(Taken from a recent post) "I got so many questions and such a positive response yesterday from my Rotary talk about the adult literacy program I helped launch in Uganda. I wanted to answer some of those questions here, plus share the three minute film that introduces the literacy program, Word by Word Uganda. What is Word by Word Uganda? Word by Word Uganda I built together with teachers and community members at Care Community Education Centre in Yumbe District, Uganda. The program helps women with little or no education learn to read. In March I travelled with Chris Roesel to Uganda to launch the pilot. We had more than 30 women enrolled in the pilot course. Upon completion of the course the graduates will each tutor five children in their village - that's 175 kids. There's a lot to the program, so I won't go into all the details here. What was I most surprised by? I was most surprised by a couple things. First, I was surprised by the amount of interest in the program. Village after village women from Village Savings and Loan Associations asked when they can start their own literacy and numeracy project. The need is overwhelming but so is the desire. Second, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed myself. Uganda is stunning and from sun up to sun down was spent visiting villages, observing early childhood education, or conducting facilitator training. What is next? My goal is to return in the new year and expand into five more villages. This pilot project was in part funded by Lawrence Rotary Club and Plymouth Congregational Church (UCC) Lawrence, KS. I'm also tagging a few Rotary friends who have been instrumental in the last six months helping year get to this point. For those interested, you can learn more here: https://lnkd.in/gfY74SdV"
DID YOU KNOW TRF= The Rotary Foundation
Contributions help International projects like the one Memory just completed in Guatemala. Looking forward to her presentation.
The Million Dollar Challenge for our District 5710 gained over $3M for the endowment which provides us with more money for projects.
Headed by Ken Selzer and Roger Aeschliman
Your generous contributions to The Rotary Foundation are essential to securing and growing Rotary programs throughout the world. We recognize donors to express our gratitude for your commitment, offering individual and club recognition as well as naming opportunities that enable you to honor a friend or family member with a named or endowed gift. Here's the breakdown.
Individual recognition
Rotary Foundation Sustaining Member
When you give $100 or more per year to the Annual Fund.
Benefactor
When you include the Endowment Fund as a beneficiary of $1,000 or more in your estate plans or when you donate $1,000 or more to the fund outright. Benefactors receive a certificate and insignia to wear with a Rotary or Paul Harris Fellow pin.
Paul Harris Fellow
When you give $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. To recognize someone else as a Paul Harris Fellow, you can give that amount in their name. Learn more about Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
Multiple Paul Harris Fellow
When you give additional gifts of $1,000 or more to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant.
Paul Harris Society member
When you elect to contribute $1,000 or more annually to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or an approved Foundation grant. Learn more about the Paul Harris Society.
Bequest Society
When you make a commitment for future gifts of $10,000 or more to The Rotary Foundation, you’ll be invited to join the Bequest Society.
$10,000: Bequest Society pin and an exclusive art piece suitable for framing
$25,000: Rotary’s Promise crystal and named endowed fund, plus all of the above
$50,000: Separate named endowed funds directed to two areas of focus or districts, plus all of the above
$100,000: Customized Rotary’s Promise crystal, plus all of the above
$250,000: Posthumous induction into the Arch Klumph Society, plus all of the above
$500,000: Special seating and registration benefits at the Rotary International Convention, plus all of the above
Major Donor
When your cumulative donations reach $10,000. Major Donors can choose to receive a crystal recognition piece and a Major Donor lapel pin or pendant. NOTE: Name recognition is not automatic and needs to be reported to RI staff. Recognition items commemorate giving at these levels:
Level 1: $10,000 to $24,999
Level 2: $25,000 to $49,999
Level 3: $50,000 to $99,999
Level 4: $100,000 to $249,999
Arch Klumph Society
When your cumulative donations reach $250,000. Recognition includes an induction ceremony and your picture and biography in the Arch Klumph Society interactive gallery at the Rotary International headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA. You also receive invitations to society events, along with membership pins and crystals that commemorate giving at the following levels. Learn more about the Arch Klumph Society.
Trustees Circle: $250,000 to $499,999
Chair’s Circle: $500,000 to $999,999
Foundation Circle: $1,000,000 to $2,499,999
Platinum Trustees Circle: $2,500,000 to $4,999,999
Platinum Chair’s Circle: $5,000,000 to $9,999,999
Platinum Foundation Circle: $10,000,000 and above
Legacy Society
When you promise a gift of $1 million or more to the Endowment, you’ll be listed in Rotary’s annual report and invited to exclusive Rotary International and Foundation events. Legacy Society members also receive special recognition items and all the benefits provided to Bequest Society members.
