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Public Image Grants for 2021-2022 Available
 
Public Image Grants for 2021-2022 Available 
District 6440 is renewing the popular Public Image Grant Program for 2021-2022 to spur new marketing materials and spread the great Rotary name and logo.  The Grant Program provides matching grants (up to $500 per club) for APPROVED new brochures, road signs, banners, inflatable signs, logo wear, Facebook/newspaper/movie theater advertising, member recruiting materials, community fair signage and much more.  We want new positive marketing materials that bolster Rotary visibility in each community.
 
These new Rotary marketing materials can help your club gain positive visibility, recruit new members (a big District priority), strengthen your image and enhance community service projects. And our District could reduce your cost.
 
To understand and apply for grants, click here.
DISTRICT 6440 Environmental  Projects- Fall 2021
DISTRICT 6440 Environmental Projects- Fall 2021

Yes, it can be a challenge to know where and how to start, so just start and be the difference! The following clubs did just that with their projects this fall. 

Be mindful that clean up projects are more than just picking up the trash. Invite Interact clubs and the community to join you and discover new partners. Be sure to identify and record what and how much you collect. Useful apps like clean swell or marine debris tracker can make this easy. And be sure to leverage that data with the press and your local governmental agencies.
 
Rotary Club of Batavia- Fox River Clean Up
“It gave us a great sense of accomplishment to clean up our Fox River” said, Teri Dykhuis, the Batavia Rotary Club Environmental Chair. She and her fellow Batavia Rotarians participated in the ‘It’s Our Fox River Day’ Clean Up sponsored by the Friends of the Fox River (friendsofthefoxriver.org) on Saturday September 18. “We cleaned up trash, tires, car parts, tarps and even a wagon wheel,” claimed Dykhuis. "It was a great day to serve!"
Read more...
District 6440 PolioPlus Society Launch – Charter Membership Opportunity
District 6440 PolioPlus Society Launch – Charter Membership Opportunity
We are excited to launch the District 6440 PolioPlus Society to support Rotary’s promise and recently announced endgame strategy to achieve and sustain a polio-free world. We encourage all District 6440 members to become a Charter Member today! 
 
PolioPlus Society members pledge to donate $100 per Rotary Year to the Rotary Foundation PolioPlus Fund until the world is certified polio-free. To become a Charter Member, make your pledge and donate $100 to the PolioPlus Fund by June 30, 2022.
 
 
Charter Members will receive a specially designed limited edition Recognition Pin! They will also receive special recognition at District Rotary Foundation events.
 
RI President Elect Jennifer Jones and Chicago Breakfast Queen/ Polio Survivor Ina Pinkney to Highlight One Rotary Summit October 23rd
RI President Elect Jennifer Jones and Chicago Breakfast Queen/ Polio Survivor Ina Pinkney to Highlight One Rotary Summit October 23rd
By now you’ve received a few e-mails with information on this year’s Fall Training Day, One Rotary Summit. If you’ve already registered- thank you. I’ll look forward to seeing you in person or virtually.
 
If you’re still on the fence, here are a couple more reasons that I think this will be a good use of your time. We have lined up some great speakers!
 
Jennifer Jones will be joining us as our keynote speaker. If you haven’t heard Jennifer speak, she is always engaging and inspirational. What I am especially excited about beyond the fact that she is the RI President-Elect, is that she was one of the originators of the One Rotary Summit concept- so I am sure she will get us off to a great start.
 
Also joining us will be Chicago legend, Ina Pinkney. You may know Ina as the “Breakfast Queen” but she is also a polio survivor and a gifted speaker who will inspire us as we head into World Polio Day.
 
Here are the details:
One Rotary Summit will be a hybrid event
Saturday morning, October 23rd
 
If you attend in person,
Wojcik Conference Center, Harper College
1200 W. Algonquin Rd., Palatine
7:30-12:15
 
We will be following Harper’s policies and State guidelines for Covid:
In order to meet social distancing capacity requirements, in-person registration is limited and will be closed when we reach capacity.
Masks will be required
Only fully vaccinated Rotarians should plan to attend in-person
 
If you attend via ZOOM, the program will start at 8:15. The Zoom link will be sent out to all registered attendees on October 22.
Register via the link on my One Rotary Summit emails.
 
Thor Davidson Selected to be 2024-25 District Governor
Thor Davidson Selected to be 2024-25 District Governor
The District 6440 Nominating Committee has selected Thor Davidson to be District Governor for the 2024-2025 Rotary year. A member of the Rotary Club of Wheaton, he currently serves the District as Assistant Governor and his club as Public Image Chair. Thor is a past President of the Wheaton club, and has been a Rotarian for 20 years.
 
