The holidays are the perfect time to come together with family and friends – what better way to celebrate than with fun events in our local community? Luckily, the Eugene area is brimming with opportunities to get out of the house, do a little holiday shopping, celebrate the season with those you love and more. Not sure what’s out there? The Register-Guard and Travel Lane County both have detailed event listings that let you in on all the holiday happenings. You can search by day and find all the info you need: location, prices, contact information and more for dance performances, Christmas...

Registration for the 2011 RI Convention – May 21-25, 2011 – in New Orleans is in full swing. If you’re thinking about attending, now is the time to register, as the fee goes up from $300 to $340 after December 15. If you’re already planning to attend, you’re probably looking forward to a week filled with learning about Rotary, its different projects and what’s in store for the future of Rotary. However, if you’re still on the fence, you should take a look at this page on the RI website, which outlines some of the benefits of attending the convention. Not...

The 114th Civil War game will be played tomorrow in Corvallis between the Oregon Ducks and the Oregon State Beavers. Lots of drama surrounds the matchup, as a win for the Ducks would send them to the BCS Championship Game and a win for the Beavers would make them bowl-eligible. ESPN’s College GameDay show will also broadcast live from the Oregon State campus tomorrow morning. While the stakes are a bit higher for the Ducks, the Beavers still have a lot to fight for. With the game on their turf, it’s sure to be an exciting matchup filled with exciting plays no matter which team you’re...

It’s hard to believe, but we’re already in December! With the start of a new month comes a new letter from Rotary International’s 2010-2011 President, Ray Klinginsmith. In this month’s letter, he encourages Rotarians to “keep it simple.” Rather than complicate community or club service projects, Rotarians should remember that they have a simple solution for just about every problem. By building relationships with their fellow Rotarians during weekly club meetings, club and community projects and international service, Rotarians can work together to apply those...

Want a quick, succinct answer to your questions about Rotary? Looking for an easy way to share more about Rotary with someone you know who may be interested in joining? If so, you want to check out Rotary International’s “Rotary Minute” videos. These short videos, roughly one minute each in length. feature Rotarians sharing some of their Rotary stories. They cover topics ranging from, “As a Rotarian, How Have You Provided Service?” to “How Can Rotary Attract New Members?” Hear what other Rotarians have to say about these topics, share the videos with your...

While you might indulge in a turkey like the one at left tomorrow during Thanksgiving, we all know the holiday is really an opportunity for us to join family and friends in celebrating and giving thanks for all we have been blessed with. Instead of a regular post today, we’d like to give you the opportunity to tell us what you’re thankful for, whether it’s this Rotary club and its members, your family, the city we live in or the opportunities we’ve been given that allow us to serve our community and the world through Rotary. Feel free to leave us a comment; we’d love...

This Friday, we’re featuring photos from our club’s annual dictionary giveaway, which happened earlier this week when dictionaries were delivered to a third-grade class at Malabon Elementary. Glen Martz and Mary Lou Finigan delivered the dictionaries; photos were taken by Pat McGillvary. Below are some photos of the day. Take a look at how your support and participation in Rotary are making a difference in the lives of students in our community. Thank you for your support of these third-graders at Malabon, and for your dedication to the work Rotary is doing in our community.

The Paul Harris Fellow Recognition honors individuals who have made contributions, or have had contributions made in their name, of $1,000 or more to the Rotary Foundation. Currently on the RI website, you can learn about the history of this award. The recognition was first made in the 1940s to longtime Rotary International Treasurer Rufus F. Chapin and former RI Director Allison G. Brush. The first woman to receive the recognition was Mrs. Adan Vargas, for a gift made in 1953. Prior to 1969, recipients were given a certificate to honor their contribution. Now, Paul Harris Fellows receive a medal....

Are you ready for new Rotary challenges? This Friday, we encourage you to consider volunteering and serving District 5110. If so, consider volunteering with one of our district’s many committees. DGE Chuck Root believes that service at the district level and complement and enhance service at the club level. Bring a new level of commitment to your club service by sharing your time, talent and effort with District 5110. Regardless of your professional background or personal interests, you can find a way to serve the district. Take a look at the list of District 5110 committees to see where...

November is Rotary Foundation Month, and one of the main goals of the Rotary Foundation is to eradicate polio worldwide. Rotary is constantly looking for new innovations in polio vaccines. The bivalent oral polio vaccine is one such innovation. If you’re not sure whether you should donate to the Rotary Foundation this month, read this article from Rotary International News about how the bivalent oral polio vaccine is combating polio in the four polio-endemic countries: By Dan Nixon, Rotary International News The bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) is proving to be a potent weapon in the global...