Welcome to the Rotary District 5060 Home Page!
District Vice-Governor Greg Luring & Jan Luring
District 5060 is an international district of 57 clubs and approximately 2,760 Rotarians in central Washington, USA, and south central British Columbia, Canada. It covers a distance of 550 miles (890 km) from Clearwater, BC, in the north to Prosser, WA, in the south. Principal cities are Yakima and Wenatchee in Washington, and Kelowna and Kamloops in British Columbia.
The area enjoys a four-season climate, with generally warm summers and mild winters. Agriculture, agribusiness, recreation, and tourism are the primary economic activities, along with a rapidly growing wine industry.
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Summerland Rotary Club hosted 32 members from Rotary Clubs in the north-central region of our District in a pilot-project training day. Based on an "Open Space Conference" technique, it is a self-organized way for everybody to participate in the program development and results. ALL agreed it was fun to do, and the results were very useful. A list of over 40 "Best Practice" action items came out of our discussions, and we followed the short day with a BBQ & multi-club social at the Saxon Winery in Summerland.For the full story see the site-page (under Training) on this website at: SPRING ROUNDUP!
Top 5 "Best Practices" as voted by the participants...
- Establish a Rotary “Crowd Funding” account. Raises funds for projects and programs through social media channels.
- Create a joint website (either for each Area or for full District) where clubs can highlight projects and a calendar (speakers, events), with links to the Club’s own website.
- Showcase & share best fundraising projects or ideas between clubs using ClubRunner and reports to All-President’s meetings. Seek partner opportunities (something like a District-based Rotary Showcase).
- EVERYONE should have a mentor, and the mentor should be carefully matched.
- Rotary Roundup! What is going on, what is down the road, end with pot luck. Get more clubs working together for fellowship and future collaborative projects.
Special thanks to all the participants who made this a success!!
Relive the 2017 Kelowna conference by clicking the image to view the excellent event videos.
Or CLICK HERE . The access password is "Conference2017"
It was a honour to speak about Vern Nielsen yesterday in the House of Commons. He will be missed.
Mr. Speaker,
I rise today to pay tribute to the late Vern Nielsen of Kelowna, British Columbia, who passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on February 11th, 2017.
As a businessperson and philanthropist, Vern was a kind and generous man.
A long time Rotarian, Vern was the sitting District Governor of District 5060 and kept up his volunteer work with the club even while undergoing his cancer treatments.
I am particularly proud to honour Vern in this place as Vern stood as the Liberal Candidate for Kelowna –Lake Country in both the 2004 and 2006 Canadian general elections. He was a mentor to me and contributed in many ways to my successful efforts in 2015.
I ask all members in this place to join me in recognizing Vern Nielsen of Kelowna British Columbia. Both his community and his country are better places because of his many contributions.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker
To help celebrate the 100th Birthday of the Rotary Foundation, two District 5060 Million Dollar Dinners were held, Friday night, April 7 in Wenatchee, and Kelowna April 8. See group photos below. Both events were successful and well-attended by many Rotary locals and VIPs. The fund-raising goals were exceeded : $1,571,684.03!!! In Wenatchee, Carolyn Ferguson stated that "... just over $1 million of that total came from the US side,” and keynote speaker Michael McGovern spoke powerfully about the history and meaning of the Rotary Foundation, and especially about PolioPlus. To LISTEN to audio of each portion of the program, scroll below photo.
Special thanks go to Pete Erickson, PDG 1999-00. He was the largest donor in the District when he established a permanent education fund in honor of his late wife Melinda Erickson for an annual peace conference to train world leaders in peace and conflict resolution at Uppsala University in Sweden, one of the top 100 universities in the world.
Special thanks also go out to Greg Luring DG 2015-16, and his wife Jan for fundraising in Yakima area clubs. Over $55,500 was raised through the tribute fund for Wenatchee orthopedic surgeon ED Cadman (see a link below) who helped lead Rotary into the worldwide fight to eradicate polio.
Photo collections have been posted on line:
MDD South - CLICK HERE (Jim Russell). MDD North - CLICK HERE (Chris Offer)
Group photo of MDD South attendees April 7.
