November is Rotary Foundation Month: The Rotary Foundation is Rotary's charity and should be the charity of choice of Rotarians. Registered in the USA as an International Charitable Trust, The Rotary Foundation (TRF) was established as an endowment fund in 1917 and enjoyed modest growth until 1947, when Rotarians made significant contributions in memory of Paul Harris, who died in January 1947. That same year TRF launched its first programme, Graduate Fellowships (later called Ambassadorial Scholarships), sending 18 students abroad to seven countries. Today, more than 1,200 Rotary Scholars are studying abroad every year.
For 105 years, Rotary International and TRF have developed many influential partnerships that support and expand the scope and effectiveness of Rotary’s humanitarian programmes and projects worldwide. One example is the partnership to eradicate Polio from the world with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others. Today the fund is almost US$1 billion and has received a 4-Star rating by Charity Navigator for 14 years in a row. https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-foundation-receives-highest-rating-charity-navigator-14th-consecutive-year 
Glenferrie Rotarians who have served on the District 9800 Foundation committee include Don Heath Grants Stewardship committee and Cheryl Pisterman who assisted two Foundation Chairs for six years. Our club member Richard Blakeman has been the Chair of the Humanitarian Grants Committee of Rotary District 9800 since July 2019. His role is assessing and administering Humanitarian Grants through the Rotary Foundation for Rotary clubs in Rotary District 9800 and helping develop District Policy relating to the granting and acquittal of grants. Well done, Richard. 
Glenferrie Rotarians who have served on the District 9800 Foundation committee include Don Heath Grants Stewardship committee and Cheryl Pisterman who assisted two Foundation Chairs for six years. Our club member Richard Blakeman has been the Chair of the Humanitarian Grants Committee of Rotary District 9800 since July 2019. His role is assessing and administering Humanitarian Grants through the Rotary Foundation for Rotary clubs in Rotary District 9800 and helping develop District Policy relating to the granting and acquittal of grants. Well done, Richard.PDG Grant Hocking is the Chair of the District 9800 Foundation Committee, responsible for overseeing the Foundation Grant program in D9800, Global Scholarships, Peace Studies funding and contributions to the global fight to End Polio. On 08 November, Grant will speak on how TRF can help us achieve our service goals and how we can Do Good in the World. Come along and learn more about “our Charity” – The Rotary Foundation.
Victorian Flood Relief: D9800 Disaster Response Committee has been working on coordinating with Rotary club resources to help those impacted by the recent flood in Victoria. What they need and when. The Disaster Relief Account through RAWCS has been set up to enable deductible donations. And the Committee has reached out to the various relief networks (WERN, RIMERN etc.) and partners who can provide food, furniture and other items that people need right now.
Garden Design Festival 2022 will be on the weekends of November 12-13 and 19-20 November. As we did during pre-COVID time, our club will support the Rotary Club of Kew to do voluntary service at one of the allocated gardens. We’re still waiting for detailed information then we will start to recruit Volunteers for the event. For those who want a festival tour, you can get the ticket through www.gardendesignfest.com.au.
President Teresa