Travelling the district and visiting Rotary clubs has given me the opportunity to meet many Rotarians face to face. I've looked them in the face as I spoke to their club. Having seen the faces of many Rotarians, makes me think sometimes of the many faces of Rotary. In the communities in which our Rotary clubs are located do our friends and families and fellow citizens see the faces of Rotary? Will they see a face of Rotary when Rotarians are holding a fundraising event and wearing attire with our Rotary logo? Will they see a face of Rotary when Rotarians present scholarships to deserving students or are packing backpacks with school supplies or food for a child who may go hungry over a weekend away from school? Will they see a face of Rotary when Rotarians help with a fundraising event for a worthwhile charity in their community? Will they see a face of Rotary when Rotarians take schoolchildren fishing or read to them or act as a mentor or tutor for them? Rotarians and the good they do in service to their fellow human beings are the face of Rotary. May that face be easily recognized?

DG Jack McAllister was joined at the meeting with RC Ashland by President Ed Neely and Assistant Governor Cheryl Spriggs

When DG Jack McAllister made his official visit to RC Ashland on his birthday, August 19, he received a very warm welcome, complete with a birthday cake.  He found the club to be "on top" of things with their Rooftop Party successful fundraiser which benefits several community projects. Their membership participates in a number of community service projects and their "younger generation" Rotarians have their own project. 

President Terry Burkeen of RC Cumberland was congratulated after the meeting by DG Jack McAllister.

Prior to DG Jack McAllister's visit with RC Cumberland, now in its 76th year, President Terry Burkeen and other club members gave him and  his wife Kay a tour of the Rotary Park established in 1983. At the meeting, DG Jack was able to share Rotary not only with club members but also with several community leaders who had been invited as special guests. This was a positive and unique Rotary outreach to the community. 

Jack McAllister met with President R. B. McKenzie of RC Russell.

DG Jack McAllister made his visit to RC Russell on August 22. Located in Greenup County which claims Jesse Stuart as a native son, it should be no surprise that there would be an educational element to their community service projects. The club showed strong support for the Rotary Foundation through the naming of 10 Paul Harris fellows in the last two years.

DG Jack McAllister was joined at the meeting with RC Nicholasville by President Cathy Lowe and Assistant Governor Keith Key

It was a short trip from Lexington for DG Jack McAllister to visit RC Nicholasville on August 26. The 5 new members added in the last year are part of a club with several very worthwhile community service projects funded by their Pancake Breakfast which has been conducted for 15 years. Members are also encouraged to donate to the "Pennies for Polio" jar at club meetings.

DG Jack McAllister met President Donna Slone of RC Lexington Sunrise.

DG Jack McAllister drove across town for a meeting with RC Lexington Sunrise; his first with a breakfast club. He was warmly welcomed by this club at which he has made up many times. The Lexington Sunrise club has emphasized education, especially reading, in their community service projects. They have hosted a fishing trip for elementary school students for the last 15 years. A formal new member orientation is held and Rotary "elevator speech" cards are provided.

President Mark Roozen of RC Versailles Woodford County welcomed DG Jack McAllister.

DG Jack McAllister received a warm welcome from RC Versailles Woodford County after a short trip from Lexington. The trip to the club took him past "The Castle", where the club held its first Valentine Ball major fundraising event this spring in support of a Spring Break Backpack service project and Polio Plus. The club updated DG Jack on their latest efforts in their 13 year Repair Affair project. 

DG Jack McAllister was joined at the meeting with RC Paris by President Phil Spear and Assistant Governor Mike Babb.

The short trip on a sunny August day from Lexington to Paris took DG Jack McAllister through bluegrass country past several beautiful horse farms with thoroughbreds in the pastures. Arriving at Stoner Creek Country Club, the meeting place of RC Paris, DG Jack was warmly greeted by club members. Scholarships for both university and community and technical college students and a blanket and coat project are among several community service projects of the club. Fundraising projects feature food; a seafood dinner and cake and pie auction and a steak dinner cookout. A Christmas Concert benefits Polio Plus and the Rotary Foundation.

DG Jack McAllister joined five new Paul Harris Fellows at RC Falmouth in displaying the 100 % Paul Harris Fellow Club banner awarded to the club by the Rotary International Foundation.

DG Jack McAllister travelled north up I-75 and along the ridges of north central Kentucky to visit RC Falmouth. He was kindly welcomed by this club which provides scholarships as a community service project. Fundraising for community service projects and in support of the Rotary Foundation come from a golf outing and a spaghetti supper. In 2012-13 RC Falmouth was recognized by Rotary International as 100 % Paul Harris Fellow club. At the club meeting DG Jack had the privilege of presenting this recognition as well as 6 Paul Harris Fellows and "pinning" a new member 

Assistant District Governor Jeanne Clark presents Pikeville Rotarian Kelly Moore with a gold pin in  honor of his contributions to the Rotary Foundation.

Pikeville native Kelly Moore recently achieved a milestone in Rotary International.  As a member of the Pikeville Rotary Club, Kelly was awarded the status of a being a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.

 

The Paul Harris Fellowship is named for Paul Harris, who founded Rotary over 100 years ago.  The Fellowship was established in his honor in 1957 to express appreciation and recognition for a contribution of US $1000 to the Rotary Foundation.    A Paul Harris Fellow is an individual who contributes $1,000 US or in whose name that amount is contributed.  Every Paul Harris Fellow receives a pin and certificate when he or she becomes a Fellow.  This identifies the Paul Harris Fellow as an advocate of the Foundation's goals of world peace and international understanding.

