As we step into the month of May, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the recent District Conference and express my gratitude for the incredible support and participation from all of you.
The conference was a resounding success, and it was heartwarming to see the dedication, camaraderie, and energy that each and every one of you brought to the event. I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to all the District award winners. Your commitment and impactful contributions truly encapsulate the spirit of Rotary.
One of the highlights of our conference was the awe-inspiring performance by the 11-year-old musical prodigy, Jude Kofie. His talent and passion for music left us all in awe. As a Rotary family, we have the opportunity to support Jude in his pursuit of further musical education. I encourage you to consider donating to his GoFundMe campaign to help him continue his musical journey: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jude-the-mozart-of-aurora-co
As we head into the final stretch of this Rotary year, let's aim to finish strong. Every project, every initiative, every act of service brings us closer to our goals. Let's continue to embody the spirit of service above self, pushing our boundaries and making impactful strides within our communities and beyond. Remember, we are not just doing good in the world; we are making a difference, and we are doing it together.
In the midst of our service, let us not forget the importance of looking after each other. As Rotarians, we are not just members of a Club but part of a larger Rotary family. The task of taking care of each other is a responsibility for all of us. Let's continue to support, encourage, and uplift each other as we work towards our shared goals.
Wishing you all a productive and fulfilling May.
2023 DISTRICT CONFERENCE
THE 2023 DISTRICT CONFERENCE WAS A GREAT SUCCESS!
Saturday, April 29, 2023 | The Cable Center
Over 260 Rotarians came together for fellowship, breakout sessions, great speakers and entertainment at the 2023 District Conference. A highlight was Jude Kofie - the 11-year old piano prodigy. Jude played a variety of songs during the cocktail hour and to close out the event. Bill Magnusson, the Denver Southeast Rotarian who gifted Jude a grand piano, gave a moving introduction. CLICK HERE to see a short video of Jude and his family. More speaker videos will be posted as they become available.
THE DISTRICT IS HERE FOR YOU
POLIO FUNDRAISER - LIVE FROM SCOTLAND!
View the video recordings from the May 3, 2023 live event:
It's with a heavy heart we announce the passing of Past District Governor Russell Gleason on April 29, 2023. Russ joined Rotary in 1969 and served as District Governor in 1992-1993. He was a member of Lakewood Foothills Rotary Club. His daughter Ruthe shared "Many throughout the Rotary world and District 5450 he considered a friend, family or both. Rotary was dear to his heart and encouraged everyone to support this wonderful organization. There are no plans at this time for a celebration of life. But, sometime this summer, there will be a soiree to remember all the good created by Dad."
THE DISTRICT HAS A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE:https://www.facebook.com/rotary5450 Our old page was taken down by Facebook – so please LIKE our new page! Club Events are posted on our Facebook page and have the most reach to more members.
DISTRICT & DISTRICT GOVERNOR AWARDS were announced during the District Conference. Congratulations to the Denver Metro South Rotary Club for winning the Paul Harris Club Award, and to Brianna Sherman (Denver Metro South) for winning the Rotarian of the Year Award.
CLICK HERE to see the complete list of District Award winners. Club Awards will be announced by the sponsoring club.
MARSHALL FIRE FUNDS DISTRIBUTED! PDG Ray Anderson and Natural Disaster Response Committee Chair JD Krones presented the final funds from the Marshall Fire donations to on April 27 to community organization currently helping with the recovery and the community-wide rebuilding efforts. The December 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed more than 1,100 homes in Louisville, Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County and took the lives of two residents.
In the days and weeks following the fire, support poured in from Rotarians, Rotary clubs, and friends from across the country. The total amount raised was $153,373. The YMCA of Northern Colorado identified immediate needs, and $46,000 was donated last March 2022. The Natural Disaster Response Committee received applications for funding, with a focus on mental health, children and family services. The remaining funds were distributed at the April 2023 event as follows: Impact on Education (Foundation for Boulder Valley Schools) - $20,000; Jewish Family Service - $35,000; Marshall ROC - $35,000; Marshall Together - $17,373.
The ROTARY BUSINESS NETWORK is proving to be a great success! Created by Rad Elekovic (Centennial) in an effort to bring Rotarians together for business networking and fellowship, each person has 1 to 2 minutes to present their business, and a list of the businesses can be found on the Rotary Business Network site page. Register now for the 7:00 pm April 12 meeting!
CO ROTARY LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE!
In order to obtain your license plate, your club secretary must sign the Membership Verification Form, which you must take the signed form to your local Department of Vehicles office. The cost will be about $65-70 depending on your county. You will need to turn in your current license plates at the time of your order, and you will be given temporary paper plates. Your new plates will be mailed to you in 2-6 weeks. Click here for the complete application process. Show your Rotary support - order your plates now!
JOIN THE DISTRICT'S ONLINE DIRECTORY & DO BUSINESS WITH OTHER ROTARIANS! Register now for only $5 per year!Let other Rotarians know how to reach you! http://rotary5450.business/ - learn more and read about the features: Get details HERE... and check out the new Rotary Business Network page on the District website.
CLUB MEMBERSHIP & GIVING REPORT 04.10.2023 - Click Here
CLUB CONNECTIONS
eClub One Raffle Drawing at the District Conference - thanks to everyone who purchased a ticket to support eClub One, the first eClub in the world! Click here to view the raffle winners.
Denver Cherry Creek Dental Mission to Roatan, Honduras October 20-28, 2023 - planning is already underway with the local Rotary club. Denver Cherry Creek needs more dental personnel to make the project successful. Please share information about the trip with colleagues, friends and associates. Please contact Sarah Werner if you have any questions or can help!
Post your story on your club's website or Facebook page, and then send the link to office@rotary5450.org.Doing so will give your club more exposure - readers will see the story on your club's site, which will let them know more about your club and members.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
The Rotary Foundation Mission (7/2021): The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.Click the links below to read the full stories...
MAY IS YOUTH SERVICES MONTH: One of the Rotary’s main avenues of service, Youth Services and is the Rotary theme for May. Whether it is Rotaract, Interact, Young Rotary, RYLA, or Rotary Youth Exchange, the youth that we collaborate with, help support in club service, mentor, fundraise for, offer leadership training and other learning opportunities, have an increasing role in our Rotary lives and truly have the Service above Self spirit and true heart-led leadership.
As we complete the school year with our youth, let’s continue to celebrate them, with end of the year celebrations, scholarship awards, finish our interviews for RYLA and Young RYLA, and continue to focus and nurture our youth in service for the summertime by inviting them to service projects and club fundraisers. From this month's Rotary magazine - 4 WAYS to ELEVATE YOUTH VOICES.CLICK HERE to read more.
The Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair's Message - May 2023 | "Do all the good you can, to all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can." While we don't know its exact origin, this widely quoted saying summarizes what Rotary and The Rotary Foundation are all about: We do quite a lot of good, serving people around the world in myriad ways, and we are in it for the long haul.
How many other charities do so much good in so many ways for so many as The Rotary Foundation? CLICK HERE to read more...
DID YOU KNOW? Our Peace Centers award up to 90 fellowships each year. Through this program, experienced professionals earn a post-graduate diploma in peace and development studies at one of our partner universities in Thailand or Uganda. Apply by 15 May! Learn more: https://on.rotary.org/34EPnhD
Rotary Peace Centers is a program of The Rotary Foundation and all donations help fully support our scholars in these Peace Center Fellowships. Donate now at https://www.rotary.org/en/donate.
DISTRICT 5450 GRANTS BREAKING NEWS! Congratulations District 5450 Rotarians! We have spent all of this year’s District Designated Funds Grant financial resources available. We will start over in the new Rotary year, 2023-2024 on July 1, 2023.
REGISTER NOW for the June 15 Grants/Club Qualification Live Webinar - this webinar will meet the training requirement for any Club that wants to sponsor a Rotary Grant in 2023-2024. Note that the lead Club on a Grant must be qualified before the Grant is approved.
This training is recommended for the lead Rotarian on a Grant, as well as incoming Club Presidents, Foundation Chairs, and Club Grant Committee Chairs. Topics include:
Club Qualification requirements
MOU
Club IRS filing documentation
District Grants
Global Grants
Reporting and Stewardship
CALLING ALL PRESIDENT ELECTS!Great job attending all of your PETS sessions! Here are the Rotary Foundation PE's top 3tips of the month:
In the next few weeks, please work with your Rotary Foundation or Club Foundation chair to determine dollar amount goals for Annual Fund and PolioPlus for the Rotary year 2020-2021 and report those goals on Rotary Club Central by May 1st.
By June 1, please work with your chairs to select and prepare your foundation (Club and or Rotary) committee members for 2023-2024.
Finally, by July 1, please create subcommittees or teams as needed to help solidify your work in the upcoming year with PolioPlus, Annual Fund giving, Rotary Foundation education, grants/projects, etc.
Enjoy this incredible journey leading your Rotary club! Please contact Dave Willman, Rotary 5450 Foundation Chair, at foundation@rotary5450.org if The District 5450 Rotary Foundation Team can help in any way.
PAKISTANI POLIO WORKERS THINK “OUTSIDE THE BOX” - See what Pakistan is doing to reach those not vaccinated and who may be, without knowing it, spreading the virus. This example of “thinking outside the box” is the innovative initiative of the Nomads Immunization Team. The task is to find nomadic settlements and vaccinate the children against polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases. CLICK HERE to read more...
Attending the Rotary Convention in Melbourne?You are invited to the PolioPlus breakout session “Delivering on the Dream of a Polio-free World,” scheduled for May 31, from 9:00-10:00 AM. Come to this session, moderated by International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael McGovern, to hear a global update on the status of polio eradication efforts from WHO Polio Eradication Director Aidan O’Leary and remarks from Past RI President John Germ, RI Director Jessie Harman, and Rotary Foundation Trustee and National PolioPlus Committee Chair in Pakistan Aziz Memon.
NEXT MONTH: JUNE – HAPPY NEW ROTARY YEAR! SUMMER'S COMING!
THE DISTRICT HAS A NEW FACEBOOK PAGE:
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