Welcome to Rotary District 7230:  PEOPLE OF ACTION

"Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change —
across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."

DG Handover
Thank  you, IPDG Mahbub   Welcome, DG Mary
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
District News
New District Team Installed
The new District leadership team will take over on 1 July.  The Installation of the new team took place at a virtual ceremony on 27 June.  Incoming District Governor Mary Shackleton and the new District leadership team was installed by RI Director-Elect Valarie Wafer.  The colorful ceremony begain with the song by Beyonce - "I was here".  Incoming AG Wayne Charles was the master of ceremonies.   
 
Outgoing DG Mahbub Ahmad thanked the entire District team for this year for their support and dedication in turning around the District.  He said , "What began just like many other Rotary years, turned into something we could never have imagined.  Our world turned upside down – what was normal is no longer the normal.  We were thrust into a completely unfamiliar world.  Each of us struggled to figure out where we were and what we needed to do – there was no guidebook. Our training did not include this scenario. "   DG Mahbub continued, " Today is not the time to harp on what has been accomplished, but on what we, as a District and in our Clubs will do in the future.  Rotary needs to change with the times.  We need to adapt, become diverse, be a true reflection of our society, and be the change in the world.  And for that we need to begin the change within ourselves." Here is a link to his complete remarks.
 
Incoming DG Mary Shackleton, thanked and celebrated the achievements of thse who led the Disrict in 2019-20.  She said Rotarians should remember "There is is no "I" in team.", She highlighted the opportunities before the District - We should upgrade and reboot our membership experience, better leverage technology in our next normal, and demonstrate Rotary's continued relevance by our response to COVID-19 and call for racial and social justice.  She pledged to use her opportunity to serve as Governor to open doors for the D7230 Rotary Family.  Here is a link to a slideshow of her presentation.
District Statement on Racism & Injustice
Jun 21, 2020
The District has been closely following and monitoring the protests unfolding in various cities of the United States in response to the killing by law enforcement, of George Floyd.  Governor Mahbub Ahmad said, "We cannot remain indifferent to what is happening in our communities.  Rotary as an organization is committed to the elimination of all forms inequality and discrimination.".
 
The District Governor String discussed the situation and a diverse team of Rotarians drafted a statement to be published on behalf of the District.  Since it is a statement of policy, Governor Mahbub asked if members of the Governor String would join him in signing on to the Statement.  DGE Mary Shackleton, DGN George McKinnis and DGND Martin Schulman unanimously agreed to jointly sign the statement.
 
From Your Governor #12 (June 2020)
This is the last Newsletter of the year – and what an eventful year it has been.  We began with the traditional and usual activities.  Bina and I visited all 44 Clubs by early January.  And then our world turned upside down.  We were thrown into a completely unfamiliar world.  Each one of us struggled to make sense of where we are.  Along the way, many of us lost friends and loved ones.  Our Rotary family lost Club Presidents, Past Presidents, and long-time Rotarians.  Our grief was accentuated by our inability to attend their funerals.  May their souls rest in peace.
 
I have been awed at the resilience of our Rotarians – in turning around in the face of adversity.  Faced with the prospect of not being able to meet in-person, most Clubs quickly pivoted to online meetings.  The District facilitated this process by making available the District’s Zoom account for Clubs to use.  In true Rotary spirit, we did not go into hiding from the virus, but came out to stand beside our communities. We were able to get a $25,000 Emergency Grant from The Rotary Foundation - we topped it off with additional funds from the District, making available $56,500 for 24 Club COVID-19 projects.  But the Clubs went way beyond that and implemented 47 projects totaling $190,000 – all in the span of less than 3 months – You are truly “People of Action”, 
 
We had our first Virtual District Assembly on 30 May, and from most accounts, it was a success.  We had nearly 112 registrations.  While we did have a little technical hiccup, in the end, it all worked out.  I presented the State of the District Report.  Rather than repeat it, here is a link to the recording.  The Clubs adopted the 2018-19 Audited Financial Report.
 
Along with our District Conference, the pandemic also caused the cancellation of the Rotary Convention.  But the Convention will go on – virtually – with many more interesting and timely breakout sessions.  Imagine attending a Rotary Convention, visiting the House of Friendship, interacting with attendees all for free – no travel, no hotel, and no cost at all.  Register now for the Convention at riconvention.org
 
Membership: We have done well in our retention rate of 93%.  Rotary has increased membership worldwide by 27,500 this year.  Our Zone 32 increased by 56 members – Our District’s contribution to that was 34 members. Let’s hope we can keep this positive trend going over the July 1 changeover. Make sure your membership information is up to date on the District data base.  We have a new Satellite Club Application pending approval, which will add 8 more members to our total.
 
