Rotarians Send Help To Pakistan Flood Victims          (SEP)
By Ryan Hyland

Rotarians are reaching out to victims of the heavy monsoon rains in Pakistan, as the country continues to cope with its worst flooding in decades. Major rivers have flooded valleys in about one-third of the country, claiming many lives and washing away bridges, roads, and entire villages. The United Nations estimates that more than four million people have been left homeless.

Tips For Member Retention       (SEP)
By Arnold R. Grahl

Travelling together to club projects and creating a variety show as a fundraiser were just a couple of the ideas Rotarians offered during a packed workshop on member retention at the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Mike McGovern, 2009-10 Membership Development and Retention Committee chair and past RI vice president, said the workshop he moderated, "Closing the Back Door," generated fantastic audience participation and produced many valuable ideas for retaining members.

Former scholar writes book about Katrina         (SEP)

By Ryan Hyland

Just days after Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast in 2005, CNN correspondent Kathleen Koch rushed to her hometown of Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, to cover a story that other media outlets weren’t telling. Much of the immediate news focused on the chaos in New Orleans, Louisiana. Koch, a former Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholar and an award-winning broadcast journalist, reported instead on the devastation in communities along the coast of Mississippi.

Rotary and Global Peace: A Silver Cloud   (AUG)

By Bhuvan Unhelkar, PhD, FACS

I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. “Global peace?” The answer may not be easy and may even appear impossible at the outset, but the question is far too important to be ignored. Every attempt from every angle towards global peace is to be made, and has value.  Here is one such thought process on Global Peace through Rotary!

A FRESH LOOK AT ETHICS  (AUG)

by Angus M Robinson, Past President, Rotary eClub One

The issue of ethics as exemplified in Rotary by the application of the ‘Four Way Test’ is one which continues to evoke discussion and debate. The interface between the value of the teaching of ethics and religious beliefs is currently being put to test in the State of New South Wales and Australia. A state sanctioned pilot study is being conducted in public schools to enable students who have elected not to attend the one hour per week mandated class for religious studies to be afforded the opportunity to study ethics.

Time To Refuel   (AUG)

By Rotarian Mark Johns

Cruising at about 26,000 feet, the captain came on the intercom and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, if you’ll look out the right side of the aircraft, you’ll see a refueling operation in progress about 6,000 feet below us.”Sure enough, a military C-5, a huge, lumbering giant of an aircraft, was being gassed up, in flight. For just a couple of minutes, I observed something I’d never seen from that vantage point. And it gave me inspiration for this column!

Do You Pass The Delayed Gratification Test?    (AUG)

By Karen Schmidt
1t used to be that we all had the ability to be resilient. Life almost forced us to be. People were made resilient by World Wars, economic hardship and isolation. Today, we live in a society where resilience is not highly valued nor tested as often. I believe that the average person today is less resilient because they have lost the ability to delay gratification. We want everything and we want it now! We live in a fast food, drive through, microwave, buy now, pay later society where the idea of waiting for anything has become unacceptable.

Rotary International Convention, Montréal 2010 

A Different Perspective

By President Carol Steen, Rotary eClub One

“The House of Friendship is closed,” said the announcer over the loudspeaker in Palais des congrés de Montréal. Exhibitors were already packing up their displays, taking down signs, and saying good bye to friends. For Rotary eClub One members who spent time behind the table of our booth in the House of Friendship, it had been a busy five days of talking to the hundreds of Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors who visited with us.

Background Investigations: The Basic Industry Standard in the United States (AUG)

By Gregory E. Sumner, Rotary Club of Rome, District 6910, Georgia

In today’s employment world, background investigations are a common and necessary part of pre-employment screening.  According to a (2004) study, the Society of Human Resource Management found that over 80 percent of companies claim they run some type of criminal check on applicants before hiring, up from 51 percent in 1996.  It is no longer a matter of if your company conducts background investigations on all new employees; it’s who’s performing this service for you.

Rotary eClub One – A Brief History    (AUG)

By PP John Minter, PHF

Charter President Rotary eClub One, and prior member Rotary Club of Boulder (Sponsor Club)

How it started: In March, 2001 I was the Internet Chair of District 5450 Colorado when the incoming District Membership Chair called me one morning and asked if we could create a Rotary club on the Internet. "Sure, why not?" I replied after mentally ticking off a list of what it might take to do that.

Use Positive Psychology to Keep Your Brain Fit       (JUL)

By Joyce Shaffer, PhD

Chronic stress can reduce the number of new brain cells you create, decrease the percentage of these new cells that survive and thrive, act like battery acid to erode your existing brain cells, and make you more vulnerable to disease. That’s why you want to develop a full tool box of skills to alleviate long-term stress.

