Rotary Club of Weatherford donates money to Pythian Home 

The Rotary Club of Weatherford donated $500 to the Texas Pythian Home during Pythian Home Week to help continue their work with local children in this community.  Opening on March 1, 1909, the Texas Pythian Home became a home for widows and orphans of Knights of Pythias members. The Pythians made the decision to build the home in Weatherford, Texas, due to the 300 acres of land given, as well  as the support of the community. The  Pythian Home was designated an independent school district on  August 1, 1910, continuing until 1972. In 1937, the last high school graduating class walked across the Pythian auditorium stage. The  decision was then made to send 6-12 grade to WISD and 1-5 grades continued to have classes at the Pythian Home until 1972. Now, the “Castle on the Hill” is a home for local children who need a safe place to stay. The Pythian principles of friendship, charity, and benevolence continue to be the driving force behind the organization that supports the home.  Go to pythianhome.org for more information about this local landmark. 
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford donates money to Pythian Home  2024-03-11 05:00:00Z 0
We still need volunteers to sign up! 2024-02-16 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians serve Christmas dinner to seniors

Rotarians came out in full force last Thursday to serve Christmas dinner to 147 seniors at the Senior Center. It was a festive celebration for the seniors and a great way for us to serve in the community.
 
"It was an awesome turnout by our club," President Beau Rees exclaimed. " It was so gratifying to have such a large number of club members serving our senior citizens Christmas dinner on fine china while wearing pancake supper aprons! We really lived out our motto, 'Service above self.'"
 
Photo courtesy of Senior Center 
 
 
Photo courtesy of Senior Center
 
Photo courtesy of Senior Center
 
Rotarians serve Christmas dinner to seniors 2023-12-18 06:00:00Z 0

WHS Interact Club has first meeting 

It's an exciting time to be a Rotarian in Weatherford. The first meeting of the WHS Interact Club was held last Thursday with 14 kids showing up and expressing interest in joining the organization. The next meeting will hold officer elections! A special thanks to WHS faculty sponsors Uriel Quijas and Chris Eagleston. President Beau Rees is the club sponsor and is excited what the future holds for this club. 
 
WHS Interact Club has first meeting  2023-12-11 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians ring bell for local charity 

On Monday, Nov. 27, Rotarians rang the bell for the local Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. This campaign started in 1891 when Salvation Army Captain Joseph McFee was distraught because so many poor individuals in San Francisco were going hungry. During the holiday season, he resolved to provide a free Christmas dinner for the destitute and poverty-stricken. The Salvation Army has now grown to be the largest faith-based charity, serving more than 30 million people a year. In 2022, the Red Kettle campaign raised $102 million for local community programs. Great job!!! 
 
Rotarians ring bell for local charity  2023-12-01 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians place flags for Veterans Day , another volunteer opportunity 

Rotarians placed flags on Saturday for Veterans Day. Thank you to all those who placed and picked up for the holiday! 
 
 
Disaster Aid was our program last Tuesday and presented about disaster relief work.  Disaster Aid USA (DAUSA) began with one Rotary Club’s Vision to provide humanitarian aid when domestic disasters strike. DAUSA is a Rotary project, and it is open to all U. S. Rotary Districts, their clubs and their members. DAUSA focuses on rebuilding communities by assessing their needs, securing and delivering the aid by its Disaster Aid Response Teams (DARTs), while working with the people suffering from the effects caused by the disaster. 
 
They are looking for people from local clubs to helps with disaster relief when needed. If you're interested in volunteering, go https://disasteraidusa.org/ for more information. 
 
 
Rotarians place flags for Veterans Day , another volunteer opportunity  2023-11-13 06:00:00Z 0

Upcoming Rotary Events 

The end of the year is looking to be full of events for Rotarians to attend. Below is a few things to add to you calendar. 
 
New Member Orientation:  After the meeting on Nov. 7, there will be a new orientation. This event will last about 20 minutes.  
 
Rotary Social:  There will be a social for the Weatherford, Aledo, and Mineral Wells clubs on Wednesday Nov 15 at Bankhead Wine Bar in Mineral Wells. This event will start at 6:00p.m. Come out and mingle with other Rotarians in the area. 
 
Salvation Army Ringing the Bell:  Rotary Club will be ringing the bell on Monday, Nov. 27.  from 8-6 at the Wal-Mart on South Main. Here is the link to sign up.  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0C44A4AE2DA3FEC25-45774351-rotary/134159659#/
 
 
 
Habitat for Humanity Build: Weatherford Rotary Club will participate in the Habitat for Humanity build on December 8th from 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m. The location will be at 808 North Street in Weatherford.  We need our club members to sign up to volunteer and serve for this worthwhile project.  Please use the link below to sign up to serve!
 
 
Serving Lunch at Senior Center: We will be serving Christmas lunch at the Senior Center on Dec. 14. Beau Rees will have more information about this as it gets closer. 
 
Rotary Christmas Party: Lunch will be at Dec. 19 from 12-1 at Antonio's Mexican Restaurant. Lunch will be provided.
 
 
Upcoming Rotary Events  2023-11-06 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians donate food to Weatherford College food pantry 

This past Thursday night, the club held a Halloween party at President Beau Rees house with entry being canned food for the Weatherford College canned food pantry. In many cases, students don't have the extra money to purchase meals after their college expenses are paid. This pantry is for all college students year round and a great service project for our club. If you have any donations or questions, reach out to Beau Rees or Bill Alexander for more information. 
 
 
Beau and his wife won the costume contest as Sonny and Cher
 
From l to r- Beau Rees, WC Merryl Carson, Bill Alexander and WC Mike Endy 
Rotarians donate food to Weatherford College food pantry  2023-10-30 05:00:00Z 0
Sign up to be a greeter!  2023-10-16 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians place flags for holiday 

Our club placed and took down flags around the square today in honor of Columbus Day. Flag duty is one of numerous way that the Rotary Club of Weatherford volunteers in the community. Our next flag duty will be for Veterans Day on Nov. 11. 
 
Rotarians place flags for holiday  2023-10-16 05:00:00Z 0
Halloween Party raising food for food bank  2023-10-02 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club gives $2000 to Meals on Wheels

It was a busy day at our last regular club meeting. President Beau Rees inducted new(ish) member Staci Markwardt into our club. Staci is the CEO of Center of Hope and is a returning member of the Rotary Club. 
 
 
 
President Rees also present two Paul Harris awards to Bret and Rachael Watson. The Paul Harris Fellow recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation. 
 
 
Kirsti Smith and Jennifer Bledsoe from the Senior Center (60 and older club)/Meals on Wheels spoke to our club about upcoming activities and how club members can be involved in their organization. After their presentation to the club, the Rotary Club of Weatherford presented Meals on Wheels a $2,000 check for this organization. This money was raised by Rotarians driving golf carts during the Peach Festival. Meals on Wheels is one of our big service projects. 
 
 
Rotary Club gives $2000 to Meals on Wheels 2023-08-21 05:00:00Z 0

Bill Baker receives Rotarian of the Year award 

Bill Baker was named Rotarian of the Year for our past year. Bill joined Rotary in 2001 and has worked tirelessly with our flag program since 2019 by either helping set up or take down flags. He is pivotal part of our club and well deserving of this award. 
 
 
WHS football coach Aubrey Sims came and spoke to the club about the upcoming football season. He says the team is already back practicing and ready for a new season. 
 
Bill Baker receives Rotarian of the Year award  2023-08-07 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians are getting ready to give- blood 

 
 
The Rotary Club of Weatherford is getting ready to give blood in their annual blood drive. Now called the Weatherford Community Summer Blood Drive, blood drive volunteering  opportunities are starting August 2 for Weatherford Rotary Club. Check out Ron Hunn's video below about volunteer opportunities for our blood drive in August. This is a great way to help out Carter Blood Care and to talk about Rotary. A sign up email will be sent out shortly to volunteer.
 
Ron's Video 
Rotarians are getting ready to give- blood  2023-07-17 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary members puts "Service above Self" at Peach Festival 

It was a full day of volunteering at the Peach Festival on Saturday.  The Rotary Club of Weatherford Rotarians served early that morning registering cyclists for the United Way 2023 Peach Pedal. Rotarian John Forrest has ran this registration for years and appreciates the volunteers from the club and other organizations who come in early to make the peach pedal a success.  
 
 
 
Another volunteer opportunity that Rotarians participated in was driving the golf carts around the square during the Peach Festival. This event is a great way to promote the club while raising money for Meals on Wheels. This year we had 20 Rotarians and their families drive carts, raising $1705 in donations. 
 
"The Rotary Clubs motto is Service above self," explained President Beau Rees. "We are so happy to be a part of helping raise funds for Meals on Wheels and United Way."
 
Terrific job to the following individuals on Saturday:
Bill Alexander
Lin and Alex Bearden,
Ron Lee
John Patterson
Paul and Cassy Gray
Andy, Misty, and Sophia Browning  
Daniel Prince
Beau and Reagan Rees
Brian McKeown
Kathryn Thompson
Jeff Swain
Bret Watson
Ron Hunn
Tim Mitchell
Judy Flanagan
Wally Wallace
Joe Wilkinson
Peggy Hutton
Bill Baker
 
 
Rotary members puts "Service above Self" at Peach Festival  2023-07-10 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians place flags for holiday 

 
 
Rotary members came out for flag duty Monday morning for the Juneteenth holiday.  The flags have been a special part of our downtown landscape for decades. Our next flag duty will be on July 4 at 7:00 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering for this, contact Bill Baker at bbaker@fnbweatherford.com
Rotarians place flags for holiday  2023-06-20 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary members place flags for Memorial Day 

Rotary members came out for flag duty Monday morning for Memorial Day. These flags bring joy to the downtown businesses and patrons during the holidays. They have been a special part of our downtown landscape for decades. Our next flag duty will be on July 4 at 7:00 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering for this, contact Bill Baker at bbaker@fnbweatherford.com
 
 
Rotary members place flags for Memorial Day  2023-05-30 05:00:00Z 0

Paul Hutton receives Paul Harris Fellow Award 

 
It was a full meeting last week as President Paul Gray presented Paul Hutton with a Paul Harris Fellow Award. This award is one of the highest honors Rotary can present and is named for Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905. The honor accompanies a donation of $1,000 or more, in the recipient’s name, to Rotary International’s Annual Program Fund, which supports Rotary’s worldwide programs. Congrats, Paul! 
Paul Hutton receives Paul Harris Fellow Award  2023-05-22 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club presents scholarships to local students 

 
The Rotary Club presented ten scholarships to local high school and college students on Tuesday. The money raised from our Annual Pancake Supper helps fund these scholarships each year. Mary Helen McDow and her committee did an amazing job picking this year's recipients out of the large stack of applications.
 
Congratulations to the following recipients:
Kellen Jones: Weatherford High School
Rileigh Loftin: Weatherford High School
Wiley Bilby: Millsap High School
Jordan Hayward: Peaster High School
Claire Spencer: Weatherford College
Wesson Jester: Weatherford High School
Lauren Altom: Weatherford High School
Jax Forrest: Weatherford High School
Myra Olvera: Weatherford College
Alondra Andrade: Weatherford College
Rotary Club presents scholarships to local students  2023-05-08 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians wear blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month

Rotarians wore blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month and the Children's Advocacy Center of Parker County's "Go Blue" campaign at their last meeting. With the help of our Interact club and guests, the club was able to pack meals for Kids Against Hunger. Great job, Rotarians! 
 
Rotarians wear blue for Child Abuse Prevention Month 2023-04-24 05:00:00Z 0

Wear Blue on April 18

April is Child Abuse Prevention Month and Rotarian Kathryn Thompson has asked all Rotarians to wear blue at our April 18 meeting. We will be taking photos with our Interact students to promote the "Go Blue" campaign. We will be meeting at the WCS gym on this day. Hope to see you there! 
 
 
Wear Blue on April 18 2023-04-11 05:00:00Z 0

Four-way speech contest a success 

Rotary Club of Weatherford held their 4-Way Speech contest on Tuesday, March 21. Three sophomores from Weatherford ISD participated this year, speaking about causes that are important to their generation. The first place scholarship went to Reagan Rees. She will compete in the regional competition on April 22 at North Side Baptist Church. Second place went to Marin Oakes and third to Charlotte Almeida. All three young ladies did a fantastic job with their speeches and  have the ability to come back next year and speak again if they chose. Congratulations, ladies! 
 
