Happy spring to all! This has been a busy spring for many of our clubs with fundraising activities. My husband and I have gotten around to several of these. Each of them had unique ideas that worked and are worth sharing with other clubs. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting a chance to participate in these.
May is Youth Service month. Our district does a great job in this area! So many of our clubs sponsor Interact Clubs in the local high schools. I have had a chance to visit a few of these in the last couple of months. If your club does not yet have an Interact Club, I encourage you to take a close look at connecting with your high school to make that happen. Also, a handful of clubs are sponsoring Interact Clubs in the middle schools. Then they are ready to move right into the high school club. Remember, these young people are the future of Rotary as they embark on their Rotary journeys. Our district also has 2 active Rotoract Clubs with a 3rd ready to kick off in the fall. Plus a number of clubs sponsor EarlyAct Clubs in the grade schools.
The first weekend in May is our month for RYLA. I am looking forward to attending and hanging out with these engaging and energetic young people. It is such an impressive program put on by the staff at Laredo Taft and our Rotary volunteers.
Many, if not most, of our clubs are doing some kind of literacy project in the schools as well, either by giving out dictionaries or other books, and/or spending time reading with the children. My club does a reading program in the Rockford grade schools and I read for an hour a week with three 2nd-graders. I can tell you it is definitely one of the best hours of my week.
The District Conference is now only 2 weeks away. We will be getting together for fun and inspiration at the De Soto House in Galena on May 17 and 18. If you have not yet registered, do it now. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate the work we have done this year!
DG Kathy Kwiat-Hess