Foundation Month

November is the month that we celebrate The Rotary Foundation and the many international service projects for which it has responsibility. Rotary International President Wilf Wilkinson says, "The Rotary Foundation is the engine that drives Rotary's international humanitarian service. Without the Foundation, may of Rotary's signature programs wouldn't exist. There would be no PolioPlus, no Humanitarian Grants, no Ambassadorial Scholarships, no Rotary World Peace Fellowships". Indeed, without the Foundation, Rotary would be a very different and less powerful force for good in the world.

The Rotarians in our District have always been very generous in their giving. This year is no different as the September 2007 report shows District 5130 with a 29.1% growth in the Annual Fund numbers over last year at this time. I say congratulations and encourage you to keep up the great work. The minimum goal of giving to the Foundation for the 2007-08 year is "Every Rotarian, Every Year". This minimum $100 donation is a goal that is achievable.

I challenge each of you, as Rotarians in District 5130, to choose this month to make your annual gift to the Foundation. It is your generosity that allows this District to participate in the Festival of Brotherhood taking place this month in Guadalajara, Mexico. Nearly 60 Rotarians will be participating in this annual project faire with District 4150. For the past 11 years, this program has resulted in a variety of matching grants bringing relief to the impoverished of the area.

The month will also offer Pam and I the opportunity to travel to Nigeria to participate in a National Immunization Day. We are excited about representing District 5130 in this last effort to eliminate polio. We also look forward to meeting the individuals that will host our Group Study Exchange team that will be traveling to Nigeria in April.

Finally, it's a basic principle of Rotary that we can do much more together than we could ever do alone. The Rotary Foundation allows us to pool our resources, help each other, and there by reach heights of service that would be simply unattainable otherwise. Use the month of November to meet the challenge of "Every Rotarian, Every Year".

Have an enjoyable month and a Happy Thanksgiving,

Governor Ken