RI President-elect Sakuji Tanaka will ask Rotarians to build Peace Through Service in 2012-13. 

Tanaka unveiled the RI theme during the opening plenary session of the 2012 International Assembly, a training event for incoming Rotary district governors. 

"Peace, in all of the ways that we can understand it, is a real goal and a realistic goal for Rotary," he said. "Peace is not something that can only be achieved through agreements, by governments, or through heroic struggles. It is something that we can find and that we can achieve, every day and in many simple ways.

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Pin it for Polio
February 23 is Rotary Day and you and your club can do your bit to increase Rotary awareness and raise important funds for the End Polio Now! campaign by ordering your "Pin It for Polio" lapel badges.

Already more than 10,000 have been ordered by Rotary Districts all over Australia and New Zealand but you don't have to wait for your supply.

The pins can be ordered for just $3 each and each pin sold will raise $1.50 for the Australian/New Zealand Rotary Foundation Trusts.

The pins come with a card explaining Rotary's role in the worldwide campaign to eradicate polio. Ideal for when you sell or give the pins away to non-Rotarians.

For details on how to order your pins, see page 24 of the December edition of Rotary Down Under (click here to go to the online edition).

This newsletter comes out every couple of months to report on the activities of the District relating to The Rotary Foundation and to help clubs stay ontop of all things TRF. This newsletter has also been sent to Club Presidents, Secretaries, officers of D9550 and our TRF contacts across the District.

Featured in this edition:

Fabulous Foundation Festivities, Fun and Fundraising events coming
up in February

• Latest news on PolioPlus and events
• Polio movie night fundraiser event preliminary details
• Introducing Guest Speaker World Peace Fellow David Burgener
• TRF requirements for the Presidential Citation
• Tax Deductibility for Online Donations in Australia
• The Rotary Horn of Africa Famine and Refugee Relief Fund Appeal
• Black & Bling Foundation Fundraiser Dinner Flyer
• Pin It For Polio Flyer

Again this is a great month for clubs and individuals to contribute to The Rotary Foundation as the exchange rate for January 2012 is $1.00.

"D9550 HAVE THE ROTARY CLUBS OF ATHERTON, MAREEBA, TENNANT CREEK, TOWNSVILLE DAYBREAK AND CAIRNS SUNRISE REGISTERED FOR THIS EVENT."

Rotary Global Swimarathon makes a splash worldwide - Swimmers of all abilities, everywhere, are being urged to take the plunge and help raise money to eradicate polio.

The Rotary Global Swimarathon (RGS), devised by the Rotary Club of Grantham, has set the challenge to everyone to “grab their goggles”.

On the 25th of February 2012 participants from all six continents of the world will be represented, including Great Britain and Ireland, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, Philippines, USA and New Zealand.All will dive in with the aim of supporting End Polio Now and setting a new Guinness World Record.

Visit Townsville Daybreak's details here