I’m reading a book called “Life is Good.” It describes the insights and philosophy of two brothers, Bert and John Jacobs, who started the Life is Good t-shirt business that has evolved into a movement. You’ve probably seen t-shirts, coffee mugs, spare-tire covers and other merchandise emblazoned with a simple drawing like this:
The authors describe 10 “superpowers” that form the basis of their philosophy. I’ve often talked about the superpowers that we possess as Rotarians. Bert and John Jacobs identify Superpower #7 as Compassion.
In their book, they quote Dalai Lama XIV: “If you want others to be happy, practice compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion.” I think this captures the essence of Rotary. We provide Service Above Self in our local communities and around the world because we have compassion for those who are suffering or are in need. By expressing our compassion through service to others, we discover the key to our own personal happiness and satisfaction. As I expressed in my presentation to clubs, I believe the meaning of life is to do those things that give your life meaning. I believe the things that give your life meaning are fueled by your Rotarian superpower of compassion for others.
Never be afraid to express your compassion by serving others.
We’re pleased to announce two great new resources for clubs as they recruit new members during our “Get Ready to Grow” membership campaign:
RotaryNow7090.org is a new “landing page” for prospective members who are looking for more information about Rotary and the clubs in our district. PLEASE USE THIS URL IN YOUR MARKETING MATERIALS AND SOCIAL MEDIA.
This site has several features:
An overview of the benefits of joining Rotary
A short video from RI about Rotary
A short video, “Rotary Now,” which features six younger Rotarians from our district who explain why they decided to join Rotary
A list of our guiding principles
A list of all the clubs in our district, with links to detailed information about when and where the clubs meet, as well as contact information. Clubs are grouped into geographic regions so prospective members can see all of their choices, based on where they live or work. [NOTE: Clubs should review the information provided for their club, which comes from their profile in our district database, and update it if necessary.]
Rotary7090.org/sitepage/get-ready-to-grow-membership-campaign is a page on our district website that has links to recordings of the webinars we’ve been offering since early February as well as the slides and documents that were used in the webinars. This is a great resource for the membership committees of our clubs. If you have WiFi at your club meeting venue, you could even use these presentations as programs at your meetings.
Please check out both of these resources….. and Get Ready to Grow!
Each January, while your District Governor-elect prepares to step up into the district leadership role, Rotary International calls all District Governors-elect to attend the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego. This year, 532 District Governors-elect and partners from around the world met for an intense week of training, motivation and fellowship. By the time you add in the Rotary International Board and all living Past RI Presidents and partners and the ditto for The Rotary Foundation plus the facilitation team, the hotel was full of people who enthusiastically share a common goal. Electrifying! We cannot wait to share John Germ’s, our Rotary International President for 2016-2017, theme and goals within our respective districts. This was no free vacation for any of us; my husband, Bill, went to classes also. We certainly understand our roles and are super-energized to work together with our district’s clubs during 2016-2017.
This is an eager, hardworking class who has embraced their PETS training ensuring their preparedness to lead their clubs with an upbeat, positive approach. Each incoming Club President will strive to build more vibrancy and energy into their clubs by June 30, 2017.
They were asked to find ways to embrace the new REALITY for it is here to stay. It is the world today! Our new members are not compliant enough to wait their turn to bring forth ideas or lead projects; we must be ready to assess all ideas, then the club’s membership needs to rally together working shoulder to shoulder. It is bringing to the forefront ideas for projects where members will relish in working together side by side with beneficiaries to serve humanity. It might be simply serving pancakes to those who may never have tasted that sweet buttery concoction. Or, it may be readying a container of bicycles and parts for a far off land where bicycles will make it places an auto bogs down. It is working on these hands-on projects where we forge true Rotarians.
Public relations has long been known as the practice of doing the right thing. For a business or organization, every text, email, phone call, letter, or face-to-face encounter is a public relations event. Management of an organization's public image is the cornerstone of public relations. All forms of promotion and personal encounters influence the public’s perception of an organization.
Former Members. Remember that person who enthusiastically joined your club, made most meetings, headed a committee, held office… then got married, had kids, expanded their business… and resigned from your club? People leave Rotary for many reasons: relocation, joining a new club, business or family obligations, cost. For some former members, however, their situations have changed. Kids grow up. Jobs stabilize. Finances improve. Folks retire. A few who “relocated” are wise and fortunate enough to return to the area. Some of your former Rotarians may be ready to re-engage - either as members or in some other way (volunteers, donors, sponsors, etc.)
