Love is in the air this February! As Rotarians we have love for humanity! I think about Rotary’s campaign to End Polio and bringing the gift of health around the world.
As of February 7, our district ranks 17th in our Zone for total cash polio giving at $7,042 and 17th in per capita giving at $4.26. While these numbers are commendable, we know we can do even more. Our goal is to increase our contributions and move up in the rankings, ultimately helping to achieve a polio-free world.
The last reported wild polio case in our area was on October 24, 2023, which is a testament to the effectiveness of our efforts. However, there is still work to be done, and every contribution counts.
To inspire us further, a short and very moving video was shared with us. It tells the story of Huma Ashraf, a polio worker who lost her feet but continues to work tirelessly in the fight against polio. You can watch the video here: https://polioeradication.org/news-post/huma-ashraf-an-unbroken-spirit/
Please join us in spreading the word about this fundraiser. Let's work together to make a difference and ensure a polio-free future for all.
WINGS of Rotary short-term youth exchange with Japan underway for 2024!
We are preparing to say “Konnichiwa” to our inbound WINGS team on March 14th and could really use your help! There are 8 high school students and 1 team leader. Here’s how you can help!
Rotary clubs: We are finalizing the team hosting schedule and we are looking for Rotary clubs to commit to providing 5 host homes (for 2 team members each) for 3-4 nights and organizing programming and meals throughout the days. This can be taking the team to see Rotarians’ workplaces, local attractions, museums, etc.
Rotarians: Regardless of your whether your club Is hosting the team, we need your help! We are looking for drivers between clubs or venues across our district. If you want to meet up with and pal around to support the team, you’re encourage to do so!
The outbound team has been selected and is excitedly preparing to embark on their exchange in Japan this June!
If you are looking for an opportunity to help, THIS IS IT! Email Jessica.rotary5750@gmail.com for more information.
East Oklahoma City (EOC) Rotary and Midwest City Rotary are joining together to celebrate the inbound and Outbound Wings of Rotary students. You are invited to join on Saturday, March 16th at 2-4 PM at Atkinson Heritage. The cost is $15/person for a delicious country catered meal. Wear your best country attire and be ready to for fun and games.
RSVP's are requested by February 23rd (TODAY!) to Denna Lay at 405-642-3406.
Lauren Dile, Kindergarten teacher in Edmond Public Schools, has been named Teacher of the Month for February 2024, and was 2023 District Teacher of the Year for Edmond Public Schools,
Lauren was presented with a certificate of recognition as well as a $500 gift from the Rotary Club 29 Foundation AND a $500 gift from the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation in partnership with the American Fidelity Foundation.
On January 18th, the West OKC Rotary Club embarked on its most significant service project of the year. Thanks to a generous district grant, we were able to provide 1000 Spanish-English dictionaries to four elementary schools within the Western Heights School District. This ambitious endeavor required meticulous planning and coordination as the club aimed to deliver dictionaries to all four schools simultaneously.
The dedication and unwavering support of the West OKC Rotarians, coupled with the profound commitment from the Western Heights School Administration, made this project possible. Every Rotarian involved poured their hearts into the initiative, knowing the impact it would have on the young minds in the community.
Stillwater’s Frontier Rotary Club served its annual Mpower dinner to the organization’s staff and clients. Mpower provides comprehensive vocational services to people in Stillwater with developmental disabilities.
In late January, Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club also held its annual Winter Ale Trivia Challenge, hosting 16 8-person teams in a competitive evening of good fun, food and drink. Proceeds from the event go to four local charities that the Club helps fund.
With the club’s donations to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library through the Payne County United Way, all the books donated in January bear the Stillwater Frontier Rotary Club name as sponsor.
The 2023-2024 Rotary Club of Okla. City OnePledge raised $120,903. On January 16, 2024 a check for $90,000 was given to the annual project recipient, the Dragonfly Home. Additional recipients will be High School Rotarians and the Literacy Summer Reading Program.
Rotary Club of Guthrie presented certificates to a student of the week each week along with other guests and speakers such as District Governor Elect, Jack Werner, Guthrie Band Director, Rob Blackburn, High School Assistant Principal, GJCC Student Government Reporter, Kya Mitchell and Executive Aide Ray Hall and others.
West OKC Rotary Annual Hal Almen Scholarship
On December 27, 2023, the West Oklahoma City Rotary Club proudly celebrated the Annual Hal Almen Scholarship Luncheon.
The scholarship, through its dedication to empowering young scholars, in 2023 saw 26 deserving recipients awarded, out of which 15 were able to attend the luncheon. The students received $5,000 for a total of $130,000 awarded this year. Since its inception in 2004, 393 scholarships have been awarded for a total of $1,723,000 to date.
On January 17th, the Midwest City Rotary club headed down to the Regional Food bank wtih about 40 folks comprised of Rotarians, Interact students from Midwest City High School and Student Rotarians from Carl Albert High School. They did such a great job the food bank emailed the next day asking for them to return in February!
We take the students down to the food bank annually to serve and EVERY time they have a blast.
Notice the new Interact shirts that say, "Give Hope." The students designed these themselves this year.
A Rotary Club of Edmond member is seeing great response to his efforts to outfit Langston University athletes for success.
Cottle found it amazing that others are writing checks to Langston to contribute to a suit fund for new suits—an ultimate goal for his campaign. He’s hoping he
can raise enough money to buy four to eight suits each year.
Cottle is grateful for the donations but says he still needs suits for athletes over six feet five inches tall.
District Governor Elect, Jack Werner, visited six Rotary Clubs each week in February. What he found most exciting is the high school attendees at almost every club.
Michael Winters is a Rotarian from California that was a founding member of a 400 student plus Interact Club. Michael will be speaking at Mid-America President Elect Training in Ft Smith, AR March 22-23 and is willing to visit with your Rotary Club and/or your high school if there is an interest in initiating an Interact Club.
Jack will continue to visit each club each quarter. Let him know if he can help you in any manner including being a speaker at your club
We are thrilled to announce a district-wide SuperMix™ End Polio Now fundraiser to bring health and well-being to Rotarians and fight disease worldwide. SuperMix™ is one of the most nutrient dense botanicals on earth. With the purchase of SuperMix™, you are supporting District 5750’s End Polio Now campaign and bringing health to yourself and family. As 20% of every order will be donated as a fundraiser for District 5750, helping us make a significant impact in eradicating polio while improving our own physical health. To place your order, you can use the link below.
In cooperation with the Mayor's office and City Council, the Rotary Club of Okla. City recognizes an outstanding teacher in our community.
Emily Kloeppel received her bachelor’s degree from Southern Nazarene University and her master’s degree, focused on Trauma Informed Education from Columbia College. She has passionately taught in Putnam City as an educator for eight years. She was named one of five Putnam City Excellent Educators and Windsor Hills Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2023.
Our new member Katie Swanson and Heather Zacarias are working on the preliminary planning of applying for a Matching Grant for STEM items for Heather's school (Western Gateway Elementary) when the district opens up accepting grant applications.
My son in law had a life threatening event while watching his son's football game. His heart stopped and his school nurse and started CPR on him and everything came out very well. Before I retired from the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics, we had an agent that was a certified CPR trainer that did CPR training for all our agents. I approached OBN to allow that agent to train our South members. Heather agreed to allow us to use her school for the site and will have several of her teacher participate.
Edmond's St Patty's Day Fundraiser
Rotarians will be serving up a delicious meal and providing an opportunity to buy drinks at a discount on March 17 at Frenzy Brewing Co., 15 S. Broadway in Edmond.
The St. Patrick’s day fundraiser will occur at the downtown Edmond location between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m.