FogHorn  February 13, 2020 - Lunch on the Town

President Ed asked for input n how we should allocate our remaining DDF – District Designated Funds – that our club can specifically allocate to Rotary projects.  Please contact Ed as soon as possible, as he needs to submit a response by the end of February 2020.

 

Ed noted that “for this year, our DDF allocation options are limited to (1) supporting existing Rotary Global Grants, as we did last year; (2) supporting Rotary Peace Centers;  and (3) supporting PolioPlus.   I am attaching information on Rotary Peace Fellowships (which are funded by the Rotary Peace Centers) and a few additional international projects that are in need of funding.  One of those is Alliance for Smiles.  There are other projects for which I do not have information in my immediate possession -- eligible projects need not be sponsored by a club in our district; any project with a Rotary Global Grant Number is eligible.

 

As you know, our own member (and President-Elect Nominee) Joe Brennan has been very active in Alliance for Smiles, and in addition to this being a very important program that makes a huge difference in the lives of the people it serves, there is an attraction to supporting program in which one or more of our members has a substantial personal involvement.  Although the allocation we make will be based on input from the members, I am suggesting that we should make a significant allocation to the Alliance for Smiles project. 

 

PolioPlus has been Rotary's signature cause for several decades now.  As you have heard many times, we are THIS close to finally eradicating this scourge.  As you may know, Rotary has partnered with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, such that every dollar we donate (or allocate from our DDF) to PolioPlus will be matched 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation, so every $1,000 we allocate will mean $3,000 applied to this important cause.  I love the concept of leveraging our contributions so they have a disproportionate effect on attaining our goals.  For this reason, and because it is a very worthwhile project, I am suggesting that we allocate a significant portion of this year's DDF to PolioPlus.”

 

Liz Schuck announced that we have a date for Magic of the Coastside to be held at the IDES Hall – June 13, 2020 – Beatles theme and Summer of Love!  We are inviting all Rotarians to participate in the planning for the event.  On February 20, we will have a special organizational meeting for Magic.  Please contact Krystlyn Giedt, our Magic Chair, for more information as well! Liz has sent out 26 applications to non-profits to submit a request for a grant from the proceeds of Magic. Diane Bobko has sent out requests for nominees for the Service Above Self Award.

 

 

We were honored to welcome back our own Bill Johnston after the loss of his wife, Ayn, of 50 years this week after her long struggles with cancer. Bill thanked our Rotary community for our support over these difficult years.  Ayn frequently came to our meetings over the last few years despite her illnesses.  Bill expressed that he wished that many new members of the club would have met Ayn in her younger years and would have seen how amazing and vibrant and caring she was.  All in the Club were touched, and our thoughts and prayers are with Bill and his family during this difficult time.

 

Lukas Kruse shared that he was visiting from Germany for two weeks as part of a school internship project.  His first host family, Dave and Julie Mell, arranged for Lukas to work as an intern at Dave Mell’s company.  During these two weeks, Lukas stayed with the Mell’s, Steve and Kathy Wilson, Stacy Trevenon and Doug Mallon, and Mary and Phil Rogren.