2023 is the year of the Water Rabbit. The Lunar New Year starts on January 22, 2023, and ends on February 9, 2024. Thanks to a new law passed in Korea late last year, citizens are about to become a year or two younger.
Koreans have traditionally added a year to their age on Lunar New Year’s Day but that will change this year. Under the traditional system, babies were considered a year old on the day they were born, with a year added every New Year’s Day, which made their Korean age a year or two older than their “international age”.
However, as of June 2023, this ancient (and often confusing) system will end, and Korea will follow the global standard where everyone ages on their personal birthday. Strange but true!
The Rabbit symbolizes luck, prosperity, vigor, and patience, while the Yin Water element represents sensitivity, intuition, and inner peace. As a result, we can expect to move into a more peaceful 2023, with some nice doses of good fortune.
People born under the sign of the Rabbit are kind, friendly, intelligent, cautious, skillful, gentle, and quick. They dislike conflict and like to find solutions through compromise and negotiation. On the negative side, Rabbit people have the potential to be superficial, secretive, stubborn, melancholy, and indecisive.
What is the Korean Zodiac or ddi?
The Korean zodiac is believed to have originated in China during the Han Dynasty over 2000 years ago. Many Asian cultures including Korea still use it today. Ddi refers to your zodiac animal based on the year you were born and it’s a big deal in Korea. A very common question you will hear among Koreans is ‘What’s your Ddi?’. When someone asks about your ddi, they are not only getting a sense of your personality as people in the West do with signs of the zodiac, but they may also be working out your age or making decisions about compatibility.
Prizes will be $3000, $2000 and $1000 dollars making it a popular annual event!
Each club member needs to sell $150 or more in tickets! Feel free to send links for your page to your contacts. Tickets will be $50.00 each.
Paper tickets for our Pay It Forward raffle were distributed this week to all members of Northbrook Rotary (in person if possible, otherwise by mail).
When you sell a paper ticket, please do the following:
Make sure that all of the requested information has been entered legibly
Write your name on the back of each ticket that you sell
Turn in sold tickets, with the money collected for those tickets, to Debbie Madeley at each meeting
If you have tickets and money and you just cannot get to a meeting, you can always drop them off to me at my house (4275 Lindenwood Lane, Northbrook), but call first to make sure someone is home.
If you need more paper tickets, reach out to Gary and he will make it happen.
When you solicit the sale of an on-line ticket, all this is essentially done for you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to friends and relatives both near and far and give them the link to our raffle. We have already gone LIVE with RallyUp...you should all have the link.
We have posters for our raffle that are available at each meeting. Please take at least one or two and place them around town.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Denis or Gary. Thank you.
RI president-elect announces 2023-24 presidential theme!
By Etelka Lehoczky, RI
Rotary International President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.
McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland, revealed the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, during the Rotary International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 9 January. He urged members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.
"The goal is to restore hope — to help the world heal from destructive conflicts and, in turn, to help us achieve lasting change for ourselves," McInally said at Rotary's annual training event for incoming district governors.
McInally spoke about a woman he met in Ban Taling Chan, Thailand, where Rotary members helped build houses, a meeting hall, and childcare and health care facilities following the tsunami that devastated South Asia in late 2004. The woman had lost her husband, her daughter, and her son in the tsunami, as well as her livelihood. But she still had a gift to offer McInally: a beautiful seashell.
"She went on to tell me that Rotary... had restored her optimism. We gave her hope," McInally said.
"This is how Rotary brings lasting change to the world," he added, "one restored or newly created hope at a time."
Promoting peace
A significant way to bring hope to the world is to put a greater emphasis on peace, McInally said. He cited the action Rotary members have taken in the past year to support the people of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia. Rotary has made humanitarian relief a priority, attracting more Ukrainian members in the process. But McInally noted that true relief won't come without peace — not just in Ukraine, but in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and dozens of other places around the globe.
"Peace is the soil where hope takes root," McInally said.
McInally also emphasized the power of continuity, calling for Rotary members to continue the work of some past leaders.
He pledged to maintain the Empowering Girls initiative launched by 2021-22 President Shekhar Mehta and uphold the emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Rotary. He also noted recent events that underscore the importance of Rotary's continuing focus on polio. In the past year, polio cases have emerged in many areas around the world, making it more crucial than ever for Rotary members to lead the fight against the disease.
