October is Economic and Community Development month and we’ll be taking a look at the history and a present day service of the Tucker Community Foundation, a regional West Virginia non-profit serving Potomac Highlands communities.
E-CLUB PROGRAM
PRESIDING TODAY IS: Bonnie Branciaroli, President
Ding! We’re now in session.
Welcome all – visitors, fellow Rotarians and guests alike to this E-Club program!
Remember the Four-Way Test!
At the beginning of each meeting we remind ourselves of the The Four-Way Test. Therefore, please remember to ask yourself always . . .
Of the things we think, say or do:
- Is it the TRUTH?
- Is it FAIR to all concerned?
- Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
- Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Leadership Quotes
“There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.”
– Idowu Koyenikan
“Inclusivity has to be seen as a benefit to a community. The lack of diversity has to be seen as a detriment to that community.”
– Kevin A. Patterson
“Be transparent. Let's build a community that allows hard questions and honest conversations so we can stir up transformation in one another.”
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“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president.”
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Reflective Moments
“When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President. I'm beginning to believe it.”
– Clarence Darrow
“Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason.”
– Mark Twain
“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”
― Dalai Lama
D7545 Local Rotary Events
October 9 – MSRE Board Meeting – Noon via Zoom. All members welcome.
October 23 – World Polio Day event for our E-Club – Special guest: Coffee Chat with District Governor Shari Messinger – 7:30 a.m.
October 24 – World Polio Day
October 26 – Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) – 8 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. – Gaston Caperton Center, Clarksburg, WV
October is Economic & Community Development Month
As R. H. Tawney, the English economic historian, Christian socialist, and proponent of adult education so aptly put it, “Mankind does not reflect upon questions of economic and social organization until compelled to do so by the sharp pressure of some practical emergency.”
Tucker Community Foundation
The Tucker Community Foundation (TCF) was founded over 30 years ago by a dedicated group of forward-looking and philanthropic-minded volunteers who recognized a need and set out to address it.
What started as a group of “Tucker people helping Tucker people,” – spurred by the aftermath of the 1985 Election Day floods (also known in West Virginia as the Killer Floods of 1985, which was one of the costliest and devastating floods to affect West Virginia at that time) – grew to become a regional organization of “people helping people” on a much broader scale.
The “ pressure from the emergency” of the devastating flood brought together a group of ambitious Tucker County citizens who realized this was the opportunity to equip the community with the necessary resources to renew and sustain itself. This humble beginning of a grass roots effort helped the local community rebuild and establish the philanthropic organization that continues to enhance the quality of life for the people it serves.
Today, through various fundraisers and regional communities support, the TCF is now a formidable economic and community development organization.
In 2018, this dynamic organization awarded over $1.4 million in grant awards to over 60 organizations and distributed over $64,000 in scholarship awards to 39 students within their service region encompassing seven West Virginia counties (Barbour, Grant, Mineral, Pocahontas, Preston, and Tucker counties) and one county in Maryland (Garrett County).
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RUN FOR IT
Through the rise and fall of much of the small, rural Appalachian towns in the Tucker Community Foundation’s service area, one thing that remains consistent is the presence of the Foundation in each of these communities.
Since its inception in 2007, the annual event, “Run For It” has generated more than $1.8 million for participating community organizations. In 2018 alone, 1,400 registrants representing 85 community causes participated in the 2K walk and USATF-certified 5K run around the scenic mountaintop town of Davis, WV during the annual Leaf Peepers Festival on the last Saturday in September. Over $300,000 was raised that year for local charities throughout the Foundation’s region.
The program was designed to promote a healthy activity while encouraging local philanthropy. “Run For It” kicks off each year on April 1. The TCF challenges participants to form teams to support the community cause of their choice during a six-month campaign. Cash awards are given to the teams raising the most awareness and support for their charity, along with demonstrating the best effort. Additionally, half of the entry fees, 100 percent of team sponsor donations, and 100 percent of race day awards are distributed to the cause represented.
A First-time Fundraiser
The Mountain State Rotary E-Club participated in the 2019 “Run For It” with an eight-member team consisting of two club members, Andrea Fleming and Bonnie Branciaroli. Six members are friends of Rotary: Shawn Fleming, Seth Maynard, Candace Maynard, Ralphene Maynard, Matt Maynard and Angelea Goodwin. The team collected $877.20 in sponsorship donations. Team awards will be announced the end of October.
Our team Partner and Cause:
Our partner, the non-profit organization Heart and Hand House, Inc. works alongside a Feeding America Backpack Program in neighboring Barbour County. Heart and Hand House, Inc., located in Philippi, West Virginia, is a non-profit mission project affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It exists for the clear Christian mandate to minister to the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional needs of in-crisis, low-income people of Barbour County. As part of their mission, they administer the Backpack program for two of the Barbour County schools.
Our goal: $750-$1,000 in sponsorship funds to be matched with a Rotary District 7545 grant to feed the 25% increase of kids needing weekend meals this year.
With the help of our club, our partner and our friends, we reached a workable goal to feed these kids in Barbour County, West Virginia. Once our District grant is approved, we'll be looking at a $1500 - $1800 donation to Heart and Hand House. Thank you everyone!!
The International author and Consultant, Idowu Koyenikan, summed it up in our Leadership Quotes section: “There is immense power when a group of people with similar interests gets together to work toward the same goals.”
Just as the Tucker Community Foundation brought into focus the need to reach out to economically sustain and rebuild communities, so is the Mountain State Rotary E-Club looking forward to building our Rotary community. We'll keep you posted about our next new adventure! It just may pique your interest.
Members, please leave a comment, so we know you've visited us! If you are a Rotarian using this program as your make-up
meeting and would like to contribute the cost of your normal Rotary meeting meal, we would be grateful. These funds go directly to our service projects. You can make a contribution through the Give/Donate link on the homepage.
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