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The mayor is expected to touch on the recently adopted city budget which calls for an increase in property taxes of less than four percent, mainly due to wages and fringes for the city's staff.

Amber's selection will become official when it is confirmed by the club's board and a vote of club members in the near future.

Please offer to support her as she leads one of the most active, involved Rotary clubs in the Midwest.

Laura Edwards, a senior at UNI, who will spend the next year in Wales, went to Kansas City this month to work with dozens of other outbound students to understand Rotary, the foundation and the scholarship program along with what will be expected of her in Wales and in the US when she returns.

Maggie Luce participated in similar training this week in Pittsburgh. She is a student in New York City and will spend her year in Ireland.

Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. The scholarships are worth $25,000 to defray study and travel expenses.

Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2005-06. Through grants totaling approximately $500 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 70 nations.

The accompanying photo shows Laura on the left, and Maggie on the right.  Of course, we all know District Governor Nominee Roger Kueter in the center.

The International H2O Collaboration was formally announced March 18 at the World Water Forum in Istanbul in conjunction with World Water Day March 22.

Focusing on Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the alliance will develop its inaugural projects in 2009-10 in Ghana, the Philippines, and the Dominican Republic -- countries where Rotary clubs and districts and USAID missions have the demonstrated ability to carry out effective water and sanitation projects. After the initial phase, the alliance will evaluate its work and strategically consider expanding into other countries.

The Rotary Foundation and USAID will share the project funding. Each organization will distribute funds separately and independently, keeping budgeting, expenditures, and reporting mechanisms separate. Health, Hunger and Humanity (3-H) Grants will support Rotary club and district involvement with these projects. Both Rotary and USAID will provide technical expertise and on-the-ground support.

"We intend these projects to be models for future projects with strategic partners and in this way to enhance our contribution to world understanding, goodwill, and peace," says Past RI President William B. Boyd, chair of the RI-USAID Steering Committee. He underscores the need for Rotary to meet the challenges of today's world, citing the Future Vision Planand strategic partnerships as ways to focus and strengthen service.

USAID is a government agency that provides economic development and humanitarian assistance in support of U.S. foreign policy goals. Its Global Development Alliance model promotes partnerships with prominent private-sector partners in the nongovernmental, foundation and corporate arenas.

"Through this important collaboration, the service ethic and commitment of hundreds of thousands of Rotarians around the world will be joined with the global development expertise and technical leadership of USAID to yield a significant, sustainable increase in water supply and sanitation coverage for the planet's poorest and most vulnerable populations," says USAID Acting Administrator Alonzo Fulgham.

Rotary clubs and districts will have until June 30 to submit grant proposals. The deadline for grant applications is August 15. Approved projects will receive funds in April 2010. The Foundation intends to fund $500,000 in projects in each focal country in the 2009-10 Rotary year through 3-H grants.

The accompanying photo shows Sara Lucena, a member of the Rotary Club of Puerto Plata Isabel de Torres, Dominican Republic, installs a water filter in a home in Aguas Negras

President Mason welcomed Annie Vander Werff at the Rotary Day meeting February 23rd.
Heather was proposed by Barb Prather, and represents Cedar Falls Lutheran Home. 

 Greetings! My name is Annie Vander Werff, I am an Iowa native, originally from Pella. Twelve years ago I came to the Cedar Valley to attend UNI...and haven't left since. My family and I live in Waterloo. Currently, I work as the Director of Fund Development at the Cedar Falls Lutheran Home. My husband, Brad Vander Werff, also a Pella native, works for the City of Waterloo as an Assistant Superintendent at Irv Warren Memorial Golf Course.

Together we have two children, Alexis (5) and Wyatt (3), who both attend Happy Time Preschool & Daycare. As a family we enjoy time outdoors, going to the playground, sports, helping others, and spending time with family and friends! I look forward to meeting you!

Be the first to email me his name for a very small prize.  I'll reveal his identity in the next Reporter, so stay tuned!