 
Reagan Rees
 
 
Marin Oakes 
 
Charlotte Almeida
Four-way speech contest a success  2023-03-27 05:00:00Z 0

Measuring our results: Making sure that we’re changing lives for good

 
 

For a long time, Rotary thought about measurement in terms of the money and time that we invested in a project, or the number of people that we trained through our project and programs. While these types of information are useful to gather, our approach to measuring our results is changing. 

It remains important to celebrate the money, time, and other resources we bring to help address needs in a community, yet we cannot stop there. We have bigger goals than that. Our members want to improve the quality of life in communities near and far.  And to ensure that is happening—and that we are individually and collectively learning and growing—we need to double down on measuring the positive change that happens as a result of our actions. 

And that is what impact is at Rotary. It is the positive, long-term change resulting from our actions. Our members join Rotary to grow in their experiences and in their service. And part of that growth requires reflection and learning. 

Now we want to know for certain if we’re creating positive change — to determine while our projects are in progress if they’re working or if we need to make adjustments, and to understand exactly what kind of results they’re having. And we want to make sure the change is sustainable. 

This is why our Action Plan asks all of us not only to do good work but also to measure the full results of our efforts — which means incorporating monitoring and evaluation into every project that we carry out. 

Dr. Axel von Bierbrauer, medical project manager for a project in the Rarieda district of Kenya, acknowledges that this requires a new mindset. “Most people believe that acceptable data is ‘training 100 people through our project.’  Measurement doesn’t stop at counting how many people you trained. It’s the next step — checking the quality.” In short, measurement includes not only counting the number of community health workers trained within a project but also determining if these workers are sufficiently applying the training in their work with patients.

Isis Mejias, an ambassador for the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group and the founder and director of the organization Global WaSH, says measurement used to focus on the number of available clean water sources. “But that’s not capturing what happens when children live without disease,” Mejias says. “When we measure results, we can see how projects positively change people’s lives. This means job opportunities, gender equity, time savings, improved health — all of which is not seen if you just pay attention to the number of new water sources.”

Beyond showing our impact, she says, gathering quality information about project results can also be a source of inspiration. One project partner in Uganda told Mejias that she hadn’t realized the connection between water quality and school attendance, or that girls miss one week of school each month because they don’t have a safe toilet and the hygiene support they need when they’re menstruating. “Measuring impact empowered this partner to continue her work and make it better,” Mejias says. “It’s not just about the number of pumps installed, it’s about touching someone’s life directly. It’s about envisioning the ripple effect of having clean water” 

Marcelo Haick, a trustee of the Rotary Foundation and chair of the Cadre, believes that the ability to clearly demonstrate our results is also a powerful incentive for attracting and retaining members. “Young people, especially, have expectations when they join Rotary — and they leave when they don’t see those expectations fulfilled,” he says. “They’ve grown up and work in a data-driven culture —measuring and sharing our results is one way we can show them how we’re making a genuine impact.”  

So, how do we know what measurements we need? One way to start is to find out what information others have collected—. Randall Blair, principal researcher at the evaluation consulting firm Mathematica, helps foundations and government agencies determine the best types of programs to invest in. Blair, who is also a new Rotarian, says a good starting point is to simply search the internet early in your planning and use the large amount of data that’s available.

You can search for a big concept, like ‘reducing maternal mortality or proven methods to increase literacy.’ “To make the search more effective, add the names of trusted international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank’ Blair says. “This kind of early phase research helps identify solutions that are already known to work—as well as vetted measures of success.” 

In terms of how we collect the information we need, no one method fits every situation. For some projects, large-scale surveys are the best way to gather information about the results. For others, the outcomes might be assessed using economic indicators, interviews with community members, or focus group discussions with parents and officials. 

Determining how to collect data can also involve using Rotary members’ renowned networking power. Rotary clubs can easily find and work with local government entities, nongovernmental organizations, universities, or other research institutions that von Bierbrauer says already have “the skills, knowledge, and networks to strategize and conduct quality measurements, collect and manage data, and analyze effectiveness.”

Mejias used that approach for a project in Uganda. She connected with a local university that was instrumental in developing a baseline survey of indicators in the community. University students went house by house to conduct the survey. Mejias says that Rotary members could have similar roles gathering data, while delegating the analytical work to a partner.

We should also establish how often we’ll collect information, says Viveca Serder, a technical coordinator for the Cadre in basic education and literacy: “If we don’t know the starting literacy rate, we can’t measure our success — so we have to do this from the very beginning.”  

Next, she says, think about: “What will happen? How should we use the money? Then, write down your thoughts about what you want to happen in one year, two years, and after Rotary leaves a project. All of this is important to do early on, so the intended long-term effects are part of the project design and we know where we are starting from and what changed because Rotary was there. Many times, that will need to be assessed  years after a project ends.”

This method of designing a project — identifying your desired results and the steps needed to get there — is a process known as a theory of change. It can apply to initiatives of any size.

“It’s a road map of what’s supposed to happen,” Blair says. “For example, in a teacher training program, you first document the money you will spend on training, how you you plan to target schools and teachers, and what the training will include. Then, you can plan out the behavior change and benefits that you expect from the training, provided your assumptions hold. Will teacher engagement with students go differently, and will students better master the material through that engagement? Anything that results from the training is something we can measure along the way.”

However you define your theory of change, having what Blair calls “your vision for success” will help you make a bigger difference. 

“As long as everyone uses that same plan detailing how you’ll achieve your desired results, your project will benefit,” Blair says. “Through this, years later, you will have changed the system of behavior so that it never goes back to how it was before. That’s impact.”

Connect with your local district resource network to learn more.

Measuring our results: Making sure that we’re changing lives for good 2023-03-20 05:00:00Z 0

Annual Pancake Supper a success

The 67th Annual Rotary Pancake Supper was held at the Weatherford High School cafeteria last Tuesday night with enormous success. President-Elect Beau Rees knows that it takes a village to put on an event of this magnitude. He wants to thank both the individuals who helped out the day of the event and the sponsors who generously donated money to make the event a success. 
 
"I'm so proud to be part of such and amazing group of Rotarians. Thanks to everyone for stepping up and making the 67th Annual Pancake Supper a success," Rees added.  
 
As to the numbers and how much was raised, those will be announced at the March 7 general meeting at the Pythian Home. Make plans to be there. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Pancake Supper a success 2023-03-06 06:00:00Z 0

Weatherford Club places flags for Presidents Day 

The Weatherford Club placed flags around the square for Presidents Day. Great job, Rotarians. 
 
Bill Baker in charge of flag duty for our club. If you're interested in participating, watch for upcoming announcements for our next flag duty day. 
 
Weatherford Club places flags for Presidents Day  2023-02-21 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary responds to earthquake that has devastated areas of Turkey and Syria

Turkey and Syria were struck by a devastating earthquake on 6 February that has killed tens of thousands of people, destroyed thousands of homes and other structures, and left people across the region without shelter in bitterly cold winter weather.

The Rotary world responded to this catastrophe immediately. RI President Jennifer Jones activated our disaster response efforts, communicated with the affected districts, and encouraged governors in those regions to apply for disaster response grants and share information about their relief efforts so that Rotary can amplify the calls for support.

The Rotary Foundation Trustees decided that all donations made, from now until 31 March, to the general Disaster Response Fund will be used to aid earthquake relief projects. In addition, the Trustees made available more than $125,000 to Rotary districts affected by the earthquake through District Response Grants.

Rotary's project partner ShelterBox also has an emergency response team assessing the needs in the region and how it can respond. That team is communicating with Rotary district leaders. Rotary's service partner Habitat for Humanity International is also working on its response. Many Rotary members are asking how they can help. Here's how to have the greatest impact:

  • Give to The Rotary Foundation's Disaster Response Fund. Donations help clubs and districts provide aid and support rebuilding efforts where the need is greatest. The funds are distributed to affected communities through disaster response grants. The Disaster Response Fund can accept cash contributions and District Designated Funds (DDF).
  • Support local initiatives. As we learn about local response efforts that are being led by clubs and districts, Rotary raises awareness about how to support them. People can then support these projects by working directly with Rotary members in the region. If you want us to publicize information about local response efforts, write to relief@rotary.org.
Rotary responds to earthquake that has devastated areas of Turkey and Syria 2023-02-13 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary sponsors chamber breakfast 

This past Friday morning, our Rotary Club sponsored the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast, Breakfast Before Business or BB4B. Our club was able to inform local business leaders about Rotary and its core values, as well as advertise for the Pancake Supper on Feb. 28. Great work! 
 
Rotary sponsors chamber breakfast  2023-01-17 06:00:00Z 0

Salvation Army band kicks off the Christmas season 

The Salvation Army Band kicked off Christmas for our club by performing carols and speaking about the Salvation Army. . The club also donated money for the Salvation Army Kettle Campaign. 
 
 
Rotarians rang the bell at Wal-Mart on Monday. Money raised with the red kettle campaign will go to local charities. Great job, Rotarians! 
 
 
 
 
 
Salvation Army band kicks off the Christmas season  2022-12-12 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary projects around the globe

By 

United States

The Rotary Club of Conway-Morning, Arkansas, is aiming to deliver birthday messages to every child and young adult in the state’s foster care system. Between January and September, more than 2,100 cards had been mailed, with an anticipated 3,700 individuals to be reached annually. “These children already face great uncertainty and disappointments in their lives, and I strongly believe that to consistently remember them on their special day would give them hope to go on, and to show that others around them genuinely care for them,” says Mike Altland, a club member who started the campaign. A dozen or so Rotarian volunteers coordinate writing and forwarding cards to foster homes with the Arkansas Division of Children and Family Services and The Call, a statewide nonprofit that works with churches to match children with families. American Greetings, which operates a production facility in the area, donated a supply of cards and envelopes expected to last nearly two years, Altland says.

 

Read More....

Rotary projects around the globe 2022-12-05 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians spends their holiday on flag duty 

Rotarians were caught braving the elements on Veteran's Day to put up flags around the square. Our next flag duty will be on Dec. 7 in honor of Pearl Harbor Day. Volunteers can sign up on sign-up genius for all volunteering opportunities.  Links are located in the story below this one. 
 
 
Rotarians spends their holiday on flag duty  2022-11-14 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary serves smiles at Taste of Education 

Rotary Club of Weatherford President Paul Gray and Rotarian Paul Hutton served Rotary's famous pancakes at the Fourth Annual  Taste of Education this past Saturday.  This event featured up to 50 chef teams from our community and school district, providing a perfect way to promote our upcoming Pancake Supper in February. Great job!!
 
Rotary serves smiles at Taste of Education  2022-10-17 05:00:00Z 0

Club welcomes new member 

Our club met this past Wednesday with guest speakers from the American Legion Post 163. We also inducted new member Danie Prince into our club. Daniel is the lead pastor at North Main Church of God and excited to be a member of our club. We are still looking for people to sign up for Meals on Wheels and to serve at the Tarrant Area Food Bank. Sign-up links are in the below story in our bulletin and on the main page of the website.  
 
 
 
Thank you to the Rotarians for helping with our flag program on Columbus Day! 
 
  
Club welcomes new member  2022-10-11 05:00:00Z 0

Sign-Up Links for Volunteers - We need Meals on Wheels Drivers!!

 
We have lots of volunteer opportunities. If every Rotarian volunteers once every six months for Meals on Wheels, we would have a full year covered.
 
Tarrant Area Food Bank is a great way to engage in the community and an individual, business owner and a community members.
 
Links are below if you would like to volunteer in one of the many ways Rotary participates in the community.
 

 
Flag Duty - Most Federal Holidays
 
 
Meals on Wheels - Every Thursday from 10:30-11:30
 
Sign-Up Links for Volunteers - We need Meals on Wheels Drivers!! 2022-09-23 05:00:00Z 0

Ron Hunn becomes newest Paul Harris Fellow award recipient  

     
 
It was a full meeting last week as President Paul Gray presented Ron Hunn with a Paul Harris Fellow award. This award is one of the highest honors Rotary can present and is named for Paul Harris, a Chicago lawyer who started Rotary International with three business associates in 1905. The honor accompanies a donation of $1,000 or more, in the recipient’s name, to Rotary International’s Annual Program Fund, which supports Rotary’s worldwide programs. Congrats, Ron! 
 
