January 7, 2013 Issue

Bulletin no. 22

 

Inside. . . President’s Corner Page 2 Secretary’s Report Page 3 From the Editor Page 4 Rotary through the years Page 5 Rotary Basics Page 6 Rotary Updates / Announcements Page 7 RI President’s Message January 2013 Page 8 TRF Chair’s Message, January 2012 Page 9 Top 5 rotary Stories of 2012 Page 10 Photo Section Pages11-14 District/Club Activities/Schedules Page 15 Rotarian’s Pledge Page 16 Humor / Knowledge Section Page 17 A better world is possible Page 18 e/Mail Corner Page 19 Smile and the World Smiles With You Page 20 Top 5 rotary Stories of 2012 Continuation Page 21 Rotary / RCLH Hymns Page 22 PHF/Sister, Daughter Clubs/Honorary Page 23 Roster of Members Page 24

LOYOLA STAR  1

Peace Quote of the Week

“Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New Year find you a better Man”

Benjamin Franklin

Next Week’s Programme 24th RCLH Regular Meeting

January 14,2013 Call-To-Order VP/PN Paul Angel Galang Invocation Rtn Leslie Torres National Anthem Rtn CJ Matias Rotarian’s Pledge Rtn Leo Dizon Intro of Guests Rtn Aries Polumbarit Recognition Time PP Alan Yu Announcements Visiting Rotarians Secretary’s Reminders IP/Sec Raul Addatu President’s Time VP/PN Paul Angel Galang Adjournment VP/PN Paul Angel Galang

IPP Nitoy Velasco Night Chairperson

INVOCATION

Dear God Almighty, This New Year, We pray for the patience to listen more,

The courage to reach out more, The strength to trust more, the capability to

help more in need, And the capacity to appreciate each other more in the spirit of

Rotary service and fellowship.

May the words that we pray and the deeds that we do be acceptable before you, O

Lord, Our Rock and Redeemer, and let us say Amen.

Tonight’s Programme 23rd RCLH Regular Meeting

January 7, 2013 Call-To-Order VP/PN Paul Angel Galang Invocation PP Rod Apostol National Anthem Rtn Ronnie Perez Rotarian’s Pledge Rth Romel Marasigan Intro of Guests Rtn Chito Canlas Recognition Time PP Ricky Ignacio Announcements Visiting Rotarians Committee Reports Various Committees Secretary’s Reminders IP/Sec Raul Addatu President’s Time Paul Angel Galang Adjournment Paul Angel Galang

