This April and May let’s make it rain. Let’s earn our way into summer by tending to our flower beds, planting a few new shrubs, and envisioning the harvest yet to come. Obviously, I’m talking about ROTARY here, but since I love the cleansing, blooming nature of spring, let’s see how far I can push this analogy…
We might add some new color (polio vaccinated purple pinkie fingers), something tall and leafy (a lofty vision of club culture), maybe some spreading vinca (also known as peace and conflict resolution). Upgrade the irrigation system (maternal and child health) and learn to grow perfect heirloom tomatoes (fellowship?). The goal of all this is of course to cultivate our current members, develop the club experience and grow our membership.
Scottish folk are famous for gardening, and RI President Gordon McInally speaks about being sure to nurture our current Rotary club members, not just the newly planted ones. If someone has been a member for more than a few months, some roots ought to be forming by now. Look for their connections to other club members, participation in a service project, and of course getting plenty of inspiring Rotary International sunshine (by email) after creating a MyRotary account at www.rotary.org
Thirty-five clubs (of fifty-seven) across the District have held steady or grown since the start of the Rotary year on July 1. Awesome!! By focusing on club leadership, health and impact, new community members take notice and join, and the energy of existing members regenerates.
You and I have three months left in this Rotary year. Before it ends, I ask you to tend to your club’s membership. New members pollinate clubs with ideas and energy, and we all grow as a result.
RI Past President Jennifer Jones will discuss her travels and experiences. Rotarian Ramesh Ferris, who was born in India and adopted by a family in White Horse, Yukon Territory, Canada, will share some amazing experiences.
ROTARY DAY AT THE ROCKIES!
Sunday, May 12 - 1:10 pm
ORDER TICKETS NOW!Rockies vs. the World Champion Texas Rangers! Please remember this game is a fundraiser for End Polio Now polio eradication - $5.00 of each discounted ticket goes to polio eradication. Click here for the flyer.
ROTARY’S EPIC DAY OF SERVICE Saturday, May 18, 2024
46 CLUBS are already signed up! Don't miss out!
PRESIDENTS – register your Club at epicdayofservice.org. Then decide on and submit a club project, maybe one the Club would do anyway. Your project doesn’t have to be on May 18.
MEMBERS – Once your Club’s project is submitted, sign up to volunteer at epicdayofservice.org.
OPERATION POLLINATION & EARTH DAY! Our future depends on Trees, Bees & Seas! Join other Rotarians on Saturday, April 20 at Crown Hill Park for a Pollinator Pledge signing ceremony to encourage Rotary members, families, and friends to take up this ultra important focus. There will be hands on restoration projects on that day if you wish to participate. Click Here to read more.
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA NEEDS YOUR HELP! Saturday, May 11 at 10:00 am in Aurora - help load a container with crutches, canes, walkers & wheelchairs. RSVP required, contact Rtn. David Talbot c4a@crutches4africa.org for more info and to RSVP.
TRAVEL TO RWANDA & KENYA with DGN Cindy Rold and other District Rotarians October 12-26, 2024. For more information, CLICK HEREfor a recording of an informational call about the trip (passcode: kQJad%f9) If you are interested in attending and receiving updated information about the trip, please email DGN Cindy at DGCindy2025.26@rotary5450.org
AWARDS SCHEDULE UPDATE! Since the annual District Conference has been permanently moved to the fall, the awards schedule has been changed to the full prior Rotary year July 1 through June 30. Click Here to learn about all of the available Club, District and District Governor awards.
ROTARIANS DOING BUSINESS WITH ROTARIANS!
Who better to work with than your fellow Rotarian? Check out the new Rotary Business Network page on the District website. This is a great opportunity to support other members in the District, and know that the person you're working with lives by the 4-Way Test. You can find a list of businesses or join the monthly Zoom connections meeting the first Wednesday of every month.
CO ROTARY LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE!
In order to obtain your license plate, your club secretary must sign the Membership Verification Form, which you must take the signed form to your local Department of Vehicles office. The cost will be about $65-70 depending on your county. You will need to turn in your current license plates at the time of your order, and you will be given temporary paper plates. Your new plates will be mailed to you in 2-6 weeks. Click here for the complete application process. Show your Rotary support - order your plates now!
