To All of our Rotary Friends:

It's a joyous and holy time of the year, as people of many faiths remember or celebrate on their special days, and we all welcome a New Year.

In your tradition and faith – we wish you and your family the promise of the season.

In our tradition and faith – we wish you a Merry and Blessed Christmas.

We value our Rotary friendships made throughout the years and hope that the blessings of your New Year are abundant.

Glen and Beth Vanderford

KATRINA RELIEF UPDATES

Your Donations and Support are Making a Difference

this Holiday Season ... and beyond.

Donor Advised Fund -for Katrina Relief through The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International has received approximately $1,425,000 US. The contributions have come from U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Thailand, Sweden, Mexico, Netherlands, Panama Sri Lanka and the U.K.  Over $650,000 has been contributed to the fund from our family of Rotary in Japan.

The requirements of the Donor Advised Fund mandate distributions to 501c3 tax exempt entities. No Foundation Recognition Points are granted to donors although the donor is entitled to a tax deduction for US income tax purposes. Technically the funds for US IRS purposes belong to TRF, but are subject to the "advice" of the advisory board. The Advisory Board has met with the district governors and their designees from the affected areas and is responsive to the needs as outlined by local Rotarians. The Advisory Board sees its objective as working jointly with all affected areas and working in concert with local Rotarians. The needs were first outlined by affected District Governors at the Memphis RI Zone Institute.

The first approved project of the DAF in the amount of $26,500 was to provide communications equipment into District 6840 through the 501c3 Navy Club to reestablish the lines of communication amongst clubs and club presidents to reestablish club networks and allow for development of plans and objectives for projects leading to rebuilding of the affected communities.

The second distribution that has been made was the first $10,000 of a total $19,000 US to St Charles Rotary Club Scholarship Foundation to assist in a school voucher program to assist in providing clothing for up to 1000 students.

The third approved project is restoration and revitalization of "Lacombe Village of Hope", one of the oldest African-American communities in Louisiana, a community with Creole roots and heritage that dates to before the Civil War. Working with Rotarian manpower, assess conditions, demolish interiors, disinfect and restore homes (a total of sixty in the community). A total of $50,000 approved through the Rotary Club of Little Rock Club 99 Foundation partnering with the Rotary Club of Mandeville, LA..

The fourth distribution was in the amount of $5,000 to the Adolescent Drop-In Shelter for homeless youth and youth at risk of homelessness to provide client shelter food and clothing in facilities located in New Orleans supported by Rotarians.

The fifth allocation in the amount of $15,861 is for the benefit of the St Clare School, Waveland MS sponsored by the Hanrahan Rotary Memorial Scholarship Foundation to be utilized for electronics, technology, and furniture

The sixth allocation of $10,277.40 to provide matching funds to allow for purchase by City of Long Beach, MS of a senior citizen bus to be utilized by seniors and disabled parties sponsored by Rotary Club of Long Beach, MS.

The seventh allocation of $10,000 to Shelter Box USA extends the appreciation of the Fund Advisory Board and assists financially Shelter Box USA and the Shelter Box Trust based in the UK and operated through the Rotary Club of Lakewood Ranch Rotary Club, Florida and Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, UK for their provision of 800 shelter boxes immediately following the devastation at a cost of $900 per box all of which were unsponsored (a total of $720,000) and a large portion of which remains unfunded. These boxes provided shelter and assistance outside the Houston Astrodome for evacuees and are being utilized in Mississippi and other affected areas.

The eighth project approved is in the amount of $100,000 for housing in Gulfport MS through partnership of the Rotary Club of Gulfport, MS. Foundation and Trinity United Methodist Church. Complete neighborhoods in Gulfport have been washed out. Over 6,000 homes in the City of Gulfport were damaged or destroyed. A large percentage may be repairable and livable when repaired. The Rotary Club will invest volunteers and provide oversight.

Total received to date: $1,425,000

Total allocation and distribution to date: $236,638

Current Needs and Efforts- The Districts involved in both Hurricane Katrina and Rita have continuously been in contact and are sharing data with one another on a daily basis without regard to district or zone boundaries. Immediately following the devastation, Rotarians provided manpower to receive and distribute significant in kind distributions from across the United States and abroad; for example, local Rotarians provided assistance in the effective distribution and utilization of shelter boxes. Rotarians throughout the US assisted in the care of and provision for displaced persons from the affected Districts.

The Districts are proceeding toward analyzing the needs in light of long term recovery and beneficial use of funds without duplicating funds which have been provided by other sources such as insurance and governmental funding. Specific areas where Rotarians may provide valuable manpower as well as financial or in kind resources are now surfacing with needs varying from community to community. Our hope is to set these out on the website www.rotaryzones29-30helps.org.

Patience and rational thought remain keys to the proper distribution of these funds as well as matching those clubs and communities in need with those willing to make generous offers of assistance. We believe that the procedures are in place to assure that the funds are expended in a prompt manner to assist those in need but under the watchful eyes of your Rotarian counterparts on the ground.

Respectfully submitted,

Robert A Stuart, Jr

Director 2005-2007

WHAT'S YOUR CLUB'S TEMP?

November Foundation Giving Published

How do your club's TRF giving statistics measure up?

Are you meeting your goal?

Review the spreadsheet attached to the e-mail notificiation

of this newsletter's publication for the information.

Calling all shutterbugs! Send The Rotarian your best shot from 2005-06. How do you picture Service Above Self? We want to see Rotary's motto through your lens. Whether it's a shot of your club's latest project or your favorite Rotarian, send us the photo that best illustrates your definition of Service Above Self. 

Enter today and your photo could be featured in The Rotarian in June 2006! Entries must be received by 11:59 PM CST on 28 February 2006.

ENTER THE CONTEST HERE (Terms and Conditions)

Official Call for Nominations

District Governor for Rotary Year 2008-2009

This is the official call for nominations for the 2008-2009 Governor of District 6760. December 15, 2005 is the deadline for receiving the club resolution, data sheet, photo, and resume. The original application with photo and seven copies of the club resolution, resume, and data sheet must be received no later than December 15, 2005 by the Chair of the Nominations Committee, PDG Jim Johnston, 3010 Glenstone Drive, Columbia, TN 38401. The selection interviews will be held at the Renaissance Center, Dickson, TN on Saturday, January 21, 2005.

The 2005-2006 Nominations Committee members are: Chair, PDG Jim Johnston (Lawrenceburg), PDG Roger Charest (Halls/Gates), PDG James Vandiver (Brentwood Noon), and PDG Charles Laine (Franklin), PP Don Beck (Clarksville Sunrise), PP Jim Springer (Columbia Breakfast) and PP Charles Baldwin (Jackson Old Hickory). If one of the above listed clubs has a Nominee, the Committee member from that club cannot serve. If such occurs, an alternate from the same region will serve.

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