There are just a few weeks to go until the globally synchronized switch from the trivalent to bivalent oral polio vaccine. April 2016 will see 155 countries and territories stop using the trivalent oral polio vaccine (OPV) and switch to the bivalent version of the vaccine, in a single two week period. This will have an important impact on progress towards achieving the eradication of all polioviruses worldwide. With the eradication of wild poliovirus type 2, the type 2 component of the oral polio vaccine is no longer needed. This is good news for children and the polio eradication programme, as the type 2 component of the oral polio vaccine has caused 90% of circulating Vaccine Derived Poliovirus (VDPV) outbreaks in recent years. By switching from the trivalent vaccine (which contains protection against all three strains) to the bivalent vaccine which no longer contains type 2, we therefore withdraw the main cause of VDPVs and take the programme an important step forward towards eradication.
Journey Gunderson, Executive Director, provided an update on the National Comedy Center which has broken ground and is anticipating a 2017 opening. As she qualified the date, she indicated, "There are a lot of moving parts and while substantial funds have been committed, we are are still in fund raising mode."
Currently, the Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum & Center for Comedy, circa 1996, is open seven days a week and continues to be a popular destination for the "Lucy enthusiast." Lucy related subjects receive over 40,000 internet inquiries a month with Desi also searched largely. Ms. Gunderson went on to explain that with that kind of interest the trade name LUCY/DESI has tremendous market value. Further, that Jamestown has earned credibility in the comedy world by its pedigree of attracting top comedians in the comedy world as evidenced by performers such as Jay Leno, Bob Newhart, Paula Poundstone, Martin Short and Jerry Seinfeld. With this synergy to build on, the National Comedy Center will finally fulfill Lucy's comedic legacy.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise identified hospice and palliative care to be a community need, and began exploring the issues. They joined forces with the Port Dover Lions Club to
Host a community forum aimed at building awareness in the community and also to provide information to community members who are unsure about what services are available and how to access them.
About 200 very interested people attended the Palliative Care Community Forum on Saturday, March 5th at Port Dover Community Centre, and listened intently to the highly acclaimed keynote speaker, Dr. Denise Marshall, and the 5 panelist speakers.
Dr. Ewert, Director of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Waterloo and a long time Rotarian gave a very moving talk to the Rotary Club of Lincoln on February 23, 2016. Dr. Ewert spoke of his recent experiences in Pakistan and the role of Rotary clubs around the world in promoting peace and conflict resolution. Members of the Rotary Club of Grimsby well as members of the Vineland Mennonite Church also attended.
Dr. Ewert’s research areas include: Human rights and peace; human rights and business; the role of civil society as an essential element of peace; pacifism, enforcement of law and peace; the use and misuse of the law - law as a sword, law as a shield; disability and peace; a rights-based approach to development.
It was a Tuesday evening get-together for Westfield/Mayville Rotarians – a special get-together because the gathering was a special time for Nick Hlifka, who had been invited for a particular reason. Nick, who has been blind since birth, was joined by his parents, Gene and Gale Hlifka. He was about to receive a $5,000 scholarship from Rotary District 7090 representatives, Kevin Crosby, district governor; and Shefali Clerk, district scholarship chair.
Those in attendance most likely asked themselves: What does a blind person see? You don’t have to have “a lot of guts” to ask Nick that question – or any question. He is very friendly and knowledgeable with a great sense of humor. Having graduated as valedictorian at Sherman Central School last year, Nick is currently a Jamestown Community College student majoring in math and science. He plans to attend Houghton College in Houghton, NY in the fall as a junior and change his current major to ministry. As for his future career, he says, “I hope to use this (scholarship) funding to eventually bless the world through ministry.” In thanking Rotarians for his monetary gift, Nick said, “I’m very appreciative of the generosity and support of Rotary in helping to fund my education.”
In the photo (L to R): Dan Smith, Youth Services chair; Adele Harrington, president; Nick Hlifka, scholarship recipient; Shefali Clerk, District 7090 scholarship chair; Kevin Crosby, district governor.
Members of the Rotary Club of Stoney Creek have pledged to donate at least 20 pints of blood this year (one pint per member). By registering with the Canadian Blood Services "Partners for Life" program, it will be easy to track the number of blood donations and to know if the club is on track to meet and exceed their goal. "Donating blood is fast, easy, and can literally save lives. It really does fit our motto of "Service Above Self" said Community Services Chair Tina Blatchford.
In photo: Stoney Creek Rotarian Myra James, first member to donate.
