International Service

Next Meeting: Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at 11:30 a.m.
Location: Harry's Bar & Grill, 4370 La Jolla Village Dr.

Latest News: We have adopted a budget and matching grants fund plan for the new Rotary year that will help fund new matching grant projects. These matching grants will be used for projects in Lithuania and Afghanistan. Four members of our committee traveled to Lithuania in June, 2007 to confirm the partnership with a Rotary Club there. A trip to Bolivia is being planned for spring of 2008 by several members of the committee. Also two members of our committee are currently overseeing the furnishing of the women's dormitory project in Jalalabad, Afganistan. Our committee recently committed funds for relief in Uganda and Kenya, countries where former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars currently live. Funds have also been sent to Tanzania for a water project there.

Current Goals: To emphasize the international character of Rotary by joining together with Rotarians in other countries and Rotary International to meet a variety of human needs throughout the world.

Purpose: The International Service Committee is the international outreach arm of our club. Our purpose involves reviewing potential service projects proposals, selecting those the committee decides to support, then monitoring the progress of the projects by site visits, communication with on-site workers, and liaison with Rotarians in other countries. This is the means for our club to participate in the impact of Rotary International around the globe.

Activities/responsibilities: We administer a budget of approximately $17,000 with additional funding available through matching grants and other sources. At any given time, we have about thirty different projects going in North, South, and Central America, Africa, Asia, South Asia, Southeastern Europe, and the Middle East.

Why join: This is an exciting committee with many hands-on projects touching the lives of people all over the world: from building a school for the children of Jalalabad, Afghanistan, to bringing fresh water to villagers in Thailand, Kenya, and the Zulu nation of South Africa. Personal involvement in the projects we sponsor is the key to our success as a committee to help make our world a better place, one Rotary project at a time.