PP Beth Constantino Night Chairperson

2 

We are half way through with our Rotary year and the first six months was indeed a very fruitful, challenging and a memorable one. I was really amazed and surprised with the support our members has given me and i know for a fact that support will continue the rest of my term. I cannot list down or enumerate all the projects we have done the last six months but i will ask DGSR Jesse Tanchanco to include the whole midterm report in one of the Loyola Star bulletin issue or shall i say several issues. We are ready to report to Gov Penny Policarpio what we have done compared to the plans and projections we presented to him in his Governor's visit last July 16, 2012. Looking and reviewing our mid year report prepared by our very dedicated DGSR Jesse Tanchanco, we have covered the six avenues of service and accomplished the plans and projections for RY 2012-13 just half way through it. We even surpassed last year's TRF contribution by over USD 2000, thanks to the efforts of our TRF Chair PP Rose Imperial and IPP Nitoy Velasco and of course to our club members who's generosity came very natural from their hearts. To my surprise PP Bong David, PP Mon Peralejo, PP Mace Maglaya, Rtns Dr Ronnie Perez and Tino Baldonado all became Paul Harris fellows this year after years of being sustaining members. Not to mention our perennial Paul Harris contributors PP Raymund Catibijan now a major donor, IPDG Jess Cifra a continuing major donor, PP Joe Baradi, IPP Nitoy Velasco and the two PNs Dr Brgy Chair Raul Addatu PhD and Arch Paul Angel Galang. On the TRF alone you can see how a strong, functioning and dedicated club RCLH is. We all deserve to congratulate ourselves for doing so much in such a short of time to serve our needy brothers and sisters. Congratulations to the great RCLH. Moreso, in the month of December alone we have given smiles and hope to 385 families in Brookside by distributing Noche Buena baskets last December 18 simultaneous with the Christmas Party with gift giving to all 49 and 103 CHEERS pre schoolers of Brookside and Loyola Heights respectively, which our club together with other clubs from Australia through the kindness of Past District Governor Colin Thorniley sponsoring and donating the salaries of the teachers and school materials the past 12 years. The Noche Buena basket contains the traditional food we prepare and serve and share with our family members on Christmas eve which is very timely to spare them the burden looking for money to celebrate Christmas since they barely had recovered from the last devastation they suffered. The amount spent for the baskets also came from the cash donations of D3310 through the efforts several Rotary Clubs and their District Governor Lee Kong Hwee and PP Ho Loon Shin for the victims of the last flooding. We all felt the happiness we brought to the 385 families, everytime they hold our hands tightly as a gesture of gratitude and appreciation as they received the basket. Lastly, our President Elect and Barangay Chairman of Marilag together with RCLH also gave a Christmas party with gift giving to 105 children from the marginalized families of his Barangay. We brought food and luft bags for everybody, it is again a well attented club activity considering it was already December 23 a day before Christmas eve. Here in our club just ask for assistance and many will heed your call. Special thanks to PP Mace Maglaya and PNNN Gigoy Umali for preaparing the luft bags and cooking the food respectively for all the three children's party and to the rest of the members who were there, THANK YOU And Happy New Year to all !

Presidents’s Corner President Mariano “Morris” Agoncillo

RY 2012 – 2013

LOYOLA STAR 

  Our 22nd Regular Meeting coincided with our Annual Christmas Party and Election of Future Presidents of our great club. These significant affairs were held at the First RVC Building through the courtesy of the benevolent PP Raymund Catabijan and beautiful spouse Sabel on December 10, 2012 at 7:00PM to 12MN. Peace President Morris Agoncillo called the meeting to order at 8:00PM after a sumptuous dinner. PP Joe Baradi was appointed as the Night Chair. Fr. Bong Bongayan led the invocation while Rtn. Leo Dizon sang the National Anthem. Rtn. Philip Cruz recited the Rotarian’s Pledge. PP Jesse Tanchanco introduced our guest from the district , AG Linda Palattao of RC of Holy Spirit. PN Paul Galang recognized virtually all our guests and members during the meeting particularly PP Mon Peralejo, Rtn. Dennis Ang and Rtn. John Aroa. PN Paul also recognized PP’s Jesse Tanchanco Nilo Rapista for spearheading the distribution of relief goods and financial assistance to victims of typhoon Pablo in Davao, Compostela Valley and Ormoc City. He also acknowledged the participation of some RCLH members during the District Christmas Party and Fellowship on December 9, 2012. PN Paul also introduced a prospective member, Mr. Joel Reyes who will be inducted in due time. PP Nitoy Velasco opened the nominations for the next President/President Nominee and everyone unanimously voted for Engr. Rey San Gabriel- a Baby Rotarian for the Rotary year 2011-1012. He will be PN Designate for RY 2018-19. Secretary’s Reminders: Secretary Raul Addatu reminded everyone that the last regular meeting day is December 10, 2012 and will resume January 7, 2013 at MY PLACE. Sec Raul also reminded that the CHEERS PARTY of Barangay Loyola Heights is scheduled on December 15, 2012 at 8:00AM at the 3rd floor of the Barangay Hall. Likewise, the distribution of Christmas gifts to CHEERS in Brookside and Noche Buena to residents in the area are scheduled on December 17, 2012. Presidents Time: President Morris Agoncillo was overwhelmed with the attendance of members during the meeting and Christmas Party. He thanked the members of his team for a very successful year as gleaned by the long lists of accomplishments and the multifarious service projects undertaken during the year 2012. He extended his profound gratitude to all his committee chairs for a splendid performance in their respective area of responsibility. President Morris handed in One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100, 000) to Fr. Jess Fernandez to sustain the operations of Ephpheta Foundation. This was part of the proceeds which was raised from the recent RCLH golf tournament. President Morris also thanked the three (3) priests, Fr. Bong, Fr. Freddie, and Fr. Jess for their spiritual guidance to the members of our Club in order serve better the Christian community. President Morris also reminded everyone for the distribution of relief goods through the Rotary Club of BAY in Laguna. All members are raring to celebrate the Christmas Party, thus President Morris adjourned the meeting at 9:15PM and PARTY, PARTY and PARTY ensued. A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR TO ALL

