G’day from Melbourne, Australia! It feels great to be back down under, after five years. A place where stunning architecture and a vibrant arts scene combine to put on a constant performance to rival that of New York or Paris. For the past four days, I have had the opportunity to make new friends and be inspired by phenomenal speakers, entertainment and the good work of Rotary. It was nice to have a D7680 team meetup in Melbourne. We met for lunch followed by a photo-op in the House of Friendship.

Speaking of good times, our first joint district conference in Charlotte, NC was an outstanding success. A total of 461 Rotary, Rotaract, Interact and guests attended the three-day conference, renewing old friendships and making new ones. Our hands-on service projects involving Promising Pages, Feeding Charlotte, Second Harvest Foodbank of Metrolina, and the Diaper Bank of North Carolina were very popular and had a significant impact on both the community and the volunteers involved. I am grateful to all the speakers, sponsors, conference committee members and attendees for your participation and engagement.

Over the next four weeks, let’s try to finish our Imagine Rotary year strong. You can help by doing your part a) Invite a guest or a friend to Rotary to become a member of your club and b) Make a $25 donation to your Rotary Foundation – Annual Fund or Polio Plus fund.

The month of June is focused on Rotary Fellowships. Rotary Fellowships consist of individuals who share a common interest in recreational activities, hobbies, professions, or cultural identity. These groups help expand skills, foster vocational development, and enhance the Rotary experience by exploring interests while developing connections around the world. Consider joining one of the fellowships or If your recreational or vocational interest isn’t represented by Rotary’s current Fellowships, contact rotaryfellowships@rotary.org for information about starting a new group.

This is our last newsletter for this “Imagine” Rotary year. Thank you for being an active Rotary member, and for being a part of the Rotary family. Let’s continue to Imagine all the good we can do together to Create Hope in the World.

Yours in Rotary,
Kam Chandan

June 15, 2023 – Deadline for 2022-23 District Grant final reports and new District Grant applications for 2023-24

July 1, 2023 – Start of New Rotary Year

Enjoy the recap video of special moments at District Conference

Click on the photo or the link to enjoy the photo gallery – https://tinyurl.com/DC2023-7680-7690

District Secretary Wally Olson couldn’t attend the District Conference in person. But he worked behind the scenes with registrations, seating charts, account receiveables etc. Thank YOU Wally for your help!

You did an outstanding job.

Every week we will spotlight members across the District who make a difference in our communities. Please like and share the Reels on District 7680 Facebook or Instagram page. Show these Reels at your club meetings. Thanks to all the volunteers for participating!

Imagine what YOU can do as a Rotary member!

WBTV News featured the meal packing service project in partnership with Feeding Charlotte. Imagine the IMPACT!

Lunch at Hophaus Bar

Since July, I have enjoyed one-one conversations with members who recently joined Rotary. If you have 30 minutes to get on a Zoom call or meet in person, please book time here. Look forward to connect with you. Thank you!

Finding the ideal candidate to represent our district is the primary challenge faced by Peace Fellowship subcommittees. We heavily rely on the support of our fellow Rotarians to accomplish this mission. The Peace Fellowship Subcommittee is composed of members from our district’s PCPR Committee, who participate in panel interviews based on their availability.

This year, our goal was to identify at least one candidate from the local law enforcement sector, such as police forces and lawyers. We believe these individuals possess the potential to create a ripple effect and generate synergy by applying their acquired knowledge after graduation, becoming exemplary role models in their personal and professional lives.

I am proud to announce that we successfully identified, prepared, and interviewed three candidates, a record number for our district. With the assistance of our fellow Rotarians, we have accomplished this feat. Our candidates are Elise Nassif from Beirut, Lebanon, a diligent peace worker; Diego Carniero from Ecuador, a musician utilizing his music for peace projects; and Salim Uqdah from Charlotte, NC, a mediator and peace worker.

We extend our gratitude to District Governor Kam and all PCPR Committee members for their contributions, support, and collaborative spirit throughout the 2022-23 Rotary year. We wish our candidates the very best in their journey and eagerly await positive news regarding their results.

In Rotary,
Henry
H.Aktig, B.Sc., MBA
Ballantyne Rotary Club
District 7680 Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chair

Rotarians know that giving $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) makes them a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF). What most do not know is that if every member in their club is a PHF, TRF sends a recognition flag to that club.

