By Rotary International

Mother and son enjoy a game of chess as part of the Rotary Club of Point Fortin project.

By Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal, a member of the Rotary Club of Point Fortin, Trinidad, West Indies

I have always had an interest in chess. So I was thrilled when Raymond Aaron, project coordinator of the “Chess in Schools” project and a past president of my Rotary club, invited me to be on the project committee. Our project is introducing primary and secondary school children to the game of chess.

When I joined Rotary in January, it was a life changing experience for me. I come from a background in academia, which can be quite isolating, no matter how hard you try for it not to be. So joining my Rotary club helped me get reconnected to my community.

The author, right, presents Rotaract member Shedron Collins with a first-place award in the club’s in-house tournament.

My family has lived in Point Fortin for three generations. It’s an hour’s drive from Trinidad’s other large city, San Fernando. The journey is made even longer by the poor condition of the roads caused by a relatively constant stream of heavy trucks and machinery to and from the industries …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Mother and son enjoy a game of chess as part of the Rotary Club of Point Fortin project.

By Jo-Anne Nina Sewlal, a member of the Rotary Club of Point Fortin, Trinidad, West Indies

I have always had an interest in chess. So I was thrilled when Raymond Aaron, project coordinator of the “Chess in Schools” project and a past president of my Rotary club, invited me to be on the project committee. Our project is introducing primary and secondary school children to the game of chess.

When I joined Rotary in January, it was a life changing experience for me. I come from a background in academia, which can be quite isolating, no matter how hard you try for it not to be. So joining my Rotary club helped me get reconnected to my community.

The author, right, presents Rotaract member Shedron Collins with a first-place award in the club’s in-house tournament.

My family has lived in Point Fortin for three generations. It’s an hour’s drive from Trinidad’s other large city, San Fernando. The journey is made even longer by the poor condition of the roads caused by a relatively constant stream of heavy trucks and machinery to and from the industries …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

By Evan Burrell

The most engaging posts on social media are the ones that include images. That isn’t a statement, it’s a fact!

Out of all of the social media networks, I have to say Instagram is my favorite. Why? Because photos equal fun!

Although Facebook is currently the most popular social network, other platforms have been gaining ground, especially visual platforms like Instagram, which allows users to share photos after applying edits and digital filters. After uploading your photo, you can share it on your club’s social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Instagram is awesome when it comes to showing your creativity and it has 300 million active users.

So why should your club be on Instagram? Because “a picture is worth a thousand words.” There are so many things you can do with photos to showcase your vibrant club and promote Rotary.

Before your jump in:

Make sure you own a smartphone with a camera: An Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy will suffice.
Download the Instagram app: You can’t get started unless you start using it. Download the app from Google Play for Android or Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Use hashtags: They are how you reach new audiences and gain more followers. …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

By Evan Burrell

The most engaging posts on social media are the ones that include images. That isn’t a statement, it’s a fact!

Out of all of the social media networks, I have to say Instagram is my favorite. Why? Because photos equal fun!

Although Facebook is currently the most popular social network, other platforms have been gaining ground, especially visual platforms like Instagram, which allows users to share photos after applying edits and digital filters. After uploading your photo, you can share it on your club’s social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Instagram is awesome when it comes to showing your creativity and it has 300 million active users.

So why should your club be on Instagram? Because “a picture is worth a thousand words.” There are so many things you can do with photos to showcase your vibrant club and promote Rotary.

Before your jump in:

Make sure you own a smartphone with a camera: An Apple iPhone or Samsung Galaxy will suffice.
Download the Instagram app: You can’t get started unless you start using it. Download the app from Google Play for Android or Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad.
Use hashtags: They are how you reach new audiences and gain more followers. …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

By Rotary communications staff

How do you tell the story of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in comic-book form? That was the challenge that four Rotary staffers – Chris Brown, Brad Cowan, Kate Benzschawel and Stuart Cleland — faced in the summer of 2015. They needed an angle that would cover the major aspects of the GPEI’s work. But it had to be a story, not just a list of organizations and achievements.

Luckily, Kate had spotted “Polio Partners” in the September issue of The Rotarian, and suggested the team base the comic on the four pillars of the eradication effort – virus hunters, strategists, advocates, and immunizers. “They could be super-heroes,” said someone. “And they protect kids,” said another. “They’re the Agents of GPEI!” added a third.

