January is the Vocational Service month.
You may have read Kathy Hughitt’s message on Vocational service encouraging us all to focus on projects to develop ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Keeping this mind, the Vocational Service and Youth Services team has proposed the following two new projects to begin this month.
- Recognize Individuals who have done exemplary service or work in their vacations and professions
The objective is to recognize individuals or groups within our community and neighborhood to promote the Rotary values of high ethics in business and professions, honor exemplary service, recognize dignity of employment and worthiness of all useful occupations. We expect to make this a quarterly award.
A subcommittee consisting of 3 to 5 members will be formed to first layout the process for receiving nominations and selecting the person(s) to be recognized. Please volunteer to be on the committee.
Bill Klumpp prepared these set of guidelines as a criterion for recognition. The subcommittee can use this or modify as required.
- Demonstrated excellence in the skills necessary to perform in the vocation and given long and meritorious service.
- Provided leadership to those in the vocation and adhered to the ethical standards of the vocation.
- Achieved a reputation from peers as an outstanding member of the vocation; and
- Served as a mentor to new or less experienced members of the vocation; and
- Fulfilled the ideals of Rotary by demonstrating Service Above Self.
Please let Anoop Mathur know of your interest in serving on this subcommittee.
- A literacy project to promote literacy in our community and neighborhood with specific focus on provide ready access to children’s books and books by authors from other countries.
In discussions with our Shoreview Library librarian Carol Johnson on best way to promote literacy, we cam e up on the idea of building, installing, and maintaining, “The Little Free Libraries”. You have seen these little libraries at several locations around town. Little Free Library is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that promotes neighborhood book exchanges. Clubs in our District have had good success doing this.
Our goal is to build at least five little libraries in 2021 and install them in summer after the ground thaws. We will work with the library and the City to determine the best locations for this.
So, please step up and volunteer to build these libraries in your garage. The Youth and Vocational service committee will prepare the build plans (which are available from the Little Library organization), bill of materials. Rotarians can volunteer to build, and / or paint and later install. You can participate in many ways. Please sign up and let Anoop Mathur know, that you are willing to help with this project. We can do this a group when things settle with COVID-19 or do it independently. For now, please volunteer.
This will be on the weekly meeting agenda till we get the required the number of volunteers.