A chance to hear Emmy and Peabody award-winning filmmaker Paul Freedman tell his incredible story about using film to tell impactful human stories http://www.paulfreedman.net/about
Games and raffle—what prize will you walk away with?
A portion of your ticket price goes to the Rotary Foundation for more impact
Enjoy great social time and a meal with wine with your friends
Raise even more money for the foundation
Nov 11, 2023 I 6:00 – 8:30 PM I Delta Hotel by Marriott Event Center I Roseville, MN
Join the Rotary Club of Northfield on United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21, as Michael Spellman shares how Rotary’s partnership with the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) can help your club “Make Peace Visible.” Learn how the IEP measures Positive Peace empirically, and how that knowledge can help your club support and encourage peace locally and across the globe.
It is my pleasure to officially open the nomination period for selecting District 5960’s District Governor for the 2026-2027 Rotary year!
I can hardly believe that it has been 4 years since I started on the path to being District Governor. The trip has been nothing short of amazing. Now I get to help pick the next member of the District Governor line.
That’s one of the cool things about being District Governor; it’s not a solitary role. It sounds like one, but really you are part of a team. You come in perhaps knowing very little about the greater sphere of Rotary, but over three years you become well versed in everything about Rotary. By the time you are DG, you’re ready. I promise.
So, what do you need to apply? What makes you qualified? Here you go. You need the following: 1. To have been a Rotary Club President for an entire year. 2. Be a member in good standing, and 3. Have an interest in sharing your passion for Rotary with fellow Rotarians
Not that tough, very doable and well worth it.
Now, I’ll be honest, I didn’t set out in Rotary with a plan to be District Governor. But during my time in Rotary, other people told me that they thought I would be good in the role. With their support and encouragement, I went ahead and applied. I tell you this because maybe some of you are thinking, “This isn’t for me, but ____ would be amazing!” Please tell that person your thoughts and encourage them to apply.
All nominations for District Governor must be received in the District Office by Tuesday, October 31, 2023 . The Nominating Committee will meet to interview interested Rotarians TBD. Details on time and location TBD.
Join us for a special LIFT program featuring Bernis Cunningham, Executive Director and Founder of Planting Change Foundation.
Bernis is the founder of Planting Change Foundation. He is an active lawyer in Nicaragua and studied Environmentally Sustainable Management at UC Berkeley. Bernis is a climate change policy adviser for the United Nations Framework on Climate Change and a member of international networks such as Environmental Law Alliance worldwide and Climate Action Network Latin America. He collaborates with various international NGOs, government delegations, students, teachers, and communities from all parts of the world to develop national and international projects of environmental conservation and human sustainable development.
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.
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. We also had community support from the Prior Lake Lions Club, the Prior Lake-Savage Optimists, and the Laker Education Foundation. Partnering outside of Rotary clubs was instrumental in our success. Another attractive part of the project is that it is hands-on; we get to see the fruits of our labor and money immediately.
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
Peace Talk - Peace - what is it, and what does it look like?
Patricia Schafer will introduce a collaboration between Rotary and the Institute of Economics and Peace. Peace is more than the absence of violence — it’s creating and sustaining societies that allow all people to flourish. By collaborating with the Institute for Economics and Peace, Rotary can offer members the resources and tools they need to become effective peacebuilders in their communities. This meeting will provide a glimpse of what is available.
Starting December 1, 2023, District 5960 will move its website from Club Runner to DACdb.
Rotary District 5960 Events: You might have noticed that some of our event registration sites look different. That's because they are! We have moved registrations over to the new website. You can use the following information on creating your new login for DACdb and register for events or your welcome to register as a GUEST.
New Member Quick Start Guide
Welcome to Rotary! We hope you will maximize your membership by taking advantage of our online member portal, DACdb. This is more than an online directory- it’s an interactive tool to help you engage with our Club.
Through DACdb, you can edit your profile, search for members, register for events, and much more!
Come and be inspired by motivating speakers; make new friends and reconnect with old ones; enjoy Northfield Rotary Club's Hospitality; and of course, have fun!
Full registration fee of $125 includes Northfield's Home Hospitality and all Saturday events and meals.
Register now --> CLICK HERE (Use the Register as a GUEST link)
Emcee - Ed Boeve, DGE- Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club
Friday
Northfield Home Hospitality Dinners
Major Donor Reception
Plan to Stay overnight at Fairfield Inn and Suites, Northfield - Rate $ 199 plus tax per night. Block ends: Sept 3, 2023, Rate Code: Rotary Conference of Clubs
WHERE/HOW: One Summit Saturday, Sept 23 - Faribault
Thursday, Sept 28 - Roseville
Thursday, Oct 05 - Stillwater
WHO: All Members of Rotary
WHY: Participate in focused discussions with scenarios at One Summit, sharing about Membership, Public Image, and The Rotary Foundation and how the three work together in Rotary.
Share how “Create Hope in the World” is essential for all of us as Members of Rotary – Rotarians and Rotaractors.
Gain insights about how your club can expand its reach, increase its impact, enhance its engagement, and increase its ability to adapt. Take ideas back to your club to implement!
The River Falls Rotary Club, with the support of the Rotary District 5960 grants program and neighboring Rotary clubs, recently completed the expansion of a solar electric system for Melody House, a home for abused and abandoned girls outside of Montego Bay, Jamaica. The budget for the district grants solar project was $17,194. Rotary District 5960 contributed $8,194 in district-designated funds (DDF), River Falls Rotary donated $3,000, seven other D5960 Rotary clubs contributed $5,950, and an individual contributed $50 to make this grant a reality.
District 5960 is looking for volunteers for two Camp RYLA committees:
1. Marketing Committee - We need your expertise to make our Camp RYLA website (www.campryla.org), social media, and other avenues grab the attention of students, schools, and sponsoring clubs. If your hot skills include marketing, communications, web/graphic design, or social media, this is the place for you! Plan on a time commitment of one 60 min Zoom meeting per month now through Oct. in addition to 1-2 hours/month to execute tasks in your area of expertise.
2. Curriculum Committee - Camp RYLA continues to foster young leaders. Still, with changing generations, teaching methods, and the lasting impacts on students of distance learning it is time to refresh our tried-and-true curriculum. Many resources are available from Rotary International and hundreds of other RYLA programs we can learn from. If you are interested in helping to modernize and upgrade the Camp RYLA curriculum, we have a place for you! Plan on a time commitment of one 60 min Zoom meeting per month now through Dec. in addition to 1-2 hours/month to execute tasks, research, or curriculum workshops. We could use your talents if you have experience or interest in this area!
For more information, please contact the 2023-2024 Camp RYLA Chair, Pete Grayson at graysonlaw@mac.com or 612-598-5907.
District Training Assembly in June. The purpose of the District Training Assembly is to train club leaders, but it is open to all Rotarians. There will be breakout sessions specifically designed to help those in the roles of secretary, treasurer, and team leads in DEI, Membership, Public Image, and The Rotary Foundation. If you lead one of these teams, please join one of the sessions and invite your team members to participate.
The District Training Assembly will be held virtually in June, and there are two options. One will be from 4:00 to 5:00 PM on Wednesday, June 14. The second option will be from 6:30 to 7:30 PM on Monday, June 26. Come learn from District leaders in each role and share ideas with other clubs' members.
International Women’s Day is 8 March, a time to honor the achievements of women worldwide and raise awareness of the work still needed to achieve equity.
Join Rotary in celebrating International Women’s Day 2023! Our virtual, multi-day observance seeks to raise awareness about women's worldwide barriers as professional and local leaders and build a supportive community to take collective action for change. The events are presented in English and open to Rotary members and nonmembers of all genders.
You can help promote peace in the world by encouraging peace and development leaders in your community to apply for the Rotary Peace Fellowship.
Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for peacebuilders from diverse backgrounds to study at one of our peace centers located at premier universities around the world. This year, we’ll select 50 peace fellows to study in our master’s degree programs and 40 fellows to earn a professional development certificate.
Rotary Peace Fellows use their training to amplify their work at the local, regional, or global level. Clubs and districts can partner with them on peacebuilding initiatives before, during, and after their fellowships.
But we need your help finding candidates. Rotary and Rotaract members can get involved by:
Taking the All About the Rotary Peace Fellowship course to learn about the qualification criteria, eligibility restrictions, the application process, and more
Forwarding the fellowship announcement to your contacts and including it in club and district communications
Using our referral form to tell us about potential candidates so we can contact them
Sharing a PowerPoint presentation about the fellowships with your club members and community
Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Rotary Foundation.
Thanks to generous support from donors and the dedicated participation of Rotary members, the peace fellowship program has more than 1,600 alumni working to make positive change in more than 140 countries.
To learn more about how you can recruit the next generation of peace fellows, contact your district Rotary Peace Fellowship subcommittee chair or write to rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org.
FROM: Dayle Quigley, 2022-2023 District Governor, and Margie Horning, Rotary District Foundation Team Lead
Dear Kathy Hughitt,
We can’t think of a better time than February to kick off our SHARE THE LOVE campaign. In conjunction with our 2022-23 IMAGINE ROTARYtheme, we invite you to IMAGINE the IMPACT your donations to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual – Share Fund can have in our communities at home and in the global world!
Recent examples of the IMPACT made by Rotarians who gave to The Foundation Annual – Share Fund:
120 families in rural Nicaragua now have water in their village. They no longer go on foot or by ox carts 2 ½ miles each way to get water. IMAGINE the improvement in their health and economic opportunity!
36 orphans in Uganda received scholarships to attend a full year of secondary school. This impact affects their futures, the futures of their families, and the country.
Foster children receive a bed of their own when they have to make a traumatic transfer from their family to a foster family. The beds for Minnesota children are crafted and delivered with love by Rotarians in our district.
Each year, we encourage all Rotarians to give to the Foundation’s Annual – Share Fund, which are the funds that come back to our clubs/district to utilize in grants such as the examples given. Plain and simple, the more we give to the Annual Share Fund, the more impact we can have in our communities and worldwide. This year, we set an achievable goal of raising $525,000 in our District for the Annual – Share Fund (we are currently at $243,000), and now it’s time for all of us to work together to achieve our goal.
