DG Brent Collingwood gave his official presentation to the Riverview Club on December 12, 2023. Brent spoke of the goals for this year and how we as a club and Rotarians can advance the cause. He also gave us the numbers for our Rotary Foundation Donations (Well done Riverview!) and how he plans to try and increase the percentage of donations from the district. He ended off the presentation with an inspiring quote: “Keep going because we haven’t come this far to only come this far”. Thanks Brent for your dedication to Rotary and for the inspiration you provide to us all.
Brent shared his main District objectives for this Rotary year. They are:
- Mental Health – the “Don’t Bottle It Up” campaign, encouraging people to speak out about mental health, and in particular suicide.
- Investments to the Foundation (previously known as “donations”) – Currently about 40% of district 5370 members invest in the foundation. Brent’s goal is to “double up” and get that figure to 80%. The language around giving to the foundation is changing. Financial gifts to the foundation are really “investments”, since the interest earned from financial giving is reinvested into Rotary projects through grants. So, think of giving to the foundation as an investment, not a donation.
- Rotary Theme this year: Create Hope In the World. Brent shared stories of how Rotary projects and volunteerism changes people’s lives, locally and internationally. He encouraged members to continue with the many projects Riverview undertakes. Volunteerism is not easy work, but it truly does “Create Hope In the World”.
- Lastly, Brent shared his excitement for the District 5370 Conference planned for May 3 & 4th, 2023, at the Double Tree Hotel, in west Edmonton. Exciting & inspirational speakers include Michael Landsberg, Paul Brandt and Brian Rusch.
