Tag Archives: Jim Probsdorfer

Reconstruction – DRFCs

10 Thursday Jan 2019

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What is a DRFC?

Out of curiosity, do you know what the acronym DRFC stands for? Not to belabor the point,  DRFC refers to the District Rotary Foundation Committee. It is also used as the acronym to identify the Chair of a district’s DRFC.  

Do you know who currently holds the DRFC title in District 7600? Do you know how long a DRFC serves? Has there ever been a woman DRFC in District 7600? What does the DRFC (committee) do? For that matter, what does the DRFC (Chair) do?

Assuming you know anything about the DRFC, who has been your favorite DRFC? Why? Who have been the most recent DRFCs?

An informal poll was taken of recent Past District Governors to assist in reconstructing the list of prior DRFCs and the years they served. The past DRFCs relied on their memories or referred to treasured souvenir district directories so accuracy may be suspect.

  • Bob Stallworth (2000-2001),
  • John Nelson (2001-2002),
  • Joe Mulkerrin (2002-2007),
  • Bob Preston (2007-2010),
  • Bill Pollard (2010-2013),
  • Jim Probsdorfer (2013-2016),
  • and currently, Chuck Arnason (2016-2019).

It appears that before 2007 the term for a DRFC was one year.  Past Rotary International Director Joe Mulkerrin served for five years, and after that, the DRFCs have served for three years.

Now who will be our DRFC when Past District Governor Chuck completes his term in June?

Grant us a grant, please

10 Wednesday May 2017

Posted by in Rotary Grants, Upcoming District Events

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May 15 (district grant application deadline) is around the corner

At least 50 clubs in District 7600 have qualified to apply for or participate in district or global grants this coming Rotary year.  These clubs had attendees at interactive Grant Management Seminars or Webinars (GMS) as required by The Rotary Foundation. The District Rotary Foundation Committee (DRFC) hosted one traditional seminar in late March and two webinars in April.  Rotarians could also attend the April webinars in person if they preferred to do so.

Now our clubs are submitting their final reports for 2016 -17 grants and working on their grant applications for the 2017-18 Rotary year. Both of these processes are totally electronic so some clubs are adjusting to the digital era of Rotary grants, as well.

The district grants guru

 

SuAnne Hardee Bryant presenting

SuAnne – March 25 GMS

SuAnne Hardee Bryant has structured the Grant Management Seminars/Webinars to provide the low down on basic requirements, the best practices of the Rotary grants, and step-by-step instruction on the electronic tools (Grant Module on dacdb.com) for processing grant applications and grant stewardship documentation.  Whether her presentation was in person or via computer she was open to questions, provided suggestions, and made herself and her committee available to assist clubs with questions.

 

A short history of the Rotary grants model

The Rotary Foundation introduced the current Rotary Grants model in embryonic form in 2013 with ‘Future Vision’.  In our District, PDG Jim Probsdorfer was the District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair who steered the new grant vessel through the stormy waters of change and then passed the role to Chuck Arnason.  Bill Liepis served as the first grants chair in Future Vision, followed by DGE John Padgett,  and then by SuAnne Hardee Bryant.  Over those four years, the grant model has been tweaked and improved.

A bit about SuAnne

SuAnne is a litigator, a member of the Chesapeake club, a past-president of her club, and a strong supporter of The Rotary Foundation.  In March and April, she helped educate Presidents-Elect at PETS and was the primary presenter at three Grant Managment Seminars/Webinars. She and her team have dedicated themselves to taking the mystery out of the Rotary Grant process. They can even provide a matrix of how they evaluate the grant applications that come their way.

 

Webinar

Screen shot of April 29 Grant Management Webinar

 

So what now?

If your club had a 2016-17 grant, please, please submit your final report with the required signatures.  This clears the way for you to be considered for a 2017-18 Rotary Grant. Submit your 2017-18 grant application via the dacdb grants module no later than May 15.

