DG Curt Harris talks to us from his home in Evergreen, CO. August was Membership Month - in 2011 our District had 3,200 members, but we are now at only 2,900. And while clubs recruited 390 new members last year, we lost 440 - some within the first 6 months of joining.
New members bring new energy and new ideas - but new members alone will not GROW ROTARY. We need bigger, more impactful service projects in our communities that get noticed. We need clubs to collaborate on projects. The more effective we are, the more people will want to join our Rotary team.
September brings good news for each of the 52 Young Rotarian Clubs in District 5450. Each celebrates local and international service projects in 2018-19 we recognize and congratulate. Think of all the good they are doing in our world and what we are fostering for future Rotaractors and Rotarians!
2018-19 District Ron Prascher Young Rotary Award was presented to Conifer High School Interact Club by DG Curt Harris at a Conifer Rotary Club meeting this summer.
2018-19 Presidential Citation with GOLD Distinction was awarded by RI President Barry Rassin to four Interact clubs!
2018-19 brought 4 new Interact Clubs to District 5450:
District 5450 Young Rotary Conference – SAVE THE DATE – Saturday, November 2, 2019
Rotary Clubs: Be sure to UPDATE YOUR INTERACT CLUB INFO ON www.rotary.org
THE CASE FOR BRINGING PEACEFUL SCHOOLS PROGRAM (PSP) TO YOUR ROTARY CLUB
The Founding Fathers cited “education is the way to create an educated and virtuous citizenry.” According to Gallup polling, 90 percent of adults support the teaching in public schools of honesty, acceptance of others, and moral courage, among other character traits. The famous 4-way Test (as adapted in the PSP to Four Awesome Questions) is a proven, simple but profound ethical test that develops habits of moral reasoning.
Just as the 4-way Test proved itself over many years, so also the Peaceful Schools Program has proved itself in recent years. We believe kids are good. Good kids need a chance. Most schools today do not teach ethics. And our program does.
Do you have a lesson learned from a Rotary project which went completely different than expected? The district resource committee is holding a lessons learned contest. Send in your most unique, face-palm, “ummm-didn’t-see-that-coming” project implementation story to District Service Resource Chair Kevin Mizer at Kevin.r.mizer@gmail.com.
Best story received by September 20th will receive $100 and a certificate of “immeasurable value.” The stories will have all names removed and be used to deliver what will hopefully be a most unique and educational training cafe at the Sept. 21 Club Training Workshop to be held at Front Range Community College.
MEMBERSHIP - LOOKING FORWARD
Whether a club is newer or “vintage”, as some of our 100-year-old clubs are, one of the fastest ways to exclude a new member is to wax nostalgic about activities from the past. When you look back on the past and wish that things were the same, wanting to restore things to the way they were. You get it. But when you look back fondly, perhaps with pride, and then step fully into today, then it’s reflective.
MEGA POLIO CAMPAIGN 2020 - Have you ever wanted to participate in a National Immunization Day (NID)? This may be your last chance to volunteer in this life changing experience.
Rotarian Action Groups (RAGS) are international groups of Rotarians, family members, program participants, and alumni who are experts in a particular field or passionate about topics such as microcredit, peace, the environment, or water. Rotarian Action Groups (RAGs) give members opportunities to engage in service activities and network with likeminded members around the world. Group members collaborate with clubs and districts on service projects by offering their technical expertise or helping them find partners, funding, and other resources. RAGs can also help clubs prepare grant applications, conduct community assessments, raise funds, and establish monitoring and evaluation plans.
MEMBERSHIP, AND ABUSE & HARASSMENT COMMITTEES NEED YOUR HELP!!!
Memberhip Committee: are you passionate about growing membership and awareness in Rotary? Perhaps a role on the Membership Team is for you - Satellites, RI Leads, and Club Specialists - be a resource to clubs in the District. Contact Lynn Perez-Hewitt perezhewitt@hceonline.com
Abuse & Harassment Chair (2020-2021): this comittee is charged with safeguarding youth and other vulnerable persons with whom Rotarians, and volunteers in our activities, come into contact. If interested contact DG Curt Harris DGCurt2019.20@rotary5450.org
Let Rotary Club members know about your business/profession! Features include search by topic or key word, Google map location, ability to edit your listing at any time - all for only $25 per year!
The attached report shows Annual Fund and Polio Plus goals entered by each club into Rotary Club Central, and the numbers and per capita achieved by each club. The District 5450 goal is to have an increase in Membership, and for Every Rotarian to give something Every Year (EREY).
CLUB CONNECTIONS
THAT'S A LOT OF PANCAKES!
