District 5580 "Cross Currents" May 2018
Remarks April 28, 2018 on the occasion of PDG Earl Rogers receiving the Service Above Self Award: Rotary’s highest honor.
Every day of Earl’s 46 years in Rotary has been devoted to Service Above Self. Some of his responsibilities included serving as District Governor and District Foundation Chair, GSE Team Leader to South Korea, District Chair of RYLA, and Chair of the International Convention Committee, an event he has attended over 40 times.
Earl was a leader in getting Rotary support across the world for “Operation Aware”, a program teaching young people about the dangers of drugs, which was featured in the RotarianMagazine. He has been recognized as the District 5580 Rotarian of the Year (twice), Foundation District Service Award, Citation for Meritorious Service and the Foundation Distinguished Service Award.
Earl served as the Charter President of the Duluth Skyline Club where he has 46 years of perfect attendance. He also has 26 years of perfect attendance at two other Rotary Clubs in town—yes, he is an active member and leading fundraiser in three Duluth Rotary Clubs -- and is known affectionately in Duluth as “Mr. Rotary” for his service, dedication and commitment.
But Earl’s service doesn’t stop with Rotary:
Community: Mark Schneider
International: Jill Zachary
Rotarian of the Year: David Long
Ian H.S. Riseley
President 2017-18
Rotary is a massive, and massively complex, organization. As this issue of The Rotarian goes to press, we have 1.2 million members in 35,633 clubs in nearly every country of the world. Hundreds of thousands of participants are involved in Rotary programs such as Rotaract, Interact, Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Community Corps, Rotary Peace Centers, and a host of local and Foundation-supported projects and programs at the national, district, and local levels. The name of Rotary is attached to countless projects every year, from blood banks to food banks, school sanitation to polio eradication. One hundred thirteen years after the first Rotary club was founded, Rotary service reaches literally around the globe.
Visit the House of Friendship to view the latest Rotary virtual reality film at the VR Zone or connect and recharge while gaining tips on how to tell your Rotary story and getting personalized assistance at the Social Media Lounge.
As explained to Conference goers in Thunder Bay, ROTARY is evolving, and creating a campaign called PEOPLE OF ACTION to get people to realize WHO WE ARE and WHAT WE DO...As part of that campaign, ROTARY has adopted a new brand, which pairs the word "Rotary" with a new, simplified gear wheel.. Go to the Brand Center at Rotary.org, if you haven't already, and check out the new logos and other available materials to promote this campaign... https://www.rotary.org/en/help-launch-new-global-ad-campaign-people-action