To do that, McInally said, Rotary must continue to raise at least US$50 million each year to receive the full 2-to-1 funding match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Only about 1 in 12 members currently gives to the polio eradication campaign, with fewer than 1 in 5 clubs donating each year.
McInally asked the district governors-elect for support creating a new sense of urgency in their clubs to help realize Rotary's vision of a polio-free world. "This is the time for us to go beyond what's necessary year to year and make sure we provide every resource necessary to succeed as quickly as possible," he added.
Focusing on mental health
In addition, McInally said, Rotary members should offer hope to those affected by mental health challenges — a crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have lost family members, many more have found their social networks uprooted, and young people especially have had their educational and developmental paths interrupted. As a result, more people around the world are facing mental health issues. And yet, seeking assistance is often perceived as a sign of weakness.
"Nothing could be further from the truth," McInally said. "Reaching out for help is courageous — and continuing on a path toward wellness is even more so."
He added that Rotary will work to improve mental health services in the next year and beyond. Rotary should be known as an organization that takes care of its members as well as the people it serves, McInally said. "Any mental health professional will tell you that by helping others, we essentially help ourselves."
McInally ended his speech by describing his ideal balance of continuity and innovation. "Rotary helps create the conditions for peace, opportunity, and a future worth living," he said. "By continuing what we do best, by remaining open and willing to change, and by keeping our focus on building peace in the world and within ourselves, Rotary helps create a more peaceful world — a more hopeful world."
RI President-elect R. Gordon R. McInally calls for Rotary to create hope in the world by working for peace and mental wellbeing. He urges members to engage in tough conversations and earn the trust that’s necessary to realize these values.
6 Rotary members honored as People of Action: Champions of Inclusion
Their commitment shows how inclusion makes an impact
By Etelka Lehoczky, Rotary International
Rotary honored six members as People of Action: Champions of Inclusion in January to recognize their commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion around the world. The distinction was announced to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the U.S. holiday that honors the slain civil rights leader. These members and their work exemplify Rotary’s core values and illustrate how inclusivity can make a transformational impact on individuals and communities.
İclal Kardıçalı- Turkey Project: Do You Like Music? Rotary E-Club of District 2440
Kardıçalı, a community volunteer for 50 years, focuses on helping women and children through music. She conducts music training and therapy for displaced children, especially those from Kurdish, Syrian, and Roma communities. She helps children express themselves through music and understand its role in showing how diversity enriches the human experience.
Kardıçalı trains teachers and students in music education, especially at state schools in the Izmir area that have fewer resources. She also supports the Children’s Peace Orchestra, whose members lack housing. Her book, “Do You Like Music?,” is being translated into Braille so it will be available to even more children. She’s also working with Izmir community leaders to adapt the book for children with learning disabilities.
And she donates copies of the book to students, teachers, organizations, and schools to make the project more sustainable.
Her project is supported by Rotary clubs from Districts 2440 and 2420, along with Inner Wheel clubs in Turkey and northern Cyprus, state schools, Lions clubs, and the National Education Board of Çeşme for Teacher Training.
Sarita Shukla - India Project: Transgender Empowerment — Astitva Rotary Club of Global Action District 5150
Shukla is dedicated to supporting the transgender community in New Delhi, India. She leads the transgender empowerment project, known as Astitva, at Pahal — Nurturing Lives, a mentorship organization that works to empower young people of all genders. Shukla says the transgender community is very vulnerable as the least understood and the most abused. People who are transgender often have no options to earn a livelihood other than sex work or begging.
After the COVID-19 pandemic affected those sources of income, Shukla supplied people with groceries and other necessities and worked with local authorities to get members of the transgender community vaccinated. She also helps raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the community and educates people about prevention.
Through Astitva, she provides counseling, training, and mentoring to help transgender people transition to government and corporate jobs. She has had an impact on more than 2,000 people through these initiatives and hopes to help many more.
André Hadley Marria - United States Project: Spark Thomasville Rotary Club of Thomasville (District 6900)
Marria is a diversity, equity, and inclusion leader in her club, district, and community, and a founding mentor of a program for entrepreneurs from underserved communities. Currently governor-elect of District 6900, she has served as DEI chair since 2020 and built a district-wide effort. After encouraging each club to select a DEI chair, she helped people identify personal biases and improve their clubs’ culture and inclusivity.
