Wow! This has been a wonderful and busy first quarter – or should I say First Turn on the track? You have been working hard and the Foundation team and I thank you! Here are some of the things you have accomplished in the first quarter so far:

Winner’s Circle

No one has completed all three stages of the Winner’s Circle yet, but several clubs are working hard on it. Several clubs are close to becoming 100% Paul Harris Fellow clubs again and a couple of clubs are close to becoming 100% Benefactors (which would be a first in our district! No one has accomplished this yet) Keep up the effort and call the Foundation team with any questions you may have or requests for programs or materials.

Giving

We are up to $375,200 in total giving so far this year. And just so you know, $282,500 of that is to PolioPlus! The remaining amount is to the Annual Fund. I know many clubs have not sent in their collections from the first quarter, so that makes this a pretty good number since everyone isn’t included. Keep up the Good work!

Recognitions

So far we have added three Major Donors, four Bequest Society members, 74 Paul Harris Fellows and at least eight Benefactors this year. Thank you! We also have a new Arch Klumph Society member this year. Wow! The Rotarians of D6900 are some of the most generous in the world – and that is what makes our district so wonderful.

District Grants

Several clubs have already spent their money, started work on their projects and have begun reporting receipts in the system. Way to get ahead of the curve! Remember, no job is done until the paperwork is complete. Enter your receipts and final reports as you work through your project and avoid the last minute rush.

Global Grants

The first Global Grant of this Rotary year has been approved by The Rotary Foundation. Congratulations to the RC of Emory Druid Hills! Its grant supplies a CT Scan machine to BT Savani Kidney hospital in India. This is a $200,000 project – and Emory Druid Hills used its community contacts here in the United States to help raise the funds to make this grant happen. Great way to involve the community to be the inspiration.

There are still five other Global Grants awaiting approval and several being developed. That is awesome! We have several grants in progress around the world as well. Just remember, when you are ready to start building your project, contact Global Grant Chair Anne Glenn of the RC of Dunwoody to be sure we earmark money to match your funds!!

Peace Fellows

We have a new Peace Fellow Chair for our District – Wendi Jenkins of the RC of Muscogee Columbus! You will be seeing an article in the newsletter introducing Wendi next month. We are sad to lose Laura Kann of the RC of Dunwoody, she did a marvelous job for our district. And we know Wendi will be equally as wonderful. Wendi has been working with Laura to learn the ropes and is ready to take your nominations for Peace Fellow! Don’t know about the program (that doesn’t cost your club anything!)? Contact Wendi or go online to rotary.org and search Peace Fellow for information.

This has been a great first quarter, but the race isn’t finished! Keep pushing forward with your projects and grant ideas. Keep supporting the Rotary Foundation with your monetary gifts to ensure our projects continue well into the future. And keep asking questions – learn all you can about the Foundation!