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District 6440 News
The Jack Blane Challenge
Posted by Julie Clark
PDG Jack Blane truly was passionate about helping Rotarians understand the power of working through The Rotary Foundation to benefit those in need.  When he passed away on February 19, 2018, he left behind a legacy of enormous financial support for TRF and many thousands of hours of work on behalf of PolioPlus.
 
Jack’s efforts as a Rotarian on behalf of ridding the world of polio took him to over 25 countries to work with clubs, districts and governments.  His first experience with this deadly disease had been as a youth at a Boy Scout camp where some friends became paralyzed from contracting polio and a few died.  At that time 1,000 young people a day were falling victim to polio worldwide.  In the past year, there were fewer than 35 cases of polio, and the virus remained endemic in only three countries. While the job is not done, we are truly “this close” in the “countdown to 0”.
 
Although Jack no longer is with us, his commitment to working through The Rotary Foundation is commemorated with this Jack Blane Challenge program to encourage club members throughout the district to become more supportive of TRF. 
 
The challenge is simple.  Any Rotarian who never has earned recognition as a Paul Harris Fellow can have his or her check for $500.00 that is made out to The Rotary Foundation matched with 500 points from Jack so that she or he receives the first Paul Harris Fellow pin.  If that Rotarian has made some prior contributions but has not yet reached the $1,000 level, then this new $500.00 plus Jack’s match will be the beginning of work towards the second level of PHF recognition.  Contributions can be for support of Annual Fund SHARE or of PolioPlus.
    Read more...
    Ride to End Polio Needs Your Help
    Posted on Apr 24, 2019
    District Governor Elect Suzanne Gibson​ will be riding in the next El Tour de Tucson​ Ride to End Polio to support Rotary International​'s efforts to End Polio Now​. Rotary District 5500​ is raising funds to be the ride's TITLE SPONSOR. This would increase awareness of Rotary and our mission to eradicate Polio and the number of Rotarian riders in El Tour, thereby increasing pledges and resulting in record-setting fundraising for PolioPlus and the eradication of Polio once and for all. You can support this great Public Image and fundraising initiative by donating to this Go Fund Me campaign. DGE Suzanne will be very grateful for your support!
    Increasing Global Grants Inter-District Partnerships
     A Personal Perspective
    Posted by Narayan Murarka on Apr 24, 2019
    Do you have passion to initiate a particular project through Rotary?  Did you know there is a way to pursue this by applying for a Rotary Global Grant?  It is not as hard as you think.  These grants provide one of the best ways to “do good in the world.”  They give individual Rotarians the ability to develop, initiate, and execute needs-based projects that have high sustainable and measurable outcomes and make an impact on individuals and communities.
     
    My name is Narayan Murarka, from the Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club in District 6440.  I had the privilege to sponsor, on behalf of my club, six major global grants in Guatemala in partnership with Club Rotario Guatemala Sur, District 4250.  The total budget for these grants is $1.2 million over the last eight years.   I had also an opportunity to serve as Global Grants Chair for District 6440 Rotary Foundation Committee for five years.  As a result, I have gained some experience from the ground level about the Rotary Foundation and how global grants work.
    Read more...

    Financing Rotary Foundation Global Grants – A Tutorial
     
    Posted by Narayan Murarka on Feb 05, 2019
    Do you have a passion to implement a particular humanitarian project through Rotary?  As a Rotarian, you can do so through a Global Grant from The Rotary Foundation, an arm of Rotary International.  It is not so hard as you think.  This article will help you get there.
     
    Foundation Grants provide one of the best ways to “Do Good in the World.” They give individual Rotarians the ability to develop, initiate, and execute needs-based projects that have high sustainable and measurable outcomes and make an impact on individuals and communities.  As a result, Rotarians advance world understanding, goodwill and peace.
     
    The Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends who share its vision of a better world. This support is essential to make projects possible, funded with Foundation Grants, that bring sustainable improvement to communities.
     
    The Rotary Foundation maintains an excellent record with a four-star rating from the Charity Navigator.
    Read more...
    Rotary Theme Announced for 2019-2020
    Posted on Jan 14, 2019
    Rotary President Elect Mark Maloney has announced that "Rotary Connects The World" will be the theme for 2019-2020.   
     
    Maloney believes that connection is at the heart of the Rotary experience.

    “(Rotary) allows us to connect with each other, in deep and meaningful ways, across our differences,” Maloney said. “It connects us to people we would never otherwise have met, who are more like us than we ever could have known. It connects us to our communities, to professional opportunities, and to the people who need our help.”

    Maloney also called on every Rotary and Rotaract club to identify segments of their community not represented in their club by creating a membership committee with diverse members.  

    “Through Rotary, we connect to the incredible diversity of humanity on a truly unique footing, forging deep and lasting ties in pursuit of a common goal,” he added. “In this ever more divided world, Rotary connects us all.”

    Click here for more details.