Former Dallas Cowboy L.P. Ladouceur. also stopped by to talk about his time with the Cowboys and life after football. 
 
 
 
Ron Hunn becomes newest Paul Harris Fellow award recipient   2022-09-23 05:00:00Z 0

Building peace in a fractured land

by 

During a meeting of about 50 teenagers in Israel’s western Galilee region, students were grouped in pairs and asked to identify how they were similar and different. Although half of them were Jewish and half were Arab, none of them mentioned that seemingly obvious distinction. When asked why, they told a moderator, “We are all human.” 

The meeting, involving students from four schools in Jerusalem and the western Galilee, was part of a peace education program designed and led by Arik Gutler Ofir, a former Rotary Peace Fellow.  It was supported by a 2016 Rotary Foundation global grant and implemented by the Rotary Club of Jerusalem, just one of the club’s many peacebuilding initiatives. 

The students stayed at each other’s homes and learned about each other’s food, music, and cultures. The project was so successful that when the grant money ran out, a local education board integrated the initiative — which had been co-sponsored by the Rotary Club of Mönchengladbach, Germany, and supported by Rotary clubs and districts in Australia, Germany, and the United States — into the civics curriculum.

“When you bring children from both sides to get to know each other, you create a situation where the other is not an enemy,” says Dan Shanit, a former medical clinician, researcher, and program developer who has served as the Jerusalem club’s president twice, most recently in 2021-22. “Enemies are anonymous. They don’t have a face. What you want is to know the face.” 

Since its beginning, the Rotary Club of Jerusalem has focused on peace. The club was chartered in 1929 during a period when the region, including the future state of Israel and what would become the occupied Palestinian territories in Gaza and the West Bank, was under British colonial rule. Most of the charter members were from the city’s British elite. Today, the club continues to hold meetings in English.

Members of the Rotary Club of Jerusalem, including (from left) Carry Polak, Louis Polak, Dan Shanit, Ruth Harris, and David Seligman, promote peace through their projects, with a particular focus on bringing together Jewish and Arab youth.

Photograph: Yadid Levy

 

Read More.....

Building peace in a fractured land 2022-09-19 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians continuing to make a difference 

Our club meet on Sept. 6 are having a great year with attendance in the new location. Special thanks to Jimmy Campbell for speaking to the club. Make sure to invite a friend to our Sept. 20 meeting.  
 
 
 
Rotarian of the Year Courtney McKeown brought the Weatherford Christian School Roteract students to our meeting to speak about the Interact program and what it meant for them to be able to participate in it. Thank you, Courtney, for your works with these future Rotarians. 
 
 
 
Labor Day was a great day for the flag program. All upcoming flag program events are in our weekly bulletin. Thank you, Rotarians, for your willingness to serve! 
 
Rotarians continuing to make a difference  2022-09-12 05:00:00Z 0

City of Evanston celebrates 68 years as home to Rotary International World Headquarters

EVANSTON, Ill. (Aug. 23, 2022) — With ten commemorative signs posted throughout Evanston this week, the city proudly marks its 68th year as home to Rotary International World Headquarters, where a diverse global team of 700+ professionals support the work of Rotary's 46,000 clubs worldwide to strengthen communities and improve lives.

"Rotary has been an economic anchor for decades, not only as one of our largest employers, but surprising to some, one of the largest property taxpayers in our city," said Paul Zalmezak, City of Evanston's Economic Development Manager. "Rotary's reach goes beyond corporate staff shopping and dining at local businesses. With its global membership, Rotary contributes over $1 million to our local economy with more than 2,000 international visits annually. We are proud to house an organization that is transforming communities and positively impacting lives around the world."

The commemorative signs are located on the east side of the Sheridan Road curve and the intersections at Dempster and McCormick; Sheridan and Lake; Sheridan and Ridge; Howard and Ridge; Howard and Chicago; Golf and McCormick; Golf and Crawford; and near the Metra and CTA hubs at Davis and Church.

"We are honored to have our world headquarters recognized by the City of Evanston," said John Hewko, Rotary International CEO. "We hope these signs will make it easier for people to find us and engage those who may be curious about our organization. Evanston has been a great place to call home and our visitors are always impressed with its stunning lake views and small-town atmosphere."

On display in the lobby of One Rotary Center, located at 1560 Sherman Ave., are exhibits that are open to the public from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Mon.-Fri. and 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Saturday, except on major U.S. holidays, that showcase Rotary's causes, including promoting peace, fighting disease, providing safe water and sanitation, supporting education, saving mothers and children, growing local economies, and protecting the environment. Rotary's top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985 and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

One Rotary Center is open to tours by appointment and conference rooms offering fully-equipped, state of the art spaces and capabilities for a wide variety of safe, COVID-compliant gatherings and meetings, events, seminars, panel discussions, corporate gatherings and more are available. Contact visitors@rotary.org to learn more about hosting an event at One Rotary Center.

About Rotary: Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world's most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

For 117 years, Rotary members have been addressing challenges around the world. It started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on Feb. 23, 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas, form meaningful, lifelong friendships, and give back to their communities. Rotary's name came from the group's early practice of rotating meetings among the offices of its members. Rotary first came to Evanston in 1954, when its original building was erected on 1600 Ridge Ave.

About the City of Evanston: The City of Evanston is home to approximately 75,000 residents and is located just north of Chicago. Bordering Lake Michigan and home to Northwestern University and Rotary International, Evanston's unique beauty and character delights visitors and residents of all ages. With a vision to create the most livable city in America, Evanston celebrates the diversity of its opportunities and residents.

City of Evanston celebrates 68 years as home to Rotary International World Headquarters 2022-08-29 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford presents check to PCCOA

Rotary Club of Weatherford presented the Parker County Committee on Aging with a donation of $2,000 for their work with Meals on Wheels. Rotarians raised money by driving golf carts during the Peach Festival in July. This is another great example of Rotarians giving back to the community. 
 
 
Past- President and Area Governor presented Donna Alberts with a Paul Harris Fellow recognition. This recognition acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation. 
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford presents check to PCCOA 2022-08-22 05:00:00Z 0

Updated Links for sign ups 

 
 
 
 
Below are updated links to all sign ups that have been created on SignUp Genius.
 
If you have signed up for Meals on Wheels, that link is good through the end of this month so there is no need to worry.
 
If anyone has any questions please feel free to reach out to Rachael Watson. 
 
 
 
FLAGS
 
 
GREETER
 
 
MEALS ON WHEELS Beginning September 1, 2022
 
Updated Links for sign ups  2022-08-15 05:00:00Z 0

Meals on Wheels route moves to Thursday 

 
Rachael Watson thanks everyone who has volunteered so far to assist the club with their efforts to help the PCCOA Meals on Wheels Program. As of September 1st, out club will be taking over a Thursday route instead of doing it on Wednesdays. This route will be our permanent route as was set before COVID.  
 
"I encourage all of you to sign up for a Thursday," she explained. "If everyone Rotarian of the Club volunteered once, maybe twice, no one member has to carry the load. Thanks for stepping up and helping those in needed." 
 
Here is the sign-up email for Meals on Wheels:  Rotary Club of Weatherford: Meals On Wheels (signupgenius.com)
 
 
We had a good turnout at our last club meeting to hear Kit Marshall speak about emergency preparedness. Remember, if you have any questions about lunch or the new location, contact Paul Gray at 817-694-2201. 
 
Meals on Wheels route moves to Thursday  2022-08-08 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Projects Around the Globe

 

The Rotary Club of Duvall, Washington, celebrated Valentine’s Day by hanging 133 double-sided hearts from light poles along a mile-long stretch of Main Street, where they loomed large from late January through early March. Bearing messages sponsored by residents and businesses at a cost of $50 each, the signs raised about $13,500 for food pantries and other organizations serving youth, seniors, and the needy in the community northeast of Seattle. The club was inspired by a long-running fundraiser of the Rotary Club of Loveland Thompson Valley, Colorado, whose sign subscriptions routinely sell out within hours.

Venezuela

Since 2009 the Rotary Club of Barquisimeto-Nueva Segovia has overseen more than 350 surgeries to correct congenital craniofacial deformities in children. In late April the club, based in the capital of Lara state, administered nine cleft lip and palate surgeries. Patients and their mothers are interviewed by club members who are specialists in children’s maxillofacial surgery. Proceeds from the club’s golf tournament fund the surgeries and follow-up care, which costs about $150 per patient. “Children with these malformations generally require several surgeries, and our club guarantees them all,” says Rafael Cárdenas, a club member. “Our goal is to change lives permanently.”

 

Read More.....

Rotary Projects Around the Globe 2022-08-01 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford awards scholarships to local students

 
 
It was a full room as the Rotary Club of Weatherford awarded 10 Jim Bozell Community Service Scholarship to local students at their July 19 meeting.
 
"These scholarships were based on community service and written essays about completed service and what it meant to them [the recipients],” Director of Vocational Services Services Mary Helen McDow explained.  “Not only did these students go above and beyond in volunteer hours, but they will continue to volunteer in their community no matter where their education takes them.”
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford raises scholarship money each year at their annual pancake supper.  The 2022  Rotary Club of Weatherford Jim Bozell Community Service Scholarship recipients are as follows: 
 

· Madison Hand Peaster High School

· Mathew Bednarz Weatherford High School

· Keegan O'Connor Weatherford High School

· Dakota Thomas Weatherford High School

· Hailey Toten Weatherford High School

· Braden Williams Weatherford High School

· Autumn Andrews Weatherford High School

· Austin Markwardt Weatherford High School

· Cade Harris Brock High School

· Emma Wolfenberger Weatherford High School

 
 This meeting was also the first meeting held at Weatherford College after the location change from North Side Baptist Church. President Paul Gray was excited to move the club meeting location to a more centralized location. The club is looking forward to meeting in the Strain Room in the foreseeable future. 
Rotary Club of Weatherford awards scholarships to local students 2022-07-25 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians serve at Peach Festival 

Rotarians came out and served at the annual Peach Pedal and Festival this past weekend. Former Rotarian President and Peach Pedal Chair John Forrest thanked the volunteers who came in early to help sign up Peach Pedal participants. 
 
 
 
President Paul Gray thanks all the Rotarians who braved the heat to drive golf carts on Saturday. More than $1,000 was raised for the Senior Center and Meals on Wheels. Great Job, Rotarians! 
 
 
Rotarians serve at Peach Festival  2022-07-11 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarians celebrate Fourth of July holiday  

Rotary Club of Weatherford says thank you to the volunteers who came out on the Fourth of July for flag duty. These flags are an important representation of our club and are appreciated by the community. Great job!  
 
 
 
Rotarians celebrate Fourth of July holiday   2022-07-05 05:00:00Z 0

First woman takes office as president of Rotary International

EVANSTON, Ill. (June 29, 2022) – Jennifer Jones, member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, will be the first woman to take office as Rotary International President in the service organization’s 117-year existence on 1 July 2022.

During her one-year term, Jones will focus on building new relationships and establishing collaborations with organizations that share Rotary’s commitment to driving impact through humanitarian service and to developing leaders around the globe. She has also made Rotary’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion a key part of her presidential platform.

“Diversity has long been one of our core values and continues to serve as a foundation for how we interact with each other and our communities,” said Jones. “I know that my experiences and perspective as a woman mean that I bring a different lens to how I see and approach opportunities and challenges for our organization. I hope to be a catalyst for similar opportunities for leaders from all backgrounds that comprise the global mosaic of our organization. We are stronger, more creative, and more effective when we ask for and leverage those diverse perspectives to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.”

As a professional communicator with more than 30 years of experience, Jones will also use her vocational strength as a storyteller to shine a light on the positive and lasting impact Rotary clubs are making to improve lives and strengthen communities across the globe. “This year, we are going to bring Rotary service projects center stage around the world. We will put a special focus on visible, high impact acts of service across our areas of focus, drawing attention to the incredible work that Rotary members are doing.” said Jones.

Jones officially takes office as Rotary International President on 1 July 2022 in Ottawa, Canada at the mid-point of her cross-country tour. Dubbed Imagine Rotary Canada, Jones is traveling coast-to-coast, stopping at twelve hubs along the way to meet with local officials and participate in projects that address pressing issues including food insecurity, plastic and litter in waterways, and the safety of seasonal guest workers.

