Posted by District Governor Irene Kelly (Eden Prairie AM)
In the Rotary world, January is dedicated to vocational service. Do you reflect on the new year and/or set resolutions? I set an intention!
My personal experience shows that while resolutions can be valuable, their importance seems to wane within a few weeks. (Of course, as a “resolutioner” I must take responsibility for my own waning; my focus is scattered!)
For the last several years I’ve shifted to setting an intention that remains front and center (most of the time!). My 2018 intention was “growth” -- of the personal nature, not the body type. WOW, how I have experienced that in my role as DG! You have given me an amazing sandbox to practice my “growth” intention in 2018. I thank each of you for that gift.
Setting a New Year’s intention provides a backdrop for how we operate. It requires introspection, self-awareness and reflection. The process of setting the intention leads to choices: What do I want to change, improve or enhance? What will serve me best in the coming year and lead to living my purpose? How do I want to feel at the end of the year?
I offer this option for 2019 in the spirit of sharing MY vocational service because, as a leadership coach, my work supports clients setting intentions. I invite each reader to share something about your vocational service on ourDistrict 5950 Facebook page. (Extra credit if you use a People of Action template with a link, picture or short video.)
Make 2019 a year to share your vocation…intentionally!
Mid-term Assembly celebrates our July-December accomplishments and provides a motivational shot-in-the-arm to accomplish 2018-19 goals by June 30.
Have you registered? Sign up now for Saturday, January 26 at the Minnetonka Community Center (registration and map here). Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. with Assembly beginning at 9:00.
Each club can host a table spotlighting a project, fund raiser, desire for partners or collaboration.
Assembly speakers will focus on recognizing unconscious biases, then how to respond with equity and navigate differences in relationships/organizations.
Come gather ideas from the project fair and connect with other Rotarians. Your club can send up to 10 members for FREE because costs are covered through the annual training fee.
Edina Rotary Happy Hour/Vocational (HH/Voc) Development Group is a joint endeavor between the Rotary Clubs of Edina and Edina Morningside. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. atThe Mezz in Edina. After a short social, the program begins at 6 p.m. Each speaker has an opportunity to introduce him/herself and make new connections.
While we all know the Four-Way Test, Rotarians may not be as familiar with the Object of Rotary. The HH/Voc Dev Group targets the Second Object (of four) which is the root of vocational service: “High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian's occupation to serve society.” In order to put these ideals into action, Rotary International suggests:
Talk about your vocation in your club and take time to learn about fellow members' vocations.
Practice your profession with integrity and inspire others to behave ethically through your own words and actions.
Guide and encourage others in their professional development.
With that background in mind, HH/Voc Dev Group has become very popular, drawing 20-30 members each month. Attendees share their professions, expand their networks, encourage professional development, and foster the ideals of integrity and ethical business practices.
Posted by District Governor-Elect Russ Michaletz (City of Lakes)
Every March, Rotary club presidents-elect (PEs) gather at President-Elect Training Session (PETS) to prepare for the daunting task of effective club management. Topics range from the practical (setting goals on ClubRunner) to the esoteric (motivating volunteers).
This year’s emphasis for 2019-20 PEs will be enhancing the value of Rotary membership. PEs will focus on members’ needs in order to stem membership turnover. We are a “membership” organization, and Rotary members are our primary customers.
Your PE will identify tools to increase the value of membership in your club. Leaders will look beyond Service Above Self opportunities to find ideas for increasing club fellowship and excitement, and member career and vocational development. The PE’s job is to make sure the value each and every member experiences exceeds the cost (in time and money) of being a club member.
Posted by Carol MacDonald (Burnsville Breakfast), D5950 Finance
A few years ago we warmly celebrated Diane Confer's 38 years of District 5950 service and her retirement. Diane remains our official hostess and hugger at district events.
Upon Diane’s retirement the District office began transitioning into a self-service environment, i.e., teaching Rotarians "how to fish" (empowering them to locate information on our expanded website). Carol MacDonald, Alexa Rundquist and District Leaders expanded technology, updated the website, improved processes, and realigned our accounts for improved budget and expense evaluation.
