Welcome to October. This is Community and Economic Development month for Rotary International. Rotary has targeted poverty by setting a goal to create productive employment opportunities. Those opportunities can (1) reduce poverty, (2) achieve social and economic development, and (3) provide income security and empowerment.
Our Project Showcase shows Economic and Community Development in District 7430. Theme projects this month focus on poverty, job creation and the quality of place in our community. Featured is Bethlehem Morning Star Rotary Club sharing its “Game of Rent” which teaches participants about the challenges faced by low-income people in finding affordable housing. The West Reading-Wyomissing Club shares its work at the West Reading Fall Fest where Rotarians distributed 500 saplings. Those trees will help provide a quality of place, an economic driver to retain talented residents and attract good employers.
On October 12th, our Showcase Tuesday features Matthew Kane sharing “LaunchRALEIGH.” This program trains successful entrepreneurs who otherwise would have limited access to financial and business resources. Raleigh borrowed the program from Detroit. It includes business training, microloans, mentors and networking opportunities. Maybe your Club can replicate LaunchRALEIGH in a city within our District or otherwise undertake a community and economic development project.
We recently enjoyed two successful District events: Stock-the-Box to benefit ShelterBox USA and the Yvette Palmer Purple Pinkie Race to Zero and Octoberfest to support PolioPlus. Each of these events is projected to raise about $50,000. If you have not donated, please give to these programs even though the events have already occurred. Please look for our District Foundation Seminar on November 7, 2021, at De Sales University.
Chart Your Course and Set Your Sails for the District Conference scheduled April 22-24, 2022 at the Hershey Lodge. You can register on our website at Rotaryathershey2022.org. Catch the discount before the end of the year! This is about Rotary fellowship with friends from Districts 7450 and 7475.
Rotary works in partnership with other organizations having similar mission statements. These include the Gates Foundation and the United Nations. Rotarians say, “Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves.” October 24th is World Polio Day and the UN General Assembly is presently in session. Former Secretary General Bon-Ki Moon said, “We must work closely together to make this year a year of global action, one that will be remembered as the dawn of a new era of sustainable development.” Let your economic and community development project be one to remember!