Rotary District 5370 Update
January 31, 2021

In this issue:

Upcoming Rotary International, District and club events and announcements: DG Jim’s monthly video message for February; President-Elect training (February 9); District Office closed; 2021 Virtual Rotary International Convention; and Do you belong to a Rotary Fellowship? 

Club Fundraising: Dogs with Wings 50/50 raffle (Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona); Rotary Club of Edmonton Sunrise 50/50 Cash Raffle Fundraiser; and Rotary Club of Edmonton Southeast Online Auction

A Foundation Moment: What is the Goal of Rotary Foundation Grants?  (3 of 3)

Membership Matters: Survey: Why did they leave Rotary? 

Deadline for submissions for the February 7 issue of the District 5370 CONNECTIONS is noon on Friday, February 5. Send your submission to communications@Rotary5370.org.

Click on the image to view District Governor Jim Ferguson's video message for February (Peace and Conflict Resolution)
 

*****

The 2021 Rotary International Convention will be held virtually. RI says the decision was made “to protect the health of everyone involved.” 

Here’s what you need to know now if you have registered for the convention in Taipei, Taiwan:

Registration refunds: RI will automatically cancel and refund all existing registrations. This includes purchases made for Rotaract, Youth Exchange, and preconvention events, and for ticketed meal events. Those who had already cancelled prior to the decision to transition to a virtual event will receive a refund of the $50 processing fee. 

HOC Events: The Host Organization Committee events’ ticket fees will be refunded by the Taipei HOC. For more information, please visit rotarytaipei2021.org.

Hotel rooms: No action is required from those attendees who made accommodations secured within Rotary’s official housing block. Maritz — formerly Experient, and Rotary’s official housing partner — will contact those who currently have rooms secured with cancellation details. Others who have secured group room blocks and made a full or partial payment will receive a followup communication and instructions on receiving a refund. 

Details related to the 2021 virtual Rotary convention will be posted as they become available.

For more information visit: https://on.rotary.org/3ciJpEv

Next in-person convention is schedule for Houston, Texas June 4-8, 2022.

***** 

 

Survey: Why did they leave Rotary?

Our District hopes to better understand why Rotarians leave, through a survey that was sent to former members who left over the past five years. The questionnaire was emailed to former Rotarians on Friday, January 22.

“We hope to understand why they left and will share what we learn with clubs to suggest what they can do to be more responsive to the needs of current members,” says District Governor-Elect Donna Barrett.

The survey is based on what District 5360 (southern Alberta) did and is part of a larger initiative involving other Districts in our zone to get a broader picture about why members leave Rotary.

“We plan to share the information we receive with club leaders, both generally and in terms of their own clubs,” Donna says.

She asks Rotarians to encourage former members who they know to complete the survey. The survey will close on Friday, February 5.

*****

All Things Rotary: A CDS Podcast

The All Things Rotary podcast, which launched on January 8, brings together voices from around the Rotary world to find a new approach to All Things Rotary. Host Nick Taylor and his guests will tackle questions that the Club Development and Support team hears from Rotarians the most, such as: 

  • How can I actually start a Rotary Club?  
  • Does club attendance really matter? Engagement versus attendance. 
  • How do I work with club members I don’t always get along with?  

The first episode, But Like, How Do I Actually Start a Rotary Club? is available to download now, wherever you get your podcasts (Spotify/ Apple Podcasts etc.)

New to podcasts? Learn more about them:  https://www.podcastinsights.com/what-is-a-podcast/

*****

Do you belong to a Rotary Fellowship? 

We are planning to write an article about Rotary Fellowships and would like to talk to Rotarians and Rotaractors from our District who are members of any of the more than 50 Rotary fellowships. Which fellowship are you part of? Why did you join? What are the benefits of your membership? What does your fellowship do? Please email communications@District5370.org if you are willing to be interviewed for this article.

 

District Office closed

Due to new pandemic-related restrictions introduced by the Alberta governments, including a work-from-home mandate, the Rotary District 5370 is closed, but is still operational and available by phone (780-482-5370) and email (office@rotary5370.org).

***

The second in the series of sessions to prepare presidents-elect to lead Rotary and Rotaract clubs during 2021-2022 is scheduled for Tuesday, February 9, from 7:00-9:00 p.m. MST. Topics to be covered during this session, which will be led by DGE Donna Barrett and Area Governor Marilyn Mucha, are running your meetings and club, online tools and reporting.

Click here to register for this session.

Click here to view the recording of the first session (January 19), which focused on planning the year, leading Rotarians, leadership styles and the Rotary Learning Centre. 

Future PE training sessions are planned for March 9, April 13, May 11 and in June (date TBD).

***

Rotary Club of Edmonton Southeast Online Auction

Click here to browse and bid on a variety of silent auction items. 

The auction ends Wednesday, February 10.

***

Rotary Club of Edmonton Sunrise 50/50 Cash Raffle Fundraiser

The winner will receive a minimum cash prize of $2,000 or 50 per cent of ticket sales (whichever is greater) to a maximum of $5,000.

Proceeds from this raffle will support the club’s services projects and the Tourette Canada Edmonton Chapter.

Ticket sales end March 11.

***

Win up to $10,000 while supporting Dogs with Wings (DWW)  

Dogs with Wings (DWW) is a leader in the international community of assistance-dog training schools. They breed, raise, train and place service dogs, autism service dogs, companion dogs and facility dogs.

Proceeds from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona’s virtual 50/50 fundraiser will go to DWW to ensure the continuation of the dog training programs. The cost  to DWW to breed, raise, train and place one dog is approximately $40,000 but the cost to its clients is only $1.00. 

Ticket sales end March 1.

Regarding Raffles Sponsored by Alberta-Based Rotary Clubs

Due to provincial regulations, only Alberta residents, aged 18+ may purchase raffle tickets.

***

 

Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7