You can make an IMPACT with your donation, and this February, for certain levels of giving, we are offering matching point incentives for Paul Harris Fellow awards:
$100 = 2 to 1 recognition point match
$365 = Point match to Paul Harris Fellow (PHF)
$1,000 = Recognition on the district website and share a PHF with 2 people
We hope you are excited about IMAGINING the IMPACT your contribution will make, and in being a foundation champion!
Thank you for your partnership in this initiative and let us know if you have any questions.
Imagine! 2023 is the first-ever Tri-District Conference for Rotarians and Rotaractors from International Districts 5580, 5950, and 5960. Pack your bags and prepare for an engaging weekend filled with education, camaraderie, celebration, inspiration, personal growth, and fun!
Participating in this one-of-a-kind event will make your club measurably stronger, healthier, and happier in the coming year. Your ticket gives you full access to the entire conference, and guests are invited to participate fully.
Come and go as you like. Rotary affiliates and legislators are invited to stop by, mingle, view exhibits and attend optional activities of interest.
Personal possessions must be kept with you throughout the day.
SCHEDULE (IN PROGRESS):
9:15 AM - The room opens for socializing and informal meetups. Coffee & tea are available.
9:30 AM- Greeting by Rep. Heather Edelson (Rotary Club of Edina).
Topics: Process for introducing and managing a bill through the Minnesota House of Representatives. Example: A Rotary special automotive license plate.
10:00 AM - Option — Public Guided Tour of the Capitol. Free. Lasts 45 minutes.
Meet before the hour at the Capitol Information and Tour Center located in Room 126 on the first floor to the right side of the main (south) entrance.
11:00 AM- Option — Minnesota Senate in Session.
Option to join the public gallery and view.
12:00 PM - Registered guests have a box lunch.
Option—Public Guided Tour of the Capitol departs. Free. Lasts 45 minutes. Meet before the hour at the Capitol Information and Tour Center located in Room 126 on the first floor to the right side of the main (south) entrance.
12:30 PM - Rep. Patty Acomb (Minnetonka Rotary)
Minnesota Commissioner of Education Willie Jett.
1:00 PM - Option — Public Guided Tour of the Capitol departs. Free. Lasts 45 minutes.
Meet before the hour at the Capitol Information and Tour Center located in Room 126 on the first floor to the right side of the main (south) entrance.
2:00 PM - Speaker (TBD)
Option —Final Public Guided Tour of the Capitol departs. Free. Lasts 45 minutes.
Meet before the hour at the Capitol Information and Tour Center located in Room 126 on the first floor to the right side of the main (south) entrance.
3:30 PM - Option —Minnesota Senate in Session.
Option to join the public gallery and view.
4:45 PM - Room Closes — EVENT ENDS.
ROTARY AWARENESS DAY
Purpose is to socialize, tell our Rotary story to legislators, and to hear from them about state efforts related to our programs and values. We have several Rotarian-legislators who will be greeting us. Know a Rotary member-legislator? Invite them or schedule an office visit now.
GUEST DROPOFF & PARKING:
SEE CAPITOL COMPLEX PARKING MAP
Drop-off for Guests with Disabilities & Multi-Person Vehicles —
Paratransit location on Cedar Street (east side of Capitol). The path is flat.
BUSES — If the driver stays with the vehicle, the vehicle may wait on MLK (the curved street in front of the Capitol, signed for “No Parking.”)
METERED PARKING: $8 daily rate is recommended if you plan on several hours. Make a note of your stall number. Meters accept VISA, Mastercard, debit and credit cards, and currency.
CENTENNIAL ORANGE: A nearby location. Walkers cross MLK Parkway via the crosswalk.
RAMP F: A relatively flat transition walk.
LOT Q: Walkers have a hill back and forth from the Capitol.
REACHING L’ETOILE DU NORD BASEMENT VAULT ROOM B-15 —
Guests enter underneath the South Steps on the Ground Floor, and take the elevator to the basement. (Room is beneath the Rotunda).
Glenn Bowers, Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club, has been selected as the Rotary District 5960 Governor for the 2025-2026 Rotary Year. Congratulations Glenn!
We are pleased to announce that registration is open for Camp RYLA 2023.
Camp RYLA is a four-day leadership camp for High school sophomores and juniors, held at the YMCA Camp St. Croix outside of Hudson, Wi. Students are selected by their local Rotary Clubs (from Districts 5950 and 5960) who sponsor their participation. ($450 per student, $475 after April 1st.) For more information on the camp, visit our new website at CampRYLA.org.
To reserve space for your students:
Go to our new website, CampRYLA.org, click on the “PARTICIPANTS” tab at the top of the page, and then click on the “ROTARY CLUB REGISTRATION FORM” box.
Complete the three pages of this form. You can either reserve a spot for your students now and resubmit with names later or fill in your names now if you have them at this time.
Once your students are selected:
They should be directed to this same “PARTICIPANTS” page to click on the “STUDENT REGISTRATION FORM” and complete.
Then a parent/guardian should go to this same “PARTICIPANTS” page and click on the “PARENT/GUARDIAN REGISTRATION FORM” and complete.
Note there are now separate application forms for Students and for their Parents.
Our District Radio Show and Podcast (in conjunction with District 5950) started Sunday, Oct 16th. It is everything Rotary, hosted by Kelly and Joe from the Edina club, but the focus is on service. The podcast is called Searching for Service and can be found at your favorite podcast site. The radio show is live Sundays at 3 pm on 950 AM The Progressive Voice of Minnesota.
Dec 11th – Ed Marek and Bruce – Braver Angels
Dec 18th – Brian Rusch – Rotational International DEI committee
Dec 25th – Tom Gump – repeat airing
Jan 1st –
Jan 8th – Mike Kaiser – Good Samaritan Clubs
Jan 22th – Stephanie Urchick – RI President 20224-25 (there will be a live Q&A via YouTube Live on Friday January 20th from 1-2pm)
Jan 29th – Mike Deluca – Global Traveler’s Club
INEXPENSIVE ADVERTISING - Would you like to support this effort? You can do this by being a sponsor or advertiser. You can "buy" a 30-60 second slot for $50 a week. You write or let the radio people write it for you. Read it yourself, have a host read it, or the radio station will have one of their readers record it. Either way, you get your name out there for a pittance. - Contact DG Dayle Quigley for information.
The Rotary Club of Rice Lake is the international sponsor of the Guatemala Literacy Project Global Grant #2238721, and they'd like to make sure all of the clubs in our district know how they can be a part of this wonderful program.
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Did you see that the Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) was Rotary magazine's cover story for September?! Did you know that your district's Rotary Club of Rice Lake is the host of the international grant this year? This is the perfect way for your club to join an international service project and support a global grant without having to do any work on your end! The GLP assists with all the paperwork, including requesting matching funds from your district and The Rotary Foundation. Your club's generous contribution could multiply nearly three times, helping Guatemalan children to transform their future from poverty to opportunity.
Who: Rotary Club of Rice Lake and your district, along with Rotary clubs and districts worldwide.
What and where: Empower children—especially girls—and ensure their access to education. The GLP's four educational programs combine to give Guatemalan children the opportunity to learn to read, study with textbooks, gain vital technology skills, and receive scholarships.
Why: With the ongoing support of the Rotary Club of Rice Lake and other Rotary clubs and districts worldwide, we can help 7,200 Guatemalan students join our projects this year, moving one step closer to breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala once and for all!
When: We are gathering support now for Global Grant #2238721, hosted by the Rotary Clubs of Valle de Guatemala (D-4250) and Rice Lake, WI (D-5960); please make your pledge using our easy online form. Questions: Contact Claire Parrish,
Fast for Hope has been a district program for over 20 years. Over the last ten years, FFH has focused on addressing Nicaragua's extreme poverty by building community leadership and capacity. FFH has been mainly working in one community, El Corozo, and has had success by bringing children’s reading programs to the community and a community pharmacy.
For the last two years, and with the help of District and Global grants, FFH has been building a community water system in El Corozo. When completed, the sustainability of the water system for this small community of about 120 families will be assured through metering and payments by the community for water usage and overall management of the system by a local water governance committee.
Now the Fast for Hope program will be called LIFT. This stands for Listen, Inquire, Facilitate, and Transform, which is the guideline for the program’s effort to address extreme poverty. LIFT will continue to emphasize community leadership and capacity but will also focus on looking for opportunities for community economic development. LIFT is committed to looking not only at a community’s needs but will also focus on the causes of the needs.
LIFT has already started doing data gathering and analysis to look for economic opportunities in El Corozo. On January 1st, 2023, LIFT will expand to engage three more communities in another area of Nicaragua.
It is an exciting time with the success of Fast for Hope and the transition of the program to LIFT. LIFT is positioned to effectively address extreme poverty by helping communities realize economic opportunities while simultaneously assisting them in resolving their most desperate human needs.
2021-22 Rotary District Grant Project, lead Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club.
Shoreview Press - By Preeti Mathur/Contributing Writer -
The city’s first pollinator rain garden has been planted. Located at McCullough Park, the garden is a cooperative effort between Arden Hills-Shoreview Rotary Club, partnering with the Shoreview Parks and Recreation and Public Works Department and the Rice Creek Watershed District.
October is over, but we have heard from many clubs that they need a little more time to complete their Polio Event. So, our STRIKE OUT POLIO campaign here in District 5960 Has been extended to November 15th.
“The Rotary Foundation is the fuel that provides the energy for Rotary International too --do all that we do,” RI President-elect R. Gordon McInally told a group of Rotary Zone leaders in Bloomington recently. And in District 5960, we do our part to provide that fuel.
“There are many Rotarians who have the means to make significant gifts to the Foundation,” says Tom Yuzer, Endowment/Major Gift Advisor, “and District 5960 is leading the way in our Zone to introduce a new donor recognition program to acknowledge how important their gifts are.”
The Triple Crown Donor program will annually identify Rotarians who 1) have achieved Major Donor status through their aggregate giving to the annual fund and/or PolioPlus, 2) have notified the Foundation of their intent to make a Bequest Society gift ($10,000+) through their estate, and 3) annually make a Paul Harris Society level gift ($1,000+).
“There would have been about 30 Rotarians in the district who would have been Triple Crown Donors in each of the last two years had the program been in place,” Yuzer said. “We anticipate this number of special TRF donors will increase after D5960 Rotarians learn about the program.”
