Dear fellow Rotarians,

The health and safety of our members are our top priorities. We are closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) and continuously assessing its potential impact on our operations, meetings, trainings, and other events.

Due to the rapidly changing nature of this situation, I encourage you to use your discretion when it comes to club and district meetings and events, and Rotary programs and activities. Canceling or postponing meetings or Rotary-related travel might be appropriate. Even if events are held as scheduled, some people may choose not to take part. And, of course, if the World Health Organization and your national, regional, or local health authorities discourage or prohibit gathering or traveling because of the risk of spreading COVID-19, follow their recommendations.

Check My Rotary for our latest information on COVID-19 and any updates to our travel guidance.

I encourage you, as leaders in your community, to provide whatever assistance your community needs at this time. Contact your local health authorities to learn what your Rotary club can do to help prepare for and respond to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Please accept my best wishes for the health and safety of your family and of all the members of the Rotary family in your area.

Kindest regards,

Mark Daniel Maloney

2019-2020 President, Rotary International

On Saturday March 28, all Interact students and their families are asked to join us for a district wide community service event. We will be volunteering in Orlando at United Against Poverty. This organization does amazing things to support our community and they rely on volunteers, like Rotary and Interact, to stay operational. You can learn more about their efforts by visiting their website at www.unitedagainstpoverty.org. Until then, please share this with your Interact club school advisers, the Interact Club students and even though it does not state it…..Rotarians and Rotaract members are welcome.

We do need everyone to RSVP so that we can let the facility know how many volunteers to expect. You can register using this link:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/92495880669

March 21, 2020 at Lake Receptions is the District Foundation Dinner. Please have your club represented. The cost is $55 per person.

April 18, 2020 will be District Assembly at Lake Mary High School and your club’s incoming officers and chairs are expected to attend.

May 2, 2020 our District Conference at Apopka High School will be just one day with food packing with Rise Against Hunger. If your club would like to support it with a donation, you can send a check to the District Treasurer, Tom Meena. Also, we will have life saving skills by the Apopka Fire Department; Rotary Means Business, Rotary Fellowships,; a talent show (if you or your club member want to participate you must send me a video no more than three minutes for the committee to review; does your club want to showcase your fundraiser or learn something about someone else’s fundraiser. We will end the day with a memorial service to those members or family members that passed away in this Rotary Year. No Charge to attend.

Are you coming to Honolulu? Did you register for the Southland Reception on Saturday evening at the Marriott – this is the first time it is held as a reception; it has always been a breakfast until this year, by invitation only. Cost is $35 per person.

Last – the District Changing of the Guard (Awards & Guards) – celebrate with me on Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Mission Inn Gulf and Resort. The prime rib, seafood and sushi buffet is fabulous and we will recognize the clubs and pass the gavel to DGE Mike Vernon.

Registration for everything is on the DACdb. Please share these events with your club members so they know what is coming.

Everyone must register on the DACdb. Please let me know, if you need my help

WELCOME TO MARCH ROTARY FOUNDATION NEWS DISTRICT 6980

This is a very busy time of the year for The Rotary Foundation. We hope that by now all your goals are posted on Rotary Club Central. This is the only way that your club will get credit for all the good work that you do.

IMPORTANT DATE:

MARCH 21, 2020 AT Lake Receptions, Mt Dora starting at 6 pm with a special Cocktail reception, our District will be honoring 3 clubs that have contributed to The Rotary Foundation grant program. Jim Hardy, RC of Winter Park, will be presenting his club’s District Grant on a special Thanksgiving Feast that the club has done for their community. George Stuart, RC of College Park, will be presenting his club’s Global Grant on Classroom building in Ethiopia. Dick Phoebus, RC of The Villages, will be presenting his club’s Global Grant on Cleft Lip and Palate. Many of our clubs have contributed to the global grants, so please come out and support your contributions to TRF. Jim’s District Grant is the work of his club’s donations to TRF.

We receive questions as to “Where does our money go?” Well, we are giving you the answers. Please have your club members sign up for the Foundation Dinner on March 21 on the District website. DEADLINE TO REGISTER IS MARCH 10TH.

PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY, MAJOR DONORS AND BEQUEST SOCIETY MEMBERS will receive a special recognition for all that they have done for TRF. Please attend.

If you contribute $1,000 per Rotary year, you can become a Paul Harris Society member. Please contact John Rabley, jarabley@comcast.net for enrollment forms and your special chevron.

Major Donors are members that have contributed $10,000 in cash over a period of time. Bequest Society are members that have left $10,000 or more in their will/trust. If interested, please contact Dick Phoebus, rphoebussr@hotmail.com for forms and information.

Our contributions are lower than last year at this time. I know that your clubs wait until June but maybe you can have donations sent in earlier.

Lastly, this year’s District Grants final reports are due by April 30, 2020. Please send final reports, receipts, check image and photos to John Beall, beallj@embarqmail.com for more information.

HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL AT THE DISTRICT ROTARY FOUNDATION DINNER ON MARCH 21. If you cannot attend, please have at least 2 people from your club attend. The more you see your Rotary Foundation in action, the more your know where your donations are going.

Yours In Rotary Service

Jo Weber, PDG

District Rotary Foundation Chair

Ideas is ending. See our current example.

http://ideas.rotary.org/Project/Profile/9dbb16cf-65c5-4545-9e09-53aef2689e96

We can help you make one or two crowdfunding entry for the rest of this year.

DrO, Rotary eClub of Florida

Charter President

The UCF Rotaract Club had a great meeting last night on campus. The Avalon Park Rotary officers presented a $500 check to Rotaract for volunteer services at their club. Here are some phots from our meeting. With your kind permission and assistance, we would like this to appear in the next newsletter, please. Thank you! Yours in Rotary Service,

PDG A. J., Faculty Advisor, UCF Rotaract Club

SUNFLOWER GARDEN PLANTING EVENT