Club recognition
100% Paul Harris Fellow Club
For clubs in which all dues-paying members are Paul Harris Fellows. This is a one-time recognition.
100% Paul Harris Society Club
For clubs in which every dues-paying member contributes a minimum of $1,000 to the Annual Fund, PolioPlus, or global grants within a Rotary year.
100% Foundation Giving Club
For clubs that achieve an average of $100 in per capita giving and 100 percent participation, with every dues-paying member contributing at least $25 to any or all of the following during the Rotary year: Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, approved global grants, or Endowment Fund.
Rotary’s Promise Club
A designation provided to clubs in which every dues-paying member supports The Rotary Foundation’s Endowment with a minimum commitment of $1,000 or more in an estate plan or via an outright gift of $1,000 or more. A certificate honoring the achievement will be provided upon request.
Every Rotarian, Every Year Club
For clubs that achieve a minimum Annual Fund contribution of $100 per capita during the Rotary year, and every dues-paying member must personally contribute at least $25 to the Annual Fund during the year.
Top Three Per Capita in Annual Fund Giving
For the three clubs in each district that give the most, per capita, to the Annual Fund. Clubs that give at least $50 per capita are eligible.
Rotaract Giving Certificate
Rotaract clubs that collectively contribute $100 or more annually to The Rotary Foundation will be eligible for a Rotaract Giving Certificate.
Naming opportunities
Special opportunities are available to create an endowment or make a directed gift in your name or the name of a loved one. Endowed gifts are invested in perpetuity, with part of their earnings spent on a designated program. Directed gifts are spent in their entirety, usually in the following Rotary year.
Endowed global grant fund
$500,000 or more: You can specify up to three of the following: the district sponsor, the area of focus, the general geographic region of the project, or the type of grant activity, such as a project or scholarship.
$250,000 or more: You may choose up to two of the options listed above
$150,000 or more: You may choose one grant activity type, such as a humanitarian project, scholarship, or vocational training team.
Named endowment
If you donate $25,000 or more, you can direct the money to one of the following:
Area of Focus: funds global grants in one area of focus
World Fund: funds global grants in all areas of focus
SHARE: supports the World Fund and provides district designated funds to your district
Rotary Peace Centers: supports Rotary’s partnership with leading universities around the world to train professionals in conflict resolution, peace studies, international relations, and related disciplines
$150,000: A one-time gift that provides funding for global grants in up to two areas of focus of your choice or to a special initiative of the Foundation, such as WASH in Schools
$30,000: A one-time gift that provides your district with funds for one or more global grants in an area of focus of your choice
$15,000: A one-time gift that provides funding for a global grant in an area of focus of your choice without specifying the district that will sponsor the grant
Rotary Peace Centers endowment opportunities
$1.5 million: Endows a Rotary Peace fellow every year
$1 million: Endows a Rotary Peace fellow every two years
$1 million: Endows a visiting lecturer every year
$750,000: Endows a Rotary Peace fellow every three years
$500,000: Endows a Rotary Peace fellow every four years
$250,000: Endows one Rotary Peace certificate fellow every year
$100,000: Endows an annual seminar at a Rotary Peace Center
$25,000 and up: Provides general support
Rotary Peace Centers directed gifts
$75,000: Provides funding for a Rotary Peace Fellow to complete a two-year master’s degree program
$75,000: Provides funding for up to 10 internships or research projects for peace fellows
$60,000: Provides funding for five fellows enrolled in the three-month professional development certificate program
$10,000: Provides general support
Rotary Peace Symposium directed gifts
$400,000-$500,000: Underwrites the cost of the Peace Symposium
$50,000-$100,000: Provides full funding for a donor-specified element of the peace symposium (speakers, Rotary Peace Fellow travel, etc.)
$10,000-$25,000: Provides funding for a hosted reception connected to the Peace Symposium
$10,000 and up: Provides general support for the Peace Symposium
Entrepreneurial named gift for peace
$75,000-$1 million: Funds new opportunities within Rotary’s peace programs for global grants and the Rotary Peace Centers, such as workshops and retreats, and other initiatives.
Please consider setting up Rotary Direct at $84/month and you will achieve a Paul Harris Fellow award annually. Here is the Rotary Direct link for your convenience: https://my.rotary.org/en/rotary-direct.
Do you have Ideas for Speakers? Contact Paul Oehm.
July 2026
Courtney Cantrell
Doug “Chappie” Chapman
Kirk Crabtree
Susan Mosier
Michelle Sink
Kenny Titus
Next Meeting July 30 from 12:10-1 PM
Lunch opens at 11:00 AM
Meeting starts at 12:15 PM
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Location: Manhattan Country Club