The Triple Crown Donor recognition program originated with a few districts on the west coast where Yuzer learned of it. He said that those districts found that there were many Rotarians who were already qualified in two of the three areas and were able to achieve the third. “Often it was a Rotarian who was a Major Donor and a Paul Harris Society donor,” Yuzer said, “and had made arrangements for an estate gift but had not notified The Rotary Foundation of their intent.”
For further information, please direct your questions or comments to PDG Tom Yuzer at 951-805-4468.
Mark your calendars to join Rotary District 5950, Rotary District 5960, and the Minnesota Pride Rotary for this extraordinary evening event. On Thursday, October 6th, the Honorable Justice Alan Page will talk about diversity, equity, inclusion, and the law at the Old Log Theatre in Excelsior, MN.
5 PM Doors Open for the Cocktail Reception and VIP Meet & Greet
6 PM Seated Dinner
7:30 PM Show Starts 1-1/2 Hour Program
CLICK HERE for registrations - Please register as a guest - see the example below.
WHO: All Members of Rotary – Rotarians, and Rotaractors
WHY: Participate in focused discussions with scenarios at One Summit (formerly known as One Rotary Summit), sharing about Membership, Public Image, and The Rotary Foundation and how the three work together in Rotary.
Share how “Imagination to Action” is important for all of us as Members of Rotary – Rotarians, and Rotaractors.
Gain insights about how your club can expand its reach, increase its impact, enhance its engagement, and increase its ability to adapt. Take ideas back to your club to implement!
It is my pleasure to officially open the nomination period for selecting District 5960’s District Governor for the 2025-26 Rotary year!
I am excited to be leading the District and the District Governor Nominating Committee with this unbelievably important task. Having just come off my year in the District Governor role, I can tell you the journey from applying, interviewing, preparing, and doing the role, has been nothing short of amazing!
As I have shared, I was not looking to apply for District Governor. But others saw something in me and felt I would be good in the role. It is only with this support and encouragement that I made the decision to apply. And that is where you come in! You may know someone that you have seen up close and thought would make a successful District Governor. I would ask that you give that qualified Rotarian the same encouragement I received. What are those qualifications?
Have been your Club’s president for a full Rotary year
Are a member in good standing
Have an interest in sharing your Rotary passion with fellow Rotarians
I’ve already mentioned the experience of being District Governor as amazing, and I would also add that it is life-changing! Like anything we do, we get out of it what we put into it. To be sure, the time and energy required for the role can be demanding. But that’s true of anything we do that is worthwhile.
Throughout last year, and hopefully, you have seen this yourself, the role of District Governor has been shared with the District Governor line. We support each other and work towards consensus so that we can build continuity. This TEAM concept is one of the accomplishments I’m most proud of from last year!
All nominations for District Governor must be received in the District Office no later than Monday, October 10, 2022.. The Nominating Committee will meet to interview interested Rotarians on Friday, October 14th. Details on time and location TBD.
Do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions. Thank you.
Yours in Rotary,
Kenny Klooster Rotary District 5960 Governor 2021-2022 Rotary Club of Greater Mankato President 2017-2018 507-382-3317 KennyKlooster.D5960@gmail.com
n business, and in Rotary, past performance can be highly indicative of future results. In fact, the rate at which clubs attract and lose members is very consistent from year to year—unless something changes. What would you be able to accomplish if you knew how many members you might lose this year and how many you would need to attract to grow?
Join us for the second webinar in our series, From Insight to Action: Work Smarter, Not Harder, to Grow Your Club on Wednesday, 28 September, at 11:00 Chicago time (UTC-5). Register now to receive access to your individualized membership goal-setting worksheet. Because we are an international organization, we recognize that the time of this event may prevent you from joining us live. Everyone who registers will receive a recording via email.
During this webinar we will:
• Share the exact number of members you will lose and need to attract to grow
• Identify the reasons you may be struggling to grow
• Set achievable goals that are unique to your club
We look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions.
North Star Youth Exchange is so excited to welcome our 44 students from over 20 countries this fall. We had our first IB orientation at the MOA on August 27th . Many thanks to the MOA for making this experience memorable for the IB students and their host families. What a great opportunity for sharing and learning together.
We are also pleased to have 36 students who have traveled outbound for this year. We can’t thank the volunteers, families, and students enough for making this year possible.
We are excited to announce our Fall Event on Oct. 15th. The Inbound students will have an opportunity to visit the Mdewakanton Cultural Center, Severs Corn Maze and Minnesota’s largest Candy Store. Watch for additional information. Please, think of other opportunities you could provide to your local exchange student. It is important to have the greater Rotary Community embrace our global citizens!
August kicked off our application for the 2023-24 exchange year. Please, contact the North Star office rotarynorthstaroffice@gmail.com or Jacke Johnston jackiesuej19@gmail.com if you are interested in having someone visit your club to share information about North Star and the exchange options available to your club and community. We are looking forward to working with you and your club!
The Rotary Club of Anoka is sponsoring a fantastic professional development event led by internationally recognized author and speaker Michael Angelo Caruso. His presentations are an attractive and effective blend of education and entertainment. He has delivered over 2,000 presentations and keynote speeches about leadership, and marketing. and presentations. He promises an outstanding program that we will be talking about for a long time.
Michael Angelo’s motivational, interactive presentation, “Effective Leadership - Getting People to Do Stuff” is scheduled for Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at Green Haven Golf & Event Center in Anoka. 8:00 AM - Breakfast, 8:30 - 11:30 AM Program.
Attendees will learn:
· two things that motivate almost every time
· pro-active communication and presentation skills,
· the secret to building trust is that nobody makes time for
· effective techniques to boost confidence
· how to deal with underperformers
· how to handle negativity and more
Group discounts are available. CLICK HERE for the Brochure ticket link below.
Next year's Rotary International Convention will be held in Melbourne, Australia. In addition to the great program and fellowship opportunities offered by the conference itself, a trip Down Under offers the opportunity to explore more of this incredible continent.
I hope that you'll join me for an informational webinar to learn more about two opportunities to travel and discover this incredible continent with your fellow Rotarians after the convention. Both webinars will have the same presentation, so please choose the one that works best for your calendar!
Tuesday, Aug 9, 2022 10:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
The members and the board of the Rotary Club of Alexandria Cosmopolitan - District 2451 wish you had a successful Rotary year 2022-2023.
At the beginning of this Rotary year and as global travel resumes after Before this Rotary year ends, we would like to renew our invitation to you and the members of your club to join our Rotary organized initiative, "Cross Egypt Challenge" that will take you in a unique journey throughout Egypt this October.
The passport program is a 5960 brainchild. That’s right, we are extra special. With the idea of breaking down silos and recognizing that we are all in this together, the passport program rewards each member that gets out and visits other clubs. This does not just include attending another club's meeting but also their service projects, their social events, fundraisers, and anything else you can imagine. You can pick up your physical passport at your club, at the club you are visiting, or at the district. Yes, if your club runs out, we can get you more. When you visit another club, you get them to stamp your passport. If they forgot their stamp at the event, have them initial your passport. We are all trustworthy individuals. At the end of the year, each member will receive one raffle ticket for each stamp/initial in the passport. The raffle is for a limited-edition print by Darren Jones, Jennifer Jones’ brother. Very cool.
2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Summit Overview
District 5950 2022-23 Governor Lloyd Campbell will provide perspectives on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) and discuss our new Rotary Theme, Imagine Rotary.
DEI Basics Seminar Laura Hotvet (Lake Minnetonka Excelsior Rotary Club) and Andrew J. Ramirez (MN Pride Rotary) will lead the morning session which will provide DEI Basic Knowledge within Rotary, including key initiatives. There will also be a small group discussion. Attendees will also learn about useful tools and resources to make clubs more welcoming and inclusive.
Lunch Served (Complimentary Boxed Lunches from Panera Bread Company)
The Business of Healing PDG Irene Kelly will share a project update for the Rotary Community Core at Lake Street project. This initiative led by Suzanne Kochevar (Lake Minnetonka Excelsior Rotary Club) was born out of the civil unrest and rioting that occurred in Minneapolis after the murder of George Floyd.
A Club Culture Transformation Seminar Past Rotary International Director Stephanie Urchick and PDG Tom Gump will lead the afternoon session. The #1 reason for membership decline is… Club Culture. Learn to assess and transform with buy-in from your current members. It’s not hard to do, and the return on your time is priceless!
**Rotarians from Rotary District 5950 can register HERE Non-Rotarians from other districts can register as guests. **
The Rotary Club of Edina, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Rotary District 5950, is hosting a 2-part series entitled, “Building an Inclusive Economy in Minnesota.” This series kicks off on Thursday, June 2, from 11:30 am-to 1:30 pm at Edina Country Club, 5100 Wooddale Ave, Edina, MN 55424.
This event is based on an acclaimed 10-part national series entitled “Racism and the Economy,” sponsored and hosted by all 12 banks of the Federal Reserve System (see more about that program and all the videos at https://bit.ly/39Dws8O).
The June 2 district 5950 event will focus on Employment, Housing, and Financial Services, and will feature a keynote by Alene Tchourumoff, Senior VP of Community Development for the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, followed by panelists Kasey Kier, National Community Development Manager for Bell Bank; Louis King, President and CEO of OICA, Inc.; and Henry Jimenez, Executive Director and President of the Latino Economic Development Center.
Rochester Rotary Riser Joanne Rosener Receives Prestigious Award
Rochester, MN – On Tuesday, May 3, Rochester Rotary Risers Rotarian Joanne Rosener was awarded the Service Above Self Award for 2021-2022 by Rotary International. The Service Above Self Award is a prestigious award for Rotarians and Rotaractors who demonstrate their commitment to helping others by volunteering their time and talents to make an impact on humanity. It is considered the highest honor that Rotary International can bestow on a member.
Do you have students or adults who need guidance with financial literacy? The recording shares how the Rotary Club of Arden Hills-Shoreview partnered with a bank to provide high school students the foundation to understand and manage their personal finances. Speaker: Jack Livingston, Old National Bank. ONB is one example of excellent programs being offered. As Jack mentioned, whether you use ONB or another bank, the important thing is to empower youth so they can make wise financial decisions.
