Tag Archives: TRF

$10,000 D7980 PolioPlus Challenge – Let’s End Polio Now

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"The Rick's" kickoff the PolioPlus Match Program

“The Rick’s” kickoff the PolioPlus Match Program

The Rick’s (Benson & Bassett) announced the kickoff of a special PolioPlus Contribution Matching Program at the Coromandel Indian Restaurant in Southport yesterday. 

As a show of support for PolioPlus, our Foundation Executive Board has authorized the use of a minimum of $10,000 in funds (and perhaps more if they are available) from our Global DDF to match any PolioPlus donation made by D7980 Rotarians between February 23rd to May 3rd.

D7980 knows that we are "This Close"

D7980 Rotarians know that we are “This Close” to eradicating Polio

In addition to the D7980 match, the Gates Foundation and the Rotary World Fund are also providing additional matchs.

Between District 7980 and the Gates Foundation matches:

  • $1 donation to PolioPlus turns into $7.50
  • $100 donation to PolioPlus turns into $750
  • $1,000 to PolioPlus turns into $7,500
Dennis Wong championed the Polio Free India Special Celebration yesterday

Dennis Wong championed the Polio Free India Special Celebration yesterday

It is very unusual to have such large matching programs and I encourage everyone who supports our global efforts to End Polio to take advantage of the power of these extremely generous matches.

Our goal is to turn our $10,000 in seed money into at least $75,000 of PolioPlus donations before May 3rd.

This program is being released to commemorate Rotary’s 109th Birthday and to celebrate the recent success of India being declared Polio Free based on many years of hardwork and dedication by Rotarians all over the world.

Rupi & Mukund - "This Close"

PDG Rupi & DGE Mukund – “We are This Close”

Jennifer and I have kicked off the program by committing to contribute $500 to PolioPlus. Please join us in helping to eradicate Polio from the remaining 3 countries by supporting this special PolioPlus Match Opportunity.

Want to contribute online? Simply sign it at “My Rotary“.

District Service Above Self Scholarships for 2014-15

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The District 7980 Service Above Self Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate high levels of service activity along with scholarship excellence. Service includes work at local or international levels. The value of the scholarship for is $10,000 for the 2014-15 academic year for study domestically or abroad in undergraduate or graduate school.  Two Scholarships will be awarded.

Candidates must currently be at the college freshman or higher level.

Students must apply through a club.  All candidates must be interviewed and endorsed by a club.  Clubs may endorse up to 2 candidates.  Club Scholarship Chairs should submit the candidates’ applications and endorsement to District Scholarship Chair Dave Wolfe: dwolfe.rotary@gmail.com

Applications and other forms are available on the District website http://www.rotarydistrict7980.org under Programs: The Rotary Foundation:  Grants/Scholarships.

The District deadline for applications is May 1.

D7980 The Rotary Foundation Seminar on 07-11-2013

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D7980 Foundation Seminar is coming next Thursday

D7980 Foundation Seminar is coming next Thursday

The TRF Seminar is rapidly approaching – this coming Thursday. If your Rotary Club wishes to take advantage of District and Global Grants and didn’t send anyone to the Grants Seminar at the District Assembly then this is the opportunity to become certified in just one short evening.

As we are trying our best to cut back District events on  Saturdays;  this is our first attempt at a weekday evening seminar, only half the length of the previous years Saturday seminars, so we are trying to be pretty efficient. This will be more of an expanded grants seminar, than starting from scratch on a TRF Seminar.

Here is a link to the draft Agenda.

This event will be held at the Graduate Club in New Haven from 5ish to 9:30. Cost is $20 per person which includes dinner.

Who Should Attend: Incoming Club Stewards, Club Foundation Chairs, Foundation Area Reps, Club International Service Chairs, New Members interested in Humanitarian Grants or Scholarships.

Potential attendees can register directly in DaCdb or by contacting PDG Rick Benson, our District Rotary Foundation Chair.

