Scottish Festival & Highland Games - June 14-15, 2024, DuPage County Fairgrounds
Rotary International President Gordon McInally will lead the Parade of Tartans and receive the Salute of the Chieftain. Check out the bottom of the newsletter for more information on how you can join the fun. To find out more about the event, go to chicagoscots.org.
District Governor Installation - Sunday, June 23, 2024, 5-8 pm. Get started making your club Simply Irresistable and learning about the Magic of Rotary by attending the District Governor Installation at The Barn at Blackberry Farm in Aurora, IL. Check out the fun you can have at Blackberry Farm and REGISTER HERE! And check out the Sponsor opportunities for the installation by clicking here.
Rotary Day at the White Sox - Friday, August 30, 2024 Get ready for a great day of fun and fellowship and help raise some funds for Polio at our annual White Sox game. Get more information and order tickets HERE.
Environmental News - check out the Environmental Service page on the District website by clicking herefor more on these events: the Chicagoland Lithuanian Rotaract Club has been busy doing a restoration project at the Heritage Quarries Recreational Area; the Bradley-Bourbonnais Rotary Club planted a pollinator garden with the students at St. Gregory School; a new Pollinator Pledge was signed by Districts 6440 & 6450 at the Joint District Conference.
Global Grants - Are you interested in participating in a Global Grant but don't know how? You're District Global Grant Committee wants to help your club get involved. They have resources to help clubs investigate what grants are in process and which clubs might participate. For more information, contact District Grants Chair MARSHALL SCHMIDT.
New District Grant Program Platform - Due to recent security concerns, we have switched the District Grants process platform from matchinggrants.org to DACdb starting with the 2024-2025 cycle. (This will not impact the current year's District Grants.) This is a positive development that will improve the user experience and provide some additional capabilities and efficiencies by consolidating our platform into DACdb. We believe that anyone familiar with the current platform should find the DACdb Grants module easy to use. The District Foundation and Grants Committees led by Chuck Corrigan and Marshall Schmitt will reach out to PEs to provide general instructions, a timeline and links to training materials on how to use the module to enter and report on your grants projects. We plan to provide multiple online workshops where you or your designee can receive live coaching from our Grants team on entering your project into the platform.
Additional News
SHELTERBOX USA - is responding to a great many disasters that rely on generous donor support. To see where ShelterBox is active and to donate, CLICK HERE.
CHASING POLIO - Consider visiting the Chicago Center for Photojournalism this month to experience the exhibit “Chasing Polio.” Sponsored by Rotary International, it showcases the photos of Jean-Marc Giboux, who spent 18 years documenting the global effort to end polio. Giboux, who often worked on behalf of Rotary International, has covered the effects of polio and immunization efforts in India, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, and more. The free exhibit is a perfect educational outing with your club or on your own. “Chasing Polio”is on display through 29 May. For more information, CLICK HERE.
Scottish Festival & Highland Games - June 14-15, 2024, DuPage County Fairgrounds
Every year at the Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as their Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its strong Scottish roots, the Honored Clan is Rotary International. Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead the Parade of Tartans at noon and then to receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30 pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
REPRESENT: Rotarians are invited and encouraged to represent their clubs and march with RI President, Gordon McInally. To this end, per the attached flyer, Rotarians are offered 15% discount on tickets. It would be terrific to have a good showing from area clubs. We’d love to call out clubs who are represented, so if you and others sign up, please send word to meghanlarson@chicagoscots.org. The parade starts at about 12:30 pm. At Noon clans, families, organizations, and marchers will gather next to the Athletic Field, where the parade will take place.
VOLUNTEER: The Festival is a great opportunity for voluntary service. There are over 400 3-4 hours volunteer slots. Volunteers get free admission on the day they volunteer and each receives a free t-shirt.
Gordon’s term as president will conclude at the end of June, so this will be a fitting way to thank Gordon for his leadership before he and Heather travel back home to Scotland. I hope we’ll see lots of Rotarians at the Games!
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