It you've lived in Rochester even for a short time, you realize how blessed we are to have the services of a nationally recognized award winning library. Unlike some other organizations, the Rochester Public Library used COVID to its advantage. Zoom with us on Tuesday morning to hear Audrey Betcher, RPL Director, as she presents "Stronger Connections During COVID." Audrey shared the following promo about her presentation...
The pandemic has challenged all of us to work differently. Librarians have unique and important skills that are desperately needed during this time of health crisis. Learn how the Rochester Public Library has built new partnerships and stepped up to solve community problems during the pandemic. And, as an added bonus, you'll get to meet the incoming president of our sister club, The Rotary Club of Rochester.
Do you have basic technology skills you're willing to share with the Risers?
District 5960 is awarding tech grants to District 5960 Rotary Clubs to enable clubs to purchase tech equipment for hybrid meetings.
This past year, we have all learned much about connecting online and the advantages of being together. We want to ensure that clubs have equipment that will allow them to hold hybrid meetings effectively. To assist we are offering a Hybrid Meeting Technology Grant up to $600 for purchase of equipment. Clubs will need to supply their own Windows laptop (or two, as needed) and identify a club member or team to work with the hybrid meeting technology equipment. Please let Beth Sherden know ASAP if you'd be interested in such a role during the upcoming Rotary year.
The grant amount awarded will vary and be determined by an individual club’s needs. The use of this grant is for the purchase of technology equipment to move the club forward to hybrid meetings.
Risers President-Elect Sherden is already working hard to assure a smooth July 1 leadership transition. Beth, Paul (President-Elect Nominee) and Don have met regarding the transition and a meeting with the Hilton Garden Inn catering rep is schedule for early May. Risers should be on the lookout in May for an electronic survey regarding meeting format preferences and information regarding a possible virtual club visioning session to be scheduled in the next month or two. Beth's Board and leadership team is complete, including her recent announcement that Matt Cantlon has agreed to serve as the Risers President-Elect Designee! Congratulations and thank you, Matt.
Spring Tree Planting
The Rochester 3-Club Rotary Tree Planting Project is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, in the public area south and west of HyVee Crossroads. There are three planting sessions scheduled throughout the morning and afternoon. The Risers host the second session and all the host volunteer positions for this session are filled. THANK YOU! However, their are other host positions unfilled for the early morning and afternoon sessions so if you're interested in helping out, please sign up at:
A second volunteer sign-up, seeking 120 tree planting and water brigade volunteers, has many unfilled registration slots (especially for Session #2 and #3). Feel free to invite family, colleagues, neighbors and friends to join you. Please register tree planting volunteers and recruits at:
If you'd like to purchase one of the 21 special larger trees in honor or memory of a special person or group, please complete the form emailed to you earlier this week and send it, along with your contribution of $125/tree, to our club treasurer...
Janet Swanson
2317 Baihly Lane SW
Rochester, MN 55902
If you'd like a charitable tax deduction, please make you check payable to "Greater Rochester Rotary Club Foundation" but mail your check and form to Janet. This will better facilitate record keeping for the tree planting project.
In addition to the "Special Trees" purchase, Rotarians are encouraged to purchase one or more bundles of the whips that will also be planted on May 1. Bundles of whips can be purchased for $10/bundle and payment for your purchase should also be forwarded to Janet noting the number of bundles purchased.
Feel free to email questions to Patricia McCleese, Project Coordinator, at rotary5960mccleese@gmail.com or April Sutor, Risers tree planting project liaison, at ASutor@familyservicerochester.org. Thanks in advance for your help with this important community environmental project.
More Environmental News...
Urban Forest Master Plan Virtual Meeting - April 20
As we learned from Alison Litchy earlier this month, urban forests and community health are inextricably linked; the better an urban forest, the greater a community’s health. The Urban Forest Master Plan (UFMP) project provides a forum for community engagement, a shared vision, and a strategic, long-term road map for the management of Rochester’s urban forest resources. Community members are encouraged to join for an informational and engaging virtual public meeting. There will be an opportunity hear the UFMP progress and timeline, learn about initial findings, and provide invaluable input to finalize the Plan’s vision, goals, and short- and long-term strategies for the management and enhancement of Rochester’s urban forest.
Noon Session: Tuesday, April 20th │ 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
The City of Rochester, Minnesota is partnering with the University of Minnesota Forest Resources Department on the Citizen Pruners pilot program. Rochester was the first community to adopt this pilot program in 2013 and it has been growing ever since. Citizen Pruners are trained in tree identification, biology, and pruning techniques. Tree pruning requires not only and understand of how to prune but also an understanding of the tree's biology to prevent the spread of certain diseases. If you enjoy being outdoors, love trees and your community, this is an opportunity for you to get involved in your urban forest. Course material will be taught by University of Minnesota Forest Resources Department staff alongside the City of Rochester.