The Nominating Committee also selected PDG Rodney Adams of the Rotary Club of River Cities to be Vice-Governor for the 2022-2023 Rotary year.  
 
Congratulations to Thor and Rodney, and thank you for your commitment to Rotary and our District! 
Read more...
Rotary Youth Exchange Plans Resuming
Rotary Youth Exchange Plans Resuming
Now’s the time to get ready for Rotary Youth Exchanges starting July 2022.  Club Commitment forms are due October 1st.
 
District 6440 is seeking Clubs willing to host for 2022-23 School Year.  A special $1000 kickoff District fee discount if being offered for the first 10 students hosted.  To qualify clubs must submit Club Commitment Forms for Hosting by October 1.
 
We are also seeking students interested in experiencing one of the two exchange programs.   The deadline for club approved candidate preliminary applications and the Club Commitment forms for Sponsoring are October 1 for 2022-23 Long Term Exchange program and December 1 for 2022 Summer Reciprocal Short-term Exchange program. Clubs are requested to vet the candidate by interviewing the student and families before agreeing to sponsor a student. 
 
Checkout the Rotary Youth Exchange page for instructions, forms, brochures, presentations and videos to help plan for exchanges, and find students & host families.   Remember to adjust the preliminary application with your club information before sharing the document and/or link to your website with your local High Schools.
 
A word about Covid-19:  Please note that the safety and welfare of all participants and volunteers of Rotary Youth Exchange is important.  We will proceed with program only if we are comfortable and feel confident we can provide safe and enriching exchanges. Therefore, we are monitoring the Covid-19 situation and will adjust or cancel the program if needed.
 
If you need further assistants or have questions, please contact us at RYE.Chair@rotary6440.org.
Learn About and Participate in the Rotary/Toastmasters Alliance
Learn About and Participate in the Rotary/Toastmasters Alliance
“Collaborating with Toastmasters will provide our members with even more opportunities to develop and improve their leadership and communication skills,” said John Hewko, general secretary and CEO of Rotary International. “In turn, members of Toastmasters can connect with more people, take advantage of new speaking and learning opportunities, and make a difference in their communities through Rotary."
 
”The strategic alliance with Rotary is exciting and allows both organizations to leverage our unique and similar strengths,” says Deepak Menon, Toastmasters' 2019-20 International President. “We look forward to providing our current and prospective members with ongoing additional offerings that meet their evolving needs.”
 
 

With its first unofficial meeting held in Bloomington, Ill., in March 1905, Toastmasters is a global nonprofit organization with more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries. Its members attend club meetings where they learn how to be more confident speakers, communicators and leaders. Toastmasters’ vision for the ongoing collaboration with Rotary is to change more lives for the better, and positively impact communities around the world.

Read more...
RI President-Elect Announces 2021-22 Presidential Theme
This week RI President Elect Shekhar Mehta announced to the International Assembly of District Governors Elect that the 2021-22 Rotary International theme is:
 
 
You may have already witnessed RIPE Mehta discussing his guiding philosophy that "service is the rent I pay for the space I occupy on this earth."  Shekhar suggests that Rotarians are defined by opportunities of service; not necessarily the size of the service - but the attitude of service.  This attitude is evidenced in Rotary's record - and we keep serving because we want to change lives.  As we serve we do not only change the lives of others, we change our life as well.
 
You can watch Shekhar's story of personal transformation and complete conversation with the 2021-22 Governors here:  https://www.rotary.org/en/shekhar-mehta-says-serving-others-changes-lives-including-our-own

 

Public Image Grants Available
Public Image Grants Available
District 6440 is renewing the Public Image Grant Program for 2020-2021 to spur new marketing materials and spread the great Rotary name and logo.  The Grant Program provides matching grants (up to $500 per club) for new brochures, road signs, banners, inflatable signs, logo wear, Facebook/newspaper/movie theater advertising, member recruiting materials, community fair signage and much more.  We want new positive marketing materials that bolster Rotary visibility in each community.
 
These new Rotary marketing materials can help your club gain positive visibility, recruit new members (a big District priority), strengthen your image and enhance community service projects. 
 
To understand and apply for grants, click here.
Rotary Statement Against Racism
District 6440 Rotarians--please know that Rotary has reiterated its no tolerance for racism policy.
 
We are committed to our guiding principles as stated in the Four Way Test-
 
Of the things we think, say or do: Is it the TRUTH ? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it Build Good Will and better friendships? Is it Beneficial to all concerned?
 
At this challenging, time let us remember our Core Values: Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership. Now, more than ever, the world needs Rotary to lead the way.
 
-A Message from Rotary International-
New District 6440 Charitable Fund Now Available
Posted by Gov. Rick Rivkin on Aug 08, 2016
New District 6440 Charitable Fund Now Available
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