Secretary’s Report Secretary/PE Raul Addatu

December 10, 2012

LOYOLA STAR  3 

For you my dear friends in Rotary . . . . Happy New Year !

• I believe - that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

• I believe - that no matter how good a friend is they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

• I believe - that you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life.

• I believe - that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be. • I believe - that you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be

the last time you see them. • I believe - that you can keep going long after you can't. • I believe - that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. • I believe - that either you control your attitude or it controls you. • I believe - that heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs

to be done, regardless of the consequences. • I believe - that money is a lousy way of keeping score. • I believe - that my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best

time! . • I believe - that sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down,

will be the ones to help you get back up. • I believe - that sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that

doesn't give me the right to be cruel. • I believe - that maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've

had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

• I believe - that it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others. Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

• I believe - that no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

• I believe - that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

• I believe - that credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being. • I believe - that two people can look at the exact same thing and see something

totally different. • I believe - that your life can be changed in a matter of hour's by people who don't

even know you. • I believe - that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend

cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

And if I may add . . . • I believe – that we are in Rotary because we find fulfillment and satisfaction

in serving others rather then being served by others

4  LOYOLA STAR

I Believe (Unknown Author)

Shared by:

Jesse Tanchanco Loyola Star Editor

An official flag was formally adopted by Rotary International at the 1929 RI Convention in Dallas, Texas, USA. The Rotary flag consists of a white field with the official wheel emblem emblazoned in gold in the center of the field. The four depressed spaces on the rim of the Rotary wheel are colored royal blue. The words “Rotary” and “International” printed at the top and bottom depressions on the wheel rim are also gold. The shaft in the hub and the keyway of the wheel are white. The first official Rotary flag reportedly was flown in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, in January 1915. In 1922, a small Rotary flag was carried over the South Pole by Admiral Richard Byrd, a member of the Rotary Club of Winchester, Virginia, USA. Four years later, the admiral carried a Rotary flag in his expedition to the North Pole. Some Rotary clubs use the official Rotary flag as a banner at club meetings. In these instances, it is appropriate to print the words “Rotary Club” above the wheel symbol and the name of the city, state, or nation below the emblem. The Rotary flag is always prominently displayed at the World Headquarters as well as at all conventions and official events of Rotary International.

LOYOLA STAR  5

Rotary Through the Years The Official Rotary Flag

No Personal Privileges Frequently, friends ask whether Rotarians receive special business benefits from their Rotary membership. Should Rotarians expect a special discount or some preferential service just because they are dealing with a fellow Rotarian? The answer is clearly “no?’ The RI Manual of Procedure expressly states the Rotary position on this matter. The policy,

originally approved by the RI Board of Directors in 1933, is that in business and professional relations “a Rotarian should not expect, and far less should a Rotarian ask for, more consideration or advantages from a fellow Rotarian than the latter would give to any other business or professional associate. .Any use of the fellowship of Rotary as a means of gaining an advantage or profit is contrary to the spirit of Rotary. On the other hand, if new or increased business comes as the natural result of friendship created in Rotary, it is the same normal development that takes place outside of Rotary as well as inside, so it is not an infringement on the ethics of Rotary membership. It is important to remember that the primary purpose of Rotary membership is to provide each member with a unique opportunity to serve others, and membership is not intended as a means for personal profit or special privileges. Rotary Fellowships From stamp collecting to ballroom dancing, the interests of Rotarians are as diverse as the membership itself. Yet, among the more than 1.2 million Rotarians worldwide, an amateur-radio enthusiast or a chess player is bound to find others who share the same passions. But Rotary Fellowship members share more than just their common interest in sport diving, golf, fishing, or scouting; they share an interest in fellowship and service and in promoting world understanding. As such, it’s no wonder that the International Skiing Fellowship of Rotarians donates the profits from ski events to The Rotary Foundation or that the Flying Rotarians help ferry medical personnel and supplies. Rotary Fellowships also unite Rotarians who have shared professional interest in such fields as arts and communication and finance/banking. Members exchange technical information and seek opportunities to employ their expertise in service not just to their own communities and countries, but to their professions as well.

