November month… month of the Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation, together with the youth exchanges, are the two showpieces of our beautiful movement that is Rotary!
I kick open the door when I say that Paul Harris is our founder (1905) and Arch Klump in 1917 at the Atlanta International Convention as sixth president of Rotary International baptized the 'Rotary Foundation', then still 'capital fund' (an endowment fund to do good in the world). From 1928, the commonly known term "Rotary Foundation" was introduced.
We can be proud of "our" foundation, which also sets us apart from other service clubs. The traditional "Governor's Check" goes directly to the annual fund of the Rotary Foundation and creates the opportunities - Rotary Opens Opportunities - for the districts to support the clubs in their projects through District and Global Grants as well as scholarships.
Today's difficult Corona times may make it less easy to enter the suggested sum of $ 100 per club member on the check to the governor. Yes, we are realistic, there are fewer fundraising opportunities, but we are People of Action and we can meet this challenge. Consider the fourth pillar of RI's strategic plan… flexibility to adapt! As Rotarians, we are sufficiently inventive and flexible to live up to the annual theme of "Rotary Opens Opportunities"! For example, respond to contemporary trends, "take away" is hot. Put champagne or wine in breakfast baskets, take away or deliver the baskets to your home… it enables fundraising and increases our impact in society (first pillar of RI's strategic plan).
Many clubs have also built up a serious reserve over the years. Dare to use these 'war funds' now for both Covid-related projects and for the 'check to the governor', in the latter case the invested amount will come back after three years and in the former case I can recommend that you contact NVSG which makes an extra 50,000 euros available for this genre of projects with a maximum of 2,000 euros per project - Rotary Opens Opportunities!
"End Polio Now" also comes under the banner of the Foundation. We just finished Polio month with, among other things, World Polio Day on 24/10 ll. But Polio does not only exist in October, we must continue to commit ourselves to RI's core business numero uno. Our and Holger Knaack's wish is a contribution of 40 euro / club member… every cent will be tripled by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. We need the help of every club member, and that increases our capabilities in our unstoppable commitment to this battle - Rotary Opens Opportunities!
There is also the Paul Harris Society, here you can choose which part of the Foundation you want to support ... Annual Fund, Polio, Endowment Fund, Disaster Fund ... and a tax deductibility of 60% until the end of this year ... Rotary Opens Opportunities!
The six areas of focus have now been supplemented with a seventh pillar 'the environment'… here too 'Rotary Opens Opportunities'!
Reason enough to support the "Rotary Foundation" so that we as "People of Action" can be "Proud to be a Rotarian" through our projects and help realize the annual theme "Rotary Opens Opportunities".
Remember that every district has its Rotary Foundation committee, you can always go here for information. The DRFC and its team are always ready to help you. Rotary Opens Opportunities !!!
I would now like to introduce you to Jos Vander Sloten, District Rotary Foundation Chair, DRFC for short.
- The seminar on the RF is typically a highlight for everyone who cares about the Foundation. What will this look like in 2020?
- GG scholarships are known, there will now be one special at my request, can you tell us a bit more about that?
- There are also more options for Rotaract?
- A more general question, Jos, why should we contribute financially to the RF? Annual fund, Polio, etc….
- Gifts to the Paul Harris Society are tax-deductible, can you tell us a bit more about that?
What message do you want to convey?
Thank you, Jos, for this clear contribution!
For the video version and also for the dish of the month "mezzaluna di zucca" ... pumpkin for the sake of "Halloween" ... www.rotary2140.org