    Rotary Clubs and Operation Warm- Bringing Warmth, Confidence & Hope to Local Children for 20 Years
     
    Posted on Oct 13, 2018
    There is a special bond between Rotary clubs and Operation Warm. Starting as a small project in 1998 at the Rotary Club of Longwood of Kennett Square, District 7450, it has grown into a program supported by Rotarians and other organizations across North America. District 6440 joined in in 2009.
     
    Three Reasons Rotary Clubs and Operation Warm Are a Great Fit
    For both Rotarians and Operation Warm, the interest that binds is the commitment of service to those in need, the love of the positive work we do and our loyalty to each other.
     
    “Rotarians believe in ‘Service Above Self’ and Rotary clubs are deeply involved in their communities,” says Rich Lalley, Operation Warm’s Development Director and Past President of the Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield. Rich was introduced to Operation Warm at PETS Training in 2009.
    Read more...
    Kevin Stevens selected as District Governor Nominee Designate
    Posted by Donald Brewer on Sep 25, 2018
    The District 6440 Governor Nominating Committee has selected Kevin Stevens as District Governor Nominee Designate for the 2021-22 Rotary year.
     
    Kevin Stevens is a member of the Rotary Club of North Chicago where he has served as President, Foundation Chair, Membership Chair and coordinator for The Rotary Humanitarian Patriot Awards and The Rotary Road Trip to Miller Park military veterans events.  He is currently the club’s Charter Organization Representative for Cub Scout Pack 621 in North Chicago.   Beyond his club engagement Kevin serves as Assistant Governor Coordinator, Assistant Governor and Veteran Affairs Liaison for District 6440.  Kevin also serves on the Midwest PETS council and is a member of the District 6440 Club Visioning team.   
    Read more...
    Improving Health and Education for Guatemalan children through clean Water and Sanitation
     
    Posted by Narayan Murarka, Barrington Breakfast Rotary Club, District 6440 PRID Jorge Aufranc, Francisco Viau, Club Rotario Guatemala Sur, Distracto 4250 on Sep 17, 2018
    Within developing countries, unsafe water, poor sanitation and lack of hygiene together create a high-risk situation for school age children leading to disease and contribute to deaths from malnutrition.  Unsafe water is not only linked with health, it also affects education for children.  When they get sick from diarrhea and other water borne diseases, school attendance is severely affected.  The impact/consequences are poor education and challenges for better future. 
     
    The adolescent girls in schools have unique added challenges due to lack of menstrual hygiene knowledge, resources and facilities.  Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) has three facets: replacing the silence and shame of menstruation with pride and confidence; equipping women and girls with the knowledge and means to manage their menstruation hygienically and with dignity; and providing means for the safe disposal of menstrual waste.  Providing MHM in schools encourages adolescent girls to continue their education, improving their long-term development and self-confidence.
    Read more...
    Sushil Kumar Gupta selected to be 2020-21 Rotary president
    Posted by Julie Clark on Aug 07, 2018

    Sushil Kumar Gupta, of the Rotary Club of Delhi Midwest, Delhi, India, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2020-21. He will be declared the president-nominee on 1 October if no challenging candidates have been suggested.

    Gupta wants to increase Rotary’s humanitarian impact as well as the diversity of its membership.

    “As individuals, we can only do so much,” Gupta said in a statement. “But when 1.2 million Rotarians work together, there is no limit to what we can achieve, and in the process, we can truly change the world.”

    Read more...
    2018 District 6440 International Service Project Recap
     
    Posted by James Wales on Apr 17, 2018
    In the early morning hours of February 23, 2018, Rotarians participating in the District 6440 International Service trip departed O’Hare Airport, heading to Ak’ Tenamit in the jungles of eastern Guatemala.
     
    District 6440 has had a long standing relationship with Ak’ Tenamit, which means "New Village' in the Q'eqchi' language, with both the District and Clubs within the District completing a number of projects at the site over the past several years. The school and health clinic are located in Eastern Guatemala on the Dulce River. The school includes grades 7 through 12 and there  are over  500 students enrolled in the program.
    Read more...
    Website Advertising Now Available
    Posted by Richard (Rich) Lalley on Mar 21, 2017
    Did you know that the District 6440 website receives over 20,000 visits each year? Most from active Rotarians right here in our District.
     
    Your business or club can now advertise on the site. Ad can be purchased to run for 1 year or 3 months. Proceeds will benefit Operations of our District, including paying for our annual ClubRunner license.
    Read more...
    New District 6440 Charitable Fund Now Available
    Posted by Gov. Rick Rivkin on Aug 08, 2016
    The Rotary District 6440 Charitable Fund Inc. has been established to accept donations to fund charitable and educational activities developed and sponsored by Rotary District 6440, the individual Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 6440, and The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. These include community service projects and international service projects generally in the following areas of focus.
     
    •             Prevention and resolution of conflicts and the promotion of peace
    •             Prevention and treatment of disease
    •             Clean water and sanitation
    •             Maternal and child health
    •             Basic education and literacy
    •             Economic and community development