Year-End Highlights of District 6970 Accomplishments (Excerpts from PDG Cynde’s final newsletter)

It is no surprise to most of you that Rotary District 6970 continues to receive kudos and awards for their superlative accomplishments.  As now-Past District Governor Cynde Covington states in her last newsletter, “Collectively we accomplished almost all of the District Goals for 2010-2011.” 

• We exceeded our Polio Challenge goals for the year.
• Our district was the first in Zones 33/34 to pass the $1 million mark, and the number continues to climb.

• The Rotary Club of Gainesville is 4^th in the world in Per Capita for large clubs.
• District 6970 is 5^th in the world for giving.
• We presented a check for $1,050,000 to Director John Smarge and Zone 34 Polio Chair Robert Hall at the District Conference, and contributions are still coming in.
• District 6970 led an International NID team to India to personally administer polio, one child at a time.
• Our contributions to the Annual Fund also exceeded the collective club goals this year.
• As a Future Vision Pilot District, we were able to match $157,000 in District Grants for club projects and we had $157,000 available for Global Grants.
• 38 different district clubs were involved in 30 Projects supported by District/Global.
• Rotarians from around the District worked side by side with New Generations (Interact Students, Youth Exchange Students, and Rotaract) to package 40,000 meals that have since been delivered to Haiti.
• Formation of an Early Act club in DeLand spawned a county-wide project within the school district to get Early Act clubs in all of the elementary schools.
• 2 new Rotaract clubs were chartered within the District, one university-based and one community-based.
•  Once again District 6970 Youth Exchange was recognized as one of the best examples of the program in North America.
• The new District website www.rotarydistrict6970.org is ONLINE NOW!  The online District Directory that will allow you to search for fellow district members should be completed soon.
• We responded to those suffering in Haiti and District 7020 from the earthquake and hurricanes, continuing to offer assistance as Haiti endured a cholera epidemic.
• We reached out to those in Pakistan after flooding and Japan after the tsunami.
• When the tornados hit in Joplin, we mobilized again, offering donations, supplies, and manpower when it was needed most.
• And we assist with the ongoing wildfires raging in Florida, with supplies and donations to help the firefighters.

In closing, Cynde says, “I would like to personally thank you for Building Communities and Bridging Continents together this year.  Let us continue to Reach Within to Embrace Humanity during the coming year under the able leadership of Clint Dawkins. “