How does a club accomplish that when some members cannot give $1,000? The answer is Rotary Foundation Recognition Points matching points that D7680 can transfer to another member to fulfill the $1,000 value. Your club’s Foundation Chair can use the Club Recognition Summary Report on TRF’s website to find this information.

Achieving 100% PHF provides great pride for the club. The best things we do in Rotary are when the entire membership of a club has 100% participation.

Rotary District 7680 is making a special offer

From now through June 15th, 2023 your personal contribution of $100-$1,000 to the Annual Fund and/or Polio Plus Fund of The Rotary Foundation will be matched with Foundation Recognition Points to become a Paul Harris Fellow (PHF). The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. For example, your personal gift of $500 will be matched with 500 points for a total value of $1,000 to achieve designation as a Paul Harris Fellow. Clubs can use this opportunity to become 100% PHF club. Email us at district7680@gmail.com if you are interested in participating.

ONLY 60,000 POINTS ARE AVAILABLE
DON’T MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY!

Rotary District 7680 was the first-ever district to create an district-based endowment fund (E11382) with The Rotary Foundation to financially support a specific Rotary Peace Center? The Duke / UNC-CH Peace Center is one of the original Rotary Peace Centers, and this year is celebrating 20 years. When the current class graduates, the Duke / UNC-CH Rotary Peace Center will have graduated 177 Peace Fellows!

Through the district endowment, we financially support Peace Fellows from around the world studying at the only Rotary Peace Center in the Americas. we are matched by RI with a specific Peace Fellow and have the opportunity to establish a more personal connection. Our district’s first sponsored Peace Fellow, Peter Adeyeye, from Nigeria, graduated in 2021.

How did it start? PDG Bill Wilson imagined and challenged our district to create an endowment during a district conference panel on Peace Fellows, and it grew from there. PDG Tom Smith and his family also provided significant support, as well as some of our district’s AKS members and Major Donors. We still have room to grow, and every gift matters. Our endowment at our current level of over $500,000 means that we are matched with a new Peace Fellow every 4th year. As our endowment grows, we’ll be matched with a new Peace Fellow every 3 years, then every 2 years, and finally every year in perpetuity. What a way to “Imagine” & “Create Hope in the World”!

Our district is also proud to have two Peace Fellows from within our own district. Bol Maywal graduated from the Master’s Degree Peace Fellowship program at University of Bradford (England). Patricia Shafer completed the Professional Development Certificate Peace Fellowship at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok (Thailand). Districts interview and endorse (recommend) as many Peace Fellow candidates as they believe to be qualified, and the selection process is very competitive. The district endorsing a Peace Fellow candidate is not responsible for their financial support, which is provided by The Rotary Foundation from special endowed funds and general gifts supporting the Peace Centers. Peace Fellows are required to study at a Center in a country other than their own (except in some cases for the Professional Certificate programs). If you know of someone who may be a Peace Fellow, please contact Henry Lyon

Duke / UNC-CH Rotary Peace Center

Rotary Peace Fellowships (at Rotary.org)

It’s that time of year again! SFTL 2023 is right around the corner and we don’t want you to miss it! APPLY TODAY to be part of an unforgettable leadership experience.😊 Application Link: https://tinyurl.com/SFTL2023. Unsure of where to find your local Rotary club? You can search them here: https://tinyurl.com/district7680clubs

New to Rotary or want to know more – This is for you! You are part of a group whose impact reaches around the world through local community service by our 1.4 million members in 200+ countries. Join us for “Rotary 101” a virtual tour of Rotary and Rotarians that will inspire you to engage even more in the Rotary community. Wednesday August 24 was the kickoff for ROTARY 101, an online program designed for new and potential members of Rotary.

June 7, 2023 @ 7pm

Questions: Contact Marcia Scheideman (mscheideman.ms@gmail.com) or Lorena Prince (garzalster@gmail.com) for any questions you might have. Looking forward to seeing you virtually!

Polio Plus Society entails signing the commitment form and donating at least $100 this Rotary year and each year until the job is done. All clubs and members should give something to the effort. Let’s get it done.

The Rotary Citation awards recognize the hard work clubs do throughout the year. Working to achieve the citation goals helps clubs engage their members, stay relevant in their communities, and run more efficiently. A welcoming and engaging club also reflects the values of Rotary. When clubs achieve citation goals, they contribute to the overall health and culture of Rotary for generations to come.