District Grants:  We were able to provide a little over $36,000 for 16 approved District Grants.  This year, The Rotary Foundation approved 10 Global Grants in which D7230 is participating, with a total funding from all sources of $1,675,000.
 
Foundation: We have 68 new and renewing Paul Harris Fellows, but while we exceeded our goal, our total giving to the Foundation this year is the lowest in 5 years. There is still time until June 30, for members in the 10 non-giving Clubs - and indeed all members - to pull us out of that standing.  And there is added inventive now with the District Matching Points Challenge
 
Youth: We can rightly be proud of our strong links with Rotaract. 4 new Rotaract Clubs were chartered doubling the number of Rotaract Clubs in the District. More and more Rotaractors are getting involved with the Clubs in the District.
 
Communication: We have renewed and revamped our District website and our Facebook page. 18 clubs have new branded Facebook pages and most Clubs are using the ClubRunner platform.  Happily, 8 Clubs so far are qualified for the Presidential Citation.
 
Jonathan Lockwood Huie said, “Celebrate endings - for they precede new beginnings.”  At this time of great challenges for our members, our organization, our families and our communities, I can assure you, that come July, you will be in good hands as I hand the baton to DGE Mary Shackleton and her team.  There will be new Teams at all levels in Rotary – a new President of RI, new Directors, a new District Team and new Club Officers.  While leadership may change, it is you Rotarians who will continue to carry out the exemplary work in your communities. 
 
There are so many people to thank for making this year so memorable. I am indebted to the Governor Team, many of our Past District Governors and to Director Jeffry Cadorette for all their help and guidance. I have said many times that vibrant clubs depend on good leadership and I want to thank this year’s World-Class Presidents and my able band of Assistant Governors for all you did. Your leadership, guidance, empathy, knowledge, and experience came to the fore and our District is better for it. Thanks, and praise also to those who chair our District committees. It has been a privilege to serve with you. What a gift it has been to watch you grow into and carry out your roles and responsibilities!
 
Perhaps now it is clearer to see why I have difficulty defining the one highlight of this year. It has been a wonderful experience and a privilege to serve the Rotarians of District 7230. Bina and I sincerely thank you all for your dedication and your support, but more so, thank you for your friendship.  Be assured, should any of you ever call on us for any help, you bet we will be there.
 
Warm wishes,
 
DG Mahbub
From Your Governor #11 (May 2020)
May 05, 2020
While events and activities have been postponed, our Service Above Self has not.  The Spirit of Rotary is alive and well.  This pandemic has provided Rotary, with the opportunity to pivot, to becoming a more relevant organization.  Now is the time to be calm, resilient and resolute.  To paraphrase my fellow Classmate Governor - in this darkness of COVID-19, Rotarians will trim their wicks, so their lights do not go dim, but rather become bright beacons of light on a hilltop.
 
The good news in all this, is that we can derive some satisfaction at being able to be there, right beside those who needed us.  Thanks to the $25,000 Emergency Grant we received from The Rotary Foundation, to which we added some of our own donations, and finally, with the approval of more than three-fourths of the District’s Clubs, we are now able to fully fund all 24 COVID-19 projects, that Clubs put forward to the District.  It is you, who achieved this – you went to the front lines, you got the food, you delivered it to the lonely senior, you got the PPEs and helped protect your doctors and nurses.
 
I have been amazed at the projects that you, our District Rotarians, have been engaging in.  Only some are highlighted on the District Corner page, of the District website – from the Ambulance disinfecting fogger, to providing meals for the elderly, to providing immediate help for laid-off restaurant workers, to  donating masks for First Responders. 
 
Sadly, during this pandemic, our Rotary Family lost 4 of our Rotarians.  We were able to bid farewell to three of them - Isabel Cavanagh (President, Yorktown Club, David Schildwachter (Past President, Yonkers-East Yonkers Club and Assistant Governor), Edward Hicks (Past President, Bronx Club). through a virtual memorial, which was viewed over 1,100 times.  Thanks to our District Public Image Chair, Amir Asadi, for organizing this tribute.  We share with the families of the departed, in the celebration of the lives of these distinguished and beloved Rotarians.
 
