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President’s
Notes
Building Communities. Bridging Continents.
That is the Rotary International theme for this year and one that truly fits the 2010/11 goals of the Michigan City club. Below are the goals the board approved in the July meeting. Together we can make a difference.
Have 25% of the Club serve an active role as a member of a Rotary committee
Add 6 new members to the club for a 10% increase
Send 2 members of the Club to the District Conference
Have 4 members become Paul Harris Fellows
Increase weekly club attendance by 25% to a minimum of 45 members per week
Community Service-further expand the role that the Michigan City Rotary Club plays in Junior Achievement
Community Service- increase community awareness of Rotary in the community through public relations, community activities and membership
International Service-achieve the Club goal for EREY of $6000
International Service- support English as a second language program at Angola University, Angola, Africa
Contribute $2000 to the Polio Plus Fund
Vocational- create 2 business networking/social opportunities for members and guests
Thanks,
Julie
Secretary's Column
July 1 has just past and we are now embarking on a new Rotary year. With it comes the responsibility to live up to our motto of Service Above Self by attending meetings regularly and participating in Club activities and committees. Also, dues need to be paid to Rotary International and District for the first half of the year, so please send in your dues payment promptly.
Joyce Hollingsworth is Director of Programs for Angola Uiversity
SHAREcircle, founded by Guerra Freitas, a native son of Angola, is spearheading an international and cross cultural partnership bringing a “world class” university to the people of central Angola in Africa where less than 1% of the population currently has access higher education. Through collaboration with internationally known organizations working through SHARE and the leadership of a renown board of trustees recruited by SHARE, this new university will bring a “world-class” education and competitive career opportunities to the many talented young people from lower income families in central Angola yearning for higher education. Joyce Hollingsworth, a member of the Michigan City Rotary Club, is the Director of Programs and Planning for Angola University.
An investment in this university is an investment in Angola’s future. Graduates of the university will one day be Angola’s leaders and take their place as leaders in the Southern Africa Region. With degrees in hand, valuable intern experiences and speaking fluent English (in addition to their native Portuguese) many will be prepared to take positions in the business sector and contribute to the global economy as individual entrepreneurs establishing new businesses in Angola or work at national and multi-national corporations. Others, alternatively, will choose careers in public service and help Angola innovatively forge its own future through the equally vital sectors of government, education, public health and civic society.
The government of Angola has already demonstrated their commitment to this project by donating 12 square miles of prime real estate for the university campus on the outskirts of Kuito. This substantial investment by the leaders of Angola insures the campus will be able to grow over generations to come.
The Rotary Club of Michigan City and other clubs throughout the district will be of great help in this project by raising funds for an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher who will teach English to high school students in the area, laying the foundation by preparing them to take college level course instruction in English at the new Angola University.
Michigan City Rotary Club Inspires Barker Middle School to Sponsor 2 Shelter Boxes
Recently the Rotary Club of Michigan City, Indiana publicized their efforts to help contribute to ShelterBox USA in order to assist those in need in Haiti. The Student Council at Barker Middle School became aware of these efforts and decided to sponsor a fundraiser to help the earthquake victims of Haiti. They decided to network with the Rotary Club and to adopt their motto of “service before self”.
A goal of one thousand dollars was set in order to donate one complete shelter box. This meant that each student would need to bring in an average of $2.50 to reach that goal. The Student Council sponsored a penny war in order to motivate the students towards the goal.
To the extreme pleasure of Barker Middle School, the Student Council raised two thousand dollars to contribute to ShelterBox USA. The Council was thrilled at the level of student involvement. The Rotary Club of Michigan City was equally thrilled and decided to contribute an additional two hundred and eight dollars.
The Student Council wants to thank all of the students and staff who far surpassed the goal. The donation from a mysterious donor from the high school was also much appreciated. Thanks go out to ShelterBox USA for helping people reach out to those in needs and to the Rotary Club of Michigan City for providing the inspiration which helped move Barker towards “service before self”.
