World Community Services Committee

Jim Epstein and Sankaram Mantripragada – Co-Chairs

MEETING TIME
The committee meets at 11:00 am on the third Wednesday of each month at the Lincoln Center prior to our club meeting except for August when we usually schedule a yearly planning meeting at another time and place.

PURPOSE
The purpose of the World Community Service Committee (WCSC) is to carry out projects that improve the lives of people throughout the non-USA world. Project categories include but are not limited to HEALTH, EDUCATION, MICROECONOMICS and WATER. The committee favors sustainable projects that are carried out with a Rotary club in the project (host) country, utilizing the skills of members of both the host and the sponsoring clubs. Finances for these projects come from one or more of the following sources; our club budget, our club members, our district, The Rotary Foundation, from the host club and their district, and at times from governmental and non-governmental organizations. Project ideas generally originate from members of the committee.

GOALS

1. Hold a yearly planning meeting.
2. Submit a yearly budget to the club officers and report progress monthly.
3. Involve as many committee members as possible in committee activities.
4. Hold efficient meetings with pre-meeting agendas, published minutes and by using parliamentary procedure.
5. Give an annual presentation to the club about activities and accomplishments.
6. Develop and maintain helpful contacts with other Rotary Clubs and non-Rotary organizations that can help us be effective.
7. Use all available tools to communicate with the committee members and club members.

CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS

MEETING MINUTES
WORLD COMMUNITY SERVICE COMMITTEE
SEPTEMBER 19, 2007
In attendance: Jim Epstein, Sam Mantripragada, Alan Ashbaugh, Claude Piche, Don Unger, Earl Reinkensmeyer, Melanie Chamberlain, Alan Bennett, Jean Griswold, Glenn Schmidt, Stacy Plemmons, Henry Weisser, Omnia El Hakim, and Kae Moore.
I and II. Co-chair's report:
 Jim passed out a sheet "Project Report Status" listing the dates of required reports for our Matching Grant projects.
1. Avoidable Blindness/Java/ Looper MG#22367: Report due Dec. 2007
2. Dengue Fever/ Bali/Looper MG#58404: The final report has been submitted and accepted. This project is completed.
3. Clean Water/La Laguneta/Ashbaugh. MG#60461: Alan sent a report to the host club for them to add the financial part required. When it is returned, Alan will submit it to the Foundation.
4. Santa Maria Water Project/Stewart MG#63453: Not due until December 2007
5. Clean Water/El Chile/Sankaram MG#62386: Due a year from now.
6. School Aid/Java/ Looper MG#61395: Report due March 2008
7. Dengue Fever/Gualan/ Piche MG#61379: Report due April 2008
8. Sanitation/Costa Rica/Weisser MGA#651402: Henry reported that the Manuel Alers of the Costa Rican RC has been sick and hence not aware of the current status of the project. The money had been sent but no word yet on it being received. Henry will follow up on this by phone and in person this winter.
Claude stressed the need for reports from all projects, as the lack of them will hold up all of our approved projects. He recommended that Henry inform the Costa Rican RC of the seriousness of their reporting and implementation of the project. If it is not possible for them to handle the project, we must withdraw it, send the the funds back to the Foundation.
III. Current Projects
Jim distributed a second chart , "Current Projects".
1. Clean Water/Ghana/Epstein MF#64089: Jim will ask that members consider earmarking their Paul Harris contributions for this project.
2. Surgical Camps/India/Sankaram: a Breakfast Club project to which we are contributing $1200. The proposal has not yet been submitted.
3. Mosquito Nets/ Ghana: Not a Matching Grant project. The money has been sent, deposited and as soon it clears, the nets will be purchased.
4. Book Donations/Baumgarn: Not a Matching Grant project. The books have been sent but have had no word if they have arrived. Stacey's report has been filed in our club's archives. It was suggested that the report be given to to Connie Pfeiffenberger, our club's PR representative, for publication. Also suggested that it be submitted to the District Newsletter.
5. Health Center Supplies/India/ Sankaram: a Breakfast Club project. Approved by our club.
6. Interact Habitat/Guatemala/ Piche: No new report
7. Dengue Fever Chiquimula/ Piche: Upon receiving the host country district signatures, Claude will submit the proposal to RF
8. Deaf School Equipment/Zacapa/ Piche: Claude reported that the Cheyenne Club has pledged $1700, to bring the toal to $3500 with our $1700.
9. AIDS and Pregnancy Education/Gualan/ Piche: Reported that the project was submitted to the District, approved and signed.
10. Water projects in Colombia/ Stewart: It is delayed until the host club replies affirmatively.
11. Dengue Fever/Central Java/ Looper: No report as Joe is in Europe
Claude's recounting of the time spent contacting other clubs for financial support prompted a discussion on ways not only to enlist other clubs, but also to increase the funding from our own club. He reports that few clubs are willing to commit to partnering on projects. A few are interested especially in water projects.
Alan received a good report from the El Chile club. CSU sent a journalist and photographer to record the project activities, a report which will appear in the CSU's winter magazine. They also produced a 7-8 minute video.
All the funds, $19,900 for these projects, have been encumbered and to date $1,800 has been used. Our budgeted allocation of $17,000 is augmented by $2,000 carryover from other Rotary clubs.
IV. New Projects:
Sam distributed a chart "New Projects Update" listing 7 projects under consideration.
1. Health-establish Permanent Asthma Clinic, India/ Vedanthan: On hold until PK returns and can answer the members' questions.
2. Education-School Supplies for Tribal Community,India: Sankaram proposed helping to equip a high school which a local RC built. Total cost $20,000.
Voted: to ask Sam to pursue this project, helping the host club to put together a Matching Grant proposal. We have no funds for this year, but this project should be submitted March 31, the spring deadline for funding in 2008.
3. Education--Science Books for Orphanage/ Gueretaro, Mexico: Dave Stewart proposes a non-Matching Grant project. It might qualify for a District Simplified grant. Claude will meet with the Poudre High Interact Club next week and will suggest that Interact be offered this project for their consideration. If accepted, Connie Pfienberger should be given information on the project for the media.
4, The next two projects, Health--Water Project-Rehabilitation of a Dam in Mexico, are major 3H grant proposals. Dave is seeking funds from all clubs in District 5440.
5. Health-Chicamula, Guatemala: Alan is working with the RCs in Broomfield, Cheyenne and in Guatemala to define the project. The CSU Engineers Without Borders has approved their participation in the project.
6. Health-Water project/ Jean Hall: No report yet on a joint project with "Trees, Water & People"
Alan reported that he received a good report from the El Chile project. CSU sent a jounalist and photographer to the project. The arrticle will appear in the CSU's Winter Magazine. A 7-8 minutes video was produced.
V. Other business:
Omnia announced an Ambassadorial Scholar meeting at 11 AM on October 3, Wednesday, requesting those who are interested to attend.
The meeting was adjourned.
The next meeting will be October 17, at 11 AM.
Minutes submitted by Jean Griswold