Jones will also mark her year as president by touring model examples of Rotary's impact in action. Throughout the year she will connect with Rotary members and clubs spanning the globe to explore and share learnings from Rotary projects, with a focus that includes:

  • the vital role of women health workers in the efforts to end polio in Pakistan;
  • a day in the life of a community health worker helping to reduce malaria in Zambia;
  • the efforts of 600 Rotary clubs to improve education for underserved students in Guatemala;
  • a former refugee who is now a Rotary Peace Fellow at the Rotary Peace at Makerere University, in Uganda;
  • health workers reaching children with live-saving vaccines in remote islands in the South Pacific; and
  • Rotary's efforts to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to all of Haiti

As president, Jones will oversee Rotary’s top goal of eradicating polio. “When we harness our connections, deepen our relationships, and create new partnerships - our collective efforts can change lives for generations,” said Jones. “There is no better proof point of our impact than our effort to eradicate polio.”

Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases, and contributed US $2.4 billion to protect more than 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease. Nearly 19.4 million people are walking today who otherwise would have been paralyzed by this vaccine-preventable disease, and 1.5 million people are alive who otherwise would have died. With the infrastructure Rotary helped create to end polio, a lasting global health legacy is now being used to protect millions of people from other diseases – including Ebola, malaria, and COVID-19.

About Jennifer Jones: Jennifer is the Founder and President of Media Street Productions Inc., a 25-year-old, award-winning media company in Windsor, Ontario. She has received many honors and recognitions including Rotary’s Service Above Self Award and the Citation for Meritorious Service, the YMCA Peace Medallion, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and Wayne State University’s Peacemaker of the Year Award – a first for a Canadian. Jennifer is married to Rotarian Nick Krayacich, a family physician.

About Rotary: Rotary unites a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges and creating lasting change. Rotary connects 1.4 million people of action from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. Their service improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

First woman takes office as president of Rotary International 2022-07-05 05:00:00Z 0

Time to sign up for Peach Festival golf carts 

 
 
The Rotary Club of Weatherford is once again handling cart duty at this years Parker County Peach Festival. This is an all-day activity with various sign-up times available. If you would like to volunteer today please message us directly or reach out to Grant Mills to get on the list. We can forward you the available slots and you can sign-up as you please. Thank you!!
Time to sign up for Peach Festival golf carts  2022-06-27 05:00:00Z 0

New board inducted; Courtney McKeown named Rotarian of the Year 

 
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford 2021-2022 finished strong in the new Weatherford College Emerging Technologies and Workforce Education building. This group led by Rachael Watson exemplified excellence and leadership during their term, all of which receiving awards for representing their respected chair position throughout the year.
 
 
Our Rotarian of the Year was awarded to Courtney McKeown of Weatherford Christian School. She was recognized for exceptional Leadership and Service to the Rotary Club of Weatherford and the community in which we serve. Congratulations Courtney!
 
 
President Rachael Watson was presented with the President's Award and a gift card for dedication and hard work as president.  We appreciate everything she has done for our club and community. She is looking forward serving under Paul Gray as incoming president. Congratultions! 
 
As one great term comes to an end, another one begins. Paul Gray was elected and sworn in as our 2022-2023 President of the Rotary Club of Weatherford. His plans for our organization are nothing less than progressive, impactful, and formulated by his servant's heart. We are excited to see what the new board of Weatherford Rotary Club are capable of as we continue to serve our community with open arms and love for Parker County.
New board inducted; Courtney McKeown named Rotarian of the Year  2022-06-13 05:00:00Z 0
Rotarians place flags for holiday weekend  2022-05-31 05:00:00Z 0

First Tee is empowering kids through the game of golf 

 
Charleton Dechart with First Tee spoke to the club at the May 17 meeting. First Tee is a youth development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum, they create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do.  There are approximately 150 chapters around the world, reaching 2.2 million youth. Participants (ages 7-18) progress through the program over time, deepening their understanding of life skills and golf development.  Parker County acquired a First Tee when the Ben Hogan Learning Center opened at Squaw Creek in May 2021. Squaw Creek offers all levels of Life Skills Curriculum sessions, as well as a number of camps during spring break and summer. 
 
For more information or to volunteer, go to info@firstteeftworth.org
First Tee is empowering kids through the game of golf  2022-05-23 05:00:00Z 0

Grace House speaks at May 3 club meeting 

 
Jo Warren from Grace House Ministries spoke to our club at the May 3 meeting. Grace House Ministries is a faith-based pregnancy resource center located in Weatherford, Texas. Founded in 1993, Grace House Ministries strives to promote hope, life, and knowledge in the community through Options Clinic, Grace House Pregnancy Center, and Pure Truth in-school training program. Grace House serves the community through three distinct branches of ministry. Options Clinic is their medical arm focusing on women and their partners who have just learned they may be pregnant. Grace House Pregnancy Center offers pregnancy, parenting, and life skills classes to parents from pregnancy through the toddler years. Pure Truth seeks to educate students in schools to make wise choices regarding their sexual health and many other important decisions and to equip students to be positive change agents among their peers.
 
Grace House has begun their Baby Bottle Campaign. This campaign raised over $50,000 in 2021. Our club passed around a baby bottle during Jo's presentation, raising over $300 with our attending members.  If you would like to get involved with Grace House, go to gracehouseministries.net/get-involved/
Grace House speaks at May 3 club meeting  2022-05-09 05:00:00Z 0

European Rotaract clubs organize to help Ukrainian refugees

By 

Within hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February 2022, Iryna Bushmina fled her home in Kyiv. Along with her sister and her three-month-old nephew, she journeyed to Vienna, Austria, staying with Rotary members along the way. Their generosity inspired Bushmina, a member of the Rotaract Club of Kyiv-City and the district Rotaract representative for Ukraine, to organize a larger-scale relief effort — and now, an online platform she created has helped Rotaract and Rotary members find shelter for thousands of Ukrainian refugees.

 

Across Europe, Rotaract members are using digital tools to share information and coordinate to help people who have been affected by the war in Ukraine. By routing communications through the European Rotaract Information Centre (also known as Rotaract Europe), a multidistrict information organization that serves clubs in more than 40 countries, these young members are using the power of Rotary's global network to direct aid where it's needed most.

 

Read More.....

European Rotaract clubs organize to help Ukrainian refugees 2022-05-02 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarian Kathy Meyer speaks about CASA 

 
 
Rotarian and CASA Executive Director Kathy Meyer spoke to the club on April 19 about April being National Child Abuse Prevention Month. A CASA is appointed by a judge to advocate for the child who enters into foster care.  A CASA volunteer is matched to each case, which can include one or more children, and routinely visits the children in their placement getting to know the children. The CASA volunteer works to ensure appropriate physical and mental health assessments are completed and that the child’s needs are understood by the family and everyone involved in the case. CASA volunteers advocate for the best interest of a child and make informed recommendations for the child’s physical and emotional well-being to the judge. 
 

CASA volunteers stay by a child’s side throughout the case, advocating first for reunification when safe and possible. If reunifications is not safe or possible, CASA volunteers will advocate for the child to be adopted by, or live with, other relatives or family friends. If that is also not possible, CASA volunteers will work towards adoption by a non-relative. No matter what, CASA volunteers will keep in contact with the support network until the case closes so that everyone continues to put the child’s best interests first.

 

CASA will have a clay shoot on May 5 to raise money for the organization. Go to casahopeforchildren.org for more information about the or being a CASA. 

Rotarian Kathy Meyer speaks about CASA  2022-04-25 05:00:00Z 0

Ikard receives $500 from Rotary toward community library

 
 
By Sally Sexton ssexton@weatherforddemocrat.com
 
WEATHERFORD — Three Ikard Elementary fifth grades were excited to accept a check from Rotary Club of Weatherford members Tuesday morning.Rotary
Club members and Weatherford ISD staff were present to donate the check to the Ikard library after students won the pancake building contest at the 66th annual Pancake Supper in February, quizzing the students this week on how they prepared for the contest — they did manage to practice beforehand but did not know what materials they would be able to use.
Ikard receives $500 from Rotary toward community library 2022-04-18 05:00:00Z 0

The Connector

 

President-elect Jennifer Jones is poised to lead Rotary into a vibrant, diverse future

By Photography by 

 

President-elect Jennifer Jones’ office at Rotary International world headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, feels different from those of her predecessors, but that’s in no way a result of the fact that on 1 July she will become Rotary’s first female president. On the wall hangs a recent gift from a friend — a black scratch-off map on which Jones can record every Rotary destination she visits during the next two years. When we speak it’s September, two months since she took office as president-elect, and on the map, only Chicago has been revealed — many planned events were canceled or postponed due to a rise in COVID-19 cases. Today, Jones is the only person on the 18th floor of One Rotary Center. There are no phones ringing, no fingers tap-tap-tapping on keyboards in the cubicles outside her door. One could do cartwheels through the Rotary boardroom and nobody would notice.

 

Read More....

The Connector 2022-03-28 05:00:00Z 0

Parker County Attorney speaks at regular meeting 

 
 
Parker County Attorney John Forrest and Professional Victim Assistance Coordinator Lisa Mehrhoff spoke at the Rotary Club of Weatherford's regular meeting. Forrest spoke about the role of the county attorney and the tasks his office completes. Mehrhoff spoke about domestic violence and the upcoming art contest to be held from April 24-29 for National Crime Victims' Rights Week.  The theme for this years' contest is "Rising Above." 
 
"In some ways, we are all emerging as survivors and have this opportunity to be 'Rising Above' the chaos of the past two years to move forward to the future," Mehrhoff explained. 
 
All Parker County school age students are eligible to take part in the contest.  Categories include Sculpture, Photography, and Mixed Media.  Cash awards are given to first, second and third place winners as selected by a panel of judges.  Elementary entries receive age appropriate gift packages for first, second and third place.  Best of Show is a Weatherford College Scholarship. 
 
The contest entries will be displayed at the Parker County Annex, 1112 Santa Fe Drive, from April 24-29, 2022. Winners, participants and their families, as well as faculty sponsors will be recognized at a reception at the annex on Friday, April 29, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. 
 
If you have questions or would like to donate money for the awards, please contact Lisa Mehrhoff at 817.594.8409 email her at lisa.mehrhoff@parkercountytx.com.
 
Parker County Attorney speaks at regular meeting  2022-03-21 05:00:00Z 0

Tarrant Area Food open location in Parker County 

 
Lauren Burge from the Tarrant Area Food Bank West location presented to our club about the opportunities to volunteer now that the TAFB has a warehouse in Parker County. Tarrant Area Food Bank - West in Parker County supplies nutritious food in seven North Texas counties (Parker, Palo Pinto, Hood, Erath, Bosque, Hamilton and Somervell). Before it can be distributed, volunteers sort, inspect and repackage the food in quality control shifts. Located at 112 Winners Circle in Weatherford, TAFB -West  have begun distributing food to mobile sites and partner agencies that distribute food to the Parker County residents and beyond.  
 
This facility is instrumental in serving meals to those in need. Each week food, dairy, plus fresh fruit and vegetables are served via mobile food trucks, pantries, shelters, kitchens, and youth centers across thirteen counties in North Texas. The new area food bank facility includes an extra 10,000 square feet added for appliances like coolers and freezers. The space will include essential rooms like a kitchen, classroom, volunteer center, and a boardroom.
 
If you are interested in volunteering or donating, go to tafb.org/west/
Tarrant Area Food open location in Parker County  2022-03-07 06:00:00Z 0

The Rotary Foundation creates channel for direct humanitarian support in Ukraine region

In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for Rotary members around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.