6 

LOYOLA STAR 

  Dear Peace Presidents, Happy New Year! The Mid=Year Convention for RY 2012-2013 is already fast approaching which had been pre scheduled to be held on January 18-19, 2013 at the Historic Island of Corregidor. As previously promoted, Corregidor Island is known to be a very safe and secured Island full of heritage , an educational site which is likewise a conducive place for conducting team building activities complete with amenities. The registration fees are the following: 1. Peace President/Rotarians Php 4,500.00 2. Spouse Php 4,000.00 3. Other family members of Rotarians per person Php 4,000.00 4. Other Guest or Sponsor per person Php 4,000.00 The above mentioned registration fee per person will cover:

• Ferry and terminal fee • Entrance fee in the island • Adventure tour • Overnight accommodation • Snacks • Meals for breakfast lunch and dinner with drinks • T-shirt with Pin or logo, and • Acoustic band during the Fellowship Night including drinks.

The event is in cooperation with RC Midtown Cubao who’s Peace President happens to be the General Manager of Sun Cruises which is the official exclusive operator of the Corregidor Island. In relation to this momentous event of the Rotary International District 3780, we would like to once again, seek your full support by tendering payments the soonest possible time. You may directly deposit your registration fees at PNB with Account Numbers 00-227-830572-7, the official Account of Rotary Club of Cubao East. Please send me a text message @ mobile phone nos. 0917-8494141 or 0933-3104498 once deposited. I can also send my messenger to have your payment picked up. Please disregard this letter, in case you have made payments earlier prior to this notice. Please be informed that necessarily, we have to book the site as soon as probable. Once again, we would like to thank each and every one of the Peace Presidents who are relentless in showing their full support and active participation to the RI District 3780s Mid- Year Convention for the Rotary Year 2012-2013. Best Regards, Peace President Renan B. Robles

LOYOLA STAR  7

MidYear Convention in Corregidor

 Dear fellow Rotarians,

I am a Japanese businessman, and I wear a suit almost every day. The Rotary pin is always on my lapel. It is there because I am proud to be a Rotarian. Anywhere I go, people will see the pin and know who I am. Other Rotarians will see it and know that I am a friend, and people who are not Rotarians will see it as well. I want to be sure that all of them also understand the meaning of this pin.

This is why I am asking all of you to wear your Rotary pin and to raise awareness of what the pin means. I believe having that pin on your lapel changes you. It makes you think more before you speak and before you act. It makes you remember, all the time, that you are a Rotarian – and that as Rotarians, we are here to help.

All of us should be ready to talk about Rotary. When someone asks you about that pin, you should be ready to answer them. What is Rotary? What does Rotary do? These are questions that each of us should always be prepared to answer.

We cannot go to prospective members and ask them to join Rotary only because we want more members. We have to show them that Rotary is a wonderful organization, and that they will be happier because they belong to a Rotary club.

When we ask people to join Rotary, we are doing this to help them as well. I think all of us are grateful to the person who asked us to join. I know that my life is much happier, and has been much more productive, because of Rotary. It is clear to me that the day I joined the Rotary Club of Yashio was a day when I took my first step down a different path in life – a path of greater connection, greater satisfaction, and a deeper sense of fulfillment and peace.

This is a feeling that I want to share with others. And I know that one way to do that is through bringing in new members. But we must also do it by raising awareness of Rotary and Rotary’s work, by focusing on our public image and wearing our Rotary pins every day.

