Rotary District 7300 | P.O. Box 44305 | Pittsburgh, PA 15205 | P: (412) 429-7300 | F: (412) 429-7300
Rotary District 7300 Newsletter
Rotary District 7300 Newsletter
• JULY 2011
JULY 2011
Yours In Service,
Sue Kelly
Rotary District 7300
• District Governor
H: (412) 341-9450 | C: (412) 260-8128
E: [email protected]
Yours In Service,
Sue Kelly
Greetings to my fellow District 7300 Rotarians,
Well I knew this past year would go fast and it surely did. Now, as I am writing
my first article as District Governor I cannot believe that July 1, 2011 finally came
and went and I have more than ten days in this year already. Many thanks to the
Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary Club
for welcoming me for my first official visit.
If I can take a moment to reflect on the past year, I want to thank
Cindy Sakala
for doing a great job as the
2010-2011 Rotary District 7300 Governor
. We had
a very good year working together and of course, the year was topped off by
our week long trip to the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans, LA
and by the Rotary District 7300 Conference held at the Sheraton Bayfront Hotel
in Erie, PA. Both events were super, we had a fabulous time, and so did all who
joined us for these events.
By becoming involved as the District Governor Nominee (DGN) and District
Governor Elect (DGE) a year and a half out, it provided me the opportunity to
get immersed in District affairs so that I would be ready to take over on July 1,
2011. Without this lead-in time I am sure I would have had a very difficult time
starting from scratch. I will continue to involve
Tom Fallon
and
Walt Sickles
who
are coming in behind me so that they too will be ready to take over when their
July 1st arrives.
To all of you I have met and worked with along the way, it has been my
plea-sure. To those of you I will yet meet and work with in the coming year, I look
forward to sharing Rotary with you during the 2011-2012 Rotary year as we
“
Reach Within to Embrace Humanity
”. Let’s all work together to make this an
unforgettable year for Rotary District 7300.
I am looking forward to my next 50 visits. See you soon!
P.S. Don’t forget the
Rotary District 7300 Golf Outing
coming up on Friday,
August 12, 2011. Golf $125.00, Dinner Only $30.00. Please visit the
Rotary
District 7300
website at
www.rotarydistrict7300.org
for details.
“Service Above Self”
“Service Above Self”
2011-2012
District Governor
Sue Kelly
Carnegie-Collier Rotary Club
THE FOUR-WAY TEST
Of the things we think,
say or do...
www.rotary.org
www.rotarydistrict7300.org
Allegheny County, Beaver County and parts of
Westmoreland County 1. Is it the truth?
2. Is it fair to all concerned? 3. Will it build goodwill
and better friendships? 4. Will it be beneficial
page 2
2010-2011
Rotary District 7300
District Governor
Cindy Sakala
Burrell Area Rotary Club
“Goodbye Cindy, Hello Sue!”
Rotary Friends,Wow, what a year it’s been! My term as District Governor ended June 30, 2011 at midnight and Sue Kelly took over. May I assure you that, in District 7300, there is a seamless transition and all of the district leaders - past, present, and future - work together to ensure that Rotary stays strong and united in Western Pennsylvania.
I would like to thank all of the 2010-2011 Rotary Club Presi-dents for their hard work, diligence, commitment, enthusiasm, passion, caring, sharing, generosity, sincerity, and kindness exhib-ited this year as they have exemplified of our motto “Service Above Self.” Many, many Rotarians have stepped up to help beyond the club level and have been part of district committees. To those of you, especially the Committee Chairpersons, please accept my sincere thanks. Your support was invaluable, and I thank you on behalf of ALL of the Rotarians in our district. You have all been an inspiration to me and have done so much good this year; it’s impossible to quantify.
We all set out together about a year ago on a journey to make our clubs Bigger, Better, and BOLDER, focusing on Membership, Service, and The Rotary Foundation. You set Bigger goals for your clubs to grow in membership, fundraising, and charitable giving. You wanted to make your clubs Better - to have better meetings, better involvement, better programs, and better projects. And you worked for BOLDER clubs by improving the diversity of your clubs, by participating in new activities, and by supporting and using the programs of The Rotary Foundation.
