Elin Fyhrlund with host family Ken and Janice Townsend, North Columbus

Sebastian Velez with Susan and Bill Smith, Brookhaven RC

Will Watt III, Maria Carbonell & Machelle Watt, Thomasville

NEWS FOR STUDENTS NEXT YEAR

We have received no information in regards to next year at newsletter submission date; however, a decision is to be made shortly as to whether or not we will even have a program this year in order to allow students who were offered scholarships before the pandemic to explore other options. My gut feeling is that we will have a program and I have already made inquiries to some host families and all the trustees in regards to next year, i.e., if the dorms close, would the host families be able to house the student or would the clubs want to sponsor a student for the next semester? Our district stands at about 50% wanting to sponsor a student for next year; however, the other two districts are overwhelmingly in favor of continuing the program through next year.

We have heard nothing from the universities about issuing the form I20s, which allow a student to seek a visa from the consulate in their countries in order to come to the US. My own experience is that it is nearly impossible to get anyone at the universities to answer an email or a telephone call to find out when or if they will be issuing the I20s for next year.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE AWARDS

We would normally be giving out information from District Conference in regards to awards given to each club for giving and to individual Rotarians or students, but this will have to wait until after the District celebration on June 13.

INCENTIVE CHECKS

Trustees were mailed checks in February. We have three or four clubs that are still waiting on these checks, but for the most part, the clubs who earned them for giving to the GRSP endowment should have received them. If you believe that you should have received a check, but didn’t, please let me know and we will find out where your check is.

For those clubs that wish to receive a rebate for next year, it is not too late to get in your donations to make the $50 per capita in giving that is required to receive an incentive check. A club can ask their trustee for that information or can request from me or the Savannah Office. Any of us would be happy to review what is needed to assure a club some extra funds to be used in whatever way the club desires.