Greetings Rotarians!

February for Rotarians is World Understanding Month. This is a time to reflect on all of the initiatives and opportunities to help people in need, both locally and internationally. It is a time to demonstrate to others how effective Rotary is as members pull their resources and talents together to make a difference in the world and how Rotarians live by the motto of “Service Above Self.”

Invite Someone to Lunch

When I reflect on the difference our Rotary club is making in the lives of so many by working together, I am struck by how many others that are not Rotarians would like to be a member of this great community of givers. John Knobloch, chair of our Rotary Club’s membership, is asking each of us to bring someone to a luncheon during February to share the value and experience of Rotary. During February, our Club through some District membership fund grants, will be providing free luncheons to the guests you invite that have an interest in learning more about Rotary. Take this time to share with someone one of the best kept secrets of our time – Rotary !

Celebrating 105 Years of Rotary

This month is also the celebration of the birthday of Rotary International 105 years ago on Tuesday, February 23rd. In honor of this special day for Rotarians, our District 6450 in partnership with Rotary International and District 6440 are going to be part of a larger initiative to light up the world and tell everyone about Rotary! On the evening of February 23rd, the Wrigley Building in downtown Chicago will have the logo of Rotary and Polio Plus displayed. This display will be repeated around the world on the same day in major international cities.

The Chicago event starts at 5:30 with the Great Lakes Navy Band followed by the lighting at 6:00 by Rotarian Mayor Daley, Governor Quinn, Rotary Foundation President Glen Estess, and other leaders of Rotary International. Following the lighting, the Rotary Club of Chicago will be hosting a reception and dinner. The lighting and reception is open to all Rotarians and their guests. The dinner is open to all, but there is a charge of $105 with some of the proceeds going to Polio Plus. For more information, you can contact Pat Merryweather at rotarysolarpat@aol.com or go to Rotary Club of Chicago’s web site at www.rotaryone.org

Did you know?

That some of the members of our Club and community are international celebrities? Recently our own Liz Zienty, our Exchange student Ruth, and several of the students our Rotary Club sponsored from our local high schools are in a video on RYLA that is on Rotary International’s web site. The video is THE featured video this month on Rotary’s Interactive portion of the web site and has had many international viewers – all giving it high five scores! Also featured in the film is Ruth’s home sponsor and District Director, Linda Yates, along with all of the students from inner-city Chicago that Naperville Rotary Charities sponsored. To see the video, please go to http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/Newsletters/Interactive/Pages/201002/Index.aspx

Speaking of Naperville Rotary Charities…..

You still have time to get in on the Customer Appreciation Drawing by February 10th. You could be the lucky prize winner of one of the over $105,000 prizes to be given away! You could be taking off on a fun filled trip in your Ford Mustang or Honda – or you could be heading to Hawaii or Las Vegas – or you could decide to take the money and take us all with you. Any way you buy a ticket – you have everything to gain. Naperville Rotary Charities has supported many of our club’s local community grants, international projects, scholarships, and countless special projects and initiatives. So buy a ticket or go in with people at your table and buy a ticket – while you may be the lucky winner of the grant prize, we all are winners because of the difference we can make in the world with the support of Naperville Rotary Charities. Please remember to tell your friends and family to select Rotary Club of Naperville as the Rotary Club referral.

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I could go on and on about Rotary, but I will stop with one final note. Who do you think of when everyone said Polio could not be eradicated from the world; when people don't abandon causes because they are no longer popular such as rebuilding after the Tsunami or wondering who will be there helping the people of Haiti a year from now; when you wonder who will step up to the plate and award 140 fully funded master degree programs every year at major universities in the world aimed at peace and conflict resolution; when you look at the largest number of non-government scholarships awarded for international study by a private organization; when you think of who is making a difference in their local community every day including business leaders, not for profit organizational leaders, scholars and academic leaders, public servant leaders, retired professionals providing leadership in our community, restaurateur leaders, spiritual leaders --- I think of you, my fellow Rotarians.

Share Rotary --- as Rotary Shares……..

Rotary Is In Your Hands!

Yours in Rotary,

Pat