District Governor's Corner October 2012

Create peace throughout the world with a donation, a good deed or an idea

By: Bob Stowell, District 5950 Governor

     Welcome to the October newsletter! October is Vocational Service Month and you should see some guest editorials that speak to that below.
     I have completed all club visits except for one (and by the time you read this, it will probably be completed, also). It has been very gratifying to meet all of you and see the good you are doing in communities, both locally and internationally. You should all be very proud of how you are impacting lives—you are creating peace in all corners of the world. I have challenged each of you to think about how you could join me on our ‘journey of peace’ and have asked you to consider one thing you could do that may create peace at home, in your community, workplace or in Rotary.
   

DG Bob Stowell

  I would ask all club leaders to consider how to implement their annual campaign of giving to the Rotary Foundation. November is Foundation Month and I would really like to see our district get a jump start on this.  As many of you are aware, I have asked district Foundation campaign chairman Jim Dwyer to push for ERTY—Every Rotarian This Year.  In fact, I have sent a personal note to all of our district board members and leadership and club presidents asking them to pledge a contribution to the Foundation. I suggest that club presidents, with the assistance of their Foundation chairs, hold a club assembly this month to discuss the Foundation and the importance of giving to the campaign. I would love to hear what you did to make this an exciting event in your club. Keep in mind that your contributions are impacting peace throughout the world, even though you may not be there to see it.
     I am so proud of the increased engagement I am seeing throughout our district. I expect that our membership is going to take a great jump forward this year and we are well on our way to reaching the $1 million Foundation donation goal. During my visits with our clubs’ boards of directors, I saw some of the most engaged Rotarians I have ever met. This energy is contagious—we will continue to shine as one of the very best districts in the entire world.
     Speaking of great energy, the Fall Training on Sept. 21 was a huge success, proven by the great attendance and the comments I have been receiving from all of you. I would like to once again thank everyone involved in making this such a great training day.
     Please review the requirements for receiving a 2012-13 Presidential Citation, which recognizes Rotary clubs that achieve an array of accomplishments that help them become stronger, deliver effective service, and enhance their public image. Many clubs in our district will meet the requirements, but the paperwork must be filed by March 31.
     Keep sharing your energy and ideas within your club and with me, and send your stories, pictures or updates to peacethroughservice@gmail.com so we can share them throughout the district.
     Thanks for all your hard work. Peace through Service,
     Bob
 

Come see how ‘Rotary Rocks!’

By: Tom Thorfinnson, Dist. 5950 Club Support Chairman

     Rotary International is helping us promote Rotary to the next generation of leaders!  With funding from Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation, our district is sponsoring our first- ever “Service and Networking Event” oriented toward new and emerging leaders in the Twin Cities.
     Called “Rotary Rocks!,” the event will take place at St. Louis Park’s West End on Saturday Oct. 6. Eighty volunteers will bring canned goods as an “entrance fee” and help stuff 500 backpacks with school supplies. The backpacks will be delivered locally through Community Emergency Services in Minneapolis and the Nibakure Children’s Village in Rwanda.
     After the work, the group will move next door to Rojo restaurant for cocktails and networking. Non-Rotarians can visit with Rotarians in a casual setting and learn more about this awesome organization.
     Space is limited so registration is required: click here for more details or to sign up.

Every $1 sent internationally turns into almost $4  

By: Tim Murphy, Dist. 5950 International Grants Sub-Committee Chariman

     We’ve had plenty of international grant project activity so far this Rotary year. Congratulations to the 20 clubs who have partnered to fund 11 international grant projects across the world, totaling $385,000 of humanitarian aid!
    

The Rotary Club of Waconia-West Carver sponsored an impressive rubber ducky racing course at Nickle Dickle Day, an annual fun day sponsored by the Waconia Chamber of Commerce, on Sept. 15, 2012. More than 12,000 people enjoyed over 100 craft vendors, 5k and 10k runs, a large collector car show, kids activities and festival foods.

Those clubs include: Brooklyn Park; Brooklyn Center; Crystal-Robbinsdale-New Hope; City of Lakes; Rogers; Maple Grove; Willmar; Bloomington Noon; Bloomington Daymakers; Richfield; Edina Noon; Edina Morningside; Eden Prairie AM; Burnsville; Burnsville Breakfast; Minneapolis; Minneapolis University; St. Cloud; St. Cloud Granite; and Sartell.
     These clubs are sponsoring projects in locations such as Bangladesh, India, the Dominican Republic, Egypt, Rwanda and Panama.
     In total, these clubs have put up $100,036 of funding, all of which was matched by District funds. Host clubs have submitted $13,700 toward these projects, and host districts have contributed $6,948. The Rotary Foundation has offered $163,851, for a grand total of $384,570.
     What does that all mean? Every $1 donated by clubs is leveraged to $3.84.
     For further information or any international grant, please contact: Tim Murphy, District Grant Sub-Committee Chair, at tim.murphy@murphyauto.net or 612-719-9745; or Steve Solbrack, District International Project Chair, at steve.solbrack@solbrekk.com or 612-578-8776.