Well, how did we do?
Membership is up by 7.25%! On July 1, 2010 we had 1200 mem-bers; we now have 1287. The White Oak Rotary Club was chartered in July of 2010 and Pittsburgh’s South Side Rotary Club
is officially up and running. WOW! You did it - we’re definitely
Bigger than we were a year ago, but we’re also Better and
BOLDER at the end of this Rotary year. One item of special pride, when Rotary International President, Ray Klinginsmith, was in Pittsburgh in June, was the diversity of our membership. We include young and old, men and women, and people of every religious and non-religious makeup. We respect people of all ethnicity, background, and vocation. The Rotary clubs of District 7300 prove that Rotary is an inclusive and diverse organization open to all people of good ethical standing who are willing to serve their communities and the world.
Service is where the clubs of Rotary District 7300 really excel. Rotarians in almost every club in the district rang bells for the Salva-tion Army, gave out dicSalva-tionaries to grade-school children, supported their food banks, collected socks, hats, and gloves for the homeless, hosted our Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) students, gave out scholarships, and provided financial support to many of the charities in their communities. You supported medical clinics abroad, provided clean water to the thirsty, food for the hungry, and assistance to the disabled. WOW! Give yourselves a big pat on the back for the Bigger, Better, and BOLDER ways in which you
Built Communities and Bridged Continents.
The Rotary Foundation has always been and continues to be generously supported by the Rotarians of District 7300. Thank you. Through your past support of the Annual Programs Fund, over $13,000.00 in District Simplified Grants were distributed for community and international programs. Our Burrell Area Rotary Club bought new software for the Alle-Kiski Learning Center so that adults could learn to read; the Beaver Rotary Club provides beds for children who don’t have one of their own; the Swissvale Rotary Club bought magazine subscriptions for their local library; the Green Tree Rotary Club gave Easter Baskets to shut ins, and the list goes on and on. Two ambassadorial scholars were selected to study abroad in the coming year. Through a significant gift given by Pittsburgh Rotarian Bob Williams’ estate, there will be over $400,000.00 set up in a scholarship fund for local students. Thank you, Rotary Foundation (TRF) Trustee Lou Piconi for making this possible. One thousand clay filters will be purchased in Haiti to provide bacteria-free water to families in the cholera-endemic area of the Artibonite Valley, funded in part through The Rotary Foun-dation. These are the Bigger, Better, and BOLDER ways in which you are funding and using The Rotary Foundation to provide service to our communities and the world.
Thank YOU so very, very much!
Polio Eradication will remain our number one priority until it no longer poses a threat to any child anywhere in the world. Our clubs have been most generous in supporting the Polio Plus Gates Challenge to raise $200,000,000.00 for polio eradication. This year, you gave over $100,000.00 to the Polio Plus Gates Challenge. Thank YOU! This year, we tried something Bigger, Better, and
BOLDER. Through our collaboration with Steeltown Entertain-ment, we had showings of “The Shot Felt ‘round the World,” the story of the development of the Salk polio vaccine, throughout the district and the video was played at the Rotary International Convention in New Orleans. A viral video contest was held, based on the movie, and over 250 school students from our district participated. Many thanks to all of you who continue to “stay the course” on polio eradication.
Yet, with all the good we do, there always remains more to be done. Someone once defined evil as, “…the good that refuses to be better.” We can’t stop now. Let’s not file the Bigger, Better, and
BOLDER motto away now that the year is over - we need to keep building, improving and adapting our clubs to be relevant to new generations of Rotarians and to align our mission of service to the changing needs of our communities and the world. There’s a great momentum of positive activity, energy and motivation in our Rotary clubs - let’s keep it going during the coming year under Sue Kelly’s leadership.
Finally, I thank all of you for allowing me to serve you this year. It has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences of my life, and I’ll never forget the many, many kindnesses that I have received and the friendships I’ve made. Please thank my husband, Paul, the next time you see him. He was supportive beyond expectations and kept me focused and inspired all year.
