Councils in October to bring events closer to home, make them more affordable, and feature topics and speakers of local interest.  Here are events planned for October.  Please contact the Regional Coordinators for more information:

October Regional Council Meetings:

• October 3—9:30 AM--Imperial Valley Regional Brunch meeting at the El Centro Police Academy-- Regional Coordinator Sylvana Meeks: rsmeeks@sbcglobal.net
• October 5—5:00 PM—North Coastal Regional Council Dinner at the Hilton Garden Hotel in Carlsbad.  Regional Coordinator Russ Hanthorn: russ5340@gmail.com
• October 6—6:00 PM—East County Regional Council Dinner at Cuyamaca College.  Regional Coordinator Bill Ashman: MrBill5340@cox.net
• October 15—6:00 PM—Metro Area Regional Council Dinner at the Bahia Resort. Regional Coordinator Linda Stouffer: lstouffer@torreypinesbank.com
• October 24—9:30 AM—North County Inland Regional Council Brunch at the Escondido Elks Lodge. Regional Coordinator Kim Muslusky:  kimcog@san.rr.com
• October 28—12:00 Noon—South Bay Regional Council Luncheon—at the Hotel del Coronado.  Regional Coordinator Bev Sumwalt:  bsumwalt@pacbell.net

 

District Governor Selection for 2012-13 moves up

Our District leadership has announced the timeline for selection of the District Governor for 2012-13.  Applications will be available on August 7 and the deadline for submitting them is October 23, 2009.  Interviews will be held on October 31, 2009 at the District Office.  Following the time period for challenges, the District Governor Nominee Designate (DGND) will be seated in January 2009.  This will allow the candidate to attend a number of training activities including PETS, District Assembly, and the District Conference.  A reception for interested Rotarians will be held at the home of PDG Mike & Karen Stelman on August 26 at 5:30 PM.  Please contact PDG Pam Russell for more information (pamrussell@sbcglobal.net).

 

Cast your books upon the waters…they will return to you five-fold

Our Rotary District donated over 5000 children’s books to the Rotary International Convention in Los Angeles in June 2008—these books helped the total of 242,000 books which broke a Guinness Book of World Records.  The books were stored at an LA Times warehouse and distributed to the southern seven Rotary Districts who sponsored and hosted the LA Convention.  PDG Jim O’Meara brought over 25,000 children’s books back to our District in May and June of this year.  The books were delivered to pick up locations in San Marcos, Spring Valley, El Cajon, El Centro, and the San Diego County Office of Education.  Rotarians, elementary teachers, and reading volunteers were invited to pick up books to distribute to children in low income schools in the 3^rd grade and below.   The children of our District thank the Rotarians and PDG Jim O’Meara who donated and distributed the books.   This was a great Literacy project - plan your project for September - Rotary Literacy Month.  If you need ideas, contact our District Literacy Chair Jean Kerr (jeanmkerr@gmail.com) for a program in your club.

 

A Word to the Wise:  50-50 and Cash Drawing Raffles are Illegal

Many clubs use a raffle at their weekly club meetings to generate funds; the most popular is the 50-50 Raffle (a raffle where half of the funds go to the Club and the other half to the winner).  The California Department of Justice has asked an Orange County Rotary Club to provide forms for their 50-50 Cash Raffle going back for the past 7 years—this means they must provide over 350 forms accounting for the winnings of the raffles—probably a report that most clubs do not maintain once the raffle is held.  Apparently there is a possible fine of $800. per board member of the current Club Board for approving and operating these illegal raffles.  If your Club is currently using this technique as a fund raiser; begin keeping records of the amount collected, the name(s) of the winner(s) in case there is later a question about your raffle.

 

Give a Day to Charity, Get a Night at Hotel
Sage Hospitality has come up with a novel idea to promote both their hotels and volunteerism: it’s offering half-price rooms for those who have completed a day of charity work. A limited number of free nights are also available at the group’s hotels, which include Marriott, Starwood and Hilton locations. At check-in, guests show a letter from a registered non-profit organization that proves they’ve undertaken 8 hours of voluntary work. This entitles them to 50% off the published price of any night in the hotel. Sage's Give a Day, Get a Night promotion runs from July to December 2009, and the charity work needs to have been completed by December 18th.   Clubs will need to provide letters verifying volunteer work.
Website: www.sagehospitality.com/specials/giveadaygetanight.html 
Contact: www.sagehospitality.com/contact.html