"Sooner than Later" is Possible Thanks to a Paul Harris Match...

Once again a generous Rotarian in our district has offered for a limited time to match $500 contributions to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund/SHARE so that fellow Rotarians can achieve Paul Harris Fellow recognition more quickly.  Contact your club Rotary Foundation chair.

We all feel it's Important to us to Involve those who care in our community and build awareness of Rotary.  Sometimes even our "Rules" can have an impact.

Gov. Sarah informed club presidents that Rotary's Council on Legislation made decisions that affect some aspects of RI, district and club operations.  To see some examples, click here.   

Click on this video from Greg Rubens -Evanston Lighthouse.    

Your friends doing good things throughout Chicagoland and worldwide!

Although Somalia had been polio free since 2007, the outbreak occurring now from wild virus coming into the country totaled 100 confirmed cases as of August 14.  With a $500,000 Rapid Response Grant from The Rotary Foundation and US$15.3M in funds from the United Kingdom, immunization of up to 6.1M people in that at-risk region of Africa began immediately.   

The probability of outbreaks in previously polio-free areas is included in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative Strategic Plan developed jointly among the GPEI partners, and everything possible continues to be done to limit this one in spite of areas in Somalia with no effective government control.    

The Rotary Club of Oswego, Illinois, in neighboring District 6450 worked with public safety personnel, psychologists, counselors, and classroom teachers to address the issue of teenage drinking and driving in their community.   

The video they produced for the project illustrates the emotional toll on first responders from tragic accidents, and the program has helped reduce accidents involving younger drivers.

Click on Picture To See Operation Impact Video

If you are interested in learning more about this successful community project, contact the Rotary Club of Oswego through their website http://www.oswegorotaryclub.org.

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, The Rotary Club wanted to come up   with a way to give back to the Palatine community.   

The Palatine Rotary Club and the Village of Palatine are working together to create Rotary Plaza, which will contain landscaping, benches, a flag pole and an electronic sign that will let people know what events are happening around town.  Read more by clicking Trib Local 

• Condolences -- to Past District Governor Mike Ericksen and his family on the loss of his mother, and to Administrative Assistant Kristina Laib on the passing of her father John Bettini. 

• Rotary International Friendship Exchange gives Rotarians and their families the opportunity to host and visit Rotarians around the world. In addition to experiencing other cultures and making lasting friendships, an exchange provides a strong foundation for carrying out other international activities and service projects.  If interested in learning more, contact Jim Wales at jwales@lith.org  See the handbook by clicking here.

• The Rotarian Peace Hall of Fame on Oct. 3.  This 5-club project will have its opening ceremony at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, Skokie.  Sir Nicholas Winton, currently 104 years old, is a Rotarian and was featured in the December 2008 Rotarian Magazine for his remarkable work in saving children in WWII.  For a description of a movie about it, click here.

• November 2 is Fall Seminar -- a great event for new and longer-term members to kindle the excitement of Rotary.  It's conveniently located in Addison at Medinah Banquets.  The day will begin with a breakfast plenary session and include tracks for ABCs of Rotary, PR/PI/Social Media, and Membership Development.  Club dues cover four members for these morning seminars.  For information, click here.