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On 21 January, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation pledged $255 million to help underwrite Rotary's commitment to eradicate polio - the largest grant Rotary has ever received. That amount came in addition to the $100 million Gates Foundation challenge grant awarded in November 2007, which Rotary pledged to match dollar for dollar. In response to the new grant, Rotary committed to raising an additional $100 million by 30 June 2012. The total matching effort is called Rotary's $200 Million Challenge. Gates made the announcement during an enthusiastically received surprise appearance at the International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA.
Assembly participants also learned that the governments of the United Kingdom and Germany had committed a combined $280 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Though that amount won't count toward Rotary's challenge, it will target the four countries where polio still rages: Afghanistan, India, Nigeria, and Pakistan.   Rotary Youth Exchange Update: Students: Outbound and Inbound students pay for all their own transportation to the country and back again. They must buy tickets with an open end date so that if they have to go home early for any reason it will be possible. Each inbound and outbound student understands from the time they apply that their own family will need to support them for some clothing, small gifts that they bring to share with host families, and that the student will need to have access to an account in case of emergencies. Each inbound student in our district is asked to bring about $1,200 with them to cover a variety of events. The majority of this money covers trips that are mandatory. They receive a calendar of activities before they leave home. Each inbound and outbound student is required to purchase medical health insurance prior to leaving their country. There are also a number of other smaller fees that due to the District. The insurance papers along with other information arrive before the student does to ensure that we are compliant with Rotary regulations. Host Family: Each host family at the time of interviewing is informed of all the regulations that they must comply with along with their financial responsibilities. They are asked to support this student by providing three meals a day (this would include supplying school lunch, whether it is a bag lunch or fees), with transportation to and from events at school and during the weekend, and with offering them the kindness and openess of your home just as you would your own child. The host family is also invited to take them on vacation with them, but if the costs are too prohibitive for them to cover, then either the student might ask for funds from home to cover the costs, or the local Club offers to find housing during the family's vacation. Transportation or chaperoning on events is also another area where either time or money is needed to support the student. Club: Each club is asked to support the student throughout the year financially by following the district guidelines for monthly stipends. Our inbound students are given $100 per month. Our District makes these decisions about the amount and about the distribution process. This monthly stipend is given to the student via the Rotary Exchange Counselor. His/her job is to check in once a month with the student to keep tabs on how their stay is going, help to monitor their spending habits, and to make sure they receive their stipend. For the last two years Jonathan Miller has taken this role in our club. There are several other expeditures: gifts to the student, gifts to the host families, and tickets to Rotary functions where all District Exchange Students are expected to meet and in some cases give presentations. From all of this support come so many benefits for so many people! Community Meals Our next opportunity to serve community meals is May 4th. Mark your calendar now to reserve the date. District NewsCheck out the district newsletter. Haverhill Rotary has made a big showing this month!  Vermont Love Story My sister and her husband liked Vermont and visited there a lot. Eventually they bought some land way up on a gravel road on a hill. They bought it from a bachelor living in an old farmhouse nearby. His name was George Daniels. They built an A frame type building and used it year round on weekends and vacations. Mr. Daniels would go down the hill to a general store that also served as the Post Office. One day my sister and her husband received a wedding invitation for Mr.Daniels and the widow lady that ran the store and Post Office. At this time Mr. Daniels and the store lady were both sixty something in age. At the reception my sister and her husband asked them how they happened to start going together. It seems that in the last summer Mr. Daniels was in the store to get his mail and a few items from the store. They both had short sleeves on what they were wearing. In walking by their arms touched. They both got thinking about each other and started to go out and in due time he popped the question. At the wedding reception they were both giggling and telling how they had known each other for most of their lives and never thought much about each other until the day that their arms touched. Sigh 
Proposed for Membership Welcome Our Newest Members  Last week Rachel Williams spoke to us about the Rotary literacy programs locally and around the world. She presented an informative slide show with images from her trips working as a Rotarian in Pakistan. Power to the people...if only they could read.
March 12 - Jonnie Lyn Evans, Data and Development Director, Hill View Montessori School Attendance An attendance record of 50 percent is required to remain an active Rotarian. Any missed meeting must be made up within 14 days before or after the regular meeting. To accommodate busy schedules, there are various opportunities to make up missed meetings: Monday 12:15PM Danversport Yacht Club |
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