A time for remembering as the year 2016 comes to an end, and a time for projecting our wishes and dreams for the New Year 2017.  Did you feel proud of being a part of Rotary International? 

The Association of Fundraising Professionals has recognized The Rotary Foundation with its annual Award for Outstanding Foundation.

The award honors organizations that show philanthropic commitment and leadership through financial support, innovation, encouragement of others, and involvement in public affairs. Some of the boldest names in American giving — Kellogg, Komen, and MacArthur, among others —are past honorees.

“We are honored to receive this recognition from the AFP, which gives us even more reason to celebrate during our Foundation’s centennial year,” says Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Kalyan Banerjee. “The continued strong support of Rotary members will help us keep our promise of a polio-free world for all children and enable the Foundation to carry out its mission of advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace. We look forward to another 100 years of Rotary members taking action to make communities better around the world.”

The announcement came on 15 November, known to industry professionals since the 1980s as National Philanthropy Day. The award will be presented in early 2017 at the AFP’s annual conference in San Francisco.

At the club level, did you make connections as a Rotarian?  Read the newsletters and submit your attendance?  Have you attempted to connect with others in our e-club?  Have you supported our club projects financially, served on committees, shared a tidbit about what you are doing for others to get to now you?  Have you worn your Rotary pin and told others about Rotary?  Have you had someone approach you in the airport because of your Rotary pin or Rotary bag, sharing that they had been a Rotary exchange student, attended RYLA, or served a a Peace Scholar or Ambassadorial Scholar?  Have you visited another Rotary club in your hometown or abroad, and shared information about your e-club? 

Looking forward to 2017, if you answered "no" to some of the above questions there will be opportunities for the answers to change.  Also, you may look forward to attending a district conference and/or Rotary International Convention.  We hope you are interested in community and international service!  If you know of a community leader whom you feel is a good candidate to introduce to Rotary, you can help our club grow in membership and increase the helping hands needed to make this world a better place.  Is this the final year for new polio cases?  Let's work together to serve humanity!

RI President John F. Germ chose Rotary Serving Humanity as his theme for 2016-17. Noting Rotary’s unique ability to bring together committed professionals to achieve remarkable goals, Germ believes that “now is the time to capitalize on our success: as we complete the eradication of polio, and catapult Rotary forward to be an even greater force for good in the world.”

Traditionally, the annual parade takes place on New Year’s Day. But as the holiday fell on a Sunday this time around, both the parade and the bowl game itself were pushed to Monday, the second day of the year, according to the so-called “Never On Sunday” policy. No matter, the Tournament Of Roses Parade will be as festive as ever.

Now in its 128th year, the theme of the 2017 parade is “Echoes Of Success.” There will be more than 40 floats from a variety of organizations, ranging from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation to China Airlines to one even inspired by “The Bachelor.” And since the floats are typically adorned with flowers, the ABC show fits right in given the role roses play in the reality competition.

The festivities, nicknamed “America’s New Year Celebration,” are slated to be broadcast on ABC beginning at 11 a.m. Eastern time. Later, after two-hour parade, the Penn State Nittany Lions and USC Trojans will compete in the highly-anticipated football game.

Rotary International has participated for 39 years in the Rose Bowl Parade.  Paul Harris, Founder Father  of Rotary, said, "In the promotion of ROTARY, it is important to reach large numbers and you cannot reach them privately."

Our annual participation in the Rose Parade is unquestionably the highest visibility Rotary promotion in the world.

According to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses 2016 statistics, 70 million US and international households viewed the parade on television; and over 700,000 attended the 2016 Rose Parade. 

People in 243 countries and territories viewed the parade.  It is nearly impossible to estimate how many people saw and heard something about Rotary. What an outstanding opportunity to promote Rotary to the world!

John Germ, Rotary International President said "Today, our work on Rotary's public image is more important than ever.  The work of Rotarians on the Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee is a good example of Rotary creativity and resourcefulness."

Did you see the Committee's ad in the December, 2016, Rotarian Magazine?

Rotary Clubs and Districts in North America provide all of the funds to build the float.  No funds are received from Rotary International.

Your help is needed to pay for the 2017 Float!  You may donate online at http://rotaryfloat.org/.

The 2017 Float promotes and celebrates the 100 years of The Rotary Foundation. The Foundation empowers Rotarians to travel throughout the world and create and complete projects which serve people in need in six areas of focus which are: promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.  The spectacular and colorful dragon is clearly a world traveler carrying luggage decorated with the six symbols of the areas of focus.  The Dragon also is proudly wearing a necklace with a medallion marked 100 for the 100 years of service.

Our next face-to-face meeting is January 21st at 11:30 AM at the home of President Dree Miller and Treasurer Mike Miller.  Soup & sandwiches and hot beverages will be served. Please come ready to work because we will be assembling the care bags for the homeless. We don’t yet have all items, so you can still bring the ones listed below. We’d appreciate if you confirm your presence no later than 01/18/2017 – we need to know how many people are coming. 
 

The Miller's Christmas Celebration in Snowy Oregon
 
The Miller family (over 30 people) does a holiday gift exchange every year in Portland, Oregon. But this year they decided to do something different. They donated half of the amount of their gifts to different charities, including our E-Club. During the celebration, each person described their charity and spoke on why it is important to them. Our E-club Rotarian Lori Miller Prouty talked about the Layette Bags Project to help new mothers and their babies in Nicaragua. Other donations were made to cancer treatment, environmental issues, Zarephath Kitchen and Boxes of Love.  
It is wonderful to involve our families in Rotary projects! Kudos to Lori for her leadership in sharing our club’s projects and for fundraising! We thank the Millers for their generous hearts. Love for humanity is the true sense of charity, which will now become part of the Miller holiday celebration tradition.
Adriane and Mike Miller could not attend the party this year, but they joined the gift exchange and donations from where they live in Texas.

 

Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a yearlong sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali. Stefan Sagmeister is no mere commercial gun for hire. Sure, he's created eye-catching graphics for clients including the Rolling Stones and Lou Reed, but he pours his heart and soul into every piece of work. His design work is at once timeless and of the moment, and his painstaking attention to the smallest details creates work that offers something new every time you look at it. Renowned for album covers, posters and his recent book of life lessons, designer Stefan Sagmeister invariably has a slightly different way of looking at things.

 

 

How can you fire up your imagination?
 
Imagination is a gift given to every person--you simply need to find ways to stimulate it, use it, and let it serve you.
Be curious and ask questions--What does the best look like? Questions help produce answers. So ask! Who? What? Why? Where? When? How? Is it ethical and in line with your character? Then dream, dream, dream!
Collaborate and Brainstorm--Consider all options. Everything is game. Invite others to join in the creativity.
Use Mind-Mapping to stir your imagination and clarity.
Walk Away-- Relaxation and breaks can help generate new ideas.
Write - Use a Thought Book to record your ideas, bursts of imagination, discoveries, thoughts, and dreams throughout the entire process of creating the best.
 

Great!  Now click on the Membership Application in the bar above which is a Word document.  Complete the application and email it to our club Membership Chairman as shown below.    On the membership application you will be asked if you have attended two Rotary e-Club of Houston meetings on-line.  Look for the Weekly Program and either view the video or read the article, then go to the tab for Weekly Meeting beneath the banner of the page and submit the attendance form to receive credit. If you have any questions, please email Barbara Conway at bconway@neuhaus.org. We look forward to getting to know you and working together on service projects wolrdwide as we live our Rotary Motto of "Service Above Self".