Rotary International District 6860 Newsletter March 2023
Sunday, March 12, 2023
By Carol Argo
Dear Rotarians,

I had the pleasure of attending the Rotaract Club of Birmingham’s annual Black & White Ball on February 25 and was honored to be one of six Rotarians and Rotaractors inducted into the Hall of Fame.  The event was beautifully organized and held at the Birmingham Museum of Art.  The weather, which had been dreary and wet, cooperated and the rain stopped in time for the outdoor buffet, awards program and music and dancing.  What a spectacular evening, organized by an amazing group of young professionals and extremely well attended.  Congratulations Rotaract Club of Birmingham!
 
We are now about three quarters way through this Rotary year, but there is still much to be done by our clubs and the district.  This is the time to make sure clubs have selected their officers for next year and they receive training to serve and achieve the goals set by the club leadership.  Be sure to send your 2023-2024 club officers to District Training Assembly on March 31.  Details on registration can be found in this newsletter.

The District Rotary Foundation Committee has completed one round of club qualification grant training (March 4) and there is one opportunity remaining for clubs to qualify to participate in district and global grants for 2023-2024.  Clubs must qualify annually by attending one of these training sessions.  If you missed the March 4 training, register through DACdb for the April 1 training in Huntsville from 9:30 a.m. to noon. 

We are also making plans for the Joint District Conference in Perdido Beach April 28-30.  This end of the year celebration brings together Rotarians and their families to celebrate our accomplishments for the year, get to know one another, and enjoy some good old fashioned Rotary fellowship.  Join us at Perdido Beach Resort where we can relax by the pool or enjoy a walk on the beautiful beach. 

During the district conference we will be celebrating the achievements of clubs in the district.  We will present district awards for the Avenues of Service, Best Use of Social Media. Imagine Rotary Award, along with recognitions for RLI graduates, participants in supporting Boiling N Bragging to raise funds for Children’s of Alabama Critical Care Transport, clubs that sent students to RYLA, clubs that sponsor Rotaract clubs and Interact clubs, and more.  The awards program is open to Rotary and Rotaract Clubs.  Please be sure to submit your applications by March 31.  Details follow in the newsletter.

This year, I have encouraged clubs to Imagine Rotary in the area of service and to look for at least one new opportunity to engage in a service project.  If your club wants to learn more about how to identify, plan, implement and evaluate a service project, or if you may be looking for ways to identify partners, then you may want to participate in the Rotary International webinar series on Cultivating Effective Service Projects.  Read more about this series below.

Have you heard about the International Peace Conference in Birmingham May 4-6?   Rotary district 6860, in partnership with The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and the Institute for Human Rights at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presents the 2023 International Peace Conference(IPC).  IPC brings together people from across our nation and the globe to highlight the pursuit of peace at all levels of society. This two-day immersive experience will showcase programs and approaches that are making a positive impact in our communities.  In addition, on May 4, Rotarians will have a unique opportunity to meet graduates of the Rotary Peace Centers as we host a Peace Fellows Symposium in conjunction with the International Peace Conference.  To learn more about the International Peace Conference or the Peace Fellows Symposium, visit the conference website at www.peaceconference2023bham.com.

I hope to see Rotarians from each of our 52 clubs at District Training Assembly, the Joint District Conference, and the International Peace Symposium. 

Imagine Rotary!

Carol Argo
Governor

Last Chance – Qualify Your Club for District/Global Grants for 2023-2024

Saturday, April 1 at Redstone Federal Credit Union in Huntsville.

The meeting is from 9:30 am to 12 noon. Global grants will be covered from 9:30-10:00 am and district grants will be covered from 10 am-12 noon.

Someone from your club must attend one of these meetings for your club to apply for a 2023-24 global or district grant. Bring a computer or tablet to begin setting up your grant as the trainers take you through the process.

Register NOW for District 6860 Grant Qualification Training

District Awards – Deadline March 31
The Rotary District 6860 Awards Recognition Program is intended to recognize the accomplishments of Rotary and Rotaract clubs that excel during the 2022-2023 Rotary year. All Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in our district are encouraged to apply for awards…EVERYONE enjoys recognition for their efforts.  AWARDS are the way we can say “Congratulations for a job WELL DONE!”  All district awards share a common due date of March 31, 2023, except the District Vocational Service Award which was January 1, 2023.  Please feel free to contact the Awards Co-Chairs PDG Pat Cross or PDG Sue Mitchell with any questions.  For the purpose of applying for awards, a Small Club is defined as having 50 or fewer members and a Large Club is defined as having 51 or more members. 
For a full list of awards, application forms and instructions:  https://www.rotary6860.org/awards-program.php

Rotary District 6860 & 6880 Joint District Conference
April 28-30, 2023
Perdido Beach Resort, Perdido Beach, AL

Imagine Rotary at the Beach!


