Youth Service is alive and well in District 6290! Rotary Interact which includes Early Act, Youth Exchange, Life Leadership Conference (RYLA), Rotaract, STRIVE and some other local Rotary Club youth service involvements.
Even though the evidence of great Youth Service in District 6290 was expressed at the recent District Conference it is realized that so much more is needed throughout our district.
Continue reading to learn more about these important programs, highlights of their activities, and get linked to valuable resources.
Using a scale to estimate how much money we raised
World Poverty Awareness Week with Cherry Creek Elementary Early Act Club <sponsored by Lowell Rotary Club>
Our ​World Poverty Awareness Campaign was an amazing success. Students at Cherry Creek raised over $560 in ONE WEEK!! That's more than half of our yearly goal! We will be able to make 22 loans on Kiva. The best part is, that money will keep coming back to us as our loans are repaid. And when it does, we get to help even more families lift themselves out of extreme poverty. To see what we did during the campaign, click here.
Forest Hill Northern Interact <sponsored by Grand Rapids East> participates in the national End It program. At our District Conference they showed a video and talked about the scope of the problem in West Michigan where there are an estimated 20,000 victims of sex trafficking.
Rotary Youth Exchange Students participated in our District Conference, presenting the flags of their countries, interacting with Rotarians and sharing their experiences.
Roscommon High School Interact Club held a bake sale as fundraiser for a water service project.
Although this project wasn't completed by a formally organized Rotary youth program--we think it's fabulous that Rotary Club of Cadillac partnered with community leaders and Wexford-Missaukee Career Tech Center. They engaged 45 students who invested 700 hours to assemble this fabulous Cobra replica roadster, the centerpiece of the Cadillac Annual Auction. That's 45 kids exposed to Rotary, and 700 hours of viewing the club banner. Great outreach and public image! Click on the image for full story and video feature.
Each year Benzie Sunrise loads up the buses with Benzie Central Middle School 8th graders for a road trip to CMU and MSU. They facilitate a tour, meeting with administrators and best yet, a chance to connect with a former Benzie Central student to learn first hand about their experiences. Great job Benzie Sunrise! Note: Benzie Sunrise Rotary sponsors Interact Clubs at Benzie Central High School and Benzie Central Middle School.
We get asked all the time when will Rotary International see a woman President. But had we put someone in that place just to check a box, it would’ve been terrible not only for Rotary but women as well,” says Jennifer Jones, one of the four women Directors on the RI Board.
She adds that at this point in Rotary’s history, and after it started inducting women in 1987, “I believe that we have enough qualified women at senior positions. So what does it take now? It takes women who have served in the Board to put their names forward. Hopefully some of the women who have served here will do that.”
District 6290 note - Jennifer Joneswas a featured speaker at our 2015 District Conference. She is with the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, ON, represents our Zone 28 & 29 on the Rotary International Board of Directors and in 2016-2017 will serve as Vice President.
In 2012 our District was home to the first-ever female Rotary International Officer (Betsy Demaray - Treasurer). Wouldn't it be stunning if our Zone produced the first-ever female Rotary President?!
Several years ago, well it was many years ago, I was influenced by a mentor with some leadership principles called Strategetics.
Strategetics are one or two key words that express a concept or leadership process.
Strategetic
Leadership Concept / Process
Acorn Principle
An acorn is small but grows into an exceedingly large tree. Sometimes we think that our contributions are minimal and we underestimate our potential. Don’t underestimate the little things that are done in life because they accumulate into a significant contribution.
Risk
One word definition of Leadership. To make decisions that contribute valuably to the organization can be risky. One must remember that not all risk taking is leadership, it can be taking action without consideration of others.
Greatest Resource
People. The people that we serve and serve with are the most valuable investment in making a difference.
Ten 2 Letter Words
If It Is To Be, It Is Up To Me.
Action is a necessary step in determining direction in an organization. Action must be taken or lack of direction can occur.
Enemy Accumulation
Friends come and go through life but enemies accumulate. Don’t create enemies. Resolve conflicts and communicate clearly.
Keep reading for more Army Idea . . . Duck Hunting . . . #3 Pencil Principle . . . Next Steps . . . Team Ball . . . Glory Garden . . Bell Sheep
Kalkaska Rotary Club hosted the Harlem Ambassadors Comedy Basketball Team for a fundraising event at Kalkaska High School. The purpose of this event was to raise money for technology needs in the Kalkaska Public School district. They donated $4,000!
