The - Rotary District 6950rotary6950.org/newsletters/2011-02-Newsletter.pdf · mote Rotary’s quest for goodwill, peace, and understanding among people of the world. In reality,

TheG o v e r n o r ’ s n e w s l e T T e r

RI President 2010 - 2011: Ray Klinginsmith

Issue 8 • February 2011 RotaRy DistRict 6950 • Zone 34 • FloRiDa • Usa

Let There Be Peace On EarthAt the end of every RI Convention, the

harmonious voices of Rotarians from nearly every nation on earth fill the huge arena with the familiar chorus “Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me.” Standing shoulder to shoulder, hands joined, this sea of diverse men and women, become as one voice, one mind focused on the dream of peace. “Brothers all are we. Let me walk with my brother, in perfect harmony.”

Paul Harris believed that the effort to understand people from other cultures was the single best way to assure peace. After the closing ceremonies of any RI Convention, it is easy to see this truth in action. Rotarians begin gathering in small groups to say farewell to friends. What is remarkable about these gather-ings is the diversity of the people in each group. What common ground draws them together? A quick glance reveals it is not the demographics of age, gen-der, economic status, or country of ori-gin. Neither is it language, culture, po-litical persuasion, or religious belief. In a matter of days, lasting friendships have been forged from shared dreams. These friendships will survive because they are built on a foundation of Rotary’s core values: fellowship, service, diversity, in-tegrity, and leadership.

AND LET IT BEGIN WITH METhe month of February is special in

the Rotary calendar since it is desig-nated as World Understanding Month. World Understanding Month gives each of us an opportunity to pause and to pro-mote Rotary’s quest for goodwill, peace, and understanding among people of the world.

In reality, we are asked to do much more than ponder and promote peace and understanding. We are asked to be a catalyst for change. Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me!

Are Rotarians up to this challenge? Definitely! Being part of the solution

takes only a small step on our part. As The Rotary Club of St. Petersburg Sun-set reminds us, “By small actions ac-complish great things!” So, let’s take that first step toward World Peace and Understanding by doing something fun like Youth Exchange, Rotary Friendship Exchange and Rotary Fellowships.

Rotary International’s Youth Exchange is one of the best in the world and is one of the few Rotary programs open to rela-tives of Rotarians. In 2005, a century after Rotary was founded, then RI Presi-dent Carl Wilhelm Stenhammar, echoed Harris’ belief that cultural un-derstanding is the best way to assure peace. A long-time ad-vocate of Youth Exchange, Sten-hammar told D6950 Rotar-ians gathered at Saddlebrook, he was confident that war could be eliminated in one generation. All that was needed was for every teen in the world to participate in a one year Rotary Youth Exchange!

He toned it down a bit in The Rotar-ian when he wrote, “Perhaps the most popular program is Youth Exchange, which allows students, ages 15 to19 to experience a new way of life by living abroad with a host family. He or she is immersed in a new language, new re-ligion, new political system, new cur-rency, and new traditions. But more important, he or she will find friends in the host country and create a friendship that will last forever. Youth Exchange Students will learn to resolve differences peaceably, not through war. You could not build a better foundation for under-standing and peace, because it begins at

someone’s home.” The point is clear. The effort to understand other cultures is the best way to assure peace and under-standing is best gained from a personal relationship. It begins at home, within each of us.

Rotary Friendship Exchange may be the best kept secret in Rotary. Did you know that RI has an exchange program for Rotarians and their families? Par-ticipants experience other cultures and build friendships by staying in the homes of Rotary club members in another coun-try. This program advances international

u n d e r s t a n d -ing and peace through per-sonal contact across borders while develop-ing interclub re-lationships that lead to fellow-ship and service projects.

For those of us whose eyes turn a shade of envious green when a GSE

Team leader is selected, Rotary Friend-ship Exchange is a double blessing. We have no reason to be envious. For, we too, can participate in an exchange trip, have fun, and advance international un-derstanding and peace at the same time. What’s not to love about Rotary Friend-ship Exchange?

Rotary Fellowships are autonomous, international groups of Rotarians who join together to share a common inter-est, make friends around the world, have fun, develop service projects, and en-hance their Rotary experiences. There are scores of Rotary Fellowships cover-ing a wide range of recreational activi-ties, hobbies, sports, and professions.

Continued on next page

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

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The Fellowship of Motorcycling Rotar-ians was organized several years ago by D6950 Rotarian, Earl Halle. Its mem-bers are busy finalizing their travel routes from Canada, the US, and beyond to the RI Convention in New Orleans. While they are doing something they love, they will be meeting people from other coun-tries, learning about their cultures, and gaining a deeper understanding of man-kind. What’s not to love about Rotary Fellowships?