Project Funding Information for WCS Projects
This page contains information that will help World Community Service Committee members understand the funding of international projects using the Rotary Foundation programs. These write-ups were prepared by Joe Looper. These write-ups should be updated anually.
Funds from RC of Fort Collins (approved by the Board)
Unlike many Clubs, the RC of Fort Collins does not undertake fund-raisers. Instead, each member is assessed $75/quarter for charitable projects. With 200 members, this amounts to about $60,000 each year. We have asked the Board to allocate ¼ of that for international service projects each year. This year (2006-07) we have been budgeted $15,000. The WCS Committee allocates these funds to various projects during the year, and submits the requests to the Board for information before proceeding with the projects.
Rotary Foundation contributions
Every member of the RC of Fort Collins is asked to contribute to the Rotary Foundation. Quarterly dues statements include the amount pledged, which is often $25/quarter or more. With this amount, the Rotarian becomes a "Paul Harris Sustaining Member", one who promises to contribute at least $100/year to the Foundation. These funds are collected by our Treasurer (Bart Kingham), and turned over to Melanie Chamberlain in the form of a check payable to "The Rotary Foundation". Melanie, Chairman of the Club's Rotary Foundation Committee, transmits the funds to the Foundation with the appropriate documentation. If the contribution is undesignated, it will go into the Annual Fund of the Foundation for general programs. If the member so designates, however, the funds can be applied to a Matching Grant project or to PolioPlus. Each year we encourage members to so designate their contributions, and as a result up to $10,000 additional is made available for MG projects. Melanie also encourages members to complete their PHF ($1,000 total) with whatever amount is necessary, in time for recognition at the annual Foundation dinner in November. This brings in additional funds, which can also be designated to a MG project.
Individual contributions
Some Club (and WCS Committee) members have contributed additional funds for certain projects in which they are especially interested. This may bring in as much as $3,000 to $5,000 additional funds during the year.
SHARE funds
Each year our Rotary District 5440 receives back from the Foundation 50% of the funds contributed by all the District's Clubs three years earlier. These funds are called DDF funds ("District Designated Funds", more commonly referred to as "SHARE" funds), and are available for the District to use in any of several ways, including matching funds for MG projects. Since our Club is a major contributor to the Foundation each year, we have been successful in obtaining SHARE funds for our Foundation Matching Grant projects. Such funds may amount to an additional $8,000 to $10,000 or more each year.
Other Funds
Often, we obtain participation in our projects from other Clubs in District 5440, particularly the other three Rotary Clubs in Fort Collins. This may bring in additional funds. Also, our foreign partner Clubs on WCS projects usually contribute some amount, and many times their District will contribute some SHARE funds.
Foundation Matching Funds
Typically, some significant part of our funds come from the Rotary Foundation in the form of Matching Grants. Currently the Foundation is matching local Club contributions with $0.50 for each dollar, and District SHARE funds $1.00 for each dollar contributed (see Rotary Foundation Matching Grants below)
Rotary Foundation Matching Grants
World Community Service projects may be eligible for Matching Grants from the Rotary Foundation. If approved, the Foundation will provide $0.50 for each $1 of local funds contributed. It will also match $1 for each $1 of District SHARE funds used for the project.
The Foundation’s matching grant portion must be no smaller than $5,000 and can be as much as $150,000. The remaining funds must be contributed by local Clubs and/or Districts. Paul Harris Fellow recognition is given to individuals or Clubs for such local contributions. Grants of $25,000 or less are not competitive, and if the project meets the Foundation criteria, they are usually approved. Grant requests for more than $25,000 are competitive, and are approved by the Foundation Trustees twice each year.