 

 

And a great time was had by all …

15 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by in Rotary 7600 Foundation News

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“And the award goes to …”

Amazing how time flies … the signature annual events of the District Rotary Foundation Committee, the Foundation Awards Banquet and the Friends of the Foundation Reception  are behind us.

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DGs Chenault, Beer, Arnason, & Probs by Bill Billings

Last Thursday  160 Rotarians from across the district came to the Banquet to watch others receive and to receive themselves over 126 individual and club awards.  But it wasn’t just an evening of awards and pats on the back.  It was an evening of warmth, humor, congeniality, and sharing.  Did we mention food? It was also an impromptu ‘roast’ of Jim Probsdorfer whose final year as the District Foundation Committee Chair was being recognized.

The Friends of the Foundation Reception is an event funded in part by the District Budget (not Foundation funds) and by generous sponsors to recognize and to thank Major Donors, members of the Bequest Society, and members of the Paul Harris Society.  Two new major donors were presented with their crystals at the Reception …Sam Shiplett (James River -Richmond) and Bill Sharp (Warwick). This year our generous sponsor was The Rotary Club of James River (Richmond) VA.

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John Smarge by Bill Billings

The Foundation Awards Banquet is self-funded by the attendees of the Banquet and includes some or all of the expenses for the keynote speaker and any special guests.  This year Past Rotary International Director John Smarge was our keynoter and Erin Groble, recently appointed as the Major Gifts Officer for Zones 33 and 34, were our guests.  It was Erin’s first visit to a district and we made quite an impression, hopefully a good one.

More detail will be provided in the District Newsletter, The Spirit of 7600, to be published later this month, but for now congratulations to all who received awards and special shout outs to The Rotary Club of James River (Richmond) VA on becoming only the third in the world and the first in the USA … 100% Paul Harris Society Club; to Jerry Fields on being awarded the Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award, and to Bill Stramm on becoming a recipient of the Pierce Foundation Leadership Award.

 

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John Smarge, DG Diane, and Bill Stramm, later in the evening the recipient of the Pierce Foundation Leadership Award  by Lisa Clary

 

 

Lingering glow from District Conference

04 Tuesday Oct 2016

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From District Conference to Foundation Awards Banquet … the glow continues

Excitement is growing about the Foundation Awards Banquet as it has already been announced that District 7600 achieved two record breaking giving milestones in the 2015-16 year.  The generosity of its clubs and members put District 7600 at #23 in giving out of all of the Districts in the world. Congratulations and thank you to all Rotarians in 7600.

The successful giving year means that there will be a robust Foundation Awards ceremony at the 2016-foundation-awards-banquet on November 10 at the Colonial Heritage Golf Club in Williamsburg.  The District Foundation Committee will be notifying clubs and individuals of their awards shortly and inviting them to participate in the awards ceremony.  By the way you can register NOW for the District Foundation Awards Banquet at the calendar  tab on dacdb.com.

Looping back to the District Conference … India

There were so many amazing, riveting presentations at the District Conference.  One colleen-and-cora-nid-indiabreakout that this writer particularly enjoyed was the Engaging Humanity in India – National Immunization Day (NID)  presented by Colleen Bonadonna (New Kent) and Cora Huitt (Bon Air).  The breakout was a sensual visit to a typical NID in India.  From soft lights, incense, tea, bindis, and actual photographs from NIDs in which Colleen and Cora had participated, the session was a sampling of the adventures volunteers experience on NIDs.  These two 7600 Rotarians demonstrated that it is not only our donations, but the time volunteered by Rotarians by which we Embrace Humanity.

Back at the Conference … Citation for Meritorious Service

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Lynn & Jim Probsdorfer & Past Rotary International Director Sam Orowi

Each year each District nominate a deserving Rotarian to the Trustees of The Rotary to recognize outstanding service of a to The Rotary Foundation by awarding the Citation for Meritorious Service to that exemplary individual.  Only one such citation may be awarded each year in the District.  This year  James A. Probsdorfer (Warwick) was the recipient of the Citation for Meritorious Service.  Jim or Probs, as many call him, richly deserves this special recognition. This Past District Governor and immediate Past District Rotary Foundation Chair steered the District through ‘Future Vision’ (remember that?) into the emerging and now solidified grant and grant management model.  Change can be hard, especially for Rotarians. Probs helped make it happen with grace. Each year during his chairmanship the district broke at least one or two giving records.  Yes, #23 in the world. Congratulations, Probs.

