Governor's Monthly eLetter
for May, 2006
Marilyn M. Hummelstein, Governor

 Rotary International District 6150

Marilyn M. Hummelstein
Governor 2005-06

In this issue:

• Annual Awards

• District Conference Photos

• DG Marilyn's Comments

• Rotary at the Ballpark

• Soap Box Derby

• Centennial Grove

• Bay St. Louis, MS Update

• Foundation Seminar

• UNESCO Action for Water

  RI President's Rep.

• Patty Chaffin Leadership Award Recipient

• Program Idea is 150 years in the making

• Dedication

• Promote your club events

• Membership & Attendance Reports

• Subscribe to this eLetter

• Calendar

• Quick Links

DG Marilyn's Closing Remarks from District Conference

"I want to thank you for this wonderful opportunity; this has truely been one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had.

I've always wanted a go to a big family reunion that was mine, but I have a very small family.  Because you gave me this opportunity, the Family of Rotary has become my big family.

Thank you!

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 RI President Stenhammar represented at District Conference by Steve & Sharron Snyder.

If you missed District Conference this year, you missed a very special opportunity to meet a couple of outstanding Rotarians.  

Every one of the 530 Rotary districts around the world holds a District Conference for the Rotarians in the district. Each one of these conferences is attended by an experienced Rotarian who is the official representative of the Rotary International President.  RI President Stenhammar asked Sharron & Steve Snyder from San Rafael, California.

Special thanks to PDG Ken and Sharon Beadles who served as aides to the Synder's during their time with us in Jonesboro.

And a very special THANK YOU to Sharron and Steve for adding so much to our 2006 District Conference.

2006 District Conference Photos

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 Our deepest sympathy is extended to Past District Governor Gary Speed.  Gary's  seventeen year old son, Albert T. Speed, passed away on Friday, May 26, 2006.  The Rotary Club of West Little Rock is collecting donations to The Rotary Foundation in memory of Albert.  Please keep Gary and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

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The Patty Chaffin Leadership Award Recipient Exemplifies Purpose of Award

At this spring’s District 6150 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp the Rotary Club of West Little Rock presented the first Patty Chaffin Memorial Leadership Award to a camper who best exemplifies the quality characteristics demonstrated by Patty during her lifetime. Patty, a member of the West Little Rock Rotary Club was the daughter of 99er Sam and Charlie Chaffin, she lost her life to breast cancer. She was the Co Chair of District 6150 Camp RYLA for many years. The West Little Rock Club decided to memorialize Patty by sponsoring this award annually at Camp RYLA and the first recipient was Ben Onukwube a student sponsored by the Rotary Club of Little Rock (Club 99). On June 6 Ben addressed the club to thank them for his sponsorship. His remarks are reprinted here.

Click to view more photos

Ben Onukwube addresses Club 99 as President French Hill looks on.

Good Afternoon. I would like to thank the Rotary Club of Little Rock, Club 99, for sponsoring my trip to Camp RYLA this year.

Among other things, attending Camp RYLA was the highlight of my junior year. As most people my age, I came to camp with a degree of reserve and skepticism as to what and whom I would encounter during my stay.

Quickly, my ideas were expunged when I made the acquaintance of some of the brightest young people in Arkansas. Almost instantaneously, I could feel and see the ties from which the many new bonds of friendship would be formed.

Camp RYLA provided a sense of belonging, bonding, and a place for great learning. A place that young people everywhere should experience in some way.

The camp taught me about the components that make up leadership –which are: communication, teamwork, listening skills, ambition, resourcefulness, and one’s willingness to stay the course. It taught me that leadership is subtle. Leadership doesn’t boast or order it suggests and directs.

Camp RYLA increased my confidence level and developed my social skills.

To be at Camp RYLA was an honor, and to be the first ever Patty Chaffin Memorial Leadership Award Winner made the experience even more memorable.
I now have a moral obligation to emulate the teachings instilled in me by Camp RYLA within the halls of my school.

I hope that RYLA will continue to educate young people on how to craft their talent of leadership. I strongly implore you as Rotarians to encourage your children and grandchildren who are of age to attend RYLA next year; it is the experience of a lifetime.

Thanks again to Club 99 for the opportunity, and thanks you all for your time.
    
Ben N. Onukwube
May 30, 2006

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Program Idea from Pocahontas

Pocahontas will hold a Sesquicentennial Celebration this fall to celebrate this Northeast Arkansas community’s 150th birthday.

Club President, Dalton Sullivan would like to make himself available to Rotary clubs throughout the district to give a program on the celebration.

For additional information about scheduling a program at your Rotary club, contact:

Dalton Sullivan
Pocahontas Star Herald
PO Box 608
Pocahontas, Arkansas 72455
870-892-4451 - office
870-892-4453 - fax
870-897-5811 - cell
starheraldsports@yahoo.com

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 Calendar

2006

June

• Jun 7-11 -Youth Exchange Outbound Camp for Long-Term Exchange Students
• Jun 11-14 - RI Convention in Sweden & Denmark
• Jun 13-17 - Cleburne County Child Safety Seat Inspector Course
• Jun 17 - D6150 Centennial Grove Dedication
• Jun 17 - RC of West Little Rock Soap Box Derby
• June 22 - DG Installation

July

• Jul 1 - All Rotary Clubs and Districts around the world change leadership and begin the new Rotary year!
• Jul 7 - District Govenor Official Visits start

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Quick links

• Rotary International

• Rotary District 6150

• Mid-America PETS

• RI Zones 29-30

• SCRYE

Awards Presented at District Conference
By Marilyn M. Hummelstein, Governor 2005-06

The annual Rotary District Conference is when we recognize outstanding Rotarians and Rotary clubs.  Here are some of the awards presented at this year's conference.

