Wow! It's December already! Let me first give you my best wishes for a wonderful holiday season as we approach the Christmas and the New year 2020.
It's been a very busy November, with club visits, Rotary Foundation promotion activities, RYLA, and many more.
Talking about RYLA, this year's edition couldn't have been better. The whole package has taken RYLA to another level. My congratulations to the new Rylarians, and my sincere appreciation to the Committee led by our energetic PP Abiodun Oshinibosi. So many new innovations were introduced this year that has put this year’s RYLA in a class of its own.
November was the Rotary Foundation month. Were you able to make your contribution to the Foundation? If you haven't, it's not too late. The minimum Rotary expects from every Rotarian is EREY - ‘Every Rotarian Every Year’. Just $100. And that earns you 20 tickets in the Million Dollar Challenge. A chance to win that gleaming brand-new Nissan Almera Car you see at the Rotary Centre, and many other prizes in the monthly draws.
We still have some Foundation points available for those aspiring to attain the Paul Harris Fellow status. Your contribution of $500 will be matched with 500 points to get you to the 1,000-point PHF level. Demand for matching points has been high, but I can guarantee points for contributions up to the end of this calendar year.
On membership front, we spent a lot of energy this month to save some clubs on the verge of termination, for non-payment of RI dues. Some finally paid with just hours to spare. We are now drawing up a road map to nurse these clubs (about 4 of them) from 'life support' back to functional clubs at least.
The launching of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Project is taking place on Thursday the 5th of December 2019. This launch, the first ever free HPV vaccination project anywhere in Nigeria will take place at the Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju at 10 am. It has been a long struggle, trying to get all the official papers from the two State Governments.
As a medical project involving injections, so many requirements have to be met. Qualifications of the personnel, source of the vaccines, verification of the 'cold chain', parental consent, set-up of emergency backup systems for any reactions, etc. We finally secured all the required permissions and papers last Friday, thanks to our tireless Chairperson of the Committee, Past President Dr. Toun Agbe-Davies.
Come and be part of this history-making event on Thursday at 10am at the school premises. This kind of project has never been done before in Nigeria, even in Africa, except in Rwanda. Rotary District 9110 is starting a journey, building a generation of women completely immune to Cervical Cancer. It is a mammoth project, that is likely to go on for years. But the journey of a thousand miles, as they say, starts with the first step. Please be there when that first step is being taken.
You can also be a part of history by contributing to the project either as an individual, or as a club. To fully immunise and save a girl will cost N22,000. Many Rotarians have written their names in gold by volunteering to save one, two, five, or more girls. You may never know the girls you will save, but I believe their prayers for you, will be one of the most powerful ever. I hope when we have the roll call of those that stood up to be counted when the journey started. Please think about it.
You know what? You can also dedicate your EREY, your PHF contribution, etc. to the project, via the Global Grant application being processed specifically for the project. You just need to indicate it to Helen at the Rotary Centre at the time you want to make the contribution. The process takes a little longer, with a bit more paperwork, but leave that to us.
You will, literally, be 'killing' three birds with one stone! - You become a PHF, get 200 tickets for the Million Dollar Challenge, and also specify the project you want to support. It's not common to be able to choose the project your Foundation contribution should be used for, unless you are a very large donor. But in this case, we can help you do it!
Screening for the Honolulu Convention is going on now. My advice is that you take advantage of the discounted registration fees of $450 which ends on the 15th of December. After that, the full rates of $550 will apply right up till March. Onsite registration rate for the Convention is $650. I should add that being a paid registrant may give you a better chance to obtain a US visa. The District can help you make the registration payments if you have any difficulty with dollar transfers.
Please note these dates in your diary:
5th December: Launch of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Project. Estate Junior Grammar School, Ilupeju.
6th to 8th December: All Nigeria Rotary Conference in Uyo.
13th to 15th December: Family of Rotary Celebrations. Atican Beach Resort, Lekki.
15th December: Last day for discounted rate registration for the Honolulu Convention
20th December: Rotary Centre closes for the holiday season.
6th January 2020. Rotary Centre reopens for business.
As the year draws to a close, I thank God for his mercies over us in 2019, and I wish you a very merry Christmas and all the best for a prosperous 2020.
Lets continue to strive to ensure that ‘Rotary Connects the World’.