Ah November.
I feel this month is a transition month for us in our Best of Friends District with many activities going on.
Finishing up our outside chores, the remainder of the harvest, getting the snow tires put on, and looking towards plans for the coming winter months are just part of the tasks for this month.
And November is a busy month for Rotarians.
To begin, in case you missed the email in October, I have the sad news to tell you that Michele Starwalt-Woods has had to step down from the DGE position due to a personal health issue. I have great care and regard for Michele and her passion for Rotary and community. I am sure she would appreciate your sentiments and thoughts. Aaron Carlson has agreed to become DGE and our Nominations Committee is looking for candidates to step up to lead our District in the years following.
See (read more…) for details on our November initiatives.
- Community Engagement: Food drives, Homelessness initiatives, etc.
- Promoting Peace; Remembering veterans on November 11
- Foundation Celebration on November 16
- Membership Summit follow-up
- Annual General Meeting (November 25 at 7 PM on Zoom) - Requirements for Presidents and designees
- Giving Tuesday (November 28)
- Assessing progress on club goals
- Leadership planning for the next year
- For others less fortunate, now is the time for you and your club to engage with programs for them such as food drives, homelessness initiatives, and housing programs that will have an impact in the coming months and years. I know some of you will say ‘Dave, we are already doing that.’ I get it - and thanks for your leadership. Perhaps your club already participates with a Coldest Night of the Year program, or that you feature speakers on this topic where you can discover an unmet need. Thanks for your vision and care. Reach out to your nearby clubs to share ideas and information.
- Promoting peace is a key aspect of being a Rotarian and whether it is putting up a peace pole, or creating a peace garden, or some other intentional humanitarian effort – I feel these are examples of important, meaningful, and perhaps subtle gestures a Rotarian can do. A key connection for me, and I believe for many of us, is also taking the time on November 11 to pay respects to those who have served our respective countries in the line of duty. Veterans Day in the US and Remembrance Day in Canada are occasions for clubs to connect with and support our communities and for Rotarians to thank and remember family members who have served.
- As you read this, ask who from your club will attend the Foundation Celebration on Saturday, November 16th in Fort Erie? Great speakers, information, and recognition of the work we all do to end Polio and the investments we make in our communities. Also, at this meet up will be District awards for club excellence from IPDG Scott’s year. It also serves as a great networking opportunity. For details, click here. Consider carpooling and coordinate getting there with your other nearby clubs.
- Thanks to all who attended the District Membership Summit. Rapid follow up will be important and if you need help in using the experience to make a course correction in the direction of your club, please let me know. This event supports (yes, it is an ongoing thing…) club efforts to engage our current Rotarians and attract new members and the matter is #1 in my visits and conversations with clubs. Special thanks to DGE Aaron Carlson, IPDG Scott Marcin and all the panellists and facilitators who stepped up to lead this session. More to come…
- Some serious business: Presidents (or their designate) are required to attend the Annual General Meeting of our District on Monday, November 25th at 7 pm on Zoom. Yes, this is a ‘must do’ obligation for the club leader as we approve our 2023-24 obligations. I am a club member first as are all others who work with the District – and we support club excellence – and this is one of those annual official milestone events. The second part to stick around for is the District Council meeting part where these District leaders report on their areas plus there is an engaging, fun, and meaningful exercise to provide input on key matters. All meetings are open to all Rotarians and if you are curious about opportunities beyond your club you might want to check this evening out. Heck, make it a watch party.
- I wish all our American friends a Happy Thanksgiving and for all to pay attention to Giving Tuesday - November 28th - a few days after this holiday. I am sure it is on the minds of some that in the Rotary world that every day is a giving day, but perhaps this occasion is an opportunity to get the word out to your community (in advance) of your projects, events, and causes and that your club is open to getting – and giving – donations. Check in with your community partners and coordinate your outreach. It also serves as a call to reach out via conversations and messaging with possible new partners as well as identify unmet needs in your community.
- Building off of the above initiatives and ideas is that at one of your club meetings and/or board conversations this month is to find the time to take stock of how the current Rotary club year is going. It is perfectly fine to ask about this and to refine goals towards mid-2025 (and check in with your club status in Rotary Club Central). Are you on track and using the 2024-25 Lighthouse Award and the Rotary Club Excellence Award as a guide? Key objectives for this month include confirming who will lead your club next year and their commitment to President Elect sessions. You might want to check out the events section on the District website and ensure that all are aware of upcoming webinars and those leaders or new Rotarians look for the next intake of the Rotary Leadership Institute in the new year.
- In closing, please have a look back at what you and your club has done over the past few months and celebrate those accomplishments. Use this occasion to speak up regarding where you are with your club’s strategic plan cycle, especially as we approach the mid-point in our Rotary year. Are you folks on track? Click here to book someone to facilitate a visioning and planning exercise. All in making good comfort as we add that extra layer of warmth for the season ahead.
- DG Dave