We had our 2010-11 kick-off meeting of the District 5100 World Community Service Committee meeting on July 21.  For the 22 of you who attended and the four of you who called in, thank you for your participation.  I regret that the phone conferencing didn’t work very well, but we’ll try different equipment next time.  Meanwhile, if you would like to hear a good-quality recording of our interesting meeting.  It will be available for download through July 30.  (If you don’t have time to listen now, download it now for your listening enjoyment later).

PDG Dick Elixman’s explanation of RI’s Future Vision and our challenges of working with pilot districts is particularly informative, starting about 10 minutes into the recording.  However, we came upon some clarifying information in the past two days, which is posted below.

This was a BIG picture meeting.  What follows is a blend of our agenda and some of the key points of the meeting.  I hope to get this and other information posted on our website:  www.d5100wcs.org.  Our intention is to make these emails and this website as two of our three key methods of promoting WCS.  We will also use the Assistant Governors and the TRF/WCS specialists organized by Jon Woodworth.

1.  Overview–Ron

Our mission:

• To promote world community service projects to clubs throughout District 5100;
• To serve as a resource for clubs in their WCS efforts
• To establish and maintain relationships with clubs and districts in other countries;
• To partner with the District 5100 RI Foundation Board
• To educate the clubs on Future Vision and our role as a non-pilot district

The RI Foundation Mission

• To enable Rotarians to advance
• World understanding, Goodwill, and peace through the (lots more after the break)
• Improvement of health,
• Support of education, and
• Alleviation of poverty

Project areas:

1. Peace and conflict resolution/prevention
2. Disease prevention and treatment
3. Water and Sanitation
4. Maternal and child health
5. Basic education and Literacy
6. Economic and community development

2. Overview of District 5100’s World Service Goals—DG Barbara Crozier

• DG Barbara wants the WCS Committee to promote matching grants working through the District Rotary Foundation Committee.  Her vision is that the WCS and the District Rotary Foundation Committee share a group of specialists that will promote TRF and the International Avenue of Service.
• She wants at least 60 clubs participating in a WCS project either through MGs or partner organizations such as Shelter Box, Medical Teams International, Red Cross, etc.
• Like many of those actively involved in world service, she wants us to maintain relationships with districts that are pilot districts because in three years the pilot period will be over and we will be able to work with them again.

3. Overview of RI’s Future Vision and District 5100’s RI structure & support—Dick Elixman

• We have $129,000 available for matching grants.
• $44,000 is available for District Simplified Grants.
• At this time the funds are not allocated toward the clubs that give the most to the RI Foundation, but it may become an important consideration when the matching money starts to dry up.
• Pilot vs. Non-Pilot Districts.  Starting July 1 of this year, 100 pilot districts were designated world-wide.  In a nutshell, for the next three years, non-pilot districts like District 5100 cannot work with Pilot districts, such as the one in Guatemala or in Indonesia.
• • However, non-pilot districts can fund a humanitarian project carried out in a pilot district using a District Simplified Grant.  (We just don’t get the extra bang for the buck with RI matching money.)  Pilot Districts can have a humanitarian project carried out within the district that is funded by a non-pilot district’s District Simplified Grant.
• Jon Woodworth is the TRF/WCS Specialist Coordinator.  He has a team that roughly parallels the AG regions.  His goal is to get to them to each club twice a year to promote the TRF giving and WCS.  They can also provide support to clubs working on matching grants.

4. Organizing ourselves to promote projects

• We spent the bulk of the meeting discussing how to assist clubs with projects.  We want to be a matchmaker between clubs wanting to do a project—either financially or “hands-on.”
• Some clubs are very experienced and active; others want to be but lack the connections or expertise.  Finding reliable international partners is always a challenge.
• Roger May (Lake Oswego) suggested that those clubs who have active WCS committees publish their meeting times and open them up to representatives from other clubs.  His club info is already posted at www.d5100.org.
• Other clubs have expertise in certain kinds of projects, such as Micro credit.  We will try to post those on our site.  But meanwhile, if a club is seeking other financial partners, this could be a good way for an inexperienced club to tag along financially and learn something in the process.
• All clubs seeking partners are encouraged to list their request on our website at www.d5100.org.  If you need assistance posting it, please email your information to Ron Kelemen, the WCS Chair.  During the month of August while Ron is out of the country send your posting to Stewart Martin.
• We want to use the AG channel to promote WCS and projects to the club presidents.
• PDG Dick Elixman suggested that we conduct a brief survey of club presidents, TRF chairs, and WCS chairs in the district.  This will give us a better idea of what clubs are planning, doing, and areas where we can assist.  (My notes are blank as to who will get this started.)
• Through www.district5100.org an email list of WCS chairs and enthusiasts is available to promote projects.
• We are holding Foundation Fairs to promote giving to the RI Foundation and Projects.  Clubs can showcase their completed projects and promote new ones. The tentative dates are:
• October 7 Seaside
• October 9 Portland
• October 14 Salem
• October 16 Eastern Oregon

