The Rotary Foundation

April 10 Update from Chair Cliff Kuhlman.

As As of April 10, TRF giving by the Rotary Club of Grants Pass had reached a total of $11,978.00, or 80% of the Club Goal continued this year by Club President Tina Gotchall for the Annual Fund, a goal of $15,000.00.

PolioPlus donations increased to $6,460.08, or 129.2 percent of President Tina’s goal of $5,000.00.

All-Time Giving has reached $1538,911.

Rotary Trading Banners

In the early years of Rotary, club members sought ways to strengthen connections and build friendships with fellow Rotarians from different clubs. This desire gave rise to the practice of exchanging banners as a token of goodwill and camaraderie. The tradition of trading banners became deeply rooted within Rotary clubs, creating a sense of unity and fostering meaningful relationships. Rotary Club trading banners are not mere pieces of cloth; they carry profound symbolism and meaningful designs. The most recognizable feature of these banners is the Rotary wheel emblem, an enduring symbol of Rotary’s commitment to service above self. The emblem is often placed prominently on the banner, serving as a reminder of the shared values and goals that unite Rotarians across the globe. One of the fascinating aspects of Rotary Club trading banners is their diversity and creativity. Each club has the freedom to design and customize their own banner, incorporating elements that represent their unique identity and local culture. Colors, symbols, and local landmarks are often incorporated into the design, reflecting the club’s heritage and regional pride.

If you haven’t used the District and Club Database (DACdb) here is a document that shows you how to get started, and what you can do when you get there.

DACdb_NewMember

This link will give more detail on how to use DACdb.

Quick Start

Design of Grants Pass Banner

The following story was given to us by long time club member Marty Bauer.

Why is a drift boat the backdrop for the Class of ’70 photo? Several reasons. First of all, rafts like we row today, weren’t around much in the 70’s, but about 15 club members owned drift boats and the club put them to good use. We had an annual picnic that we floated to, we used them to transport the district’s exchange students on a three-day trip through the Wild and Scenic section of the Rogue, and we even took about 50 members of the U.S. Air Force Band on a trip from Hog Creek to Galice-and sank a borrowed boat in the process. That’s a story in its own right.

And the broken oar. Well, in the ’70’s all we had were wood oars. When you caught them between rocks, they often broke. A bunch of Rotarians ran the Middle Fork of the Salmon in Idaho. We had about 10 boats and all were carrying at least one spare oar and some two. By the end of the trip, we were down to one spare oar among us and getting a bit nervous. It’s pretty tough to row with one oar. So now, all but the purists row with composite oars-they’re almost impossible to break.

Side note: During Wednesday of the Middle Fork trip, we convened a Rotary meeting and even had a student of the month-Bill and Sylvia Hamilton’s daughter Carrie.