Marria was the first Black president of her Rotary club and led the club’s first Black history program. She has also had a variety of roles, including board member and executive director, at Spark Thomasville, a 12-week incubator program for entrepreneurs. She has helped participants set goals, develop business plans, improve their communication skills, and perfect their presentation pitches for a competition. She initiated a partnership between Spark and her Rotary club that provides program participants with educational materials and mentorship.
Her leadership at Spark Thomasville led to a redesigned curriculum, a more diverse board, a more inclusive applicant pool, and the organization becoming a federally recognized nonprofit. Marria has also raised more than $500,000 for the Marguerite Neel Williams Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Georgia, where she continues her work in youth development.
Cam Stewart — Mikostahpinukum (Red Morning)- Canada Project: Indigenous Community Action Project Rotary Club of Calgary East (District 5360)
Stewart has been active in diversity, inclusion, and human rights for more than two decades, with a particular focus on Indigenous inclusion. He founded and chairs District 5360’s Indigenous Relations Committee, which is unique within Rotary because its members include Indigenous, non-Rotarian leaders. The committee, which reports to the district governor, ensures that Indigenous issues and people are a priority.
It received a district grant for the Indigenous Community Action Project to address some calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. This project creates opportunities for Rotary clubs and Indigenous organizations to identify community issues, brainstorm solutions, develop initiatives, and take action together.
Stewart provides resources for clubs to learn about DEI issues related to Indigenous peoples and organizes events where people can meet, learn, celebrate, and build relationships. He also arranges for Elders or other keepers of knowledge to participate in Rotary events. Stewart has been honored with an eagle feather and a pipe from Elder Doreen Spence and was given the Blackfoot name Mikostahpinukum (Red Morning) by Elder Herman Yellow Old Woman.
Anderson Zerwes-Brazil Project: Brazil’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Rotary Club de Encruzilhada do Sul (District 4680)
Zerwes is an advocate for LGBTQ+, racial, and gender equality and disability rights who has been a leader in diversity, equity, and inclusion in South America. He led the formation and is the current president of CDEI Brasil (the DEI committee in Brazil), which has more than 60 Rotary and Rotaract members from across the country and supports and guides local districts. His work has encouraged 27 out of 31 governors to make DEI district chairs part of their leadership teams and ensure that DEI activities are part of the district’s focus.
The committee has prepared educational materials, trained leaders, produced monthly webinars and social media content, and raised awareness about DEI events. It has also built partnerships with nongovernmental organizations and advised communities about DEI issues. Zerwes has worked closely with clubs, districts, and leaders in Brazil to ensure that Rotary offers a welcoming environment for people from diverse backgrounds.
The committee regularly shares news about its activities with the DEI Task Force. Because of Zerwes’ initiatives, CDEI has served as a model for other Rotary clubs and districts and has been replicated in other countries.
Rosemary Nambooze-Uganda Project: Angel’s Center for Children with Special Needs and Inclusive Education Under Basic Education and Literacy Project Rotary Club of Wakiso (District 9213)
Nambooze, an advocate for children with disabilities and for inclusive education, founded the Angel’s Center for Children with Special Needs in Wakiso, Uganda. Her advocacy comes from her experience as a parent of a child with Down syndrome who encountered a lack of services for children and their caregivers.
The Angel’s Center currently hosts more than 120 children and provides early learning intervention, integrated therapy, outpatient services, and nutrition-focused sensory gardens. It supports caregivers with counseling and respite care, and helps teachers learn how to meet the needs of children with disabilities. Nambooze also helps young adults with disabilities find employment.
Since 2012, her work has affected more than 150 children and 200 families. As her Rotary club’s president-elect, Nambooze also mobilizes members to advocate for all children to have equal access to education, health care, and community activities.
The club’s signature project supports inclusive education measures in schools, such as building libraries, implementing adaptive infrastructure, training teachers, developing a needs-based curriculum, and enrolling and retaining students with disabilities.
Reach out to Gary for details for any volunteer opps and participation details.
JANUARY
14-31- Tickets on sale for Pay it Forward Raffle
23rd - Assistant Governors Meeting - In Person - Rolling Meadows Park District Community Center, 3705 Pheasant Drive, Door K, Rolling Meadows, IL. (enter driveway on the west side of building) RSVP AG Coordinator Marlene Frisbe
26th - Satellite Club Meeting
FEBRUARY
4th - District Grant Management Seminar- Virtual - Register Here
MARCH
3-5 Midwest PETS, President Elect training, Westin Northwest, Itasca, IL
OCTOBER 24 - World Polio Day - let's plan something great!
.png)
