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Gordon McInally Signed Tie Raffle Oct 24 - Nov 30
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District 6440 Charitable Fund
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ENROLL IN THE 
DISTRICT 6440 LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 
CLASS OF 2024
 
 
 
Application materials now are available for the District Leadership Academy Class of 2024.   The program is a seven month long series of courses that covers RI Cornerstone Knowledge, Membership, Public Image, Youth Service, Organization, Fundraising, Grants, and The Rotary Foundation.
 
Want to learn more?  We're holding introductory / informational Zoom sessions on at 7PM on Monday, October 9th and Thursday, October 12th.  Pick one that’s convenient for you.  We’ll outline the program, talk about the Canvas learning platform, and answer your questions, and you can meet those that have already enrolled. Contact gov.lyle@rotary6440.org for the Zoom link. All documents required to be completed for Academy admission can be downloaded at this link.
 
Club board members or committee chairs, Presidents Nominee, Presidents-elect, District Assistant Governors and committee chairs, members of District committees, and anyone who aspires to serve later as a club or district leader are encouraged to seize this opportunity. 
District 6440 is renewing the very popular Public Image Grant Program for 2023-2024 to spur new marketing materials and spread the great Rotary name and logo.  About half of all clubs received grants last year and we hope more will now.
 
The Grant Program provides matching grants (up to $500 per club) for APPROVED new brochures, road signs, banners, inflatable signs, logo wear, Facebook/newspaper advertising, community fair signage and much more.  New this year is a reward for approved Membership Materials (half of what you spend, up to $650). See details on the grant application form. 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.
Past District Governor Bill Kmiecik announced today that the nominating committee has selected Richard Reigner to be the District Governor Nominee Designate, putting him line to be District Governor in the 2026-27 Rotary year. 
 
Rick is an accomplished CEO, Executive and Development professional with over 30 years of nonprofit experience establishing corporate relationships, growing local /state partnerships, leading community initiatives, running campaigns, and building staff and volunteer teams. He is a results —oriented, fiscally responsible, decisive, and cause-driven leader with a track record of leading organizational transformation and growth in diverse, complex, and demanding environments.
 
Rick is currently a member of the Elgin Breakfast Rotary Club where he has served as Board Member, Treasurer, and President. Rick currently serves as Immediate Past President & Visioning Chair for his Club and as an AG and Membership Committee member for District 6440.
 
Rick is happily married to Kelly and they have raised 3 wonderful children. He and his wife love animals and have a dog and cat that fill their life with non-stop entertainment Rick enjoys exercise, college football, time outdoors, and has completed an Ironman Triathlon. He and his wife enjoy time with family, travel, going to movies, and watching too many home improvement shows on HGTV.
District 6440 Rotary Youth Exchange restarting.  Host families and volunteers shared their hopes for the coming year long-term program:
  • Exchange of cultural values and experiences.
  • Have a good experience for the student and our family while learning to speak Spanish more fluently and learn about another culture. 
  • Re-energize the District interest for Rotary Youth Exchange.
  • General experiences of hosting a student in our home.
  • Excited to be involved with a new exchange student again.
  • Introducing my son to a new culture with the hope of sparking his interest in travel.
  • Have fun with the program.
  • Restarting the exchange program again in our club.
 
If you are interested in having your Rotary Club participate in 2023 reciprocal summer, 2023-24 long-term program, or are a Rotarian interested in volunteering at the District level now, or a student thinking about the exchange program, or a family willing to open your heart and home to a student, CONTACT US!  RYE.chair@rotary6440.org
Here are several options for Clubs and Rotarians looking for opportunities to provide relief to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria. 
 
Rotary Foundation: The Rotary Foundation has identifies options to support Pakistan and Syria, use this link.
 
Club DDF.  Clubs can designate available DDF for these disasters using this form. 2023 Club DDF Contribution for Pakistan, Ukraine, Turkey and Syria. Available DDF by Club as of 1/19/23 can be found at this link.
 
Consider a donation to Shelter Box. The emergency response team from Shelter Box is already working in Turkey. 
 
Evanston Lighthouse Club has identified two other groups accepting relief assistance in Turkey:
 
AFAD (Turkish Ministry of Interior Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency)
Swift Code: TCZBTR2A
IBAN: TR 46 0001 0017 4555 5555 5552 05
More information on donation options can be found on: https://en.afad.gov.tr/campaigns
More information about their work can be found on: https://en.afad.gov.tr/about-us
 
 -AKUT (Search and Rescue Association), a non-profit organization
Swift Code: TGBATRIS
IBAN: TR83 0006 2000 3570 0009 0813 95
More information on donation options can be found on: https://www.akut.org.tr/en/donation
More information about their work can be found on: https://www.akut.org.tr/en/about-akut

On Thursday evening November 3, over 170 Rotarians and guests gathered to Celebrate District 6440’s engagement with The Rotary Foundation and the district's impact locally and internationally.  

Rotary International Director Pat Merryweather-Arges lauded District 6440’s generous giving to the Foundation. She also recognized our club's participation in meaningful service projects locally and internationally. She made special note of our district’s collaboration with sixteen districts in a recent Disaster Response Grant providing $400,00 in medical supplies to Ukraine.

Other guests included our district's current Global Grant and Peace Fellow Scholars, and Barbara Toney of The Blane Foundation, who announced a $100,000 gift to the PolioPlus fund of The Rotary Foundation. 

A highlight of the evening was recognizing our four clubs with total contributions topping $1 Million to The Rotary Foundation: the Rotary Clubs of Highland-Park Highwood, Northbrook, Wheeling and Wilmette,  and our Top 3 Giving Clubs in Rotary year 2021-22—Dundee Township, NE Chicagoland Passport and Northbrook.

During the evening we paused to recognize how our clubs participate in The Rotary Foundation's mission—Doing Good in the World, and recognizing those who make the world a better place with their time and treasure! Big thanks to all of our Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors, Paul Harris Society, Polio Plus Society, and Bequest Society members, Major Donors, and Arch Klumph Society donors.  THANK YOU!

RI Director Pat Merryweather-ArgesBarbara Toney of The Blane FoundationClubs with total contributions topping $1 Million to The Rotary Foundation
 
Congratulations to our 229 Charter Members of the PolioPlus Society!
 
And kudos to the fifty clubs represented on the Roster.  Every member makes a difference in delivering on the promise of a polio free world.
Membership in the PolioPlus Society is open to all Rotarians. If you haven’t yet joined, you can do so now!
 
Let’s set a goal of 100% of our clubs represented in the PolioPlus Society. Join the PolioPlus Society.   A PolioPlus Society pin awaits you after pledging and donating.  Updates to the Society will be made quarterly.
 
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 and Rotaract 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