Posted by DG Bill Downes (Mountain Foothills) DGBill2016.17@rotary5450.org
IGNITE YOUR ENTHUSIASM
NAVIGATE A COURSE OF ACTION
PAINT A PICTURE
INVITE PARTICIPATION
REINFORCE OPTIMISM
ENCOURAGE POTENTIAL
FACE CHALLENGES
WIN TRUST
BE AUTHENTIC
EARN RESPECT
STAY CURIOUS
SHARE THE VISION
UNITE THE GROUP
TRANSPARENCY
EMPOWER
BE A GOOD FOLLOWER
SHOW BY EXAMPLE
A little while ago, an Assistant Governor asked me “Bill, what most makes the difference to a successful club. Without thinking, I responded immediately ‘Inspired Leadership’. I have been thinking about that ever since as to what that really means.
Leadership is the ability to unite a group towards a common goal. In this case, “Service Above Self” as relates to the Mission of Rotary. It is the ability to chart a course of action to get there, invite the participants to join in, reinforce progress and optimism and always encourage future potential of the gains to be realized.
I believe Leadership is something that distinguishes Rotary from other Service Organizations. A great deal of our District and RI resources is devoted to training our future leaders. We are constantly emphasizing to our Leadership to be on the lookout for those who may be able to step up in the future. And give them a hand up to get there.
But in this case, we are talking of INSPIRED Leadership. What does that mean? Inspired to me means to take it to another level. To be passionate about what we do. To really believe in the cause and show it. To face the challenges of our mission and be real about the problems. To earn the respect of our members and win trust. To show by example how we can overcome the hurdles and achieve our goals. And to empower our membership to become the best they can be.
Inspired Leadership applies up and down our organization from Clubs to District and even (especially) to RI. I work at it all the time. We will persevere because it is in our DNA. I know our future District Governors, ExComm, Committee Chairs and Assistant Governors will do everything they can do to make us better Rotarians, achieve our goals and objectives and help Rotary and us Serve Humanity.
Posted by DG Bill Downes (Mountain Foothills) DGBill2016.17@rotary5450.org
I regret to announce that because of personal reasons, Dan Gust will be unable to fulfill his duties as District Governor for the year 2019-2020. Accordingly,the nominating committee has decided to reopen nominations for District Governor for 2019-2020 effective immediately. Among other things, to be a District Governor, the applicant must have served as a Club President and have the full support and endorsement of the applicant’s home club in order to apply.
All applications must be in by June 1 and should be sent directly to Past District Governor Mary Kay Hasz (marykaydg15-16@marykayhasz.com) who is Chair of the Nominating Committee this year. Applicant interviews by the Nominating Committee will follow shortly thereafter. Any questions regarding the application process and form detail should be directed to Mary Kay (303.888.1867). Click here to download the application form.
Thanks to Fred Jorgensen (University Hills) for taking photos at the 2017 District Conference. Downloads are free - if you want to purchase prints or souvenirs (like coffee mugs, mouse pads, coasters, etc.) , just hit the “Buy” button. Link: https://jorgensenphotography.smugmug.com/Rotary-District-Conference/
Posted by Jim Rohrer (Mountain Foothills) jim.rohrer2@gmail.com
Organizations spend time, energy and money on conferences because they believe these events cause the organization to gain focus and traction. They believe that highly dedicated members will work even harder for the organization and others will become more dedicated because of the motivation gained at the event. Those of us who worked on the conference were happy to bring our best efforts to Cheyenne Mountain for Bill Downes and for all District 5450 Rotarians.
I truly wish every single Rotarian in our District could have been there, but the reality is that these events are expensive in both time and money, so they don't work for all of us. So for those who could not attend, I want to try to convey one of the most striking things that happened. Saturday morning nine of our clubs were given just eight minutes each to present to the group the project of which they are the most proud. The list of clubs who presented varied from small to very large. The projects varied from a pie throwing event to programs to feed kids. All nine projects were successful both in terms of serving communities, but also in building pride and support for Rotary and their club. In my mind, these clubs were the stars of the event as they conveyed the real power of Rotary.....individual clubs who take action to serve communities local or global. So thank you Grand Lake, Denver Southeast, Longmont Twin Peaks, Mountain Foothills, Boulder, Aurora Fitzsimons, Cherry Creek Valley of Parker, Highlands Ranch, and Littleton. You showed us how to make positive things happen by sharing your project success. You demonstrated the power of Rotary.