That’s how it started. Soon, Stuart and Chris had written a script. Chris, whose non-Rotary alter ego is the artist 360°, began creating characters and experimenting with color and style as a paneled comic. Brad converted Chris’s work into a motion-comic, spending hours along with Kate tweaking frames, adding music and sound effects, and incorporating notes from the PolioPlus team.

The result – The Agents of Polio Eradication. We hope you enjoy …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

By Rotary communications staff

How do you tell the story of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in comic-book form? That was the challenge that four Rotary staffers – Chris Brown, Brad Cowan, Kate Benzschawel and Stuart Cleland — faced in the summer of 2015. They needed an angle that would cover the major aspects of the GPEI’s work. But it had to be a story, not just a list of organizations and achievements.

Luckily, Kate had spotted “Polio Partners” in the September issue of The Rotarian, and suggested the team base the comic on the four pillars of the eradication effort – virus hunters, strategists, advocates and immunizers. “They could be super-heroes,” said someone. “And they protect kids,” said another. “They’re the Agents of GPEI!” added a third.

That’s how it started. Soon, Stuart and Chris had written a script. Chris, whose non-Rotary alter ego is the artist 360°, began creating characters and experimenting with color and style as a paneled comic. Brad converted Chris’s work into a motion-comic, spending hours along with Kate tweaking frames, adding music and sound effects, and incorporating notes from the PolioPlus team.

The result – The Agents of Polio Eradication. We hope you enjoy …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Theresa Osei Tutu

By Theresa Osei Tutu, a member of the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, Ghana

It is often said that water is life. But for many in Ghana, water is disease and death. It is for this reason that Ghanaian Rotarians have embraced the RI-USAID Water and Sanitation Project, to help reduce the diseases that break out as a result of poor water quality and improper sanitation.

About 80 Rotary members from 31 clubs assembled at the Tema Rotary Centre on 12 March to get more insight on their role in the project. Facilitators from Rotary, Global Communities (the implementing partner for USAID) and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency headquartered in Accra (the implementing partner for Rotary) created a lively exchange.

Global Communities covered Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Strategy which includes the need to maximize the benefits of wash interventions by making them sustainable.

This includes encouraging proper hygiene habits at home and improving the supply of clean water and sanitation in communities, schools, and health facilities. They talked about educating community members to wash their hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, and giving instructions on safe collection and storage of drinking water.

Participants of the event at the Tema …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Theresa Osei Tutu

By Theresa Osei Tutu, a member of the Rotary Club of Accra-Airport, Ghana

It is often said that water is life. But for many in Ghana, water is disease and death. It is for this reason that Ghanaian Rotarians have embraced the RI-USAID Water and Sanitation Project, to help reduce the diseases that break out as a result of poor water quality and improper sanitation.

About 80 Rotary members from 31 clubs assembled at the Tema Rotary Centre on 12 March to get more insight on their role in the project. Facilitators from Rotary, Global Communities (the implementing partner for USAID) and the Community Water and Sanitation Agency headquartered in Accra (the implementing partner for Rotary) created a lively exchange.

Global Communities covered Behavior Change Communication (BCC) Strategy which includes the need to maximize the benefits of wash interventions by making them sustainable.

This includes encouraging proper hygiene habits at home and improving the supply of clean water and sanitation in communities, schools, and health facilities. They talked about educating community members to wash their hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet, and giving instructions on safe collection and storage of drinking water.

Participants of the event at the Tema …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog

By Rotary International

Thousands of Rotary members gathered at the Vatican in Rome to celebrate a message of compassion, inclusiveness, and service to humanity.

By Elizabeth Celi, Rotary Club of Rome International

The audience at the Papal Jubilee, though buzzing with excitement, excuded serenity. Despite a sea of thousands of people right behind us in St Peter’s Square, I sensed a palpable feeling of tranquillity. We were positioned up close to Pope Francis’ outdoor podium with the sun shining and the soothing sound of water surging through two magnificent stone fountains on either side of us.

As a member of Rotary for eight years in Melbourne, Australia, and now in the Rotary Club of Rome International, I was delighted to attend this event which focused on stories of extending a hand to help our fellow human beings, especially refugees. The experience was humbling. Before Pope Francis greeted us, we listened to several members of the Italian armed forces and emergency service personnel share accounts of helping save lives.

A 16 year old shared the story his parents relayed to him, when he was old enough to understand, about the day he needed emergency cardiac attention when he was just 17 days old. He stood next to an …read more

Source:: Rotary International Blog