Governor's Message - April 25, 2016

Governor's Message - April 25, 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
REGISTER NOW FOR THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE EARLY-BIRD DISCOUNT PRICES!
 
DISCOUNTED PRICES FOR THE PACKAGE DEALS ARE ONLY IN EFFECT UNTIL 11:59 PM ON THURSDAY, APRIL 28.
 
Register Now! Click here
 
 
 
Governor’s Message: Register now for District Conference
 
By Jim Fusco
 
Before I dive deeply into this week’s message, I want to let you know that Acton-Boxborough will have a great speaker at its lunch meeting on Wednesday, May 4. Their speaker is Past District Governor (2008-2009) UB Bhat of District 3910 in Bangalore, India, who will talk about his experiences as a passenger on the Indian Airlines flight that was hijacked. He was held hostage for nearly two weeks and has a great story to tell. If you plan to attend this presentation, please let club President Diana Nestorova know so the restaurant has a reasonable count. Contact Diana at diana_nestorova@hotmail.com. They ring the bell at 12 noon.
 
For more information on PDG UB Bhat (shown, right), click here and click here.
 
District-wide, Rotary-club membership was down a net of one last week, which was disappointing. Let’s continue to do great things in our communities and get these stories published in the local media. Then, we will resume the upward trend in membership. Remember that all you need to do is identify a person whom you believe would make a Great Rotarian - and ask them.
 
Last Monday, District Conference Chair Karin Gaffney and I went to Plymouth to finalize District Conference planning. We had the privilege of having lunch at the Blue Eyed Crab Gille & Raw Bar, in Village Marketplace,with Mike Lincoln, president of the Plymouth Sunrise Rotary. Shown, left to right are Mike Lincoln, Karin Gaffney and me.
 
There are two Rotary clubs in Plymouth and both will have a presence at out District Conference. Remember that the Discounted Package prices end on April 28, so I recommend that you register now to save money. To register, click here.
 
On the way back from Plymouth, I stopped in at the District Public Relations Committee meeting in Boxborough, where Chair Laura Spear reported on the successful Social Media Seminar held on March 31 and gave us her District PR vision for the 2016-2017 Rotary year, which begins on July 1. To watch videos of each the six Seminar sessions as well as the event’s keynote speaker, click here.
 
Last Tuesday, for lunch, I attended the Dracut Rotary meeting and then spent some time with District Treasurer  Lee Ouellette reviewing the District financials. That evening, I was on Fitchburg Access TV’s “Barbara and You” show talking about a local fundraiser and promoting Rotary.
 
The District Foundation Committee met last Wednesday and Chair Roy Balfour gave the good news that we have 27 District Grants for this 2015-2016 Rotary year and every club is in compliance, with either Final Reports being submitted or Interim Reports being filed. Here are some of the great projects that our clubs have done with our grant funding for the ‘15-‘16 Rotary year.
 
Club
Project Title
Natick
Make A Difference Project
Nashoba Valley
Healing Garden Project for Area Hospitals
District
Governor’s Special Project for Food Packing Event
Hudson
Armenia Water Project
Westboro
Promoting Fuel Assisting Support for Senior Citizens
Athol Orange
Backpacks for Breakfast Project
Sturbridge
Saint John Paul II Food Pantry
Tyngsboro Dunstable
Special Needs Fishing Project
Montachusett Area
Dictionary Project #1
Groton/Pepperell
Teen Age Anxiety Project in Groton Area Schools
Wachusett Area
Wachusett Area Food Pantry and NEADS Project
Neponset Valley
School On Wheels Project for Needy Students
Concord
Putting Green for Minute Man Arc Special Need Community
Brookline
School Construction in Nepal
Newton
Dictionary Project
Needham
Back Packs for Maine Project
Bedford
Track & Field Equipment for High School
Auburn
Robert Goddard Park Renovation, Plan A
Acton
Acton Food Pantry Project
Littleton
Food Bank Project
Ayer
Big Book Project with Regional High School
Fitchburg
Fitchburg Food Pantry Project
Milford
Swim Program for Local Community
Northboro
Crock-Pots for Clients of Northborough Food Bank
Tewksbury
Food Bank Project
Framingham
 Air Conditioners for Seniors in Public Housing
Shrewsbury
School Project in Haiti
 
Don’t forget that to participate in grants for the ‘16-‘17 cycle, at least one, hopefully two, members from the club need to attend one of the Grant Qualification Seminars.To register for the seminar in Waltham on April 30, click here. To register for the one on May 9 in Leominster, click here. For this week’s “Foundation Update” by District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande, which contains a listing of the 31 proposed District Grants for ‘16-’17, click here.
 
Last Thursday night, I had the honor of speaking at the Grand Court, Order of the Amaranth, Commonwealth of Massachusetts session in Taunton. There were more than 100 people present as I pointed out the many similarities that Rotary and the Amaranth have in common. The Amaranth has a foundation and its primary charity is the Diabetes Association of America. The Amaranth has donated more than $14 million to DAA. The highlight for me was when Honored Lady Cheryl Ann Owoc presented a check to me for The Rotary Foundation.  In photo l to r DG Jim, Cheryl Owoc, H>L> June Haas, Thadeus Owoc.
 
I will be hitting the ground running this week with the District Trustees Meeting this evening, an Assistant Governors meeting on tomorrow, and the Acton-Boxborough club meeting on Wednesday to hear their guest speaker. I also have a District Conference Committee meeting on Wednesday and the Past Presidents Club of Fitchburg annual meeting on Thursday. On Saturday, I will attend the first District Foundation Qualification Seminar in Waltham (click here) presented by Incoming District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande. Remember that for a club to qualify for a grant for 2016-2017 at least one member of the club must attend one one the Grant Qualification Seminars.
 
