The GetRotary.org Update
 I wanted to highlight a few very unique Rotarians that I had the
pleasure of meeting during my visits to our clubs the past few weeks. The
first I met was Frazier Mountain Communities Rotarian Don Tait. Don was
on hand to help support his club’s annual Festival of Books, where his
club offers FREE books to the community members along with face
painting, games and refreshments. Not realizing Don’s connection to this
event, I sat and talked to him just to become better acquainted with
him. What I found out was Don Tait was “Made for this Event”. Don Tait
worked for Disney and wrote such Disney movies as the “Herbie the Love
Bug” series and “The Apple Dumpling Gang”, to name a few! He is a
fascinating man and has a lot of history to share from his experiences
with the movie industry ... more »
October 21-23, 2011 - This year’s District Conference promises to be a very unique opportunity
for Rotarians AND their families and friends. Come and experience the
charm, beauty, and warm hospitality that Carpinteria is known for. "Carpinteria Celebrates Rotary focuses on honoring the Rotarians of our
District" says District Governor Wade Nomura (of the Carpinteria Morning
Rotary Club). “We selected Carpinteria because of their commitment to
share in our goal to host an event that will truly be to honoring our
Rotarians. The streets will be labeled with Rotary Banners, the
storefronts will have posters welcoming the Rotarians, the merchants
will be participating in honoring Rotarians and will also be a part of
the Conference, the City of Carpinteria will honor us with a Welcoming
Proclamation, and the State Park is looking forward to assisting us with
the Sunday Expo.” Friday kicks off the event with a Reception hosted by the Rotary Clubs
of Carpinteria, Santa Barbara and Goleta. There will be refreshments,
music, drinks, and plenty of friendships to be made ... more »
 Charter President, RC of Morehead City-Noon, one of four co-organizers of Carolina’s Multi-District PETS, John T. is a Business Coach and Humanitarian. A Certified Disaster Volunteer with The Salvation Army, Boys and Girls Clubs, Meals on Wheels Driver, RYLA and Interact Mentor. He is a requested motivational, Inspirational and humorous story teller. A third generation Rotarian, John T. has attended 34 International Conventions, served as GSE Team Leader and Polio National Immunization Day Volunteer for 10 years in India. Recipient of TRF’s Meritorious Service Award, Distinguished Service Award, International Service Award for a Polio-Free World and RI’s Service Above Self Award. He and wife, Jane, are Major Donors and benefactors of The Rotary Foundation ... more »
In Rotary it all starts with an individual’s classification, or VOCATION. As is the case with 90%+ of the current Rotarians, I joined Rotary primarily in order to “network”, to expand my potential market by meeting others that I knew to be upper level business people in the community. Once I joined, what I found in Rotary was substantially different. The focus was on Service, and the fact that we are a Service oriented organization seemed to divert me from my primary reason for joining. It took me years to figure out how Vocational Service fits into the Rotary model. In 2007, I was asked by PDG Jock McKenzie to consider taking on the position of District Vocational Service Director. At that time I had no idea what this was, but I accepted (for those of you that knew Jock, you know why!). His challenge was to bring awareness of Vocational Service to our members and create more of a balance in the Avenues of Service. With that in mind, I evaluated what Vocational Service meant to me as a Rotarian, and how it had benefitted me as a Rotarian. The following are some of the points that many seem to forget when it comes to this Avenue of Service. ... more »
“Hello Children – I’m your father, Rotarian Robert Foster…”
- On
September 6th Oxnard Rotarian Robert Foster with those words Foster
greeted his children. He had to identify himself to his own kinds
because had had just with after he shaved off his beard at the club’s
weekly luncheon meeting. A beard he had worn for the past 30 years.
Neither his wife, children, nor grandchildren had ever seen him
clean-shaven. His wife joined their children for the big unveiling.
Foster – a member of Rotary International since 1983 and a participant
in the Oxnard club since 1989 announced in August that he would shave
his beard at the first Rotary meeting after Labor Day, provided he could
get at least $1,000 in donations to buy supply packs for the Medical
Reserve Corps. His announcement generated a lot of excitement…and a lot of checks.
Money has been collected through the Rotary club of Oxnard, as well as
from members of five other area clubs in Oxnard, Ventura and Camarillo. ... more »
In 2003 the Rotary Club of China Lake took on coordination and leadership of a popular community-wide event known as the Community Dinner. Stated by a small group of Ridgecrest residents this dinner was a fund raiser for virtually every non-profit organization in the area. From the Boys and Girls Club to the AAUW and from United Way to the Habitat for Humanity. Fundraising for the Rotary Club of China Lake was secondary to the service provided. On Sept. 10 of this year the Rotary Club of China Lake presented the latest in that string of dinners. When all was said and done, the local non-profits took home more than $15,000 based on their receiving $6 from the sale of a $10 ticket ... more »
As many Rotarians know, in areas without access to electric lighting,
kerosene is the #1 source of lighting fuel and it is expensive,
unhealthy, dangerous and environmentally toxic. Rotary Clubs from District 5240, in partnership with the Mahuva River
Side Club, District 3060 Gujarat State, India, have begun a project to
distribute low-cost solar lights as an alternative to kerosene. These
solar lights will be used by schools and orphanages and will jump start
sales efforts which will be a source of income. Buyers of the lights
will rapidly recoup their cost and enjoy significant savings from that
point forward ... more » | 
