Reading was one of Paul Harris’s (Rotary International founder) pleasures! His speeches and writings were filled with favorite quotes from poets, philosophers, and writers. Rotary features education and literacy as one of the seven areas of focus, during September which is our back-to-school month! With an estimated 14% of the world’s adult population functionally illiterate, Rotarians work tirelessly to open schools, promote proven teaching methods, and establish mentoring programs to help people improve their reading skills.

Rotary Clubs worldwide place a focus on increasing literacy in September. September 8 is International Literacy Day! Some clubs raise funds for schools and other literacy organizations. Rotary Readers is a program many clubs participate in where Rotarians spend time in classrooms, reading one on one with students. Some Rotarians donate books, locally and internationally.

During the past couple of months of club visits, I’ve learned about dictionary projects, GED inmate mentoring programs (75% of inmates are functionally illiterate), therapy dog-reading partner programs, ESL (English as a Second Language) coaching in refugee resettlement communities, local library lending stations, and International literacy projects in Guatemala and other developing nations. Research shows that investment in basic literacy, once basic needs are met (food, water, shelter), is the most vital investment for advancing a society. The data shows that half of the increase in child survival in the world happens because mothers can read and write. The book Factfulness (Hans Rosling) recommends that money be invested in primary education and nurse education to most dramatically improve health and advance Level 1 and Level 2 nations.

Gordon McInally, Rotary International President, asks us to continue to keep Mental Health at the forefront of all that we do this year in Rotary! Every action that addresses club culture, areas of focus, service projects, and strategic actions to increase impact-reach-engagement-adapting to change, can be approached with an emphasis on whole person wellness, including mental health.

Rotary is a relationship organization! Clubs that prioritize creating a welcoming, accepting and deeply caring culture are serving their members mental health. Our fastest growing clubs are those where members are celebrated for bringing their true selves and creative spirits to the table. A new generation of potential Rotarians are hungry for irresistible clubs who actively and attractively provide meaningful service in their communities and invest in each other! Dare to REALLY know and care about your fellow members and their lives. Celebrate their joys and support them in the tough times. Make Rotary an important part of your own wellness plan! Loving, caring and sharing are good for your heart and soul!

Rotary began as a mentorship organization. Now is an awesome time to invite new business owners and professionals to join Rotary and be mentored by seasoned Rotarian business and community leaders! The most dynamic Rotary clubs actively engage with community members of all ages, generations, and occupations. Celebrate RYLA, Interact, Youth Exchange and Rotaract by mentoring their leadership development and advancement! Healthy relationships build healthier societies. Celebrate Rotary and Mental Health by finding creative ways to engage with, befriend, and enrich your community members and fellow community service organizations.

Three new task forces have been initiated this year to expand Rotary’s reach and increase impact. Each team is working to gather ideas to share with clubs for developing new projects, new partnerships, and new ways to engage with diverse communities. The Mental Health Taskforce and Steering Committee are examining resources to help clubs zero in on projects that serve community mental health. The Creative Arts Taskforce includes talented Artist-Rotarians who are exploring new ways to engage with, build relationships, and add value to their communities through the Arts. The Empowering Girls initiative was introduced two years ago to help girls succeed educationally and professionally, locally and internationally. Our committee is excited to help clubs expand opportunities and reduce barriers! All of these groups and the rest of the vibrant District Leadership Team committees will be sharing articles, Zoom education, and District Conference presenters at the May 3-4, 2024 Kalamazoo event! Our specialty teams also include: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion; International; Environment; Youth; Membership, Foundation; Public Image and more! Invite them to your clubs!

Covid brought us Zoom! Rotary education and inspiration is only a click away! Be watching for email, newsletter, and website invites!

Make this a year for deepening your commitment and investment in Rotary! Let your hearts, hands and hopes for a brighter future lead the way! Everything you do with LOVE is CREATING MORE HOPE IN THE WORLD and is attracting more ROTARY JOY right where you live!!

Thank you for projecting ROTARY GOODNESS so beautifully!

In Celebration!

Sharalyn Davis

District 6360 Governor ’23-24

Rotary International

Union City Rotary Club

sharalyndavis@gmail.com

616-719-7286

Click HERE to enjoy a clip about the OUTSTANDING turnout at MSU & WMU with hundreds of people siging up for Rotaract!

As an international organization, Rotary offers each member unique opportunities and responsibilities. Although each Rotarian has first responsibility to uphold the obligations of citizenship of his or her own country, membership in Rotary enables Rotarians to take a somewhat different view of international affairs. In the early 1950s a Rotary philosophy was adopted to describe how a Rotarian may think on a global basis. Here is what it said: "A world-minded Rotarian:

• looks beyond national patriotism and considers himself as sharing responsibility for the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace;
• resists any tendency to act in terns of national or racial superiority;
• seeks and develops common grounds for agreement with peoples of other lands; 
• defends the rule of law and order to preserve the liberty of the individual so that he may enjoy freedom of thought, speech and assembly, and freedom from persecution, aggression, want and fear;
• supports action directed toward improving standards of living for all peoples, realizing that poverty anywhere endangers prosperity everywhere;
• upholds the principles of justice for mankind;
• strives always to promote peace between nations and prepares to make personal sacrifices for that ideal; 
• urges and practices a spirit of understanding of every other man's beliefs as a step toward international goodwill, recognizing that there are certain basic moral and spiritual standards which will ensure a richer, fuller life." 

That is quite an assignment for any Rotarian to practice in thoughts and actions!  