Now, I will step down as District Governor and return to my home club, Burrell Area Rotary Club, where I first learned what it means to be a Rotarian. Sue - it’s you’re watch!
Yours In Service,
page 3
2011-2012
Rotary District 7300
Literacy Chair
Gladys Maharam
Forest Hills Rotary Club
Yours In Service,
Karl Ohrman
Rotary District 7300 • Membership Chair P: (412) 391-7425 | E: [email protected]
Yours In Service,
Gladys Maharam
Rotary District 7300 • Literacy Chair
P: (412) 391-7425 | E: [email protected]
Do you think that Rotary membership will grow without active participation from every Rotarian? Me neither.
Do you think that our district leaders can solely build our membership? Me neither.
Do you think that your club will get bigger and more active without a clear focus on stated membership goals? Me neither.
Do you think that the Rotary District 7300 Conference will be better attended if we have fewer and fewer district members? Me neither.
Do you think that you are being a good Rotarian without giving constant attention to membership development? Me neither.
Do you think that your friends, coworkers, and fellow church members are better off by not being exposed to the excitement of Rotary? Me neither.
Do you think that if all Rotary District 7300 Rotarians got reinvigorated in the cause of membership growth, set realistic goals, and set up an active action membership plan, that the district and all of the communities it serves, will have a huge positive impact? ME TOO!
7300 – One of Rotary’s great districts!
1200 – District 7300 Rotarians on July 1, 2010
1287 – District membership 2010-2011 year end
51 – District 7300 Rotary Clubs
23 – NEW! Monroeville Rotary Club Rotarians (2010-2011)
54 – NEW! White Oak Rotary Club members (Charter)
1 – NEW! Member goal for each Rotarian
BRING IN ONE NEW MEMBER THIS YEAR!
The numbers were good in Cindy Sakala’s year and Sue Kelly has some aggressive growth goals as well. We can increase Rotary District 7300 membership again this year if each Rotarian and each Rotary club commits to focusing on membership growth!
“The youth of every generation has stood in a critical position, for the scales have been tipped one way or the other by the training they received from their elders. This is particularly true today. Our boys and girls have greater freedom, exercise greater power, and have more opportunities for both good and evil, than ever before. How important it is, therefore, that youth’s great possibilities for good be realized and developed!"
~ Angus S. Mitchell, 1948-49 Rotary International President
ALLRotary District 7300 Rotary clubs should submit their attendance figures within the first two weeks of each month. This gives your club members the opportunity to attend “make-up meetings” for meetings that were missed during the last two weeks of the previous month.
1. Sharpsburg-Aspinwall Rotary Club
2. Crafton-Ingram Rotary Club
3. Moon Township Rotary Club
4. McCandless Rotary Club
5. Churchill-Wilkins Rotary Club
6. Allegheny Valley Rotary Club
7. Forest Hills Rotary Club
8. New Brighton Rotary Club
9. Steel Valley Rotary Club
10. Ambridge Rotary Club
98% 93% 87% 79% 78% 75% 75% 75% 75% 74%
“Top 10” Rotary club attendance % as of June 1,2011: (... with 13 clubs NOT reporting attendance!)
“Consider a Program for International Literacy Day”
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi-zation (UNESCO) proclaimed September 8th, 1966, as the first
International Literacy Day, an event that we have been celebrating annually ever since. Although we recognize that there have been improvements in world literacy, it is important to acknowledge that the global statistics are overwhelmingly dismal.
• Nearly 800 million people worldwide over the age of 15 can neither read nor write.
• Women and girls account for about 64 percent of this group. • Nearly half of all children in Africa will not complete
secondary school.
Although March is Rotary International’s Literacy Month, your meeting in early September can also focus on literacy. If your club is interested in working on an international literacy project, please visit the following link for ideas:
http://www.reading.org/General/InternationalOutreach/ InternationalProjectPartnerships.aspx
Rotary International maintains a cooperative relationship with the International Reading Association.