MDD North was held in Kelowna, BC April 8. For Chris Offer's photo collection, CLICK HERE.
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AUDIO LINKS - MDD South
1. Welcome remarks by M/C Sean Hogan, Greg Luring, Jim Russell. CLICK HERE
2. Tribute to Vern Neilsen by PDG/Vice Governor Greg Luring. CLICK HERE
4. Results and closing by Carolyn Ferguson & Sean Hogan. CLICK HERE
PRIP Dr. Ed Cadman
President Jim is encouraging all members to consider donating to the Ed Cadman Polio-Plus Memorial Tribute. All donations are matched 2 for 1 by the Gates Foundation. More information later. Dr. Cadman was president of Wenatchee Rotary 1962-63, PDG '68-69, RIP '85-86. To donate, CLICK HERE. Donations accepted until June 30.
Rotary District 5060 Youth Exchange Committee held their Outbound Student, Parent and Youth Exchange Officer orientation in Penticton April 7-9. Approximately 165 people attended the event.
Press "Read More" to see names of committee members, & those pictured.
Info is submitted by Jean Jacobsen, Penticton-Okanagan Rotary.
Info is submitted by Jean Jacobsen, Penticton-Okanagan Rotary.
Read about Youth Exchange HERE.
At the regular meeting of Wenatchee Rotary (aka the Downtown Club) on March 9, The Rotary Foundation (TRF) was the topic as the club prepares for the Million Dollar Dinner. Program speaker PDG Pete Erickson spoke passionately of the history and achievements of TRF since its founding in 1917. He then presented recognition awards to many members for new and continued TRF giving.
- 7 first-time donors toward Paul Harris Fellowships
- 10 new Paul Harris Fellows
- 5 new multiple-level PHFs
- 6 New Major Donors and Bequest Society Members
Click Read More for a list of names.
One of the highlights of the 2017 District Conference was the memorial slide presentation in honor of recently-deceased Rotarians. Some may have missed it due to scheduling.
The WHS Interact Club has been actively raising funds for a Habitat for Humanity House. As part of their development plan they created a short video with a rap song to encourage people to donate to the cause. In addition to the video which is on YOUTube and other sites, they have held a concert and dinner for 3 years. Our Wenatchee Rotary Club has donated $10,000 from the 2016 auction toward the $50K goal. This great project has taken incredible dedication from the students and was recently featured in the Wenatchee World. Watch the video here.
That is part of the title in a great audio interview published by "The Art of Community Now", a blog site featuring business and community in North Central Washington. Our District Membership Chair, Rob Tidd is interviewed about Rotary, Wenatchee, and the great things they are doing in that area and throughout our district. Give it a listen at:
Our 2017-2018 District Governor Bill Jenkin has just completed the DG Training week at International Assembly in San Diego. Shown here with incoming Rotary International President Ian Riseley and his wife Juliet (also a Past District Governor!). Bill will now bring the latest news from I.A. to our Presidents Elect for next year at the upcoming PE training (prePETS and PETS, for President Elect Training Seminar). Be ready for an exciting year in Rotary!See below for the new 2017-2018 Rotary International Theme graphic. You can download your own for your Rotary business at: Presidential_Theme_Graphics
Chelan Rotary celebrates “Gift of Rotary” at 100th anniversary PartyIn a celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation, The Chelan Rotary club was treated to a “gift” by Ezra Teshome, PDG 5030, in the form of an update on the PolioPlus campaign and on the incredible obstacles overcome in order to provide those two drops of life changing vaccine in the most difficult areas across the globe. Ezra’s passion for projects like eradicating polio, clean water, refugee housing and so many more were an inspiration and a reflection of how Rotary is changing the world, one project at a time.
In response, the Club members offered a “gift” to Ezra and to Roger Perry, District 5060 Foundation Chairman, by having them present 15 Paul Harris awards to Rotarians who have completed one or more this year. In a ceremony larger than anything the Club has done during its 90 year history, the celebration party recognized the important role the Foundation plays in the Club’s priorities and the willingness of so many members to make the world a better place for everyone. Over half of the Club’s 80 members are now Paul Harris Fellows.
