[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 1030

Wed Jun 16 08:51:17 EST 2010

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Messages In This Digest (1 Message) 

1. 1897 : Going to new heights for the Annual Programs Fund From: Sunil 

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Posted by: "Sunil"
<mailto:sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk?Subject=%20Re%3A1897%20%3A%20Going%20to%20new
%20heights%20for%20the%20Annual%20Programs%20Fund> sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk
<http://profiles.yahoo.com/sunilkzach> sunilkzach 

Mon Jun 14, 2010 4:12 pm (PDT) 

Hiking to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in 2009 for Big Brothers Big
Sisters gave District Governor Tanya Wolff a creative idea for raising
money for The Rotary Foundation's Annual Programs Fund.

<http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/Funds/AnnualProgramsFund/Pages/ridefaul
t.aspx>
http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/Funds/AnnualProgramsFund/Pages/ride\
fault.aspx

Wolff decided to organize a similar trip to the base camp of Mount
Everest and challenge the Rotarians she met during her club visits in
District 6330 (parts of Ontario, Canada, and Michigan, USA) to either
join her or pony up donations for the Foundation.

On 17 April, Wolff; Karlis Graubics, governor of District 7600
(Virginia, USA); Eric Robinson, president-elect of the Rotary Club
of Wiarton, Ontario; and his cousin Doug Robinson reached the base camp
at 17,500 feet, having raised more than US$50,000 in pledges for the
Annual Programs Fund through their website, www.everesttrek.org.
 <http://www.everesttrek.org/> http://www.everesttrek.org/

"It's an absolutely beautiful experience," recalls Graubics, 70, who
underwent 11 weeks of endurance training to prepare. "At the same time,
when I talk about the experience, I stay away from saying I had a ball.
I did not have a ball. Nobody on that trip had a ball. It's something
you determine to do, pace yourself, and do it."

Graubics, who says he is not a thrill-seeker, got on board after he and
his wife hosted Wolff at their home so she could attend a training
institute nearby. At first, Graubics wanted nothing to do with the idea.

"I said, 'You're 47. I am 70. You go, and tell me about it,'" he
remembers. But days later, while listening to club presidents share
their enthusiasm for projects at his district conference, "I thought to
myself, 'You know, I haven't done anything really exciting this year.' I
began thinking, 'Maybe this thing would be a good idea.'"

Pledges began coming in as soon as Graubics decided to consider the
trek, and let the cat out of the bag. "My little comment started
bringing in money. So I said, 'I think I better take a serious look at
this.'"

For her part, Wolff describes herself as a wannabe runner. As a
part-time employee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton, she
helped coordinate the hike up Mount Kilimanjaro, during which 23 of the
24 participants made it to the summit

"I figured a smaller group might be able to raise between $25,000 and
$30,000 for the Foundation," she says. "Most of the members I challenged
laughed at the idea of seeing themselves huff and puff to nearly 18,000
feet. But I was determined to go, even if I was going alone."

Wolff selected Adventure Alternative to organize the trip because of its
work with nonprofits. She says setting up a website for pledges through
GiftTool was also instrumental in the effort's success.

Once the idea was cemented, Wolff contacted Ratna Man Sakya, governor of
District 3292 (Nepal), who invited the team to take part in the
district's conference. Wolff and Graubics altered their schedule to
attend and toured projects that international Rotarians had helped
sponsor.

"Being able to attend the district conference while we were there was a
big bonus," says Graubics. "When you are in Kathmandu on the street, you
see how poor the place is, and you want to help."

He adds that he and Wolff plan to work with the clubs in Kathmandu on
projects their districts can sponsor together.

The trip itself has helped energize his district, Graubics says.

"This was so beyond anything that had ever been done in my district.
It's like a breath of fresh air," he says. "I cannot be prouder of my
district and the way they are really stepping up."

For more information:

* Learn how your contributions to the Annual Programs Fund through
Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) help support the work of The Rotary
Foundation

<http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/091110_news_mgroundup.aspx
> http://www.rotary.org/en/MediaAndNews/News/Pages/091110_news_mgroundup.\
aspx

* Sign up for the EREY newsletter

<http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/Funds/EREYnewsletter/Pages/ridefault.as
px> http://www.rotary.org/en/Contribute/Funds/EREYnewsletter/Pages/ridefaul\
t.aspx

Source : Rotary International News / Courtesy : eFlash_Rotary

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