Ann President Mars Turner

May I greet everyone on this maiden issue of our Rotary Ann bulletin with enthusiasm, with gusto!

I have to start with gratitude to all the Rotarians, their spouses, families and friends for your cordiality, trust and whole-hearted support during our induction. It was an unforgettable moment in my life.

I extend myspecial thanksto Lady. Terre Sarraga, Lady. Linda Caragos, Lady.DivinJaraula,for their generous hearts and to PP. Nitz Evangelista, PP MalouDela Cruz,IPP. JanethBernasor, PP. JosyAlinabon as well as toRtns. Danny Camat, Dir. Gus Rodanoand Marvin Desoyofor their invaluable help. I can never forget the immeasurable help ofmy very supportive Better- Half, my BH, our PRO,Michael Turner.

I also express sincere gratitude to ourInterplast Australian Doctors, especially to Dr. Michael Macguinness,  ­­­our intuitive Guest Speaker.

Welcome fellow Rotary Anns and spouses to our First General Monthly Meeting for RY 2011-2012 with the Theme:“ Reach Within to Embrace Humanity”.

My journey of service has now started. During our first board meeting on July 02, 2011 at Bon Café, N-Hotel, I should be very thankful to all the Anns who showed up and gave their support. We fruitfully discussed the upcoming projects for this July, including the BalikEskwelaproject which we will continue with the help of the Sarraga family, as always. We will also support the PurokTabako Program with the help of PP. MalouDela Cruz, our ever-dedicated Ann. We will also conduct the ocular inspection using the Van of Ann. En2x Juarez to find a very depressed area in town.

With these worthwhile projects to start with, I know we started with the right foot. May we then give honor to our theme: Reach within to Embrace Humanity.

Let us then reach within ourselves, the Anns, in order for us to embrace not only ourselves and our club but of humanity as well. Have a fruitful Rotary Year for each of us!

July is recognized around the world as the Nutrition Month. This is one of the most widely celebrated social concerns each year, earning active participation from schools, local governments and NGOs. The Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro celebrates this month as well with a high level of enthusiasm and passion in promoting the importance of nutrition, not just for the self but also for the community.

Celebrating Nutrition Month

The various Rotary districts in the Philippines celebrate this month by launching activities that aim to promote awareness, aid and assistance to the communities whose citizens are in dire need of advice in good nutrition.

Among the activities initiated by the Rotary are:

• Inter-school competitions and quiz-bees on science and health;
• Feeding programs
• Free vaccination, medical check-up and assistance for specific communities of medical conditions;
• Cleanup and good sanitation drives
• Seminars on healthy living and proper eating
• Other activities that can help promote the importance of nutrition to children and their parents (i.e. health parades, essay-writing contests, cooking competitions, etc…).

For large-scale community projects, the Rotary Club districts are often in partnership with the local government, schools, companies and other organizations who share the same concerns and goals with regards to nutrition.

Nutrition as a Community Goal

Rotary Club International recognizes the importance of the community’s collective welfare, and that nutrition is one of the major factors that directly affect it. Proper and sufficient nutrition is essential, especially for the children in the community. By offering their assistance and support to the public, it is the goal of the Rotarians and the Rotaract to have a community of healthy individuals, which in turn is vital for the realization of economic and social welfare goals.

The month of June is celebrated by the Rotary Clubs around the world as the Rotary Fellowships Month. In line with promoting the general welfare of the community, the development of the self is also given as much importance by the Rotary.

This celebration is done annually in the month of June. Rotarians take a short breather from their various commitments and community services and turn their attentions to personal development. This is the perfect time for members of the Rotary Club of Cagayan de Oro to mingle with members from the other local and international Rotary districts with whom they share common interests.

Rotary Fellowships

Rotary Fellowships are groups established by Rotaractors, Rotarians, and their spouses who share common interests.

There are 96 different fellowships of the Rotary Club International. Members from all around the globe can join in any of these fellowships, which are vocational and recreational in nature. From sports to professional interests, members can surely find a fellowship that is in line with their personal hobbies, skills, and interests. Some of these fellowships are the Rotarians on the Internet; the International Fellowship of Rotarians of Amateur Radio (ROAR); the International Golfing Fellowship of Rotarians; and the Rotary Global History Fellowship.

