Club Update

October is PolioPlus month, and the Oct. 15 Rotary Now!/leading Change is set to bring you two outstanding presenters — John Hewko, the General Secretary and CEO of Rotary International, and Dr. John Vertefeuille, the Polio Eradication Branch Chief and Incident Manager in the CDC Polio Emergency Response, based in Atlanta. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear from experts in the eradication of polio, so Click Here to Register!

Hewko is uniquely in the center of everything Rotary is doing in the fight against Polio. Through an interview format with Nelson Maler, District Polio Chair, he will share the latest numbers and talk about efforts being made to eradicate the wild Polio virus from the last two countries in the world.

Dr. Vertefeuille, an eminent scientist and expert from the Center for Disease Control (CDC.), is responsible for overall leadership and programmatic direction of CDC’s global polio activities.

Click here for the full story on these two noted speakers to address us on the fact that we are “this close” toward polio eradication.

On behalf of the District, we are pleased to announce that the District 5110 Nominating Committee has formally met and put forth the name of Charles J. (Jim) Polk, a member of the Rotary Club of Illinois Valley, to serve as District Governor in the year 2023-2024.

As required by our nomination policy, the District Governor shall pass this information on to each club within 72 hours of receipt of the name, along with the candidate’s qualifications. Should a club feel there are issues with the nominee and wish to challenge, they will have 14 days from October 6 to notify the District Governor. That date will be Tuesday, October 20.

Click here for the full bio of your 2023-24 District Governor, Jim Polk……congrats, Jim!!

Photo courtesy of Fox26 Medford

On Tuesday, Sept. 8 fire broke out just north of Ashland, OR. Firefighters were quickly overwhelmed by the speed and intensity of the wind-fueled wildfire tearing north from Ashland along Interstate 5. The towns of Phoenix and Talent were lost. It came to be known as the Almeda fire. The fire ended up displacing an estimated 3,000 residents and destroyed an estimated 2,357 residential structures.

On Monday, Sept. 21, less than two weeks later, Rotary District 5110 had raised $25,000 through a Rotary Foundation Disaster Relief Grant and helped the fire victims buy the tools they need to continue working. Many had clients, they just needed the tools. Restoring the ability of the fire victims to reclaim their dignity and return to work is vitally important to Rotary. These are their stories at https://rotaryvolunteerconnect.org

The Rotary Club of Corvallis partnered with the Greater Corvallis, Philomath, Albany,Greater Albany, and Newport Rotary clubs to obtain a Rotary District Matching Grant, providing $18,525 in grant funds to the Meals on Wheels Program. The Rotary Grant helps Meals on Wheels address the surge in demand for assistance resulting from COVID-19 restrictions which have been accentuated by the fire and smoke emergencies.

Meals on Wheels is a program of Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments and serves Linn, Benton, and Lincoln Counties reaching 1,300 older adults and adults with disabilities who aren’t able to get to grocery stores and otherwise access nutritionally balanced meals. The program provides 23,000 meals per month and also allows for a well-check on the housing, health, and other conditions of the recipients. For further information and opportunities to donate and/or volunteer, go to: http://www.ocwcog.org/community-services-programs/meals/. Click here for the 5110 website story.

In 2018, Sweet Home volunteers installed 40 large banners to honor local veterans through the community’s Hero Banner Project. Former Mayor Jim Gourley and his wife, Lisa, a current member of the council, got the idea from communities in California and Nevada.

Now the two Albany Rotary Clubs are working together to do the same thing locally, since this year’s Albany Veterans Day Parade was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Jay Burcham saw the banners in Sweet Home and mentioned it to me during our weekly lunch together,” Rotarian Mike Martin said. “Of course it’s a great idea.”

Martin said the Rotary Clubs are working with the Oregon Department of Transportation, since anything that hangs over a state roadway has to be approved. “We hope to get started by Oct. 14 and have the banners up through Thanksgiving,” Martin said. Click here to go to full details on this great service story out of Albany.

To learn more or to register for a banner, contact rotarybannerproject@gmail.com.

