Connecting the Dots - June 2023

 
By:  Sarah MacGillivray, Secretary, and Public Image Coordinator, District Foundation Committee, RC of Bath Sunrise
 
1. As we come to the end of this Rotary year, I wanted to start with another impactful video of thanks from OUR Rotary Foundation.
 
2. The Foundation Committee met last month and some information was discussed that, as always, made us proud of our District and our generous Rotarians.  Carolyn Johnson is the Foundation Committee Global Grants Coordinator, a member of the Yarmouth Rotary Club, and a Past District Governor (PDG). Carolyn shared an update on District Designated Funds (DDF) and the projection of year-end as of May 1 reporting.  Click 'read more' below for full details.
 
3. & 4.) We sent a new incentive to Club Presidents and Club Foundation Chairs last fall.  We called it our "Imagine PolioPlus Challenge 2022-23," and we were so impressed with how clubs around the District rose to the challenge!  Click 'read more' below for full details on this challenge as well as one focused on Annual Giving.
1. As we come to the end of this Rotary year, I wanted to start with another impactful video of thanks from OUR Rotary Foundation.   Please share this with your club, with that friend who you have been thinking should join your club, or a community member who was helped by a District Grant…the people who should hear the message of the good that is being done with donations that we have all made to OUR Rotary Foundation is really endless. 
 
2. The Foundation Committee met last month and there was some information discussed that, as always, made us proud of our District and the generous Rotarians we have in it.  Carolyn Johnson is the Foundation Committee Global Grants Coordinator, she is a member of the Yarmouth Rotary Club and a Past District Governor (PDG). Carolyn shared an update on District Designated Funds (DDF) and the projection of year-end as of May 1 reporting:
  • We currently have 29 Global grants that are open with budgets totaling $4.5 million.
    • We have contributed $120,000 in DDF and club money of $170,000.
  • We have 4 Global grants that have been submitted and are under review. 
    • Totaling $650,000 - with $32,000 in DDF and $38,000 in club money
  • We have 6 draft applications in the works or in development
    • Totaling $251,000 - with $23,000 in DDF and $25,000 in club money
  • Our Foundation Committee Chair, PDG Dave Underhill shared that we have about $17,000 in available DDF, about $10,000 of that is rollover from last year.
 
We should all be very proud of these figures!  If your club has an interest in working on a Global Grant, even just to learn the basics if you don’t have a project in mind, please reach out to Carolyn. She has offered to visit any clubs that might have an interest in working on a Global Grant.
 
 
3)  Last fall, we sent a new incentive out to Club Presidents and Club Foundation Chairs.  We called it our "Imagine PolioPlus Challenge 2022-23," and we were so impressed with how clubs around the District rose to the challenge!  There were inventive fundraising projects completed:  A simple fundraiser at a local pizza restaurant, a “Road Toll” that raised $1,400, to a Bingo fundraiser.  But just as important, there were events held to bring awareness, and stories shared on social media.  The Bridge the Gap to End Polio walk, hosted by the Portland Rotary Club, brought together members of their own club and members from more than eight District Clubs.  It was so fun to be a part of it, and to see all the red "End Polio Now" shirts crossing the Casco Bay Bridge! Here is a list of the District 7780 Clubs that reached the PolioPlus Challenge 2022-23.  If you are a Club President or Club Foundation Chair, and you have met at least three of the goals set and feel like your club is missing from the list, please reach out to Brenda Cressey to be added.  Each club that met the challenge will be receiving a Paul Harris Fellow to be awarded to someone in their club or community!  Congratulations to all!
  1. Bath Sunrise
  2. Bridgton-Lake Region
  3. Brunswick
  4. Damariscotta-Newcastle
  5. Dover
  6. Freeport
  7. Hampton
  8. Kennebunk
  9. Kennebunk Portside
  10. Ogunquit
  11. Oxford Hills
  12. Portland
  13. Saco Bay Sunset
  14. South Portland-Cape Elizabeth
  15. York
Club Recognition for this achievement will be made at the District Celebration on June 10th at Cook's Lobster House on Bailey Island, ME.  We hope representatives from each of the winning clubs will be in attendance. Thank you all so much and congratulations on a highly successful year in Rotary. Thank you for serving as Club President this year and for participating in this Fun Challenge in support of PolioPlus!
 
4)  In January, we sent out a similar challenge, but this time focused on Annual Giving to OUR Rotary Foundation.  With this and the PolioPlus Challenge, there is still just a little time left to aim to reach your goals.  If you have any questions on either challenge, reach out to Brenda or me.  We are so appreciative of all the hard work all the clubs in our District have done this year!