Celebrating the Rotary Fellowships Month

Every June the different Rotary Fellowships gather to meet and conduct activities related to their respective interests. It is a time when Rotarians get together with members from other districts and have fun during their respective outings.

The Rotary Fellowship Month promotes goodwill and camaraderie among the international members of the Rotary Club. It is the perfect way to relax from the usual responsibilities of the club and still be in the company of fellow Rotarians.

In our weekly meetings, we calculate attendance by taking the number of members present and divide it by the total number of members in our club. If we have members excused under sections 3b and 4 of the Standard Rotary Club Constitution or because of a district position, we count them as present if they attend our a club meeting, but we do not count them absent if they do not attend.

We DO include active club members present at the weekly club meeting, members credited with make-ups, and members excused by the board for a reason that it considers to be sufficient.

We DO NOT include members whose combined age and years of membership (in one or more clubs) is 85 yrs or more and who have notified the club secretary in writing of their desire to be excused from attendance; board must approve the request before the member is excluded from attendance figures.

Those members with Make-ups, we give attendance credit if, within 14 days before or after the missed meeting, and the member meets one of the following conditions:

• Attends at least 60% of the regular meeting of another Rotary club or a provisional Rotary club
• Present at the usual time and place of another Rotary club meeting
• Serving on a Rotary business as an RI committee officer or member
• Participates directly & actively in a service project sponsored by district, RI, or The Rotary Foundation in a remote area where a make-up opportunity isn’t possible
• Attends & participates in a club service project or club-sponsored community event authorized by the board
• Participates through a club Web site in an interactive activity requiring an average of 30 minutes of participation

I‘m sure that above information enlightens us further of our attendance responsibilities. Our July and mid-August figure truly speaks of our commitment for we continue to flock our meeting with active & lively members.

Daghan Salamat & Mabuhay Rotarians!

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The Balik Eskwela project allowed us to highlight the value of both education and wellbeing. We achieved this in Purok Tabako (July 17, 2010) through the combined efforts of project chair PP Malou dela Cruz, Treas. Jessica Elio, Dir. Vilma Schug, Ann Pam Valencia, IPP Biema Along and RTN Leo Aba. The aforementioned people prepared sling bags, school supplies and food and drinks for both the children and the Rotarians and Anns. The attendance of Anns PP Vicky Blanco, PP Nitz Evangelista, PD Ophe Paano, Sec Marissa Turner, PP Bern Gabaon and Dir. Luz Pamparo was also instrumental to the success of the project.

Also, I would like to acknowledge the following Anns for their overwhelming generosity: Lady Divin Jaraula, PP Jecs Soriano, PRO Ghaye Alegrio, PP Nanang Paras, PP Vicky Blanco, and Ann Pam Valencia. Thanks is also due to Siam Bank, Inc. for the P5,000 cash they contributed to the cause.

We continued the Balik Eskwela project at Purok 1-A Gusa on the 31^st with PP Ching Sarraga as chairperson. Basic toiletries were supplied by PT Juvy Sarraga in the form of toothbrushes and toothpaste while PAT Nora Villamala offered a box of vitamins. Along with the slippers and water containers given by Ann Pam Valencia and PD Ophe Paano, the children were made well-equipped for a day at school. A variety of school supplies and tools for classroom beautification were given as a gift by Lady Tere Sarraga, PP Ching and PAG John Mark Sarraga.

The activity ended with brunch for both the children and the Rotarians and Anns courtesy of PP Ching and PAG John Mark Sarraga, Treas. Ben Elio, PP Sarah and Rotarian Jun Hipona, RTN Leo Aba and PP Josy and PAG Manny Alinabon. Many thanks also go out to PP Nitz Evangelista for the additional cash donation.

Again, thank you. I can only hope that you consider our month of July well worth your time and investment. I want you to know that I really appreciate your efforts. I pray for your continued support in our future endeavors.