Perspectives: Creating A Safe and Just Community Together
Thursday, April 28, 2022
7:15am - 9:15am
Location: The Woman's Club of Minneapolis
Hosted by: St. Paul Sunrise, Minneapolis City of Lakes, and Roseville Rotary Clubs
Join us and our experienced panel on April 28th at the Women’s Club of Minneapolis for our 16th Annual Forum, Perspectives: Creating a Safe and Just Community Together. We will spend our time pondering ways to create and support a safe and just community together while enjoying breakfast. See all the event details and register at
The Awards program has three ways to recognize what clubs are doing.
1) District Governor’s Citation
2) Club Awards,
3) and the brand-new Signature Project Recognition
Deadline for 1 and 2 Award submissions is April 18th.(Friendly competition)
Deadline for the Signature Project Recognition is April 20th. (Non-competitive)
Now, you may ask why should you and your fellow club members take time to enter your submissions for the Awards Program? Three great reasons:
1. Club pride! It’s a great way to summarize the accomplishments you’ve had as a club…think of it as a historical record, and a nice “bar” to set for future leaders to improve upon
2. By submitting what you’ve done as a club, you’re sharing your successes with other clubs and giving them ideas for things they can initiate as well…nothing like sharing and spreading good ideas!
3. You’ve worked hard this year, and you deserve to be recognized for your accomplishments!
It is extremely easy to submit the information: Enter your club’s achievements in the fillable PDF documents. Upload the documents and supporting pictures into the SurveyMonkey portal. That’s it! It is so easy.
Check out the DISTRICT AWARDS PAGE for more information, links to the submission documents, and copies of past submissions…a great way to see how to ensure you’re developing great summaries!
And remember: the Awards will be announced at the District 5960 Let's Celebrate June 16, 2022. Mark your calendar today…you won’t want to miss it!
Rotary’ Peace Centers increase the capacity of existing and committed peacebuilders through academic training, hands on field experiences, and global networking opportunities. Application deadline 15 May.
Prior Lake, MN – On Wednesday, March 2, Prior Lake Rotarian Kyle Haugen was awarded the International Service Award for a Polio-Free World for 2021-2022 by Rotary International in recognition of significant active personal service toward the goal of polio eradication. He was 1 of only 8 Rotarians or Rotaractors worldwide to receive this competitive award.
The 2022 Rotary Zones 25B and 29 Institutewill be held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, September 15-18. This is the place to meet fellow Rotarians from around our Zone, network, learn from experienced Rotary members, and share your talents with others. You never know who you will meet, or how you will be inspired. Our paired Zones extend from Canada down through the middle of the US to Texas.
Any Rotary member can attend the Zone Institute, and your significant other is welcome to join. This is a celebration of the efforts of over 49,000 Rotary members in our Zone, how we lead ourselves, and our communities, and set a path for how we will continue to move Rotary forward. The event begins with training for District leaders from our paired zones to find their True North Star for the 2023-2024 Rotary Year. There will be education sessions for the following:
I'm a future district leader - should I attend this Institute?
Yes! The target audience for district leader education (other than the DG-line) focuses on people serving during the FOLLOWING, not CURRENT Rotary year. Talk to your District Governor to learn about why it is important for you to attend.
Following a great happy hour kickoff, we are pleased to announce our SHARE the LOVE campaign for 2021-22 to encourage giving to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE for February!
Each year, we encourage all Rotarians to give to the Foundation’s Annual Fund, which are the funds that come back to our clubs/district to utilize in grants. Plain and simple, the more we give to the Annual Fund, the more impact we can have in our communities and around the world. This year, we set an achievable goal of raising $500,000 in our District for the Annual Fund (we reached a record total of $471,834 in 2020-21), and now it’s time for all of us to work together to achieve that goal.
Since Rotary’s birthday is in February, and so is Valentine’s Day, we figured it was a great time to roll out our campaign to encourage giving to TRF’s Annual Fund-SHARE…and thus SHARE the LOVE was born!
As Club leaders, we need your help in this effort.First, please make a personal contribution to the Annual Fund…that shows leadership! Also, we’d ask that you, along with your Foundation Teams, work in your clubs to promote the importance of giving to the Annual Fund to your members this month…and ask them to give. And, we’ll be there to help in several ways:
We’ll be sending weekly updates to all members that will show why district Rotarians give,and celebrate the impact of grants by clubs in our District, utilizing District Designated Funds which come back to our district from these Annual Fund gifts. You could utilize these reports during your meetings this month!
We’ll provide you with instructions that can be sent to members about the ease of giving through Rotary’s website. Better yet…offer to help members log on and make their contributions! By using Rotary’s website, the funds get to TRF more quickly and it’s not as much work on your end.
We’ll share PowerPoint graphics and announcement scripts that you can include during your club meetings, or in special emails to your club members.
We’ll have a special SHARE THE LOVE Facebook profile picture frame that members can use
Our District’s Fund Development Team is ready, willing, and able to attend your club meetings to speak on the importance of the grants funded through our Annual Fund contributions. This could be a five-minute announcement or a full program…we’re here to do the heavy lifting so you don’t have to!
Finally, one of our Foundation Coaches will be reaching out to each of you individually to provide encouragement, make a presentation and see how else we can help you best connect with your club members.
We would like to encourage all members to donate to the Foundation’s Annual Fund-SHARE this month. As always, we just encourage people to give something, regardless of the amount. After all, when we are all working together, our impact is that much greater!
We do want to encourage people to be generous though, and that’s why we are having a special matching program…with FOUR LEVELS!! We have many donors in our District that have made The Rotary Foundation one of their charities of choice and have become our “Foundation Champions”. Like we did in October with our “STRIKE OUT POLIO” campaign, we have asked many of them to allow us to use their Foundation Recognition Points. We all get recognition points when we give to TRF, and these points can be used to help recognize others for their actions or incent people to give to TRF. It’s our hope that utilizing these points as an incentive will help create a new generation of Foundation Champions!
Once you’ve decided how much you are comfortable giving, it’s easy to give to the Annual Fund-SHARE: You can give a check (made payable to The Rotary Foundation with “AF-SHARE” in the memo line) to your Club President or Foundation Chair, or you can make a payment online at www.myrotary.org/give. One note: you do need a My Rotary account to give through Rotary Direct: CLICK HERE for easy set-up instructions.
Thank you for all that you do as Rotarians, and for your contributions to The Rotary Foundation. Remember, it’s not just about the money or recognition, but it’s the impact we’re making with the funds. We are changing lives when we donate to The Rotary Foundation, and that’s why we ask you to SHARE the LOVE!
Thank you in advance for your partnership in this initiative and please let us know if you have any questions or would like any other resources to assist you.
While it continues to be my honor to serve you as your District Governor, it does not bring me any pleasure to report that our Tri-District Conference will NOT be held in April 2022. We, the three District Governors (#5580, #5950 & #5960), have decided to postpone our event. This is not the decision we wanted to make but the decision we had to make at this time. When planning an event of this magnitude it was time to begin signing contracts and making decisions that would be irreversible & cost non-refundable $. When dealing with risk/reward scenarios, this is the prudent thing to do for a variety of reasons (COVID-19, staffing shortages etc). There has been a team of 83 Rotarians, from all three Districts, working for the past 2 1/2 years to bring us all a top-notch event. A make-up date has not been determined yet and if you have already registered and paid, you will be refunded 100%.
Please join me in thanking the team of Rotarian volunteers that have worked for the past 30 months to get us to this point. We are hoping to continue to build upon their efforts and Regroup & Reimagine our event to make it Bigger & Better and be able to hold it safely for everyone involved.
Please remember “Serve To Change Lives”
Sincerely,
Kenny
--
Kenny Klooster Rotary District 5960 Governor 2021-2022 Rotary Club of Greater Mankato President 2017-2018 507-382-3317 KennyKlooster.D5960@gmail.com
Scott Arndt and Dayle Quigley Can't Wait to See You!
A District Governor Installation Like No Other
Get ready to party like it's 1929! Our setting is The Commodore, where Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald welcomed their only child into the world (in between dance sets on the old rooftop nightclub!). This Jazz Age cocktail party features live music by the Weinberg Trio. Professional dancers will teach you the Charleston, the Black Bottom and other period moves. A collaborative painting project will turn brushstrokes from all the guests into a new artwork that would put Picasso to shame.
This event includes a pre-party on Dayle and Scott's nearby porch and a limited-capacity walking tour about F. Scott Fitzgerald led by historian Mark Taylor. Post-party digs available with a special Rotary rate at The Davidson and Hotel 340.
The 2022 North Central Presidents-Elect Training will be held virtually this year - a more detailed schedule is listed on the Agenda page at www.northcentralPETS.org.
A novel idea was proposed by one of our members of having a cookbook that would be a fundraiser as well as an instrument of smiles and laughter. What was dreamed up became a reality with the catchy phrase of: "The Great 2020 Pepin Pandemic Cookbook", which by the way is on its third printing, led by our member Dick Boerger, the cookbooks were put together and then the work began to sell this cookbook.
During January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities.
Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects.
Vocational Service focuses on:
• High ethical standards in business and professions. • The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations. • The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
Following are possible activities to undertake during Vocational Service Month:
1. Devote meetings in January to examining Vocational Service, including The Four-Way Test and The Rotary Code of Conduct*
2. Need a 4-Way test program? Schedule one with the District Ethics team. Contact Al Zdrazil, zdra0004@umn.edu
4. Introduce a “mini-classifications talk” series; 1) each member gives a three-minute talk on his or her current or former vocation or retirement activity. Schedule speakers throughout the year 2) Form a panel of members with the same profession. Talk about hot topics in their field and ethical issues faced. 3) Create a list of “Where You Go For Service “ and provide member names, service area and contact information. 4) Have a Member in the Spotlight time. Give the member a set of questions and he/she can pick a couple to answer. Example questions: What did you want to be when you grew up? What was your favorite job? Why? What was least favorite job? Why? What was your first job? Did it help you to decide what you would do in the future?
5. Present a vocational award to someone or organization in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual January event.
6. Give a Four-Way Test framed certificate to all speakers to post in their office with your club’s name on it.
7. Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs.
8. Work with local businesses to create mentorship, internship, or practicum opportunities to help young people achieve their career goals.
