"Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” - Rotary's new vision statement, approved June 2017
Creating positive and lasting change is not easy. It takes vision, determination, co-operation, and the willingness to take risks, to stretch well beyond what we know we can do to accomplish what others might consider the impossible. In District 7070, we can proudly and truthfully say that our actions make us changemakers.
At Rotary Reunion, our 2018 District Conference, we had the opportunity to both share and learn about some of the changes we are making in the lives of people around the world through life-saving water projects, hope-giving education programs, and our far-reaching polio eradication efforts. We also learned how to create even more change by first understanding the challenges faced by people with mental illness and by those whose entire lives have been ravaged by natural disasters and conflict. Thank you to our incredible presenters for a conference full of inspiration!
Participants in the Mental Health workshop experienced what it's like to carry on a conversation while hearing extremely negative personal messages repeated over and over again.
We also create change every time we support our Rotary Foundation, both by making donations and by spending the money we raise on District and Global Grant projects. Our support for the Rotary Foundation also makes it possible for us to invest in future changemakers, such as Rotary Peace Scholar Chenai Kadungure, who led a lively World Cafe exercise at the District Conference. In this exercise, we even learned that positive conflict can actually help us create change!
As you may know, November is Rotary Foundation Month. Why not take some time to learn more about the change-making efforts of our Rotary Foundation? Here's a challenge - explore this interactive map and see if you can see what Peace Scholar Angela Luciani (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Whitby) is doing in Nunavut!
And, if you're not already a Rotary Direct Donor, this would be the perfect month to sign up using Rotary's online, recurring giving platform. Our goal is 200 Rotary Direct donors (a.k.a. Changemakers!) in District 7070 before the end of June 2019!
Thank you for your support of our Rotary Foundation and for creating lasting and positive change in the world!
Yours in Rotary,
Mary Lou
P.S. If you're looking to make a little more change, you might think about hosting a Shine for Shelterbox party by the end of December. Or, you could attend an event. I happen to have it on good authority that Immediate Past District Governor Neil Phillips, Mardi, and Cleo are hosting a cocktail party on November 30th!