VALUES - DRIVEN LEADERSHIP       (JUL)

by Angus M Robinson, Past President, Rotary eClub One

For political leaders, the headlines of the values system might relate to social welfare or environmental aspirations; for business, it might mean a commitment to customer service or community engagement or even just as pointed at enhancing shareholder value; for Rotary leaders, it is of course a commitment to ‘service above self’ and the ‘Four Way Test’.

What is new for Rotary clubs and districts?       (JUL)

A new Rotary year is underway, and with it a number of changes to the way clubs and districts do business.  The annual per capita dues that Rotary clubs pay to Rotary International will increase to US$50 in 2010-11, as established by the 2007 Council on Legislation. The 2010 Council approved a $1 increase for the three subsequent years, setting per capita dues at $51 for 2011-12, $52 for 2012-13, and $53 for 2013-14.

Winds of Change        (JUL)

What an amazing world! Advances in technology are happening so quickly that they cause constant changes in our businesses and professions. Yet about one-third of the world’s population is still living at a subsistence level with little change in their lives. It is a stark contrast and a cause for concern.

About Interact        (JUL)

Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting.

Pulsating Poetry Permeates Passionate People         (JUL)

By Chuck Gallozzi

Does the title of this article seem to have a rhythmical beat? So does life and the cosmos. Everything vibrates, from the beating of your heart to the humming of our planet (which vibrates at 7.83 Hz).

Acceptance and Accountability           (JUN)

By Chuck Gallozzi

How good a seafarer are you? Are you the captain of your destiny or is your ship adrift in the sea of life? Have you carefully charted your course or are you aimlessly following others? No wind can help the ship that is bound for nowhere. And at the end of your voyage, you wont be asked about the storms you encountered, but whether or not you reached your destination.

Disabled Divers Getting Along Swimmingly      (JUN)

By Susie O Ma

Video - As a Rotarian, how have you provided service?      (JUN)
In this video presentation, Rotarians talk about the service projects that have been most memorable for them.

Fellowship the Rotary e-club way      (JUN)

by Angus M Robinson, Past President, Rotary E-Club One

According to the ‘New King James’ and ‘Authorised Version’ bibles of the Christian faith, the words, ‘contribution, fellowship, sharing and communion’ are words translated from the Greek word ‘koinonia’. Koinonia is also translated as ‘communication’ and ‘communicate’ in other passages.

Starting a Rotary E-Club?  Your Rotary District can help      (JUN)

by Gerry Roberts, PDG and Past President of Rotary E-Club One

As you will discover, starting a Rotary e-club is a major undertaking requiring knowledgeable, dedicated Rotarians, and requiring input from several sources to answer a multitude of questions and consider many ideas that could affect how well your Rotary e-club gets off the ground.

Rotary E-Club One Takes Action following CoL Decision    (MAY)

By PP Chris Joscelyne – Rotary E-Club One – District 5450 Colorado

Rotary E-Club One is the world's first web based Rotary club, chartered January 4, 2002, as Rotary's first club with operations supported by web technologies and electronic communications. The mission of Rotary E-Club One is to connect, inform, inspire and involve members in Service Above Self. Rotary E-Club One is just like any traditional Rotary club. The only difference is that members meet on-line to coordinate service projects and enjoy fellowship with like minded Rotarians.

VIDIO - PAST RI PRESIDENT CLIFF DOCHTERMAN   (MAY)
In 2008 Past RI President Cliff Dochterman, a Friend of Rotary eClub One, gave a keynote address about ideas for sponsoring a new Rotary club. Following the 2010 Council on Legislation decision to allow two Rotary e-clubs per District, Cliff's ideas are highly relevant.

RI Convention – Last Chance to Register Online    (MAY)
Don’t miss out on the entertainment, world-class speakers, and networking opportunities during the four-day event, from 20 to 23 June. Breakout sessions, idea exchanges, and the House of Friendship will provide the perfect chance to make connections with other Rotarians that could lead to life-changing service projects.

Literacy Project puts the Writing on the Wall     (MAY)
By Maureen Vaught
Being a teenager is not easy. Being a teenager who’s different – from another country, say – is exponentially harder. Barriers of language, culture, and race can make it difficult to succeed socially as well as academically.

RI Board lowers Interact age    (MAY)

By Ryan Hyland

To help promote the growth of Interact, the RI Board has agreed to lower the age of eligibility for Interactors from 14 to 12.  This is another opportunity to expand the family of Rotary,” says J.R. Thompson, a member of the RI Interact Committee and the Rotary Club of Rocky Ford, Colorado, USA.

Conservation Volunteer Experience  
by Colin Jackson, Chief Executive, Conservation Volunteers Australia
Conservation Volunteers Australia (CVA) was founded in 1982 in Ballarat in the State of Victoria in Australia where the Head Office of our organization remains to this day. From modest beginnings with a handful of interested volunteers who wanted to “do something” for the environment, CVA has become a powerhouse in community-based conservation programs.