JOIN THE DISTRICT'S ONLINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY! Register now for only $5 per year!Let other Rotarians know how to reach you! http://rotary5450.business/
CLUB MEMBERSHIP & GIVING REPORT 03.10.2024- Click Here
CLUB CONNECTIONS
CARBON VALLEY ROTARY held their annual community Easter Egg Hunt on March 30 at Hart Park in Firestone. This free event has been a spring staple since 2009. The club had a record number of children and families attend the event and gave out over 1,000 free books and 12,500 candy filled eggs to approximately 1,500 children. The club invites local community organizations to participate to let families know about their services. A highlight for the children is going through the Fire Safety House that the club donated to the local fire department in 2010.
Post your story on your club's website or Facebook page, and then send the link to office@rotary5450.org.Doing so will give your club more exposure - readers will see the story on your club's site, which will let them know more about your club and members.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.Click the links below to read the full stories...
GRANTS PROJECTS UPDATE - District 5450 clubs excelled in projects via district-designated funds (DDF) this Rotary year.
Overall, 39 different grant projects have been applied for and approved and fall within all 7 Rotary Areas of Focus.
28 projects are considered local community projects - 72% of all DDF projects.
11 projects are considered international projects - 28% of all DDF projects.
33 total clubs have participated so far, this Rotary year - 57% of district clubs in total.
$110,000 DDF has been spent in full by the time this newsletter comes out. We anticipate a similar amount to be available next year.
June 15 is our next in-person Grants Management Training Seminar - REGISTER NOW!
ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE & HOW ROTARY CAN BE PART OF THE SOLUTION - Trustee Chair's Message: Late last year, I was fortunate to represent Rotary at COP28, the United Nations climate change convention in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The consensus coming out of the meeting was that progress on addressing climate change has been too slow. Participants said the world needs to pick up the pace to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, help communities become more resilient to climate change, and better support countries that are most vulnerable to it. Click Here to read more.
Spread the word because every child’s health matters.
Paul Alexander, a 78-year-old man from Texas, USA, who spent most of his life in an iron lung, died on 11 March.
Two new cases of wild poliovirus-caused paralysis in Pakistan were confirmed this week-- onset of paralysis was in 2023—will these ultimately be added to the 2023 numbers or the 2024 numbers?
This week, reports of 12 new variant poliovirus caused polio paralysis –4 from 2024 in 4 countries (1 cases each in Guinea, Mali, Somalia, and Yemen) and 8 cases added to 2023 totals –all in Yemen
World Immunization Week is April 24-30, 2024
Join the District 5450 PolioPlus Society to help support Polio Eradication.
APRIL IS ENVIRONMENT MONTH:TAKE ACTION to create a better world for future generations. ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) is a team of Rotarians who enthusiastically believe that individual actions can truly make a difference - CLICK HERE to read how you can make an impact, and how the Environmental Action Group deepens interest in Rotary.
DID YOU KNOW? Does someone in your network have a passion for cultivating communities of #peace? Applications for our #Rotary Peace Center Fellowships for the 2024-25 academic year are now open. Learn more about our fully-funded masters or certificate programs here: https://on.rotary.org/34EPnhD.
Dean Özerdem at the signing with John Hewko, CEO of Rotary International, Sarah Crawford, Director of Programs and Grants at Rotary International, and Dr. Charles Davidson of the Carter School.
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY is the Sweet Spot! District 5450 Rotarians continued to step up their commitments to The Rotary Foundation. The people we serve need our help even more now than ever before in my lifetime. We know that The Rotary Foundation is not only the GO-TO Foundation for Rotarians worldwide, but it is an excellent central hub for all our financial giving. We can choose the programs which are heart-felt for each of us and select the best time frame and method of contribution for our personal preferences. The end of the Rotary year is just around the corner. Please consider an extra contribution to The Rotary Foundation.
District 5450 is #1 in Zone 26 for Paul Harris Society membership. We have 301 members this year. You will receive a Thank You letter if you have already completed your $1,000 contribution for this Rotary year, a gentle reminder if your full $1,000 contribution has not yet been received, and an invitation to join the Paul Harris Society if you are already eligible. PLEASEcontact Elaine Lovefor more information on the Paul Harris Society.
RAISE FOR ROTARY can be your easiest Fundraiser!Raise for Rotary is a Rotary Foundation fundraising tool where individuals and teams can create fundraisers to celebrate or acknowledge events in their lives by raising funds for Rotary Foundation causes. Doing Good in the World Together - Fundraise for The Rotary Foundation to help bring life-changing projects to every corner of the world.
Check out HOW with the Raise for Rotary video tutorials on how to create a fundraiser, create a team, edit your fundraiser, or engage more donors. The latest tutorials will help you and your club with your philanthropic goals at the following link: https://raise.rotary.org/howto#tip1
MAKE IT RAIN!
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