In July, 1975, a tradition in Grand Lake began that realized its 45th year in July, 2019 – Grand Lake Rotary’s annual pancake breakfasts. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, and juice/coffee with that small town charm. What’s unique about this tradition is that for the 45th consecutive year, Rotarian Frank Appelhans cooked pancakes. Serving over 1200 people in 4 hours on the 4th of July is no small task. The 4th of July and the Buffalo Days pancake events bring in over $10,000 each summer. READ MORE...
DENVER TECH CENTER GOLF TOURNAMENT
Great success this year with $10,520 in New Scholarships! The club partnered with Denver Wealth Management (DWM) – a local wealth management firm – to host their first annual Denver Wealth Management Open. The charity tournament was hosted at Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden, CO. Fossil Trace has been honored on numerous occasions as one of the premier courses in Denver. CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL STORY
BOULDER FLATIRONS ROTARY MAKES THE DAILY CAMERA!
The Annual Back-to-School night barbecue at Alicia Sanchez Elementary brings kids, families, organizations together to celebrate the beginning of a school year. Boulder County organizations annually gather to help give back to families. For the past few years, Flatirons Rotary of Boulder has been cooking several hundred hot dogs and serving them to school families. On August 29, the group prepared 500 hot dogs for students, parents and family members. Click Here to read the full Daily Camera story.
Do you want your club's projects and stories listed in the monthly District Newsletter? If so, 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's club's site, which will let them know more about your club and members.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
WHY DO ROTARIANS GIVE?
Knowing what motivates Rotarians to give to the Rotary Foundation is vital to the growth and longevity of your club's fundraising efforts.A gift to The Rotary Foundation is an investment. Gifts to the Annual Fund enable Rotarians to change people’s lives and communities while creating lifelong relationships. Like financial investors, Annual Fund donors have the potential to receive returns far greater than their initial investment. Sometimes these returns occur immediately but often the returns occur over time.
Please let us know if we can help support your club in annual giving efforts with resources, presentations, and visits. Send us an email at our new foundation email address: foundation@rotary5450.org
SEPTEMBER IS NEW GENERATIONS MONTH
We have much to celebrate with our alumni scholars who are making a difference in the world. Click HEREto find out more about 2017-18 recipient James Terhune and 2018-19 recipient Brian Adams and where to find them in the world.
TWO $30,000 SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE
Our Rotary District 5450 will be awarding 2 very significant scholarships to study outside the USA for the 2020-2021 year. Eligible applicants will intend to study and have future career plans related to at least one of the Rotary Six Areas of Focus. Please promote these scholarships and discuss them at your Club meetings. CLICK HERE to read the full story.
TEMPLE HOYNE BUELL SCHOLARSHIP
Update on this year’s TWO scholars – Jay Arehart and Morgan Marzo are graduate students in the University of Colorado Educational System. Last year, both received the Temple Hoyne Buell Scholarship through Rotary District 5450. Both students have mentioned the awesome scholarship opportunity for both of them and encourage undergraduates and graduate students for the Fall application deadline. Click here to fine out more about the scholarship, and Click here to read more about Jay and Morgan.
PEACE FELLOW SCHOLARSHIPS
Our District found a wonderful applicant in Amy Stenson, whom our District team has submitted to RI for the 3-month program at the Rotary Center Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Fingers crossed she is 1 of the 25 students chosen from around the world. We are getting ready to start accepting this year’s applications. Key Eligibility Requirements:
Each applicant must have completed five years of related work experience in the field of peace and conflict resolution.
Selected applicants will be slotted to attend a 3-month February or August session that best fits the applicant’s and Rotary’s schedule
Applications for this program can be submitted at any time
What is your club doing to recognize this important day? Start planning now! Key dates:
August 21, 2019 - Nigeria reached three years without a wild polio case. A great day for all Nigerians and for Rotary.
October 24, 2019 - World Polio Day. Plan your event now!
November 23, 2019 - Ride to End Polio in Tucson. Also Indoor Ride to End Polio at homes and gyms around the world. See www.ridetoendpolio.org
TRF TRIVIA:
Finally, every month, we will have a little trivia and this month’s prize for the 6th email received from a District 5450 Rotarian with the answer will receive a ROTARY FUN GIFT(VALUE OF $20.00) sent to your address.
THE SEPTEMBER QUESTION:
WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST ROTARY FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP (LATER CALLED AMBASSADORIAL SCHOLARSHIP) GRANTED?Forward your answer, name and best mailing address to: dwillman66@icloud.com
NEXT MONTH: POLIO PLUS - WE ARE SO CLOSE.
UPCOMING EVENTS & TRAINING
Click the links below to view event information...