In 2019 the District Office will continuing evolving. Alexa will manage Operations and Carol will manage Finance. We've disconnected our district phone. Continue to contact Alexa at alexa@rotary5950.organd Carol at carol@rotary5950.org.
District Leadership continues to focus on bringing value to the clubs. We recognize that most Rotarians have become much more self-sufficient using technology for everything from career to shopping. We want to make prudent investments with your dues, and have adjusted our staffing to maximize value to you. Thank you for your support in streamlining our district office!
Posted by Jodi Erickson (St. Paul, D5960), Club 10 Administrator
Rotary Clubs 10 (St. Paul) & 9 (Minneapolis) are pleased to welcome RI President-Elect Mark Maloney (2019-2020) as speaker and guest of honor at our annual joint Club Meeting on Tuesday, February 5. Join us for the lunch meeting followed by a Q&A session with President-Elect Maloney at the InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront.
Click here for more Information or to register BY JANUARY 26 Please note that this is the registration link for visitors. Visitor lunch fee is $35.00. Clubs 10 & 9 members - see Jodi and Sybylla to sign up.
11:30 AM Check-in, buffet opens 12-1 PM Meeting 1:15 PM Open Dialogue, Q & A
“The clubs are where Rotary happens,” says Maloney, a member of the Rotary Club of Decatur, AL. He aims to support and strengthen clubs at the community level, preserve Rotary’s culture as a service-oriented membership organization, and test new regional approaches for growth. “With the eradication of polio, recognition for Rotary will be great and the opportunities will be many,” he says. “We have the potential to become the global powerhouse for doing good.”
Posted by Rick Olson (Prior Lake, D5960), tour organizer
The Prior Lake Rotary Club (District 5960) invites you to join us on a trip of a lifetime through Eastern Europe prior to the International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Eight countries in nine days (May 10-18) or 12 days (May 19–30). Then conveniently travel to Hamburg, Germany for the Rotary International Convention!
The first group will start in Tallinn, Estonia and end in Budapest, Hungary. The second group will have free days in Budapest and Vienna and also visit Prague, Czech Republic. The cost of about $1,200 and $1,650 (depending on tour length) includes transportation in a 19-passenger bus, three-star or above hotels, breakfasts, walking city tours, attractions (including the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum) and tips for the tour guide.
Casual social gatherings with local Rotarians will be arranged in as many cities as we can. Expect a “traveling seminar” about the countries’ histories, economic and business environments, and the current politics concerning the surrounding areas.
Posted by Tom Gump (Edina Morningside), Zone 28 Hamburg promotions chair
This is Bert. Find him and his brothers at the Hamburg promotion table at Mid-Term Assembly on Saturday, January 26. But don’t be surprised if you find him other places between now and the RI International Convention!
Posted by Greg Beckstrom (Minneapolis City of Lakes), Leadership Fellows program coordinator
Rotary International promotes innovation. With that in mind, we are embarking on a new leadership development initiative in District 5950 called the Rotary Leadership Fellows Program.
This is an opportunity for Rotarians and non-Rotarians in our district to develop leadership skills that they can apply in their professional, personal, community, and Rotary lives. The program’s five sessions will be led by professional facilitators who are highly skilled in the targeted aspects of leadership training and skills development. Participants will gain value through the customized program’s leadership theory, self-assessment, leadership challenges and opportunities, and professional action planning.
The first cohort of 25 participants will start in mid-September 2019 and will wrap up before Thanksgiving. The Early Bird rate (through June 1, 2019) is $1,000 per person for the five sessions. Program leaders can suggest ways for participants to share the cost with employers and local host Rotary Clubs.
For more information, contact program coordinator Greg Beckstrom (Minneapolis City of Lakes) at gab4254@gmail.com or (612) 619-6851, or District Governor Irene Kelly (Eden Prairie AM) atirene.kelly@prismallc.com or (612) 240-0223.
Thank you for your support of 2018 Rotary Camp Enterprise. A collaborative project between the Rotary Club of Edina and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, this was the 38th year of Camp E -- and another tremendous success.
As a direct result of generous sponsorship by 55 Rotary clubs from throughout Districts 5950 and 5960, we hosted 108 high school juniors and seniors at YMCA Camp Ihduhapi in Loretto. While the main focus of Camp Enterprise is on the development of leadership and business skills, students are also introduced to the values of Rotary, including the Four-Way Test and Rotary’s guiding principle of Service Above Self.