LOYOLA STAR 8 

January 2013

A year of momentous change

As we begin another calendar year, I’d like to offer my best wishes to all Rotarians for 2013, the 108th year of Rotary’s existence.

This will be a year of momentous change for our Foundation. Our new grant model will be implemented worldwide six months from now, bringing changes to every district. We are looking to you to make sure those changes will be a success.

One of the fundamental premises of district grants under the Future Vision Plan is that Rotarians at the district level can determine what they can accomplish, whether in their own communities or abroad, more effectively than the Foundation can from a central office in Evanston. The new grant model puts responsibility for decision making, and for wise and careful use of substantial Foundation resources, into the hands of Rotarians at this level.

Our success will be supported by our investment of time and money in our International Assembly, the annual training for district governors-elect that takes place later this month in San Diego. This year’s event will include a great deal of information and education about Future Vision. As a result, when your district leaders return home, you will find them specially trained to lead Rotary and its Foundation to a successful conclusion to the 2012-13 year.

We’ll create a solid basis for an even stronger Foundation in 2013-14, helping us as Rotarians with Doing Good in the World.

9LOYOLA STAR 

January 2013

Top 5 Rotary stories of 2012

The year got off to an exciting start in January when India marked a year without a new case of polio. By February, the World Health Organization had removed India from the list of endemic countries.

Here’s a look back at this and other memorable Rotary events of 2012.

1. India polio free - After going an entire year without a new reported case of polio, India was removed from the list of polio-endemic countries by the World Health Organization (WHO). Ghulam Nabi Azad, India's minister of Health and Family Welfare, made the announcement at the Polio Summit 2012 in New Delhi on 25 February. The news was a huge boost to the morale of Rotarians, who have been laboring to eradicate the crippling disease since 1985. Only three countries -- Nigeria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan -- remain on the polio-endemic list.

A chief contributor to India's success is the widespread use of the bivalent oral polio vaccine, which is effective against both remaining types of the poliovirus. Another is rigorous monitoring, which has helped reduce the number of children missed by health workers during National Immunization Days to less than 1 percent, according to WHO. The lessons learned in India may well serve to help immunization efforts in the remaining endemic countries.

In May, Rotarians at the RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand, celebrated Rotary's having exceeded the US$200 Million Challenge for polio eradication efforts. The challenge was Rotary's response to $355 million in matching grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

2. New grant model - Rotary districts have begun qualifying for The Rotary Foundation's new grant model, which goes into effect for all districts on 1 July. For the past three years, 100 pilot districts have been testing this Future Vision model, providing feedback to help the Foundation refine it. The model includes three types of grants: district, global, and packaged. Applications for district grants began in late October, and those for the other two types will begin early in 2013. District grants offer clubs and districts flexibility in carrying out activities that further the Foundation's mission, and can be used for short-term projects in both local and international communities. Districts can request up to 50 percent of their District Designated Fund in one annual block grant.

Global grants support large international activities with sustainable, measurable outcomes in one or more of the six areas of focus. Rotarians in Mozambique used a global grant to provide water and improved sanitation for 2,500 students and staff at a primary school. Packaged grants provide opportunities for Rotary clubs to work with the Foundation's strategic partners on predesigned projects and activities that support the areas of focus and that are funded entirely by the World Fund and the strategic partner. Through a packaged grant in District 3810 (Philippines), Rotarians are teaching more than 2,000 women in Antipolo business skills and ways to balance family and work responsibilities.

Continued on Page 21

LOYOLA STAR  10 

Donation of relief goods and Aquaboxes to the “Habagat” flood victims of Barangay Tagumpay, Bay, Laguna together with sister club, Rotary Club of Bay, D3820.

