Submitted by: Debra Warner, District Governor 2017-2018
Ed and I can’t believe that this year is over halfway completed; we will always remember this journey as one of the best experiences in our lives. Again, we want to thank everyone for their kind reception and for sharing the beauty of how their clubs are Making a Difference in their communities and the world!
I decided to join our Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s challenge to have every Rotarian plant a tree during this Rotary year. He states, “The greater result will be a Rotary that recognizes our responsibility not only to the 
people on the planet but to the planet itself.” We brought a seedling to each of the 66 clubs in our District and every club joined in the challenge. Pictured here is Paula Vistad Club President from the Rotary Club of Devil’s Lake which was the last club to accept the challenge. Thank you to all clubs and please send pictures to put in the newsletter when you have planted them in the spring!The new year is a great time for all clubs and the District to review their goals for the year and to work toward the attainment of them. In the new year, I will 
be traveling less and concentrating more on our District’s goals and operations. Our District goals are
be traveling less and concentrating more on our District’s goals and operations. Our District goals are in alignment with Rotary International’s focus to Support and Strengthen Clubs, to Focus and Increase Humanitarian Service and to Enhance Public Image, with a strong emphasis on Membership, Foundation and Public Image.
Increasing membership is extrememly important to our District. We must intentionally look for new members and we will continue to provide clubs with the tools they need to attract and retain members. Our District has a goal of every club increasing their membership with a minimum net gain of +1 and our District Membership Chair Past District Governor Don Cavalier has assembled a great team of Rotarians to help you attain your goals. Our District’s membership is up from last year, so congratulations and please continue to ask people to join our great organization! Please see Rotary International President Ian Riseley’s January message where he gives his ideas on membership.
Paul Harris said “Whatever Rotary may mean to us to the world it will be known for the results it achieves.” The Rotary Foundation started with a simple vision of “Doing Good in the World.” When Rotarians share the vision by contributing to The Rotary Foundation we can achieve unbelievable results in the world. Paul Netzel, our Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair, has asked each Rotarian to think about: “What can I do as a Rotarian, that is near and dear to me and how can I use The Rotary Foundation to help me?” All Rotarians can access funding from our District and Rotary International to do projects both in their community and globally. There are very few foundations that allow you to access the money that you contributed!
Public Image…we must not be the best kept secret as to who we are as an organization. Did you know in a widespread study done a few years ago, that 4/10 people had never heard of Rotary, 4/10 people had heard of Rotary but could not tell you what we did and 2/10 people had heard of Rotary and had some familiarity? WE WANT THIS TO CHANGE! We need to communicate who we are, what we stand for and very importantly why we are Rotarians. District Public Image Chair, Past District Governor Craig Loughery, and I are developing materials to help you with your Public Image Campaign to increase your visibility in your community.
Vocational service is Rotary International’s theme for January. Vocational service is the very essence of Rotary and it is what sets Rotary apart from other organizations. It is rooted in the second point of the Object of Rotary that calls upon Rotarians to encourage and foster high ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society. However, vocational service should be in our thoughts and actions all year long. You can put these ideals into action by using your professional skills to serve your community, practicing your profession with integrity and guiding others in their professional development. If you do any of these things, you are performing vocational service.
It is my pleasure to recognize Mary Cavalier who was our District’s recipient of Rotarian of the Year in Vocational Service for 2016-2017. Please see the article about Mary in this newsletter. Also, for more information on Vocational Service refer to the handbook from Rotary International, Rotary an Introduction to Vocational Service.
District 5580 is seeking candidates for District Governor for 2020-2021 and has extended the deadline to January 19th, 2018. I think you can tell by my enthusiasm, just how much I have benefited from this experience! Please refer to the letter that District Governor Elect Blaine Johnson has written regarding a call for nominations.
Again, Happy New Year and I look forward to working with you in the future!
Yours in Rotary,
Debra Warner
District Governor 2017-2018