To this end, The Rotary Foundation has approved:

  • Now through 30 June 2022, designated Rotary districts that border Ukraine and the Rotary district in Ukraine may apply for grants of up to $50,000 each from the Disaster Response Fund. These expedited disaster response grants can be used to provide relief to refugees or other victims of the crisis including items such as water, food, shelter, medicine and clothing.
  • During this same period, other impacted Rotary districts that wish to offer support to refugees or other victims of the crisis in their district can apply for $25,000 grants from the Disaster Response Fund.
  • Now through 30 April 2022, Rotary districts can transfer unallocated District Designated Funds (DDF) to support the Disaster Response Fund, directly supporting these Ukraine-specific humanitarian grants.
  • Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund in support of Ukraine can be made here. All funds need to be received into the Disaster Response Fund by 30 April 2022 in order to qualify for use in support of the Ukrainian relief efforts.
  • Although the Disaster Response Fund will be the main avenue for Rotary Foundation support, Rotary and Rotaract clubs are also encouraged to create their own responses to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine.
The Rotary Foundation creates channel for direct humanitarian support in Ukraine region 2022-03-07 06:00:00Z 0

Annual pancake supper a success 

The pancakes were hot and the smiles were big at the 66th Annul Pancake Supper. This year's event was a huge success with an estimated 800 guests in attendance, even with the lingering pandemic. The club raised over $21,000 for local scholarships. Our club will donate $500 to Ikard's school library after they won the pancake building contest with the highest structure.  
 
" I appreciate the time and effort each of you contributed to our event. It is an exciting time to be a Weatherford Rotarian," Gray said.  
 
A special thank you to the Rotarians and sponsors who made the pancake supper a successful event. It couldn't be done without you! 
 
 
 
 
 
 
WISD Superintendent and Rotarian Beau Rees posing with the winning school. 
 
Our sponsors
 
Annual pancake supper a success  2022-02-28 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarian receives second Paul Harris recognition 

 
Rotarian Hugh Bradberry received his second Paul Harris award after contributing over $2,000 to the Rotary Foundation. Rotary established the recognition in  1957 to encourage and show appreciation for substantial contributions to what was then the Foundation’s only program, Rotary Foundation Fellowships for Advanced Study, the precursor to Ambassadorial Scholarships. The number of Paul Harris Fellows reached the 1 million mark in 2006. Bradberry has been an active member of the Rotary Club of Weatherford since 1995, currently serving on the board as secretary/treasurer. 
 
Brian Glenn for ShelterBox USA spoke to the club about Rotary's impact around the world. Approximately 113 million people around the world have been displaced by natural disaster and conflict. In 2012, ShelterBox became Rotary International’s first project partner, enabling both organizations to collaborate more closely to bring relief and temporary shelter to survivors of disasters worldwide. 
 
Paul Gray spoke to the club about pancake supper assignments. Gray sent an email out to the club about tomorrow night's event highlighting key points for the night. The pancake supper begins at 5:00 p.m. at the WHS cafeteria. All members need to wear their Rotary shirts. Contact Gray for more information. 
Rotarian receives second Paul Harris recognition  2022-02-21 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians receive legislative update

 
Weatherford Rotary Club welcomed Rep. Glen Rogers to their regular club meeting. Rogers spoke about legislation that he helped pass his first session as a representative, as well as some events that occurred at the capital in 2021. Rogers said that even with COVID, Winter Storm Uri, and the flooding of the capital, it was a very productive session for the State of Texas. President Rachael Watson updated the club on the upcoming flag duty on Feb. 21. President-Elect Paul Gray gave updates about the upcoming Pancake Supper that will be held on Feb. 22. Keep an eye out for information about the pancake supper meeting held the week before the event. There is still time to sponsor the annual event. Contact Paul Gray if you or a business you know is interested in the sponsorship opportunity. 
Rotarians receive legislative update 2022-02-07 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 14th consecutive year

For the 14th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S. 

The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organizations Charity Navigator evaluates have received 14 consecutive 4-star evaluations.

“We are honored to have been recognized and to be among the top 1% of charities evaluated,” said Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair John Germ. “Our donors can feel proud knowing that their gifts will allow them to make an impact in their communities and the world for years to come.”

The rating reflects Charity Navigator's assessment of how the Foundation uses donations, sustains its programs and services, and practices good governance and openness.

 

Read More....

Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 14th consecutive year 2022-01-31 06:00:00Z 0

Hudson Oaks mayor updates club new businesses 

 
Hudson Oaks Mayor Marc Povero spoke to the club about upcoming new businesses coming to Hudson Oaks, including Hein Barbeque. Club members asked questions about transportation and new housing being built in the area.  Paul Gray spoke about the upcoming pancake supper and ticket packets were passed out to members. Paul sent out an email with the following message about our upcoming pancake supper:
 
Yesterday at our bi-weekly luncheon we passed out the Pancake Supper packets. If you were not in attendance, please stop by the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce to pick up your packet. Also, don't forget to sign up to help for the Pancake Supper. Please click on this link to sign up: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a4ae2da3fec25-pancake. As always, don't hesitate to call, email, or text me with any questions. 
 
Paul Gray 
817-694-2201
paul@graycleaning.com 
 
Hudson Oaks mayor updates club new businesses  2022-01-24 06:00:00Z 0

Pancake Supper signup has begun 

 
 
 
It's offically Pancake Supper time. Emails went out about corporate sponsorship from Paul Gray. At this time, Northside Baptist Church, Plains Capital Bank, Texas Butane Co., Cultivate Real Estate, and Jamie Bodiford have sponsored the event. We are still looking for cooperate and basket sponsors. Packets will be available for pick up at our next membership meeting. Below is a note for Paul Gray about signing up for the Pancake Supper. 
 
 
Thank you to those who have signed up for a place to serve at our upcoming Pancake Supper. 
 
Courtney McKeown developed an online version for sign-ups using SignUpGenius. 
 
If you have not signed up already, please do so by clicking on this link: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0c44a4ae2da3fec25-pancake.
 
As always, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. 
 
Pancake Supper signup has begun  2022-01-10 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Projects Around the Globe

By Brad Webber

 

United States

In September, the Rotary Club of Novato, California, celebrated the opening of a community center, the culmination of an effort that began in 2007 with a bequest of $5 million by longtime member Bill Jonas. The club worked with the College of Marin to construct a 15,600-square-foot complex on the college’s Indian Valley campus. The center houses a banquet space with the capacity for hundreds of guests, a kitchen, and a stage equipped with the latest audiovisual equipment. The club, whose contribution covered about one-third of the project’s total cost, obtained a 75-year lease as well as naming rights for its benefactors, the late Bill and Adele Jonas, and now holds its meetings at the center. “It was a long-term challenge, but we didn’t give up,” says Sonia Seeman, a co-chair of the project’s planning committee.

 

 

Rotary Projects Around the Globe 2022-01-03 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians enjoy a history lesson for Pearl Harbor Day 

 
Dr. Scott Tarnowieckyi from Weatherford College spoke to the club about Pearl Harbor at our Dec. 7 meeting. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the "day that will live in infamy." Club members enjoyed the presentation, as well as Dr. Tarnowieckyi answering questions about the days surrounding the attack. Dr. Tarnowieckyi is Professor of History at Weatherford College and chair of the Social Sciences Department. He has also been a visiting assistant professor at Texas A&M University, the University of Arkansas (where he earned his Ph.D.), Arkansas Tech University, and Missouri Southern State University.
 
President Rachael Watson reminded the club of our upcoming Christmas party at Antonio's Restaurant and officer elections in January.  
Rotarians enjoy a history lesson for Pearl Harbor Day  2021-12-13 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians ring bell to raise money 

An annual tradition, the Rotary Club of Weatherford rang the Salvation Army bell on Dec. 2. This is a community service project that the club proudly participates in each year. All money raised in Parker County stays in Parker County. Although the he local Salvation Army Unit does not have a office in Weatherford,  requests for assistance are being handled through Manna Storehouse. 
 
The Salvation Army is the country's largest faith-based charity organization, serving 30 million people each year. The Red Kettle campaign started in 1891 as one pot to collect funds to feed a free Christmas dinner to San Francisco’s destitute and poverty-stricken community, growing to one of the most impactful and iconic outreach initiatives in the world.
 
"To the homeless, the red kettles represent safe shelter from the streets. To the hungry, they promise a warm meal. To those struggling with addiction and alcoholism, they mean the possibility of a new life free of the bondage of chemicals." -The Salvation Army 
 
Great job, Rotarians! 
 
 
Rotarians ring bell to raise money  2021-12-06 06:00:00Z 0

Past President John Forrest receives proclamation from the county 

 
Parker County Commissioners proclaimed Monday, Nov. 22 as “John Forrest Day” in Parker County in recognition of Parker County Attorney and Rotarian Past President John Forrest receiving the Outstanding Citizen Award from the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce on Oct. 28. Commissioner Larry Walden asked for this item to be put on the agenda due to Forrest’s accomplishments over his two decade career as county attorney.
 
“We are doing our duty to recognize the accomplishment and the recognition that John Forrest has received,” Walden explained. “Last time I checked, none of the rest of us in this room have probably ever seen anything like this. We wanted to recognize you [John] because of the work that you do and because of the good work that you do here for the good citizens of Parker County and this court.”
 
John thanked the commissioners for this proclamation by reiterating the importance of those who came before him to mold Parker County.
 
“This is one of the best courts that I have worked with [and] I’ve worked with several, Forrest said. “ It is a great court currently that I worked with. There are definitely some great role models that I have had here in Parker County growing up: John Forrest, Sr. for one, Larry Fowler, Jerry Durant - those guys gave back. Dave Dieson and Mac Smith, these guys have molded Parker County to what it is today. We have growth in Parker County, but its good growth. We are seeing a continuation of people giving back to the community. I’m proud to live here, proud to be able to grow up here, move back here to be able to raise my kids here Thank you for this honor. I appreciate it.”
 
Forrest graduated from Weatherford High School, attended the University of Texas at Austin and St. Mary's Law School. He was elected to the office of Parker County Attorney in 2001. He serves in numerous clubs and organizations either on the board or as a member. He is a past president of both the Rotary Club of Weatherford and Optimist Club. He currently serves on the board of the United Way, Freedom House, Children's Advocacy Center of Parker County, and Weatherford ISD Education Foundation. He is also a member of the Aledo Advocats, Lion's Club, Kiwanis Club, and the Parker County Republican Women.  
 
Past President John Forrest receives proclamation from the county  2021-11-22 06:00:00Z 0

Tim Lewelling reminds us of the importance of family 


 

Tim with current president Rachael Watson and past president Judy Flanagain 
 
 
Author Tim Lewelling spoke at our regular  meeting about his book, "Avalon of the Heart." The book was originally written for his grandchildren so that they will always know the stories of family members that came before them. President Rachael Watson spoke about the upcoming Christmas Party on Dec. 14. Rotary Club of Weatherford will be ringing the bell at the Weatherford Wal-Mart in December. Get with Rachael for more information.  
 
 
 
Tim Lewelling reminds us of the importance of family   2021-11-22 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club celebrates Veterans Day

President Rachael Watson with John and Nancy Cobb 
 
American Legion Post 163 Commander John Cobb and Auxiliary President Nancy Cobb, along with Rotarian and State Commander Bret Watson, spoke at our regular meeting on Nov. 2 about local veterans programs. The Post is hosting the annual Wreaths Across American program which places Christmas wreaths at veterans graves each year for Christmas. For more information about purchasing a wreath, contact Rachael Watson. The Veterans Day parade will be on Sat., Nov. 13 at 9:30 a.m.  Parade route will start at the Ninth Grade Center. 
Rotary Club celebrates Veterans Day 2021-11-08 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club learns new communication skills

 
On Tuesday, Dr. Renea Skelton spoke to the club about effectively communicating with your co-workers, family, and friends. Renea is a certified life coach and communication consultant that introduced the club to communication that can ruin relationships and what to do about it. This presentation brought a lot of ah-ha moments as Renea explained different ways to communicate with the people and personalities in your life, including the dreaded in-laws. 
 
During the meeting, Rachael Watson announced that the Christmas party will be during lunchtime on Dec. 14. Rachael will announced the location at an upcoming meeting. Paul Gray announced that the Pancake Supper will be on Feb. 22 at the WHS cafeteria. Keep a lookout for sign up sheets for the night. 
 