District 5110 is proud to announce a Group Cultural Exchange (formerly Group Study Exchange) with District 9400 in Africa. A team of 3-4 team members plus a team leader will travel to District 9400 in April 2021, just in time to celebrate their district’s 100^th Anniversary. Both teams will return to Oregon together and attend our District Conference. Each team will spend 3-4 weeks abroad and each team member’s cost is $700 to help defray training and materials expenses. Application materials and fact sheets are available. Click here for the full website story and to learn more.

(*Covid-19 caveat: Although we will continue to plan for this adventure, should travel not be possible due to the Covid 19 pandemic, the trip will be postponed one year. We request your patience and understanding.)

Healthy businesses support engaged Rotarians, and engaged Rotarians produce vibrant Rotary clubs. This week’s BUSINESS OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION salutes Thompson Sanitary Service and Rob Thompson. Rob is a pillar of Newport Rotary Club and the Newport community. He is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and was President of the Club in 2017-2018.

Check out Thompson Sanitary Service on the Rotary Business Network at rotarybusinessnetwork.org/business-listing/thompson-sanitary-service-thompson-robert-m/ and at www.thompsonsanitary.com/
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Every D5110 Rotarian with a business or profession is entitled to a FREE listing in the Rotary Business Network directory. Click here for more on Rob and Thompson Sanitary Service as well as the RBN!

Congrats if you read this far into this week’s eNews…you earn three deep thoughts from the great George Carlin:

1. Don’t sweat the petty things and don’t pet the sweaty things.

2. I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman, “Where’s the self-help section?” She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.

3. Have you ever noticed that everybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.”

More to come…….be safe and serve….it’s the Rotary way!

Come along with District Governor Cindi O’Neil as she travels District 5110 exploring all the great things we do for our communities. Click below for her podcast accounts of these success stories of Rotary service.

In our world, filled with what recently seems to be an endless stream of stressful events, it is comforting to know that Rotary has created a program that can relieve trauma in children. Expression of one’s feelings through art can be very curative, especially in small children who may become locked in their trauma.

Art can also build self-esteem, immerse the psyche into a sense of inspiration, and develop creativity in young minds.The Rotary Club of Eugene has created partnerships in their community to provide art classes for all elementary school-age children in the 4J School District, taught by very talented artists in residence. “Art Spark” is a remarkable Rotary project and a tremendous service to the children of Eugene.

Learn how to recreate this in your community! Take a listen. https://rotaryvolunteerconnect.org/podcast.

District 5110 is delighted to announce that we’ve lined up an eminent scientist and expert from the Center for Disease Control (CDC.) to serve as the next speaker for the Oct. 15, 7 p.m. Rotary Now! / Leading Change.

He is Dr. John Vertefeuille, the Polio Eradication Branch Chief and Incident Manager in the CDC Polio Emergency Response, based in Atlanta. Dr. Vertefeuille is responsible for overall leadership and programmatic direction of CDC’s global polio activities. Since early 2017, Dr. Vertefeuille has also served as the chairman of the Eradication and Outbreak Management Group within GPEI, the Interagency Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

GPEI is a public-private partnership led by national governments with six core partners – the World Health Organization (WHO), the CDC, UNICEF, Rotary International, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. Its goal is to eradicate polio worldwide. Click Here to Register! and click here to read more impressive background about this speaker.

How do you have an Awards Celebration in COVID times when Rotarians can’t gather? How do you recognize Rotarians for their extraordinary service? How do you hear candidates for the District Governor deliver their traditional stump speeches without an event? Just ask Past District Governors Rick Olson, chair of the awards ceremony, and Claudette McWilliams, nominations chair. They pulled together a “booming” and “zooming” show on Friday, Sept. 25th to recognize Rotarians and Rotary Clubs for their year-long efforts.

“Last Friday night we paused in time to celebrate the many accomplishments of our Clubs, Presidents and District Leaders,” said DG Cindi O’Neil. “We revisited the many heartfelt passions and outstanding achievements of our Rotary members. And we formally congratulated our Immediate Past District Governor, Rick Olson. Bravo for a great year PDG Rick! In gratitude to all you do for District 5110, thank you.” For PDG Olson, it was sweet recognition for his year of service.

To read about all the Award Winners and hear all of the PDG Nominees speeches, visit the District website to see some photos, read the awards program list, and see the Youtube video.