5. New Projects

• Stewart Martin proposed three new projects—1) Sumba Island, Indonesia water and composting toilets; 2) Madhyar-Pradesh, central India water and toilets; and 3) Bangalore, India, fresh water and toilets.  (Note:  the GSE team will be in that district in January).  Details are posted at (you guessed it) — www.district5100.org

6. Help Wanted!

• We need a few individuals who can help maintain our website and post updates through Word Press.  It might take an hour or two per month.   Please bring a name or two to our next meeting, or email Stewart Martin.  He’ll provide the training.

7. WCS Committee Positions

• We though we would ask the District Treasurer to take over our account.  It has little activity and is mostly a holding pond of earmarked funds from other districts and clubs that want to participate in our projects.
• Kathy Stromvig agreed to be Secretary.
• Lou Radja from Portland Pearl left early, so we nominated him as Deputy Chair.  Ron will call him and give him the news.

8.  Next Meeting:  September 15 4:00-5:30.  Wilsonville Mercedes (off Stafford Road & I-5).

And so with World Community Service activity in Rotary, the most important determinants of success are Communication, Communication, Communication.

Communication among clubs in our district, so we share opportunities to invest in projects. Communication of travel and volunteer opportunities unique to Rotarians. Communication of new ideas, policies and changes in The Rotary Foundation.

What is one of the best communication vehicles?  This WCS blog right here.  If you post project info, others will see it … and if you watch it you’ll see opportunities for your club.  But if you don’t post or watch, there won’t be any communication.

Check today with your the Chair of your WCS, Foundation or Projects committee – what do they have to share, or want to know?  And put a post here.

YIRS,
SM

This project will bring toilets to about 30 schools, and safe drinking water to 10 schools, along with hygiene training to all.

The idea for this Matching Grant (with a non-pilot district) was mentioned to Stewart Martin while at the RI Convention in Montreal just a few weeks ago, by a PDG and new DG who are husband and wife. This is a district sponsored project at their end, but club-sponsored here.

The MG application is drafted, priced, partly signed, and nearly complete. D3040 will provide $10,000 USD. The total needed from D5100 clubs is about $5,030 for a project total value of $32,600.  There are about 400-500 students per school, means about 12,000 to 15,000 students may be benefitted.  Again, great bang for each of our clubs.  It seems that 2 to 4 clubs might participate, including RC Seaside.  If you would like to spearhead this project, become the lead club, let me know; otherwise RC Seaside can assume the lead and you can participate.

But life is not idyllic in this primitive location, the villages in West Sumba. It is incredibly poor, and disease-ridden … and Rotary is helping make it better. The people are subsistence farmers.  There is a long dry season requiring young children to walk for miles, gather water in unsanitary containers, suffer diahrreal disease, even few cases of polio.  (Did you know that polio is a fecal-oral disease caused by poor water, sanitation and hygiene?)

This combined WASH (water, sanitation and hygiene) project will provide toilets and fresh water for about 60 families, about 480 people, living in multiple hamlets.  In keeping with current goals in Rotary, this is a collaboration with an NGO called Project Hope Sumba.  Last year RC Seaside with help from several D5100 clubs, RC Bali Ubud Sunset and this NGO collaborated on a similar but larger project – MG #69713. The final report was filed and accepted by TRF without question.  And a big plus – in that project an extra 7 water tanks and 66 toilets were provide thanks to donated labor by villagers, economically frugal purchases and a favorable exchange rate.  The cost per toilet is about $120 each, and for rainwater cachement and stone-and-concrete water storage tanks is about $500 each — incredible “bang for the buck.”

Stewart Martin is the lead person on this project, due to his long relationship with Rotarians in Indonesia.  Note this is a DSG (district simplified grant), as Indonesia is a pilot district (MG’s are not available during the pilot).  We seek 3 other clubs to join RC Seaside with up to $2000 each, plus District DSG matches.  All clubs will be kept informed of progress, receive reports and pictures … and if you wish a club program will be presented by Stewart about the life and culture of the Sumbanese, plus this project.  Take a look at the homes, villages, cultural artifacts and the project progress at our D5100 WCS  photo website. Contact Stewart for more info.