 
Rotary Club learns new communication skills 2021-10-25 05:00:00Z 0

District Governor is excited about the new year 

Kayla pictured with Area Governor Joe Wilkinson and President-Elect Paul Gray
 
 
Incoming District Governor Kayla Christianson is excited about the next year. On Tuesday, our District Governor Kayla Christianson spoke to our club about Rotary's new ideas and the difficulties the club experienced with the pandemic. She touched on how Rotary changed its attendance policy to allow members to be more out serving the public, rather than having to worry about attending meetings and attendence. That led to the announcement of Rotary's new theme, Serve to Change Lives. This theme encourages members to get in their community and put service above self. 
District Governor is excited about the new year  2021-10-08 05:00:00Z 0

RI President-elect Jennifer Jones announces Rotary’s $97 million pledge for sustainable projects during Global Citizen Live

Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones took the stage at the Global Citizen Live concert on 25 September in Paris, France, and pledged $97 million in grant funding from the organization next year for sustainable, Rotary club-led projects.

Global Citizen Live, a 24-hour broadcast with events and performances across six continents, aimed to unite people to take action to defend the planet, end the COVID-19 pandemic, defeat poverty, provide education for all children, and promote equity and justice for all. Some of the world’s top artists, celebrities, activists, and government leaders participated in this year’s event to raise awareness and support in cities including Paris; Lagos, Nigeria; London, UK; Los Angeles, USA; New York City, USA; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Seoul, Korea; and Sydney, Australia.

 

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RI President-elect Jennifer Jones announces Rotary’s $97 million pledge for sustainable projects during Global Citizen Live 2021-10-04 05:00:00Z 0

New Rotarian Larry Walden speaks on the state of the county 

Parker County Precinct 3 Commissioner Larry Walden did double duty at our meeting, being both swoon in as a Rotarian and our guest speaker. Walden says has a lot of challenges in his job, but he says one of his biggest is explaining to city folk that moving to unincorporated Parker County is not the city.
 
 
Walden being inducted by Beau Rees 
 
“One of my challenges is getting the world out that if you live in unincorporated Parker County, it’s not going to be the same as the city you live from,” he explained. “I try to do that and let people know where their tax money goes and a small portion goes to road and bridge. The best opportunities that I get is to meet with the homeowner’s association when a new subdivision comes in to explain to them the difference between a county road and a city street.”
 
Government transparency and taxes was the topic at the Rotary Club of Weatherford’s general meeting presentation on Sept. 21. Walden spoke about both to the club.
 
“Parker County needs representation. We all as taxpayers need to know if we’re getting our money’s worth, our funding that we deserve. The budget will soon wrap up with the tax rate being about 32 cents. County government can be inefficient. It is my job to make it as efficient as possible by making sure the tax dollar is applied in the correct place.”
 
Walden spoke at lengths about the road and bridge fund and the dividing of it based off tax rate and road miles, not a four-way equal share. Walden said his office constantly receives calls by residents who are not aware of the percentage
 
 
 
of their taxes go to the road and bridge fund. He said it’s a common misconception that the county gets a bulk of the tax money, when the reality is much different. The breakdown looks more like this: 53 percent to Weatherford ISD, 21 percent to the City of Weatherford, 12.44 percent to Parker County, 5.47 percent to Weatherford College and 3.19 percent to lateral road tax. In Precinct 3, there are 358 miles of county road, roughly one third land wise of the county. The lateral road tax is used to build and maintain those roads.
 
Walden also spoke about the Adopt- A-County Road program. This program allows residents to adopt and maintain county roads for 2-year increments. Go to the parkercountytx.com/405/Adopt-A-Country-Road for more information. 
 
After the presentation, President Watson highlighted some upcoming events, including flag duty and the pancake supper.
New Rotarian Larry Walden speaks on the state of the county  2021-09-27 05:00:00Z 0

Rotarian Bret Watson recognized by Weatherford City Council 

 
Courtesy photo
 
On Sept. 15, Weatherford City Council recognized Rotarian Bret Watson for being selected as the 2021-2022 State Commander for The American Legion, Department of Texas. Bret joined United States Army in 1982. In 1992, he started his own construction company, giving back to fellow Texans and our community. Since then,  he has started several other companies always with the purpose of giving back. Bret and his wife Rachael are both paid up for life members of the American Legion. Bret and his family are all members of our local American Legion Post 163. Bret has been an active Rotarian since 2018, now serving on the board as sergeant-at-arms. His wife, Rachael, serves on the board as president. 
Rotarian Bret Watson recognized by Weatherford City Council  2021-09-20 05:00:00Z 0

Group Dynamic: Meet the Rotarians who are finding fresh ways to connect

Rotarians are doers. As Rotary’s vision statement proclaims, they want to live in “a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change.” That’s why they joined Rotary, and that’s why they stay. They want to be engaged.

So how can your club ensure it is providing sustained engagement for its members? On the following pages you will meet seven Rotary clubs and see how they do it. In Texas, the Rotary Club of Plano West has gone all in on community service. And the recently chartered Rotary Club of Network for Empowering Women, with members in multiple U.S. states and several countries, has great advice for involving new members. Finally, leave it to Rotary’s first five clubs to concoct a collaborative endeavor that is connecting current members in creative ways. Collectively, these clubs provide a model for how Rotarians can engage with the rich traditions of the past, the challenging conditions of the present, and our hope-filled expectations for the future.

 

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Group Dynamic: Meet the Rotarians who are finding fresh ways to connect 2021-09-13 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary places flags for 9/11

 
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford placed flags around Downtown Weatherford in remembrance of 9/11. Thank you for your service. 
Rotary places flags for 9/11 2021-09-13 05:00:00Z 0

Rep. Phil King zooms with Rotary Club of Weatherford 

 
 
 
 
 
 
State Rep. Phil King addressed members of the Rotary Club of Weatherford via Zoom at their Tuesday meeting, after he and fellow lawmakers remained “locked in” at the State Capitol while waiting on Democrats to come back for the special session. The Texas House began its regular session Jan. 8, with things getting off to a slow start, first with COVID followed by Winter Storm Uri in February.
 
“In mid-April, we had things rolling and were getting things moving, but it was very late in the session,” King explained. “To all of our surprise, we got an amazing amount done, even with all those restrictions.”
 
On July 12, approximately 51 House Democrats fled the state via plane, breaking the the two-thirds quorum needed for lawmakers to make any decisions. Time on the first special session ran out Aug. 6, during which Abbott called a second special session to begin the next day. Still, no Democrat lawmakers.
 
“We’ve got an agenda to work through, and apparently these are things that are very offensive to the Democrats that I serve in the House with,” King said.
 
Topics on the agenda include bail reform, spend through $15 billion in federal funds, border security, social media censorship ( something King’s wife has dealt with) , transgender athletes competing in UIL, a 13th check for retired teachers, critical race theory, and Texas House Bill 6 - election integrity and security by preventing fraud in the conduct of election.
 
King did reference the absurdity of him and fellow house members being "locked" in the capital while the Democrats were being located out of state, even with a couple vacationing in Portugal. At the time of the presentation, some Democrats have showed up to work on the agenda items, but not enough to make a quorum. The Texas House finally got their quorum  on Aug. 19 with 99 members registered as present that evening. 
 
Rotary members were allowed to ask questions about immigration and mask mandates. Many members asked about the border crisis and what is being done at the state level to hinder the out of control migrant movement, causing the surge in COVID cases.
 
 
 
After King signed off, President Rachael Watson presented the Paul Harris Award to now two-time award recipient Joe Wilkinson, who has given over $2,000 to the grant. Wilkinson explained how his father presented him with his first Paul Harris Award when he was a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. Ron Hunn gave an update  about the Battle for the Badges, stating that only 99 pints of blood were given, which Hunn said seems to be in the new normal in the COVID world. Lions Club did win this years' competition. 
Rep. Phil King zooms with Rotary Club of Weatherford  2021-08-23 05:00:00Z 0

Sheriff Russ Authier speaks to club 

 
 
Parker County Sheriff Russ Authier spoke to the Rotary Club of Weatherford at their regular meeting on Aug. 3. Sheriff Authier spoke about his law enforcement career that spans over 30 years, including the 12 years he worked as chief deputy under Larry Fowler. The sheriff's office currently has 98 commissioned officers and 37 civilians, with an average response time is 12.5 minutes in a county of over 900 square miles.
 
Authier also spoke about the privately owned jail that houses 461 inmates with 90 jailers. The sheriff's office runs dispatch for the Parker County Sheriff's Office, City of Willow Park, City of Hudson Oaks, and Aledo ISD. After his presentation, Authier graciously answered questions asked by fellow Rotarians and guests. 
Sheriff Russ Authier speaks to club  2021-08-09 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club awards 10 scholarships to local students 

The Rotary Club of Weatherford awarded 10 scholarships at their regular meeting on July 20. Students from Weatherford High School, Peaster High School, Weatherford Christian, and Weatherford College received scholarships this year. Each scholarship came from money raised from the annual pancake supper in February, amounting to $1,000 each. It was a blessing for the club to award the scholarships after the turbulent time of COVID.
 
"The Weatherford Rotary Club persisted in times of chaos to make sure that the kids in the community had an opportunity to apply for scholarships without club by raising funds in a creative way, " President Rachael Watson explained. 
 
Scholarships were awarded to the following students: 
 
Kurt Hatch                Emily Kemp 
Jordan Cash              Anna Yoder 
Madylen Wolfsen     Bryson Smith 
Peter McDow           Emily Allen 
Emma Groce            Keller Warren 
 
 
 
Scholarship recipients- photo by Tim Mitchell 
 
 
Peter McDow and Keith Warren accepting scholarships. photos by Tim Mitchell 
 
The "creative way" was holding the annual pancake supper outside and as a drive thru, allowing attendees to be able to participate while social distancing. It was radical contrast from previous years when the event was held at the Weatherford High School cafeteria. 
 
Feb. Pancake Supper- photo by Jeff Swaim 
 
 
The club also inducted two new members at their regular meeting: Allison Bedore and Dan Robertson. The club is excited to welcome these two new members. Allison is a transfer from the Aledo Rotary Club and Dan is joining under the American Legion Post #163. Welcome!  It's a great time to be a Rotarian!  
Rotary Club awards 10 scholarships to local students  2021-07-26 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary 2022 International Convention to be held in Houston

The event will bring more than 20,000 participants from around the world and deliver $30 million in local economic impact

HOUSTON (July 22, 2021) – During a joint news conference held at George R. Brown Convention Center today, Rotary and Houston First Corporation representatives announced that more than 20,000 service-minded people from around the world will gather in Houston for Rotary’s 113th annual international convention on June 4-8, 2022.

The coveted international event is returning to Houston for the third time, marking the 50th anniversary of the 1972 international convention. The Bayou City also hosted the 5th Rotary convention in 1914. The event is expected to deliver $30 million in economic impact for the city’s hotels, restaurants, retailers and attractions.

 

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Rotary 2022 International Convention to be held in Houston 2021-07-23 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club volunteers at Peach Pedal

 
Rotary Club of Weatherford turned out early Saturday morning to sign in bicyclists for the 33rd Annual Peach Pedal Bike Ride. The Peach Pedal Bike Ride is an annual fundraising events for the United Way of Parker County and the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce. Rotary Club of Weatherford has signed in bikers for numerous years, some starting as early as 5:00 a.m. Monies raised during the bike ride provide program funding for the following non-profits in our community: CASA, Children’s Advocacy Center, Child Protective Services Board, Center of Hope, Freedom House, MANNA, Parker County Committee on Aging, Sanctified Hope for Women, and Stars and Strides Therapeutic Riding. 
Rotary Club volunteers at Peach Pedal 2021-07-12 05:00:00Z 0

Weatherford Rotary inducts new board 

 
Rotary Club of Weatherford installed their new officers on June 15. Rachael Watson is now our new president with Paul Gray as president- elect. Beau Rees is the new vice president. 
 
“As the newly elected club president, I hope to continue to lead our diverse membership into a year of many successes and opportunities,” Watson explained.  “I feel that I have a great board this year and I’m excited to see what the future holds.”
Weatherford Rotary inducts new board  2021-06-21 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford establishes permanent scholarship at Weatherford College 

Picture courtesy of WC 
 
The Rotary Club of Weatherford established a new permanent scholarship endowment with the Weatherford College Foundation. In honor of the club’s 100th anniversary, the fund will be named the Rotary Club of Weatherford Centennial Scholarship. Pictured are WC President Tod Allen Farmer, Club President Peggy Hutton, President-elect Rachael Watson and other Weatherford Rotarians.
Rotary Club of Weatherford establishes permanent scholarship at Weatherford College 2021-04-16 05:00:00Z 0

Kathy Meyer speaks about Child Abuse Awareness Month 

 
 
CASA Executive Director Kathy Meyer presented at the April 6 meeting about CASA in both Palo Pinto and Parker counties. She also spoke about April being Child Abuse Awareness Month, bringing light the child abuse problem on the country. 
 
CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system by building a relationship with the child and those who are involved with them such as foster parents, teachers, counselors, and parents. They visit with and talk to the child and those involved every month and then report back to the judge on how the child is doing, if they need anything, and last but not least what they would like the judge to know about the case. A typical case in the systems run 12-18 months, but can last longer in the court system. 
 
 In addition to services to abused and neglected children, the CASA program works to provide the community education concerning the issue of child abuse, neglect, and child welfare policy. They are also committed to working toward public policies that promote child abuse prevention and to address reforms in the Child Protective Services/Foster Care Systems. CASA will have a fundraiser on May 6 to raise money to help support and fund the organization as they work to change the lives of foster children. If you're interested in donating or want more information go to .casahopeforchildren.org/
 
 
Kathy Meyer speaks about Child Abuse Awareness Month  2021-04-12 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford Celebrates 100 

Rotary celebrated their 100 year anniversary with cake and refreshments at the Doss Heritage and Culture Center. Rotary members socialized and reminisced about past members and activities. 
 
 
President-Elect Rachael Watson and President Peggy Hutton posed with the cake. 
 
The original charter 
Rotary Club of Weatherford Celebrates 100  2021-03-22 05:00:00Z 0
Rotary honors Sheriff Larry Fowler  2021-03-08 06:00:00Z 0

Pancake Supper a success!

Even though we are still counting the raised dollars, this year's drive-thru pancake supper was a successful event. Rachael Watson and her team did a great job organizing the drive-thru event. It was a great night to be a Rotarian and raise money for scholarships.  Our Rotary Interact kids did a great job guiding the vehicles into Heritage Park and running food to vehicles. We could not have done it without them. A special thanks to the teen challenge members who cooked our pancakes for us. By 6:00 p.m., the 100th car came through and was surprised by the $100 gift. 

 

(photos courtesy of Sally Sexton from Weatherford Democrat)

 

 

Pancake Supper a success! 2021-03-01 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford recognized at Weatherford City Council Meeting 

The Rotary Club of Weatherford was recognized by the Weatherford City Council and Mayor Paul Paschall at their Feb. 9 meeting for March of 2021 being Weatherford Rotary Month in Weatherford, Texas. This proclamation was presented for the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Club of Weatherford's official charter. City Council also spoke about Feb 23, 2021 being the 65th Anniversary of the Pancake Supper.  
 
  
  President Peggy Hutton and President-Elect Rachael Watson with Mayor Paul Paschall        
                                  
  
 
 
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford recognized at Weatherford City Council Meeting  2021-02-22 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians place flags for MLK Day 

The Rotary Club of Weatherford placed flags around Downtown Weatherford on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Thank you Rotarians for all your hard work! 
 
 
Rotarians place flags for MLK Day  2021-01-19 06:00:00Z 0

Why Rotarians should engage with program alumni

When clubs cultivate relationships with Rotary alumni, both sides benefit

It’s always a pleasant surprise for Rotarians to meet someone who notices their Rotary pin and then to learn that the person was once a Rotary Youth Exchange student or Rotary Scholar. These conversations with Rotary alumni are great reminders of how many lives Rotary has had a positive effect on.

Rotary alumni can also have a positive effect on the organization, and many are looking for ways to reengage with Rotary. Chris Offer, a past governor of District 5040 in British Columbia, has seen firsthand what Rotary Peace Centers alumni can bring to the table. He and his wife, Penny, also a past governor of District 5040, were so impressed with the peace centers program that they established an endowment fund to support it; Offer now serves on the Rotary Peace Centers Committee. And peace fellows are only one part of the community of Rotary program alumni. One of them could make a fantastic speaker at your next meeting, bring valuable expertise to your club project, or be a great addition to your membership

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Why Rotarians should engage with program alumni 2021-01-04 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians Ring Bell for Salvation 
Army 

Rotarians rang the bell for the Salvation Army over the 2020 holiday season.  It was a great time for our Rotarians to get out and help raise money for this wonderful charity. 
 
Rotarians Ring Bell for Salvation Army  2020-12-28 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 13th consecutive year

For the 13th consecutive year, The Rotary Foundation has received the highest rating — four stars — from Charity Navigator, an independent evaluator of charities in the U.S.

The Foundation earned the recognition for adhering to sector best practices and executing its mission in a financially efficient way, demonstrating both strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. Only one percent of the organizations Charity Navigator evaluates have received 13 consecutive 4-star evaluations.

 

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Rotary Foundation receives highest rating from Charity Navigator for 13th consecutive year 2020-12-21 06:00:00Z 0

Interact Club FaceTime with sister school in Haiti 

The Interact Club of Weatherford Christian School, along with sponsor Rotarian Courtney McKeown, spent their meeting having a FaceTime call with their sister school in Haiti. The Interact Club allows young leaders ages 12-18 to become inspired and energized through service to become responsible global citizens. The students were able to meet their Haitian friends, tour the new school, and hear about their needs. All money raised from their Valentine’s Day candy sales will benefit Haiti, Shelter box and RYLA.
 
 
Interact Club FaceTime with sister school in Haiti  2020-12-14 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians put out flags for Pearl Harbor Day 

Brave Rotarians putting out flags for Pearl Harbor Day, Dec. 7. Each year on Dec. 7, the world comes together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. (L-R- Bobby Baker, Bill Baker and Bret and Rachael Watson) Photo taken by Peggy Hutton.
 
Rotarians put out flags for Pearl Harbor Day  2020-12-07 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child 

Rotary Club of Weatherford filled 50 boxes for Operation Christmas Child at the Nov. 17 meeting. These boxes will be sent overseas to more than 100 countries to bless the children who receive them and share the message of the Gospel.
Rotarians fill boxes for Operation Christmas Child  2020-12-07 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Weatherford helps with Habitat for Humanity build 

Rotary Club of Weatherford participated with a local Habitat for Humanity build over the weekend. Rotarians strive to take action in our local community to create lasting change. Habitat for Humanity is one organization that helps make direct change to our local community.
 
Rotary Club of Weatherford helps with Habitat for Humanity build  2020-11-23 06:00:00Z 0

Rotarians participate in Veteran's Parade 

It was a great day honoring our nation's veterans as the Rotary Club of Weatherford participated in the Veteran's Day Parade on Nov. 14. President Elect Rachael Watson pulled the flag trailer while President Peggy Hutton, Past President Joe Wilkinson, Karen Wilkinson and Misty Browning walked behind holding the American flag. 
 
 
Rotarians participate in Veteran's Parade 2020-11-16 06:00:00Z 0

New Board Meets to Discuss Upcoming Year 

The 2020-2021 board met on Aug. 29 with new President Peggy Hutton to discuss the upcoming goals for the new year. Despite the COVID shutdowns, there is a general excitement among the board about different opportunities for the club to be able to give back to the community.  The board will be reaching out to the club in upcoming meetings to discuss different volunteer committees and the exciting ways for the club to participate in service in the Weatherford area, starting with flag duty both Labor Day and 9/11. 
 
 
 
 
 
New Board Meets to Discuss Upcoming Year 2020-08-31 05:00:00Z 0

Holger Knaack selected to be 2020-21 Rotary International president

Holger Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International in 2020-21.

The Nominating Committee’s decision follows the resignation last month of President-nominee Sushil Gupta due to health reasons. Knaack will officially become president-nominee if no other candidates challenge him by 31 May.

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Holger Knaack selected to be 2020-21 Rotary International president 2019-05-28 05:00:00Z 0

Games of Weatherford Results

From Marnita Stinnett:
 
Thank you to all Rotarians that came out and participated in the Games of Weatherford! Rotary won (WhooHoo!) with 100 points to the Lions' 80 points. It was a lot of fun and a special thank you goes out to Peggy Hutton for assisting in organizing the event.
 
The best part of the competition is the fact that between the 2 clubs, we raised about $2700 to be split between Center of Hope, Manna and Weatherford College Foundation. Amazing!
Games of Weatherford Results 2019-04-15 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Members Rebuild After Hurricane Maria

Eladio Montalvo faced a stark choice: risk drowning in his one-story home or climb through a window into the house next door. It was under construction but had a second floor where he could escape the rising floodwaters. He boosted his dog through and scrambled in after him. The two huddled inside an upstairs bathroom for 22 hours while Hurricane Maria raged over Puerto Rico. With 155 mph winds and torrential rains, Maria was the strongest hurricane to hit the island in more than 80 years.  

After the storm, Montalvo went out to see what was left of the home he had lived in since 1958. The walls were standing, but the water inside had risen chest-high. Everything was destroyed. Without any family nearby, he had nowhere to go. He moved into his car. 

“But after the storm came the calm,” he says. “Good people came.”

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Rotary Members Rebuild After Hurricane Maria 2019-04-01 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary club harnesses international connections to tackle U.S. opioid crisis

New York Rotary members used support from international partners to help them fight a major U.S. problem: opioid addiction. 

After attending a wrenching funeral for a young man who died from an opioid overdose, Lana K. Rouff, a member of the Rotary Club of Binghamton, New York, USA, knew she had to do something. 

“It was awful,” says Rouff. “I was so shaken by the shock and sadness at the funeral. The experience really stuck with me but also sparked me to do something.”

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Rotary club harnesses international connections to tackle U.S. opioid crisis 2019-01-28 06:00:00Z 0

WCS Interact Club

 

The Weatherford Christian School Interact Club met on Wednesday, November 28, and constructed 50 gold headbands for the Brooke’s Blossoms Foundation supporting pediatric cancer research. Brooke’s Blossoms will be doing a pediatric cancer fundraiser fashion show in NYC in December in conjunction with the Runway Heroes foundation.  As part of it they would like to offer the pediatric cancer patients gold headwear to have and wear.

Seventeen of our club members (the boys were in football practice) met in the WCS cafeteria and put together these 50 gold flower & feather headbands.

It was a great day for a great cause!

 
WCS Interact Club 2018-12-04 06:00:00Z 0

Turning teens away from crime

PACT, which stands for Participation, Acknowledgement, Commitment, and Transformation, is a Toronto-based, award-winning charity supported by Rotary clubs in Canada. It works with at-risk young people and those who have committed crimes to change their direction in life. Entrepreneur and Toronto Rotary member David Lockett co-founded the program more than 20 years ago. 

The intensive, step-by-step program aims to break the cycle of poverty and criminal behavior. Its goal is to determine what the participants need and develop strategies “to put them on a positive path in their life, so they can enrich not only their own lives, but their community,” says Lockett, a member of the Rotary E-Club of Social Innovators D7090.

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Turning teens away from crime 2018-10-15 05:00:00Z 0

Climb Every Mountain

A Rotaractor ventures deep into her native Uganda with a polio vaccination team as part of Rotary’s newest virtual reality film, "Two Drops of Patience."

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Health workers must have a lot of passion. They face so many challenges to reach every child with the polio vaccine. 

I found that out when I traveled to a mountain community on the border of Uganda and Kenya, 200 miles from my home in Kampala, to join a vaccination team. Just getting to the homes was a challenge, let alone persuading the parents to let us in. We had to park the cars, carry our coolers with the polio vaccine safely tucked inside between ice packs, and move on our own two feet, just walking and walking. It’s a bit of a trick – using your hands to steady yourself while you climb, yet still having to carry this heavy cooler. There were lots of streams and rivers, and at times we had to jump across or walk through the water. 

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Climb Every Mountain 2018-09-24 05:00:00Z 0

International Inspiration

Toronto, the Capital of Nice, opened its arms this week to welcome 25,188 Rotarians from around the world, who came to Rotary’s annual convention looking for inspiration — and finding it.

Whether it was by seeing old friends in the hallways, making new connections in the House of Friendship, or listening to eloquent speakers at general sessions, attendees found plenty at the 109th Rotary International Convention to remind them of the fellowship that binds them and the diversity that Rotary embodies.

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International Inspiration 2018-07-16 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary works to alleviate refugee crisis

The statistics are staggering. More than 28,000 people are uprooted from their homes each day as a result of war, oppression, and poverty. That’s nearly 20 people per minute. 