The Forest Lake Rotary Interact Club invites you to participate in their 3rd annual Military Care Package Drive. The drive will run from November 9th-19th with the help of Hugo Yellow Ribbon Network, ShiptoMilitary, and the Forest Lake Rotary Club. It will send care packages with food, hygiene, and entertainment items, as well as handwritten letters, to deployed Minnesotan troops. The ways in which you can help are listed below.
In October, Northfield Rotary partnered with Northfield Shares, a local philanthropic organization, and Recharge Minnesota to host an EVent that introduced some 220 interested consumers to the wonders of electric vehicles. The EVent also raised $15,000 for environmental sustainability grants.
Since its inception in 2017, the Northfield, MN Rotary Climate Action Team (RCAT) has been motivated by the knowledge that transportation contributes 29 percent of the greenhouse gas to the atmosphere. RCAT supports the transition to electric vehicles (EVs) and has partnered with the City of Northfield to install the first public EV charging stations in town.
In 2021, Northfield RCAT decided to host an EVent to demonstrate, offer rides and showcase EVs for the public to give community members an opportunity to learn about electric vehicles and experience an EV ride.
Due to the micro-chip shortage, dealer participation was limited. Nevertheless, ReCharge MN solicited two Teslas and a Polestar from dealers for demonstration rides. Eight Rotarians and a friend of Rotary provided other electric vehicles, a Nissan Leaf, a Chevy Bolt and six Teslas. In addition, there were electric bicycles, scooters as well as battery powered lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and weed whackers for public education.
In 1946, the Minnesota State Fair was canceled because of a polio outbreak. Uncertainty was everywhere and no effective vaccine was yet available. Now, the world is on the verge of being polio-free.
Fall is everywhere, from colorful leaves landing on lawns to reminders to get a flu shot to the powerful piece in this month’s Smithsonian magazine on the fear and devastation wrought by diphtheria until an effective vaccine was found. The author notes that “Despite all the progress preventing and treating the disease, diphtheria has not been eradicated and still flares up around the world.” As we fight our way through the COVID-19 pandemic, we can take some comfort from the success of one global vaccination effort: the fight to eradicate polio. Oct. 24 is World Polio Day and there is a real chance that polio will soon be eradicated, though there is still work to be done.
After the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the African region free of the wild poliovirus last August, the focus turned to Pakistan and Afghanistan, the last two polio-endemic countries. The concern was that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it difficult to conduct polio immunizations for several months and there was fear that wild polio would rebound in both countries. After a brief pause in early 2020, vaccinators began polio immunizations again in both countries, using new protocols to avoid the risks of transmitting COVID-19 while protecting children from polio. These protocols involved masking the vaccinators and providing masks to families, frequently using hand sanitizer, conducting vaccinations outdoors whenever possible, and asking vaccinators to double as educators and communicate about the best ways to stop the spread of COVID-19.
During the first eight months of 2021, just one case of wild polio was reported in each country, though there are still several months left in the year and some regions of Afghanistan have been difficult to access. Nevertheless, the polio program has operated for many years in both countries amid challenging circumstances and critical work will continue.
This is good news in a campaign that is entering its 33rd year. When Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, there were over 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. Polio had been eliminated in the United States and much of Europe, but other regions had never been able to control the virus effectively. In succession, regions of the world were certified polio-free after working to reach children in rural areas. There were challenges, including the logistics of getting into isolated villages with poor roads, but solutions were found, even if it meant that vaccinators would have to pedal bicycles or hike into those areas on foot.
Every couple years, Past District Governors and the current District Governor line gather to socialize and enjoy a nice dinner. This past Sunday, September 24, the Current, Future, and Past District Governors gathered at Lillydale Yacht Club.
Pictured:
(Top left) Gary Campbell (2013-14 Anoka), Paul Perez (2019-20 Prior Lake), Cathy Smith (2003-04 E-club), Mike Becker (2018-19 Greater Rochester), Clare Lillis (2007-08 Forest Lake), Bill Rust (2002-03 White Bear Lake), Kyle Haugen (2017-18 Prior Lake), Newell Krogmann (2009-10 Le Sueur), Patricia McCleese ( 2023-24 Greater Rochester), Jon Stillman (1995-96 Stillwater Sunrise)
(Bottom left) Tom Yuzer (1996-97 Roseville), Jerry Meigs (1993-94 St Paul ), Kenny Klooster ( 2021-22 Greater Mankato), Ed Frederick ( 1982-83 Waseca), Karel Weigel ( 2014-15 Rochester)
One of the most significant impacts on Rotary membership growth, engagement and retention during 2021 will be the way every Rotary club shifts from primarily virtual club meetings to Hybrid Meetings (a combination of members meeting in-person and virtually). Just as clubs effectively pivoted to virtual meetings, the next opportunity is to prepare for the in-person/virtual hybrid experience. As the pandemic declines, and more are vaccinated, many members will want to gather again. The Hybrid Meeting model honors and serves both groups … those who wish to meet in person and members most comfortable attending virtually.
Tuesday, August 3rd at 4 pm the District 5960 Public Image Team will be joining your club leaders in our Interactive Action Planning.
Topics to include: Creating your public image team, Brand Consistency, Social Media Usage, Newsletters, Telling Your Rotary Story, Keeping your website up to date, and People of Action.
When registering, please enter your club name. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
How can Public Image help your Membership and Foundation Teams?
Our team will help explain how to tell your Rotary story. We will also discuss how can you help the District PI Team.
Every club that is represented at the Action Planning will be entered into a drawing for $250 to use as your club wants. It could be used for Public Image like business cards, signs, posters, brochures, or it could be used for a club project, it is the clubs choice.
And for everyone that attends has a chance to win a $150 Visa Gift card for themselves.
We’ve all heard the phrase, “diversity, equity, and inclusion”, but what does it actually mean to make an organization or even our personal lives more diverse, equitable, and inclusive? How can we get beyond grouping and labeling of other humans according to the color of their skin, the religion they practice, who they love or identify as, or the country in which they were born? Can we really build a just and inclusive world, especially in this time of such division?
Even more, how can we make our organizations and lives more inclusive of those who are “Other” and different from “us?” Isn’t it time to at least consider a new approach to human inclusivity—where all humans regardless of differences are valued?
As Rotarians in the 2020’s, we’ve been called upon to learn more about diversity, equity and inclusion and to embrace ideas about changing our culture to be welcoming to everyone, regardless of the community they represent or how they might be “different” or “diverse.”
Join national speaker, transgender writer and “human inclusionist” Ellen “Ellie” Krug (a member of the City of Lakes Club) as she talks about organizational culture/culture change and conducts her highly valued human inclusivity training, Gray Area Thinking®. This training will provide an easy-to-understand toolset on how to be more welcoming of anyone who is “Other” in our society.
A Brief Bio for Ellie Krug: In 2009, when she was a civil trial attorney in Cedar Rapids with 100+ trials, Ellen (Ellie) Krug transitioned from male to female; she later became one of the few attorneys nationally to try jury cases in separate genders. The author of Getting to Ellen: A Memoir about Love, Honesty and Gender Change (2013), Ellie has trained on diversity and inclusion to court systems, law firms, Fortune 100 corporations, and colleges/universities on more than 800 occasions. A hopeless idealist, Ellie has presented her inclusivity training, Gray Area Thinking®, across the country. In 2016, Advocate Magazine named Ellie one of “25 Legal Advocates Fighting for Trans Rights” and in 2019, OutFront Minnesota conferred Ellie its Legacy Award. She is also a monthly columnist for Lavender Magazine and Minnesota Women’s Press and a weekly radio host on AM950 radio. Her monthly e-newsletter, The Ripple, reaches 9000 readers and can be found at www.elliekrug.com . Ellie presently lives outside the Twin Cities and is the founder and president of Human Inspiration Works, LLC (www.humaninspirationworks.com).
As the leaders in your club, one of the goals you have before you is to grow your club. One of the keys to growing clubs is to be welcoming. How welcoming is your club?
Over the years as I have visited clubs, I have found there is one thing every club has in common and it is also the one thing that makes them different from each other. I am speaking of a club's culture. The culture is a blend of the members’ individual life experiences and perspectives.
A club’s culture can be a huge help in welcoming guests and new members or it can be a hindrance.
To help you get a better idea of how and why your club’s culture can affect your ability to be more welcoming and bring in new members, we are presenting a two part training on
END HUMAN TRAFFICKING A COMMUNITY FORUM FOR ALL LEARN . UNITE . ACT . PREVENT
Thursday, April 15 7pm - 8:30pm
Join us for this free, virtual forum for students, parents, teachers, & residents. Learn about human trafficking in our community, how our students are most vulnerable, online safety, and how to spot the signs. Sponsored by: Rotary Clubs of Arden Hills-Shoreview and New Brighton-Mounds View Human trafficking is not anew problem, but caring about it is.
GRANTS MANAGEMENT SEMINARS AND GLOBAL GRANTS WORKSHOPS
REQUIRED FOR 2021-2022 ROTARY FOUNDATION GRANTS
Attendance by at least one member of a club is required at one of the following Grants Management Seminars (GMS) in order for a District 5960 Rotary Club to receive a Rotary Foundation District Grant or a Global Grant in Rotary Year 2021-2022. (Attendance at a GMS last year does not qualify a club for grants in 2021-2022. Annual attendance at a GMS is required.)
Grants Management Seminars in preparation for the Rotary Year 2021-2022 will be presented on the following dates. There is no charge to attend. Each person must register separately.
If you are going to sponsor a Global Grant, YOU MUST ATTEND both the GMS and Global Grant Workshop.
Other Dates:
SHARK TANK
TBA - early May
2021-2022 GLOBAL GRANT SUBMISSION DATES
Deadline for project submission: Friday, May 21, 2021
Project review date: Friday, June 4 - 1:30pm -3:00pm
2021-2022 DISTRICT GRANT SUBMISSION DATES
Deadline for project submission: Friday, June 4, 2021
Project review date: Friday, June 18 - 1:30pm - 3:30pm
All trainings and presentations will be conducted via Zoom.
