Dear Dream Team,

 

This is my last newsletter of the Rotary year.  It is a very bittersweet time for me. I have loved and cherished every moment of this year as your District Governor (well, nearly every moment! J).  Together we have worked hard to bring new friends to our clubs, increase our donations to The Rotary Foundation, improve our knowledge about Rotary, participate in our club and district events and, most importantly of all, Make Dreams Real for the children of the world.

 

There is still lots of news to report since there is one month left, so here goes!

 

Membership

 

Everyone has worked so diligently on retaining and growing membership this year under the leadership of District Membership Chair Carl Kruse.  As I look at the District website today, I see that we are +2 for the year.  That is terrific news.  Keep it up! 

 

The Miramar Semper Fidelis Rotary Club is in the final stages of chartering.  The paperwork is on its way to RI and all should be completed before the end of the year.  Be sure to stop by and visit their club.  They meet on Thursdays at 11:30 am at the Officers Club on the base.  It is easy to get on base through the East Gate.  Just allow an extra 5-10 minutes to get your pass.  They will be a great group of Rotarians.  Thanks goes to Tom Richards and PDG Mike Stelman for all their work to get this club started.

 

The Rotary Foundation

 

Thank you for your generosity to The Rotary Foundation this year, both with Annual Programs Fund and PolioPlus.  With District Foundation Chair PDG Sandi Rimer at the helm, we have achieved 82% of our Annual Programs Fund Goal with giving in excess of $379,000.  I know that there are some last minute donations still being sent back so I am optimistic. 

 

Our PolioPlus contributions total nearly $95,000 for this year and over $116,000 for the $200 Million Challenge.  Thirty-three clubs have made their $1,000 contributions.  Several of you in the process of sending back your donations.  Thank you.

 

There are major events happening with Matching Grants.  Both Foundation Chair PDG Sandi Rimer and District Matching Grants Chair Susan Thorning have spent time educating the 2009-2010 Assistant Governors on the process that is happening now.  If you are considering a Matching Grant for the upcoming year, make sure you are aware of what is taking place.  You need to act right now!

 

Hurray!  District 5340 has been selected to be a part of the Future Vision pilot.  We are one of a hundred districts worldwide that will be participating in the three-year pilot.  Stay tuned for more information.  There will be a session at the Foundation Seminar on this topic to help you prepare for 2010-1011.

 

San Diego Padres

 

The next Rotary night at the San Diego Padres is June 8^th.  We are dedicating this night to PolioPlus.  We will have polio survivors participate in the pre-game activities and we will showcase our polio eradication efforts on the Jumbotron.  PDG Lynn and Marianne Wilson will be on the field and District PolioPlus Chair Mark Lee will raise the flag.  Hope to see lots of you there!

 

District Council

 

June 16^th is District Council.  This is the final event of this Rotary Year.  It will be a time to celebrate your clubs, say farewell to the “old” regime and welcome in DG Marge Cole.  This will be a fun time and I hope to see lots of you there.  There will be some very special recognition as well.  Be sure to sign up early.  Thank you, District Council Chair Ginger Poutous, for providing us with outstanding District Councils this year.

 

RI Convention

 

Some of us will be in Birmingham in a few weeks.  While we enjoy the inspiration of the convention, we’ll also get to see some of the beautiful sites of England.  Many are taking interesting side trips.  One “side trip” not to be missed is a visit to the House of Friendship.  Look for PDG Jim O’Meara at the AIDS Orphans in Africa booth and Kim Muslusky, Bob Chalfa and Kristy Beity at the Thousand Smiles booths.  They’ll love to see you stop by and say hello.

 

End of Year Survey

 

The 2008-2009 Club Presidents will receive an email on 1 July with a link to a Survey Monkey.  The District Leadership wants to know what you think about the last year.  I hope that you will take the time to thoughtfully respond to the short survey.  The comments that we received from last year’s survey were incorporated into our thinking as we planned the coming years.  We also incorporated them into our District Strategic Planning.  Later this month, you will receive a test message to make sure that the email is correct for the survey.  I thank you for your comments.

 

Future Dates to Save

 

June 8, 2009                  San Diego Padres Game - PolioPlus

June 16, 2009                District Council – End of Year / Start of Year Celebration

June 20/21, 2009           District Receptions – Birmingham, England

June 21-24, 2009           Rotary International Convention, Birmingham, England

July 31, 2009                 San Diego Padres Game

August 5, 2009              District Council, California Center for the Arts, Escondido

August 20, 2009            San Diego Padres Game

September 12, 2009       Foundation Seminar, USD, San Diego

September 14, 2009       San Diego Padres Game

 

 

Thank you for all you did this year as district and club leadership.  I challenged the clubs to have the “Best Year Ever” and I truly believe that you did.  These are very challenging times and each of you strived to do all that you could to Make Dreams Real.  As I stated at the beginning of our time together, my dream was that every club have its best year ever.  What I didn’t expect was that it would be my best year ever.  I am overwhelmed with emotion and I thank each and every one of you for giving me memories to last a lifetime. 

 

A new year begins in a few weeks with DG Marge Cole at the helm. She will do an outstanding job and I look forward to helping her in any way I can.  I know that you will do the same.  After all, The Future of Rotary is in Your Hands.

 

 

Pam Russell

District Governor 2008-2009

Rotary District 5340

Telephone: 619.723.3651

Fax: 858.271.4138

www.rotary5340.org