By the end of 2016, an unprecedented 65.6 million people, from West Africa to South Asia, have been forcibly displaced, making it the world’s worst migrant crisis in history. 

The wave of migrants and refugees has overwhelmed the international community, putting a particular strain on neighboring countries and Europe. Turkey hosts the largest number of refugees with nearly 3 million. Pakistan is second. Germany is the only high-income country in the top ten host nations, with about 700,000 refugees and asylum-seekers.

Rotary clubs are doing their part to help alleviate the global refugee crisis with projects that help bring water and health care to refugee camps, funds for families to move to safer countries, and more. Over the last several years, clubs and districts have used roughly $3 million of global grant funds toward refugee-related projects. 

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Rotary works to alleviate refugee crisis 2018-06-18 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary women celebrated for changing lives

Three Rotary women were recognized on 7 March at the World Bank in Washington, D.C., USA, for their commitment to improving lives through innovative humanitarian projects. 

The celebration, hosted by the World Bank Group Staff Association, and sponsored by Rotary International and investment firm Oppenheimer & Co., was one of many events held this week to mark International Women's Day, which is on 8 March each year. It highlighted the positive changes women make around the world. Annette Dixon, vice president of the World Bank for South Asia, moderated the event. 

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Rotary women celebrated for changing lives 2018-06-04 05:00:00Z 0

Rotaract: 50 Years of Changing Lives

A half-century has passed since those first Rotaract clubs began inspiring young leaders to take action to improve their communities. The world has changed, as has the way Rotaract members connect with one another. But the underlying values of the program, and what attracts people to it, remain remarkably the same. 

To celebrate Rotaract’s 50th anniversary, we asked former Rotaractors from six decades to share their experiences of the program and explain how it shaped their lives. 

Here are their stories.

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Rotaract: 50 Years of Changing Lives 2018-04-02 05:00:00Z 0

Vision Quest

President-elect Barry Rassin on where Rotary has been, where he hopes to lead it – and how the organization profoundly changed his life.

Before becoming president-elect, Rassin was best known for leading Rotary’s relief and recovery efforts after the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, which included 105 separate projects funded by Rotarians. “I had a spreadsheet with 132 pages and every detail of every project,” he says. “People look at it and say, ‘How do you do this?’ But I enjoyed that.”

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Vision Quest 2018-03-12 05:00:00Z 0

Nowhere to Turn

As thousands of refugees streamed into Berlin, they strained the health care system. Rotarian and physician Pia Skarabis-Querfeld spent the last three years building a network of volunteer doctors to help those in need.

For Hatzler, who was also part of the network from the beginning, helping Skarabis-Querfeld during those first days in the gymnasium, the work of Medizin Hilft is not finished, even if support and interest has dwindled. What keeps Hatzler going is the joy of taking action for something she believes in. 

“If you really have an idea in your mind, and you really want it, and you connect with people who have the same ideas or similar, you can really move something,” she says. 

“We have created something here that is very big and beautiful. And very needed.”

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Nowhere to Turn 2018-03-12 05:00:00Z 0
7 things you don’t know about Rotaract 2018-03-05 06:00:00Z 0

Thanks for a successful pancake supper

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making our pancake supper a success. A special shout out goes to Marnita Langford for organizing and leading the way this year.
 
Great job, Marnita!
Thanks for a successful pancake supper 2018-02-26 06:00:00Z 0
Healing Scars of War 2018-02-05 06:00:00Z 0

Peace Needs to be Lived

On the 99th anniversary of the end of World War I, more than 1,200 people gathered in Geneva, Switzerland, for Rotary Day at the United Nations. 

Representing 87 countries, they convened on Saturday, 11 November, at the Palais des Nations, originally the home of the League of Nations, and dedicated themselves to the theme introduced by Rotary President Ian H. S. Riseley: “Peace: Making a Difference.”

“The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace have always been among Rotary’s primary goals,” said Riseley. “It is past time for all of us to recognize the potential of all of our Rotary service to build peace, and approach that service with peacebuilding in mind.”

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Peace Needs to be Lived 2017-11-20 06:00:00Z 0

Cellphones Power Disease Eradication

Mobile phones and simple text messaging may be the keys to victory in the world’s largest public health initiative: the eradication of polio. 

As the disease retreats from the global stage, thriving in only a few remote areas in three countries, it’s up to health workers to deliver vaccines and share information with speed and accuracy. 

Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are strengthening the lines of communication by giving cellphones to health workers in Pakistan and Nigeria, where a single text message could save a life. 

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Cellphones Power Disease Eradication 2017-11-06 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary partners with Habitat for Humanity

EVANSTON, IL (October 2, 2017) — More than 1 billion people around the world live in inadequate housing according to the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements. Through a partnership between Rotary and Habitat for Humanity, more will have access to safe and affordable housing across the globe.

The partnership will facilitate collaboration between local Rotary clubs and local Habitat for Humanity organizations, enabling Habitat to extend their volunteer pool by tapping into Rotary’s 1.2 million members in 200 countries and regions.

“Habitat’s aim to bring people together to build homes, communities and hope aligns perfectly with Rotary’s commitment to make positive, lasting change in communities around the world,” said Rotary General Secretary John Hewko. “With Habitat’s expertise and the power of Rotary’s volunteer network, we will help build the foundation for stronger communities.”

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Rotary partners with Habitat for Humanity 2017-10-02 05:00:00Z 0

Skydivers raise thousands for polio eradication

The first time Noel Jackson jumped out of a plane, it had nothing to do with raising money for polio eradication.The Michigan dentist had received a gift certificate from members of his staff to go skydiving because they knew he was into adventure.

“It is definitely a defining moment,” says Jackson, a member of the Rotary Club of Trenton, Mich., of that first jump at 14,000 feet, done in tandem strapped to a professional skydiver. “The rush of the free fall is beyond anything I have ever experienced before. Just the speed and acceleration is unbelievable. You don’t even have time to figure out if you are enjoying it or not; it’s just a sensation that happens.”

Jackson did enjoy the sensation, so much so that he agreed to do another jump, with Shiva Koushik, a Rotarian friend in nearby Windsor, Ont.

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Skydivers raise thousands for polio eradication 2017-09-18 05:00:00Z 0

Barry Rassin selected to be 2018-19 Rotary president

Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas, is the selection of the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International for 2018-19. He will be declared the president-elect on 1 September if no challenging candidates have been suggested.

As president, Rassin aims to strengthen our public image and our use of digital tools to maximize Rotary’s reach.

“Those who know what good Rotary clubs do will want to be a part of it, and we must find new models for membership that allow all interested in our mission to participate,” he says. “With Rotary more in the public eye, we will attract more individuals who want to be part of and support a membership organization that accomplishes so much good around the world.”

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Barry Rassin selected to be 2018-19 Rotary president 2017-08-14 05:00:00Z 0

Interactor from Brazil combats a deadly online game

Horrified by stories about an online suicide game called Blue Whale, Gabriel Kenji of Brazil decided to create a game to counter the dangerous online trend, and hopefully, save lives. 

The Blue Whale Challenge is a chilling suicide game allegedly run by a social media group. The game preys on vulnerable adolescents and teenagers, who are instructed to complete a set of challenges over a 50-day period. The tasks begin harmlessly but become increasingly more dangerous, including self-punishing, and end with the teenager being urged to take their own life. 

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Interactor from Brazil combats a deadly online game 2017-07-24 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary President-elect Sam Owori dies

Rotary International President-elect Sam F. Owori died unexpectedly on 13 July due to complications from surgery. Sam was a member of the Rotary Club Kampala, Uganda, for 38 years.

“Rotary has become a way of life for me – with the intrinsic value and core belief in mutual responsibility and concern for one another as a cornerstone,” Sam said when he was nominated last year. “I feel immense satisfaction knowing that through Rotary, I’ve helped someone live better.”

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Rotary President-elect Sam Owori dies 2017-07-24 05:00:00Z 0

Where Polio Hides

For a 13-month-old boy whose family lives in northeastern Nigeria, escaping Boko Haram was only the beginning of a long, difficult journey.

When his family finally arrived at the Muna Garage camp for internally displaced people (IDP), they had walked more than 130 miles in three days. They were starving, and the camp was only a temporary setup with inadequate facilities, housing more than 15,000 people. But the worst news was yet to come. Health officials in the camp determined the baby had polio.

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Where Polio Hides 2017-05-30 05:00:00Z 0

Your Gift From Start to Finish

In 2016, The Rotary Foundation received the highest possible score from Charity Navigator – 100 of 100 points – for its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

It was the ninth straight year the Foundation earned a four-star rating from the independent evaluator of charities across the U.S., a distinction only 1 percent of charities have attained.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals likewise named the Foundation the World’s Outstanding Foundation for 2016, an award previously given to other familiar names such as Kellogg and MacArthur.

These organizations agree: When you donate to The Rotary Foundation, you’re investing wisely. We followed your money from start to finish to discover how the Foundation ensures that your gift makes an impact for years to come.

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Your Gift From Start to Finish 2017-05-15 05:00:00Z 0

ClubRunner Mobile: Your Club on the Go

ClubRunner Mobile AppDownload from App Store Download from Google Play Store
 
 
 
 
Password protected just like your website, the ClubRunner Mobile app allows you to to view your member directory, contact your members and executives, read the latest articles posted to your website and even learn more about your upcoming events and speakers, right from your smartphone or tablet.
ClubRunner Mobile: Your Club on the Go 2017-04-29 05:00:00Z 0

Why Rotary is investing in zero and beyond

When was polio last in Europe? If you guessed 2002, the year the region was certified polio-free, you’re wrong. 

The last time polio affected a child in Europe was 2015. Two Ukrainian children were diagnosed with paralytic polio, and that likely means that many more were infected and didn’t show symptoms. At least one Western news outlet deemed the outbreak “crazy” — but the reality is that no place on Earth is safe from polio until the disease is eradicated everywhere. 

Ukraine had fully vaccinated only 50 percent of its children against polio, and low immunization rates are a recipe for an outbreak. In this case, a rare mutation in the weakened strain used in the oral polio vaccine was able to spread because so many children had not been vaccinated. To stop it from progressing, the country needed to administer 6 million vaccines through an emergency program. 

“Rotary was there at the beginning of the global effort to eradicate polio,” says International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael K. McGovern. “It would be unfortunate if Rotary isn’t there at the finish line. We’ve done too much; we’ve made too much progress to walk away before we finish.” 

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Why Rotary is investing in zero and beyond 2017-04-17 05:00:00Z 0

8,000 Kilometers to Peace

Rotary members in a small town of Nova Scotia, Canada, took action to bring two families from war-torn Syria to their country, where the refugees are starting a new life.
 
8,000 Kilometers to Peace 2017-04-11 05:00:00Z 0

New Book Praises Rotary's Role in Fight to End Polio

A new book in the field of public health highlights Rotary’s role in the global effort to wipe out polio, and places it in the context of humanity’s relentless struggle to contain the world’s epidemics.

In “The Health of Nations: The Campaign to End Polio and Eradicate Epidemic Diseases(Oneworld Publications), British journalist and Sunday Times best-selling author Karen Bartlett surveys the global landscape of epidemics past, present, and future. Beginning with the 1980 eradication of smallpox, she guides us through more timely threats such as the Ebola and Zika viruses, and looks ahead to a future without malaria, measles, or polio.

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New Book Praises Rotary's Role in Fight to End Polio 2017-03-20 05:00:00Z 0

Inside an Iron Lung

Rotarian builds his own iron lung replica to teach a new generation about polio.

Dispatched to Ghana with a fellow British Rotarian to scout club service opportunities, Roger Frank hadn’t planned their visit to coincide with National Immunization Days, but the pair – Frank and Dr. Carl Hallam – jumped, unhesitating, into the thick of inoculations. During a four-day stretch in October 2015, nearly 2,000 children in the area were protected from poliomyelitis. The effort galvanized Frank, who brainstormed for a way to do even more at home: How could he promote polio eradication when few of his countrymen gave much thought to the scourge?

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Inside an Iron Lung 2017-02-20 06:00:00Z 0

Water Wars

Bankruptcies, suicides, death threats: A battle over water rights was destroying an Oregon community until a Rotarian found a way to bring it together.

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Water Wars 2017-02-07 06:00:00Z 0