October -- Rotary Opens Opportunities Newsletter (Oct 06, 2020)

Message from DG Elizabeth

We have 75% of our Rotary Year left...let's make the most of it to continue to innovate, adapt, expand, and enhance. There's no time like the present to examine your club's strategic plan and to do some of the deferred maintenance that every club (and district!) has. I look forward to continuing to work alongside each and every Rotarian in D6840 and, with your help, to keep welcoming more and more into your clubs and our incredible organization. In the words of RC Slidell member Vicky Magas, "It's a great day to be a Rotarian!"

As I prepare this update, in true 2020 form we have another possible hurricane heading our way. I have no doubt that we will unite and face that together. And even though we are united in our core values as Rotarians of service, integrity, fellowship, diversity, and leadership, from club to club and community to community, our leaders are making vastly different decisions on how to best to achieve our shared goals. The wonder of Rotary is that, despite our differences, these core values will guide our actions in different ways to achieve the best possible outcomes for our members and our communities.

October is the best weather month in our area so there is always a lot happening with your families, clubs, and communities. We invite you to take a break from planning and to enjoy the fruits of the district's labor: we have an Interact training opportunity, the launching of a new Rotary Leadership Institute class, and the first-ever Pints for Polio Virtual Pub Crawl! Your acts of service include participation in Rotary Opportunities that you and your club members don't have to plan. Fellowship is a lot easier when you're not in charge of logistics. I will consider it a personal favor if you raise a glass with me and Polio Plus Chair PDG Brian Hall on October 23rd. We've got virtual brewery tours and special guests, prizes, and trivia about beer, polio, and Rotary. If you're in an area with open bars and are so inclined, grab some club members, put on your favorite Rotary gear, and join the call from the bar! Or call in from your favorite seat in the house. Either way, drop in for a pint or two (no driving --or drinking-- required).

Invitations have gone out from PDG Bob Haeuser to a Presidents Awards Dinner on Jan 8, 2021 at the Higgins Hotel in New Orleans, where the 19-20 District Conference was to have been held. He and I have been working closely together with a team of Rotarians to open this opportunity to celebrate the 2019-2020 club presidents. Please, if you served as president, make plans to attend.

October is Economic and Community Development Month

Nearly 1.4 billion employed people live on less than $1.25 a day. Our members promote economic and community development and reduce poverty in underserved communities through training, well-paying jobs, and access to financial management institutions. Projects range from providing people with equipment to vocational training. Our members work to strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

Resources & reference

Read Economic and Community Development Project Strategies, a guide for economic and community development projects
Browse Rotary Showcase for member projects that help grow local economies
Find a project to sponsor on Rotary Ideas

Click HERE to check out our D6840 Interactive Quarantine (RIQ) -- share this with your Interactors and Interact Sponsors

Morning Coffee with DG Elizabeth
ZOOM
Oct 07, 2020 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

District 6840 INTERACT TRAINING Session 2
VIA ZOOM
Oct 08, 2020 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

2020 Virtual Summit (Rotary Zones 30 & 31)
ZOOM
Oct 10, 2020 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Part 1 ONLY Virtual RLI (3 consecutive weeks)
ZOOM
Oct 15, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Third Cohort Virtual RLI (10 consecutive weeks with Thanksgiving off)
ZOOM
Oct 15, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

PINTS FOR POLIO VIRTUAL PUB CRAWL

Oct 23, 2020 4:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Morning Coffee with DG Elizabeth
ZOOM
Nov 04, 2020 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

Part 2 ONLY Virtual RLI (3 consecutive weeks)
ZOOM
Nov 05, 2020 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Youth Exchange Application Due

Nov 13, 2020

Morning Coffee with DG Elizabeth
ZOOM
Dec 02, 2020 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM

View entire list

Although the final quarter of Rotary Year 2019-2020 was, shall we say, knocked off course while we redirected efforts to understanding COVID19 and the challenges of leadership in a global pandemic, sixteen of the 50 Rotary Clubs in D6840 earned the Rotary Presidential Citation!

In 2012, ShelterBox became Rotary International’s first Project Partner and remains the only disaster relief charity.

In 2019-2020, five clubs in D6840 were recognized as HERO Clubs for their substantial support to this international relief agency and its efforts to provide dignity and safety to those forced out of their homes: SILVER: Rotary Club of Slidell; BRONZE: Rotary Clubs of Slidell Northshore, Northlake-Mandeville, Metairie, and Belle Chasse.

D6840 Deputy Governor for Youth Services, Sam Walley of the RC of Bay St. Louis, will hold the second Open Opportunity for Interact on October 8.

D6840 District Governor Elizabeth and Polio Plus Chair Brian Hall invite EVERYONE to our first ever Pints for Polio Virtual Pub Crawl on World-Polio-Day-Eve, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23!

ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE:

The Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) curriculum was designed as a deep dive into all things Rotary. For brand new Rotarians, RLI offers an opportunity to learn about aspects of our international organization that few clubs will cover in the course of a normal quarter -- or even a full Rotary year. For seasoned Rotarians, the course is an opportunity to take a few steps back from the particulars of your own specific club and perhaps reorient historical projects or revitalize some that have fallen by the wayside. Current club leaders benefit from the opportunity to collaborate and test ideas with their colleagues from clubs both near and far.

We have the capacity in the virtual space for up to 30 Rotarians in each class cohort. It is our hope that 2 members from every club in the district will take advantage of the opportunity to come together in the virtual setting for a specific time commitment: 9 classes of 1.5 hours each. The session that beings in October will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-7:30. Course materials are distributed in advance. Participants --no matter their Rotary experience-- will engage in meaningful discussions about leadership and specific projects with everyone over the course. The facilitators are Rotary leaders from D6840 and beyond, they will change each week and ensure that participants have the greatest possible exposure to a wide variety of experiences and perspectives.

individual Rotarians contributing to The Annual Fund of the Rotary Foundation have reached 16% of the goal of $125 average per member
75% of the clubs whose presidents entered goals in Rotary Club Central have made significant progress
only 1 club showed a double-digit percentage drop in membership since July 1
efforts are under way to start a D6840 Passport Club before the year is up!

the Rotary Club of Pass Christian has had an incredible 48% growth in membership since July 1.
Also with double-digit membership growth are the Rotary Club of Mid-City New Orleans at 25% and the Rotary Club of Long Beach at 10%
overall, D6840 has a net increase in members. Reach out to Membership Chair Jamie Haeuser to jumpstart your club's efforts!
thank you, each and every one, for the tremendous work you are doing

DG Elizabeth's GOALS for the year that ROTARY OPENS OPPORTUNITIES

Every Rotarian Every Year (individual donation to the Rotary Foundation)

Two members per club graduate from Rotary Leadership Institute (link on Rotary6840.org)

Every Club President earn the Presidential Citation (set and achieve 13 of 25 goals on Rotary.org)

100% club participation at the Mid Year Check Up Jan 9,2021 in New Orleans

and the Celebration at the Centennial May 21-22, 2021 in Gulfport