Our Club was fortunate to welcome Joan Arsenault, immediate Past District Governor (PDG) and current District Annual Fund Chair, to our meeting on Giving Tuesday! PDG Joan has been a dedicated Rotarian since 2006 in the Ipswich Club and is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a major donor, and a member of the Paul Harris Society. PDG Joan lead our district through a truly unprecedented time as she closed out her year at the start of the pandemic. Her guidance and leadership kept our District’s and good work moving forward despite the hiccups that come along with shifting to a virtual environment.
PDG Joan started her talk by congratulating Salem Past President Mike McLaughlin on his Rotary Citation. During Mike’s leadership, the Club was one of only 24 in our District to earn a citation from Rotary International President Mark Malone for uniting people and taking action. Mike thanked Assistant Governor Alexander Faulk for his help in setting the goals and shared that he enjoyed his year as president, learned a lot about Rotary and appreciated meeting people he otherwise would not have met.
PDG Joan went on to explain how donations to the Annual Fund return to the District. Of the donations made to the Annual Fund this fiscal year, half will return to our District for local and international grant projects in three years. Last year, District 7930 achieved the rank of third largest contributor to the annual fund in our zone (1,155 clubs), the largest annual fund per capita giving, and the largest polio giving.
She shared that district 7930 also received the first ever global grant in our history last year. This $94,950 COVID Global Grant was designated for personal protective equipment for individuals providing medical services and food relief. The funds grew from our District’s commitment of $30,000 in district designated funds through a partnership with a district in Japan that contributed $10,750; a match of $40,750 in district designated funds from the RI Foundation World Fund; $1,000 contribution from the Rotary Club of Kyoto; and $13,700 in District 7930 club and individual contributions. The recipients of these funds are: Care Dimensions, the largest hospice in the state that offers a continuum of clinical care for adults and pediatric patients with advanced and life-limiting illness ($44,950), and St. Francis Home in Boston which is the largest shelter in the state and serves an average of 500 poor and homeless individuals per day and on-site medical care for homeless adults.
PDG Joan closed by sharing some dates for upcoming events. Corks and Caps, a district wine group that meets monthly will be tasting champagne on December 20 at 5 PM (email
corksncapswine@gmail.com for more information). Elizabeth Davis, RI Annual Giving Officer, will host a cocktail and Annual Fund information session on January 21 at 7 PM (watch your email for more information).
SPEAKER:
