Rotary Opens Opportunities - What a perfect theme for 2020-21!

 

Rotary has always opened opportunities for fellowship, service and personal development for us as Rotarians. We Rotarians open opportunities for students through Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, Camp Enterprise and other programs. We offer opportunities for better lives in our local and global communities as we invest in our local non profits, global sanitation and hygiene projects, polio immunization and in so many other ways. However, as we face a global pandemic, systemic racial equity issues and ongoing environmental challenges, our communities need us to embrace the opportunities and challenges.

 

 

Global & Local Pandemic Response:  Our district was the international lead in helping the Rotary districts of hard hit Italy provide life-saving equipment for hospitals across their country. D5950 also received a substantial Rotary International (RI) grant for critically needed food shelf funding.

 

Environment:  Rotary International's new Area of Focus is Supporting the Environment. While Rotarians all over the world helped develop this initiative, our own Steve Solbrack was a vital contributor to RI making this decision. Steve led the chartering of the Twin Cities EcoClub, and serves as a director of the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG).

 

Racial Equity:  This is a critical issue in our community and across the country. I am asking all Rotary Club Presidents and District Leaders to join me in reflecting on our communities' and clubs' needs and in formulating action plans. (See article below for more district actions.)

 

New Rotarians and Cause-Based Clubs:  At least 75 new Rotarians joined our district during 2019-20! We chartered the first Rotary Club for Veterans; its 22 charter members quickly grew to over 50. In April we chartered a Passport Club with over 20 members, and in June we chartered the first Rotary Club to End Human Trafficking with 27 charter members. No other district in our Zone matched our growth of clubs or members.

 

Virtual Meetings - Finally, wow, have we ever created New Opportunities for Rotarians thrugh virtual meetings! One morning, my Edina Morningside club joined the Eden Prairie AM club for a fabulous presentation from the woman who is the voice of Siri -- joining us all the way from Australia! A dear friend in South Africa got up in the middle of the night to watch the video of my installation as your district governor. While I miss seeing everyone in person,
I am delighted to be able to see so many friends via Zoom meetings. And I love having friends from around the world get to know the amazing Rotarians in our district!

 

Thank you for the honor of letting me serve you as your District Governor this year.  

 

Yours in Rotary Service,