The Rotary world responded to the catastrophic earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria on February 6, 2023.
RI President Jennifer Jones activated our disaster response efforts, communicated with the affected districts, and encouraged governors in those regions to apply for disaster response grants and share information about their relief efforts so that Rotary can amplify the calls for support.
Rotary’s project partner ShelterBox has an emergency response team assessing the needs in the region and how it can respond. That team is communicating with Rotary district leaders. Our service partner Habitat for Humanity International, is also working on its response. Many Rotary members are asking how they can help. Here’s how to have the greatest impact:
Report from District 6450 DART (Disaster Assistance and Response Team) “As we all know, on 6 February 2023, in the early morning hours, an earthquake struck southern and central Turkey, and northern and western Syria. To date, 35,000 people have been declared dead or missing. It is truly a tragic situation and heartbreaking to see the people suffer this after so many have suffered through the conflict that has devastated the area already. Rotary, through its partnership with ShelterBox, is already there addressing needs and utilizing partnerships previously established in Turkey to bring in aid and support, most likely in the form of Solar lights and Thermal Blankets. Tents are also being considered to bolster the aid. Rotary International is encouraging the districts to apply for streamlined disaster grants in order to receive financial aid. Our district is currently in discussions with several contacts we have in Turkey so that our aid might be the best possible help in the most strategic way. Please consider donating to the District Foundation or our District Disaster Response Fund via the links on the district's website https://rotary6450.org/. We will continue to update our progress on aid in the coming weeks.” – Chris Olson, Chair of District 6450 DART
Warm Coats for Turkey & Syria Earthquake Refugees The Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield is organizing a campaign to get new Operation Warm coats to Turkey for earthquake victims. Convoy of Hope, a nonprofit, will ship them to Turkey/Syria, along with the Kids Against Hunger meals that will be packed on February 25. Convoy of Hope is on the ground distributing basic needs aid to earthquake victims. Warm coats are high on their list of needed items.
The club will place a coat order with Operation Warm on Monday, February 27, and they will ship shortly after that. Their fundraising success will dictate how many coats they can send. They hope they can equal the 2,000 coats sent to an Afghan refugee camp in Indiana in 2021.
You can also reach this page by texting Coats4Turkey to 44321.
If you prefer donating with a check, mail checks made payable to WNRCF (short for Winnetka Northfield Rotary Charitable Foundation) to:
Rotary Club of Winnetka-Northfield, 620 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka IL 60093.
If sending a check or donation from an IRA or DAF, please email Rich Lalley (richlalley@gmail.com) with your pledge so they can include it in their order on February 27. Also, write "Coats for Turkey" on the check.
118th Anniversary of 'Doing good things in the World! On February 23, 2023, we will celebrate another birthday of Rotary. Let us toast all the Rotarians, past, present, and future, for changing lives.
Please continue to track your service hours and share a showcase of your work with Rotary and your community.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Ade Onayemi
District Events
2023 District Conference & Club Expo, May 6, 2023. Plan on spending Saturday, May 6, from 10am-4pm at The Max in McCook bragging about what your club has accomplished this year and checking out what other clubs are doing. There is no charge and food will be available for purchase. Register here
Save the Date – 2023-24 District Governor Conor Gee Installation, June 24, 2023. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
Rotary Day at the White Sox, July 28, 2023. Get your club members together and order tickets now! Don’t forget to sponsor a veteran for the game and dinner. For more information and to order tickets click here: 2023 White Sox Game
REMINDER: Send your news items to be included in the District Headline News to yates.linda@sbcglobal.net.
Club Events
ROTARY/One Chicago Woman of the Year Award Ceremony Nominations,Deadline Tuesday, February 21, 2023. The Chicago Woman of the Year Committee would like to extend the call for honorees. To nominate a candidate, please fill out this automated Nomination Form. Click here for more information or email Chicago Woman of the Year Committee Chair Lisa Russ or office@rotaryone.club.
2023 Annual CORKL Luncheon presented by Western Springs Rotary, Friday, March 17, 2023. CORKL stands for Chamber, Optimist, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions. Join local service organizations and business professionals at this fun event. CORKL Registration
Update from Global Grant Scholar Francesca La Rocca - Belgium
Happy New Year from Belgium! I hope that you enjoyed the holidays and are keeping warm during the Chicago winter. As my first semester here in Leuven comes to a close, I wanted to reach out, say hello, and give you a few updates of my experience as a Rotary global grant scholar.
At school, I have had the opportunity to fully immerse myself in the Belgian academic system. In my masters we are a mix of Belgians and internationals so, I have had the unique ability to not only get to know Belgian culture but also perspectives from all around the globe. I have made great friends and together we have been exploring places like Leuven, Bruges, and Brussels. Because anthropology is very much rooted in interacting with your surroundings, I have also had the opportunity to do two collaborative projects with the Leuven community. Additionally, I have become my department's student representative. I have the honor of voicing student concerns and working with the department to ensure our faculty is a great place to learn! My exams have gone quite well. One of my professors gave me a compliment that my exam was perhaps one of the best he has ever received. While I have not gotten the official scores back yet, I am hoping for good results.
With Leuven Rotary, I have been welcomed into their amazing community. My two hosts, Carl and Erwin, are super communicative and have been a huge help in terms of transitioning into Leuven life. Erwin and I often get together to eat a meal, talk about my studies, and share different life stories. I have learned a lot from him and am very grateful for his generosity. Here, the Rotary participated in a great Christmas time charity campaign and I was happy to receive an advent calendar that went towards a good cause. I also have attended Rotary meetings and most notably, I attended a dinner and lecture. There, students spoke about their special cultural exchange trip between Leuven Rotary and their neighboring chapters in England and France. It was a wonderful presentation that showed the scope of relationships this chapter maintains. I also was asked to speak and present my own experience to the group and have been invited back to give more updates. Finally, I have met the heads of the local Rotaract chapter and exchanged phone numbers as they wish to invite me to one of their meetings as well.
Overall, my first semester as a global grant scholar has been quite an eventful one. I am so, so grateful for this amazing opportunity and am already able to see how it is impacting my future to become a more globally conscious citizen and changemaker. Thank you to you and everyone back home at Rotary for all your support. Sending lots of positive energy from Belgium!
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