Rotary Club of Petoskey for their fundraising leadership for the purchase of the "Ultimate Trailhead" on M-119. Presented a Top of Michigan Trails Council with a total of $80,000. [Photo courtesy of Petoskey News]
Rotary Club of Stanton for organizing an awareness program of the need of a local sports park and music pavilion, and for providing resources toward raising funds for this project. (future site depicted above)
Club Leader Recognition
East Jordan Rotary
Membership Attraction
Club President Jack Poindexter
Charlevoix Rotary
Rotary Foundation and Paul Harris Recognition
Club President Mark Andresky
Recognition of District Leadership - Assistant Governors
Left to Right: Dave Thomas, Bonnie Erber, John Gronberg (AG Coordinator), Violet Roher, Jackie Bertsch, Marcia Billings and James P. White. Recognized but unable to attend were Roger Boyer, Steve Packer, Ginny Ryan
Recognition of District Board of Directors
(L-R) DGE Gernot Runschke, DGN Ed Swart, PDG Al Bonney, Treasurer Jon Catlin, Rotary Foundation Chair Chris Etienne, DGND Brian Robertson (will be on Board next year)
Not pictured are: Secretary John Dahlberg, Trainer John Salan, PDG Jim White and PDG Lody Zwarensteyn
As Rotarians, we have the unique opportunity and ability to significantly impact the lives of those less fortunate. For the past 10 years, I have realized that opportunity by working with Pure Water for the World (PWW) and many District 6290 Clubs in efforts to provide safe water and sanitation to underserved communities in Haiti. While it can be difficult to explain the profound impact that we as Rotarians can exert, I have seen, firsthand, the lifesaving capabilities that safe water possesses, as it brings children struggling with debilitating and sometimes life threatening waterborne illnesses back to good health.
With the Rotary year just past the halfway point, I would like to present two well- defined water/ hygiene projects that would certainly benefit from any residual funds that your club or individuals may want to consider supporting.
A new video, available online, helps district and club leaders make the most of the recently enhanced Membership Leads resource. It shows how to track a prospective member from the initial membership leads submission all the way to connection with a local club. It also outlines the role of club and district leaders in the redesigned process, highlighting how their participation will help strengthen membership, and features the new Rotary resources available to support them. Join the conversation in the Membership Best Practices discussion group to tell us how you’re using the new Membership Leads resource to grow and diversify membership.
RI Director Jennifer Jones took a moment to assess this year's council, moments after the closing bell. "I think this has been a historic council, probably one of the most progressive, evolutionary councils that we ever have seen. I think there was a sense of collegiality and a sense of doing what is right for the future of the organization"
Every three years, members from Rotary districts across the globe gather in Chicago to review and vote on proposed legislation. The Council met in Evanston, IL the week of April 11th and there were many important decisions that will impact clubs as early as July 1, 2016. During the event the Council deliberations were posted on a live blog feed. Some of the key decisions are summarized below:
Clubs will have greater leeway in when and how often they meet, how often they cancel meetings, and what constitutes a meeting, as long as they meet at least twice a month.
Clubs will be given flexibility to experiment with membership models.
The six membership criteria from the RI Constitution will be replaced with the simple requirement that a member be a person of good character who has a good reputation in their business or community and is willing to serve the community.
Council on Legislation approved three $4 increases in the annual per capita dues that clubs pay to Rotary International. The increase sets the dues at $60 in 2017-18, $64 in 2018-19, and $68 in 2019-20.
Representatives voted to allow Rotaractors to simultaneously be members of Rotary clubs.
Factoid: Only 688 District 6290 members have registered at rotary.org
Do you encourage new members to register? My Rotary gives members a customized experience and easy access to a range of tools, information about their club, and the latest news and announcements from around the Rotary world. Learn how to create a My Rotary account and how to navigate through the site.
A Rotary Jubilee was held April 29 - May 1 in Rome. The weekend was packed with panel discussions, the premiere of a new work as a Polio Benefit, three special dinners hosted by our current Rotary President, our President Nominee and the General Secretary. The highlight was a gathering in St. Peter's Square with Honorary Rotarian Pope Francis. Pretty special.
At our District 6290 Annual Conference, Chris Etienne (PDG, District Rotary Foundation Chair) recognized Rotarians in attendance who had been named a Paul Harris Fellow, achieved multiple Paul Harris Fellow, Major Donors, Bequest Society and Arch Klumph Society members.Follow the 'Read More' link on this article to see the complete list.
At their Annual Rotary Dinner, White Cloud Rotary Member Kevin Drake (l) was presented with his Paul Harris Fellow Award by Tom Schmidt, District Governor for Rotary (center), and Worth Stay, President of the White Cloud Rotary Club (r).
As you know, our gifts to The Rotary Foundation provide us the opportunity as Rotarians to fulfill our mission of “Doing Good in the World” and make a difference in the lives of others, it is truly Service Above Self!