White Bear Lake Rotary & District 5960 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Team invite you to a Special Virtual Feature Presentation Featuring Alan Page, Retired Associate Justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021 12:00 noon - 12:45 pm
Agenda
11:15 am to 11:30 am for social
11:30 am to 12:00 pm Invocation and White Bear Rotary Club business announcements
12:00 pm to 12:30 pm Retired Associate Justice Alan Page
12:30 pm to 12:45 pm Four-way test and dismissal
Justice Page will be speaking with us about the Page Education Foundation, the Education Amendment he is proposing with Neel Kashkari and issues of equity in education.
The purpose of the District Conference of Clubs is to engage members at all levels, from our most senior leaders to the newest club members. It should inspire all to become more involved and give them a vision of Rotary beyond the club level and to provide a memorable, fun fellowship experience.
In considering the purpose of the conference, the ongoing pandemic and the upcoming new focus area, we are pivoting to a different Conference experience. One that will allow engagement, provide fellowship and introduce and celebrate our 7th Focus Area: The Environment.
I am asking our Clubs to join with their neighboring clubs in planning and implementing an environmental project in their area. These projects, either new or ongoing, can be put into action anytime during the months of April and May, culminating in a celebratory event on June 5th. You can do joint projects or support each other’s projects in your own communities.
In addition to working with neighboring Rotary Clubs, I would like to encourage you to consider partnering with other service organizations, environmental groups, State/County/Local Government, Schools (Elementary, Middle, High and Higher learning) and youth groups in your community. As our Vision Statement declares, “Together, we see a world where people unite and take action...”. Here is an opportunity to put that into practice.
Even though the vaccinations are being rolled out, it will still take time for enough people to receive them to be completely safe. This winter will continue to find us living indoors and we will be yearning to have an opportunity to see each other in person. By doing projects outdoors, masked and socially distanced, we will have the opportunity to do exactly that.
June 5th, World Environment Day, is when we will celebrate what we have accomplished. There will be more details to follow.
We would like to hear from you with a brief statement of what type of project you are considering by February 26. The attachment provides some sample ideas to get you started on thinking of possible projects. Here is the LINK to pass along your information.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Kathy Hughitt.
Thank you for all you are doing for Rotary during these challenging times. I look forward to visiting your Club’s project in the spring!
Join Us! To Celebrate Clubs Doing Amazing Work! & Workshop On Rotary's Innovative Club Models
Monday, January 25 @ 6:30pm & Thursday, January 28 @ 4:30pm
This year’s Mid-Term will be different than previous years. Since we are not able to get together, we thought we would focus on a few things that are new and helping Clubs to thrive during this time.
On Monday, January 25th, at 6:30 p.m. we featured a panel of representatives from three clubs that are doing some amazing work.
Jon Stagman, President of the Waseca Club on “Reimagining the Club”
Kevin Donovan, Team Leader for White Bear Lake’s DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Team
Kent Peterson, from the Arden Hills-Shoreview Club who has founded and chaired the Suburban Ramsey Emergency Coalition
On Thursday, January 28th at 4:30 p.m. we will be offering a virtual Workshop on Rotary’s Innovative Club Models. Kathy Fahy will reprise her role as facilitator from NCPETS last year in Rochester leading this training.
This will be an interactive session that will not only help us explore forming new clubs, it will also help us think about our own Rotary experiences and how we can engage and grow our membership.
Click Here for worksheets that will be used in the session. If you are able, please print and have them ready when the session begins. If you aren't able to print, have them available electronically so you can reference. You may also want to have a pen and paper handy to make notes.
During January, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities.
Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects.
Vocational Service focuses on:
• High ethical standards in business and professions.
• The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations.
• The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
Following are possible activities to undertake during Vocational Service Month:
1. Devote the first meeting in January to examining Vocational Service, including The Four-Way Test and The Rotary Code of Conduct*
3. Introduce a “mini-classifications talk” series; each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her current or former vocation or retirement activity. Schedule one speaker at the beginning of meetings throughout the year until everyone has made a presentation.
4. Present a vocational award to someone or organization in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual January event.
5. Give a Four-Way Test framed certificate to all speakers to post in their office with your club’s name on it.
6. Invite experts to give a presentation on the vocational needs of the community and develop a project in response to those needs.
7. Work with local businesses to create mentorship, internship, or practicum opportunities to help young people achieve their career goals.
The Rotary Club of Prior Lake, MN invites you to join them for “Covid-19 & Rotary Around the World” on Wednesday, December 9 from 7:15-8:30AM CDT. This program will feature a panel of “Friends of Prior Lake Rotary” from around the world sharing how Covid-19 is impacting their communities, and what Rotarians are doing to help. We are pleased to have panelists joining us from 6 continents!
This will be open to Rotarians from around our District and beyond, so please consider inviting anyone to attend. Please register at the link below. You can send that link to anyone you’d like to invite as well!
Prior Lake Rotary will begin their meeting at 7:00 AM and will conduct our club business until 7:15 AM. At that time, we will open it up to all guests and begin the program, which will end at approximately 8:30AM.
Patricia was born in St Louis, MO but the family relocated to LaFayette, Georgia when she was in third grade. Her education includes: University of Georgia - BS Elementary Education
Georgia State University - Masters in Reading
Nova Southeastern University - Ed.D Administration and Supervision
Patricia is a member of the Greater Rochester Rotary Club in District 5960 from 2006 - present. She served as club president in 2018– 19 and has served as Community Service Chair, Membership Chair, Program Chair. She Is on the Rochester Rotary Clubs’ teams: Tree Planting, Ethics Day, Holiday Classic Basketball Showcase and a STRIVE mentor.
At the district level, Patricia was a member of the German Cultural Exchange Team 2018-2019 and is currently serving as Vocational Service Team Lead. The team consists of Ethics, Literacy, and STRIVE.
The majority of Patricia’s professional career was spent as an educator. She served as an elementary teacher, teacher trainer, assistant principal, and principal in Atlanta Public Schools from 1969-1999. After moving to Rochester, MN, she worked at Rochester Area Habitat for Humanity as a Volunteer Coordinator from 2002-2015. Patricia was awarded the Bridge Builder Award for organizing an Inter-Faith Build involving 4 faith communities and 100+ volunteers.
Patricia has served: as a trainer for MAVA - Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators, leadership team of RAVA - Rochester Area Volunteer Administrators, United Way Women United leadership team. She loves being a Reading Champion at the Rochester Public Library tutoring children with dyslexia.
After Patricia retired, she married her high school sweetheart, John Davenport, and relocated to Rochester. The plan was to stay a few years and return home to the south after he retired. But plans have a way of changing and now Minnesota is home and they go south to visit. They also have three very spoiled cats. Patricia loves duplicate bridge, needlepoint, travel and being with friends.
"Human Trafficking Club Champions Virtual Training will be presented on Saturday, November 14th 9-11am. A general session will feature Stacy Schaffer, Founder and Executive Director of 31:8 Project which educates, advocates and raises awareness to order to prevent human trafficking. Club Champions from 2-3 clubs will talk about their projects around human trafficking and then breakout sessions will allow Club Champion's to share ideas, successes, and hurdles faced."
District 5960 Membership Team Meeting - Open discussion on "Onboarding New Club Members" led by Dana Bruce, St. Paul Rotary Club. All Rotarians Welcome!
Friday, November 13, 2020 @ 9AM for our Friday Feature with David Kone, Executive Director: Opportunity International Nicaragua
Our District Fast for Hope program has entered into a pilot partnership with Opportunity International. David Kone (DK), as Opportunity International's Program Director in Nicaragua, will be speaking about Opportunity’s flagship model for Community Economic Development. Through this program, Opportunity has helped to drive sustainable solutions to engage communities to build pathways out of poverty. Yucca farmers, young school children, and entire communities have experienced support and reaped the benefits of participating in this initiative, earning greater income and the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.
David will be speaking about how Opportunity’s model for Community Economic Development, along with a food processing plant and a high school focusing on entrepreneurship, are driving economic development in Nicaragua. Additionally, he will provide exciting and insightful information on how Opportunity Nicaragua is the conduit for District 5960 Fast for Hope to address extreme poverty in effective and sustainable ways.
One Rotary Summit 2020 Not your grandfather's One Rotary Summit Event. This year we’re shaking it up. Forget a 3 hour long event with a lot of flip charts. Instead we will be meeting virtually for 3 one-hour sections. Each section will focus on a different pillar – membership, foundation, and public image. Come and hear what’s not yet known by the general membership, be on the cutting edge, hear from clubs in the district, and learn a new skill that you can put into action immediately. Thirty minutes of presentation and 30 minutes of rapid-fire questions and answers. You won’t be disappointed, you’ll be exhilarated.
The interactive program will be facilitated by Dayle Quigley, District Governor Nominee.
Kimberly Mull is a highly sought after policy expert, consultant, and public speaker. She is a survivor turned advocate. She was a victim of domestic child sex trafficking and child pornography between the ages of 11 and 14, as well as domestic violence, multiple sexual assaults, and sexual exploitation.
Now on a mission to radically shift the understanding of sex trafficking in America, Kimberly empowers her audiences to make an immediate impact in their own communities.
CLICK HERE to register (Remember to register as a GUEST)
Our friends in District 5950 are holding a first ever event to help eradicate polio - “The Amazing Race (to End Polio) Scavenger Hunt,” and we are invited to participate!" This interactive, virtual event will be held on World Polio Day, which is October 24, 2020, from 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Partner up with a family member, fellow Rotarian, or friend and create a team of two for this fun morning of Polio scavenger hunt to raise awareness. Teams will race against each other to find 10 items in their local communities that tie to a fact or reference to Polio.
IF YOU ARE PARTICIPATING IN THE SCAVENGER HUNT, PLEASE REGISTER AS A GUEST AND EACH MEMBER OF YOUR TEAM AND INCLUDE YOUR TEAM NAME/THE NAMES OF YOUR TEAM MEMBERS IN THE COMMENT BOX.
**Please note that all local social distance and mask guidelines need to be followed while participating**
Teams will make a pledge for $.10 to EndPolioNow. Yes, Ten Cents. This is the cost of one dose of Oral Polio that will protect a child against polio.
To learn more about our efforts, to make a donation, or to join us in raising awareness or donating you time, visit https://www.endpolio.org/
Join us for World Polio Day as global health experts and partners share our progress on the road to polio eradication. Visit the Rotary International Facebook page to watch with other end polio supporters.