Three simple rules for a successful Foundation campaign

By: Jim Dwyer, Dist. 5950 Rotary Foundation Campaign Chair

     Club Presidents, here is your three-item checklist to prepare for the Rotary Foundation campaign for your club:

1. Have you agreed to show leadership by making the first pledge from your club?
2. Have you asked your board members to all be contributors?
3. Has your club campaign chairperson agreed to serve and made a pledge?

     November is typically Rotary Foundation month for most clubs. Even if you plan to hold yours later in the year, I ask you to complete these three steps now.If you need some assistance, remember:     

• We have district speakers who will deliver a compelling presentation to your club.
• Your Assistant District Governor can and will offer support.
• You're always welcome to call me to request a club presentation, get suggestions on your campaign or ask for help finding the proper forms: jdwyer@csbsju.edu.
• Assistance is available online at Rotary.org.

      Remember that all first-time donors to the Rotary Foundation can have their gift matched in their personal record. Thanks to generous Rotarians in our district, we are able to match contributions from $100 to $500

Improving Rotary with social media

By: Juan Ayala, Dist. 5950 Social Media Intern

     We’ve taken the first steps toward launching a full-scale social media campaign from the district’s Facebook page. Thanks to clubs sharing information about their meetings, projects and members, the page is regularly updated with new and exciting content, video and story apps.
     

District Training Chairwoman Irene Kelly and DG Bob Stowell kept things running smoothly at the Sept. 21 Fall Training.

However, there is still much to be done. Within the next month, our district’s PR grant from Rotary International will go into full effect, meaning that stories posted on the page will be broadcast to Facebook users in each club’s area.
      As your social media intern, I have been contacting all clubs presidents and PR representatives to stay on top of each club’s stories; so don’t forget—the PR grant is here for you and ready to be used. If you haven’t heard from me yet, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I will be more than happy to help you get your content out and visit your club to promote involvement in the social media program. Please feel free to contact me at juanpa155@yahoo.fr or 507.766.5043.

2013 Council on Legislation update

By: PDG Rod Shilkrot, Council on Legislation 2013 Representative

      The Council on Legislation (COL), or Rotary's "parliament," meets every three years to deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions submitted by clubs, district conferences, the General Council and Conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, and the RI Board. The Council itself also makes proposals.
     Every three years, each district sends a representative to the Council. Every club and district is entitled to submit legislation to the Council, and some of Rotary’s most important work has resulted from Council action: Women were admitted into Rotary because of the 1989 Council on Legislation, and PolioPlus was born as the result of the 1986 Council.
     Voting members include one elected representative from each Rotary district. During the next Council—late April 2013 in Chicago—I, will represent nearly 3,000 District 5950 Rotarians (including those in my home club of St. Louis Park). This will be my second term as a Council delegate. Following the Council, I will offer all clubs in the district an opportunity to have me conduct a mock Council on Legislation at one of your regular club meetings—watch for a notice in May 2013.
     For the first time in many years, District 5950 has submitted a proposed enactment that the Bylaws of RI be amended, as follows:


IT IS ENACTED by Rotary International that the BYLAWS OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL be and hereby are amended as follows (page 240 MOP)

Article 22  The Rotary Foundation

22.020. Trustees.
There shall be 15 trustees, each nominated by the president-elect and elected by the board in the year prior to taking office.  Up to four Four of the trustees shall be past presidents of RI.  All trustees shall satisfy the qualifications listed in the Foundation’s bylaws.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT
The RI bylaws currently require that four of the 15 trustees must be past presidents.  Although the number appears to be appropriate, the practical effect is that the leadership and decisions of the trustees are dominated by the four past presidents.  This proposal would permit the RI board to decide the correct balance of past presidents on the board of trustees.  This proposal also would permit the appointment of younger trustees at a time that RI needs to attract younger members in our clubs.  It also would prevent the time commitment required for past presidents in the years following their terms as president at a time that several of them have physical limitations.

Photo of the month

Members of the Alexandria Rotary Club work the 47th annual Corn and Pork Chop Jubilee Aug. 15 at the Alexandria Fire Hall. They helped shuck more than 4,000 ears of corn to serve to the public during this huge fundraiser.