LET ME WALK WITH MY BROTHER IN PERFECT HARMONY

The visionaries who began Rotary had the foresight and desire to imagine a better world. Today’s Rotarians carry out that vision. Each year we improve the quality of life for millions of people throughout the world with projects that provide clean water for those who thirst, nourishment for those who hunger, heal-ing for those afflicted with disease, edu-cation for those who are illiterate, and vocational training for those whose lives are boxed in by poverty. With each hu-manitarian project, we take a step to-ward global understanding and peace.

Through Rotary Foundation education-al and cultural exchange grants, we spon-sor Ambassadorial Scholars, World Peace Scholars, and Group Study Exchange teams. Those who are selected for these grant pro-grams are given the opportunity to become totally im-mersed in the cul-ture and family life of another coun-try. They never again hear a news report about their host country with an attitude of indif-ference born of ignorance. Many form life long friendships with their host fami-lies. Through educational and cultural exchange programs, our appreciation for the diversity of the many cultures that form the fabric of civilization is en-hanced. But more importantly, as we grow in our understanding of the cul-tural diversity of mankind, we also grow in our ability to see our similarities, the thread that unites Asian with European, African with American, Indian with Aus-tralian. And with each educational and cultural exchange program, we take a step toward world understanding and peace.

Perhaps the thread that binds mankind together is most evident in our PolioPlus

The Fourth Object of Rotary is to en-courage and foster the advancement of International understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons unit-ed in the ideal of service.

Paul Harris believed, and the history of Rotary confirms, that creating a cli-mate of fellowship in which people find common ground is the ultimate form of diplomacy. Rotary’s program of pro-moting better understanding between people of different races, religions, cul-tures, and nations, begun so simply and so auspiciously in 1905, has met with greater success thus far than the negotia-tions of diplomats. It has been the way of Rotary to focus thought upon matters in which members are in agreement, rather than upon matters in which they

emphasis. When this disease is con-quered, our legacy will be more than a polio free world. It will also be the global realization that mankind is capa-

ble of setting aside cultural, religious, and political differ-ences; that wars can be stopped and we can work together when we focus our efforts on that which is universally impor-tant to the future of mankind. With each inoculation, a child

steps into a more secure future and we take a step toward world understanding and peace.

WORLD UNDERSTANDING AND PEACE DAY

Rotary’s anniversary, February 23rd, is World Understanding and Peace Day. To celebrate this day and to encourage each of us to actively promote Rotary’s quest for world understanding and peace, TRF will match your online donation to the Annual Fund ($100 minimum) made this day. I encourage you to take ad-vantage of this opportunity. Remember, by small actions we accomplish great things! Take a step toward world under-standing and peace. It is your legacy as a Rotarian!

are in disagreement. Rotary has satisfac-torily demonstrated the fact that friend-ship can easily hurdle national and re-ligious boundaries. Paul Harris, This Rotarian Age.

A skeptic might ask: “How can Rotary be a real force for peace? It has no ju-risdictional power. It is not a religion. It has no army or tanks, and it insists on being nonpolitical.” Such a viewpoint looks at peace as something that can be ordered or militarily enforced, as if it is only the responsibility of governments. Rotary has always approached peace-making systemically – it has sought to break down the barriers that cause peo-ple to point fingers at one another. By trying to understand peoples’ points of view and reaching across lines of race, religion, and culture to become partners in service to all mankind, tensions are reduced and friendships are increased. Humanitarian aid has been Rotary’s an-

swer to hunger, sickness, illiteracy, and economic disaster, the seeds of conflict. David C. Forward, A Century of Service – The Story of Rotary International

Less than a month after WWII began, The Rotarian began publishing a series of features on the need for reconcilia-tion among all nations. One of those commentaries covered the 1940 RI Convention in Havana, Cuba. Long be-fore the United Nations, before “human rights” was a term most people even understood, the Rotarians meeting in Havana adopted a resolution calling for “freedom, justice, truth, sanctity of the pledged word, and respect for human rights.” When the newly chartered Unit-ed Nations wrote the Universal Declara-tion of Human Rights in 1948, it used the resolution from the Rotary Havana convention as its framework. David C. Forward, A Century of Service – The Story of Rotary International

Continued from last page

World Understanding

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

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Saturday, February 262nd Annual Stop Hunger Now packaging - 8amCrystal River High School Cafeteria. Volunteers should contact Rotary Club of Crystal River. (352) 795-0404.

Saturday, March 128th Annual Rotary Goes to the Races - 12 noonTampa Bay Downs, OldsmarJoin us for great fellowship, food and fun with Rotarians and guests. $2 admission.

Saturday, March 12Pinellas Feather Sound Foundation Celebration Cost $40.00 per person. Please contact Ed Hallock at [email protected] or by phone 727-398-5027 for more information.