Recent Club Activities Accomplishments

(Nov-Dec 2012) • Co-Hosted Loyola Heights children’s day • Co-Hosted, Environmental wall mural

paintings along Katipunan avenue • Met with Payatas Orione Foundation for the

implementation of the PBP MG • Sponsored winning candidate from Ateneo at

the Voice of the Youth District finals • Launched MG funded Peanut Butter Project • Participated in the District “Pagbasa” project • Co-Sponsored Forum with Lech Walesa • Conducted Advent recollection • Donated to the typhoon victims of Typhoon

Pablo • Attended District Christmas party and PP

Fellowship • Inducted 11 new members to increase total

membership to 78. • Conducted Club Christmas party and

elections • Donated Funds / Aquabox to Typhoon

“Pablo” victims • Conducted CHEERS Christmas parties in

Loyola Heights & Brookside • Distributed Noche Buena packs to Brookside

residents • Conducted Christmas party and gift giving for

the children of Bgy. Marilag • Submitted Midyear Review Report • Submitted Accomplishment Reports for

December • Conducted special Board Meeting

Attendance Make-Up Certification

This is to certify that Rtn _________________________

Attended the regular meeting of the Rotary Club of Loyola Heights RI District 3780, Quezon City

On __________________

At _________________

Certified By: Raul Addatu

Club Secretary, RY 2012-2013

CALENDAR OF CLUB & DISTRICT ACTIVITIES

(RY 2012 - 2013) DATE: PARTICULARS

Jan 4 RCLH Charter Anniversary Jan 9-15 Midyear Review(Rotary Center) Jan 18-19 MidCon (Corregidor) Jan 28 RCLH Charter Celebration Feb 15-16 Rotary Concerns – Cebu City

PETS – Cebu City

LOYOLA STAR  15

CELEBRRATIONS For the Month of January BIRTHDAYS . Ifer Chan January 8

Everly Apostol January 9 Kim Baradi-Emanuel January 9 Joey Urquia January 9 Joelle Tanchanco January 14 Sabel Catabijan January 15 Dennis Ang January 18 Gelo Galang January 23 James Mari Birosel January 31

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES Jesse & Joji Tanchanco January 3

CHEERS ASSIGNMENT Jan 12 Food : Alan Yu Drinks : Louie Zapata Jan 19 Food : Gerry Abad Drinks : Abet Abesames Jan 26 Food : Raul Addatu Drinks : Morris Agoncillo Feb 02 Food : Dennis Ang Drinks : Rod Apostol If you cannot make it on the assigned schedule, please let us know at least one week before.

.

THE ROTARIANS PLEDGE I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the TRUTH. I am a Rotarian I will always strive to be FAIR in all my dealings with my Fellowmen. I am a Rotarian I will always endeavor to build GOODWILL and UNDERSTANDING in my community, among my countrymen and people of all nations. I am a Rotarian I will always seek to promote the greatest good for the greatest number of people in the spirit of ROTARY SERVICE. I am a Rotarian I will always uphold the Rotary International Motto, SERVICE ABOVE SELF.

LOYOLA STAR 16 

ROTARY AWARENESS

                     

LOYOLA STAR  17

5 healthy lifestyle tips for 2013

Find joy in movement. The key to fitting in exercise is to make it something enjoyable and fun – something you’re going to look forward to doing. Eat what you love. The better you feel about what you’re doing, the more consistent you’ll be. To lose weight you simply need to eat less than you usually do. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Start by making small gradual changes in your health habits. Find your inspiration. If you adopt a healthy practice that feels right and fits your lifestyle — and don’t push yourself harder or faster than you’re reasonably able to go — you’re going to stick with it. Accentuate the positive. Give yourself credit for positive health behaviors. Overeating at one meal doesn’t translate into “diet failure.”

A new supermarket opened near my house and it has an automatic water mister that keeps the produce fresh. Just before it turns on, you hear the sound of distant

thunder and the smell of fresh rain.When you pass the milk cases, you hear cows mooing and you experience the scent of fresh hay. In the meat department, there's an aroma of charcoal grilled steaks with onions. When you approach the egg case, you hear hens cluck and cackle and the air is filled with the pleasing aroma of bacon and eggs frying. The bread department features the tantalizing smell of fresh baked bread and cookies. For the record, I don't buy toilet paper there anymore.

A nurse walks into a bank. Preparing to write a check, she pulls a rectal thermometer out of her purse and tries to write with it. She looks at the flabbergasted teller and, without missing beat, says, "Well, that's great. That's really great. Someone's got my pen."

