“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall” – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rotarians,
A fresh new season to deliciously relish is here with crunchy leaves under our feet and cool mornings of fresh Idaho air fills our lungs. Over the next few weeks our beautiful city is sure to delight as trees lining our parks and neighborhoods turn a bright marigold and honey bronze.
Our Idaho Falls community is a host to a diverse economy that is the focus of October programs chaired by Amanda Logan based in Economic and Community Development. This topic is a designated Area of Focus from Rotary International. Much of Rotary’s work begins in communities and continues globally. We work together to improve the communities and economic conditions of people around the world. We will start locally this month will kicking off with a Classification Talk from Brad Cramer and Brock Pence. Two very familiar faces in our Club who have each contributed uniquely to our Club’s benefit and directly to our local community through their professional roles. Many of our Rotarians have expressed the Classification Talks are their favorite program each month. As a Club of People of Action, this doesn’t surprise me in the least. What a treat it is to enjoy a lunch program with a glimpse into the personal lives of our fellow Rotarians.
Rotary International developed the Areas of Focus to guide the conversations and funding opportunities to meet the Club’s locally where they can actively engage. I see this as an opportunity for our Club to move the dial for progress and wellbeing without having to do it all. Knowing we are part of a larger network of 1.4 million Rotarians around the globe working to fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water, save mothers & children, support education and protect the environment connects us all through service.
This month, October, we focus on community and will learn each week how Rotary is being woven into the community through our Meals on Wheels deliveries and soon to come concession service at the Mountain America Center to raise funding for scholarships. Soon, we will be packing backpacks with the United Way of Idaho Falls and Bonneville County and providing $2500 in grant dollars from our District Grant to support their mission of supporting education, health, and financial stability as the building blocks of a good life.
I can’t wait to see you each Wednesday at lunch and thank you as I know we each continue to Create Hope in the World every day in our actions and services.
Yours in Rotary,
Catherine
We are fortunate to have Rotarians from Ecuador join us and share with us about their work to make the world a better place, primarily by bringing clean water to remote villages in Ecuador.
Rotarians,
September is here as we return to our desks from a long and (hopefully) relaxing three-day Labor Day weekend. I trust you are as excited as I to jump into our Rotary programs and activities for the month.
The Hope Squad, a peer-to-peer suicide prevention program on September 6th will open our month of programming Chaired by Margaret Wimborne. The month focuses on Basic Education and Literacy and the weeks of programs lined up for our Club will inspire and remind us all that we are People of Action. There are many good things, good people, and good kids acting in our community focused on hope and peace. When we nurture peace, opportunities, and one another, we help heal the world and create lasting change.
In the latest issue of The Rotary Magazine, please take a few extra minutes to read pages 16 – 17. If there’s any question of how peace is being spread around the world, the handful of stories on the pages will provide you details of the hopeful work around the global.
What’s more is 333 million dollars were awarded in global service grants and initiatives in 2020 – 2021. Connecting 1.4 million Rotarians worldwide. Serving our communities with 47 million hours last year.
Here in Idaho Falls, we hope to connect people, support the transformation of our greenspaces and fund sustainable projects.
This month as we align our actions with our focus on Basic Education and Literacy, we will launch our partnership with the United Way Idaho Falls & Bonneville County and District 91’s Backpack Project. Our Club’s District 5400 Grant application was successful for a total funded project of approximately $2500. Members will be invited to participate by helping pack backpacks and make deliveries to the schools. The backpacks will be full of necessities for school aged children who need help the most. Focusing and learning in school has been proven to be difficult for children who are hungry. This project will help support the efforts currently underway by the United Way Idaho Falls & Bonneville County. We are grateful to help.
The beauty of Rotary is you, the Rotarian, can decide what projects and service you want to be part of. In The Rotary Magazine, the global perspective of opportunities are at your fingertips. In Idaho Falls, our Community Service committee co-chaired by Jeremy Crook and Emily Fitzpatrick Harris, sit with you each week and are accessible for ideas and collaboration. Just ask and engage!
We will round out a full month of inspiring programs, service and fun with an ice-cream social and french fry gathering at Kevin & Kelly Call’s car barn just off Sunnyside Road on September 21st at 6 pm. I can’t wait to see you and your families there.
Yours in Rotary,
Catherine
Rotarians,
Every year, when the last few days of July wind down and the calendar changes to August, I’m amazed at how fast summer passes. We are hearty Idahoans and I routinely say we tolerate winters in Idaho to celebrate Idaho summers. For those of us who recreate and enjoy the snow during the winter, we know wintertime is a wonderful treat, too. However, there is something so sweet about Idaho summers and the cool evenings we all have the pleasure of enjoying.
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Service Above Self
Idaho Falls, ID 83402
United States of America