 

A multiple Paul Harris Fellow is a Paul Harris Fellow who has contributed, or in  whose name is contributed, additional US $1000 gifts to the Foundation.

Kelly, a member of Pikeville Rotary club for twenty-five years, served as the club's president in 1998-99 and has been an integral part of the club throughout his membership.  His contribution to the Rotary Foundation will help improve living conditions and provide educational opportunities for young people somewhere in the world.

 

Kelly, who is an accountant, is married to Mary Hall  and they have four children.

Event Organizer, Joe Grey (left) and tournament winner Steve Hines (right) during the championship  pinning ceremony.

The Annual Golf Outing sponsored by the Russell Rotary Club has been an ongoing event for well over forty years.  Earl Mittendorf, Rotarian and owner of "The Russell Times", started the tradition sometime before 1973.  Although nobody is quite sure of the actual beginning date, the annual event is obviously a success for the club. More importantly, "it is a time to get together as Rotarians without having to work, and just have fun!"

The yellow jacket that Joe Grey is presenting to Steve Hines in the photograph is passed down from the previous year's winner each year, not at all unlike the Masters!

The Versailles - Woodford County Rotary is busy with the final preparations for another Repair Affair. This is the 16th year of the 2 day event and our small Rotary Club has been the sponsor for the last 11 years.  Repair Affair is our annual community service project that involves not only the dedicated members of our Rotary Club; but several hundred volunteers from area churches, civic clubs, businesses and individuals.  Even though this year's Repair Affair is September 20 and 21st, it is a year long process of grant writing, fundraising, home owner evaluation, volunteer recruitment and project organization. We are happy to say that we have had great success in providing those area home owners who are less fortunate a way to improve their daily lives and living conditions. We are also proud Rotarians that live the motto of service above self.  

 

Repair Affair 2013 is planned for the weekend of September 20 - 21.  This is the 16th year for the Woodford County event, which has been sponsored by the Versailles-Woodford County Rotary Club since 2002. The project provides home repairs for seniors and handicapped homeowners in need of assistance.  To receive help, a person or family must be physically challenged or over age 60, have a modest income and must be the homeowner.  (Repair Affair does not repair rental property.) There are no costs to the homeowner.  The work is done by volunteers and needed supplies are donated or purchased with donated funds.  Last year, over 200 Woodford County Repair Affair volunteers made repairs to 13 homes.  Repairs were made to roofs, siding, doors, windows, walls, kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, garages and gutters; and volunteers painted and cleaned yards. 

 

If you would like more information on how to volunteer for Repair Affair, form a volunteer team, or volunteer as a team captain please contact  this years Repair Affair Team Captain Coordinator, Chris Castle at 859-879-5432.

 

If you would like to donate to Repair Affair or have any questions you may contact this years Repair Affair Chairperson, Ashley Adams at (859) 753-4699 or visit our website at versaillesrotary.org and click on the Repair Affair link.

Versailles - Woodford Co. Rotarians getting ready for a weekend of helping our neighbors.

Kenton County Immediate Past President J Zang presented a check in the amount of $3,000.00 to John Salyers for Polio.  John presented the check to Doug Stafford, Zone 30 Major Gifts Officer, The Rotary Foundation, at the Zone Institute.

New polio cases reported this past week: 8 

Total number of cases in 2012: 223
Total number of cases in 2012 YTD: 145

 Total number of cases in 2013 YTD: 264

General Polio Headlines-18 September 2013

The next meeting of the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB) will take place on October 1-2, in London, UK. The IMB will review latest epidemiology and programme developments, and is expected to issue its report as usual within two weeks of the meeting.

Due to the Horn of Africa outbreak, the bulk of polio cases this year (over two-thirds) are in countries which were previously polio-free. In endemic countries, cases are down 40% over the same period last year, indicating progress particularly in Afghanistan and Nigeria.

Endemic Country Headlines--Week Ending 18 September 2013

Nigeria: One new WPV1 case was reported in the past week. Subnational Immunization Plus Days (IPDs) across northern states were held last week (7-10 September). Preparations for these latest campaigns had focused on identified highest-risk areas

Pakistan: No new WPV1 case were reported in the past week. The Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) remains the major poliovirus reservoir in Pakistan and in Asia, due to confirmed circulation of both WPV1 and cVDPV2. Efforts are ongoing to curb transmission in this area, including through vaccination at transit points and conducting Short Interval Additional Dose (SIADs) campaigns in areas that have recently become accessible.

Horn of Africa: (Non-endemic) Seven new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week. The total number of WPV1 cases for 2013 in the Horn of Africa is 185 (169 from Somalia, 15 from Kenya and one from Ethiopia). The most recent WPV1 case in the region had onset of paralysis on 14 August (from Somalia).

Outbreak response activities are continuing across the Horn of Africa. NIDs are ongoing this week in Somalia, with SNIDs planned in Kenya on 21-25 September. NIDs are planned in Ethiopia for 26-28 September.

Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter.  As the masthead indicates, it is actually Governor Jack's newsletter, but since I've been given the privilege of editing and compiling it, I want you to know how much I appreciate not only the time you have spent reading it, but also your comments, and especially your literary contributions!

Do not hesitate to let us know what you like or dislike about the newsletter, and please, keep us up to date on all of the good things your club is doing for your community, the world, and Rotary in general.  We want you to share your ideas so that the District can profit from them!

Until next month, thank you for your service to Rotary! 

Mike Babb 

ADG Area 4

District 6740