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The Pacific Current

The Newsletter of Rotary International District 5150
Serving the Rotary Clubs of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area:
Marin, San Francisco, & San Mateo Counties

 

Spring 2008

 

I can’t believe that my year as your District Governor is already two thirds past! I’ve had a grand time visiting clubs and working side-by-side with so many fine Rotarians. Laura and I have enjoyed attending fundraisers and club events. Thanks for including us!  You have extended a warm welcome and we so appreciate your generosity.

I would like to welcome Jay Kuhlman as our District Webmaster. Jay recently built a very successful website for our Paul Harris Society.  We are truly fortunate to have someone with his talent contribute service in building an interactive website for our clubs and members to use. Be sure to spend some time checking out the new website so you can appreciate what Jay has done. Be on the lookout for changes and improvements as time goes on. Special thanks to DGE Russ Ketron for bringing Jay on board. 
 
The Dictionary Project has been a signature community service project for our District. The Clubs have raised over $75,000 and have given away nearly 9,000 dictionaries. The benefits to the children can only be compared to the fun Rotarians have had in giving away the dictionaries. I’ve had the pleasure of working with a number of clubs and have been in numerous third grade classrooms. The smiling faces and letters of thanks from grateful children and teachers are proof of the success of this project.

 

Aside from the obvious benefit to the children, which is the point of the project, this endeavor brings several positive consequences. Rotarians have had a great time distributing the books and we received terrific public exposure for the project. We’ve appeared on both KRON and KGO and we’ve gotten coverage in several community newspapers. We’ve also received kudos in countless school newsletters! In addition to providing positive role models of community service in action to school children, the Dictionary Project has provided a cohesive service activity for Rotarians in our District. We are stronger when we work together. Keep your eyes open for Dictionary Project publicity posted on the backs of public buses throughout the District.

 

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mazatlan with Foster City and the Wheelchair Foundation. One of the highlights of this trip was working with the Rotaractors and Interacters from Foster City and Half Moon Bay. Working with these fine young people in distributing wheelchairs, visiting schools and playing soccer was a very special experience. I know that there are other clubs in our District who do similar things, both internationally and here at home. The future of Rotary is in working with young people and these clubs lead by example.

 

Over twenty five Rotarians from the Bay Area traveled to Ecuador last October to attend a project fair and I had the pleasure of being part of that group. We met with local Rotarians and learned about their ambitious and successful projects. These dedicated Rotarians accomplish so much in a place where there is great need. Our District has sponsored a number of Matching Grants that have benefited that area.

 

Ecuador has recently been devastated by floods. The District has set up a Foundation account to help local Rotary clubs with the many needs that have come about due to flooding. Any financial assistance would be greatly appreciated and can be sent to the Rotary 5150 Foundation. We will make sure that it gets to the Rotarians in Ecuador so that they can help to rebuild.

 

District 5150 is growing! Foster City has sponsored a new Rotaract Club, which has been chartered by Rotary International. Way to go Foster City!  I have met with this enthusiastic group of young people and wish them the best of luck in all the projects that lay ahead. The Rotary Club of San Francisco #2 is sponsoring a new club. Thumbs up to you too, SF #2! The Provisional Rotary Club of San Francisco Chinatown will meet on Wednesdays for lunch at Tommy Toy’s from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Contact Ron Gin at Ronald.Gin@morganstanley.com if you would like to pay them a visit. Special thanks to Helen Ave, Membership Co-Chair, and Pablo Castro, Extension Chair for helping to organize the newest addition to District 5150.

Our Group Study Exchange (GSE) team recently departed for District 2550 in Japan. They will spend the next month visiting clubs and being involved in cultural exchange. District 2550 will send a team to spend a month with us as well. Both teams will cross paths at our District Conference in Lake Tahoe. The GSE program is one of many projects that are funded by money that Rotarians give to the Rotary Foundation unrestricted. 

 

Yours in Rotary, 2007-2008