 

End Polio Now Baseball & Probs’ Farewell

28 Tuesday Jun 2016

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Just a reminder of the upcoming End Polio Now Baseball Games, July 7 in Richmond and July 27 in Norfolk …

Stan Wall advises that Rotarians can secure tickets for the Flying Squirrels Game up til game day.  Just check in with your club point of contact for the games who will obtain more tickets from Stan.  And those of you in the Hampton Roads area, don’t forget that Tides game.  Again, contact your club’s point of contact for tickets.

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A fond farewell as your District Foundation Committee Chair …

(reprinted from the June 2016 Foundation Features)

OK, the time has come; the deed is done. I plan to fade from the scene as your new District Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Chuck Arnason takes over on July 1. It has been a ‘magical journey’ for me as our District moved from Future Vision in 2013-14 to ‘current vision’ in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

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Probs

During the last three years, we continued to set and achieve new goals, raise our standards in giving and grants, improve our internal processes, inform our Rotarians and promote our belief in The Rotary Foundation. I have been very proud to represent our District at numerous meetings and events and, as always, to meet and recognize our generous Rotarians who continue to ‘do good in the world’.

As our Foundation Newsletter has highlighted, as long as we remember “Why We Give”, understand “How We Give”, and appreciate “The Who Behind the Giving”, we will continue to be ranked in the top tier of Rotary Districts in the world in our support of The Rotary Foundation. My thanks to YOU and may YOU always ‘Lead the Way’.

 

Meanwhile … back at the ranch

31 Tuesday May 2016

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June is a month of deadlines for all things Rotary Foundation

Many of our Rotary colleagues are enjoying the dazzling Rotary International Convention in Seoul, North Korea, but they have left the work of The Rotary Foundation in good hands.

100_0497This week I received an important email from Liz Lazar, our district’s shepherdess (aka Annual Giving Officer Zones 33 & 34) at The Rotary Foundation.  It was replete with useful information.  There have been changes in banner recognitions which she explains carefully, but word is going out on that separately and there will be more info to come.

Today we will focus on the deadlines for getting contributions into The Rotary Foundation so the contributions can be timely processed.  The remainder of this article is Liz’s recap of giving deadlines, addresses, and resources for information on some of the less common methods of giving.  Ken Hodge and I are available if you have any questions.

Thank You For All You Do, District 7600 Rotarians.

–Jim Probsdorfer, District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair

2015-16 Rotary End of Year Deadlines

Credit Cards:   Online via www.rotary.org– must be authorized on or prior to Thursday 30 June 2016, midnight (Central Standard Time).

Note:Sending credit card information by mail is less secure and slower than contributing on-line.  For security purposes, please do not send credit card contributions electronically, rather fax them to 847-328-5260.

Fax: (+1-847-328-5260)—must be received by Thursday 30 June 2016.

Phone: (+1-866-976-8279) – must be received prior to the close of business onThursday 30 June 2016.

Checks*: must be postmarked Thursday 30 June 2016 or prior and received at the Foundation by Wednesday 6 July 2016.

United States:  The Rotary Foundation, 14280 Collections Center Dr., Chicago IL 60693 USA

Canada:  The Rotary Foundation (Canada), c/o 911600, PO BOX 4090 STN A, Toronto, On M5W 0E9, Canada

*Please do NOT send in checks for the 2016-17 Rotary year until Friday 1 July 2016.

Wire transfers: must be initiated prior to Thursday 30 June 2016 and received byTuesday 5 July 2016.

Securities: must be received prior to Thursday 30 June 2016 .

Learn how you can donate stocks, mutual funds, or other securities.

