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SEPTEMBER 2016
BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY
 
The Service Resource Committee, headed by Mike Hitchcock, is one of the larger committees in the District.  Some call it the heart and soul of what we do.  This committee has a number of subchairs including a subchair for each of Rotary’s Six Areas of Focus.  Service Resource is also responsible for developing initiatives like Peaceful Schools, Mental Health and the Colorado Children’s’ Inoculation program, and supporting the clubs by providing information and connections to effectively undertake projects within the various areas.
 
One of the Areas of Focus is Basic Education and Literacy headed up by Karen Loeb.  Karen has been doing an outstanding job with this initiative for many years.  Her mission is to raise awareness of new ideas and partnerships around literacy, both locally and globally.  Karen plans and hosts a Literacy Conference each year to broaden awareness of what literacy entails and promote literacy programs by the clubs.  Please put it in your planning calendar when the details of next year’s conference come out.
 
One club literacy program in our District is the Imagination Library - a home based early literacy program that was started by Dolly Parton and her Dollywood Foundation. Imagination Library supports beginning early literacy skills by mailing age appropriate books every month to registered children ages 1-5 years old.  The parent’s role is to be their child’s first teacher when modeling beginning reading and to foster the love of books.  The Imagination Library local mountain area program began in 2005 through the collaborative funding efforts between the Rotary Clubs of Evergreen, Peak to Peak and Mountain Foothills, along with some funding from First Bank.  From 2005-2015, most of the registered children lived in Jefferson and Park Counties.  Starting in 2015, more partnerships were established with four more early childhood programs in Clear Creek and Jefferson Counties. The program is working to expand into other counties, and continues to look for additional partners.
 
There are many projects going on in our District for Literacy.  Other clubs provide dictionaries and EBooks to children in schools, and have built Free Little Libraries in their communities.  There are also training programs underway for the reading challenged, young and old alike.  All part of the good work clubs do to promote this Area of Focus.
 
KEEP ROTARIANS IN ROTARY!
 
We live in a very active world where we’re aware of news and events by the minute. Living and working within the geography of District 5450 presents challenges and opportunities all at the same time. Colorado is a very entrepreneurial state and is extremely attractive to large companies looking to relocate.
 
What does this mean for our membership at the club level?
 
It means that we have Rotarians within our District who change where they work, how they work and when they work.  We have Rotarians who have recently retired and may not want to schlep to their Rotary club for a breakfast or lunch meeting since the workplace no longer applies (and the proximity of the weekly meeting to work). And, due to the growing appeal of Colorado to companies and individuals from other states, there are Rotarians moving into our District.
 
How does a club manage all of this?
 
Read more...
WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE  FOUNDATION'S 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
 
100 Years of Doing Good in the World!  Not many organizations have the special distinction of existing for 100 years, but we as Rotarians are a part of an outstanding group of Rotarians around the world will hold celebrations in their own clubs and within their own districts during Rotary Year 2016-17.  Each club in our District 5450 is being asked to develop and execute its own celebration – it is a perfect time to tell your community about The Rotary Foundation and the century of Doing Good in the World that has happened through humanitarian projects, scholarships, professional training and exchanges, and our remarkable efforts to eradicate the world of polio.
 
You may find a list of activities and different ways to celebrate the 100th anniversary within your Club by going to the Centennial Promotion Kit found at http://centennial.rotary.org/en/celebrate-centennial.  Activities include ways your Club 1) can celebrate, 2) inform club members as well as your community, 3) improve your community by sponsoring an event and invite the public to participate, and/or 4) raise funds for PolioPlus, the Rotary Peace Centers, or your Club’s special projects.
 
Visit www.rotary.org/foundation100 for additional resources such as the 100th Anniversary Logo, letterhead, postcards, press releases, etc.  After you have completed your celebration, you can share your club’s photos and stories on your social media pages using #TRF100.
 
For more information about The Rotary Foundation’s 100th Celebration, contact Gail Lehrmann, District 5450 Foundation Chair at 303-250-0024 or glehrmann@aol.com
 
ROTARY PEAK HIKE: SEPT. 11
 
All Rotarians , Rotaractors, Interactors, and friends are invited to join a hike to Rotary Peak on Sunday, September 11 starting at 9 am from the parking area at the top of Loveland Pass. The route follows the Continental , with spectacular scenery in all directions. It is about 1.5 miles in length each way, with less than 500 feet elevation gain. Hosted by the District 5450 Rotary Peak Committee - Jim Brook, Rick Clark, Finn Knudsen, and Bruce Ward.
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$120,000 AVAILABLE FOR DISTRICT GRANTS THIS YEAR
Did you know that the District has set aside $120,000 this year as matching funds for Club-sponsored service projects?  District Grants are small, local or international, and match funds that Clubs contribute to the project. 
 
Here are a few of the District Grants that have been awarded in the past two years:
  • Sponsoring a festival and fair for low income kids in Breckenridge
  • Supporting a summer camp for special needs kids
  • Setting up small library kiosks in city parks
  • Equipping a Café where special needs adults can work
  • Sending a dental group to Central America
  • Protecting water springs in Kenya
  • Documenting Latino history
  • Furnishing guitars for troops
  • Participating in a weekend retreat for wounded veterans.
  • Serving weekly meals to a mountain community
  • Shipping crutches to Africa
  • Teaching economic skills to women in Nepal.
Almost any activity that helps an underserved group of people can qualify.  One Club can get up to $3,000 in Matching Funds.  If three Clubs collaborate, the maximum match is $5,000.  There is a separate pool of money for international District Grants.
 