For further information please contact me.
2011-2012
Rotary District 7300
Membership Chair
Karl Ohrman
Rotary Club of Pittsburgh
“Me Neither” and
page 4
2011-2012
Rotary District 7300
Foundation Chair
Dennis Crawford
McCandless Rotary Club
Yours In Service,
Dennis Crawford
Rotary District 7300 • Foundation Chair
P: (412) 391-7425 | E: [email protected]
“Annual Giving Foundation Goal”
As I write this article, Kathy and I are just returning from the
D7300 Conference in Erie, PA. This event marked the end of the Rotary year for District Governor, Cindy Sakala, and kicked off the beginning of a new Rotary year for District Governor, Sue Kelly. I can tell you that a good time was had by all! We had informative breakout sessions on Rotary, wonderful fellowship, and just an overall amazing weekend. Make sure you make it a priority to attend next year’s conference in Seven Springs, PA. Bring the whole family; you won’t regret it!
The D7300 Conference is now history and the subject at hand is our Annual Giving for The Rotary Foundation (TRF). As you may or may not know, each year the incoming District Governor meets with all of the incoming Club Presidents to get their club’s goals for the Annual Giving Fund - Every Year Every Rotarian (EREY). This is a requirement from Rotary International. At the confer-ence, Past District Governor, Kathy Crawford, was able to get our district Rotarians to part with $2,950.00 on 50/50 raffle tickets and chances to win for a wonderful basket filled with ceramics donated by a Rotarian from the Pittsburgh South Side Club. This netted us $1,475.00 for The Rotary Foundation (TRF). We also had several Rotarians and Rotary clubs give their checks to Past District Governor, Rick Martin, our Annual Giving Chairman. By the end of the conference, with all of the above, we were only $5,775.00 short of our district’s Annual Giving Fund goal. With approximately 1250 Rotarians in Rotary District 7300, it averages out to a donation of $4.62 per Rotarian.
I know that many of us wait until the very last minute of the Rotary year to get our $100.00 Every Year Every Rotarian (EREY)
donation made, but please - get your Annual Giving donations in to Rick as soon as possible. Don’t wait until the end of each year. Remember, 50% of what we donate this year will come back to our district three years from now. These monies fund our Group Study Exchange (GSE) Teams, partially fund our district designated funds and fully fund our District Simplified Grants (DSG). The more we give in Annual Giving, the more your club projects will benefit three years from now.
Thank YOU for all you do for Rotary!
Annual Giving donation checks may be sent to: Rotary D7300 Past District Governor
Rick Martin
1456 Eighth Avenue New Brighton, PA 15066
Interesting speakers for your next Rotary meeting...
For an additional list of interesting speakers, please visit: www.rotarydistrict7300.org
page 5
Nominations for companies with ethical standards! Pittsburgh Business Ethics Award
Cosponsored by The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh,
Pittsburgh Society of Financial Services Professionals Pittsburgh Tribune Review, KDKA Radio
Article Submitted by Karl Ohrman
The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh and the Society of Financial Services Professionals are cosponsoring the 11th Annual Pitts-burgh Business Ethics Award (PBEA) Luncheon in mid-February.
The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh will have the honor of hosting the luncheon at their meeting for that day. Larry Richert of KDKA will be the emcee.
Nominations for companies that demonstrate a firm commitment to ethical practices in their every day operations are now being accepted until September 1, 2011.
Finalists are selected through interviews conducted by business students attending the University of Pittsburgh. The students will write and submit reports to a blue ribbon panel for judging. This work gives the students 50% of their semester grade. Selected winners can move on to receive national awards.
Nominees can be small, such as your dry cleaner or an automotive dealership. Small is defined as ‘up to 250 employees’. Nominees can also be medium (250-2,500 employees) and large (over 2,500 employees) businesses.