 View more District Conference Awards

Click image to view larger version.

Past, current and future District Governors gathered during
the District Conference for a photo.

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Rotary Day at the Ball Park Fundraiser
by PDG Ken Stacks & DGNN Ray Keller 

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS Vs. LOS ANGELES DODGERS BASEBALL GAME

DISTRICT FUNDRAISER  JULY 16, 2006 - 1:10 P.M.

Rotary District 6150 has put together an excellent fundraiser package as “All-American As Apple Pie”, a fundraiser with prizes of FOUR all-expense paid trips for two people to St. Louis to see the St. Louis Cardinals play the Los Angeles Dodgers. 

The fundraiser tickets are $10 each, with the club getting to keep $5!!

The following are the details of the winning baseball package for two people.  Four such prizes will be awarded, total value $2,800:

• $400 cash to cover travel expenses.
• A room for two nights at the St. Louis Downtown Marriott Hotel for Saturday and Sunday.
• Two (2) tickets to the St. Louis Cardinals vs. Los Angeles Dodgers baseball game on Sunday, July 16, 2006 at 1:10 P.M, located in the pavilion box seat section.

Each club member is encouraged to sell five tickets.  The club keeps half the sales proceeds.  District 6150 will pay for the costs of the prizes and ticket printing. The money, sold tickets stubs (the part with the buyer’s name) and unsold tickets must be delivered to Ray Keller by noon on June 29, 2005.  The drawing will be held during the district gathering at the installation of Judy Sims, 2006-07 District Governor.  The meeting will be held as part of the Rotary Club of North Little Rock’s meeting at noon on Thursday, June 29, 2006 at Alltel Arena.

Contact information: Ray Keller, Chair
870-926-4442 or raykeller@cox.net

Ken Stacks Co-Chair
870-932-5530 or kstacks@ssarch.com

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Central Arkansas Soap Box Derby
Rotary Club of West Little Rock

Its been called “The Greatest Amateur Racing Event in the World,” “The Gravity Grand Prix” and many other expansive euphemisms – but the more the one million youngsters who’ve Participated, it’s simply the “Soap Box Derby.” The 5th Annual Central Arkansas Soap Box Derby returns to Little Rock on June 17th, 2006.

Learn more about this exciting project and event.

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Rotary District 6150 Centennial Grove Dedication

WHEN: June 17, 2006 – 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

WHO: Rotarians, supporters & friends of the Rotary District 6150 Centennial Grove Project

WHAT: Dedication of the Centennial Grove including entertainment by the “Greasy Greens”, dedication ceremony, time capsule burial and lunch provided by the Rotary Club of South Little Rock.

WHERE: MacArthur Park, Little Rock, Arkansas   map  

For additional information contact Barry Goldberg - barry.goldberg@entelechypartners.com  or 501.219.0837

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  Foundation & Membership Success Seminars
Chuck Frazier, RRFC                  
Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator

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UNESCO discusses 'Action for Water' at Rotary Day
Story by Jane Lawicki
Rotary International News

"The world is facing a water crisis," said James Michael Kulikowski, a representative of UNESCO's director-general at the first UNESCO Rotary Day.

"Action for Water" was the theme for the event, held 12 May at UNESCO headquarters in Paris. More than 200 Rotary members and guests from approximately 20 countries attended.

"We have the scientific knowledge and action. We need to bring the solutions to the people who need them, particularly at the local level," said Kulikowski.

Providing an overview of today's water challenges, Andras Szollosi-Nagy, deputy assistant director-general for the natural sciences of UNESCO, explained that 97 percent of the earth's water supply is salt water. Of what remains, 90 percent is held in ice, glaciers, or underground. Only .007 percent is available for human consumption — based mostly in nine countries that hold 60 percent of the earth's water supply. Access to water will increasingly bring power struggles similar to those for oil or nuclear energy.

Rotarians should be concerned about water "because Rotary is leading the struggle to alleviate suffering and bring hope," said RI Vice-President Serge Gouteyron.

One of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals is by 2015 to reduce by 50 percent the number of people without access to safe water and sanitation. The challenge is formidable because in rural areas of Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, about 88 percent of the population lacks access to safe water.

"In developing countries, the search for water puts young women at risk of assault by humans or animals," said Ron Denham, Rotary's Health, Hunger and Water Task Force general coordinator.

"They have to walk 6-12 kilometers daily when they could be in school, or the women could be teaching their children," Denham said. He added that nearly one-third of Rotary clubs participate in water distribution and sanitation system projects worldwide, which include drilling and rehabilitating wells, rainwater harvesting, purifying water through bio-sand filters, solar disinfecting, installing mini-water pipelines, and integrating water management.

"Rotary has more than 20 years of experience working with the United Nations, and our joint efforts to eradicate polio have worked for one and all," said RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar. While confirming that Rotary will not accept another corporate program until polio eradication is complete, he added that meetings such as Rotary Day at UNESCO were vital to explore new project possibilities.

For more information about the water crisis, visit UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education @
http://www.unesco-ihe.org/vmp/articles/contentsHomePage.html

Source: RI Website
Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

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 Promote your Rotary Club Fund Raisers and Social Events

The District Calendar and the Governor's Monthly eLetter are great ways to promote your club's fund raisers and social events that are open to Rotarians around the district.  Use the form on the Secretary's page of the district web site to submit items for publication.

Submit an item for the District Calendar

Membership and Attendance Reports

Each month the District 6150 Membership and Attendance reports will be available on the district web site.  You can find the reports on the Newsletter page along with previous issues of the District Newsletter.

Membership and Attendance Reports

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Subscribe to the Governor's eLetter

e-mail: dg0506@Rotary6150.org
Please forward the Governor's Newsletter to your club members.