Special gifts: to obtain instructions for Charitable Gift Annuities and Charitable Remainder Unitrusts email plannedgiving@rotary.org or call +1-847-866-3100.

Liz Lazar

Liz Lazar, Annual Giving Officer,                                                                                                           Zones 33 -34 The Rotary Foundation

Share grant pics when filing final report

29 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by in Rotary 7600 Foundation News, Rotary Grants

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Not a lecture on final grant report for 2015-16 district grants, just some tips:

Each club which received a 2015 -16 district grant is well aware it must demonstrate its stewardship by finalizing the grant reporting through the district grants module by May 16.  That date is the deadline for submission of 2016-17 district grant applications.  A few tips from  Jim Probsdorfer, District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, to that end …

  • collect receipts/invoices/plan sketches regularly during the grant project
  • copy, pdf, and share these documents so that there is more than one repository.  The old adage of backup, backup, backup is a wise one.
  • take photographs along the way and share these on facebook pages, websites, or on shareable platforms like dropbox, icloud, picassa, etc.
  • consider submitting the final report through the district grants module as soon as it is prepared and as far in advance of the May 16 deadline as possible so that if there are glitches they can be resolved before a club’s new grant application is to be considered.

More about pictures:

Emporia Reading Garden Cleanup

Emporia Grant

Take pictures throughout the grant process and create photo ops to capture the spirit of your grant. Photo ops can include the usual getting the check shot, but should also include the grant committee meetings to plan the grant milestone events, Rotarians and partners actually working on the grant project, the intended beneficiaries enjoying the facility/project made possible by the grant.

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Norfolk Grant

Then make sure these pictures get submitted through the grants module.  These pictures become great marketing tools for both the club and for the district. The pictures featured here were clipped from pictures submitted by these two clubs in the grants module.

Wayne Boggs wants you to successfully close out your grant.

 

“Beeing A Gift To The World”

28 Monday Dec 2015

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from the desk of Jim Probsdorfer, District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair …

I extend my deepest thanks to the 64 Club Foundation Chairs (CFCs) for their efforts to encourage members to give generously to The Rotary Foundation (TRF) and for club participation in district and global grants.

CFCs are in the forefront is answering questions about the ever changing world of our Rotary philanthropic arm, engaging with club goal setting, keeping TRF present in the weekly club activities, and in celebrating our successes as we strive to ‘Be a Gift to the World.’

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Anne Matthews, Charles Moncure, Jim Probsdorfer, and DG Gary Chenault.

The role of the Club Foundation Chair is so important that this year the District created and awarded the first annual James Pierce Foundation Leadership Award to recognize a dedicated, successful Club Foundation Chair.  The inaugural award was to Charles Moncure of the Innsbrook Club, who not only performed in a superior manner as the Club’s Foundation Chair, he subsequently served successfully as a Foundation Advocate.

It is a dynamic role … inputting data, downloading, anaylzing, and using timely club reports, and just navigating the changing role of the Club Foundation Chair who is now in what are termed ‘assigned positions.’ These are the designated club leaders who have access to input data and retrieve management reports on the status of the cub.

The harder part may be taking the data and using it to help individual members relate to The Rotary Foundation in a personal, committed way.

The challenges facing the CFCs are many and sensitive, but without their efforts serving as champions for The Rotary Foundation, Rotary’s ability to make meaningful impact on the world would be diminished.  So …

Thank you, Club Foundation Chairs.  You are gifts to the world.

Probs

 

‘… it’s the best time of the year.’

21 Monday Dec 2015

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Celebrating & Giving …tis the holiday season:

Clubs are ringing bells for the Salvation Army, collecting toys and bicycles for children, donating to food banks, and partying across District 7600 during this season.  Rotarians give year round … of their time, their talents, and their money.

Shout outs & gifties:

  • to Joy Kline (Goochland Club) for creating our user friendly, quick reference for monthly club giving.  It is complete through the end of the prior month, is grouped by area, and is very colorful.  Her gift to us is the 2015 Foundation Report- Nov (3) .  Club Foundation Chairs and Foundation Advocates should share with their clubs and provide any advice or encouragement which will help the clubs assess next steps.