Our District 6290 Rotary Foundation Committee has approved a special match program for a limited time only, April 1, 2016 through May 15, 2016. On a first come, first serve basis, Rotarians in our District who make a new gift to the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation in the amount of $500 will receive a $500 match in recognition points from District 6290 to name a Paul Harris Fellow. Please see the attachment below for details and instructions.
Any questions? Please contact Chris Etienne at 231-838-2031 or cetienne@bayharbor.com. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity!
Thank you for your support of Our Rotary Foundation!
District 6290 has ten (of sixty) clubs that haven't got a website, and seven of those have neither a website nor a Facebook page. We know there are also several clubs that struggle with keeping their websites fresh and current.
Recently we've seen a couple interesting offers via our inbound Facebook news feed or Rotary news -- get a new site or get a refreshed site for minimal to no investment. We can't speak to the specifics of either offer, but are compelled to share this information with our members.
Two young Rotarians who want to give back to Rotary presented an offer to create free club landing page when they attended the International Assembly in San Diego. Their offer was published in Rotary Voices blog. The initiative is named "Project Doing Good" and they are accepting applications through June 2016.
"The youth of a club is not the average age of its members, it is the spirit with which they work." - Emmanuel Rey, a member of the Rotary Club of Villa Devoto, Argentina
A recent Rotary webinar convened young Rotary leaders - individuals who had been active as Exchange Students, in Interact and/or Rotaract. The focus of the discussion was how best to attract and then integrate these 'alums' into active Rotary clubs.
Sometimes it seems we become so polarized on the need to attract young members that we lose sight of the goal - membership diversity - and the fact that all of our members, whether new or experienced, bring value.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON Rotary stepped up in a big way - as they always do - in support of the Sault’s 2016 Easter Seals Telethon.
Over $110,000 was raised, including a generous donation of $27,500. Read the complete article.
On April 7th, the Kalkaska Rotary Club celebrated its 60th year. Willard Ryckman, pictured here with Tom Tanner, is the last surviving charter member of our club. Willard and 20 other visionaries for Kalkaska started this club to benefit local businesses, our community, and those less fortunate around the world.
The Chippewa County Sunrise Rotary Club hosted it's third annual 5x7 Art Competition and Show Fundraiser. This year's theme was "Time." A reception and showing was held at the LSSU Arts Center on Friday, April 22nd. Proceeds support the Rotary Hospice Memorial Walkway and the LSSU Arts Center.
Two clubs are recognized for their Adopt-A-Highway work. On the left - John Truxell shows the 25 year certificate and annual certificate that the state awarded to Whitehall-Montague club for participating in the highway cleanup. On the right - Garrett Boursaw and Becky Osborne of Traverse Bay Twilight hold the club's recognition from the Governor for the Adopt a Highway road clean up along 72 near the casino.
Traverse Bay Twilight members beautifying their stretch of the highway (above) and Grand Haven Rotarians celebrate Earth Day with a cleanup (below)
Spring Lake Rotarians honored Earth Day by taking care of west end of M-104.
L-R: Rich Jones, Craig Bessinger, David Stocking, Brad MacLachlan and David Rhem
Members of the Rotary Club of Big Rapids (left) turned out to act as champions of “clean road sides” this weekend. The Rotary Club has enjoyed tending to several miles of M-20 east of Big Rapids for several decades, and was anxious to give mother nature a hand during this first clean up of the year.
The Rotaract Club of Cadillac recently raised enough money to donate 27 wipe clean books to help six Great Start Readiness Program classrooms in Cadillac teach 108 preschool students to learn how to write their letters and numbers.
Muskegon Rotary co-hosted the City of Muskegon's annual Outstanding Citizenship Awards. The four recipients in the photo are, from left: Renae Hesselink, Bob Fountain, George Washington Carver Walker III, and Allen Serio.
Rotary Club of Ludington received a $20,000 donation from West Shore Bank for the club's revitalization of what is now Rotary Park. Rotary Park is undergoing a terrific makeover. There will be new and attractive and safe restrooms, two new picnic gazebos, new and more efficient electrical systems throughout the park, more graceful landscaping. One of the more visible additions to look of the park will be the bronze water sculpture feature in the fountain area.
From a District perspective, we want to acknowledge the fabulous job Rotary Club of Ludington did creating a banner that so prominently displays Rotary's new branding -- there is simply no question for people driving by that may not be familiar with the infamous wheel that this is a ROTARY project. Well done!
Rotary Park will show off this water fountain area and will look like this. Its a 70" tall bronze model that is currently being cast. Water will come out over the umbrella and fall into the little girls hand. This City of Ludington approved feature will be well illuminated also in the Spring, Summer and Fall evenings.