Thursday, March 17 - 20Carnival! Treasure Island Community CenterCarnival rides, vendors, food/beer and live entertainmentMarch 17 3-11pmMarch 18 noon - 11pmMarch 19 noon - 11pmMarch 20 noon - 8pmRotary Club of Gulf Beaches will welcome volunteers from area clubs. Please call John Meagher at 407-948-6153

Thursday March 24Belleair Rotary’s Wine & Tapas Extravaganza Largo Cultural Center - Parkview Room - 105 Central Park Drive, Largo Fl 33771Sample fine wines from the finest restaurants in the area. Advanced tickets $35 - at the door $40. Casino tables with great prizes an added feature. Silent auction. Music - fun - and it’s all for good causes!!

District calenDar

District Governor (10-11) - lynda VinsonO 727-937-0772 - [email protected]

District Governor elect - carl treleavenO 727-388-3511 [email protected] Governor nominee - Jamie MickO 727-817-1415 [email protected] of staff - PDG Keith KurberO 727-738-5333 C [email protected] secretary - Brenda WendtO/H 352-249-7302 [email protected] treasurer - robert aldermanH [email protected]

District rotary Foundation chair - PDG tim schuler - O 727-398-0011 [email protected]

District trainer - tony PalumboO [email protected] advisor, south Pinellas - al comeyO 727-581-3800 H [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 1 - Will Miller H 727-581-2452 [email protected]. Gov. area 2 - laura BrockO 727-572-1400 [email protected]. Gov. area 3 - eva JonesO 727-392-2832 H [email protected]

area advisor , n. Pinellas - roger lacyO 727-430-4742 H [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 4 - lynn BurksH 727-725-1213 [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 5 - angie MonteithO 727-451-3160 H [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 6 - Mike chapmanO 727-469-4549 [email protected]

area advisor, Pasco - PDG robin MurrayO/H 813-385-0948 [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 7 - Betty BurkeO 352-588-9827 H [email protected]. Gov. area 8 - Michael WoottonO 727-524-9202 H [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 9 - carol KinnardO 727-376-4900 [email protected]. Gov. area 10 - Jamie MickO 727-817-1415 [email protected] advisor, Hernando/citrus - steve MartinC 352-634-2686 H [email protected]. Gov area 11 - Mike HoltonO [email protected]

asst. Gov. area 12 - tom Feeney iiiO 352-563-3275 H [email protected]

District Governor nom-D - roger [email protected]

Membership chair co-chairsKeith Kurber and Roger Lacy

District Public relations chair - Kat silleO 913-495-5190 C [email protected]

sr. DGn-D - roger ProfferO 352-795-2330 [email protected]

The Rotary Club of Trinity has partnered with The Gen-esis Preparatory School Inter-act Students for several years to serve the needy twice per month during the school year at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in Port Richey. The group does everything from set-up, sign-in, serving and clean up and the consumers show a great deal of ap-preciation. For many, this is the only meals they receive since falling on challenging times. “There is not a better feeling than taking the time during the holidays to make others feel better about theirs,” said Trinity Rotarian Paul Friedlander.

Picture: December 23rd Volunteers at Salvation Army Soup Kitchen

Serving at Salvation Army Soup Kitchen

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

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Professor Dario Teicher from the Na-val War College, Distance Education Program had the members and friends of Dade City Sunrise Rotary on the edge of their seats when he recently enlightened them on the activities of the Mexican Drug Cartels.

“Drug cartels are recruiting elite sol-diers from Central American militaries” revealed Teicher, “and the Guate-malan Kaibil sol-diers are a favorite recruit. They are tough and ruth-less. All Mexican Cartels recruit a mix of ex-soldiers, police and gangs. They receive mili-tary training and are well armed.”

The primary sea route is the wide open Pacific from Colombia or Ecua-dor to Mexico, then by land across the U.S.-Mexican Border. Air routes along the coastline of Central America into Mexico are also used extensively. The Caribbean air and sea routes are still used and Venezuela is a primary point of departure. The drug trade has global-ized. The routes go north to the Yucatan and by land to the U.S.-Mexico Border and also to Southern Africa and Europe.

Professor Teicher noted that the drug cartels want to make it to Mexico. Cor-ruption is so great that they have little trouble moving their cargo to the U.S. border for illicit entry. The cartels will tunnel, hide the drugs, and/or use fake documents to move the drugs into the U.S. at “The Plazas”—where a Mexican city is right next to a U.S. city, e.g., San

Belleair Rotary Club is having its annual fundraiser Thursday March 24 between 6 - 9 PM at the Largo Cultural Center. This gala is expect-ed to gather hundreds of wine-and-food loving guests. This year it will also have a Casino Style Event and also entertainment by Straight Ahead Jazz.

