[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 608

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

Messages In This Digest (3 Messages) 
  1. 1229: Barry Rasin Nominated RI Director From: Sunil K Zachariah 

  2. 1230: Nobel Peace Prize winner an inspiration to Rotary microcredit From: Sunil K Zachariah 

  3. 1231: Oct Message of TRF Chair From: Sunil K Zachariah 
Messages 
  1. 1229: Barry Rasin Nominated RI Director 

  Posted by: "Sunil K Zachariah" sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk   sunilkzach 
  Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:30 pm (PST) 
  Rassin named RI director

  Barry Rassin, of the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Bahamas, is 
  replacing Rotary International Director Milton O. Jones, who 
  resigned for health reasons effective 15 October. 

  Rassin, CEO and chair of Doctors Hospital Health System in the 
  Bahamas, has been a Rotarian since 1980. He has served RI as a 
  district governor, district trainer, committee chair, RI president's 
  representative, training leader, and zone coordinator. Rassin also 
  has been a representative to the Council on Legislation and an 
  International Assembly Leaders' Seminar trainer. He is a recipient 
  of the RI Service Above Self Award and is a Major Donor and 
  Benefactor of The Rotary Foundation.

  Rassin is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, 
  director and past chair of Project Read Bahamas, director and past 
  chair of the Bahamas Quality Council, and honorary president of the 
  Star of the Bahamas Charity Guide.

  Source: R I Website
  Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary




  2. 1230: Nobel Peace Prize winner an inspiration to Rotary microcredit 
  Posted by: "Sunil K Zachariah" sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk   sunilkzach 
  Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:35 pm (PST) 
  Nobel Peace Prize winner an inspiration to Rotary microcredit 
  projects

  Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the Bangladeshi economist who pioneered the idea 
  of microcredit loans that inspired many Rotary projects, has won the 
  2006 Nobel Peace Prize.

  At the 1999 RI Convention in Singapore, Yunus received Rotary's 
  highest honor, the Award for World Understanding*, for his work 
  helping the poor start businesses through microcredit loans from 
  Grameen Bank. The award money of US$100,000 went directly to the 
  Grameen Bank. 

  "Dr. Yunus' simple idea of microcredits has revolutionized 
  humanitarian assistance efforts," said Past RI President James Lacy 
  in 1999. "This award recognizes the tremendous results of the 
  Grameen Bank, which has empowered people worldwide to advance their 
  standard of living. As fellow humanitarian activists, the members of 
  Rotary greatly admire his work for economic empowerment."

  Through Rotary programs such as The Rotary Foundation's Humanitarian 
  Grants and World Community Service, Rotarians have taken part in 
  their own microcredit programs. Since 1984, Rotary-sponsored village 
  banks have been established in 12 countries. Through The Rotary 
  Foundation, Rotarians are currently involved in more than 60 
  microcredit projects around the world. 

  In 1976, Yunus experienced a "eureka" moment in the village of 
  Jobra, Bangladesh, while talking to a bamboo stool maker. When he 
  learned the woman had to purchase her daily supply of bamboo on 
  credit (for the U.S. equivalent of about 25 cents) from a trader who 
  in turn purchased her stools for next to nothing, the professor from 
  the nearby Chittagong University didn't think twice about loaning 
  her a quarter.

  He then went out to find out that other villagers had fallen into 
  similar financial traps for loans totaling $27. 

  "I was stunned. My reaction was obvious. I gave $27 from my pocket 
  to release them from the hard conditions of money lenders and 
  traders," Yunus told Rotarians at the 1999 convention.

  With money in their pockets, the workers were able to buy the 
  materials for a day's work weaving chairs or making pots. By the end 
  of their first day as independent business owners, the excited 
  entrepreneurs had actually turned a profit on their handiwork and 
  soon paid back the loan. 

  "I started thinking that if I can make so many people so happy with 
  such a small amount of money, why shouldn't I do more of it?" Yunus 
  said.

  He started the Grameen Bank after finding that villagers couldn't 
  get traditional loans from lending institutions. Today, Grameen Bank 
  gives the poor access to modest loans without collateral. The loans 
  have been tremendously successful, especially with women, in lifting 
  families out of poverty. And Grameen's impressive 98 percent 
  repayment rate is the envy of many top banks around the world. The 
  microcredit system is now at work in dozens of countries. 

  __________
  * Rotary International has since discontinued the Rotary Award for 
  World Understanding. 

  Source: R I Website
  Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary


  3. 1231: Oct Message of TRF Chair 
  Posted by: "Sunil K Zachariah" sunilkzach at yahoo.co.uk   sunilkzach 
  Sun Oct 15, 2006 11:59 pm (PST) 
  Rotary in India: An example to follow

  Luis Vicente Giay 

  October 2006

  Dear Rotary family,

  Recently, I returned from a short but extremely busy trip to India. 
  In eight days, we visited seven cities, held six Rotary Foundation 
  seminars, hosted six dinners and four luncheons to raise funds, met 
  with several potential donors, and inaugurated two projects and 
  visited four others. Never did I imagine that we would accomplish 
  what we did. 

  In Mumbai, I had the opportunity to meet an exemplary Rotarian and 
  witness his personal donation of US$1 million to our Foundation - 
  the first individual contribution of this amount made by a Rotarian 
  from India. A few years ago, a donation of this magnitude would have 
  been unheard of. As the result of our efforts during this trip, an 
  additional $2 million was received by The Rotary Foundation. What 
  generosity! What a tremendous spirit of service!

  Among donor countries in 2005-06, India ranks fifth in contributions 
  to The Rotary Foundation. Who outside of this beautiful and 
  enchanting country could have foreseen this level of fundraising 
  success?

  Rotary and Rotary Foundation activities in India should make us all 
  very proud. The projects being carried out there are important, but 
  what's most important is the personal commitment of the Rotary 
  family in India to the ideals of our organization and to the work of 
  The Rotary Foundation. Our friends followed the words of wisdom of 
  Albert Einstein: "It is the responsibility of every human being to 
  aspire to do something worthwhile, to make the world a better place 
  than the one he found."

  My sincere congratulations to our friends in India and to everyone 
  who follows these principles and strives to achieve similar feats 
  around the world. You make all of us proud to be Rotarians. 

  Sincerely,
  Luis Vicente Giay 
  Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation, 2006-07 

  Courtesy:eFlash_Rotary
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