Message from the Governor

Last month I urged all of you to do a mid-year check on your progress to goals. Generally that process highlights some areas where enthusiasm isn't very high. It's important to try to generate excitement about working toward those goals as well as the ones that have many eager supporters. Working on those now will make the rest of the year better. As Mark Twain wrote, "If you eat a frog first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will be wonderful." Tackle those tasks that are harder and make your life easier down the road.

One task that I urge all of you to tackle is Foundation giving. Our matching grants, District Simplified Grants, Ambassadorial Scholarship availability and group study exchange participation down the road depend on giving now. We have a long way to go to meet this year's annual giving goal (http://rotary6440.blogspot.com/2009/01/foundation-giving-report.html). We need a champion in every club who will encourage members' support for The Rotary Foundation. Those champions can use our Spring Fling to solicit new donations (http://rotary6440.blogspot.com/2009/01/spring-fling-for-foundation.html). And please make sure your club is submitting donations as they're received rather than holding them until the end of the year.

There are a few items to mark on your calendar. February 20th will be Rotary Night at the Wolves. In addition to a fun evening, you can help the Rotary Foundation. Two local Rotarians, Rich Politowicz and Paul Metivier, have said that if our district has at least 500 people at the game, each will give $100 to The Rotary Foundation for every goal and assist by a Wolves player. The Wolves average three goals per game, so the contribution could easily be close to $2,000! Thanks to both Rotarians. More information is available at www.rotary6440.org. June 14th will be this year's Race to the Finish Walk/Run in Evanston. It's a great event to which you can invite non-Rotarians and thereby increase support for polio eradication from people outside our organization. April 13th will be the farewell reception for our group study exchange team to New Zealand. It will be held from 6:00 - 8:30 p.m. at Buckley's at Willow Glen Golf Course in Great Lakes.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's new commitment makes this a thrilling time in the fight against polio (http://rotary6440.blogspot.com/2009/01/gates-foundation-increases-challenge-to.html). Please use this news to increase awareness of Rotary's efforts. Major media covered the announcement well; now we need to make sure the news spreads within our communities. District Public Relations Chair Judy Hughes (jjhugs@comcast.net) will be happy to help if you need advice on how to publicize this effort.

Judy Hughes is working hard on implementing the projects funded by our PR grant from Rotary International (http://rotary6440.blogspot.com/2008/12/well-be-spreading-good-news-with-pr.html). Keep your eye on area billboards, as Rotary ones will be appearing soon. Judy needs your club's stories and pictures right away, since she's working on a newspaper insert. Your club can piggyback on the district's efforts by making sure your club is included in the wider publicity efforts.