Rotary Response Alternatives to the Ukrainian Crisis

April 1, 2022

Dear Fellow Rotarians, On March 4, an email describing Rotary International's special giving channel for donations to Ukraine relief through the RI Disaster Relief Fund was sent out. Some club members have donated through that fund.

Since then, our own District 7870 Foundation has created its own fund to collect money which will be sent to Rotary Clubs in and around Zamość Ordynacki, which is in southeastern Poland.

Donations to both the Rotary International Foundation and the District 7870 Foundation are tax-deductible, as both are 501 c(3) organizations. The major difference is that with the District Foundation, we have more insight into exactly where these funds are going, as our District Governor John Siemienowicz has established a direct channel with the district in Poland. We know that these funds are being put to use by that District to directly help refugees that have entered that part of the country from across the Ukraine border.

Donations to both the RI Foundation and the District 7870 Foundation are worthwhile, but our District Governor is appealing to us to direct our funds through the District's Foundation. Here's an excerpt from an email he sent out:

"I wish to make a heart-felt appeal to you all to band together with me to offer humanitarian aid to try and alleviate some of the grief and suffering being experienced by the women and children being displaced from Ukraine and now in Poland. For what it is worth, my Grandmother was born in Ukraine and my Grandfather Siemienowicz was Polish. Who would have guessed with a last name like mine? Also, prior to the pandemic my wife Allise and I spent some time in the Polish countryside near the Ukrainian border and visited numerous towns near Lublin and Zamość Ordynacki. As a result of the recent events in Ukraine, I have made it my personal mission, and hopefully one that you can also support, to offer immediate Financial Aid to the Rotary Club of Zamość Ordynacki in Poland to help fund their relief efforts in supporting the Women and Children refugees."

At our last meeting, the club gave the OK to donate $250 of the club's funds to the District 7870 Foundation, and the board will be voting on that this Thursday. If you would like to contribute to this effort, there are 3 ways to do so:

1. You can write a check to Bennington Rotary Club and give it to Tom at a meeting or send it to PO Box 24, Bennington, VT 05201. We will include this with our club's donation.

2. You can transfer funds via the PayPal link at BenningtonRotary.org, making a note that it is for the District Foundation. We will include this with our club's donation.

3. You can mail checks directly to:
Rotary District 7870 Foundation
c/o Jeff Mobus
19 Orchard Street
Springfield, VT 05156

Please Note: "Ukraine Relief Initiative" in the memo line to make sure your donation is directed to the relief effort.
NOTE: Only option #3 will be a tax-deductible donation.
One way or the other, please do consider donating to this important cause. We do not have a "suitcase project" for March, so if you are on the fence, please consider this in lieu of what you would have contributed there.

Author: Mike Day (Club Member & Windmill Editor)
Windmill