Tickets are $35 in advance and are available online at www.BelleairRotary.org, by phone 727-251-8277, or from a Belleair Ro-tary member.

Sunrise Rotary Club of Dade City Given Insight on Mexican Drug Cartels

Diego and Tijuana. Will the U.S. win the drug war at our

borders? Professor Teicher advised the group that more Border Patrol are on the border than ever before—17,000--but it is not enough. It will never be enough. Control of the border has been lost. The U.S. demand is too great and lucrative. Ten to fifteen years ago when U.S. Border

Patrol or Sheriffs would arrive on scene, the drug smugglers would drop the drugs and run. Today, they fight and withdraw in good order to try a border crossing somewhere else or at another time. They don’t abandon the drugs. There will always be someone willing to bring drugs

across the border. Rotary is a thriving service club whose

object involves the “Four-Way Test”: Is it the Truth?; Is it Fair to all Concerned?; Will it build Goodwill and Better Friend-ships?; and Will it be Beneficial to all Concerned. Rotarians are to ask these questions of themselves in their every-day business and personal life dealings. Living with these values enables and inspires Rotarians to look beyond them-selves and help those in need.

Dade City Sunrise Rotary is a Break-fast Club and meets every Thursday at 7 a.m. at the Kokopelli Restaurant, Dade City except for the first Thursday of the month when they meet at 4:45 p.m. at Kokopelli’s. Visitors are always wel-come….

Photo: Andrea Mason & Dario Te-icher

Rotary District 6950 Governor Lynda Vinson presented the Rotary Club of Trinity with the 100% Sustaining Mem-bership award for Rotary year 2009-2010. Sandy Barley, President, Candace Glewan Past President, and Jim Lanpher Past Foundation Chairman accepted the award on behalf of the club on Decem-ber 17th at the Club’s weekly meeting. The award goes only to clubs who do-nate a minimum of $100 per member, per year to the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Club of Trinity is proud to receive this award as it is given to less than 3% of the Rotary Clubs worldwide. The club’s mission is to to make a difference in the health, education, and welfare of the lives of children in our community first and then beyond our region, as we rise to meet the challenge of brighter fu-tures. For more information about Trinity Rotary, visit trinityrotary.org or contact Becky Bennett at 727-967-7509.

The 100% Sustaining Membership Award

Trinity Rotary President Sandy Barley presented the Club’s second Community Champion award to Ginny Pierce who accepted the award on behalf of Harry Helmich, ABCO owner, charter member and honor-ary member of Trinity Rotary. The award was given to ABCO for its support and generosity to the communi-ty. This prestigious award is given quarterly to an area business that exemplifies the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self”.

Trinity Rotary Community Champion Award

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

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The end of 2010 marked yet another time of giving back to the schools in our community. Schwettman Education Center was presented a check for $1200 by Rotarians Tim Sherrill and Kim Altrui and Seven Springs Elementary School a check for $500 presented by President Sandy Barley and Kim Altrui.

After recently giving away thousands of dollars to local charities, the members of the Rotary Club of East Lake Sunrise are planning their next big fundraising activ-ity - the 5th Annual Charity Car Show and Community Festival. It is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the John Chesnut Sr. Park, and will again be in conjunction with the YMCA of North Pinellas’ Healthy Kids Day.

Those who have attended in the past know that it is a great day of free activi-ties including strolling through rare and exotic show cars and trucks, listening to a DJ and local bands, as well as numer-ous activities for the kids. As one can imagine, such an event takes a great deal of planning and community support.

The Rotary Club of East Lake Sunrise is looking to add some new members to their already diverse group of business leaders and professionals who volunteer their time and talent to serve the com-munity and the world. If you are inter-ested and able to either help support the event or wish to learn more about joining Rotary, visit the club’s web site at www.EastLakeRotary.org or call mem-bership director Roger Johnson at 727-781-5555.

Visit us and find out how you can make a difference to make the world a better place. Along the way, you might just happen to have fun and enjoy fel-lowship and making new friends.

The Rotary Club of East Lake Sunrise meets every Thursday, 7:30 am at the East Lake Woodlands Country Club.

Roger Johnson 727-781-5555 , [email protected]

Join Rotary and Make a Difference

Trinity Rotary Continues Its Support of Children, Schools & Community

Rotary Inter-national has sponsored the largest and most widely used Interna-tional Scholar-ship program since its incep-tion in 1947. Over 40,000

graduate level students have been sent overseas to study (for one year) for their post-graduate degrees and become am-bassadors to the World. Rotary has long believed that you build international un-derstanding and good will by personally learning and interacting with peoples and cultures different from your own.