139 Racers so far! $9,000 raised with 48 days to go! #RotaryStepsTogether is up and running, biking, walking, golfing, swimming….and it’s a great time to register and get moving for the great month of Walk-tOber!

With seven weeks left in this fun, virtual race, you have the opportunity to raise money for your Rotary Club, the Rotary Foundation and the District 5110 Fire Relief Fund! Did you know that 27 minutes of gardening converts to 1 mile? You can sync the Charity Footprints APP to your health APP on your phone and off you go. You can also manually enter workouts. Raking leaves is great exercise! So is CrossFit, swimming, Orange Theory or whatever you do to tackle that Quarantine – FIFTEEN some of us may have experienced during the governor’s stay at home orders. Click here to register, join the fun and move!

Racers who raise $250 or more will receive a water bottle to keep hydrated and to thank you for your part in this novel event!

Healthy businesses support engaged Rotarians, and engaged Rotarians produce vibrant Rotary clubs. D5110 weekly announces a “Business of the Week” featured in the D5110 Rotary Business Network Directory.

This week’s BUSINESS OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION salutes 2Form Architecture and Principal Architect Richard Shugar, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Eugene. Check out 2Form Architecture on the Rotary Business Network.

Every D5110 Rotarian with a business or profession is entitled to a FREE listing in the Rotary Business Network directory. If you have a known business listed through DACdb, your business is already listed. These FREE listings are a member benefit, available at no cost because connecting Rotarians and vocations is at the heart of Rotary’s core values. Here’s more on this Youtube link. District 5110 hopes you will contact Rotarian Dan Smith. if you have questions or need help, or visit the Rotary Business Directory.

The Coos Bay – North Bend Rotary Club has been voted favorite service club for the World Newspaper’s Best of the South Coast for 2020. The recognition, which is voted by the people in the community, will be part of an upcoming special publication.

“It reflects well on the club, the district, and Rotary,” said Novotny. “I believe it shows that not only are the works of our membership being recognized by members of our community, but the increased effort to publicize those good deeds is starting to make a difference.” To read The World and its upcoming issue, click here.

Another half dozen quips from the dry wit of Steven Wright:

1. 7% of all statistics are made up on the spot.
2. A lot of people are afraid of heights, Not me, I’m afraid of widths.
3. I couldn’t repair your brakes, so I made your horn louder.
4. I spilled spot remover on my dog…..he’s gone now.
5. Plan to be spontaneous……tomorrow.
6. I intend to live forever…………..so far, so good.

More to come…….be safe and help out those who haven’t been as fortunate….it’s the Rotary way!

Please Zoom In and join your Rotary Family for a night of celebration, awards and fellowship as we look back at our success during the last year.

We will share projects, recognize Rotarians, Clubs and capture the passions you shared during the year. We will also present our District Governor Candidate speeches that will help select our 2023-24 District Governor. Please mark your calendars and join us for this special night in Rotary!

Rotarians can register now — click here to go to the 5110 website and your path to register and party!

If your club would like to nominate a qualified candidate to serve as the 5110 District Governor for the Rotary Year 2023-24, the club must submit a Governor-nominee Designate form along with a Club Suggestion Certification Resolution for 2023-24. A picture of the candidate needs to be included with the forms, which must be sent to all members of the Nominating Committee before 11:59 p.m. this Wednesday (tomorrow).

Contact PDG Claudette Mirassou McWilliams at 541.912.7592 or dgclaudette1718@gmail.com if forms are needed.
DG candidates will present a four-minute speech during the Night of Celebration this Friday at 7 p.m. on Zoom (register today!).

Candidates will be told the topic when applications are submitted. Candidates will be interviewed by the Nominating Committee via Zoom on October 3, 2020.

In response to the catastrophic loss of homes, businesses, and livelihoods for many Oregonians, Rotary has established a Fire Relief Fund to help victims of the fires rebuild their lives. Oregon communities that have been severely devastated, if not eliminated, in the wake of these unprecedented fires will need help in both the near and long term.

“For the painful and challenging times ahead, Rotary is ready to accept the public and corporate support to help those in need in our local communities. The focus is on raising and leveraging funds for future distribution via District Disaster Grants that help rebuild the fire devastated areas,” said District Governor Cindi O’Neil of Bend, Oregon. Click here to learn how to donate and help with relief efforts.

