thanks

Thanks everyone at the Rotary Club of Scott Valley for all the efforts you have put to make this project a reality.


As a Member of the 2005 Dominican GSE team into District 5110, I have very fond memories of the wonderful people I met and Amazing places I Visited there.
My host familias and the vocational visits made it one of the most interesting experiences I have ever had. When I was Back home, I felt the burning desire of becoming a rotarian and helping people and it was all of you who lit up that spark in me.

The Club Rotario Salcedo is looking forward to the Scott Valley team visit.

Thanks All,

Josefina

Volunteer Service Grant #61695 Approved

Dear Team Mates,

The following exciting news was received by me early this morning at 5:48 a.m. from Lisa Silberstein, Grant Coordinator, The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International:

"Dear Rotarians Urena A. and Malmberg:

Congratulations! I am pleased to inform you that the Volunteer Service Grant (VSG) application sponsored by the Rotary Club of Salcedo and the Rotary Club of Scott Valley (Ft. Jones) to support the travel of Norman R. Malmberg, Diane Pomeroy and Lori Fleck to help provide computer equipment and training to the Escuela Primaria Maria Josefa Gomez elementary school in Salcedo, Dominican Republic HAS BEEN APPROVED! The Volunteer Service Grant was awarded in the amount of US$6000 for airfare and project related expenses to support travel and service beginning on March 15, 2007 and ending March 30, 2007."

Lisa continues with arrangement details of which I will not belabor.

It is humbling to reflect upon the many individuals who have had a part in this VSG application: helpful suggestions & encouragement plus pertinent responses to my questions have all provided valuable information & insights which have facilitated the process, from Josefina & her Club Rotario Salcedo officers & her District 4060 officers to my District 5110 TRF/WCS leadership. Steve Savelich, our District Grants Subcommittee Chair, gave me a tremendous boost of positive encouragement. Thank you Steve! And thanks to each of you for all you do for Rotary in 'Building World Understandings' through 'Service Above Self'!

SALCEDO HERE WE COME!

Your Team Mate,

Norm Malmberg
Rotary Club of Scott Valley

Funding for Salcedo School Computer Library

This morning during the District 5110 quarterly WCS Committee meeting, the Chairman, PDG Walt Schloer, announced that he had been advised by The Rotary Foundation World Headquarters that our project will be funded January 31, 2007! That is great cause for celebration! We have something of a near record for total elapsed time from the beginning.

We raised Club funds in 2 weeks, RI received our MG App. 10 days after D5110 DDF approval & assigned us a Matching Grant number (MG #614004). RI approved the project 3 weeks later. And 1 month later we have notice that RI will release the funds to us January 31, 2007. That is 10 days over 3 months or one month earlier than we anticipated.

The 50 members present at the meeting gave a round of applause for some of the members were relating sad tales of woe waiting for up to a year for release of their funds.

I might add that before you consider whom to praise or to give credit, you should go look in a mirror & give that person looking back at you a big pat on the back. For it is clear to me that the success of such a project can not be credited to just 1 or 2 individuals. For many help lend a hand through many largely unnoticed deeds. Among them are 3 committee members who met with the school administration to seek & gain consent, and one in particular who quietly & dilingently researched, downloaded & completed the MG application. Other wise leaders gave valuable critique & input. One Fed Ex'd the package. One or 2 stood up to be counted by heralding the worthiness of the project encouraging others to get on board. And these others then did so giving freely & generously of their hearts. One pressed 2 One Hundred Dollar bills into my hand after my talk to her Club. One gave me some very important tips in personally tracking the MG App. so it wouldn't get overlooked in the paper piles. And without naming names, you know who you are. Your parts, no matter how big or small, were all vital links in the chain of events leading to success. And you know what happens to its effectiveness if you remove any one link from a chain.

So, onward to Salcedo, Dominican Republic! And Escuela Primaria Maria Josefa Gomez 1,000 school kids, get ready! Here we come with sleeves rolled up ready to go to work. I think that we are as excited as we hear they are.

Thanks in so many ways,

Norm Malmberg, WCS
Rotary Club of Scott Valley
International Co-Sponsor

Volunteer Service Grant #61695

Date: January 2, 2007 12:02:51 PM PST

Dear Rotarians Ureña A. and Malmberg,

On 13 December 2006, The Rotary Foundation (TRF) received a
request to help provide computer equipment to a computer library
in the Escuela Primaria Maria Josefa Gomez elementary school in
Salcedo, Dominican Republic. Your request has been assigned the
file number, Volunteer Service Grant #61695. Please reference this
number on all future correspondence with Foundation Staff.

If there is anything further I may assist you with, please do not
hesitate in contacting me.

Thanks,
Lisa Silberstein

Volunteer Service Grant Coordinator
The Rotary Foundation
1560 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL. 60201

Phone: (847) 866-3359
Fax: (847) 866-9759
Email: Lisa.Silberstein@rotary.org