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Marilyn M. Hummelstein
Governor 2005-06
In this issue:
RI President 07-08 Nominated
The RI Nominating Committee has reported their unanimous support for Wilfrid J. Wilkinson of the Rotary Club of Trenton, Ontario, Canada for the office of President of Rotary International for the year 2007-08.
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“Making a Difference” Through Rotary and the Wheelchair Foundation
By June & PDG Jake Morse
PDG Jake Morse and Literacy Chair June Morse joined 24 other Rotarians from 3 U.S. states to assemble and distribute wheelchairs in San Jose, Costa Rica November 9-13, 2005.
The Wheelchair Foundation is the world’s largest wheelchair relief organization. Rotarians, clubs and districts from CA, GA and AR (District 6150 – Rotary Club of Jonesboro and Jonesboro-University) provide the gift of hope, independence and mobility in the form of a wheelchair to deserving recipients including children and adults.
The “Wheeled Adventure” included three days of wheelchair assembly and distribution, Rotary club meetings (noon and evening), tours of Rotary service projects, a little sight-seeing and evenings of food and fellowship in the homes of local Rotarians.
Click image for larger version
A full container load of 280 wheelchairs were distributed at multiple locations in and around San Jose. The U.S. Rotary team was divided into smaller groups and worked with local Rotarians to assemble and distribute wheelchairs to eager and needy recipients at schools, town squares, nursing homes, churches and other locations.
June and Jake assisted in helping the recipients into their wheelchairs and making adjustments in the chairs to “fit” it to each recipient’s special needs.
The Morses’ report that the experience was very rewarding, unique and an excellent example of how Rotarians in the U.S., and specifically District 6150, can participate in an international humanitarian project.
Jake said, “I will never forget the look of joy and thankfulness in the eyes of the recipients as they realized that the wheelchair was theirs, and they would enjoy mobility, independence and freedom they had never known before”.
June said, “When you work with local Rotarians in another country on a service project in their community, you gain a much greater appreciation for the uniqueness of Rotary. We were blessed to be able to experience how Costa Rican Rotarians practice “Service Above Self”.
If you have any questions, or are interested in a program for your club, please contact Jake at jake@morsecompany.com or (870) 926-9984 or June at j_morse@neaclinic.com or
(870) 926-9985.
For more information on the Wheelchair Foundation, go to www.wheelchairfoundation.org.
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Calendar
2005
December is Family Month
2006
January is Rotary Awareness Month
February is World Understanding Month
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Feb 4 - S. Central Youth Exchange Meeting
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Feb 11 - GSE Team Departs for England
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Feb 25 - District Team Training Seminar (DTTS)
March is World Understanding Month
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Mar 11 - Outbound GSE team returns home
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Mar 17-18 - Mid-America PETS - Peabody, Little Rock
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Mar 27 - District trip to RI Headquarters in Evanston, IL - open to all D6150 Rotarians
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Quick links
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January is Rotary Awareness Month
January is the month we focus on raising awareness about Rotary within our communities and among our fellow Rotarians. Public image is one of our areas of emphasis and Rotary's PR Tips offers lots of ideas for spreading the word about our clubs and Rotary. The District web site's Training Section includes lots of resources for increasing awareness among our club members, both new and experienced.
Rotary's PR Tips and Public Image Resource Group
District Training Resources & Rotary e-learning Center
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Come Plant a Tree!
By Barry Goldberg, Centennial Grove Committee
 The first 100 trees are ready to be planted at the Rotary 6150 Centennial Grove at MacArthur Park in Little Rock. All that is needed… is you!
We will have 2 planting days when Rotarians can participate in planting the trees, January 21 and February 11. (If it is pouring rain, we will work on the Saturdays following.) The city of Little Rock Parks and Recreation Department will have equipment there to do the heavy lifting and the digging. Teams of Rotarians will place trees, cover and set. This is an opportunity for fellowship, service and even a little fresh air and exercise.