At the conclusion of Camp E we awarded six $1,000 higher education scholarships to students of exceptional merit. However, Camp E is transformative for all students who leave as future leaders with a newfound interest in business and entrepreneurship, as well as Rotary.
Please accept our sincere thanks for your club’s support of Camp Enterprise. Also, please include sponsorship of students in your budget for next year and start thinking about students in your community who may be interested in attending Camp E on November 7–9, 2019.
The Rotary Club of Minnetonka took advantage of five Wednesdays in October to boost donations to End Polio Now and become more informed about this dreaded disease. Members took home small collection boxes and asked family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to contribute to the campaign. For each $20 raised a member received a red “End Polio Now” bracelet. The grand prize was a unique gold coin from the Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek who visited the club earlier this year. We focused not only on raising funds but also on educating members about Rotary’s role in eradicating the polio, the devastating impact on children, and the effectiveness of two drops of polio vaccine. On the last day, we auctioned off donated items to help us surpass our goal. In one month we raised $900 to End Polio Now!
The Rotary Club of Minneapolis gathered on November 10 to paint the classrooms of the Children’s First Early Learning Center in North Minneapolis. The center, which is operated by The Family Partnership, is a full-day therapeutic education and care program for children aged 16 months to five years old. Therapeutic services available include speech, language, occupational, physical, and music therapy. This nationally accredited program provides culturally responsive early childhood and preschool education for children living in the north Minneapolis community. For more information on The Family Partnership visit: https://www.thefamilypartnership.org.
The Rotary Club of Minneapolis Uptown celebrated its 30th anniversary with a December 19 event. Over the years, Uptown Rotarians have made a huge impact on the Joyce Uptown Food Shelf. They are deeply involved at Jefferson School through the Great Jefferson Read Program, dictionary gifts, the Sheridan Story, and Warm Hands-Heads-Hearts distribution. Internationally, they have a 10-year history of working with Haiti Outreach.
The Rotary Club ofRogers introduces you to Eli, our youngest Future Rotarian! He is helping in an assembly line filling KidPack bags with supplemental food that goes home with elementary school students. CROSS Services in Rogers coordinates this program in area schools. The club regularly invites prospective members to participate in this fast-paced monthly KidPack assembly.
The Rotary Club of Apple Valley invites you to their second annual Spaghetti Dinner/Silent Auction to raise money for Polio Plus. Join them on Sunday, January 27 at 1:00 p.m. at the American Legion (map).
Send your club's Recipe4Success stories to Cheri Ashfeld.
Need an email or phone numberof a club member or someone at the district? Quickly use the ClubRunner mobile: Your Club on the Go. Immediately view the most up-to-date member directory upon login. You can browse your member profiles which give you the necessary contact information you need to connect with just one click. Make a call to any of their phone numbers, email them directly from your device, or even add them to your contacts list. To download the app from the Apple App Store or from Google Play, type ClubRunner in the search bar. The mobile app is compatible with all versions of the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch sets that have iOS 8.0 or later and with versions of Anrdoids that are 4.0.3 or better.
For the last several years I’ve shifted to setting an intention that remains front and center (most of the time!). My 2018 intention was “growth” -- of the personal nature, not the body type. WOW, how I have experienced that in my role as DG! You have given me an amazing sandbox to practice my “growth” intention in 2018. I thank each of you for that gift.
Edina Rotary Happy Hour/Vocational (HH/Voc) Development Group is a joint endeavor between the Rotary Clubs of Edina and Edina Morningside. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at
A few years ago we warmly celebrated Diane Confer's 38 years of District 5950 service and her retirement. Diane remains our official hostess and hugger at district events.
Click here for more Information or to register
The Prior Lake Rotary Club (District 5960) invites you to join us on a trip of a lifetime through Eastern Europe prior to the International Convention in Hamburg, Germany. Eight countries
Thank you for your support of 2018 Rotary Camp Enterprise. A collaborative project between the Rotary Club of Edina and the Edina Morningside Rotary Club, this was the 38th year of Camp E -- and another tremendous success.