 
For more information, contact Carolyn Schrader schrader407@gmail.com or Diane Messamore cdmessamore@gmail.com
 
LOOKING FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS ABOUT OUR ROTARY CLUBS!
 
Has your club had any media coverage about your activities or fundraisers?  Your District PR Committee wants to collect electronic copies of your press coverage with a list of dates, media outlets, and subject.  We want to share these stories with other clubs in our District, within other Clubs and Districts in our Zone, and with Rotary International.
 
For example, when Kam Breitenbach, President of the Rotary Club of Parker, began sharing the story about the Rotary Community Corps of Parker, Rotary International became very interested and invited Kam to work on a webinar about how to create and support community corps.  Other clubs have amazing stories about all they are doing in their communities and around the world.  Would you share your media stories so we can help brag?
 
Questions?  Contact PR Chair Peggy Halderman - rotarypr5450@gmail.com
 
TWO $30,000 AWARDS AVAILABLE
 
Our Rotary District 5450 will be awarding 2 very significant scholarships in the 2016-2017 year. 
 
There are two $30,000 Rotary District 5450 Ambassadorial Scholarship Awards for Graduate Study outside the USA.  Eligible applicants will intend to study and have future career plans related to at least one of the following areas of focus:
  • Promoting Peace
  • Fighting Disease
  • Providing Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Basic Educations and Literacy
  • Growing Local Economies
Please promote these scholarships and discuss them at your Club meetings.  We are looking for applicants with high levels of academic achievement and exemplary backgrounds.  Application forms and further information can be found at the district website.  The PRE-Application Deadline is October 1, 2016.  For more information see this link http://www.rotary5450.org/SitePage/scholarship-program/2017-18-ambassadorial-scholarships-guide or contact Steve Baroch steve@crhn-rotary.com.
 
10th ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE EVENT
REGISTER NOW! 
 
Thursday, December 15, 2016 | Hyatt Regency DTC
11:00 a.m.            Mental Health & Wellness Expo
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.  Lunch Program
 
Our keynote this year is Dr. Geetha Jayaram, with Cheryl Preheim of 9News as the emcee.
 
We look forward to seeing you all again in December. Registration information to follow soon!
 
Read more...
THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE WILL BE HERE SOON

The next 5450 District Conference is going to be so much FUN!  It will be held at the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs on April 28-30, 2017.  There will be an exciting line-up of speakers, events and entertainment to look forward to.  Click on the following link to check out the beautiful venue at this four-diamond rated resort: http://www.cheyennemountain.com

Please mark your calendars today for this exciting, entertaining, educating and inspiring event!  District Governor Bill Downes, his wife Karin, and the Mountain Foothills Rotarians (Bill’s home club) are all looking forward to meeting and fellowshipping with you in the not too distant future!

 

HELP WANTED FOR DISTRICT COMMITTEES!
District Committees Need YOU!
Rotaract  |  Membership Extension & Growth
Paul Harris Society  |  Youth Exchange
Rotary Global Rewards Champion
 
Help the District help the clubs and VOLUNTEER!
Together we can really make a difference!
 
For more information email office@rotary5450.org
 
SAVE THE DATE: JANUARY 7, 2017
 
RI President's Dinner & Polio Fundraiser
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Denver Marriott South - Lone Tree
 
Keynote Speaker: RI President John Germ
Guest Speaker: Dr. Michel Zaffran, head of Polio eradication for WHO
 
 
 
ROTARY GLOBAL REWARDS PROGRAM
The good you do comes back to you.
 
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 only Rotary 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.
 
WATER TOY RACES - AN INTERACT MIXER & MORE!
Enhance Visibility of Interact & Rotary in Your High School! 
 
Should your Interact club team be on the list?  Oh, and one more thing -- does your Interact club needs help raising the registration fee?  Many DTC Rotary members have donated the registration fee and are looking for a team to support.  For more info email me at kathycook1029@yahoo.com
 
Click here to see the current list of teams and sponsors: 
 
 
JOIN US IN ATLANTA JUNE 2017!
The next International Rotary Conference is going to be exceptional.  We will be celebrating Rotary Foundation’s 100th Birthday!  There are special events scheduled that will give you an opportunity to look back on when our amazing Foundation was created, all the way through to our present day and then looking forward to how we can make an impact on the next 100 years. 
 
The conference will be in the beautiful southern city of Atlanta, where the very first Rotary Convention was held.  There will be entertaining and inspiring speakers, including Rotary Leadership, breakout sessions, networking opportunities in the House of Friendship while enjoying some of Atlanta’s hot local entertainment, just to name a few.
 
Come join in this historic event!  Sign up today to receive your early registration discount.  Simply click on http://www.riconvention.org/en/atlanta/register.  Then click the yellow “Register” button in the top right-hand corner.  See you in Atlanta Georgia in 2017!
 
2016-17 MEMBERSHIP & GIVING PROGRESS
 
The attached report shows 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 AND THE GLOBE!
 
 
Have something to add to the lists?  Email office@rotary5450.org

 
Sponsors
Interested in being a sponsor?
Download the website sponsorship guide
Russell Hampton
National Awards Services Inc.
Sage
 
 

 
Rotary District 5450 - Colorado, USA
Submit Articles by the 25th of the Month to:  office@rotary5450.org