Ethiopia – A Country Overview     (APr)
Ethiopia is a landlocked country in northeastern Africa with a history that spans 2,000 years. Christianity and Islam are the country's two major religions, and the main languages spoken by its 85.8 million people are Amharic, Arabic, Guaraginga, Orominga, Somali, and Tigrinya

Rotary eClub One Has Perfect Timing      (APr)

by Pam Gilbert
In October, 2003, Pam Gilbert, a recently retired math teacher from Boulder, CO, returned to the Andes of Ecuador.  Why?  Well, 6 months earlier 2 indigenous boys went 1.5 hrs out of their way to help her when we she was lost.  During that walk, they mentioned, with stars in their eyes, that they were attending colegio (secondary school) on Saturdays.  The fact that they had to walk 2 hrs each way didn’t dampen their passion. 

Forget Your Failings       (APr)
By Michael Angier
Your "Win List" and your "Significant Accomplishments List" It seems to be human nature to remember the things we messed up more than we do the things we did well. Most of us tend to focus on what’s wrong rather than on what’s right. Even people with positive attitudes fall into the trap of discounting their successes and inflating their failings. The fact is, we’re being programmed all the time, and most of it isn’t helpful.

Community Service Project: Foundation, North Carolina       (APr)

By Robert and Carol Steen – Rotary eClub One
We are both members of Rotary eClub One. Our Community Service projects center around young people and include work with the Single Marine Program at the nearby US Marine Base at Camp Lejeune, a local golfing program for kids, and the Duplin County Education Foundation. Duplin County is located in the Southeastern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. The Cape Fear River Northeast flows through it.

Empowering People through Literacy       (mar)

By PRIP Glenn E. Estess Sr – Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair

In Rotary, we recognize March as Literacy Month. This is when we focus on the importance of literacy and education in our humanitarian service.  In my decades as a Rotarian, both at home in Alabama, USA, and abroad, I have seen again and again what a critical role literacy plays in a healthy and productive life. Being literate does not just mean having the ability to read a book or a newspaper.

Video - Winter Olympic Dream Comes True

Meet Ava Caron, a little girl whose dream of attending the Winter Olympics came true, thanks to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada and the Rotary Club of Calgary Olympic.

New Midwest Club Focuses On Environment      (mar)

By Arnold R. Grahl

A new Rotary club spanning the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin, USA, is focusing its energies on helping the environment while reaching out to younger members. The Rotary Club of Duluth Superior Eco, which received its charter in November, meets late Tuesday afternoons at a popular restaurant in Duluth, Minnesota, where members are treated to snacks and a nonalcoholic drink for $5.

UP, UP and AWAY!       (mar)

By Jerry Cummins, Rotary Club of Walla Walla Noon

Video - Interact in Rotary District 5170   (mar)

The Engagement Contract      (mar)
By Karen Schmidt

We are all familiar with the idea of legal contracts. You encounter them when you buy a house, get a loan or sign up for a mobile phone. They may be annoying and time consuming to read but we know that they are a good idea because they protect our interests and give us a clear understanding of what to expect.

Having a Guest Speaker …No Big Deal    (FEB)

By Patti Thalheimer, Rotary Club of Daytona Beach, District 6970
Recently I was asked to be the guest speaker at a local civic organization. I was asked 2 months prior to the meeting and given 2 dates from which to choose. I was excited about the opportunity to share information about my non-profit organization and I was delighted to be invited.  The day before the meeting I was called as a reminder. At the time I thought it odd that the person didn’t ask me for a biography or any material for an introduction of any kind. No big deal.

Australian Children’s Music Foundation    (FEB)

By PDG Bob Aitken – Editor of Rotary Down Under Magazine

Eight Conversations that Engage    (FEB)

By Karen Schmidt

VIDEO - Thanks for Life / End Polio Now    (FEB)
Rotary International Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) presents "Thanks for Life / End Polio Now", Part 1 of 2. This documentary, fronted by Konnie Huq of BBC TV, describes the November 2009 sub national immunisation days in India at which 86 Rotarians from RIBI helped Indian volunteers to vaccinate 67 million children in just 2 days.

Rotary Club of Chicago (Rotary/One) 105 Years Old    (FEB)
The Rotary Club of Chicago, fondly known as Rotary/One, celebrates the club’s 105th birthday on February 23, 2010. 2010 also marks the 100th anniversary of the National Association of Rotary Clubs of America, which later became Rotary International in 1922.  As the first club established by Rotary founder Paul Harris, the Chicago club will be marking its 105th anniversary at the same time Rotary marks 25 years of work to eradicate polio.