Hunter Zager graduated from Eckerd College in 2000 and was selected to be an Ambassadorial Scholar. She was able to spend one year in Auckland, New Zealand while she studied community health issues. She now works for Pinel-las County using the information she gained while studying abroad. Hunter recently spoke to the Rotary Club of Seminole Lake about her experiences while in Auckland. She indicated that she was expected to interact with New Zealand Rotary Clubs and act as an unofficial ambassador of the US while there. She stated that the Rotary Club of Auckland treated her as one of their own and made the experience even more meaningful.

Anyone interested in applying for this prestigious award needs to have a Rota-ry Club sponsor their application (which can be retrieved from the Rotary website (www.Rotary.org). The student should be looking at going overseas to study in 2012. Applications must be received by

Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship Program

the local Rotary District by March 15th. Interviews of candidates will then take place in June. There will be a Sympo-sium at the University of Tampa the last weekend of June 2011 for candidates. There is no age limit for the student but they cannot be related to a Rotary Mem-ber in any direct way-thus preventing any appearance of impropriety.

Prepared by Gene Stern: Publicity Chair of the Rotary Club of Seminole Lake; [email protected]

Photo Left: Hunter Zager addressing Seminole Lake Rotary

The rotary Club of Port Richey held its “RAP session with students of the In-teract Club at Ridgewood High school, January 28th at the Rotary Club meeting at Whisky River Restaurant. This RAP session subject was “Bullying”.

The RAP session put on by the Interact Club replicates the RAP session held at S4TL. and is held on the 4th Friday of each month at the Rotary Club of Port Richey’s regular meeting. Each Rotarian is encouraged to attend.

Those pictured are from L to R: Judy Galatola, Guidance Dept. at Ridgewood; Donna Leonard, Rotarian and Guidance at Ridgewood; Rotarian Mike Latini, Karen Haus, Michele Schantz, Leanna Kotun, and Alyssa Terruso, all members of Ridgewood High Interact.

Interact RAP Session

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

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Rotary clubs worldwide place a focus on in-creasing literacy. Rotary Interna-tional created a “Rotary Literacy Month” that takes place during the month of March and Rotary clubs also aim to con-duct many litera-cy events during the week of Sep-tember 8 which is International Lit-eracy Day.

Dade City Sun-rise Literacy Chairperson, Cindy Harper, saw the need for books at the four el-ementary school libraries in the Dade City area and as Principal of Centennial Elementary School, she combined the literacy project with the need.

At the January 13, 2011 Sunrise Rotary meeting, a basket of books was present-ed to each of the following: Michelle Martinez, Media Specialist and Shirley Ray, Principal-Lacoochee Elementary; Lori Meredith, Media Specialist-Cox El-ementary; Michal Nelson, Media Spe-cialist and Cindy Harper, Principal-Cen-tennial Elementary; Marian Rich, Media Specialist and Barbara Munz, Principal-

Thanks to Phil England and his Merry Band of Vol-unteers, 78th Ave is clean again! The

Road Clean-up Crew met on a crisp and sunny morning last Saturday, Jan 29th at 8:30am. Many thanks to Rotarians and their family members: Joe & Joey Minar-ik and grandson, Alex Brodsky, Phil Eng-land, Jerry Krauss, Chris & Mackenzie Patel, Pete Hervey, Phil Burns, Yvonne Fay, Pete Molinaro, and to volunteers Christina and Jazmin Brown from Kevin Krauss’ office. They quickly and effi-ciently removed all the trash from 78th Ave in Pinellas Park.

Pinellas Park’s Road Clean-up Gang

Rotary Club of Dade City Sunrise Donates Books

Pasco Elementary. Also in attendance was Tracy Bonnett, Instructional Train-er/Coach for Instructional Media and Technology Department of the District School Board.

The Rotary motto Service Above Self conveys the humanitarian spirit of the organization’s more than 1.2 million members. Strong fellowship among Ro-tarians and meaningful community and international service projects character-ize Rotary worldwide.

Photo: (l-r) Michelle Martinez, Shir-ley Ray, Lori Meredith, Tracy Bonnett, Michal Nelson, Cindy Harper, Marian Rich, Barbara Munz

The Friends of the East lake Library and the East Lake Library Advisory Board in-vite you to join us on February 19th as we break ground for the East Lake Com-munity Library’s “New Beginning”. The ground breaking will be at 11:00AM and will include an overview of the Phase 1 expansion. There will also be dedica-tions, refreshments and fun!

