Hello fellow Rotarians,

Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Ah, the start of the Chinese New Year, which is also known as the Lunar New Year and Spring Festival.  I would try to explain how they all tie together, but my flowchart was way too confusing.  2019 is the Year of the Pig (Zhu). If you were born in 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, or 2007, you too fall under the Year of the Pig. According to a Chinese New Year website, people born in the Year of the Pig think logically and are able to fix whatever problem they’re in. They aren’t good communicators, but they’re kind and able to provide for the family. Most of them are wealthy. Their only obvious fault is that they lose their temper easily.

As we celebrate the 15 days of the New Year we will end February with the start the celebration of Carnival. In the United States it is more commonly known as Mardi Gras!  Carnival typically involves public celebrations, including events such as parades, public street parties, and other entertainments, combining some elements of a circus. Elaborate costumes and masks allow people to set aside their everyday individuality and experience a heightened sense of social unity. Participants often indulge in foods and drinks that will be forgone during upcoming Lent. Rio’s Carnival is considered the biggest festival in the world averaging about two million people in the streets celebrating.  It’s so popular; the government built a stadium designed for the parade called the Sambódromo (Sambadrome).  Rio’s Sambódromois 2,300 ft. long with a capacity of 90,000 people.  It’s big!

I want to wish both celebrations a very safe holiday season.

Elimination\Reverse Raffle! Let’s get this event SOLD OUT ASAP!! Reminder…..EVERY Niles Rotarian MUST sell or buy at least ONE ticket!!  No excuses.  It’s easy! Just buy or sell one ticket.  I know you can do that!  We have 335 tickets to sell.  SELL, SELL, SELL!!  This fundraiser helps support SEVERAL nonprofits in the area, plus it helps with RYLA and Rotary Interact Scholarships! Help President-Elect Bruce and make this event a sellout!!

There is a link to the Reverse Raffle webpage from our nilesrotary.org website.  You can download a copy of the flyer/ticket form as well as get details about the event, or forward the link to others.

In Rotary,

Brian Hughes
President, 2018-2019

“Always welcome the new morning with a new spirit, a smile on your face, love in your heart and good thoughts in your mind.” – Unknown

Hello fellow Rotarians,

Happy New Year!!!

Ah, the dawn of a new year. It is a time to ring out the old and celebrate what unknowns are in front of us.  It is also a time to not lose the lessons of the past that will make you better in the future.  My past year has been full of ups and downs, challenges and headaches, failed attempts and fulfilling dreams.  Thank you for being a part of my 2018.  I’m looking forward to the road of 2019.

The New Year may be here, but it’s half time for me!  It has been a quick six months and I know the next six will be even faster.  I cannot wait to experience it all.

We are now selling tickets for the Elimination Reverse Raffle!  Let’s get this event SOLD OUT ASAP!!  Last year we had to sell 11 tickets on the last day. Let’s not do that again. Reminder…..EVERY Nile’s Rotarian MUST sell or buy at least ONE ticket!!  No excuses.  It’s easy! Just buy or sell one ticket.  I know you can do that!  We have 335 tickets to sell.  If everyone buys\sells one ticket, we only have 220 left. So….some additional help will be needed to sell the rest.  Ask family and co-workers.  This fundraiser helps support MANY worthy nonprofits in the area, plus it helps with RYLA and Rotary Interact Scholarships! Help President-Elect Bruce out and make this event a sellout!!

There is a link to the Reverse Raffle webpage from our nilesrotary.org website.  You can download a copy of the flyer/ticket form as well as get details about the event. As auction items are donated, there will be links to lists of those items as well, so you can plan ahead. And of course ticket order forms are available in great supplies at our club meetings; please pick up lots of copies to hand out to your friends, family, colleagues, fellow organization board members, etc.

Keep your eyes looking out the big window.  The world is a beautiful place – experience it.  Don’t live it through a little window of a handheld device.

In Rotary,

Brian Hughes
President, 2018-2019

“We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we’re curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths.” – Walt Disney