District Governor's November Message

Dear fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors and Family of Rotary,    

 
Is there a better return on investment?
 
If someone offered you a One Thousand Percent return on investment, you’d be right to be suspicious, especially in this economy! Well, as Rotarians in District 7020, we have a unique opportunity – probably one that very few of our Fellow Rotarians have the chance of experience anywhere else in the Rotary World. Analysis shows that for every dollar we contribute – we get a massive ten times back to our District in terms of Grants (especially from the former Matching Grants – now known as Global Grants) through the generosity and unique mechanism of our Rotary Foundation.
 
Matching with International partner clubs and Districts, using their cash and DDF – (District Designated Funds https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/annual-fund-and-share), combining these with our cash District 7020 DDF and then matching with the Foundation World Fund turns the US$200,000 - US$250,000 we contribute as a District each year into US2m to US$3m in grants three years later!
 
This money funds schools, orphanages, and water projects in Haiti; medical equipment at hospitals such as the Mandeville Regional in Jamaica; dialysis machines in places like Cayman; computer labs and reading programmes in St. Thomas USVI; an emergency oxygen generator in St. John; a new school playfield in Port Antonio, Jamaica; as well as numerous other projects throughout our District. As Michelle and I continued our travels across the District in October to the USVI and North West and North East Jamaica clubs, we were again in awe of the tremendous work being done by our clubs and Rotarians, often through our Foundation. When adding the local multiplier effect of our expertise and sweat equity to the equation, the return is even greater!
 
Of course, an essential component is the international clubs we work with; and if we are to maintain and increase their support we need to continue to show that we can be strong and reliable partners for them. With the successful roll-out of the New Grants Model in our District (96.4% of our clubs are certified), we have taken a strong step forward; however, what else can we do to make sure? Well it’s a lot easier if we can look our partners in the eyes as a 100% giving district – with every club giving what they can afford to our Foundation. Last year only 75% of our clubs gave to the Annual Fund and this is simply not good enough. As a beneficiary of 10x what we give annually, nothing less than our being a 100% giving district is “fair to all concerned.”
 
This year, I have challenged each of our Presidents to give “something” to the Annual Fund, as well as clubs to give at least US$12 per annum per member (many of course will give much, much more - and do). This year, District 7020 will be a 100% giving district. Our Presidents will also be recognised at the 2014 District Conference as the “FIRST CLASS” of Presidents ever, 100% of whom will have contributed to our Foundation.
 
So, when your President and Foundation Chair asks you to contribute something to our Foundation for the first time, to become a Sustaining Member, or, if your club aims to be achieve EREY status this year; if you’ve been asked to contribute for your first Paul Harris Fellow or your 10th as a Major Donor;  Remember – whatever you can give – will come back as grants three years later as at least ten times the amount – and that can do a lot of good.
 
Show your support for our Foundation by clicking the “Give” button on the welcome page of the www.rotary.org website. It’ll be the best investment you’ve ever made!
 
Have a great November as we strive to Engage Rotary - Change Lives through our Foundation!
 
Yours in Rotary Service,
 
 
 
Jeremy Hurst, Governor 2013/14
District 7020 -Rotary International