Local, individual and business involve-ment is essential for community devel-opment and growth. In these economic times it is essential that individuals and businesses support community services

The East Lake Community Library Ground Breaking – February 19th

that have been traditionally supported by the public sector. In the East Lake community, there are but a few physical reminders of community services. The East Lake Community Library has stood out for over a decade as a local beacon of community service. But it has rap-idly outgrown its physical environment and was in dire need of expansion. We had reached that conclusion some time ago and are now ready to launch our library’s “New Beginning”. Please stop by on February 19th, participate in the ground breaking, explore the library and

visit with its staff. There is no cost to join in the excitement and you will not be asked to make a contribution!

You may, however, wish to learn more about how you can join the growing list of the library’s supporters, either as a volunteer, a Friend of the Library or as one of our Ground Breakers. Informa-tion will be on hand that will help you understand the many ways that you can support your community. We hope to see you on February 19th and we thank you for your support to our East Lake Community Library!

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tHe GoVernor’s neWsletter rotary District 6950scott Post, editorSuncoast Printing • 6840 Commerce Ave. • Port Richey, FL 34668Email news to [email protected] send text as word documents and photos as jpgsDeadline: February 21, 2011 for next issue

Trinity Rotary President Sandy Bar-ley presented the River Ridge Middle School a check for $500.00 to help sponsor the 28 students of the Drama Club in their quest for a State Junior Thespian Title in Melbourne, FL on February 11th & 12th. They moved on to this competition as a result of com-peting and getting Superior ratings in a variety of categories including mono-logues, duets and large group musi-cal in the District Competition. River Ridge was the only public school who competed in the regionals with sev-eral performing arts schools. The stu-dents are also holding a talent show at 7pm at the River Ridge Center for the Performing Arts on January 27th to raise funds for traveling expenses. “We apreciate the Rotarians being partners with the school. It is our first time ever going to state,” said Drama Teacher Peter Nason.

Picture: River Ridge Check Presenta-tion- left to right: Sandy Barley, Jason Joens, Peter Nason.

Richard Sprague representing the Greater Largo Little League receives a check for $1000 from Linda Flower President of the Rotary Club of Largo. These funds are made possible from the proceeds of the club’s annual “Death by Chocolate - A Taste of the Holidays” which is held on the first Friday of December at the Largo Cul-tural Center.

Trinity Rotary Past President Tim Sherrell and Service Project Direc-tor Kim Altrui presented a check for $1,200 to Schwettman Education Center Principal Randy Koening-feld and Teacher Mark Babiarz. The funds were given to support a holi-day dinner for students and families at Schwettman. The school is a vol-untary drop-out prevention pro-gram with the mission to positively engage students in their education and facilitate a successful transition to their home school. “When we heard that some students’ only meals are at school, we wanted to ensure that these families were able to have a holiday dinner together,” said Ro-tarian Becky Bennett. For more in-formation about Trinity Rotary, visit www.trinityrotary.org.

Pictured left to right Rotarians Tim Sherrell, Kim Altrui, Schwettman Principal Randy Koeningsfeld and Teacher Mark Babiarz

Four young professional non-Rotari-ans and a Rotary team leader will travel to Australia to participate in the Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange program. The (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange op-portunity for businesspeople and profes-sionals between the ages of 25 and 40. For four weeks, team members experi-ence the host country’s culture and insti-tutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships and exchange ideas.

Rotary District 6950 (Pinellas, Pas-co, Hernando and Citrus Counties) has selected two men and two women (non-Rotarians) to participate in this exchange. Dade City Sunrise Rotary’s member, Camille Hernandez will be the Team Leader. The team members have varied business backgrounds: a 30 year old Chef, James McConnell from St. Pe-tersburg; Sunken Gardens Event Coordi-nator, Natalie White, from St. Petersburg; Inverness Environmentalist with Univer-sity of Florida/IFAS Hernando Extension Service, John Korycki; and 31 year old Clearwater Veterinarian Assistant at East Bay Animal Hospital, Rachael Williams.

The GSE team will be putting their personal and business lives on hold to foster goodwill and share professional ideas with their vocational counterparts for the four weeks they will be traveling throughout Australia.

In May 2011, incoming exchange teams from Australia will be hosted by local Rotarians in Pasco County.

Rotary is a thriving service club whose object involves the “Four-Way Test”: Is

it the Truth?; Is it Fair to all Concerned?; Will it build Goodwill and Better Friend-ships?; and Will it be Beneficial to all Concerned. Rotarians are to ask these questions of themselves in their every-day business and personal life dealings. Living with these values enables and inspires Rotarians to look beyond them-selves and help those in need.

Sunrise Rotary is a Breakfast Club and meets every Thursday at 7 a.m. except for the 1st Thursday of the month when they meet at 4:45 p.m. at the Kokopelli Restaurant, Dade City. Visitors are al-ways welcome….

