Governor's Message - May 9, 2016
Seven important things about the District Conference
By Jim Fusco
- For the Business Meeting on Friday, you need to present the signed Credentials that were sent to your club
- For the Memorial Service on Sunday, we need name of your deceased members: send them to me
- For the Paul Harris Dinner, send names of any Paul Harris Recognitions that you want presented
- Dress code for the Paul Harris Dinner on Friday is ‘Black Tie Optional’
- White sneakers are optional for the entire District Conference, including Friday’s Paul Harris Dinner
- Register now For The District Conference
- We had a GREAT YEAR and WE will CELEBRATE and have FUN!
Meanwhile, we added two new members last week, but we also lost one. So we were net plus-one for the week. We need to do better than that, so make sure you are engaging your current members to improve your retention rate and continue to attract new members. Let’s continue to do great things in our communities and get these stories published in the local media. Then, we will continue the upward trend in membership. Remember that all you need to do is identify a person who you believe would make a Great Rotarian and ASK.
Other than the rain, it was a great week. The District Scholarship Committee met last Monday and will meet again in early June. It is the Committee’s objective to promote the scholarships that are available to our district and to get applicants to apply.
Newton Rotary will be hosting Global Scholar Tatsuya Hayase from Japan, sponsored by the Rotary clubs of Nagoya-South and Nagoya Meito, who will be attending Brandeis University and will be hosted by the Newton club. Thank you, Newton President Indira Desai, who will be attending Brandeis University this fall. Meanwhile, we are sad to say the Global Scholar from Tibet, who is being hosted by Waltham Rotary, is finishing up his schooling at Brandeis and returning to Beijing. I want to thank the Waltham club for being his host during his stay. The good news is that we now have an incoming Global Scholar
Last Wednesday was a big day for us as Rotary International Zone 24/32 Director Julia Phelps (shown, right) attended our District Council meeting and then addressed 30 of our district leaders. Julia was here at the request of RI President Ravi Ravindran and discussed the decisions reached at RI’s recent Council on Legislation meeting, including club-meeting changes, leadership and Foundation. This was a very valuable visit and hopefully incoming RI Director Dean Rohrs will visit us during her two-year term.Last Thursday, I attended the Northborough Rotary meeting and had the honor of presenting a Paul Harris Award to Northborough city employee Kathy Jubert 
to recognize her community service. On Friday, Athol Rotary held its annual “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and Westborough Rotary kicked off its “Spring Festival.” And on Saturday, Ayer Rotary held its annual “Ducky Wucky Race” and Chelmsford Rotary held its “Center Village Duck Festival.” (I am sure there are many other club events that I have not mentioned.) If I missed your event I apologize.
to recognize her community service. On Friday, Athol Rotary held its annual “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and Westborough Rotary kicked off its “Spring Festival.” And on Saturday, Ayer Rotary held its annual “Ducky Wucky Race” and Chelmsford Rotary held its “Center Village Duck Festival.” (I am sure there are many other club events that I have not mentioned.) If I missed your event I apologize.Rotary Leadership Academy was held on Saturday in Peabody and District 7910 was represented. RLI is a great program for all Rotarians and I encourage you to watch for the RLI dates that get posted in this Newsletter and attend. It has been proven that Rotarians who attend RLI are more engaged and, as a result, have a higher retention rate. While I was not there, I did get an opportunity to watch the Kentucky Derby. I was hoping to relax with my Mint Juleps, but I did not have any mint so I settled for a glass of wine. I am glad I am not a gambler because once again I picked the loser.
Finally, on Sunday, I had a small Rotary workload so I had the opportunity to enjoy Mother’s Day by cooking a lobster-and-steamers dinner for my wife, Karen Fusco, who belongs to Fitchburg Rotary, daughter Heather and granddaughter Abrianna.
This week will be a busy one as we hold our Second Grant Qualification Seminar this evening in Leominster. Tomorrow, our quarterly Membership Committee meeting will be held. And on Thursday, we will hold our final District Conference Committee meeting.
Are you a golfer? Don’t forget that we will be kicking off our District Golf Fellowship League Thursday at Sterling Country Club in Sterling. All Rotariansand partners are welcome to attend so try to join us. Unfortunately, Karen and I will not be golfing but we are planning to drop in to enjoy some fellowship at the 19th hole.Newton Rotary will hold its “Craft Beer Festival” this Thursday. But unfortunately, I am unable to attend. On Friday, Leominster Rotary will hold its seventh annual “Wine Pairing” and both Karen and I will be there.
Although I showed the chart, below, in my last two reports, I want to show it again because I am so proud of the grants that our clubs have done during my year! We have 27 District Grants for the 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 did with our grant funding during ‘15-’16:
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Club
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Project Title
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Acton
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Acton Food Pantry Project
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Athol-Orange
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Backpacks for Breakfast Project
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Auburn
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Robert Goddard Park Renovation Plan A
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Ayer
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Big Book Project with Regional HS.