Rotarians in District 6360 recently learned that the club received the Presidential Citation from Rotary International 2022-2023 President, Jennifer Jones. Rotary International considers the Rotary Citation as the most significant award that a Rotary club can achieve.

A Rotary club earns the Rotary International Presidential Citation by achieving benchmarks that strengthen Rotary and their club. Goals include increasing club membership and member participation in leadership development opportunities, undertaking sustainable service projects which impact the community, supporting The Rotary Foundation and building awareness of Rotary in your community.

Congratulations to the members of the following Rotary Clubs for earning this great distinction in 2022-2023! Albion, Battle Creek, Charlotte, Coldwater Township Sunrise, Delta Township, Delton Area, Eaton Rapids, Gull Lake Area, Harbor Country, Hastings, Kalamazoo, Lakeshore, Marshall, South Haven, Sturgis, Three Rivers, and Vicksburg.

 You are truly People of Action!

It will be the

“Best Year of Your Life!!!”

-- Quote from former Outbound Students

It’s time to look for students that are interested in becoming an exchange student. Rotary Youth Exchange is the BEST youth exchange program!! It’s also the most economical!  

Who can be a Rotary Youth Exchange student?  Eligible students for the long-term program must be:

•        Between the ages of 15-1/2 and 18 ½ by the time of departure

•        Top half of their class academically

•        Socially ready to handle living abroad for an extended period

•        Ready to make new friends, learn about a new culture, new language.

•        Flexible, friendly and fun! 

The Rotary Youth Exchange Program is for the school academic year from August through mid-July.   Students stay with 2-3 host families. They are required to attend school.

It all starts with each Rotarian promoting the program with people you know. 

Students that are interested complete a Club Rotary Youth Exchange Pre-Application and submit it to the local club. The club will interview the student and parents looking for suitability, responsibility, flexibility, maturity. Then the club will recommend the student to District 6360 Outbound Coordinator Felicia Smith. Deadline for this Pre-Application is September 30, 2023.

Felicia will send the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange (CSRYE) Outbound Application to be completed and return to her. Deadline for the CSRYE application is October 31, 2023.  

For more information contact:

 Felicia Smith, Outbound Coordinator: feliciarotary6360@gmail;

 Margie Haas, RYE Chair, haasmargie@gmail.com

• Teaching life skills to high school students in Portage.
• Exercise equipment for the Okemos Senior Center.
• Beautifying and upgrading a park in Plainwell.
• Teacher supplies purchased by the Saugatuck-Douglas Rotary Club for a new school in the Dominican Republic.
• Conducting of home safety audits for seniors in the Vicksburg area.

And many, many more.

These projects are examples of Rotarians helping others.

How are these projects funded? One-half of the funds came from Rotarians just like you through the purchase of District 6360 Foundation Raffle tickets; and the other half of the funds came from the Rotary Clubs undertaking the individual projects. Nearly all the funds the District 6360 Foundation contributes to these projects originate from the sale of Annual Raffle tickets.

Since the creation of the Foundation’s Annual Raffle, over 260 thousand dollars has been contributed for funding more than 130 projects undertaken by our District’s Clubs.

Three quarters of the Rotary Clubs in District 6360 have received at least one grant from the District 6360 Foundation. In addition to the awarding of the grants to Clubs for their projects, the Annual Raffle has made it possible to send hundreds of high school students to the RYLA Leadership Camp. And most recently, your District 6360 Foundation made nearly $50,000 available for 24 special grants to address food and nutrition issues that occurred as a result of the COVID pandemic in the various Clubs’ communities.

Rotary Clubs in District 6360 have a long history of supporting the District 6360 Foundation’s Annual Raffle. Last year (2022), thirty-seven (37) Clubs became a “One Hundred Percent Club.” To be part of this prestigious group, a Club must sell 100% of the Raffle tickets allocated to them. Many of these Clubs have a long history of being a “One Hundred Percent Club.” Last year we had eleven (11) Clubs became part of the “Elite One Hundred Percent Club." To achieve this status, these Clubs (Cereal City Sunrise, Haslett-Okemos, Jackson Breakfast, Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo Sunrise, Lakeshore, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Saugatuck-Douglas, South Lansing-Holt and Union City) sold at least one ticket for each member of their Club.                          

The 2023 Annual Raffle will begin in early July and will close with the Raffle drawing on Tuesday, October 24^th. We will again be using the new process for selling tickets. Instead of actual tickets, Raffle Sales Tracking Sheets will be used to record ticket sales. Based on the feedback, this process is embraced by nearly all of the Clubs.

Rotary Club Presidents will receive a Raffle Information Packet by US mail. It will contain information on the Raffle process and the Raffle Sales Tracking Sheets that are unique to their Club. The sheets list the actual ticket numbers of the Raffle tickets that will be placed in the Raffle drawing. Shortly after receiving the information packet, the Club President will be contacted by a District Foundation Board Member to answer any questions or address any concerns related to the raffle and to offer assistance, if needed.

The motto of the District 6360 Foundation is “Helping Rotarians Help Others.” Raffle ticket sales make the pursuit of this mission possible.

It’s that time of year so…get your Club ready to R.A.F.F.L.E!

District Foundation Corner

For general questions about your District 6360 Foundation and how it can help your Club, please contact Foundation President

 Gary Campbell, campbellgary929@gmail.com

Any correspondence should be sent c/o Rotary District 6360

to 741 Wolverine Road, Mason, MI, 48854

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