Photo: (l-r)Camille Hernandez, Ra-chael Williams, John Korycki, Natalie White, James McConnell.

GSE Team Ready To Leave for Australia

The Governor’s Newsletter 2011

Club MembersMembers Current

Average Attend%

Belleair 35 38 65Brooksville 62 57 97Central Citrus County 31 32 71.9Clearwater 123 124 75.01Clearwater at Feathersound 0 26 70.43Clearwater Beach 20 26 74Clearwater East 43 46 82.26Crystal River 65 60 69.83Crystal River-Kings Bay 45 46 72.88Dade City 49 52 58Dade City Sunrise 25 23 63.76Dunedin 61 64 68.93Dunedin North 66 62 85.7Dunedin Waterside 21 33 50East Lake Sunrise 32 27 62.96Gulf Beaches 20 22 75Holiday 67 58 0Homosassa Springs 23 21 70.5Hudson 24 25 83.54Indian Rocks Beach 34 38 93.16Inverness 57 67 61.31Land O’Lakes 13 14 78.6Largo 39 35 83.56New Port Richey 129 130 83.56Oldsmar/East Lake 20 21 55Palm Harbor 15 16 86.4Pinellas Feather Sound 9 11 96.96Pinellas Park 30 29 80.2Port Richey 32 36 77.67Safety Harbor 16 15 64.29San Antonio 20 22 52.27Seminole 65 66 83Seminole Lake 34 33 46.01Seven Springs 48 54 71.98Spring Hill 12 13 100Spring Hill Central 29 24 60St. Petersburg 113 111 71.75St. Petersburg Suncoast 8 10 70St. Petersburg Sunrise 27 29 81.89St. Petersburg Sunset 21 26 70St. Petersburg West 30 30 87.37Sugarmill Woods-Citrus County 22 18 90.74Tarpon Springs 72 74 85.58Trinity 65 72 74.88Wesley Chapel 22 36 64.74Wesley Chapel Sunrise 8 9 100Zephyrhills 42 45 62.6Zephyrhills Daybreak 33 30 85Rotary E-Club of SoutheastUSA & Caribbean

31 38 71.09

Welcome to our new, returning

and transferring Rotarians!

January 2011

CleArwATer AT FeAThersoundTimothy Conn

Amy DayMitzi Smith

CrysTAl river KinGs BAyAlan Markham

dAde CiTyDewey BrownJohn SemevaroChuck Reese

dAde CiTy sunriseSusan Dowling

e-CluB oF se usA & CAriBBeAn

Alicia CoppleyRay Ford

GulF BeAChesMitchell Shenkman

holidAyWilliam Lscheu

hoMosAssA sprinGsJames Behaniak

hudsonDawn Carroll

new porT riCheyJohn O’Neil IIIpAlM hArBorNicole Gordon

Erin FisherporT riChey

Margie PaganosAFeTy hArBor

Marcia FalcoseMinole lAKe

Scott MaloneJennifer Reynolds

sT. peTersBurG sunseTSabine NiehausMatthew HaberTArpon sprinGsVarnavas ZagarisLoukas ZagarisDennis Garvey

TriniTyVirginia “Ginny” Pierce

wesley ChApelVonnie Johnson

Jim JohnsonPatrick Murtha

Lorrie McGovernwesley ChApel sunrise

Frank Rygiel

Meeting locations have been updated.Please refer to this list when checking on club meeting days and locations.