  • to the Rotary Club of Williamsburg.  President Chuck Hobson & ChuckHobson&TuckerWilliamsburgRotaryTucker are pictured here.  The Williamsburg Club covered 95 shifts of 2 hours each ringing the Red Kettle bells. Many included their best friends in the effort. Other clubs rang the bells across the district and some are pictured on our facebook page ‘Rotary D7600 Foundation Committee’.  Please visit and ‘like’.  The Williamsburg Rotary has a Facebook page also.  You will see more pictures of their members and pets there.  Enjoy.

  • to Diana Gulotta of the Virginia Peninsula Club who monthly edits her gift, the District Rotary Foundation Newsletter ‘Features’.  It is published monthly and comes to your computer, tablet, or smartphone.  If you don’t get it … check your spam folder, Chewbaca.

  • to our own Han Solo, Jim Probsdorfer, our District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair, who is truly ‘a gift to the world.’

  • to the 3000+ District 7600 Rotarians who give so much, so often, and with such heart! You are a gift and an inspiration.

 

 

Are your clubs ready for Rotary Foundation Month?

12 Monday Oct 2015

Posted by in Rotary 7600 Foundation News

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Great club interest in global grants

Before the lead topic which is Rotary Foundation Month, let’s pause to reflect on this week’s header.  It features our District Foundation Committee Chair and Past District Governor, Jim Probsdorfer,  addressing remarks to the standing-room-only global grants session at the District Conference.  He wasn’t the only speaker.  A delegation from the Innsbrook Club & Friends of Barnaby spoke of their partnership and multi-club project in Honduras, and Roma Frye of the Newport News Club described a recent three-bridge, Bridges to Prosperity project in Africa.  It also was a partnership and multi-club project. These two projects included District 7600 clubs which were smaller than the lead clubs, but gave those clubs a chance to get skin in the game on large scale international projects.  SuAnne Bryant is the go-to person for more information on global grants.

November -Rotary Foundation Month

Yesterday the Foundation Advocates received a resource packed email which originated with Liz Lazar, our Annual Giving Officer at The Rotary Foundation.  She covers Zones prouddonor33 & 34 which happily includes District 7600.  The email is reprinted here, November Foundation Month, and you are invited to refer to it as you encourage or arrange for your club(s) to participate and advocate in a major way for The Rotary Foundation during the month of November. Many of you are are Foundation Advocates, Area Governors, Club Foundation Chairs, or Foundation groupies, but whatever your role or interest please encourage your clubs to make the most of the resources (with links) provided by Liz.

Foundation Awards Banquet-2014-2015 Awards

November 12 is the date of our Annual Foundation Awards Banquet in Williamsburg at the Colonial Heritage Country Club. Anne Matthews, Past Rotary International Vice-President will be our keynote speaker.  It will be a packed two hour dinner and program during which many clubs from our district will be recognized for their commitment and accomplishments. Registration is open on www.dacdb.com.  Get it on your calendar, register early, and bring your spouse and fellow club members.  Make it a gala evening to remember.

Shout out

This shout out is for Boo Elmore of the Chester Club who is organizing the World Polio Day efforts of the district Interact and Rotaract Clubs which will host Purple Pinkie events on October 23rd & 24th.  Find one and get your pinkie done!

We’ll get by with a little help from our friends

05 Monday Oct 2015

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Picture of CitationAfter drying my tears, catching my breath, and finding my abandoned  eye glasses, the enormity really hit me of having been awarded The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service by Rotary International General Secretary John Hewko in front of 300 or so of my closest friends.  As I left the dais many Rotarians, more deserving of the recogniton than I, hugged and congratulated me. In acceptance of this award I am at once humbled and empowered … humbled because there are so many hardworking, generous Rotarians who support their clubs and humanity every day and who are worthy of recognition and gratitude for their efforts to support the mission of The Rotary Foundation … empowered because I know that Rotarians, and particularly District 7600 Rotarians, are a supportive community who will not quit until we eradicate Polio and who will never cease ‘doing good in the world.’