The Rotary Club of Grimsby @ Noon recently held its Annual Mayor’s Charity Gala. With over 140 people in attendance, and tremendous community support for the silent auction and raffle items, the club is able to support the Grimsby Walk for Guide Dogs and other service projects.
In the photo (L to R): Grimsby Mayor Bob Bentley, dog trainers Don and Beth Tadeson, and a Future Guide Dog. Photo by Bryan Macaulay, Village Studio.
The Niagara County Community College Rotaract Club is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Niagara County Central Rotary. Bridget Beilein, NCCC Faculty, is the Advisor. Rotaract brings together adults ages 18-30 to take action in their communities, develop their leadership and professional skills, and have fun.
On March 1, 2016, the NCCC Rotaract Club volunteered at VIVE LA CASA in Buffalo, NY. The NCCC Students were given a tour and learned what VIVE LA CASA does for its refugees and the services they offer. Afterward the Rotaract Club members divided into three groups; opened the playroom where they supervised and practiced English with the children, sorted donations, and cleaned tables and chairs in their cafeteria.
The Rotary Club of Hamburg Sunrise recently presented a check for $2,000.00 to Hamburg Counseling Services, Inc., a not-for-profit organization that provides individual counseling and therapy services to residents of the Southtowns' communities in the Hamburg area. The services provided help promote mental wellness for individuals experiencing dysfunction that impacts their daily living. They also offer referrals to other community services. One of the club's members, Gary Rog, is on the board of directors for the organization and reportedly has been instrumental in guiding the organization in it's mission.
In the photo (L to R): Gi Gi Grizanti, Hamburg Counseling Services, Inc. Executive Director, James Eiseman, President and Cynthia O'Neill, Treasurer.
Brantford Rotarians created a sea of pink in in support of the anti-bullying campaign led in Brant by the Boys and Girls Club. This aligns with the Rotary Club of Brantford’s mission to …invest in children and youth at home and internationally in order to achieve our vision of Service above Self for the betterment of our communities.
As founders and active sustainers of the Brantford Boys and Girls Club, the Rotary Club of Brantford visibly boosted the national February 24 Pink Shirt Day. Many of the Boys and Girls Club Board of Directors members are Rotary Club of Brantford members. Their commitment to the cause of Pink Shirt Day, whose t-shirts sales support anti-bullying initiatives, ties to the shared club's missions of helping youth in need.
In this group photo, Rotarians donned their pink shirts for a group photo encouraging everyone to practice kindness. By wearing their Pink Shirts they share the message that they do not tolerate bullying – especially of vulnerable members of society.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill recently welcomed new member Mel Groom (centre), who received her pin and welcome package from Andrew Larmand, membership chair, left, and President Frank Adamson, right. Mel has been a friend of Rotary for many years, as the daughter of a Rotarian, and a host mom to several Rotary exchange students over the years. She was also the recipient of a Paul Harris Fellow in 2014.
Rotarian Mark Baldwin welcomed Kayla Crosby of the Jamestown Jackals, a minor league men’s basketball team based in Jamestown, NY. Kayla graduated from Jamestown Community College and St. Bonaventure University. For the past 4 years Kayla has worked at JCC as a residence director. Kayla’s true passion is to positively affect the lives of others in our community. She works full time at JCC while fulfilling the duties as General Manager of the Jackals. She is a busy girl!
As part of her presentation, Kayla explained that the Jamestown Jackals are owned by a non-profit organization called #IntegrityFirst, Inc. Kayla went on to explain that #IntegrityFirst, Inc. is a New York State charitable corporation, based out of Jamestown, New York. The non-profit's purpose is to provide educational and character building programs and opportunities for children and adults. The mission of #IntegrityFirst, Inc. is to help individuals develop their potential and achieve success academically, athletically, financially, socially, and professionally by fostering integrity, motivation, responsibility, hope, perseverance, confidence, and sportsmanship. Additionally, #IntegrityFirst exists to help break the cycle of crime, substance abuse, and poverty by promoting positive lifestyle changes for all participants through multi-disciplinary programs and partnerships.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines was very pleased to have John Howard as its guest speaker. John is the owner of Megalomaniac Winery in Niagara, Canada. John founded Megalomaniac as a means to support his charity Kids’ Health Links Foundation which provides computers for children in hospitals so they can stay connected to family and friends. The winery has been so successful over the years that children in hospitals across all of Canada are benefiting from the Foundation.
In the photo, John Howard, center, with members John Crossingham, left and Patrick Gedge, right.