So now we are back home and the success of the conference will be determined by what we do as Rotarians. I wrote down three things which Chad Hymas told us. I wrote them inside the front of his book so I will not lose the ideas:
Focus on others and the contributions they make. Thank them often
People remember how you make them feel, not necessarily what you say
You have to be willing to change yourself and what you do
Thanks Chad, for changing us.....we will do better.
PDG George Mendenhall, 52 year member of Littleton Rotary Club, passed away on April 25, 2017. He served as District Governor in 1983-84.
A memorial service in his honor will take place:
May 12 at 10:00 am
Horan & McConaty Family Chapel 5303 East County Line Road Centennial, CO 80112
The family would welcome your thoughts and remembrances which you can easily leave on the website Guestbookcreated for the occasion. Once on the page, you may need to scroll down a little to locate the Guestbook.
Posted by Sharon Maybee (Commerce City) semaybee@aol.com
It’s time to start talking about mental health in our communities. WHERE?
In SCHOOLS
With YOUTH
With SENIORS
With VETERANS
At CHURCHES
With EVERYDAY PEOPLE
Talking about mental health CAN BE DIFFICULT...
WHAT TO SAY:
Thanks for opening up to me.
How can I help?
Thanks for sharing.
I’m sorry to hear that; it must be tough.
I’m here for you when you need me.
I can’t imagine what you’re going through.
People do get better.
Can I drive you to an appointment?
How are you feeling today?
I love you!!
WHAT NOT to SAY:
It could be worse.
Just deal with it.
Snap out of it!
Everyone feels that way sometimes.
We’ve all been there.
You’ve got to pull yourself together!
Maybe try thinking happier thoughts.
Stop the silence. Efforts in mental health and wellness by Rotarians CAN and WILL preserve life, prevent further harm, promote recovery resiliency and provide comfort and support to those desperately in need. Let’s talk!
The Commerce City Rotary Club’s Mental Health Initiative is very proud to have been selected as a House of Friendship exhibitor at the 2017 Rotary International Convention in Atlanta! Stop by booth #2618 and visit with us.
If you are planning to attend the convention and would like to help out staffing the booth with us, please contact Sharon Maybee at semaybee@aol.com. See you in Atlanta!
On 25 March, more than 190,000 polio vaccinators traveled by foot and bike to immunize more than 116 million children under the age of 5 throughout 13 countries in west and central Africa. The goal was to increase childhood immunity against polio and stop the disease for good. In August 2016, four children were paralyzed by polio in the Borno state of Nigeria, an area widely considered to be the last remaining stronghold of the disease on the continent. African public health ministers from five Lake Chad Basin countries declared the outbreak a regional public health emergency and have committed to multiple synchronized immunization campaigns.
In 2015, there were 74 reported cases of polio.
In 2016, that number dropped to 37.
So far, in 2017, that number has dropped even further - to single digits.
Posted by Bob Kemp (Denver Mile High) rkemp10453@aol.com
Push to finish the Rotary Year STRONG.
As most of us know, the current Rotary fiscal year ends on June 30th. We will close out the 2016-17 year and begin another new Rotary year on July 1. The new year will bring new Club Officers, a new District Governor and a new R.I. President. We will reset all of our key metrics for membership and fundraising along with other significant milestones for determining how we are progressing as an organization.
Before we shift our focus to the 2017-18 Rotary year, we have some unfinished business that requires all of our attention. That business is to ensure that we finish THIS YEAR strong. We should all take a few minutes to look at our Club and District Goals and ensure that we are on track to meet or, hopefully, exceed them. Nowhere is this more important than with our fundraising goals.
Funds that we contribute to the Rotary International Foundation (TRF) are, in turn, returned to our District and our individual Clubs in the form of District Designated Funds (DDF) as well as the matching funds that TRF provides from the World Fund in support of our Global Grant projects. The level of support we receive from TRF is directly tied to our level of giving. Most of us would like to see Rotary grow and prosper. This requires members, projects and the resources to accomplish those projects. Funding is the fuel that drives our ability to “Do good in the World”. Those words were the stated purpose of our Foundation 100 years ago – and they remain as important today.
We have two months left to meet and exceed our fundraising goals for this Rotary year. We have two months left to celebrate the 100thCentennial Year of our Foundation. So how can you help?
Posted by Peggy Halderman (Golden) pjhalderman@comcast.net
Downtown Golden, Colorado, welcomed an historic figure in the Rotary World on Saturday, April 22. The keynote presenter was none other than Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, first woman Rotary Club president in the world. She regaled everyone with her memories of just how women in Rotary came about, including the day she spent four hours with the media detailing the slow march from having the club charter pulled by Rotary International for having admitted women, all the way through the Supreme Court unanimous ruling. Today, she is a much sought after speaker who inspires Rotarians of all ages to service to others and to do what is right, embracing the principles of the 4-Way Test.
