On November 13 our speaker was Patricia Merryweather-Arges, Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator, speaking on The Rotary Foundaion.
Pat started her presentation by thanking our members who are Veterans.
 
Rotary International has declared November as Foundation Month. We celebrate the good work being done through The Rotary Foundation and encourage donations to continue that work.
 
Pat wanted to thank Lincoln South Rotary Club members for our strong support over of The Rotary Foundation. She cited:
  • $327 per capita to The Annual Fund; this is the highest in our District and many clubs throughout the world
  • All members supported Every Rotarian Every Year by contributing to The Rotary Foundation
  • 49 of those members contributed at $100 or more called Sustainable Members
  • As well we have had several Paul Harris Society Members with pledges of $1,000 per year
She thanked us for our high performing club and for what we have done to promote local and global projects.
 
She shared some stories about the impact of Rotary. There are areas of the world that rely on Rotary to help them solve problems. 
 
One story was about a poor area of India with a high suicide rate among men. They found the root of the problem and were able to provide assistance to the families. Another story was about supporting children in Kenya that wanted to get an education. It was difficult for many that did not have the uniforms to go to school or those that had to take care of siblings because their parents were deceased.
 
She touched on the Rotary Foundation Projects and Programs. We are familiar with the District Grants, the Global Grants, as well as the End Polio Now program. 
 
Another program is the Peace Fellows program.
 
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals or practitioners to become experienced and effective catalysts for peace.
 
There is a Masters Program that is 15-24 Months. And there is also a Professional Development Certificate Program which is a 1 year program. The average age for those finishing the Masters Program is 32 while the average for the Certificate Program is 41.
 
An applicant from Rotary District 5650 was selected to participate in the program for the 2021-22 Rotary Year. We have had two other Peace Fellow Participants since the program started in 2002.
 
 
Pat only briefly touched on the End Polio Now program saving most of that information to Gretchen Bren, our 11-20-20 speaker.
 
She reviewed the Rotary Foundation Areas of Focus which currently are:
  • Promoting Peace
  • Fighting Disease
  • Providing clean water, sanitation and hygiene
  • Saving Mothers and Children
  • Supporting Education
  • Growing Local Economies
And, as of July 1, and additional Area of Focus will be:
  • Supporting the Environment
Pat talked about how Rotary is not just about asking for money and funding projects. It is also about using our professional and personal interests to help in needed areas.
 
Rotarians can be part of Rotary Action Groups (click here). She also mentioned Rotary Fellowships which are more social but can also focus on professional assistance (click here).
 
 
BIO:
Pat Merryweather-Arges serves as Executive Director of Project Patient Care (PPC) where she is a co-leader of all PPC initiatives, including its work in federal healthcare transformation, advocating authentic patient and family engagement across all healthcare settings, and PPC organizational development activities.

Pat serves as the Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator volunteering with Rotary International working with 16 Districts representing over 900 Rotary Clubs. Pat has served in many volunteer capacities with Rotary as a District Governor and Chair of the U.S. Peacebuilding Conference in 2018 and Zone Institute in 2016.  She has worked on health care assessments and planning; solar energy; peace building; water, sanitation, and hygiene; women enterprise; and health and healthcare projects in Chicago, Jordan, India, China, Dominican Republic, Kenya, South Africa, Nigeria, Panama, Mexico, Haiti, and Slovakia and has participated in projects in Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Samoa.

Pat believes strongly in giving back to the community and providing pathways going forward for youth and adults in need.  Pat currently serves on several boards and committees, including National Association for Health Data Organization Board; Collaboraction Board and Executive Committee; St. Bernard Hospital Board and Chair of Quality and Safety Committee; Cook County Health Quality and Safety Committee of the Board; Illinois Public Health Institute Board; Naperville Rotary Charities Board; Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Board; Illinois DPH HAI/AR Advisory Committee; Jesse Brown VA Community Partnership Committee; Chicago American Red Cross Heroes Committee; and Chicago Build the Peace Committee.

Pat is married to George and they have a wonderful family with four sons; three daughters-in-law; and six grandchildren.