Congratulations District 5060 Award Winners!!The Rotary Foundation recently distributed 2015-2016 recognition banners to clubs were distinguished worldwide through their generous gifts in four different areas:
- Top Three Highest in Per Capita Annual Giving - this banner honors the top in our district, and puts you in the elite group of only 1,564 clubs worldwide to receive this award!!
Congratulations to...
Othello (#1), Moses Lake (#2), and Okanogan-Omak (#3)
The Grand Coulee Dam Area Rotary Club welcomed a special guest at its November 2nd, meeting. Member Janet Valen, Administrative Office at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, National Park Service, brought Tinyiko Golele, Park Ranger, Kruger National Park, South Africa as her guest. Tinyiko is spending about one month observing and participating in operations at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area.
Tinyiko gave members a briefing on Kruger National Park and its most critical issues including the poaching of large animals continues – elephants and rhinos are especially affected. Maps of South Africa and Kruger National Park were passed around for members to better understand the geography of both the county and the park. She answered several questions ranging form the weather to her family.
Official visits of rangers and park managers to units of the National Park Service (NPS) are not uncommon. Likewise, NPS personnel visit parks in other nations as well. Tinyiko will return home at the end of November.
In the figure: Bob Valen from R/C Grand Coulee Dam with Tinyiko Golele.
Many of us attended the Zone 24/32 Institute in Winnipeg this September, including (from front-right) DG Vern Nielsen, Rotaractors Jessica Steeves (Kamloops) and Kate Kutzner (Kelowna), DGE Bill Jenkin, Jan Luring, DGN Sherry Chamberlain, PDG Greg Luring, and myself Peter Schultz. The 5-day event was very successful and one of the high-lights of the entire event was the fellowship demonstrated by Vern's classmates: "The DG Class of 2016-2017".To see a video of Vern's "Rotary Moment" and the tremendous support of his classmates check out the YouTube link:
Here is another "Practical Matters" Membership-growth idea from Wenatchee North Rotary Club...Generate a public image event in your local community!
Find an opportunity to raise awareness about Rotary and how Rotary supports your local community.
An idea that could be implemented in your community:
Saturday, September 17, 2016 - The 3 Wenatchee Rotary clubs and the East Wenatchee Rotary club manned the concession stands at the high school football game between Wenatchee High School and the Mt. Boucherie High School from Kelowna, British Columbia. Over 30 Rotarians and their spouses volunteered to man both concession stands so that the high school students who normally run the concession stands could watch their fellow students play the entire football game.
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That's right... Dr. Bob Scott, shown below with Bill Gates, will be one of the guest speakers at this year's District Conference! Don't miss it. The story below can be seen at the Zone 24/32 website: Zone 24/32 Clubrunner
District 7070 in southern Ontario, home District to Bob Scott, has created the Bob Scott Disease Prevention Award to be presented to an individual or organization that is making a difference in the fight against disease. The first recipient of the award is Bill Gates, who was on hand to receive it late last month.
Members of the Cashmere Rotary were proud to provide a scoreboard for the Cashmere Bulldog football field. Funds were contributed from the Cashmere Booster Club and the Cashmere Rotary Club with a matching grant from the District. What a great way to start the football season with a contribution to the community and great public image for Rotary.
Pictured underneath the old scoreboard are Bruce Cheadle, Randy and Donna Smith, Rick Shorett and John Killian.
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The Leavenworth Rotary Club has generously granted $5,000 to establish a fully-supplied science lab at the Hope International School located in Liberia. The Hope Project is headquartered in Plain, Washington and has been providing assistance dating back to the end of the civil war in Liberia.
With their help, Hope International School opened its doors to 400 children in November of 2007. Today, there are 1,200 Pre-K through 12th grade students attending the school.
From left to right: Al Aden, Leavenworth Rotary International Chairman, Dave Frazier, Joseph Cummings, Principal, Jackie Frazier and Ken Kohnhorst, President, Leavenworth Rotary.
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