From Curry County to Bend, Oregon to Houston, Texas, Rotary 5110’s Fire Relief Fund earned media attention. Matt Hall published front page stories — Rotary establishes fire relief fund for victims — in four newspapers in Coos and Curry counties. Bend’s KVTZ-TV carried the story on its TV website. Even the e-Club of Houston, Texas — whose members include a few Oregonians — carried an article, Rotary helps Oregon Fire Victims.

Below are official links to all of these media outlets. Please thank them and support them.

Curry County Reporter Myrtle Point Herald The Coquille Valley Sentinel Port Orford News

e-Club of Houston, Texas KTVZ-TV (Bend, OR)

District 5110’s first Satellite Club formed at the Springs Retirement Community in Eugene after several Southtowne members moved there. Since they chartered in January 2020, they’ve grown from 10 to 15 members. The secret to their growth has been to invite non-Rotarian residents to help with their volunteer projects.

They hold regular meetings twice a month, and maintain physical distance. At this time, no outside visitors are allowed. One new member earned his Paul Harris Award already! They focus on service. Before COVID, they hosted a performance about the “shortcut” some Oregon settlers took off the Oregon trail. At that event, they passed the hat and raised $750 for a scholarship.

They have collected 50 bags of recyclable bottles – even getting the Springs Pub to join the effort – to support a tiny home project. They stuffed reading books in school bags for local kids. With the onset of COVID, though, they really stepped into action—click here to read on about this satellite making things happen.

Healthy businesses support engaged Rotarians, and engaged Rotarians produce vibrant Rotary clubs. D5110 weekly announces a “Business of the Week” featured in the D5110 Rotary Business Network (RBN) Directory.

This week’s BUSINESS OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION salutes KGAL/KSHO Radio and Greater Albany Rotarian Charlie Eads. Eads Broadcasting Corporation is a locally-owned Oregon corporation which operates KGAL 1580AM, KSHO 920AM & 94.1FM and the streaming-only station for music, news, sports and weather. Owner/President Charlie Eads is a charter member and past president of the Greater Albany Rotary Club. Click here to check out the full website story and more about our Rotary Business Network.

Every D5110 Rotarian with a business or profession is entitled to a FREE listing in the Rotary Business Network directory. If you have a known business listed through DACdb, your business is already listed.

With smoky skies and AQI exceeding 500 this week in Eugene, Delta Rotarians Gael Coyle and Kim Meyers prepared and delivered food to the Hosea Youth Center which is a resource day room for homeless youth living on the streets and riverbanks around Lane County.

Southtowne Rotary is also preparing meals for the Hosea Center with 45-60 kids coming in daily to shower, charge their phones and access resources and kindness. Click here for the full highlights of the great work happening in Eugene on the 5110 website.

Eugene-Delta Rotarian also volunteers with the Red Cross fire relief efforts by delivering food and snacks to Eugene-area hotels housing displaced fire evacuees.

District Governor Cindi O’Neil presents the Rotary Hero award to Rotarians who continue to find ways to safely and creatively serve those in need in their communities during these difficult and historic times. “These ‘Rotary Heroes’ inspire us and lead us to continue the service work Rotary has done for over a century,” explains DG Cindi O’Neil. “We have been here before, and we will be here tomorrow.”

Between COVID and the seemingly endless stretch of regional wildfires, the need for the eNews levity is greatly enhanced these days….thus, we’ll return to a combination of Murphy’s Law chuckles:

1. If the shoe fits, get another one like it.
2. The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first.
3. God gave you toes as a device for finding furniture in the dark.
4. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

More to come…….be safe and help out those who haven’t been as fortunate!

In response to the catastrophic loss of homes, businesses, and livelihoods for many Oregonians, Rotary has established a Fire Relief Fund to help victims of the fires rebuild their lives. Oregon communities that have been severely devastated, if not eliminated, in the wake of these unprecedented fires will need help in both the near and long term.

“For the painful and challenging times ahead, Rotary is ready to accept the public and corporate support to help those in need in our local communities. The focus is on raising and leveraging funds for future distribution via District Disaster Grants that help rebuild the fire devastated areas,” said District Governor Cindi O’Neil of Bend, Oregon. Click here to learn how to donate and help with relief efforts.

