“Peace is not something you wish for, it is something you make, something you are, something you do and something you give away. ” ― Robert Fulghum
Fall into September
SEPTEMBER THEME - Basic Education & Literacy
What is your club doing in this area of focus? The District Literacy Team invites all clubs to share the literacy projects with David Waldschmidt at dwaldsch42@gmail.com. Your efforts to enhance literacy in your communities and across the globe will be recognized. Also, this fall is a good time to:
Connect with your local school district. Recognize a teacher or invite an administrator to speak.
Connect with your local library. Ask about programs clubs can support or invite a librarian to speak or plan a field trip to a library instead of a regular meeting.
Connect with another club and invite them to feature their work in literacy. Perhaps have a panel of clubs Zoom in to share projects.
Connect with a global grant project that focuses on literacy. Zoom opens up opportunities for speakers.
Use this month of connection and recognition to springboard into a year of activity supporting the much-needed work of improving literacy in our youth and the broader community.
The District Literacy Team is looking for literacy advocates to join our team. Interested? Contact David Waldschmidt at dwaldsch42@gmail.com.
Think Outside the Box Strategy! One effective strategy used by growing clubs focuses on service. Check out the Zone Membership Webinar - Sept 19. Learn about growing your club with service companion clubs. Link
What is your membership goal? Engagement? Attraction? Either way, have a goal and a plan.
Input the goal in the Rotary Club Central. Unsure how to do it?
Thank you to Clubs with membership goals in Rotary Club Central: Arden Hills/Shoreview, Lakeville, Rosemount, Belle Plaine, Greater Mankato, LeSueur, Barron County, Hayward Area, Rice Lake, Coon Rapid, Elk River, Hudson Daybreak, New Richmond, Faribault, Northfields, Stillwater Sunrise, N St Paul Maplewood, Oakdale, Early Edition Owatonna, Greater Rochester, Rochester Risers, Roseville, TRCR, Winona.
The aim is that 100% of the clubs have goals entered. It is not too late to input your goals.
Bernis, and Planting Change, was the project manager of the very successful water project just completed in El Corozo, Nicaragua. Bernis is also the LIFT program leader in Nicaragua for all subsequent community development. Bernis will speak about the success of the water project, current community development efforts, and plans for the future. Bernis will explain the key elements necessary to end poverty in a sustainable way and the overall LIFT program from a Latin American perspective.
Join us for a virtual informational meeting on September 11 or September 19. Links can be found under Upcoming Events.
CREATING HOPE THROUGH GRANTS
Prior Lake Rotary Club Project by Mary Haugen.
The Prior Lake Rotary Club’s district grant involved 290 volunteers who worked 936 hours to successfully build 142 beds for young people who do not have a bed. Some highlights of the process are that we had 7 Rotary Clubs financing the grant and helping build the beds.
There was a time not so long ago when preventing epidemic disease was a cause ordinary people embraced and celebrated. When President Franklin D. Roosevelt called on Americans to join the fight against polio, for instance, he reported that envelopes containing “dimes and quarters and even dollar bills” arrived by the truckload at the White House, “from children who want to help other children to get well.” The March of Dimes went on to fund the development of polio vaccines. When one of them, the Salk vaccine, proved effective, in April 1955, church bells rang out nationwide.
Visiting clubs is a district governor perk. So far, I have visited 14 clubs. The most meaningful part for me is the discussions with the board. That is when I see the strength of the club. During the Happy Bucks part of the meeting, I felt the heart. Seeing the attention, support, and happiness displayed as people share an important moment is wonderful. These moments make peace within the club visible. It shows the value of being in that club.
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October - World Polio Day is on October 24th. PolioPlus Society is $100. Save children from this preventable disease.
The 2029 RI Convention Site Review Team will be visiting the Twin Cities September 25-28. Let’s show them how enthusiastic we are about hosting the 2029 International Convention.
We are hoping to have 300 Rotarians Thursday, September 28, 2023, Special All-Rotary Lunch and Rally, 11: a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Edina Country Club. $25.00
Join us for a beautiful evening Fellowship Reception at Nicollet Island Pavilion. We’ll shine the light on Minnesota and showcase our Rotary enthusiasm at a premiere historic Mississippi Riverfront venue. It’s got the best views of Minneapolis bridges and skyline. (REGISTER HERE)
World Suicide Prevention Two remarkable speakers will deliver an hour of ideas for action in Mexico, USA and Canada.
The Rotary clubs of Panamá Norte and Westchester (Los Angeles), put together a global grant that sought to remedy the digital divide in Panama. The project provided each school with 30 laptops for students, an interactive whiteboard, and other technology, and also provided training for local teachers.
Rotary editor Wen Huang visits the home of the 2024 Rotary International Convention for a third time and finds that the flourishing Asian city-state has reinvented itself — again
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