Posted by District Governor Tim Murphy, 2015-16 (Edina)
Hello 5950 Rotarians!
The incredibly successful “Light up Rotary” year is transitioning to our year of proving we can “Be a Gift to the World.”
You outdid yourselves with a record year of Foundation giving. (See update article in this newsletter) Thank you to District Rotary Foundation Chair Sandy Schley, Annual Giving Chair “Buffalo Bob” Halagan and their dedicated committee members. Most importantly, thank you, 5950 Rotarians, for your overwhelming generosity.
Foundation programs leveraged your generous giving into 40+ District Grants, a dozen or more Global Grants, Peace Scholars, a Global Grant Scholar, and our Vocational Training Team—andthen there’s the huge amount of work accomplished directly within our 63 District clubs. Local and international aid generated last year was staggering—plus the goodwill, understanding and joy gained through that process.
I’m six clubs into my visit schedule. Here are some teaser message points: “Let go, empower, and get out of the way;” “We are what we see;” and “Flip our org chart” I also address membership—a prime concern among U.S. clubs.
RI President K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran’s theme embodies our Rotary opportunities. He states that Rotary gives us the chance of a lifetime to leave our legacy--not just with money, but with the most important gift of all—ourselves. Together we will make him proud. Our Time has come;
it will never come again. Be a Gift to the World.
--DG Murph
PS: Congratulations and welcome to our District’s newest club—Eagan Kick-Start—chartered on June 26, 2015.
Posted by Past District Governor Jim Nelson (Minneapolis City of Lakes)
POP QUIZ: Being a district governor is:
A. Intense
B. Time-consuming
C. Challenging
D. Inspirational
E. Educational
F. Satisfying
G Fun
H. All of the above
I had the honor of serving as District 5950’s and can attest that it is H. All of the above! But it’s so worth it. I met new friends and was tremendously inspired by our clubs.
I learned so much about Rotary – and myself. And the satisfaction of spending a year working with clubs in one of the premier Rotary districts in the world is beyond description.
But now it’s DG Tim’s turn, then DGE Mark Hegstrom (2016-17), and DGN Bob Halagan (2017-18).
In 2018-19? How about YOU? Picking our district governor for that year happens on September 25. I chair the nominating committee and we seek qualified candidates recommended and endorsed by their clubs. As a reminder of the qualifications and nomination process, click on the Read More link. Then submit your nomination to me at jnelson@briggs.com.
Posted by Bob Halagan, District 5950 Fundraising Chair, DG Nominee 2017-18 (Buffalo)
These unofficial, year-end results are simply sensational! I want to thank all of the clubs, their Presidents, President-Elects and Foundation Chairs for a phenomenal year. Thanks to District Governor Jim Nelson for his tireless advocacy on behalf of TRF. And thanks for all you do for Rotary!!
Jeanne Zetah, our Public Image Committee Website/ClubRunner expert, has worked tirelessly for months to complete a new online version of our District Directory. The value of this new directory is that it will be continuously updated throughout the Rotary year and is printable at any given point. Jeanne was able to get 100% of our clubs to either input or submit the necessary information to make our directory available this past week, the earliest in recent history!
Now Jeanne asks that appropriate club officers log into ClubRunner (either your club’s or our district’s) to review the club's information and make any necessary changes. The accuracy and value of the directory depends on each club updating its information. Please follow the instructions and link below to get started.
To access the 2015-16 directory, login at rotary5950.org; under the About 5950 tab, click on 2015-16 Directory. Information similar to past printed directories is organized into four sections:
Directory A - District Organization Chart: District leaders’ photos and contact information
Directory B - Clubs with Officers: Club leaders’ emails and preferred phone numbers
Directory C - Club Info: A list of clubs’ meeting information, websites, and mailing addresses
Rotary International and Other Information: Downloadable files about RI Headquarters, leadership, etc.
Members can view, download, and print individual reports. These will be updated weekly through August and then monthly. Members can update their own profiles on either their club or the district version of ClubRunner; club officers can update club information if it is not accurate. Contact Jeanne Zetah if you need help with accessing or revising information. (jeanne.zetah@hotmail.com or 952-937-0411)
Posted by Sam Dalal, Friendship Exchange Chair (Burnsville Breakfast),
The District 5950 Friendship Exchange program facilitates fun visits to worldwide destinations. District Rotarians traveled to India in 2013 and 2015, Nepal and Bhutan in 2014, and Australia in 2012. We now visit Argentina from February 21-March 5, 2016; a second Argentina trip is anticipated around September/October 2016.
The Argentina visit begins in Buenos Aires before driving west to Carmen de Areco where the group will stay with local Rotarians. Then it’s on to Mendoza, Argentina’s famous wine country, before returning to Buenos Aires for the trip’s final days.
Plan on a 2017 trip to India with tours of New Delhi and the Taj Mahal. Visit Sandhya Gupta’s (Bloomington Noon) projects with the girl’s school Nari Gunjan in Patna, a school and library in Palampur, and Dr. Abule Sharah’s International Village clinic in Vararnasi. Float down the Ganges River, and shop in Mumbai.
Upcoming trips include Cambodia, Laos, South Korea, and, possibly, the backroads of New Mexico and Arizona.
Join us! Interested? Please contact me at (612)-964-4400 or bombayflyr@icloud.com...or invite me to speak at your club meeting.
Bulletin Editor
Cheri Ashfeld
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
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