Three districts are recognized this year for having 100% of their clubs earn the citation: Districts 2820 (Japan), 3482 (Taiwan), and 7600 (Virginia, USA). To earn the citation, clubs must report achievement of 13 or more goals in Rotary Club Central by 30 June. Can you help 7680 get to 100% this year?

District co-chairs Chris and Rina Arline led one of the breakout sessions at the recent joint District Conference in Charlotte and had excellent participation from those in attendance. They shared information on progress to date in building awareness of DEI and the opportunities it presents for clubs but also allotted plenty of time for questions and discussion. Topics of concern included:

• The feeling of not being included in club meetings.
• The feeling that some clubs have more of a country-club atmosphere.
• A feeling that more value is based on what one contributes financially rather than in time or talent.
• A feeling that subsidizing certain people and not others was discriminatory.
• A feeling that certain aspects of Rotary meetings are not as inclusive as Rotary might believe them to be. Examples included:
  • Prayers and food selections.
  • A belief that all leaders need DEI training.
  • A belief that Rotary needs to be more attuned to a changing dynamic relative to family time, commuting to meetings, etc.
  • A belief that this is a club issue and not necessarily anything that can be addressed from a topdown approach.

As a reminder, our District was recently approved as a chapter by the founders of “Our Stories”, an initiative created by two Rotarians in District 7710, which provides a safe setting for sharing and discussing stories about race. These safe conversations allow you to engage with people who may look differently than you and have differing life experiences. The central learning from “Our Stories” is that all these stories are important because all of our experiences have value. When we see each other’s humanity, we can bring peace to America. And peace, of course, is central to all of us as Rotarians.

If you are interested in participating in a group, please click “Apply Today” and ensure you select “Charlotte” from the locations dropdown.

Our Stories – Meet the District 7680 DEI Committee

Our Committee currently has seven full Members and about 18 Club Ambassadors. If your club does not currently have an Ambassador, please contact either of our co-Chairs, Chris or Rina Arline and get your club involved as a part of our initiative. Until then, we want you to know who we are. We hope you take a few minutes to meet our members and get to know who, and why, we are. This month, we are featuring two members.

Our Stories: Rotary Member Les Davis

Our Stories: Rotary Member Laurel Morris

We hope you take a moment to visit us at this site which can be accessed on our District webpage at: Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion – Rotary District 7680 (rotary7680.org)

On Air! . . . Rotary Peace Fellow Patricia Shafer, member of the Rotary Club of Charlotte and D7680 Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee, spent much of May in South Sudan. She was interviewed by several media outlets about ongoing NewGen Peacebuilders training, including a national morning radio program produced by the UN Mission in South Sudan. Her co-interviewee was NewGen Peacebuilders in-country ambassador Jacob Jada Nelson – a former Interactor and Rotaractor, who’s now a Rotarian at age 25.

Free Summer Concerts in Downtown Gastonia

Gastonia East Rotary and the City of Gastonia present 4 downtown concert events on select Fridays from May through September 2023. Live music at the Gastonia Rotary Pavilion includes funk, soul, rock, and pop hits from the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s.

June 23: The Voltage Brothers with Emerald Empire

August 11: Caleb Davis with Tangerine Trees

Sept 15: Kids in America with Akita

Showtimes: Live Music from 6 – 10 pm

Learn more at https://gastoniaeastrotary.org/concerts/

Over the last 30 years, the Monroe Union County Breakfast Rotary has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships to local high school seniors. This year, we were again very pleased to honor 14 local seniors with awards totaling $18,000.

The scholarships are offered to seniors at Union County high schools, and are awarded purely on the basis of the students’ demonstrated commitment to public service. Applicants first submit an essay describing their service activities. These essays are screened, and the top applicants are invited to do a presentation about their activities at a club meeting. The final recipients are selected based on the essay and presentation scores. These students are amazing, having developed programs to help students and people in hospice, having served on mission trips to other countries, and even having rescued injured people as a certified EMT.

The Waxhaw-Weddington Club was a partner in the scholarship program this year, and we were very happy to have Graham Wilson on hand to award 2 scholarships. An inspiring keynote address was delivered by District Governor Kam Chandan, who spoke on, of course, the value of service in Rotary. Kam also presented a pin to our newest member, Oscar Outen.

It is the club’s tradition to present our Rotarian of the Year at the banquet, and past president John Razzano presented the award this year to our Publicity/Public Image Chair: Suzanne Hearn.