A truly amazing thing has happened in the wake of the rapid spread of COVID-19.  During the last week of March, seeds were sown, to recruit a global team of a million or more citizen volunteers, to receive free online healthcare training. This volunteer force will join local civic leaders and healthcare workers in the fight against the virus. Rotarians have the opportunity to lead the recruitment of the first million volunteers, to reduce suffering and save lives through participating in "Volunteer Surge". Our District was a pioneering partner in this effort, which includes Amazon, Yale School of Public Health, Linked-In, ADP. GoFundMe, and the Global Impact Group. You can still sign up for this opportunity to be of Service.
 
We don’t know how long the present conditions will continue.  We don’t know what our new normal will be.  Now is the time to be proactive and innovative, so our beacons of light on the hilltop aren’t extinguished.  Use E-Club Meeting platforms to keep members connected and engaged, plan an event in your community, that promotes health, safety, and how to stay connected with family and friends, through various social media platforms. Reach out to at least three people each day, in your sphere of influence, who you haven't spoken with in decades, and ‘CONNECT’ with them. This ‘CONNECT’ is consistent with our theme for this Rotary year, “Rotary Connects the World.”  This CONNECT will show care, concern, and compassion. Keep our beacon of light burning bright so that we can show others the meaning of Rotary. During times like these, Rotarians have always been on the 'frontier of change'.  Rest assured, this pandemic will be our time of change, to show others the meaning of Rotary.
 
The District has stepped into the virtual world in a spontaneous and effective way.  During this stay-at-home time, both physical and mental health are of considerable importance.  Join AG Nadine Homann, as she introduces guests every Monday at 6 pm, featuring motivational themes – be it mental well-being or dancing away to salsa or Bhangra.  On a more practical note, join DGE Mary Shackleton and Assistant Zone Coordinator Cecily Smith every other Thursday, at 5 pm, as they bring in experts, to guide you, in our Pathfinder Series.  These events are open to all, but you need to register, to get the Meeting login information.
 
This month, Clubs will choose, via online voting, the District’s Delegate to the Council on Legislation and a member of the Nominating Committee for RI Director, alongwith their respective alternates.
 
And finally, our postponed District Assembly will be convened via Zoom on Saturday, 30 May.  At this gathering we will conduct unfinished Annual District business – the Report on the State of the District,  the Reports of the District Secretary, and the District Treasurer.  Mark your calendars and join us.
 
-DG Mahbub
COVID-19 Emergency Grants  -Updated
Update:  Clubs have approved an amendment to the District budget to reallocate a portion of the remaining unspent funds in the District towards emergency relief.  As a result, all 24 Emergency Grant Requests will now be funded in full.
 
The Rotary Foundation has allocated $3 million for Emergency COVID Relief for all Districts.  In response to that, our District requested and received a grant of $25,000 - the maximum for any District - for Emergency COVID-19 relief efforts in the District. 
 
In order to distribute the grants, the Districts asked Club to submit grant request projects in any of 4 areas: (1) Food Supplies for Food delivery services catering to seniors and disabled, (2) Food supplies for Food pantries. (3) Food supplies for child-care services for children of emergency workers and health care workers and (4) supplies for children learning remotely who do not have access to computers or internet. To be able to distribute the funds more widely, the grant range was set at between $1,000 and $2,500. 
 
There was an overwhelming response to the call - with 24 Clubs requesting grants totaling over $56,500.  In addition to the $25,000 from the Rotary Foundation, the District was able to add another $5,000 from the response to the emergency appeal, making the total available funds to nearly $30,000, nearly $26,500 short of the total requirements.  The Grants Review Committee decided not to deny any grant request.  As such, each project was apportioned 53.9% of their request which exhausted all available funds.  The District Treasurer has begun sending out the checks directly to the recipient organizations.
Areas of Focus
Rotary & COVID-19
District Governors
Current Year
2020-21
 
Next Year
2021-22
 
2022-23
 
   CLUB  CORNER
new article added
In Memoriam
Rotary Events
Running Your Club Now
Your Rotary Brand
July 7
 
Virtual Fundraising
July 14
 
Conflict Resolution
July 21
 
Managing Change
July 28
Rotary News
Our District
   

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