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Bedford
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Track & Field Equipment for HS
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Brookline
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School Construction in Nepal
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Concord
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Putting Green for Minute Man Arc Special Need Community
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District
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Gov Special Project for Food Packing Event
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Fitchburg
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Fitchburg Food Pantry Project
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Framingham
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Air Conditioners for Seniors in Public Housing
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Groton-Pepperell
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Teen Age Anxiety Project in Groton area schools
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Hudson
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Armenia Water Project
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Littleton
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Food Bank Project
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Milford
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Swim Program for Local Community
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Montachusett Area
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Dictionary Project #1
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Nashoba Valley
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Healing Garden Project for Area Hospitals
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Natick
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Make A Difference Project
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Needham
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Back Packs for Maine Project
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Neponset Valley
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School On Wheels Project for Needy Students
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Newton
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Dictionary Project
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Northborough
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Crock-Pots for clients of Northborough Food Bank
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Shrewsbury
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School Project in Haiti
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Sturbridge
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Saint John Paul II Food Pantry
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Tewksbury
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Food Bank Project
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Tyngsboro-Dunstable
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Special Needs Fishing Project
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Wachusett Area
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Wachusett Area Food Pantry and NEADS Project
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Westborough
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Promoting Fuel Assisting Support for Senior Citizens
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Don’t forget that to participate in grants for the ‘16-‘17 cycle. Then, at least one, hopefully two members from your club will need to have attended one of the two Foundation Grant Qualification Seminars – the first of which took place last week. To register for the second and final Seminar, tonight in Leominster, click here.
Our District Awards Committee is still hard at work reviewing the Club Planning Worksheets and other submitted awards. These awards will be presented at our upcoming 2016 District Conference. If either member of your club or your club as a whole is receiving an award, the Awards Committee would be contacting your club president to let him or her know, so you will have time to register for the District Conference to show your Rotarian support. To register for the District Conference on May 20 through 22 in Plymouth, click here.
Facebook “Like” Contest: The winners are: Westborough Rotary for most “likes” by a club’ and Auburn Rotary for highest percentage of “likes” for a club. Congratulations! Each club wins two tickets for the Plymouth Harbor Cruise aboard the Pilgrim Belle on Saturday, May 21 during the District Conference. 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: Don’t forget that the District 7910 Fellowship Golf League will tee off this Thursday, May 12 at the Sterling Country Club. Click here to 
register. We still have openings for the District Conference Golf Outing on Saturday, May 21 at Squirrel Run Country Club in Plymouth. Click here, to register.
register. We still have openings for the District Conference Golf Outing on Saturday, May 21 at Squirrel Run Country Club in Plymouth. Click here, to register.RYLA Volunteers Needed: Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is only nine weeks away. The program is being finalized, but right now we need volunteers. RYLA Vice Chair Christine Pinney reminds us 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 11 days, we will be celebrating your year on Friday, May 20 through Sunday, May 22 in Plymouth. There are a bunch of things that you should know to make this an unforgettable experience. So here you go:- To register, click here. If you need to book a room you will need to call The Hotel at 1620.
- Saturday afternoon will be free time. Take a Harbor Cruise on the Pilgrim Belle and enjoy a lobster roll lunch or a deli lunch. Play a round of golf at Squirrel Run Country Club in Plymouth. Or, visit Plimouth Plantation.
- Business Meeting on Friday - and every club should send a delegate.
- House of Friendship on bith Friday and Saturday - and every club should have a display
- Silent Auction on both Friday and Saturday - and every club should donate an auction item
- Hospitality “Sweets” on both 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 on April 16).
- Reception for Past District Governors as well as Major Donors on Friday (Invitations were sent on April 16).
- Paul Harris Dinner on Friday - featuring a surprise visit from Paul Harris
- Keynote speakers from Plimouth Plantation during the Friday and Saturday dinners
- Discount tickets to the Plimouth Plantation
- And much, much more!
For the complete District Conference Booklet (see, left), click here.Foundation Grants Qualification Seminar, formally known as Grant Management Training, is required for a club to qualify for grants, as explained by Incoming District Foundation Chair Sanjay Deshpande. (Click here, to view and download the February 29 version, in PDF format). The first of two sessions was held on April 30 and the second will be held this evening at the DoubleTree Hotel in Leominster.
RI and District Semi-Annual Dues: The next dues bills will be sent to you in July and they will be based upon your membership numbers as reported as of this June 30. The amounts cannot be adjusted so please ensure that your club’s 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 11 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 13-page Conference Booklet, which includes the answers to frequently asked questions, click here.
Harbor to celebrate your year, is only 11 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 13-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 (click here); and a harbor cruise on the Pilgrim Belle (click here). Please check out “District Conference: Things I want you to know” (front page, middle column).
District Banners: Our district banners have been busy. This weekend they were in use by Bedford and by Athol-Orange. They are available for this week and of course they will be on display at the District Conference in Plymouth. 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!
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