Announcements 

• Our exchange student Julia is in need of a host family, starting in January until June (6 months) and we can divide it up if we can find a couple people (3 months each).  

•  No meetings left in December, first meeting in 2023 will be January 10th. 

• $11,000 donation to Loaves & Fishes Food Bank in Rotary’s name.  

Program 

• Definition of Rotary: Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders and problem solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change- across the globe in our communities. 

• Larry’s definition: No right or wrong answer, it is what each member wants it to be!  

• Lunch club, networking opportunity for professionals, opportunity to meet new individuals in community, community service, help other in the world who are less fortunate 

• What do we do? 

• Rotary’s 7 areas of focus: promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, save mothers and children, grow local economies, support education, protect the environment 

• We work and see things differently to see challenges in unique ways. We act responsibly and our passion and perseverance create lasting change. Make a difference at home and around the world. 

• Structure: made up of three parts: clubs, Rotary international, and The Rotary Foundation 

• Clubs are grounded in same values, but no two rotary clubs are the same because each community has its unique needs 

• Clubs have flexibility in meetings, memberships, attendance, dues, and area of focus 

• Three parts of the dues that you pay twice a year 

• International, district, locally 

• Types of clubs: e-clubs that meet online (none available in Montana), Rotaract Clubs (clubs bring together people ages 18-30, mostly in areas with universities), interact clubs (high school kids 12-18 age group, have some in Montana) 

• Rotary Club Organization: over 46,000 clubs in 220 countries. Approximately 530 districts, our District 5390 is all of Montana. Montana has around 40 clubs throughout the state.  

• Rotary Programs: developing next generation of leaders, funding to make the world a better place and are not just for members 

• Peace Fellowships: Rotary picks 100 professionals per year from around the world to receive fellowships to study at one of our peace centers (6 throughout the world). 

• Community Corps: group of people who are committed to changing the world through service projects. Not technically members of Rotary but plan and execute projects. 

• RYLA: Rotary Youth Leadership Academy – leadership experience organized by Rotary Clubs where you develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.  

• Youth Exchange: builds peace one young person at a time, students between 15-19 years old are sponsored and spends time in another country 

• New Generations Service Exchange: short term program for university students and young professionals up to age 30, cannot be a Rotarian, combines professional's goals with a humanitarian project 

• Grants & Scholarships: $70 million give in grants a year, $7.5 million in scholarships/year 

• What does our District do? 

• Organizes and conducts RYLA, organize and coordinates PETS, coordinates district grants, district meetings, organize and administer Youth Exchange, has a foundation that routes money to certain projects 

• What does OUR club do? 

• Focus on helping youth in our community, we support RYLA (send 2-3 students a year), support Literacy Project, give out $4,000 in scholarships each year, give out $2,000 in grants each year, Signature Project “Festival of Youth”, road pickup project, and more! 

• Our club started in 1940 in Polson 

• Rotary Foundation: takes your gifts and transforms them into service projects that change lives, sometimes close to home, sometimes around the world. Spent $4 billion worldwide, one of the largest and most efficient programs worldwide. 

• Learn more at the Rotary International webpage! Or reach out to Larry 😊  

• Paul Harris founded Rotary, started in Chicago early 1904, started with $12.