Planting will begin at 9 AM and continue through mid-day. Bring members of your club, family and friends and come get dirty to help plant the grove that will honor our first 100 years of Rotary service, as well as launch the next 100 years. Come one Saturday – or both, for an hour or the entire work period. You do not need to register in advance. Just meet us by the tennis courts any time after 9 AM (9th Street entrance to the park)
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Click image to view larger version
A truckload of trees is unloaded for planting in the Rotary District 6150 Centennial Grove.
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Many clubs and Rotarians have participated by purchasing trees or tree circles. Our plans continue for a time capsule and a dedication area recognizing the grove as representation of Rotary’s service to community. Here is an opportunity for fellowship, service and even a make up if you need it!
In order to accommodate additional tree requests and ensure that the grove is well established, we have determined to plant the trees now and plan for a dedication event in the Spring.
If you are considering donation of a tree or wish to discuss a mini-grove, now is a good time! We will place another order for trees in mid January which will complete our planting until the planting season rolls around again next winter.
For more information about the Rotary 6150 Centennial Grove, contact Barry Goldberg, Rotary District 6150 Centennial Grove Committee at barry.goldberg@entelechypartners.com or (501)219-0837.
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Rotary Youth News
Youth Exchange Update
One of our current in-bound YE students, Edgar Nieto, sent photos of his recent respite trip to Colorado to ski with YE students from District 6150 and several surrounding districts. It is easy to see that life-long friendships that cross all political and cultural boundaries are formed by YE students.
South Central Rotary Youth Exchange (SCRYE) Meeting
All interested Rotarians and inbound YE students are encouraged to attend SCRYE's 2006 Winter Conference. Register online for this regional RYE meeting in Tulsa. For additional information, contact Don Peters, SCRYE Treasurer, Telephone (501) 377-4490 - Fax (501) 377-3889 - dpeter1@entergy.com
RYLA Counselors Needed
RYLA Camp Director, Melanie Heath Bryant, is asking for Rotarians to help out as counselors for the 2006 RYLA Camp. Contact Melanie at (870) 236-7676 or mhb@grnco.net
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Rotary Foundation News
Ambassadorial Scholars
Two of our district's Ambassadorial Scholars have recently returned from their studies abroad and are available to address your Rotary club. Lesley Pruitt studied International Relations in Australia & Lauren Baker studied Fashion Design in Italy. Contact Scholarship Chair, Fred Williams - (H) 501-224-4843; (W) 501-569-8782; cfwilliams@ualr.edu for information on booking one of these ladies for a future Rotary program.
Foundation Alumni Contacts Needed
Foundation Alumni Chair, Beth Smith needs your help to locate Rotary Foundation Alumni (Ambassadorial Scholarships, Group Study Exchange, Grants for University Teachers, Carl Miller Discovery Grants or Rotary Volunteers) to make sure their contact information is current. Contact Beth at (W) (870) 972-2586 or smitty@astate.edu
Rotary Foundation Alumni REConnections Newsletter
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Club and District Events
Remember to submit 06-07 officers to RI and District
December 31 is the deadline to elect officers and directors for the 2006-2007 Rotary year. It is the club secretary's responsibility to submit the names and contact information to RI and the District secretary. Click here for details on these two tasks.
Cleburne County Club Meeting Location Notice
During the first two weeks in January, the Rotary Club of Cleburne County will meet at the Rustic Inn (map) instead of Red Apple Inn due to renovations at Red Apple. This only affects the meetings on January 5 & 12, 2006.
British Invasion!
That's the theme for the 2006 District Conference to be held May 5 - 6, 2006 in Jonesboro. Mark your calendars now!
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 Rotary International 2006 Convention June 11-14, 2006
Lots of information is available about the 2006 RI Convention that will be the first one held in two countries at the same time. A few rooms are still left in the District 6150 room block. Contact DG Marilyn Hummelstein - (w) 870-932-8361 x 118 - dg0506@Rotary6150.org if you are interested.
Read more and register online here.
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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
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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
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