Give honor and prestige to companies who have high ethical standards! E-mail names of potential nominees* to Karl Ohrman at
*Financial firms and nonprofit organizations are not eligible. Additional information regarding the 11th Annual Pittsburgh Business Ethics Award (PBEA) Luncheon will be posted as we approach February. We need your help in the nominating process right now. Again, nominations are due by September 1, 2011.
By nominating a business, you’re helping us in two ways: 1. Honoring businesses that you know and trust.
2. Building a base for our entry to the corporate marketplace. We need your help! All you have to do is write down a name and the process will begin!
The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh is aggressively pursuing the corporate market for new Rotary members under the Corporate Option. We need a boost in membership and Club President,
Andrew Dlinn, is using this strategy to deliver the boost.
The Society of Financial Services Professionals and The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh are partnering to help each other in areas where they can do the most good.
For additional information regarding The Society of Financial Services Professionals, please visit www.pittsburghsfsp.org.
“Rotary International Service Above Self Award”
Forest Hills Rotarian, Tom Nunnally, was recently the recipient of the "Rotary International Service Above Self Award". This is an internationally competitive award granted to a maximum of 150 Rotarians per year who are examples of “Service Above Self.”
Rotary International President, Ray Klingensmith, presented the award to Tom during a special ceremony at the Carnegie Library
in Carnegie, PA.
Tom has been an active member of the Forest Hills Rotary Club
for 35 years. He has served as Club President, Treasurer, Assistant District Governor, Group Study Exchange Team Leader, and on several district committees.
He helped support the Forest Hills Rotary Club in building Mama's Kitchen in San Jose, Honduras. Tom along with Don Gould
and Dick Wukich started a microbusiness and water filter factory in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. He’s very involved in the “Pure Water For All” project; the main focus being water purification filters that be distributed to third world countries in need of clean water.
Tom has been involved in banking since 1972, and still serves as a member of the board for Enterprise Bank, which he helped found. He also serves on several other boards, such as the Carn-egie Library in Braddock, PA and is a member of the Braddock Economic Development Corporation. He’s not just a name on a committee. He gets involved and works tirelessly to help those in need, whether locally or in other countries. Tom truly deserved to be awarded the prestigious honor.
page 6
(1) On Wednesday, May 4, 2011, The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh welcomed new member, Demetria Pappas, Cofounder of Mother, May I. Pictured (left to right): Andy Dlinn (2011-2012 Club President), Demetria Pappas, and Ethan Nicholas (Sponsor). (2) On Wednesday, May 25, 2011, The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh welcomed new member, Michelle Silverman, Realtor with North-wood Realty Services. Pictured (left to right): Linda Fischer (2010-2011 Club President), Ethan Nicholas (Sponsor), and Michelle Silverman.(3) On Wednesday, June 8, 2011, The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh welcomed new member, James Gourlay, Music Director for River City Brass. Pictured (left to right): Linda Fischer (2010-2011 Club President), James Gourlay, and Jim Hall (Sponsor).
(4) On Wednesday, June 1, 2011, The Rotary Club of Pittsburgh welcomed new member, Kirk Chambers, Vice President of Operations for ContactPointe. Pictured (left to right): Linda Fischer (2010-2011 Club President), Ray Klinginsmith (Rotary International President),
Kirk Chambers, Cindy Sakala (Rotary District 7300 Governor), and
Ethan Nicholas (Sponsor).
On Wednesday, June 1, 2011 Ray Klinginsmith (Rotary International President) and Cindy Sakala (Rotary District 7300 Governor) presented the Club and Linda Fischer (2010-2011 Club President) with a Significant Achievement Award for establishing a mentoring program at Sto-Rox High School. Congratulations!
Pictured (left to right): Randy Quinn (2010-2011 Club President),
Rob Robinson, and Brian Schill (Sponsor).
Rob Robinson was inducted on June 7, 2011. Rob has over 15 years experience in financial services. He has held executive-level positions at leading financial institutions including Mellon Bank, Hartford Life Insurance, and MetLife/New England Securities. Prior to his career in financial services Rob held management positions in consulting, health care, and Information Technology.