Reflections of a Santa      (JAN)

By Keith Reinke, Rotary Club of Beaudesert, D9640, Queensland, Australia

Each day has provided a full mix of emotion pure joy, sadness, excitement, disappointment, people looking for help, for reassurance, people reliving memories of happier past times, people hoping that a new year will bring a better change, of fear, love, hope, every emotion, and many times a mixture of a number of these.

Scoring an advance for science education in Estonia      (JAN)

By Peter Schmidtke 

Forty Estonian high school students rolled up their sleeves and used Matching Grant-funded science equipment to test water, air, and soil at a nuclear power plant and other sites in Latvia and Lithuania during a three-day trip in October.

Reflection, Recovery and Regeneration – Preserving Planet Earth      (JAN)

By Leonie Gale, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife

Top five re support The Rotary Foundation       (JAN)

By Antoinette Tuscano

There are as many reasons to support The Rotary Foundation as there are ways to do good in the world. By contributing to the Foundation, you advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.

What is Rotary?       (JAN)

By Vikki Patiño - Rotary Club of Sebastopol, California

We have just heard about Rotary’s extensive accomplishments during the past century.  We know that Rotary exists to improve communities locally and around the world and to advance international understanding. In the three years since I was inducted I have often been asked about Rotary - what it is.  Typically I answer by explaining that Rotary is a group of individuals who get together to perform public service.

Itzhak Perlman performs for Rotary        (JAN)

The global effort to eradicate polio received a major boost when violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, a polio survivor himself, joined with the New York Philharmonic to perform at The Concert to End Polio.

The Ability to Respectfully Disagree          (JAN)

By Michael Angier

A critical key to success in your career and in your life overall is developing and maintaining good relationships. Our relationships with coworkers, suppliers, spouses, clients, bosses, siblings, employees, competitors and parents affect everything we do. Our success is highly dependent upon these relationships.

Water Use & Health Education Project in Pursat, Cambodia            (JAN)

By Elise NDiaye – HOPE International Development Agency

Why I am thankful to be a Rotarian                 (dec)

By PRIP Frank Devlyn – Friend of Rotary eClub One

There is much more I am thankful for but most of all I am thankful for the fellowship and many friendships that I have made because of Rotary. In the coming weeks as you celebrate the holidays in your own way, keep the work of The Rotary Foundation and Rotary International in your hearts and minds and recommit to give it your full support so we can continue to change the world. In this way, one person at a time, one project at a time, one day at a time, working together we will eventually bring about peace.

EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES                 (dec)
By Sandra K. Trousdale, Rotary eClub One
In Galt, California, USA on March 12, 2009 the first pilot session in therapeutic horseback riding took place with 6 horses and more than 20 students.  The program, Galt Horse Assisted Learning Enrichment Program (GALEP), is a collaboration between the Galt Joint Union Elementary School District and local horse lovers and is hosted on school grounds.  The horses are furnished by volunteers and are assessed for suitability by a volunteer horsemanship expert prior to being allowed in the program. 

Developing Our Strengths while Managing Our Weaknesses                (dec)

By Chuck Gallozzi

Many are painfully aware of weaknesses that hold them back. Yet, surprisingly, they are unaware of their many strengths. Focusing on our weaknesses while ignoring our strengths can be a source of discouragement and failure. And glorifying our strengths while ignoring our weaknesses can be equally unproductive. It is only when we give equal weight to our strong points and faults that we can realize our potential. Also note that we must choose our friends carefully because each relationship nurtures our strengths and weaknesses.

News from the Pacific Disaster Area             (dec)
By DG Leanne Jaggs
Rotary Club of Manukau City Sunrise, New Zealand, Governor, District 9920
With horrific disasters in Samoa, Tonga and American Samoa affecting District 9920, the Pacific region has seen how fast Rotarians can react to an emergency. As we have so many Island nations in our Rotary District, we’ve come to expect some kind of disaster in most years, but this one has come from left field.

We all know how important it is to focus on what we want. But what happens when we LOSE focus? It’s easy to do, isn’t it? We get distracted. Something captures our interest and diverts our attention away from our chosen objetive. We suffer setbacks. Things don’t work out as planned. Someone lets us down. Circumstances change and good plans go bad. We get interrupted. An important matter takes precedence—sometimes for long periods of time. We, or members of our team, get sick or hurt. We don’t have the energy we had before and often find it slow to get back in the game.

Video - Stamping Out Polio - A Technical Perspective                (dec)
Although an effective polio vaccine is widely available, there are four countries in the developing world in which the virus remains. To wipe polio out completely, every child in every region where the virus still lives must be vaccinated. Watch this video to find out how researchers, governments, and public health professionals are collaborating to find all these children and stop this disease in its tracks.

Video - Fighting Poverty through Education               (dec)

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