Along the monarch butterfly’s migration route, the habitat it needs to survive is disappearing. Rotarians are pledging to restore it
Late last winter, just before the world shut down, my family flew from Minneapolis to Mexico City, then drove two hours west toward the city of Valle de Bravo. From there, we continued on to Santuario Piedra Herrada, a nature preserve situated in the forested mountains of central Mexico.
The next morning, as the sun rose behind the mountaintops, we began our hike up a mile-long trail. The air was cool, and the sky was obscured by patchy clouds. Higher up the path, we noticed the oyamel fir trees start to take on a different appearance. They looked solid. They looked so heavy that they might fall over. They looked like they had been colonized by some strange creature.
When we reached the top, we could see that in fact it wasn’t one creature that had colonized the trees, but many: Millions of orange-and-black monarch butterflies covered the branches and trunks of the now orange-tinged trees, huddling together for warmth as they have done every winter for thousands of years. When the sun emerged from behind the clouds, the insects, warmed by its rays, filled the air, and the beating of their wings sounded like a soft rain.
In a few weeks, those same butterflies would take off from these hills — Santuario Piedra Herrada is one of a handful of places where monarchs gather to spend the winter each year — and fly to Texas and other parts of the southern United States, where they would lay their eggs on milkweed plants. Those offspring would then fly north as far as Canada to lay their own eggs. After a third generation, at the end of the summer, a fourth, "super" generation, whose life span is as long as nine months (as opposed to its predecessors’ two to six weeks), would embark on a journey back to Mexico, following the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains until reaching the hills around Piedra Herrada.
CLICK HERE to read the complete article in the October Rotarian
Mary is a phenomenal speaker and facilitator! She was on the Training Team for the International Assembly in San Diego when I was District Governor Elect, and I experienced this first-hand. This is a Rotary International President-Elect appointed position and only the cream of the crop are invited!
- Past District Governor Paul Perez
"Rotary makes people happy. The givers and receivers of our Rotary service are happy people! And when we are happy, we work, play, and love harder and better. Our performance, energy and creativity increases. In Rotary, the happier we are, the harder and better we serve others!"
The Rotary theme for September Is Basic Education and Literacy. “The more you read, the more you will know. The more you learn, the more places you will go.” Dr Seuss, “I Can Read With My Eyes Shut”. What can Rotarians do to jump start children into reading? River Falls Rotarian Tony Pedriana will share a program focused on getting books into the hands of preschool and young children.
Tribal Sovereignty Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC) Secretary/Treasurer Rebecca Crooks-Stratton
Tribal sovereignty means that tribes have an inherent authority to govern themselves. During this session, SMSC Secretary/Treasurer Crooks-Stratton will explore the importance of sovereignty and walk attendees through 200 years of federal Indian policy and how it has impacted tribal nations. She will also cover economic development in Native American communities and provide present-day examples of how tribes like the SMSC work alongside federal, state and local governments on shared priorities.
“Anthony Galloway’s conversation with our St Paul Sunrise Rotary Club members was deeply moving and illuminating. I am grateful to him for sharing how words our country’s founding fathers used or how artistic images, such as the Statue of Liberty or media portrayals of icons such as Rosa Parks, have shaped our beliefs today about race.” ~Ellen Luepker
Come hear about Rotary International’s new program - Positive Peace Activators - from Rotary Alumni Raina Fox. Rotary District 5960 sponsored Raina for the Rotary Peace Fellow Program. Hear about her Rotary journey and how she is now very well situated to help the world achieve Positive Peace!
June 12, 2020 Friday Feature Presentation from Mounds Park Academy junior, Salmah Elmasry, and Upper School teacher, Katie Murr to hear the moving World War 2 story of PFC Riley from Minnesota.
This week we welcomed Mike Gregory, The Collaboration Effect, his topic: Conflict Resolution/Civil Discourse .
Mike raises participants to new heights by engaging the mind, touching the heart, stirring the soul and inspiring action to develop enlightened solutions.
Discussion will include the "10-Steps to De-escalate Many Solutions" and tips on "When conducting a negotiation:"
Whether your STRIVE program is already successful , needs a boost or you are interested in starting one, the May 29th Friday Feature on STRIVE will be informative. Diane Ilstrup , Rochester Rotary Club and Brent Voight , Stillwater Sunrise Rotary Club will share successes, how challenges are addressed, or what they feel are the next steps in how the program is evolving.
Jenny Stotts, District 6690 membership chair and assistant governor, shares what she has learned about engaging members and keeping them (Rotary) happy.
In less than two weeks, Rotary District 5960, with nearly 2,700 members and 63 clubs (see map), has raised over $27,000 to help three organizations during this pandemic. The three organizations are:
Conversation on COVID-19 & Domestic Violence with Rebecca McLane
A stay at home order is not a good thing if you have to stay at home with an abuser. Tight quarters and confinement with an abuser is a recipe for disaster. We will hear from a local advocate for abuse survivors. Find out what is really happening and what Rotary can do to help.
The District is offering online training for your incoming Club Officers for Membership, Foundation and Public Image on the evenings of May 12th, 13th and 14th respectively.
These sessions will prepare your officers for the upcoming year by introducing them to planning ideas and the resources for a successful year.
Hosted by: Blaine Ham Lake and Prior Lake Rotary Clubs
Come hear what is happening on the front line on COVID testing from Kate Johansen, Director of State Policy and Government Engagement for Mayo Clinic, and Dr. Tim Schacker, Vice Dean of Research at the Medical School - University of Minnesota. They will talk about the public and private partnership that is key to moving the State of Minnesota forward.
Friday Feature for April 24, Kyle Haugen, our District Rotary Foundation Team Leader, shared how The Rotary Foundation allows us to maximize the impact we make in our communities and around the world. Hear about how we make a difference through the Six Areas of Focus and the concept of Positive Peace!
By Mike McGovern, Chair of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee and John Germ, Past Rotary International President and Chair of the Polio Countdown to History Committee
A program begun by Rotary is employing thousands of health workers to address the Covid-19 pandemic. The program is the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) which includes Rotary’s PolioPlus program. From the earliest days of polio eradication in the Philippines, the generosity and advocacy of Rotarians and our partners has nearly stopped polio, stopped Ebola from becoming an epidemic in Nigeria and now responds to Covid-19.
April 17th for District 5960's Friday Feature virtual meeting with our guest Chris Stein from the Heritage Areas and Large Landscape Initiatives National Parks Service.
Do you like to eat? This program will inform Rotarians about a project that aims to engage local partners in pollinator habitat restoration and protection across the USA -- Operation Pollination.
After a quick review of the nation's National Heritage Area program (with a focus on the Midwest), you will learn about three national conservation priorities that the National Park Service is seeking partners for...pollinators, migratory land birds, and grasslands (including Rights of Way as Habitat).
Learn about a pollinator partnership idea that started in the St. Croix Valley that has now spread to National Heritage Areas across the USA. With a special focus on Operation Pollination, you will learn about National Heritage Area efforts and the movement to engage diverse areas in pollinator habitat restoration and protection.
Jennifer Jones Trustee 2019-23 Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada
Jennifer Jones is the president and CEO of Media Street Productions Inc., an award-winning television production company in Windsor. Jones has served Rotary in many roles, including as RI vice president in 2016-17. She is co-chair of the End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign to raise $150 million. She has been a leader in cultivating experiential fundraising opportunities such as Rotary’s Polio Golf Day with Jack Nicklaus in Jupiter, Florida, USA, which raised over $5.25 million for polio eradication.
Jones has been recognized with many awards, including the Service Above Self Award and the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, the YMCA Peace Medallion, and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal, and she was the first Canadian to receive Wayne State University’s Peacemaker of the Year Award.
Jones and her husband, Nick Krayacich, are members of the Arch Klumph Society and the Paul Harris Society and charter members of the Bequest Society.
Jon Kaufman joined Rotary 8 years ago for a specific purpose... to disrupt and improve the way safe drinking water is provided to the poorest of the poor around the globe. Forming H2OpenDoors
They say a picture is worth a thousand words: The District 5960 Public Image team agrees and the 2nd Annual People of Action Photo Contest will prove it.
Rotarians are people of action and photos of Rotarians in action are a great way to spark awareness and conversation about Rotary.
PLUS there is are CASH PRIZEs totaling $600 for the winning entries!
My fellow District 5960 Rotarians and Rotaractors - We hope you are enjoying our monthly newsletter videos. We enjoy "Connecting" with you! Thank you for taking this January 2020 trip "Around the District!" See the links below for more details.
Our mission is to End Human Trafficking in communities in Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and parts of Ontario (regions covered by Rotary Districts 5950,5960, and 5580). We will serve as facilitators and problem solvers, and provide forums for discussion.
Through the WASH in Schools Target Challenge, Rotary and UNICEF are recognizing Rotary clubs whose sustainable projects help children stay healthy and stay in school. Support clean water, better sanitation, and hygiene education in schools, and let Rotary know how you’re making a difference. Visit rotary.org/WINS for more information.
The charitable season kicks off 3 December with Giving Tuesday, an online movement that celebrates and encourages giving to make the world a better place. This year, make The Rotary Foundation your charity of choice. A donation to the Foundation helps build sustainable communities around the world.
How can you triple your impact? Thanks to a 2-to-1 match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, every donation made to Rotary to end polio will be tripled.
“Joining Rotary was one of the best decisions I ever made!” People around the world express this opinion every day. Explore the “Stories” of Rotary in a conversation at (one of) this year’s District 5960 One Rotary Summit(s).
TAKING ACTION TO PREVENT HUMAN SEX TRAFFICKING: Learn what you can do to increase the safety of our children! The Edina Rotary invites you to join them on September 19th, 11:30-1:30 p.m. at a weekly meeting that will start early as they present a workshop on Human Sex Trafficking Prevention.
Health workers administered a polio vaccine to a child in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, in 2014.
On Aug. 21, we turned on our computers to learn of great news from Africa. Nigeria, the last country on that continent to report cases of the wild poliovirus, had not reported a case in three years.
On Aug. 21, we turned on our computers to learn of great news from Africa. Nigeria, the last country on that continent to report cases of the wild poliovirus, had not reported a case in three years.