Roscommon Rotarians supported Big Brothers Big Sisters through their participation, and serving as an Elite Sponsor of the Bowling for Kids Fundraiser.
Traverse City Rotarians held their 74th Annual Rotary Show!
Wow . . . that's a lot of songs and skits.
This event is the primary fundraiser for their Community Good Works, generating between $60,000 and $70,000 each year. Well done!
The Shelby Rotary Club and the Community Foundation for Oceana County are offering the chance for financially challenged Oceana youth to attend summer camp. Awards are capped at $250 per applicant, but higher requests will be evaluated according to available funding. Applications are available at all Oceana County schools, on the Foundation’s website or by calling Tiffany Haight at 231-861-4565. The deadline to submit an application is May 5 and all awards will be announced by May 19, 2016.
Sault Ste. Marie, ON Rotary Club sponsored a Science Fair that presented cumulative work of 150 local student's!
The exhibits were open to the public in advance of the awards presentation.
Holland Rotarians were out and about having a good time during a successful Social Gathering at the new Big E's Sports Grill at the Courtyard by Marriott.
SERVICE BEFORE SELF Sunday April 17th Chippewa Sunrise Rotarians were joined by their family members and the Sault Kanava Int'l staff in volunteering at the Soup Kitchen. We prepared and provided a hot nutritious meal of lasagna, salad, garlic bread, & fruit salad to about 30 members of our community.
Members of Rotaract Club of Baker College Muskegon were a big help during our District Conference -- helping to set up the House of Friendship and lending technical support to the team!
Kalkaska Rotarians organized and held the 25th Annual Wood Memorial Run. The run, held the morning before Kalkaska's National Trout Festival parade, draws between 300 and 500 runners every year and features a 5K, a 10K and a one-mile footrace. The $25 registration fee supports Kalkaska Rotary youth programs.
Starting April 17th, more than 150 countries and territories began switching to the new bivalent oral polio vaccine. This unprecedented change will be the first worldwide vaccine change ever attempted.
On April 12 1955, the Salk polio vaccine was declared safe and effective, following a year-long field trial. In the United States, children who participated received a Polio Pioneer card and pin from the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis (March of Dimes). This card and pin were donated to our archives by a Rotary member who was part of the trial.
The Trivalent to Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine Switch
Between 17 April and 1 May, the type 2 component of the oral polio vaccine (OPV) is being removed from use through a globally synchronized switch from the trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine. This is the first stage of objective 2 of the Polio Eradication and Endgame Strategic Plan 2013-2018 to withdraw OPV in a phased manner starting with the type 2 component following the eradication of wild poliovirus type 2 in September 2015.
Follow a live update of which countries have undergone the switch here. Learn more about why the switch is such an important part of ensuring a polio-free world through this series of videos.
KEEP READING FOR AN Endemic Country Summary (as of 4/29/2016)
Our goal is to release the District newsletter at the start of each month. If you have a contribution, we appreciate receiving the materials no later than one week prior to the first of the month. If you have an example of a 'best practice' or have other great news to share, please complete our 'Club News' submission form (found at www.ridistrict6290.org under Public Image. Electronic photos are encouraged. Please try to limit your submission to 300 words or less.
Several years ago, well it was many years ago, I was influenced by a mentor with some leadership principles called Strategetics.
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As Rotarians, we have the unique opportunity and ability to significantly impact the lives of those less fortunate. For the past 10 years, I have realized that opportunity by working with Pure Water for the World (PWW) and many District 6290 Clubs in efforts to provide safe water and sanitation to underserved communities in Haiti. While it can be difficult to explain the profound impact that we as Rotarians can exert, I have seen, firsthand, the lifesaving capabilities that safe water possesses, as it brings children struggling with debilitating and sometimes life threatening waterborne illnesses back to good health.
Factoid: Only 688 District 6290 members have registered at rotary.org.jpg)
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As you know, our gifts to The Rotary Foundation provide us the opportunity as Rotarians to fulfill our mission of “Doing Good in the World” and make a difference in the lives of others, it is truly Service Above Self! 
District 6290 has ten (of sixty) clubs that haven't got a website, and seven of those have neither a website nor a Facebook page. We know there are also several clubs that struggle with keeping their websites fresh and current.
"The youth of a club is not the average age of its members, it is the spirit with which they work." - Emmanuel Rey, a member of the Rotary Club of Villa Devoto, Argentina
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Starting April 17th, more than 150 countries and territories began switching to the new bivalent oral polio vaccine. This unprecedented change will be the first worldwide vaccine change ever attempted.
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