President Jackie Hopkins welcomed DG Jack McAllister to the RC Augusta meeting.

In a historic town along the Ohio River, DG Jack McAllister visited the Rotary Club of Augusta. Augusta claims Miss America Heather Renee French as a native and Augusta High School claims George Clooney as one of its graduates.  The presence of the Augusta Rotary club is readily apparent from numerous Rotary signs in their city, from its many community projects and its sponsorship of the annual Christmas Parade. 

DG Jack McAllister's visit to RC Berea was a short trip down I-75. A few weeks earlier he and his wife had already attended one of the Fish Frys held by the club each year as one of its fundraisers. These along with the Jingle Bell 5K Run and an election day Pancake Breakfast provide the means for numerous scholarships given by the club each year and for the support of other community projects! 

DG Jack McAllister was joined after meeting with RC Berea by charter member and PDG Marvin Farmer (left), club member and AG Doyle Keith (center) and President Robert Rucker (right).

DG Jack McAllister was welcomed to RC Bluegrass Richmond by Past President and former AG Meena Mohanty (left) and current AG Doyle Keith (right).

DG Jack McAllister visited RC Bluegrass Richmond, whose Charter Night he had attended in 1999. Now in their 15th year this club, along with RC Richmond, hosts the Diamonds and Denim Ball in support of a free dental clinic, Miles of Smiles. The club also supports several other community projects including a teen center and a child care facility.

DG Jack McAllister was pleased, during his visit with RC Fleming County, to present the RI Presidential Citation for 2012-13 to Immediate Past President Terry Ishmael (left) and President Elect Steve Miller (right).

When DG Jack McAllister visited RC Fleming County he learned of the club members who volunteer at the Covered Bridge Festival in a county that is known for its three covered bridges. The club co-sponsors Court Days with participation by club members and volunteers from school groups and where fundraising helps support scholarships, the Community Christmas project and other community projects such as a weekend backpack program. 

President Jim Martin welcomed DG Jack McAllister to the meeting of his home club for his official visit as the District Governor.

It was a very special occasion for DG Jack McAllister to visit his home club in which he had been a member since 1990. RC Lexington's "Dancing with the Lexington Stars" benefits the Surgery on Sunday project and numerous other community projects. Their 20 year "Santa Picture" project has made possible winter coats, hats and gloves for thousands of children.  The RC Lexington Toyota Miracle League park gives handicapped children and adults the opportunity to enjoy playing baseball.

DG Jack McAllister displays the beautiful Chelsea Thompson print presented to him by President Elect Greg Kiser.

DG Jack McAllister travelled to RC Louisa in mid November to visit the Rotary club known for its Rotary Radio Auction and "Rotary Hash" it serves as part of the September Fest weekend. These fundraisers support several community projects many which benefit children, youth, families and seniors and include scholarships and Teddy Bears for about 200 pediatric patients each year. The club's diversity is evident in it having just over 50 percent women members.

In visiting RC Richmond, DG Jack McAllister encountered a club seeking to significantly grow membership and committed to major contributions to the Rotary Foundation. In their own community they benefit many groups including Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army and an international student organization. They co-sponsor with RC Bluegrass Richmond the Diamonds and Denim Ball to benefit 2nd graders in need of dental care. 

Joining DG Jack McAllister after the meeting with RC Richmond were AG Doyle Keith (far left), President Willi Walker(left), new member Richard Brown inducted at the meeting (right) and  PDG Ron Coffman (far right).

The Rotary Club of Kenton County used District Grant money to help Shoulder to Shoulder, Inc. dba Scarf it up for those in need ( a all volunteer 501-3c) provide all weather gloves ( one thousand pairs) for the homeless and low income citizens in our area.  We had help from some of o ur club members and members from the Florence Rotary Club, John Salyers and  Lynn Cole along with the volunteers from scarf it up.  We help hand out scarves, hats and gloves to 1200 of the 2000 people that came thru the lines Christmas Day.

L to R: Tim Davis, President of the Board Explorium, Peggy Trafton, Executive Director Rotary Club of Lexington, Jim Martin, President Rotary Club of Lexington, Lee Ellen Martin, Executive Director, Explorium of Lexington.

The Explorium of Lexington honored the club as  a 2013 Outstanding Community Honoree.  The Explorium of Lexington has benefitted  from the club's endowment fund charitable giving program for a number of years.

This year the funds will promote programming focused on Holidays Around the World, New Year's Noon, Chinese New Year and Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It was a honor to be included in the list of honoree's for the year and a wonderful opportunity to help promote Rotary and what we do in Lexington.

The Paris Rotary Club held their annual Coats, Jackets & Blankets drive, collecting well over 300 cold-weather items for a local free-store operation.  This is a community-wide event in which folks were encouraged to drop off any coat, jacket, or blanket between November 11 and December 5 at our local auction center.  These articles were then delivered on December 6.  Pictured are Paris Rotarians Tom Brannock, John Galloway, President Phil Spear and Bill T. McConnell.  The Paris Rotary Club sincerely thanks the Community of Paris and Bourbon County for their Christmas Spirit this year.

On Saturday, October 4th, the Imagination Library, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Whitesburg, registered children from the areas of Isom, Blackey, Letcher and Jeremiah in Letcher County to receive a free book each month.   The event was held on the former Calvary College Campus at Letcher, KY.  Jerry Ison, son of Teresa and Eddie Ison of Blackey was the 400th child to register for the program.  He is currently enrolled in the Blackey Head Start program.  Every child who registered received a free book, The Little Engine That Could.   51 children have been registered from these areas.  Rotarians Margaret Hammonds, Barbara Ison, Evelyn Hensley and Darrell Holbrook attended the event.

 

Approximately 500 children have been registered by the Rotary Club of Whitesburg from all the service areas since the program began in January 2012.  To be eligible children must be under five years of age, and live in one of the 10 zip code areas selected by the Rotary Club.  Plans are to include all zip code areas in Letcher County in the near future. Children, once registered for the program, will receive a free book in the mail each month until they reach their 5th birthday.