MY FAVORITE ROTARY WORD

Without a doubt, together is my favorite Rotary word. Actually, when Rotary is at its best, it is always together. Check these together phrases out. I'm sure you can come up with more.

 

  • bring together
  • build together
  • come together
  • create together
  • dream together
  • gather together
  • grow together
  • hold together
  • lead together
  • plan together
  • play together
  • serve together
  • solve together
  • stand together
  • travel together
  • work together
 
Got any together ideas? Drop me a message.
 
Mark Shockey
2025-2026 District Governor
Member of the Rotary Club of Service to Minnesota Veterans
 

MONTHLY DG VIDEO

This Rotary year, I want to help you discover the Rotary Vision Statement by examining it phrase by phrase in brief videos. Here is a link to view the first 4 videos if you missed them. Be sure to watch for each new release on the website or District YouTube channel or emailed to your inbox.

 

1

FALL IS FOR LEARNING

As a Rotarian, you have access to excellent resources to help empower you and your club in the Rotary Learning Center. Take advantage of a wealth of training materials designed to help you learn new skills and become more successful in what you do. The Rotary Learning Center is a comprehensive online platform that offers over 1,000 courses. It provides a wealth of training materials designed to help users develop new skills and enhance their effectiveness in various roles within Rotary. Users can take courses, find resources, and connect with an online community to track their progress.

Now that the weather has cooled, spend some time in your favorite chair learning. 

Visit: learn.rotary.org and create a my.rotary login.

 

ONE SUMMIT - A CREATIVE, COSTUMED TIME TOGETHER

Indiana Tim educated us on Rotary's efforts to Polio. 

There were magical discussions around the power of working together. 

The energy in the room was rocking and engaging! 

CLUB VISITS

 

I’ve been having a blast getting around to visit with Rotarians all over Central Minnesota. Every club has a unique personality. Every club takes action in exceptional ways. Since July, I've visited 63 of our District 5950 clubs. 

Before I visit with a club, I like to do a little research and discover what the internet / the community has to say about YOUR Rotary club. I’ve found you to be People of Action! The Rotary Brand Center has templates where you can brag about what you do together. Here are some examples from the first clubs I visited. Recognize anyone?  Watch for more pictures in the next newsletter. 

 

              

                            

              

                            

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              


TOGETHER WE… DISCOVER PARTNERSHIPS
2025 DISTRICT CONFERENCE 

Together we… 
met Sally from the Peanuts. 


Together we… connected at lunch. 

Together we.. explored partnerships. 

 
 
At our event at Valley Fair in September, we welcomed 10 Rotary partners. Each suggested one way that your club can participate. Click on the logo for more information.
 
 
1) North Star Youth Exchange 
The Youth Exchange Motto is: Building World Peace, One Student at a Time!
Would your Rotary club partner as a sponsoring club, encourage families to host, or spread the word about Rotary Youth Exchange to students? 
 
 
 
2) Polio Plus 
- Polio Eradication remains our worldwide flagship initiative. 
- Today, polio remains endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But it’s crucial to continue working to keep other countries polio-free. 
- Tim Mulcrone, our Polio Chair would be happy to come speak to your club. Your club will appreciate his fun and informative presentations tailor made for your Club. 
 
 
Return to the home page
 
3) Alzheimer’s Association 
Another health partner of Rotary is the Alzheimer’s Association. There are events and walks all over Minnesota. Get involved in providing support to a disease that effects every community. Edina member Jennifer Hendrickson will help you partner.
 
 
4) Rotarians Against Malaria 
Jennifer Borel and the Maple Grove club is working to eradicate Malaria world-wide. Malaria is one of the oldest and deadliest diseases, devastating families, communities and countries.  Discover a global grant opportunity for your club and help half of the world’s population who are at risk for Malaria.
 
 
 
5) Camp E / RYLA 
District 5950 offers 2 High School leadership experiences. Camp Enterprise takes place in November; RYLA – Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is held in April. Learn about both opportunities and help make it possible for students from your community to participate. 
 
6) Multi-District Earth Day Event 
Let’s partner together for clean water. Imagine every club in 5 districts doing small projects on Earth Day 2026 to make a huge impact. Learn about Operation Clean Water – a 4-state effort to protect our water resources. It starts in your community. Our friends from the Twin Cities EcoClub are taking the lead! 
 
   
 
7) Deployed Military Family Support
Did you know that our District under the leadership of PDG Tom Gump chartered the first cause based club for veterans in the world? Learn about how your club members can participate in gathering gift cards to assist families when a loved one is deployed.  
 
 
 
8) Public Image 
Are you ready for some good news? Free tools are available to share all that you do with your community. To deliver those, we need a point of contact in every club to build our image in the public. Bocar Kane from the District Public Image team will coordinate with your club.  
 
 
 
9) Membership 
There are proven strategies that for recruitment and retention of club members. Kim Krohn will help you realize that it begins with you. Host an acquaintance for a visit to your club.  Invite a friend or someone you do business with.  It is easier than you think! 
 
 
 
10) The Rotary Foundation
This past year, our district clubs provided $358,000 in District Grant projects that involved 43 different clubs. Contributions provide more future funding for projects to unite for good both locally and globally. Don Stiles and the TRF team want to help presidents show the members projects your club has supported and collaborated on with other clubs. 
 
 
 
 
 
And remember, November is Rotary Foundation Month. You can donate directly to The Rotary Foundation this Thanksgiving and your gift will be credited to your club's annual giving goal. Click here to learn more about TRF and online donations. You can even set up recurring gifts to make it easier!
Upcoming District Events
Assistant Governor's Meeting - September
Sep. 12, 2026
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
District 5950 - Membership Meeting (September)
Sep. 17, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
District Governors Official Visit - Sauk Centre
Sep. 22, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
District Governor - Art Pop Up - Westcott Library
Sep. 22, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
View entire list
Upcoming Events In District 5950
Area 1
Rotary on Lake Street - Lake & Irving
Sep. 23, 2026
6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Minneapolis South
 
Area 3
September Bingo Night!
Sep. 15, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Eden Prairie AM
 
October Bingo Night!
Oct. 20, 2026
6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Eden Prairie AM
 
2026 Camp Enterprise - Edina Rotary & Edina Morningside
Nov. 05, 2026 8:00 a.m. –
Nov. 07, 2026 4:00 p.m.
Edina
 
Area 4
Arne Carlson, former Minnesota Governor
Sep. 22, 2026
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Golden Valley
 
Area 5
Community Service Event - Sunset Hill Clean Up
Sep. 27, 2026
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Minnetonka
 
View entire list