Discussion forums

At 10:08AM on 8 September 2009, PP Martin Brands wrote: With all due respect, I miss a serious discussion here on recent developments at TRF that have virtually eliminated the Humanitarian Grants Program. For instance, in March 2009 TRF cut its 2008-09 Matching Grants program by some $17 million (then around 50%), and in June 2009 it cut its 2009-10 Matching Grants program by '70%'. In reality it has cut this program by close to 90% for 2009-10, and it has eliminated/reduced several other humanitarian & educational programs. In my view: totally & utterly unwarranted & inexcusable. Words are really not strong enough to describe this grave mistake and its disastrous consequences! The basic motivation (a serious decline in Fair Market Value of its assets and the virtual absence of realized returns on investments) is unacceptable for a world-class 'doing good in the world' foundation that has/should have/should immediately create a variety of options to overcome 'bad times' (= nothing new), as these are the times par exellence when Rotarians really need to do more instead of significantly less. This can be done (believe you me), unless the situation at TRF is a lot worse than what we are being told piece-meal. This is part of a cluster of major decisions that were made without proper consultation of Clubs. This negates the fact that the only Voting Members of Rotary International are its 33,000 Clubs. All other RI/TRF functions & institutions only exist by virtue of providing service to us = the 33,000 Clubs/Voting Members, and we should also be the ones to determine the essence of what their 'Service to Rotary International' entails. Not the other way around, as has become common practice, also at District level. This chain of events starts with the $200 million commitment for PolioPlus, obviously without even (among else) a proper funding plan ... would you believe it?! This was done at (2) times when it was obvious, c.q.: should have been obvious to our Trustees, their RI/TRF staff & their highly-paid consultants, that TRF investments were at (a serious) risk, and that this $200 million could not come from Clubs on top of their normal & already increased (EREY) Annual Programs Fund (= 'PHF'-) contributions, but only from existing APF/PF investments (= DDF entitlements & similar) or from direct/dedicated contributions from the 4,000 or so local 'Rotary Foundations', "some of which have more funds than TRF' (the latter is a quote of our Trustees Chair). As a result of a severe loss in income from investments, and undoubtably at the suggestion of our TRF staff/General Secretary, and fed by the need to protect the $200 millon PolioPlus commitment (litterally:) 'at all costs', several TRF programs were severely cut or eliminated altogether, also to reduce complexity & staffing levels. Furthermore, developing countries were forced to accept TRF's 'Future Vision' that will soon have disastrous consequences for them if left unchanged in essence. Where were our representatives when these decisions were made? They should be held accountable. In its actions & in its thinking, TRF has become a sub-optimized (check your dictionary) Private Equity Fund that has, by virtue of its actions so far, renamed itself "The Rotary PolioPlus Foundation". (A similar renaming applies to RI these days.) It needs (= is forced) to 'take' an awful lot to safeguard the $200 million PolioPlus commitment & to compensate for the virtually non-existing realized returns on investments. Apart from PolioPlus, it 'gives' increasingly little back to the average country = our 33,000 Clubs. Sad as it is: forget about the Humanitarian Grants Program as it is virtually non-existing at the moment! Challenge your leadership on this, and bring it forward to the Trustees!

At 9:58AM on 17 August 2009, FREDDY SANTANA wrote: the rotary clubs of dominicam republic,santo domingo poniente,and fromrepublica de haiti,club de cap haitian,the both clubs are working with a proyect of alphabetization of adult people...with the new method we are gong to teach to read and writte 8000 persons in this rotary year..we need cooperation en books,blackboards,penciles,crayons,papers,and the helpness to pay teachers...if some good haeart wonts comunication please,there is my email= santanafreddy66@gmail.com

At 11:13AM on 6 April 2009, mark donald wrote: note please dont give or send money to any one ok if you need a greant please contact me and let me club see what we can do to help you we have set aside some money for that act donald mark email me at donald_mark_donald@yahoo.com thanks

At 11:20AM on 6 April 2009, Earl Charles wrote: I have seen on here at least twice where people have asked if the Grants program gives to Planned Parenthood and no reply? I would go further as a fairly new Rotarian 3 years and Immediate past President of our little club. I would ask if there is any validity to the Pro-Life organization that are listing Rotary as a supporter of Abortion?

At 11:02PM on 7 August 2008, Lynn Beaton wrote: I have been offered a grant of $500,000.00 US from someone in Abuja, Nigeria and he told me not to tell anyone about the gift; but in order to send it to me via DHL Total cost to me will be $700.00 US Funds. Is this right; if it is a gift, why does Mr. Duncan Smith need me to pay would they not just insure and mail to me without a payment? If they would like toTake the gift that the Rotry (is how Duncan Smith spelt Rotary) Club has offered to me and Donate it As I pray in Jesus's name GOD I say to you this "TO GIVE EVERYONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD CLEAN WATER TO DRINK BEFORE THE PARASITE CYCLE STARTS IN ANYONE ELSE AGAIN." Because everyone deserves to be healthy I love you all.

At 2:35AM on 23 May 2008, ARVIND GARG wrote: I am interested to participate in the Humanitarian Grants program ( Matching grants program - in search of an international partner ). Wonderful satisfying project, to be co-ordinated, for avoidable blindness project, for economically backward needy patients

At 11:50AM on 21 April 2008, Liv Ghrahm wrote: Does the Humanitarian Funding Program offer money or support Planned Parenthood?

At 9:40AM on 20 March 2008, K.Arunesh wrote: Rotary greetings to all ! I am very much interested to participate in the Humanitarian Grants program --Matching grants program - (in search of an international partner ). to be co-ordinated, for Donating computers, benches& desks to schools, economically backward needy students age bellow 15 are going to benefited

At 9:34AM on 20 March 2008, Arunesh.K wrote: Rotary greetings to all ! I am very much interested to participate in the Humanitarian Grants program --Matching grants program - (in search of an international partner ). to be co-ordinated, for Donating computers to schools, in economically backward needy students are going to benifited

At 2:41PM on 9 February 2008, Ronald herman MD wrote: Does rotary give any money or support to Planned Parenthood?

At 7:42AM on 13 January 2008, martha wrote: Interested to get involved in any Humanitarian program, mostly targetting vulnerable children.

At 4:36AM on 28 November 2007, adaji mohammed umar wrote: am interested in humanitterian service program not minding the nature and where it coul take me to.

At 11:15AM on 16 November 2007, Parvez Bilimoria wrote: I am interested to participate in the Humanitarian Grants program ( Matching grants program - in search of an international partner ). Wonderful satisfying project, to be co-ordinated, for avoidable blindness project, for economically backward needy patients.

At 5:04AM on 10 October 2007, Baskaran tts wrote: Im interested to participate in the Humanitarian Grants program ( Matching grants program - in search of an international partner )