District Managed Grant Proposals Needed for 2013-14

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PDG Rick Benson, District Foundation Chair 2013-16

PDG Rick Benson,
District Foundation Chair 2013-16

Thank you for your support of our Foundation; NOW is the time to put some of those funds to work for your club.

We need your District Managed Grant proposals by June 15 so we can apply for and receive our funding from The Rotary Foundation by July 1.

The proposals need: Name of Sponsor Club, a 1 sentence project description, location of the project, Area of Focus, and how much funding you think you will be requesting.

We have $60,534 available to spend on District Managed Grants, but we can’t get the funds until I submit our Spending Plan (compilation of your project proposals).  To date I only have proposals for about $10,000.

District Managed Grants must:

  • Be in direct support of a humanitarian   project that is new for the Club. A “new” project is a project that is new   to the club or one that involves a specific new addition to an existing   project that improves the project’s effectiveness.
  • Align with one   of Rotary’s six Areas of Focus:

Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
Disease prevention and treatment
Water and sanitation
Maternal and child health
Basic education and literacy
Economic and community development

  • Be short term   projects with all application approvals and   funds disbursed to the clubs   during the Rotary year, by 6/30; complete by 9/15
  • Involve Club Rotarians in hands-on   activities that support the humanitarian project
  • No project can be implemented or funds   spent until all District approval signatures have been obtained

Partnering with other clubs is encouraged   to broaden participation and to increase the size of the grant to make it   more significant

  • If the project is outside the district,   it is recommended that there be active cooperation, participation, and support of a local Rotary club, when one exists, reasonably   near to the project location.
  • Airfare for any   travel funded by Rotary Foundation grants must be booked through Rotary   International Travel Services (RITS) according to established travel   policies.
  • Be matched   dollar for dollar by a District club or clubs

What are the funding limits?

District 7980 Clubs, in collaboration with partner clubs, may request up to $7,500 for each project. Any one club can receive a maximum of $5000 per project and $7500 per Rotary year. There is no minimum grant size. The Committee matches $1 for every $1 of cash contributions.

District Managed Grants will be limited to one to each qualified club taking principal responsibility until January 1st, at which time clubs may apply for a second grant (only one second grant).

The actual DMG Instructions and Application Form will be on the district web site approximately June 1.  Applications from Qualified Clubs may be submitted as soon a the club is qualified.

PDG Rick Benson,
District Foundation Chair 2013-16

District 7980 Grants Seminar 4/13 – REGISTER NOW!

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missing_pieceSame time and place as District Assembly, but a separate seminar– Every Club should send at least 1 or 2 members to just the Grants Seminar and many more to District Assembly!

Any club that wishes to participate in Rotary Foundation Programs in 2013-14 MUST be re-qualified annually. To qualify you need to understand and sign the Memorandum of Understanding and you must have a trained Club Steward. We recommend at least 2 trained TRF people in every club.

With the Global Launch of Future Vision, the rules have changed – every club needs to learn the new rules and the new grants funding opportunities from District 7980.  Register TODAY.

If you want to apply for a Global Grant to do a significant project, to apply for a District Grant locally or internationally, recommend a Scholarship candidate or a Peace Fellow candidate, participate in a Vocational Training Team, or apply for a prepackaged grant – your club must be qualified.

There will only be 3 opportunities to train your Club Steward & Club Foundation Committee –

  • District Assembly – NEXT SATURDAY APRIL 13, 2013 <click here for program>
  • The District Foundation Seminar – Saturday July 13, tbd central CT
  • The Zone Success Seminar – September 14, 2013 – Cromwell, CT

Who Should Attend: Incoming Club Stewards, Club Foundation Chairs, Foundation Area Reps, Club International Service Chairs, New Members interested in Humanitarian Grants or Scholarships

rick benson2PDG Rick Benson
District Foundation Committee Chair
2013-16
203 856 9792