New Year Trivia Baby New Year Tradition Tradition of using a baby to signify the New Year was started by ancient Greeks around 600 B.C. They would carry a baby around in a basket to honor Dionysus, the God of Fertility and symbolize his annual rebirth.

Burning "Mr. Old Year" In Colombia, Cuba and Puerto Rico families stuff a life-size male doll with things that have bad memories or sadness associated with them, and then they dress it up in old clothes from each family member. At the stroke of midnight, this 'Mr. Old Year' is set on fire. Eating 12 Grapes In Spain people eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight (one each time the clock chimes) on New Year's Eve. This peculiar ritual originated in the twentieth century when freak weather conditions resulted in an unseasonable bumper harvest of grapes. Not able to decide what to do about so many grapes at Christmas time, the King of Spain and the grape growers came up with the idea of the New Year ritual.

        

Crops could soon be grown in greenhouses the size of skyscrapers in city centres across the country, it has been claimed. Birds Eye and other food producers are investigating building ‘plantscrapers’, which could accommodate hundreds of storeys worth of crops, in a bid to make farming more economical, sustainable and meet increasing demand. The ‘vertical farms’ would use an innovative feeding system which nourishes plants with enriched water, therefore cancelling out the need for soil – and the need for food to be grown and harvested in the countryside.

The idea of plantscrapers has been championed by Dickson Despommier, a professor of public health at Columbia University in the U.S. He sees vertical farming as part of the answer to cutting global energy emissions, tackling water shortages and dealing with the demands of an ever-increasing population.

18  LOYOLA STAR 

The plant skyscrapers: Giant greenhouses in city centres to herald a new age of farming • The 'plantscrapers' could accommodate hundreds of storeys worth of crops • They would use an innovate feeding system cancelling out need for soil • Farms will increase crop yields because growing can occur all year round

Dear President Morris, I am honoured to be invited to be an honorary member of your club and I am delighted to accept. In accepting, I am doing so on the basis that I would love to keep in touch with your club and feel a little part of it and this is a wonderful and honoured way of doing that. Thank you. I need to point out that it is not I personally who has raised the funds. I was fortunate to be put in touch with PDG Jess by PDG Sonny Ventura and learn of the support you needed to keep the toddler's class going. I recommended the project to my club, The Rotary Club of Matilda Bay, and they embraced it and it is they who have made funds available from the club's fundraising activities - which is a real team effort. As you know we are pleased to be supporting the school again next year and this will be through the efforts of a committee of young members of our club with the support of the Rotary Club of City Central Hobart, but I am unable to give any commitments beyond that even though I am personally hopeful that our support will continue. I am also very hopeful that Valerie and I will visit your club later this calendar year and bring with us other members of our club and a representation from City Central Hobart so we can all personally present the cheque to you. Again thank you for the honour of your club's invitation. I might mention, as an aside, that the 26th January is Australia Day, the day on which we commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788. I receive your weekly club Bulletin and I congratulate all your members on all the worthwhile and often urgent support you give your communities. Have a wonderful 24th Charter Anniversary celebration and best wishes for another enjoyable and worthwhile year of service. Regards, Colin Thorniley Rotary Club of Matilda Bay

LOYOLA STAR  19 

Message from PDG Colin Thorniley of RC Matilda Bay, Australia

e/MAIL CORNER

 

Smile…and the World Smiles with You by Jim Halderman Governor, District 5450 RY 2011-12

“What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to Humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway the good they do is inconceivable.” This comment, by Joseph Addison, explains, for me, why Kalyan Banerjee added the Million Smiles a Day campaign as part of his Changemaker Award. Kalyan asked that, “Club members – along with their families, friends, and colleagues – should consciously give one smile per day to another person through a good deed or gesture. As more people commit to little acts of kindness each day, the global benefit will become enormous.” Albert Mehrabian is considered the research

authority on communication, and he determined that 55% of our communication, in most situations, is received from the speaker’s body language, and much of that from facial gestures. The smile, therefore, becomes a large part of our message in what we think, do, or say. Kalyan realized that if every Rotarian, family member, and friend, smiled twice a day or found a small act of kindness to perform—thus offering 5 million good acts per day—the world would be immediately a better place in which to live. Mark Stibich, Ph. D., lists the top ten reasons to smile:

1. Smiling makes us attractive. We are drawn to a smile 2. Smiling changes our moods. Try it and see what happens 3. Smiling is contagious. A smile will light up a room 4. Smiling relieves stress. The mind/body connection at work 5. Smiling boosts your immune system. The mind/body connection at work, again 6. Smiling lowers your blood pressure. The mind/body connection at work, once more 7. Smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin. The mind/body connection

at its best 8. Smiling lifts the face and makes you look younger. A lot cheaper than a face lift 9. Smiling makes you seem successful. Confidence is powerful 10. Smiling helps you stay positive

Smiling, while thinking something negative, is very difficult to do. But if you were to research (or google) cortisol, which is the chemical released when emotions turn angry, you might decide to spend a lot more time smiling than thinking bad thoughts. Cortisol, among its numerous attributes, has been found to slow healing, clog arteries, and draw the skin; it is often referred to as the aging chemical. The other day I was leaving a school after an evening presentation and the janitor (sanitary engineer) was cleaning up, and I mentioned to him, “So, you are the one that keeps this place so clean.” I watched his shoulders go back, his head rise a little higher, and as a large smile spread across his face he said, “thank you.” I knew, in that brief moment, I changed the chemistry of his body for the better. The good news: it did not cost me—or him—a penny. Smile because it is part of the Rotary International President’s request. Smile because people are more likely to support you in what you want to accomplish. Smile because it just might change the world.

20  LOYOLA STAR

Top 5 Rotary Stories of 2012 . . . continuation from Page 10. 3. RI theme - RI President Sakuji Tanaka unveiled the 2012-13 RI theme, Peace Through Service, during the International Assembly in January. The then president-elect urged the Rotary leaders in training to explore the many ways they would be able to build peace through acts of service. He also asked Rotarians to promote three Rotary Global Peace Forums, the first of which was held 30 November to 2 December in Berlin. Remaining forums will be in Honolulu, Hawaii, in January, and Hiroshima, Japan, in May.

• Read more about the presidential theme. • See the video of Tanaka’s speech. • Watch for coverage of next year’s RI theme, which President-elect Ron Burton will announce

at the 2013 International Assembly in January.

4. 2012 RI Convention - More than 35,000 Rotarians from 181 countries and geographical areas converged on Bangkok, Thailand, in May for the 2012 RI Convention. They celebrated successes in the campaign to eradicate polio (see above), and left with renewed energy to continue the fight against the crippling disease.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn represented His Majesty the King during the opening ceremony, thanking Rotarians for their good work around the world.

During four packed days of plenary and breakout sessions, Rotarians heard from a number of speakers, including microcredit pioneer and Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus; antipoverty crusader Hugh Evans; Gillian Sorenson, senior adviser and national advocate at the United Nations Foundation; and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter and activist Angelique Kidjo.

During the World Peace Symposium that preceded the convention, former Sudanese child soldier Emmanuel Jal talked about the atrocities he had witnessed, and Liberian Nobel Peace laureate Leymah Gbowee urged attendees to continue working for peace.

5. Interact turns 50; peace centers, 10 Interact clubs and their sponsors around the globe celebrated the program’s 50th anniversary during World Interact Week, 5-11 November.

The first Interact club, at Melbourne High School in Melbourne, Florida, USA, received its charter in November 1962 under the guidance and sponsorship of the Rotary Club of Melbourne. In celebration of the golden anniversary, charter members of the club joined current Interactors and Rotarians from District 6930 for a night of reflection and fellowship.

The Rotary Peace Centers program marked its 10th anniversary in 2012. The program has been offering master's degrees in peace and conflict resolution at leading universities in Australia, England, Japan, Sweden, and the United States since 2002. In 2004, a three-month professional development certificate program was added at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.

LOYOLA STAR  21