Upcoming Citizen Pruning Training
Looking to get involved as a Citizen Pruner for the City of Rochester? I attended this training several years ago and found it very informative. In 2021, there will be a spring training to get volunteers out in their community pruning. All training details and information are available below:
General Details: This year's training will be a hybrid of Zoom and social distanced field training. You will receive access to the Zoom invitation once you have registered as well as in an email reminder the Monday prior to training. The field sessions will be limited to 5 individuals to ensure everyone's safety and you will only select one session when registering.
Fee: $25 per person
Dates:
May 14th, 2021 from 3:00pm to 4:30pm - Zoom presentation
May 15th, 2021 from 8:30am to 11:30pm (Field Session 1) and 1:30pm to 4:30pm (Field Session 2)
Materials: You will be provided a digital version of the Citizen Pruner training manual one week prior to training.
Competency Assessment: After the Zoom and field training sessions, we do require that each volunteer complete a competency assessment. This will be available digitally and it is an open-book assessment. After you have successfully passed the assessment, you will receive a certificate of completion and a volunteer ID card for use in the field.
Safety Notes:
We do require that every participant wears a mask and maintains 6 feet of distancing during the field session.
Training staff will provide hand sanitizer and we encourage you use it as frequently as needed.
If you are feeling sick or under the weather, have tested positive for COVID, or suspect you may have been exposed leading up to training, please notify our team as we will happily provide a refund.
Registration is now open for this year’s Conference of Clubs!
As more Minnesotans are vaccinated yet practice pandemic safety, we are planning an OUTDOOR, FAMILY-FRIENDLY Conference of Clubs on Saturday, June 5th , 10am - 2pm , at the Rotary Pavilion in Levee Park in HastingsRegister today!
We are excited about this opportunity to see many of you in person and others virtually as we celebrate this Rotary year.
AGENDA
10:00 a.m. Registration Opens
House of Friendship
10:30 - Celebration! Fellowship and introduction of Rotary's 7th Focus Area: The Environment. Special guest Past Rotary International President Ian Risley, Rotary Club of Malta Australia. Awards.
Visit virtually with Rotarians across the District.
11:30 - 2:00pm - Enjoy fellowship, visit the House of Friendship, Guided Tours.
Lunch - On your own - Enjoy Hastings!
More information to come.
Cost: Free Event
PANDEMIC SAFETY
All activities will be outdoors and we will practice appropriate distancing.
Masks will be required (and available at the registration desk).
Large pavilion and limited seating available on the lawn. Rotarians are encouraged to bring their portable camping chairs
If you are not comfortable attending in person, participate virtually. (details to follow)
Seating on the grass so guests are encouraged to bring their own folding camp chairs or blankets.
KIM NEEDS YOUR HELP NOW!
Please, whenever you complete Rotary-related service projects or activities above and beyond our regularly scheduled meetings, send your hours to Kim Keilholtz atkimdtm@msn.com. Eligible hours include those spent delivering Meals on Wheels, volunteering at Channel One, tree planting, Adopt a Family shopping, Samaritan Bethany tree decorating, Salvation Army bell ringing, STRIVE mentoring, house painting, District workshops and meetings, newletter prep, etc. Those members who have accumulated hours since July 1 and not submitted them to Kim should do so now. Thank you!
Meals on Wheels Request
Our club's Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Joanne Rosener, has a need and a "Service Above Self" opportunity. With COVID, our service opportunities are somewhat limited. Meals on Wheels, however, is one ongoing service activity our Club is doing. Due to some changes in availability of members, we need two persons to assist on the second Thursday and one person on the third Thursday starting January through June. If you can help, contact Joanne at joanne.rosener@gmail.com.
If taking on an ongoing assignment is not something you can commit to, please consider signing up for one shift. See below for dates. All shifts start at 11:15 AM and finish at approximately 12:30 PM.
May 13
June 10
GRR April Tools Day
The Greater Rochester Rotary Club is inviting you to participate in April Tools Day! On April 17 GRR will be collecting unwanted tools to be refurbished and provided, free of charge, to non-profits in need of tools. GRR is partnering with St. Joseph's Tool Chest, another non-profit, who will provide the refurbishing service. We are asking Rotarians to spread the word about our event!