I am deeply saddened by the historic size and impact of the recent wildfires in our District. Our hearts go out to those who have lost family members, homes, businesses and those displaced. We are moving quickly to provide multiple ways forward for Rotary to respond to this crisis.

District 5110 Leadership has established a Fire Relief Fund to provide mid to long-term relief to those impacted by the wildfires. Our international friends from District 3340 in Thailand have generously pledged up to $10,000 for each dollar we raise. District 5110 has now pledged an additional $10,000 from the District Reserve Fund to match Thailand’s generous pledge. The challenge is now 2/1! Generous Rotarians and others have contributed, but we have $9000 to go. Please give to the D5110 Fire Relief Fund and leverage your funds 2/1! The need is great. Click here on how to donate and for more detail.

The great ROTARY STEPS TOGETHER virtual fundraiser begins today! Register now: https://www.charityfootprints.com/rotarystepstogether/

It’s time for members to sign up to raise funds for your Club, the District 5110 Fire Relief Fund, the Annual Fund, or PolioPlus. And now the fundraising platform has been adjusted so you can walk, run, bike, hike, golf, or whatever activity you choose to log miles and raise dollars for all the serious needs in our communities related to the catastrophic fires.

Click here to learn how to participate.

Many individuals who lost homes in the Phoenix/Talent Oregon Almeda DR Fire also lost the tools they use for their small businesses. Thanks to fast work by our District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, Tim Mobley, we have received, in just hours, $25,000 in disaster relief from Rotary International.

These funds will be immediately granted to community members who have lost almost everything: their homes and their livelihoods. Escaping with their loved ones, they will now also reclaim their dignity: the ability to go back to work to feed, house and care for their families. Bravo Rotary! These funds made available through the Disaster Relief Fund #RotaryResponds. Click here for the website story.

The Rotary clubs of southern Oregon are collaborating with other organizations and local governments to rebuild what was lost in the Almeda/Glendower, Obenchain and surrounding fires. Their efforts will be focused on immediate disaster relief as well as long-term recovery.

Visit www.RotaryRebuildsSouthernOregon.com to learn more and to donate. The clubs are accepting financial donations to support these efforts by mailing them to P. O. Box 3333, Central Point, OR 97502. For more details about Rotary efforts, click here.

The fires have displaced over 40,000 Oregonians who are now scattered in many shelters and hotels in major city hubs. The Red Cross is seeking experienced, knowledgeable volunteers from Rotary to help with the myriad of tasks associated with helping those in need. You can help. Sign up to become a Registered Red Cross volunteer at www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html
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You must register, become vetted and go through training courses, just a three-hour commitment in order to qualify as a volunteer. When you have completed your registration, vetting and training, email me at DGcindi5110@gmail.com. Click here for the whole story with our thanks for considering this valuable work!

Between COVID and the seemingly endless series of regional wildfires, the need for the eNews levity is greatly enhanced these days….thus, we’ll cite the dry wit of comedian Steven Wright:

1. I remember the first time I had to go to sleep. Mom said, “Steven, time to go to sleep.” I said, “But I don’t know how.” She responded, “It’s real easy. Just go down to the end of tired and hang a left.” So I went down to the end of tired, and just out of curiosity, I hung a right. My mother was there and said, “I thought I told you to go to sleep?”
2. The severity of the itch is proportional to the reach.
3. What’s another word for Thesaurus?
4. You can’t have everything……where would you put it?

More to come…….be safe and help out those who haven’t been as fortunate!

This week’s BUSINESS OF THE WEEK RECOGNITION visits the Rotary Club of Lebanon and honors Rotarian James F. Wright and his company, Alika Media Group. James is President of Lebanon Rotary this year.

Check out Alika Media Group at rotarybusinessnetwork.org/business-listing/alika-media-group/ and learn more about its video production, multimedia production, web design and hosting, non-profit organization building, and media consulting services at alika.media/. By participating in RBN, James demonstrates his support for businesses networking in District 5110. James wants Alika Media Group to be the one-stop shop for all your media needs. Click here to follow James’ lead and take advantage of RBN benefits.