1. Rotary International (RI) a Service Club Organization of about 33,000 clubs 2. The Rotary Foundation (TRF) 1.2 Million Rotarians are members (or contributors)

 Mission is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of Health, the support of Education, and the alleviation of Poverty

 TRF is a not-for-profit Corporation supported solely by voluntary contributions from Rotarians and friends of the Foundation who share its vision of a better world

 1917 RI President Arch Klumpf set up an endowment “for the purpose of doing good in the world” with $26.50  June 1918 Donald MacRae proposed that Rotary become an agent for the promotion of goodwill and peace among Nations

 1921 Donald MacRae proposed an amendment to the RI constitution by adding the Fourth Object of Rotary  “The advancement of International understanding, goodwill and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional people united in the ideal of service”

 1928 endowment fund had grown to $28,000– Renamed THE ROTARY FOUNDATION  1930 first grant of $500 to International Society of Crippled Children (later grew into Easter Seals)

 By the end of the depression of the 1930’s and WWII and Paul Harris’s death in 1947 contributions started to pour into RI and the PAUL HARRIS MEMORIAL FUND was created to build the Foundation

 1947 First Program- AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIPS  1965-GROUP STUDY EXCHANGE -AWARDS FOR TECHNICAL TRAINING -Matching Grants

1978 GRANTS HUNGER AND HUMANITY 1980 Rotary Volunteers 1984 POLIO PLUS 1985 RI GRANTS FOR UNIVERSITY TEACHERS 1987 Peace and Conflict Studies

 Since our first donation in 1917 TRF has received over $1 billion and is closing in on $2 billion – that’s a lot of zeroes!!!  More than 1 million Paul Harris Fellows  Our Club has 13 Paul Harris Fellows - 2 are multiple PHF’S  Our clubs total contributions are >$33,000 made over the last 10 years.

 TRF is reviewing its mechanisms for funding and trying for bigger more useful projects such as the Medicine Hat Club’s HHH Project in India.  At the same time clubs will still be able to apply for smaller grants through District Project Grants – a part of TRF. These are for international or local projects.

 Our club has funded one international project – Thanks Ted!  Provided heat and hot water to an orphanage in Russia  Our club will be likely be applying for a District Project Grant again the 2011/12 Rotary year for the Mexican Schools Project – subject to Board Approval.

 We can contribute online at TRFCanada.org/Monthly automated contribution from bank account/ credit card or by mail.  Donation of $1,000 US gains a Paul Harris Fellowship  EREY-- EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR USD $100 is the suggestion

 Before you answer that question I would like to show you a video - hopefully.  It is “pretty close to home” as it involves our Medicine Hat Club.

 The money to fund the project in the video came from The Rotary Foundation  These funds came from Rotarians “just like you”  Now after seeing this video and the changes it has made in peoples lives I would know like to ask you one final question:

 WHY WOULD YOU NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE ROTARY FOUNDATION?  Questions?