With an emphasis on FUN! Come join us for our joint conference at Perdido Beach Resort. We want you to bring your spouse or partner and your children. This promises to be a family affair. We want the whole family to learn about Rotary and help us spread awareness on our seven areas of focus.

Register Now
https://www.dacdb.com/index.html?EventID=77644209
Tentative Topics
  • Keynote Speaker: Mark Daniel Maloney (Past Rotary International President)
  • Keynote Speaker: Gay Maloney “Women in Rotary” Local club to International
  • Rotary International President’s Representative Brian Hall
  • District Disaster Updates and Mobile Disaster Unit on site
  • Top District Fund Raising Projects in District 6880 & 6860 - Fairhope Rotary Steak Cook-off and Boiling N Bragging to Support Children’s of Alabama Critical Transport
  • Rotary Global Grants/Disaster Response Fund District 6880 Foundation Chair Bob Callahan/ District 6880 and Foundation Chair Ryan Stallings/District 6860
  • Showcase Local District Grant Service Projects
  • District meetings
  • Memorial Service
  • Plenty of free time to walk on the beach
  • District Award Presentations
  • Gulf Shores/Orange Beach Rotary Club Pontoon Boat Excursion to Robinson Island
  • Rotarians, relax by the pool
  • Saturday night ‘Low Country Boil” • Door Prizes

Come and join your fellow Rotarians and others at a can’t miss opportunity to meet new people and members for fun!

Perdido Beach Resort, 27200 Perdido Beach Blvd., Orange Beach, AL  36561
Deadline for hotel reservations is April 4, 2023
Guestroom block $199.00 for single or double occupancy

Should you wish to upgrade accommodations, the following rates will be offered.
Pass View Rate ($219) Beach View Rate ($244) Gulf Front Rate ($279) Executive Suite ($329) One-Bedroom Suite w/Parlor ($449) Two-Bedroom Suite w/Parlor ($529)

Rotary Club
Booking ID 18351
Call in reservations (800) 634-8001 or (251) 981-9811
Online Reservations:  https://www.perdidobeachresort.com/
A credit card and first night’s room and tax will be required to guarantee the reservation. 
There are limited rooms available for Thursday, April 27

Highlights of District 6860 Rotary Foundation Dinner

The annual District Rotary Foundation Dinner was held in Decatur, AL on February 23, hosted by the Rotary clubs of Decatur and Decatur Daybreak.  Larry Lunsford, Trustee 2021-2025, and Vice Chair of the Trustees was guest speaker for the evening.  Larry and Past Rotary International President and Trustee Mark Maloney presented major donor recognitions to John Beard and Louise Beard, Tom Somers and Mary Ann Somers, Mike Wade and Judy Wade, and Larry Hall and Pam Hall.  Past Vice Chair of the Trustees, Ken Schuppert recognized the many Paul Harris Fellows, Bequest Society, Benefactors, Major Donors, and Paul Harris Society members in attendance.  The purpose of the annual District Foundation Dinner is to recognize and honor those in District 6860 who support The Rotary Foundation through their financial contributions and commitments.


Dinner organizers Laura Adamsky, DG Carol Argo Wendy Taylor and Ronnie Dukes


Trustee and Vice Chair of the Trustees Larry Lunsford


Larry Lunsford, Mark Maloney, and Mike Wade


Larry Lunsford, Mark Maloney, Larry and Pam Hall


Larry Lunsford, Mark Maloney, John Beard


Larry Lunsford, Mark Malone, Mary Ann and Tom Somers

District Training Assembly – training for 2023-2024 club officers

District Training Assembly is provided by the District to help train and prepare club officers and committee chairs for their positions in their clubs for 2023-2024.   Make sure your club leaders have the tools and skills that they need to make your club successful. 

When:  March 31, 2023
Where:  Gardendale Civic Center
Time:  8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Cost:  $30 per person

REGISTER NOW https://www.dacdb.com/index.html?EventID=77652398
 
Cultivating Effective Projects Webinar Series
All Rotary members are invited to participate in an exciting five-part webinar series designed to support you as you cultivate effective projects that will create a sustainable impact in your community and around the world. These webinars will offer tools and strategies to help you plan, find resources for, implement, and evaluate your projects, including youth service projects.

Learn more about the specific topics and register now:
 
Visit rotary.org/webinars for more information