Posted by DG Peter Ewing, Boulder, pmjewing@earthlink.net
Dear Rotarians:
As you read this message, we will have just completed our District Conference at the lovely Keystone Lodge and Spa and Conference Center. I hope everyone in attendance had a fun time, enjoyed our speakers, had a chance to enjoy the fellowship and learned about other club’s projects so we might develop broader and more effective collaborations.
I would like to thank all those Rotarians who had some part in putting on this Conference. It is a great deal of work. Our Conference Co-Chairs, Darla Schueth and Linda Weatherwax, put in countless hours to make this a memorable event. Ron Secrist, our program chair, worked really hard to identify internationally recognized authorities in their fields to present an informative discussion of the challenges of our changing world. Cassidy Murphy was a champion in coordinating publicity, conference brochure, a thousand details. Lenna and Jon Kottke produced the moving memorial session. Darryl and Sally Brown produced our awards ceremony and Stan Benson set up the GO TIME experience. Many, many more contributed to this conference. To all of you, Mary Jean and I owe a debt of gratitude.
Our District has been thinking about developing a District Conference Committee. If this is a “DISTRICT” Conference, should we not have a “district conference committee” responsible for putting on the Conference. For example, we have the District Event Production Team that produces the conference; provides for AV needs and coordinates all plenary session presentations. We have a District Public Relations committee that might take on publicity and promotions of the District Conference. We would need a logistics team to coordinate Sergeant at Arms and Volunteers, a program team, a facilities team and so on.
Why would this make sense? District Conferences, the responsibility of the District Governor and his/her club, require a large number of volunteers to plan and put on. I believe many great District Governor candidates shy away from the position because of the load it would put on their club. Having a District Conference committee established would go a long way towards making the DG’s job easier. Something we should consider!
Posted by Debi Bush, D5450 Membership Chair and Denver Cherry Creek Rotary membership@rotary5450.org
Members
Recently I was invited by District 5440 – the district immediately north of our own District 5450 to talk about membership at their annual club training assembly. I moderated a great panel of young professionals who are Rotarians where they shared their stories about what attracted them to Rotary and why they have stayed. During a later session, I led a discussion about the 6 Phases of Membership (the topic of our annual membership seminar that’s coming up on May 30th) and it was great. There were a few new nuggets that I will be able to share (once I get the notes back).
Posted by DG Peter Ewing, Boulder, pmjewing@earthlink.net
ShelterBox Donations for Nepal
Rotarians in our district who have been active in Nepal tell us the need for shelter is acute. ShelterBox, an international organization, affiliated with Rotary International, is currently on the ground in Nepal and delivering shelter as we speak. District 5450 would like to respond to this urgent need and has chosen to recommend donations to ShelterBox as our way of responding.
"Whenever I go doing my work in Africa, The Rotarians have been there before me. It is very humbling thing to discover just exactly what "Service Above Self" adds up to when you see it in practice in the field" ~ Bono (Published on Jun 19, 2014)
The injectable polio vaccine marks its 60th birthday Sunday. For many people, it seems like a relic — isn't the oral version, not the injectable, the vaccine that's supposed to end polio within a few years?
But after being eclipsed by the oral polio vaccine, the injectable version has made a quiet comeback in some developed countries, including the U.S. And now the vaccine introduced by physician Jonas Salk in 1955 is re-emerging on the global level. Health experts believe it is key to eliminating the disease in the developing world.
Posted by Marc Garfinkel, President of Centennial Rotary Club, thevonce50@hotmail.com
A Mirror
I began writing this article on the day we inducted our 15th new member. I knew that this member had visited other clubs and so I had to ask him, “Why us?” His answer was pretty much the same as the last fourteen new members. It went something like this: “You guys are a riot. I can’t stop laughing. The speakers are great.” But the most important reason was “I felt very welcome when I visited your club.”
This article will discuss tools your club can use to create healthy growth. This includes self-examination, creating a welcoming environment for guests, and bonding amongst your membership. One of my favorite authors, Nelson Demille, wrote in one of his novels, “Position determines perspective.” When I read this I had to grab a pencil and write it down. While this thought can be applied to many circumstances, and might in fact end wars and conflicts, I believe it is particularly puissant with club growth.
Posted by Jim Niquette,President of Rotary Club of Wheat Ridge jniquett@gmail.com
Wheat Ridge Rotary Honored
The Rotary Club of Wheat Ridge was among the honorees at the Good News Breakfast. It was noted that the club has sent youth to a one week leadership training (RYLA), delivered flowers from the Home and Garden Show to nursing facilities, delivered food boxes during the Valentine's day holiday to senior residents that are in need, and has awarded over $300,000.00 in two-and four-year scholarships to High School seniors from Jefferson, Wheat Ridge and Warren Tech high schools. Ernie Wituki, Peter and Mary Jean Ewing, Dan and Marilyn Hershberger and Jim and Betty Niquette were on hand for the presentation. The stage was filled with many honorees along with Mike Bestor, Golden City Manager who is also a member of the Golden Rotary Club.
Silverthorne couple to volunteer with Peace Corps
Summit Daily, Summit County, Colorado
In two weeks, two longtime Silverthorne residents will fly to a tiny country in Africa known as the mountain kingdom to begin two years of Peace Corps service.
Joni Ellis, 57, and her husband, Pat Wathen, 63, will join just 7 percent of current Peace Corps volunteers who are 50 and older. The average volunteer’s age is 28.
The attached reportshows year-to-date giving to The Rotary Foundation and End Polio by club, and per member. The District 5450 goal is for Every Rotarian to give somethingEvery Year (EREY).
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