Our District Awards Committee is still hard at work reviewing the Club Planning Worksheets and other submitted awards. These awards will be presented at the District Conference. If a member of your club or if your club is receiving an award, the Awards Committee will be contacting those club presidents to let them know so you will have time to register for the District Conference to show your Rotarian support. To register for the District Conference, click here.
 
Facebook “Like” Contest: The winners are: Westborough wins for most amount of “likes” by a club and Auburn wins for the highest percentage of members who “liked.” Congratulations! Each club wins two tickets to the harbor cruise aboard the Pilgrim Belle during the District Conference in May. I am sad to report that we did not have one new “like” last week, but I know we can do better. Just because the Facebook contest has ended, do not stop asking people to “like” our page.
 
District Fellowship Golf League:  Don’t forget that the 2016 League (for flyer, click here) starts on Thursday, May 12 at Sterling Country Club in Sterling (click here to register.) We still have openings for the Golf Outing on Saturday, May 21 at Squirrel Run Golf Course in Plymouth, during the District Conference (click here to register).
 
RYLA Volunteers Needed: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is only nine weeks away. The program is being finalized, but now we need volunteers. Christine Pinney has asked me to remind you that, as a rule of thumb, a club should have two volunteers for each RYLA student they are sponsoring. To volunteer, click here.
 
District Conference: In just 25 days, we will be celebrating your year on May 20-22 in Plymouth. There are a bunch of things that you should know to make this an unforgettable experience. So here you go:
  • Package deals are available. The discounted prices end on April 28. So to save money, register now.
  • Saturday afternoon will be free time: Either take a harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle and enjoy a lobster roll lunch or a deli lunch; or play a round of golf at Squirrel Run (click here to register).
  • Business Meeting on Friday, and every club should send a delegate.
  • House of Friendship on Friday and Saturday, and every club should have a display.
  • Silent Auction on Friday and Saturday, and every club should donate an auction item.
  • Hospitality “Sweets” on Friday and Saturday, and every attendee should enjoy the fellowship. (Click here, to reserve a "sweet.")
  • Reception for New Members/Presidents/Presidents-Elect on Saturday. (Invitations were sent out on April 16).
  • Reception for Past District Governors as well as Major Donors on Friday. (Invitations were sent out on April 16).
  • Paul Harris Dinner on Friday.
  • Keynote speakers from Plimouth Plantation during the Friday and Saturday dinners.
  • Discount tickets to the Plimouth Plantation (click here)    
  • And much, much more!
For the complete District Conference Booklet (see, left), click here.
 
Foundation Grants Qualification Seminar: Formerly known as Grant Management Training, this is required for a club to qualify for grants, as explained by Incoming District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande in his presentation on both February 29 and at the recent Northeast Presidents Elect Training Seminar (Click here, to view and download the February 29 version, in PDF format). Two training dates have now been set: Saturday, April 30 at the Hilton Garden in Waltham; and Monday, May 9 at the DoubleTree Hotel in Leominster. For more information, click on the one you want to attend.
 
District and Global Grants for 2015-2016 Rotary year: Thank you to all the clubs for their efforts to close out the District Grants for 2015-2016 and being part of the District Grant Program. Thank you to the following team for helping the clubs close out their grants:
  • Roy Balfour: Hudson, Nashoba Valley, Natick, and Westborough
  • Richard Simon: Groton-Pepperell, Montachusett Area, Neponset Valley, Tyngsboro-Dunstable, and Wachusett Area
  • Joe Badenoff: Bedford, Brookline, Concord, Needham, and Newton
  • Bob Anthony: Acton-Boxborough, Auburn, Ayer, Fitchburg, and Littleton
  • Michelle Gasbarro: Framingham, Milford, Northborough, Shrewsbury, and Tewksbury
RI and District Semi-Annual Dues: Just an early reminder: The next RI and District dues bills will be sent to you in July and they will be based upon your membership numbers as reported to RI as of this June 30. The amounts cannot be adjusted so please assure that the membership records are complete and accurate as of June 30 so you do not end up paying dues for members who will not be returning.
 
District Conference 2016 in Plymouth: It is hard to imagine but your District Conference, to be held from May 20 through 22 at the Hotel 1620 at Plymouth Harbor to celebrate your year, is only 25 days away. To register, click here. To view the promotional video, which was produced by Assistant Governor Richard Simon, click here. To view and download the 11-page Conference Booklet, which includes the answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
 
Don’t forget that this is a family-friendly District Conference, so think about bringing your kids and grandkids. Here are just a few of the exciting things that will happen at the Conference: Paul Harris Dinner; House of Friendship; Silent Auction; Hospitality “Sweets;” Receptions for Presidents, President Elects, New Members and Past District Governors; District Business Meeting, Golf Outing (click here); and harbor cruises on the Pilgrim Belle (click here). Please check out my article titled “District Conference: Things I want you to know” (front page, middle column).
 
District Banners:  Our district banners have been busy. They are now available for you, so if you have an upcoming event or fundraiser and want to reserve one of the banners, please contact PR Chair Laura Spear at laura@spear.net.
 
Thank you for being part of a great organization and for being a Gift to the World.
 
We are having a great year!
 
Jim Fusco, 2015-2016 governor of District 7910, may be reached at  jim.fusco2@gmail.com.