PS – if you take a hankering to this project, we can expand it … and help many more people.  All it takes is our commitment to care.
SM

Here’s a great project: Myanmar Orphanages – www.myanmarwater.org

I suggest you start reading the tab “About Us”, then “Why Water”, then “Get Involved”.  Then look at the photo-show and text on how the system is designed.

With an introduction by Hugh Stelson, WCS Chair for RC Seaside, and a doctor of internal medicine, I had the pleasure to meet the project’s Founder-Director J.T. Warring at RI Convention in Montreal a few weeks ago.

J.T is PDG from District 5320.  We hit it off great.  He has made dozens of trips to Myanmar. He was very forthcoming with hard factual information, the history and challenges for this area and the projects, and the all-Rotary nature of this project. Note there is no TRF matching, just club and individual donations. J.T. said he is willing to provide any info we wish.  I’ve asked him to send me some via email.

FYI, J.T. Warring received the Service Above Self award from R.I. – our highest award.  He attributes the success principally to solid people on the ground in-country.

This seems to be a well-managed set of projects, with solid trustworthy people working well. It has been going on for years and making a difference in a politically difficult country.  RC Seaside has committed to a 3-year support  for each orphanage ($6500 per orphanage), and we’re entering year two. Hugh Stelson is our lead on this project.

Stew Martin, Water-Sanitation Coordinator D5100

]]> http://www.d5100wcs.org/?feed=rss2&p=262 0 http://www.d5100wcs.org/?p=246 http://www.d5100wcs.org/?p=246#comments Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:12:56 +0000 Stewart Martin http://www.d5100wcs.org/?p=246 As Chairman Warren said at our March District WCS meeting:

• The 2010 DSG funds are used up, and MG funds are nearly used (per Christine Huot).
• The District Grants SubCommittee (GSC) will be ready to receive your grant applications beginning April 1 – for next Rotary year
  • be sure they are signed by the incoming President
• After the Grants subcommittee is finished with review and approval at District level, the goal is to submit a package of grants to The Rotary Foundation on about July 1 – beating the rush.
• For Matching Grants, avoid Future Vision Pilot districts – those grants will be denied.  Check the TRF list of  Pilot districts.
• District Simplified Grants are available for both local and world community service projects.  Submissions start July 1, 2010. As always, pick your partners carefully and be able to explain that stewardship of funds will occur.
• The amount of World Fund available for humanitarian grants is reportedly going to be more than last year; closer to “normal”.

So, start choosing good projects … now!

SM for WB

A picture speaks 1000 words.  So it is with WCS projects.

Wouldn’t it be great to have a place where all our project photos could be displayed?  Both for our partners overseas, and for  participating clubs and members here?  Everyone could view them, send email links to friends and other Rotarians.  We could even link to them during club or district presentations.

Well, it’s possible right now.  All we need is a volunteer to spend a couple to a few hours a month to help Rotarians post project photos on our new D5100 WCS photo website.  Here’s an example. Stewart Martin has initiated the smugmug account, set up an initial structure, and will train you.

Do you have a digital camera and use the web?  Chances are you can do this.  The small time involved is modest, it can be done any time of day (e.g. after work or on weekends).  Because it’s online, it can be done from anywhere in the world.

So please step forward and say … “Yes, I can help with that.”

Contact Stewart by email, or call his number … it’s in the Directory and the phonebook (but not here for the spambots to get).

Please note that there are still funds in District 5100’s hands to help with your WCS projects.  There is about $3,000 available for a DSG (District Simplified Grant), and more for a MG (Matching Grant).  Please see DG Kristi’s next newsletter for further details.  If you club has a project ready to go for a DSG or MG, please submit it ASAP to the DGSC (Grants SubCommittee) by contacting either PDG Dennis Wickham or Christine Huot.

Also, it is time to start planning for WCS projects for Rotary year 2011-12.  It appears our District leaders will be ready to receive MG applications as soon as May, act quickly on them, and in early July submit them in a batch to TRF. In this way, our leaders aim that this early batch will receive full TRF match and funding.  So, rev up the engines … and find a project!

To initiate a project, ask about contacts your club has in developing countries, especially with Rotary clubs there.  Browse MatchingGrants, ProjectLink and WASRAG project listings for projects that appeal to you.  Check them out (see our Resources and checklist, on this website), and start writing up the MG application.  It may be easier than you think, and there are plenty of D5100 WCS committee and DGSC committee members eager to help you.

Stew Martin