Governor's Message - February 29, 2016
Governor's Message: Happy birthday to our leap year Rotarians!
By Jim Fusco
I checked our records and we have two Rotarians who were born on February 29. Can you imagine having a birthday only every four years? Are you aging slower than the rest of us?
I had a great week, starting off with the Foundation Transition meeting last Monday (see details, below) and continued the week with
our monthly Assistant Governors' meeting, the RYLA Facilitators' meeting (see photo, right), and the Areas 6 & 7 Teams' meeting. Last Thursday, I attended the North Worcester County Salvation Army Appreciation Dinner, during which three Rotary clubs were recognized for their Bell Ringing participation. Congratulations goes out to the Fitchburg club, which won the top Bell Ringing Award and took home the bell (see article on front page). Karin Gaffney, chair of the District Conference Committee, and I continue to hold subcommittee meetings as we continue our planning for your 2016 District Conference in May (see article on front page).
our monthly Assistant Governors' meeting, the RYLA Facilitators' meeting (see photo, right), and the Areas 6 & 7 Teams' meeting. Last Thursday, I attended the North Worcester County Salvation Army Appreciation Dinner, during which three Rotary clubs were recognized for their Bell Ringing participation. Congratulations goes out to the Fitchburg club, which won the top Bell Ringing Award and took home the bell (see article on front page). Karin Gaffney, chair of the District Conference Committee, and I continue to hold subcommittee meetings as we continue our planning for your 2016 District Conference in May (see article on front page).There will be plenty of things to do this week because this evening we will hold our first Rotaract Advisor Training Seminar at Framingham State University (see article on front page) as well as our Area 3 Team meeting. This Wednesday, we will hold our Nominating Committee meeting, during which we will select a trustee for the District Charity Fund, and this Thursday I will have the privilege of inducting two new members at the meeting of the Ayer club. On Sunday, I will travel to Concord to attend that club’s Skating Social.
Polio Giving: Because Carl Good has asked me to report on polio giving for Rotary Year 2015-2016, I am including it here. When I made my official visit to your club, I explained that I would like to see every club set a goal for polio giving, and would like to have every club donate to Polio Plus. I checked the Polio Giving Report and noted that 40 clubs have still not set a Polio Giving Goal on Club Central and that 21 clubs have still not made a donation to Polio Plus. I urge you to check out the article on polio in the left column of District 7910’s Home page, ask your President and/or Foundation Chair to enter the Polio giving goal and then make your donations.
Presidential Citation: When the current set of club presidents attended pre-PETS in February 2015, PETS in March 2015 as well as during my official visits to your clubs, I talked to you about the Presidential Citation. I explained that it was be issued by Rotary International President K.R. "Ravi" Ravindran to recognize the accomplishments of the Rotary clubs. I explained that I would like to see every club in District 7910 earn the Presidential Citation. I further explained that a form did not need to be submitted to be considered for this recognition and that all clubs have to do is have a great year and enter their club goals and accomplishments into Club Central. Once you do that, RI will track your progress toward qualifying for the Presidential Citation.
After reviewing the progress of clubs towards earning the Presidential Citation, I noticed that none of our clubs qualify for the citation because not enough goals and accomplished activities have been entered in Club Central. The deadline to have this information entered and to qualify for the Presidential Citation is this April 1, so I encourage every club to click here, look at the Presidential Citation, and make an effort to accomplish the activities required to qualify.
Foundation: The Foundation Transition meeting was held last Monday and Incoming District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande (shown, standing in photo, left) made a presentation. I was thrilled that more than 30 people attended this meeting to learn what was being planned for your Foundation. To view the presentation made by Sanjay, click here. District and Global Grants for 2015-2016 Rotary year: We are working hard to close out the grants for the 2015-2016 Rotary year, which ends this June 30. We have set up a team of five people to help the clubs close out their grants. If your club has a District Grant for the ‘15-‘16 year, you should be working on your Final Report, which is due by this April 15, so you can receive your grant match from the District 7910. If you have any questions, please contact your assigned closer. Their contact information is in the 2015-2016 District Directory. They are:
- 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: As noted last week, I was going to contact those clubs that have outstanding Rotary International and District 7910 dues. I have done that and many clubs have made their payments. Thank you. Next week, I will give another update on the status of dues.
Club-planning worksheets: Hopefully, everyone is working hard in updating their Club Planning Worksheets. The deadline to send me your club’s worksheet is this April 1 so please mark down this important date. I would like to see every club submit their sheet to me by April 1. Please contact me if you have any questions at jim.fusco2@gmail.com. The Club Planning Worksheet is very important to me, so I would appreciate it if every club would respond to me. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.
Facebook “Like” Contest: Hopefully, you have visited the Event page for our upcoming District Conference, which is part of our overall Facebook page. It is our goal to increase the “likes” on our Facebook page, so we are running a contest to increase those “likes.” The contest ends this April 15 and the club with the “most amount” and the club with the “highest percent” of members liking our page as of April 15 will win a free harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle during our District Conference.
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 84 days away and registration is open. To register, click here. To view the promotional video, which was produced by Assistant Governor Richard Simon, click here. To view and download the eight-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; and a harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle. Please check out my new series of articles titled “District Conference: Things I want you to know,” in the middle column of the front page, which will feature different District Conference highlights each week.
District Banners: Our district banners continue to be 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.
Rotaract Advisor Training Seminar: Our first Rotaract Advisor Training Seminar will be held tonight at Framingham State University (see article on front page). All club Rotaract chairs are urged to attend. This event will be videotaped and many photos will be taken. If you have any questions, please contact District Rotaract Chair Carl Gomes at carlcgomes56@icloud.com.
Rotary Leadership Institute: RLI is a great program and I encourage you to attend. RLI is geared towards all Rotarians - new members and current and future club and district leadership. The next RLI will be held in Lincoln, RI on Saturday March 26.To register, click here. Thank you for being part of a great organization and for being a Gift to the World.
We are having a great year!
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