Rob is currently involved with www.my401krescue.com. It is the only educational website available today that is dedicated to teach-ing 401k plan participants how to manage their mutual funds and includes the Mutual Fund Analyzer which quickly analyzes over 22,000 mutual funds and compares their performance of buy and hold over the past six years with the “All in/All out” strategy of the APEX signal. Rob is on a mission to save the American
page 7
2011-2012
Rotary District 7300
Newsletter Editor • Webmaster
Lenore M. Wetzel
Forest Hills Rotary Club
Yours In Service,
Lenore M. Wetzel
Rotary District 7300 • Newsletter Editor • Webmaster P: (412) 735-8429 | E: [email protected] E: [email protected]
“...from the Heart”
Hello Rotary Family!
Why the silly head shot you ask? For those of you who know me, you know I love to have fun and make those around me laugh (even if it’s at my own expense). Laughter is good for your heart. But for just a moment, I want to be serious. When I say “Hello Rotary Family!”, I really do mean FAMILY.
Several months back, I was approached by then District Gover-nor Elect (DGE), Sue Kelly. She requested that I continue to serve as the Governor’s Newsletter Editor. I was honored by her request and, of course, accepted the responsibility. So when this year’s Rotary theme was announced and she asked me to base the newsletter’s theme around it’s meaning and colors, “...from the Heart” felt so fitting.
Over the past four years, I have gained many close friends through Rotary. Friends that are there for me and I for them.
Marlene Dietrich said, “It's the friends you can call up at 4:00 a.m. that matter.” While I’m sure most of you are sound asleep at 4:00 a.m. and really don’t want me to call you, you get my point. I, along with several others, have regularly stayed up many late nights into early mornings (you know who you are ... Sandra,
Scott, Sue, and Bill; just to name a few), talking about all things Rotary. Now that, to me, is true Rotary FAMILY. And I do mean that “...from the Heart.”
So here we are, beginning the 2011-2012 Rotary year. How exciting?! With the new year at hand, district and club changes will occur. However, some things will remain the same. For example, the Rotary District 7300 Governor's Newsletter will continue to be published between the 1st and the 5th of each month. The submission deadline for club articles and events will continue to be the 25th of each month.
If your club is having an event, let me know about it. I’ll help your club spread the word! If your club has had event and would like to have it highlighted in the newsletter, please send your club's article and photographs to me as soon as possible after the event has taken place. Be sure to include the “who, what, where, when and why” in your article as well as the names of the people in your photographs in order from left to right!
The 25th of each month deadline date is VERY important! In order for me to publish “...from the Heart” by the 5th of each month, I need time to sort, edit, and proof.
Please visit www.rotarydistrict7300.org. Explore! Learn! Enjoy! Encourage club members and others to visit the site. Utilize the district website as a tool to promote your club, to gain the interest of prospective club members, or to find your way to a Rotary meeting location!
Like a fine wine, all good things take time. Changes occur at club level and district level with each new Rotary year. With change comes NEW ideas, projects, and activities. Please bear with me as I create and design NEW ideas for “...from the Heart”.
Pictured (left to right): Jim Sikorsky, Larry Anlauf, Mark Squillace, Nelson Mayer, Dave Balmert, Craig Anlauf, and Bob Petty (Club President). Photograph by Barbara Braun.
White Oak Rotarians volunteered their time and tools to get the job done!
Rotary is a group of business men and women who are committed to community service. So when Veteran, Stephanie Berry, was in violation of a McKeesport ordinance for an overgrown lawn, Karen Cinnamon of the Veteran’s Administration, a Pittsburgh Health-care System, took action.
The VA agreed to purchase Mrs. Berry a lawn mower, but needed help in getting the heavily overgrown lawn mowed for the first time to prevent her from being cited for the violation.
Karen contacted Rotary District Secretary, Sandra Rebholz, who in turn asked White Oak Rotary Club President, Bob Petty, for help. Within a few days, a White Oak crew had the lawn mowed and the property back in compliance … an impressed VA and one very happy Veteran!