Suzanne has developed and maintained our Facebook, Instagram, and web presence. Through her efforts, we had 5 media stories covering our service projects this year. Suzanne is also the treasurer and a founding board member for the club’s non-profit foundation.

The scholarship banquet was the culmination of many months of work in raising funds and organizing the scholarship program. We are confident, however, that these scholarships will help inspire students to continue their service as they move into college, work, and the rest of their lives.

Submit your articles, stories and upcoming events about your Club projects. These will be showcased in our district monthly newsletter. Submissions are due by 25th of the month – https://tinyurl.com/7680districtnewsletter

TRF Endowment Giving Information & Tools

Offer people who have fled the war a stable environment

Rotary has been collaborating with our partners and other organizations to meet humanitarian needs in and around Ukraine. Clubs have been providing food, water, medical equipment, and other supplies. What people who have fled their homes need most is safety — and Rotary members have been instrumental in finding them shelter. But people still need help. That’s where Rotary members in the U.S. can get more involved. Rotary is collaborating with Welcome.US, an organization working to engage more Americans in welcoming newcomers, with a focus on sponsoring refugees. Through Uniting for Ukraine, Rotary and Rotaract clubs and members in the U.S. can sponsor a person or a family that has fled the war and help them relocate to the United States.

To sponsor a Ukrainian refugee family and offer them a stable environment:

• Sign up to get connected to a Ukrainian family.
• Use district grant funds to help with resettlement costs.
• If you have more questions, write to trf.welcome@rotary.org.
• Learn more about the Rotary-Welcome.US collaboration.
• Find resources and answers to some common questions.

Korea’s first female district governor speaks about women in leadership

Sunghee Nam received her doctorate in Education from Yeungnam University in 2001 and is currently the president of Daegu Health College. She is a founding member and past president of the Rotary Club of Daegu-Sooryeon and has held various leadership positions at both the club and district level. She is currently RI President’s Representative for District 3610. Read the full article here.

In Egypt, less than 10% of women have received cervical cancer screenings in the last five years, and of those diagnosed with cervical cancer, over half have died as a result. We are proud to announce the next Programs of Scale grant recipient, United to End Cervical Cancer in Egypt.

The #Rotary-led initiative aims to vaccinate 32,000 girls against HPV and screen 10,000 women for cervical cancer in greater Cairo with the help of the Egyptian Ministry of Health and Population وزارة الصحة والسكان المصرية, The Presidential Initiative for Early Cancer Detection (PICE), the Egyptian Society of Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology, Cairo University’s Obstetrics and Gynecology Department and the Sona3 el Khair Development Foundation مؤسسة صناع الخير للتنمية.

Membership Action Plan (MAP)

“Bite-Sized” webinars, every month on the second Monday at 6 pm ET

June 12th at 6 pm

Membership Success Center

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86851107986?pwd=bmdrbUR5TTREQ3plZ1pacmhSOTBPQT09

The target audience is club leaders, Presidents, Assistant Governors, Presidents-Elect, Membership Chairs, and anyone else who has an interest in the long-term viability and vitality of their Rotary club. All District leaders are also encouraged to attend.

The MAP Page on the Zone website has past recordings, registration links for upcoming events, and a library of membership collateral: RIZones33-34.org/membership-action-plan

What is the MAP?

It’s a unified, multi-year membership growth initiative spanning Rotary Zones 33 and 34 — 1,700 clubs and 66,000 Rotarians from Pennsylvania to Florida, then extending through the Caribbean to the coast of South America.

In search of a strategy to mitigate membership decline and get our clubs on a path of consistent, moderate growth, RI Director Jeremy Hurst launched a task force in January of 2022.

This group of District and Zone leaders has developed a set of “Bite-Sized”? webinars (1 hour or less), delivered once a month, that are 100% actionable by the clubs. No concepts. No theory. No figuring out how. Everything is there. Strategies that are GUARANTEED to work (they’ve worked for hundreds of clubs), together with recipes, templates, slides, videos, worksheets and scripts. There’s also an awards program that will recognize both clubs and districts for their participation and achievements.

How can YOU help?

Embrace, publicize and promote participation of all your club leaders in these monthly events. Yes, they are being recorded, and, yes, all the material presented is downloadable from the MAP Page on the Zone Website: RIZones33-34.org/membership-action-plan.