March 12, 2014
District 7980 Rotary Foundation Newsletter
2013-14 Update on our many Programs of the Rotary Foundation
1. Annual Fund Your gifts to the Annual Fund are the fuel for all our Foundation Programs in the Future. We only have 3 months to meet our annual giving goals. The 2/28/14 TRF giving report by club is on the District website under Annual Giving. At this point we have 90% participation (6 non-giving clubs, goal is 100% participation). Only 47% of our clubs set AF goals this year – makes tracking difficult. We are currently 3rd in our Zone (goal was to be 1st). Presidents, Secretaries, and TRF Club Foundation Chairs can print monthly CRS and EREY reports to track club giving.
1a. Paul Harris Society & Major Donors: Private receptions are being organized in Westport (March 30) and New London (March 31) for current and prospective PHS/MDs. Invitations going out this week, but if you know of good prospects, please contact Jim Satterwhite.
2. Kenya Project: Has been Assigned GG1419595, is finally moving forward. 10 Clubs have made leadership gifts – goal was to have all clubs get involved and partner together for $100, $200, $500… so every club can see and feel how a small contribution can save and change lives. The power point presentation and contribution form are on the Global Grant page of the district website. We need to wrap up club contributions by 4/15/14. Either AG Tari Marshall Day or PDG Rick Bensonwill be available for club presentations if you would like one.
3. Polio Challenge: Turn $100 into $7.50with the current match available from the District, The TRF Trustees, and the Gates Foundation. Clubs or individuals can contribute on line or use the Contribution forms available on DacDB. The Polio Plus page of the district website has much information and a “Give” link.
4. District Managed Grants – Remaining funding limited. As of Mid-February we had $15,500 remaining to allocate, full report of DMGs approved this year is on the DMG page of the District website, but a number of grant applications have been submitted since then. Send completed DMG applications to Chip Marsh.
5. Scholarships: 2 very fine candidates were selected in February to receive $30,000 Global Grant Scholarships, both will be studying in the UK next year. Applications for the two $10,000Service Above Self Scholarships are due to Dave Wolfe by May 1. See the Scholarship page of the District web site for information and application forms.
6. Vocational Training Teams: Nancy Riella, District VTT Chair has been very busy
a. Sierra Leone– our 5 member team of early child hood educators visited Sierra Leone in January, and Norwalk will be hosting their team in late April. Both teams will be at the District Conference, but if you’d like a club presentation, contact Eugenia Chinsman,
b. Ghana – Colchester and Old Saybrook are partnering to send a team of Financial specialists to Accra, Ghana this summer to teach women how to utilize microcredit to start small businesses and how to expand to markets beyond their villages. Contact Bob Hodge if your club wants to financially support this or if you have members interested in being on the Team
7. Endowment Fund/ Million Dollar Dinner: Our District and 3 NYC area districts are teaming up to raise over $1 Million for TRF’s endowment Fund. A new bequest of at least $10,000 will get you a free invitation to the New York Athletic Club Gala on May 12, 2014, or tickets @ $250 are available from PDG Mac Leask or PDG Alan Hurst. Additional information is on the Endowment page of the District web site.
2014-15 TRF Training Update
1. If You Missed PETS – PETS Makeup will be March 29 at the Sheridan Four-Points Hotel in Meriden, contact DGE Mukund Nori, or register on the District Calendar.
2. Club Qualification for 2014-15:
Grants Training and Club Steward Training will be May 3, 2014 at District Assembly
Clubs/Stewards qualified this year may attend either a refresher course May 3 or attend a webinar to be scheduled in May
Qualification Information and forms on the Stewardship page of the District web site
3. Foundation Seminars – for New Members, Club Foundation Chairs, Club Foundation Committee or International Service Committee, and Stewardship will be scheduled in early June at both ends of the district – dates and locations to be announced soon.
4. District Managed Grants 2014-15: PEs need to submit their DMG grant ideas to DRFC Rick Benson as soon as possible so we can apply for next year’s Block Grant in June.
Other Websites of Interest:
1. The link to the comprehensive TRF newsletter by the Rotary Global History Fellowship is:
2. The new website requires new passwords to access My Rotary if you haven’t set one up since January. There you will find may TRF and club admin resources. Go to Rotary Club Central to enter TRF Goals. Rotary and the Foundation have recently been “re-branded” so new logos are now available on the website.
3. District Web Site: has recently been updated and simplified. It is our public access portal to the world. The links on the website to various District Programs only show information we want to share with the public. If you want or need more detailed information on the programs, you have to log onto DaCdb and go to the appropriate Rotary Foundation Committee to find phone numbers,email addresses and additional reports.