So thank you all for being part of my posse.  Thank you to District Governor Gary Chenault who formally nominated me. Thanks to the 64 Club Foundation Chairs and  to the 17 Foundation Advocates who have boots or high heels on the ground making The Rotary Foundation a living, breathing part of every Rotarian’s life. Thanks to my District Rotary Foundation Committee colleagues who inform and bolster me, and especially to our Chair, Jim Probsdorfer, who somehow manages to keep all of the moving parts from colliding and moving us towards accomplishing our District goals.  Thank you to the District leadership, past and present, who provide the inspiration, structure, and support which allows the District Foundation Committee to reach into and support the clubs. Thanks most of all to the 3000 District Rotarians who personally raise and donate funds, sell peanuts and other sundries, distribute dictionaries, paint purple pinkies, build bridges, refurbish charitable facilities, and just keep the day-in and day-out commitment to The Rotary Foundation.

Finally and most importantly,  thank you to the spouses and families who share your loved ones with the cause and who often roll your own sleeves up and join in the effort. Your support and encouragement makes it all possible.

Now, let’s all meet at The Rotary Foundation Banquet on November 12, in Williamsburg and celebrate together!

Brave New World of Rotary Grants

27 Monday Jul 2015

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Grants With Impact

Jim Probsdorfer (“Probs”), District Rotary Foundation Chair, recently related a short PawPawBushhistory of the new world of Rotary grants to District leaders. This history began with “Future Vision” which was the pilot and transition to a systematic revamping of all Rotary grants. The ultimate goal of Future Vision was to increase the impact made on communities by Rotary grant projects.  Greater impact means a higher profile for Rotary which in turn leads to increased membership and increased giving.

One aspect of the revamped Rotary grants is evident in District 7600.  According to Probs in the 2012-2013 year our District Simplified Grants totaled $46,700. In the 2013 -14 year (the transition year) the District Grant Program totaled $116,000.  In 2014-2015 it totaled  $119,800.  This year the total is $122,800 >>> that’s almost $350,000 in local service projects in 2013-14, 2014-15 and now 2015-16.  Quite an increase from the $46,700 three years previously.

Area 7 Foundation Advocate, Stan Wall

Area 7 Foundation Advocate, Stan Wall

The 2015-2016 Grant Spending Plan for District 7600 has been approved and the District leadership is in the process of contacting the 15 project leads (some of the approved grants are multi-club projects) of their successful applications.  Of the fifteen successful projects most are in the areas of Education (literacy and STEM) and Community Development (often partnering with governmental entities) to provide healthy facilities for youngsters and those with disabilities. More will be published about these projects in the future.

Foundation Workshop on August 1 … a Gateway to Grants

Register for the Foundation Workshop.  Yes, there is still time to register!

Workshop Flyer

Workshop Flyer

Grab a buddy or two and carpool.  When you register you will select Giving, Grants, or Grant Writing.  If three from your club attend you will cover all the Foundation bases.

In the Giving Workshop you will learn the many ways Rotarians may engage in supporting and promoting Foundation Giving which has a direct impact on the amount of grant award money available to District in any given year.  Giving Chair, Ken Hodge, is an inspiring leader, but also knows how to connect with the nuts and bolts of giving campaigns.

Grants will hone in on the criteria, areas of focus, and the definitions of accountability and sustainability which are the keystones in modern grant giving.  SuAnne Bryant is a living, breathing encyclopedia of Rotary Grants and what makes sense ‘grant-wise’  in District 7600.

SuAnne also teaches the Grant Writing Workshop.  This is not only about the writing of the application, but is also about the maintaining of records along the way, and the successful close-out and final reporting which opens the door to future grant awards for a club.

So, share a Saturday morning with other Rotarians in historic Williamsburg  to jump start your club’s knowledge of the world of Rotary Grants.