The Rotary Club of Richmond

Receives ShelterBox HERO Recognition

Greetings President John and Richmond Rotary Club,

Congratulations on achieving ShelterBox HERO club recognition for Rotary Year 2023-2024. Attached is your digital award to use on your club website and please share this recognition on your club and school social media outlets. At the end of the 23-24 Rotary year, all HERO clubs will be listed at www.shelterboxusa.org/hero  

In 2023, we supported more than 325,000 people (approximately 65,000 households). It is our second biggest year, behind the 420,000 supported in 2022, in terms of people reached since ShelterBox began in 2000.

We supported thousands of people in Türkiye and Syria after earthquakes devastated the region. In Morocco, where a powerful earthquake had caused widespread damage in the Atlas Mountains, our teams worked with our partner Association Le Grand Atlas, and Rotary District 9010 to distribute emergency shelter aid to around 20 affected communities. 

East Africa has been victim to the worst drought in 40 years, causing millions of people to be displaced. We’ve supported thousands of people in Ethiopia this year providing essential household items, tarpaulins, and ropes for people who have been displaced. We also launched our first project in Somalia since 2011 and have so far been able to provide support for hundreds of people, with additional projects in the pipeline for 2024.

As the conflict in Ukraine approaches its third year, we are delivering our sixth project in the country supporting thousands more people with winter clothing, blankets, and stoves. We are continuing to support people affected by conflict in Syria with winterisation projects too, making sure people have thermal clothing, blankets, and tarpaulins to help make temporary shelters waterproof. 

In Cameroon, we’ve supported over 100,000 people who have had to flee their homes due to conflict, the climate crisis, and poverty. Our latest project in the country has supported over 63,000 people with shelter.

Here are two short videos to watch at your next meeting and share on social media:

We are ShelterBox    

The Power of Partnership

Active members are happy members, is there a member in your club looking to serve? Please have them consider becoming a ShelterBox Club Champion or Ambassador.  

Whatever skills, knowledge or time you have to volunteer, you can play a vital part in this process. All we need is your passion. www.shelterboxusa.org/volunteer   

About HERO Clubs:

Gifts from clubs, individuals identifying as club members, or anyone recognizing your club all count toward ShelterBox HERO club recognition. Other Rotary entities such as Districts, RYE, Rotaract and Interact can earn HERO recognition. A bronze HERO recognition level is achieved at $1,000, Silver at $3,000, Gold at $5,000 and Platinum at $10K in total giving within the Rotary year. A club can ‘level up’ throughout the Rotary year. If this award is the result of an individual’s gift, you can thank them by making with a donation to increase their impact.

ShelterBox has provided aid to nearly 3 million people since 2000, we could not have reached them without clubs like yours. 

Thank you for being a ShelterBox HERO!

Bill Tobin

Cc: DG Rudy, DGE Joy, DGN Pat, DGND SuAnne

Church Hill Rotary Club Seeks Runners and Volunteers

for Hill Topper 5k Run

The Church Hill Rotary Club is looking for runners and volunteers for their Hill Topper 5k run on Saturday, March 16, 2024.

Click HERE for more information on the many opportunities to volunteer from directing the runners, handing out refreshments after the race and more.

March 5, 2024 - Coach Bobby Ross:

 NCAA Football Championship and Super Bowl coach

Bobby Ross was a local star football player in high school and in college, and then became a very successful football coach starting at the high school level, then ultimately as a championship college and NFL coach. His professional journey eventually had him winning the NCAA Collegiate championship with Georgia Tech in 1990 after beating then number one University of Virginia team in the middle of the season. Soon after, the NFL beckoned and in just three seasons he took the San Diego Chargers to the Super Bowl in 1994. Besides having a great tactical football acumen he was always a character-building motivator who was awarded Coach of the Year at every level of coaching.

March 12, 2024 - Alex Innes and Jim Davis:

Cybersecurity in Our Daily Lives

Alex Innes is the Chief Operating Officer of ACTA33, a business dedicated to teaching Digital Self-Defense. They work with companies to reduce their cybersecurity risk by tackling the biggest risk head-on: the people. Today 95% of all successful cyber-attacks exploited humans and yet most organizations focus solely on technology without addressing the human factor.

Alex's presentation will cover the 7 Step Digital Self-Defense Plan. This practical tool will help fortify you, your family, and your business against becoming a victim to cyber-crime. 

March 19, 2024- Dr. Peter Goodman: 

The Canals of Mars and the Gastrointestinal Tract

Dr. Goodman, M.D., is a sought-after speaker who graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School here in Richmond, and has a B.A. with Distinction in English from U.Va.. He graduated from the Medical College of Virginia, did his internship at Sinai Hospital, his residency in Internal Medicine at MCV, and had a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at Georgetown University. He has been awarded with accolades and commendations too numerous to mention in this bio, and will be using endoscopic photos to take us on a voyage down the Grand Canal, the 30-foot-long gastrointestinal tract.

March 26, 2024- Rework Richmond Update: Todd Martin, Charles Layman, John Purnell, Deb Lawrence and Chantel Cox   

John Purnell and Todd Martin will provide an update to the club about its partnership with ReWork, a nonprofit organization that helps it members attain meaningful, living-wage employment. ReWork Executive Director Deb Lawrence and new Member Services and Volunteer Coordinator Chantel Cox will be a part of the presentation to update the club on the new staffing focus, strategic direction, and increasing numbers of members served. More information about how Rotary members can assist with resume writing, financial coaching will be highlighted, and identifying potential employers.