Rotary Foundation

The Rotary Foundation Committee works with the Fund Raising Committee by holding “Mardi Gras” type events each year to raise sufficient funds to name ten new Paul Harris Fellows each year. The committee periodically provides information and encourages members to become “Sustainers”. It is our goal to maintain the number of “Sustainers” in the club to 70% at a minimum.

In addition, it is the Committee’s responsibility to send out quarterly billings to all Sustainers, record each member’s contribution and maintain each member’s total contribution to the Rotary Foundation.

Group Study Exchange

Each year Rotary District 7570 sends 10 to 12 non-Rotarians abroad for a month of intensive cultural, vocational and social interaction. All expenses are paid by the Rotary Foundation, our district and the clubs in the host district.

World Community Service

Contributions to Rotary International are used to support a variety of programs at home and around the world. Rotarians focus their efforts in the following areas: maternal and child health, clean water and sanitation, disease prevention and treatment, basic education and literacy, economic and community development and peace and conflict prevention/resolution.

Many Rotary clubs help to install wells and develop water treatment and distribution systems to increase access to fresh drinking water for communities in need, especially in developing countries. The Rotary Club of Blacksburg's World Community Service Committee has teamed up with Walter Hughes and his Rocky Mount Club to help the people of Ghana eradicate the guinea worm and provide clean water to their villages. Walter has brought many clubs together with his grants that combine Rotary's matching capabilities with those of corporate America.
 
 
Like most Rotary Clubs, we are also involved with eradicating Polio, which is a crippling and potentially fatal infectious disease that strikes children mainly under the age of five in countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. In 1985, Rotary International created PolioPlus – a program to immunize all the world’s children against polio. Our club provides funding for this effort annually. To learn more, see this web site dedicated to Rotary’s PolioPlus program. To keep up to date about the latest efforts in eradicating polio, subscribe to RI's free quarterly e-newsletter End Polio Now. Subscribe now

Rotarians believe that when you understand other cultures, build friendships, and help people in need, it is easier to resolve problems or misunderstandings peacefully.Each year, up to 100 Rotary World Peace Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Centers, which operate in partnership with seven leading universities. Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution. Melanie Moore, Rotary Peace Scholar sponsored by our club, in Arusha, Tanzania interning with the United Nations International Tribunal for Rwanda.

The Rotary club of Blacksburg raised $5000 to assist the victims of the 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12, 2010. The funds have purchased five ShelterBoxes which provide tents, blankets and supplies to house up to 50 people. Among the first international relief workers to reach Haiti were volunteers from ShelterBox a United Kingdom-based disaster response organization supported by Rotary clubs worldwide.

Rotary offers a bi-monthly International Service Update  e-newsletter which provides current information about World Community Service, Rotary Volunteers, and Rotary Community Corps, as well as disaster relief and recovery. Sign up for the e-newsletter.

Some of our club's Rotarians are working with veterans, including returning Afghanistan and Iraq veterans, in preparing their resume for the return to the civilian work force.

(c) Blacksburg Rotary Club, 2011

website by Streamlined Strategies