Month: June 2013
Reflections on Rotary
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who wants to do something extraordinary…to rise above the daily routine…to make a difference in a community and the world.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who takes on a small tasks with unusual enthusiasm.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who has a vision of the world at peace, brought about by goodwill and understanding.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who sees three million children each year die from disease and asks: Why?
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who sees1,200 Rotary Foundation scholarships awarded each year and asks: Why not more?
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who believes that truth is a difficult and worthy pursuit.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who acts not out of convenience but out of conviction.
A Rotarian is an ordinary person who believes that “Service Above Self” is more than an ideal. It is a belief that transforms an ordinary person into an extraordinary member of the world community.
James N. Lucas, Past-President,
Bloomington Rotary Club
Published in the DG Installation event program
MN club featured in RI’s “Membership Minute”
Young Professionals Campaign helps clubs reach a wider audience
The Young Professionals Campaign is helping Rotary clubs and districts learn the best practices for engaging younger members and sharing Rotary’s message with a broader audience. The campaign
encourages Rotary clubs to build relationships by inviting young professionals to a community service or networking event rather than a weekly meeting.
Districts 5950 (Minnesota, USA) and 5960 (parts of MN and WI) hosted an event, promoted through social media, at which volunteers stuffed 500 backpacks with school supplies for two local youth groups. Afterward, the volunteers — young professionals with no previous connection to Rotary — socialized with Rotarians over food and drinks.
Isaiah Connection receives Big Check for mission trip
Pastor Ben McEachern and his team from NorthRidge Fellowship will again travel to Honduras for a mission trip. This year the Rogers Rotary Foundation increased its financial support to $2,000, presented in a big check.
Pictured with Ben (center) is Mary Harbeck, a board member from Isaiah Connection, partner to NorthRidge Fellowship for the last eight years. Mary is a registered nurse who leads the medical aspect of the trip.
Rotary-donated funds will be used to purchase Hygiene Packs that each contain shampoo, soap, tooth brush, comb, nail clipper, washcloth, etc. The church will also use the money to purchase medicines they distribute during the trip, though the exact needs aren’t known until they arrive.
A portion of the funds may be used for a clean water project in a squatter’s village. While there is plenty of clean water up the mountain, the challenge is getting it down to the village.
Each year the NorthRidge Fellowship group sits down with their partners once they arrive in Honduras, determining the most pressing immediate and long-term needs.
New polio case shows the difficulty in eradication
—RI News
A case of type 1 polio was reported in the Banadir region of Somalia, the country’s first case since March 2007. In response, an immunization campaign took place May 14-16, aimed at reaching more than 350,000 children in the region.
Rotary also mourns the loss of another polio eradication worker who died tragically in a May 13 attack in Pakistan.
Oklahoma Rotary districts distribute tornado relief money
Your May 22 fine money and designated contributions for Moore, OK tornado relief will reach affected families and businesses directly through local Rotary clubs.
Rogers Rotary Foundation treasurer Gaylene Olson connected with RI Districts 5770 and 5750 who created a bi-district fund exclusively for tornado relief contribution management.
Thank you for your generous response!