Dr. Whitlock was then joined by District 5450 first woman District Governor Talee Crowe who invited the women who followed in her footsteps: PDG Diane Kessel Knight (now District 5440), PDG Karen Sekich, and PDG Mary Kay Hasz. PDG Talee Crowe shared one “ah-hah” moment about her time as the first woman District Governor. At the time of Zone Institute training, she was advised as the District Governor that during the “presentation ceremony,” the DG’s spouse would probably be comfortable wearing a dress suitable for church and to expect the fun time shopping and enjoy cups of tea. Needless to say, the organization and its expectations and policies had not quite caught up with the fact that women were moving into leadership positions.
Posted by Nan Jarvis (Mountain Foothills) johnnan@comcast.net
This month, from 24 to 30 April, we join WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in celebrating World Immunization Week, raising awareness of the incredible impact that vaccines have had on global health. This year's theme is "Vaccines Work" – and they do. The proof is in our polio eradication campaign. Thirty years ago, there were an estimated 350,000 cases of polio per year worldwide. Only 37 cases of polio were recorded in 2016. As of 19 April, there have only been five. All of the other cases, and the paralysis and death they would have brought, were prevented through the widespread use of a safe, reliable, and inexpensive vaccine.
In an uncertain world, vaccines offer something remarkable: a way to protect our children throughout their lives. By working together to safeguard all children against polio and other preventable diseases, Rotary is truly Serving Humanity – now and for generations to come.
Sincerely,
John F. Germ President, Rotary International 2016-17
Posted by Mary Jean Ewing (Boulder Flatirons) maryjeanewing@earthlink.net
This past month has been very busy for the Polio Committee and we have also received wonderful support from our District at many levels. We are grateful!
On the 15th of April, the committee reviewed Club support for the Polio Plus campaign. We showed that 19 clubs had met our Committee Challenge of $50/member, while 14 clubs had met the goal of RI President John Germ of $2,650. The Rotary Club of Golden held a wonderful program on Saturday, April 22nd, "Celebrating 30 Years of Women in Rotary” which included Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, first woman Rotary Club President of Duarte, CA, as well as our District 5450 Women PDG’s - Talee Crowe, Karen Sekich, Diane Kessel Knight, and Mary Kay Hasz. The combined wisdom and sharing of their “aha” moments as women in Rotary resulted in a very rich program for all of us.
Polio Plus will also benefit. The District Conference this past weekend was rich with speakers, entertainment, sharing from many Clubs and fellowship. Carl Tinstman brought us up to date with the “End Polio Now” campaign; Grant Wilkins, PDG and Past Rotary International Director, shared his work with the USA Rotary Advocacy Committee; and we recognized Littleton Foothills as the highest per member donation of $145+. All in all a lot for us to celebrate! Thank you all who make this District great.
We have two months of this Rotary year remaining. You might wish to use this short video in your Club as a reminder of what we do and how we do it for Polio Eradication:
State Representative Terri Carver and State Senator Beth Martinez Humenik sponsored tributes in the Colorado Legislature on March 31, to recognize the International Week of Service. The International Week of Service (March 25-31, 2017) features community organizations throughout Colorado joining together and serving their communities.
The service organizations participating in the International Week of Service include Lions International, Rotary International, Optimist International, Jr Chamber of Commerce International, Y’s Men International, Moose, Soroptimist, Pilot International, Ambucs, Kiwanis Club, Sertoma, National Exchange Club and Zonta International. The tributes also recognized the vital service these organizations provide to meet the needs of the communities that they serve.
Rotary's member benefits program gives Rotary and Rotaract club members access to discounts on a variety of products and services selected with their interests in mind.
Discounts & Special Offers
Rotary Global Rewards offers discounts on vehicle rentals, hotels, dining, and entertainment. Products and services from companies around the world are being added every week. Check back often to see what’s new in Rotary Global Rewards – the vendor list is updated monthly. https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/member-center/rotary-global-rewards
How to Redeem Offers
Anyone can view the offers and discounts on Rotary Global Rewards. But onlyRotary and Rotaract club members who are signed in to their My Rotary accounts can redeem them. You can access and redeem rewards from your computer, smartphone, or tablet.
The attached reportshows Membership, Annual Fund and Polio Plus goals entered by each club into Rotary Club Central, and the numbers and per capita achieved by each club (arranged by Area.) The District 5450 goal is to have an increase in Membership, and for Every Rotarian to give something Every Year (EREY).
WHAT'S HAPPENING AROUND THE DISTRICT, CLUBS & THE GLOBE!
