Speaker Spotlight – Leo Lawrenson, D5000 ShelterBox Ambassador
Leo presented a brief overview of ShelterBox, which was created as a club service project in 1999 as a Millenium project. In 2019 ShelterBox became Rotary International’s Project Partner in Disaster Relief and has twice been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The basic shelter box consists of about 135 pounds of materials to provide shelter, cooking utensils, and other survival supplies; including children’s activity materials. Today, ShelterBox also provides materials targeted to the situation, such as, pallets of all ten-person tents or emergency solar lighting and power fixtures. Leo also updated the club on the areas of the globe where ShelterBox is currently meeting needs. More about ShelterBox and where they are “on the ground” can be found at https://shelterbox.org/.
Our club is a longtime supporter of ShelterBox, having donated more than $19,000 over the years.
Leo, in addition to being a districtwide Ambassador for ShelterBox, is our club’s President-Elect and Youth Services Chair, and wears many hats at the district level, including as the 2023 D5500 Conference of Clubs Chair. He encourages all members to register for this District-wide event on 6-7 Oct. See info at lower left of this Bulletin.
Club Roundup
President Linda gave a reminder about the “First Annual OVRC Activity Contest”. The information, including a scoresheet, was sent in an email from Linda on July 6.
Reminder about district conference on October 6&7, 2023 at Casino Del Sol Hotel & Resort. There is a link on our club website to information. It’s just below the calendar.
Due to a resignation, the position of District Governor elect is open. Interested?
Gary C. reminded the club that the Grace Hearing Center still accepts unneeded hearing aids. The club had a service project with collecting these items several years ago.
The Dictionary Project is gearing up. Dates for distribution to schools depends on the book’s delivery date. Contact Karen Woodford to participate. Get activity contest points.
Past-president Steve is chairing a new committee at the district level in connection with The Rotary Vocational Fund of Arizona (TRVFA). The committee will be working on a format on how a trade apprenticeship program can be used by local businesses to use apprentices accessing TRVFA grants. Also, creating a program to present to high school students to make them aware of the apprenticeship opportunities and TRVFA grants. The fund and programs cover both D5500 & D5495.
Happy $$$$
Many Happy Dollars as thanks to Leo for both his presentation and all the tasks he takes on for Rotary.
Steve W. was happy to have recovered from vacation, also sharing sadness about the fire in Lahaina, Maui
Visitor Carol was grateful to have connected with Linda and to find out more about our club and Rotary.
Jane S. was happy to learn about ShelterBox. Its existence was new to her.
Dennis B. & Tom D. included appreciating “how good we have it.”
Dave B. expanded on Leo’s sharing that in many places ShelterBox is successful in getting into an area because the local Rotary club’s members are the government officials and power base. In Dave’s words, “A club that he dealt with in Belize represented the gross national product of the country.”
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The basic shelter box consists of about 135 pounds of materials to provide shelter, cooking utensils, and other survival supplies; including children’s activity materials. Today, ShelterBox also provides materials targeted to the situation, such as, pallets of all ten-person tents or emergency solar lighting and power fixtures. Leo also updated the club on the areas of the globe where ShelterBox is currently meeting needs. More about ShelterBox and where they are “on the ground” can be found at