Join South Metro Networking - a new Rotaract club in Rotary District 5960 - as we kick off the fall with our official Chartering Ceremony. It's the perfect time for Rotarians across the district to network with the newest Rotary family as they become members of the new South Metro Networking Rotaract Club for young professionals.
How does DG Paul Perez plan on connecting this Rotary year, and what are some opportunities for you to connect? Here more from him directly in this video message!
The Rotary calendar is fast approaching to July 1st and my time as your District Governor is waning. I want you to know that this year was filled with new friends, endless adventures, family, stress, work and best of all - FUN!
Make friends around the world through a Rotary Fellowship
Rotary offers a multitude of opportunities to connect with people in your club, your district, and elsewhere in the world who share your hobbies or interests.
Build camaraderie in your club to attract young professionals, create interest groups such as biking, hiking, sailing, or environmental sustainability, that appeals to younger Rotarians. Let’s all join in!
"The Four-Way Test is one of Rotary’s central principles. It is of special interest in the current day, when truth — or, more precisely, truthfulness — seems to be losing its prestige in public life." —Joseph Epstein https://on.rotary.org/30vTgyn
Kyle Haugen, Newell Krogmann, Mike Becker, Paul Perez
At this year’s Conference of Clubs, PDG Newell Krogmann received a rare honor. He was selected to receive Rotary International’s Service Above Self award.
Rotarians are busy people. So, in the event you haven’t read the May issue of The Rotarian you may want to check out the article, Putting Civility back into Civil Discourse. Here is the link.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words: The District 5960 Public Image team agrees and is kicking off a People of Action Photo Contest to prove it.
Announcing a new fun contest for Rotary 5960. It was found that we are finally running out of pins and banners for the district and this is an opportunity to make a change! If you are creative and ingenious, then this is for you.
I have never heard of Rotary before until this past April, 2018, at social function in Anoka. After a few searches online, I decided to give a chance to the Coon Rapids Rotary and officially became a member in May of 2018.
As I listened and interacted with the Coon Rapids Rotary,
Ambele presenting at the Edinburgh District Conference October 2018
Ambele Mwamelo is currently attending the University of Edinburgh as a Rotary District 5960 Global Fellow as a Master of Public Health (MPH) Candidate. Ambele is currently working with one of her professors on organizing an exhibition to engage the community and school children on global health matters.
7 tips for creating compelling social media content
Sharing stories that show Rotarians as People of Action on social media is an easy and effective way to amplify your club’s success to the world and build awareness and understanding of what we do.
In hisJuly 2018 RI President Barry Rassin asked all of us to Be the Inspiration for sustainable service by addressing the impact of environmental issues on our work. Northfield Rotary Club is challenging us to a Call to Action! Are you in?
Black Nativity is an annual tradition of lively Christmas theater, music and spirit provided by the Penumbra Theater of St. Paul since 1987. This homegrown show returns with exceptional lead vocalists, the outstanding Kingdom Life Church Choir, and the stirring choreography of Uri Sands of TU Dance. Join us for an experience full of joy, community, and spirit.
Rotary International staff photographer Alyce Henson has been shooting images for Rotary for more than a decade. In her post for Rotary Voices, Alyce shares her tips for taking better photos of club projects, and how to shoot images that you can use to make your own People of Action ads. With a little bit of practice, a few simple guidelines, and a touch of confidence, you can produce some amazing results.
We are now past the first quarter of the rotary year. As I have gone around to many clubs my message has not wavered. When you hear the question, "What is Rotary"? What is your answer and are you saying it from facts or are you saying it from your heart?
This past weekend fourteen of District 5960 Past District Governors and two of our future District Governors, spouses and guests joined 2018-19 District Governor Mike Becker and his spouse Nancy Becker at the Lillydale Yacht and Pool Club for dinner and fellowship.
Little Free Library founder dies, leaving a legacy of helping cities 'one book at a time'
Story by Jenna Ross Star Tribune - Oct 18, 2018
Todd Bol helped Eddye Watkins erect a Little Free Library on her yard in Minneapolis in October 2013.
Rotarian's grieve the loss of Hudson Rotarian, Todd Bol, a champion Rotarian, creator of the Little Free Library. Todd passed away to pancreatic cancer on Thursday, Oct 18, 2018.
These will be FUN Social Events that will give you an opportunity taste some quality craft beer in a relaxed setting, and even provide an opportunity to learn more about Rotary, socialize with fellow Rotarians and tour the local establisment's brewing process. Read More
A member of the Maysville Rotary Club since 2000, Nancy is a Sustaining Member, Paul Harris Fellow, and Paul Harris Society Charter Member and a Benefactor. She was instrumental in establishing a library at St. Anthony’s School in India as a project for her club.
Starting in August, TRF will start notifying Paul Harris Society members when they've reached $1,000 in giving for the Rotary year. Theses notifications will be sent electronically to PHS donors, with the intent to make it easier for them to track their giving.
Why Rotary? Ed Marek, DG 2020-21, will lead us in conversation at this year’s District 5960 One Rotary Summit. Sessions will be held Thursday, Sept 13 at Vanelli’s in Forest Lake and Tuesday, Sept 18 at the United Methodist Church in Northfield.
What separates Rotary from other clubs and service organizations? It's the Rotary Four-Way Test! The Ethics team has a new video available to help you elevate the Four-Way Test in your community.
RI President-elect Barry Rassin laid out his vision for the future of the organization on Sunday, calling on leaders to work for a sustainable future and to inspire Rotarians and the community at large.
Rotary Foundation global grants will soon require community assessments
Starting 1 July 2018, any club or district that applies for a global grant to support a humanitarian project or a vocational training team will be required to include community assessment results in their application. Whether or not you apply for a Foundation grant, a community assessment will guide the planning and implementation of any project, small or large, to make sure it succeeds and makes the maximum impact. Take advantage of the Rotary assets below to help with assessments:
New year, new connections - engaging with prospective members RI Membership Minute December 2017
As the new year approaches, people around the world will make resolutions to live happier, more meaningful, more productive lives in 2018. Perhaps they want to get involved and give back to their community. Maybe they want to improve the world on a larger scale. Or they might be hoping to make new friends or professional connections.
Is your club following up with prospective members?
Join us for a morning that re-energizes you with innovative ideas, as we enjoy the fellowship and networking of fellow Rotarians and a special New Member Recognition. Registration & More Information.
Rotary International has created a new Group Cultural Exchange (GCE). This is a hybrid between the traditional Group Study Exchange and Rotary Friendship Exchange, and is open to Rotarians and Non-Rotarians! Read More
A world of change awaits with Group Cultural Exchange
On 5 December 2017, at 1:00PM CST Rotary International’s Risk Management Team will be hosting a live informational webinar that will inform interested Rotarians about the U.S. Rotary Clubs & Districts Liability Insurance Program (“Program”) and how it relates to events your club is planning.
Hello District 5960 Rotarians. Since being nominated to serve as your District 5960 Governor for 2018-2019, I have had the opportunity to begin traveling throughout the district to visit clubs. As a member of the Club Visioning for years, I had that same opportunity to see clubs and their accomplishments and achievements. Read More
Meet District 5960 District Governor-elect Mike Becker
Where are we in the fight to end polio? What are our successes and challenges? Find out during a live event on October 24 @ 4:30pm CST - World Polio Day. Endpolio.org
Human Slavery has been identified as such a global issue that Rotary International has identified this as one of the next global initiatives to solve as we get close to celebrating the end of polio.
Read More in the District 5960 September Newsletter
Rotary works to end human trafficking in Minnesota
The eight Rotary clubs in and around La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, have created a shared orientation program for new members made up of six sessions every other month. The Rotarians also maintain low walls between clubs, doing a lot of activities together. The approach has helped each club grow and thrive, serving their communities with vigor.
The Rotary Foundation and clubs along the Gulf Coast of Texas and Louisiana, USA, are collecting emergency relief funds to help flood victims of Hurricane Harvey, which slammed into southeast Texas over the weekend. A Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Donor Advised Fund has been established. Here’s how you can contribute.
Ann Frisch, White Bear Lake Rotary, honored for 2017 Rotary People of Action: Champions of Peace Award. Ann is very well deserving of this award, and was selected on International Peace Day. Read More
White Bear Lake's Ann Frisch to be honored for Rotary Peace Champion award
Have you thought about travelling to another country to meet fellow Rotarians, learn more about other cultures and explore ideas for new projects your club can be a part of? Read More in the District 5960 August Newsletter.
The new and improved Rotary Club Central is here. It's now faster, easier to navigate, and presents past and current club data in a more accessible way. Additional features include:
Prior Lake Rotary Club's District Grant Project for Rotary Gateway Park is almost complete featuring a beautiful sign that provides great visibility for Rotary, a rock waterfall, butterfly gardens, and Rotary benches.
Marv Schrader was recently honored as a Major Donor to the Rotary Paul Harris Foundation. Marv, a long time member of the Faribault Rotary Club was recognized because he has given more than $10,000 during his years of membership.
We are striving as a club to connect Rotary and Rotarians with Rotaractor and Rotaract Clubs. As part of this we want to share with you news and opportunities.
This is good news in a campaign that is entering its 33rd year. When Rotary International, WHO, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention first launched the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, there were over 350,000 cases of polio in 125 countries. Polio had been eliminated in the United States and much of Europe, but other regions had never been able to control the virus effectively. In succession, regions of the world were certified polio-free after working to reach children in rural areas. There were challenges, including the logistics of getting into isolated villages with poor roads, but solutions were found, even if it meant that vaccinators would have to pedal bicycles or hike into those areas on foot.
Jennifer Jones is the president and CEO of Media Street Productions Inc., an award-winning television production company in Windsor. Jones has served Rotary in many roles, including as RI vice president in 2016-17. She is co-chair of the End Polio Now: Make History Today campaign to raise $150 million. She has been a leader in cultivating experiential fundraising opportunities such as Rotary’s Polio Golf Day with Jack Nicklaus in Jupiter, Florida, USA, which raised over $5.25 million for polio eradication.
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Human Slavery has been identified as such a global issue that Rotary International has identified this as one of the next global initiatives to solve as we get close to celebrating the end of polio.
Ann Frisch, White Bear Lake Rotary, honored for 2017 Rotary People of Action: Champions of Peace Award. Ann is very well deserving of this award, and was selected on International Peace Day. 