Projects must meet the following criteria:

NOTE: Approval of Matching Grant applications usually requires 10 weeks or more, after all required documentation has been received. Grant applications can be submitted from July 15 to March 31 of each Rotary year. Applications received after March 31 will be returned to the Club.

3-H Grants
3-H (Health, Hunger, and Humanity) grants are approved for projects costing between $100,000 and $300,000. 10% of the cost must be contributed by the participating Clubs and/or Districts. These projects are very competitive and requests for grants are reviewed by the Trustees once a year. PHF credit is given for local contributions.
Volunteer Service Grants
Volunteer Service grants replace the Carl Miller Discovery Grants, and the Individual Grants, which for the past two years have been suspended. They are once again available, with grants of a flat amount of $3,000 for an individual, and $6,000 for a team of up to five individuals. The grants are approved for exploratory and feasibility studies of potential international service projects. Minimum stay at the project site is 10 days. A Rotarian must lead the group, and spouses are eligible to participate.
Contributions to the Rotary Foundation-
The Rotary Foundation has two funds to which contributions can be made: The Annual Programs Fund, and the Permanent Fund. Annual fund contributions support the on-going programs of the Foundation, such as Ambassadorial Scholarships (Satori Morishige, Jeff Runyon), GSE (Group Study Exchange), Matching Grants and 3-H Grants, and PolioPlus. The Permanent Fund serves as an endowment with earnings from the invested funds used for various Foundation programs, but the principal is never spent.
Rotarians contribute to the Annual Fund through amounts included with quarterly Club billings. These funds are collected by Treasurer of our Club and transmitted to Melanie Chamberlain, Chairman of the Foundation Committee. These funds are then forwarded to the Foundation. Melanie makes sure the contributions are credited to each member's own account, which is established in Evanston by the Foundation staff. (Note: You may determine the accumulative amount in your account by contacting Melanie or going on line.) When your contributions reach $1,000, you (or someone you designate) are eligible to receive a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.
Individuals can make additional contributions to the Foundation at any time. But, it is essential that such funds be channeled through Melanie Chamberlain to ensure that you receive proper credit, and that the funds go to the program or activity you have designated. You may designate your contribution for a specific program, such as PolioPlus, or one of the Club's Matching Grant projects. If it is not specifically designated, the money will go into the general fund of the Foundation for use in any of the Foundation programs. If you have any questions or need additional information regarding contributions to the Rotary Foundation, see Melanie, or World Community Service Committee Chairmen Jim Epstein or Sanakaram Mantripragada for suggestions regarding projects to which you may designate your contribution.