Meeting location

Thu Noon - Belleair Country Club (25 Belleview Rd)Tue Noon - Brooksville Country Club (23446 Links Drive)Wed 7:30am - Black Diamond Country Club (St. Rd. 491, Lecanto)Wed 12:15pm - Belleair Country ClubWed 5:30pm - Feather Sound Country Club, ClearwaterThu 12:15pm - The Wave, inside Shephards Beach Resort, on Gulfview Blvd.Fri Noon - Pssghetti’s (26200 US Hwy 19N, Clearwater)Mon 12:15pm - Plantation Inn and Golf ResortWed 12:15pm - Cafe on the Avenue, Citrus Avenue, Crystal River Mon 12:15pm - Dade City Business Center - John Hornbuckle Meeting Rm, 3rd FlThu 7:00am - Kafe Kokopelli (Meridan and Live Oak)Tue 12:15pm - Church of Good Shepherd (629 Edgewater Dr)Wed 7:30am - Dunedin Country Club (1050 Palm Blvd) Wed 6:30pm - Bon AppetitThu 7:30am - East Lake Woodlands CC (1055 East Lake Woodlands Pkwy)Tue 12:15pm - Treasure Island Yacht & Tennis Club (400 Treasure Island Causeway)Tue Noon - IHOP (U.S. Hwy. 19, NPR)Thu 7am - Luigi’s (4538 Suncoast Blvd - US19)Thu Noon - CARES Enrichment Center (12417 Clock Tower Pkwy) Hudson, Bayonet Pt.Wed 7:15am Jimmy Guana’s Restaurant, Holiday Inn Harborside (401 2nd St)Tue Noon - Lakeside Country Club (4555 E. Windmill Dr.)Mon 12:15pm - Rapscallion’s Restaurant (US 41)Mon Noon - Alfano’s Restaurant (1702 Clwtr/Largo Rd)Wed 12:15pm - Spartan Manor (6121 Massachusetts Avenue)Thu 12:15pm - Daddy’s Grill, Tampa RdWed 12:15pm - Carabbas, 33983 U.S. 19 N Palm Harbor 34684Tue 5:30pm - Liberty Lanes, LargoThu 12:15pm - Banquet Masters (8100 Park Blvd.)Fri Noon - Whiskey River Sports Grill (5235 Limestone Drive, PR)Fri 7:30am - Safety Harbor Spa (105 N Bayshore Dr) Tue Noon - Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club (St Rd 52)Wed 12:15pm - Lake Seminole Golf & Country Club (6100 Augusta Blvd)Fri 7:15am - Freedom Square Seminole, Roskamp AuditoriumThu 7:30am - Seven Springs Country Club (3535 Trophy Blvd)Thu 7:45am - IHOP Restaurant (US19)Thu 11:45am - Silverthorn Country Club (Spring Hill)Fri Noon - Orange Blossom Catering (220 4th St. N)Thu 12:15pm - Gigi’s Italian Restaurant (6852 Gulfport Street, South Pasadena)Tue 7:45 am - St Petersburg Yacht Club (11 Central Ave)Thu 6:00 pm - Midtown Sundries, 200 1st Ave. S, St. PetersburgWed 7:45am - Treasure Island Tennis & Yacht Club (400 Island Causway, Treasure Island)Tue 5:00pm - Sugarmill Woods Country Club, HomosassaThu 12:15pm - Tarpon Springs Yacht Club (350 S. Spring Blvd)Fri 12:15pm - Heritage Springs Country ClubWed 12:15pm - Dempsey’s Restaurant, Saddlebrook ResortFri 7:15am - Lexington Oaks Golf Club, 26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd off SR 54 near I-75Thurs 12:15pm - Zephyrhills Rotary Youth building, Shepard ParkWed 7:00am - First United Methodist Church, 38635 Fifth Ave, ZephyrhillsAnytime at www.rotaryeclub34.org.

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District 6950 Attendance for December 2010 & Club Meeting Location

Join us for our Caribbean Partnership Celebration Meeting July 21-23, 2011 in Reston, Virginia, and learn how your Rotary club can work with other Rotary clubs in Zones 33 and 34, to establish:

Exciting Fellowship Opportunities with Rotarians living in distant countries.

Enhanced Project Opportunities with a partner who knows the culture, community, and contacts.

Improved Grant Opportunities through matching grants that will make a real difference on an international scale.

• • • •

•

•

Sponsored by Districts 6890 and 6950 in collaboration with Tampa Bay Downs, Inc.

Benefiting Rotary’s Camp Florida

8th Annual

Rotary Goes to the Races All Rotarians, Families and Friends are welcome to join us

Saturday, March 12, 2011 Tampa Bay Downs, Oldsmar

12:00 noon for Post time Lunch served 11:30am until gone!

$2.00 Admission Fee includes * Free Tampa Derby Day Commemorative Give Away

* Free Parking – In the parking lot on the South side of the race track. * Free food in the tent area: PIT BOSS BBQ Sandwich, hot dogs,

Baked beans, chips, strawberry shortcake and even chocolate covered strawberries Drinks and other food will be available for purchase.

* Bring your own coolers, beverages (Adult and Otherwise) and lawn chairs if you like * Handicapped parking will be available – please call a number below for information.

EVENTS OF THE DAY: * Watch for the John Wiser Commemorative Rotary Race

* Picked the day before, Plant City flats of GRADE A strawberries will be available for purchase at a discount by the Plant City Sunrise Rotary Club.

When you arrive go directly to the white tent on the north side of the grandstands to check-in. Look for the Sergeants-At Arms for directions if you get lost. In addition to the Rotary Goes to the Races Day, it is also the Tampa Bay Derby day, the busiest day at the track.

***Arrive early to avoid heavy traffic and to get a good parking spot.***

Please register at www.dacdb.com just to let us know you are coming and/or to volunteer, Pay admission at the door.

For more information, please contact: 6890 PDG Rick Borgstrom, Cell 813-503-4236, [email protected]

6950 Beth Bell, Cell 727-539-6245, [email protected]