What: Your unwanted tools
Where: 125 LIVE parking lot
Time: 8 am to 1 pm
When: Saturday, April 17th
WE WANT: Yard and garden implements: rakes, shovels, hoes, and shears. Shop tools: pliers, screwdrivers, hammers, saws, and wrenches. Power tools: drills, saber saws, table saws, routers, drill presses, and chainsaws. Hardware: nails, screws, nuts, bolts, etc. We will even take industrial machines, bicycles, and sewing machines. Emergency generators are much needed.
WE WILL NOT ACCEPT: Electronic equipment like computers, TVs, printers, cell phones, etc.
The Rotary Risers join our other Rochester Rotary colleagues in congratulating Patricia McCleese, Greater Rochester Rotary member, on her selection as District 5960 District Governor 2023-24. Patricia has been very active in her GRR club, an advocate for all three Rochester clubs and extremely engaged in District 5960 initiatives and projects. The Risers wish Patricia well in her new adventure and look forward to working with her as she assumes her new role and responsibilities.
In these difficult days, we are so heartened to receive such uplifting reports on the unrelenting efforts of our Rotary members who have responded in their communities against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the single question we hear time and again is, “Are we getting involved with COVID vaccination?”
The answer is yes.
This does not mean we will deviate from our commitment to eradicating polio, which remains our highest priority and continues to be our only corporate program. Polio vaccinations must continue unabated, as must our effort to raise $50 million per year for this effort.
But now, COVID-19 vaccines are becoming available around the world, and our members have an important role to play.
We ask you to encourage you to:
Use Rotary’s knowledge of vaccine safety and efficacy based on our polio eradication experience to support vaccination efforts in your communities. This will need to be tailored to local contexts to address unique cultural and regional needs.
As vaccine distribution begins in your country, partner with local organizations or health authorities to offer your club’s support with vaccination efforts as required.
Help combat the powerful, growing force of vaccine resistance and misinformation. Advocacy in our communities is critical — we need to spread the message about the power of vaccines to protect lives.
Stop the spread of COVID-19 by continuing to engage in projects supporting mask-wearing, distancing, proper hygiene practices, and donations of personal protective equipment — before and after vaccination.
Please take a moment to view the above video message.
Thank you.
Holger Knaack K.R. Ravindran President, Rotary International Chair, The Rotary Foundation
The Four-Way Test is an ethical-decision making tool for our use. But why keep it to ourselves. The world needs ethical minded people. Let’s share stories of how we have used the Four-Way Test in our lives.
Attached is a 2:11 minute video explaining the Four-Way Test Stories Activity.
Why should we share Four-Way Test stories?
The Four Way test, the Rotary Code of Ethics, the 7 Areas of Focus, the Peace Ambassadors, and our Rotary Vision are all focused on acting in an ethical manner. We need to be bold and share our commitment to building a better, more ethical world so that - - - Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
How can we use the Four-Way Test stories?
1) Post the stories on your social media. Visitors are attracted to the Four-Way Test.
2) Share it with youth. Perhaps include Four-Way Test training in your youth activities /projects.
3) During a meeting, have "table talks” or break out rooms about the Four-Way Test. Have members share how they have use it.
4) Include in the vocational talks a discussion of ethics in their businesses.
5) Ask speakers to share the ethical challenges faced in their business or organization.
Rotary District 5960 Ethics Team
Risers Greeters are reminded that when leading the club in the 4-Way Test to begin with "The Four-Way Test of the things we think, say and do..." Thank you!
The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
RI President Mark Maloney says that during his travels around the world as a Rotary senior leader he encountered many Rotary members and Rotaractors who advocated for the environment to be an area of focus.
“I believe strongly that our Rotary Foundation programs now have a valuable added dimension to our efforts,” says, Maloney.
Foundation Trustee Chair Gary C.K. Huang says that with the global population reaching near eight billion, protecting the environment is increasingly important.
“It is time for us to use our collective resources to invest in a smart and efficient way to protecting our environment,” says Huang. “We are qualified to take this initiative because we are a global group of problem solvers with diversified talents.”
In 1990-91, RI President Paulo V.C. Costa made the environment one of his primary causes, creating the Preserve Planet Earth subcommittee, which looked at ways clubs and members could conduct environmental initiatives.
“We have finally caught up to Costa [his vision],” says Past RI President Ian H.S. Riseley, chair of the Environmental Issues task force, which championed the new area of focus.
“As a lifelong environmentalist, I’m delighted that our great organization has recognized that the environment is a worthy and appropriate destination for our project activity,” says Riseley. “This is an exciting moment in Rotary history.”
Supporting the environment becomes Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. It joins peacebuilding and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water, sanitation, and hygiene; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy; and community economic development.
Grant applications for projects will be accepted beginning on 1 July 2021. Gifts and commitments from Rotarians and others will be sought to provide global grant support for the new area of focus.
More information about this new cause will be announced soon.
