Fellow Rotarians,

It was 109 years ago this month that Paul Harris and three of his friends founded the first Rotary club. His goal was simple: to create an oasis of friendship amid a city of strangers, with those who shared his values.

Over time, the philosophy of Rotary developed and matured, and Rotarian ideals expanded to include service, vocational ethics, and international understanding. As Rotary grew and spread, Paul Harris... 

Join us for the annual Bi-District Rotary Foundation Banquet! Our featured guest will be Rotary International President Ron Burton who hails from the Rotary Club of Norman in District 5770. What a great opportunity to celebrate the work of The Rotary Foundation!

Sheraton Midwest City Hotel
Reed Conference Center
5750 Will Rogers Dr
Midwest City, OK

February 22, 2014
6:15 - Cocktail Reception
7:00 - Dinner and Program

If you are a sustaining Rotarian through personal donations, or club dues, of at least $100 to The Rotary Foundation, your ticket price is for the meal only. All other Rotarians must pay $150 for the event; $100 TRF contribution and meal. Spouses and Guests of ALL members may attend for the price of the meal, $50.

Registrations for the event must be received by end of day on Monday, February 15, 2014. Hotel rooms will be available for reservation at a reduced rate of $99 at the Sheraton Midwest City Hotel. Please use the group name "Bi-District Foundation Banquet" when making your reservations.

REGISTER HERE

HOTEL RESERVATIONS HERE

The Wings of Rotary committee is seeking applicants to participate in the 2014 Wings of Rotary exchange in June. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for high school students entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year of high school!

Cost: $2100 = $2200 (includes airfare, train passes, lodging and meals.)  

Requirements:

• WINGS exchange students must attend at least one Rotary meeting before departure
• MUST HAVE VALID PASSPORT

2014 dates for OUTBOUND WINGS:
June 11, 2013 - June 26, 2014

Questions? Please contact WINGS Chair, Kelly Johnson:
580-762-7555
[email protected]

It is with tremendous sadness that I report the death last night of Past President & PDG Steve Garrett at the age of 69.  Steve was admitted to Mercy Hospital last Wednesday with an extremely serious case of walking pneumonia.  Steve was a native of Mangum, OK.  He received both his undergraduate degree and his law degree from the University of Oklahoma where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta.  Steve was in house counsel for American Fidelity Corporation.

Steve joined Club 29 in 1982, and he served as Director, Treasurer and Vice-President before serving as President in 1989-1990.  He served as Presidential Advisor for Rick Vermillion, Carl Shortt, Billy Bowden & Meg Salyer.  Further, he served as District Governor in 1996-1997.  Steve was also a Major Donor to the RI Foundation and a PHF +8, a RI Foundation Benefactor and both a founding Rotary 29 Community Fellow & Benefactor.

Steve leaves his wife of 46 years, Linda, his children & their spouses:  Braden & Betty Jane Garrett, Lizanne & Joe Reiger and Marion & Will Parke, and four grandchildren.  Funeral services are pending.  Please remember Steve’s family in your thoughts & prayers.

Robert Clements, President
Rotary Club of Oklahoma City

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 23, 2013, 10 am at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oklahoma City.

Are you considering taking a trip down under to the 2014 Rotary International Convention in Australia? If so, please review the Zones 21b & 27 Convention newsletter to stay up-to-date on deadlines, helpful tips, and places to visit to make your convention trip a success.

CONVENTION NEWSLETTER AVAILABLE HERE

Recently, RI President Sakuji Tanaka visited District 5750 and District 5770 for our annual Bi-District Foundation Banquet. RI President-Elect Ron Burton, a fellow Oklahoman, took Mr. Tanaka to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. All Oklahomans know the importance of peace and understanding from this tragic moment in our history. However, through Rotary, we can make "Peace Through Service" a reality beyond our community, our great state, and our country. As President Tanaka said, "However we define peace, whatever peace means to us, we can bring it closer through service."