Rotary youth exchange — one of the many programs for youths and young adults that we celebrate this month — was my path into true engagement in Rotary. My wife, Susanne, and I began hosting exchange students soon after I joined, and the experience helped me go from simply being a member of my Rotary club to being a true Rotarian. Now Rotary Youth Exchange is a family tradition, and a strong one: Over the past 24 years, we have hosted 43 students!
District Governor Robert (Bob) McLean and his wife Terri pictured with RI President Elect Holger Knacck and his wife Susanne
Fellow Rotarians of District 5580:
While drafting this column for the district newsletter, I was reminded that today, September 21, is annually observed by the United Nations General Assembly as the International Day of Peace; a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace. The 2020 theme for the International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.”
Of course Rotary International and the UN have common ground on many important initiatives but building PEACE is at our shared core. Many of you have heard me recite a favorite quote that comes from RI’s General Counsel and CEO, John Hewko:
“When you launch any project to support education, health, or economic development in your local community, or elsewhere … you are a peace builder.”
Submitted by: Gloria Mink, District 5580 Administrator
District 5580 is now calling for nominations for the office of District Governor for the Rotary year 2023-2024, and qualified Rotarians may submit a nomination for consideration by the District Nominating Committee. The Nominee must submit the following documents:
Photo of Nominee (head and shoulders) in .jpeg format, if emailed.
The above documents must be received no later than October 2, 2020.
Please take time to review the Qualification Guidelines (included in this letter), as you will want to make certain your nominee meets the criteria prior to submitting his/her nomination. Following receipt of all nominations, the District Nominating Committee will schedule interviews with each nominee at a specified time. Interviews will be held at Arrowwood Lodge in Baxter, MN on Saturday, October 24, 2020.
By David F. Andrews, three-time past president, Rotary Club of Oshawa-Parkwood, Ontario, Canada, and chair of District 7070’s Public Image Committee
Local civic and government officials and representatives from ten Rotary clubs at the 2019 World Polio Day event. Photo by David Andrews
After many years of celebrating World Polio Day with proclamations, updates from Rotary and health leaders, and flag-raising ceremonies, the 10 Rotary clubs in District 7070 (Ontario, Canada) took a different course in 2018. An in-person event held in a new global classroom and simultaneously streamed live is now serving as a great model as we approach holding our first World Polio Day live event in a COVID-19 world.
By Tory Paxson, vice president, Boothbay Harbor Rotary Club, District 7780, Maine, USA
Tory Paxson and her family
What’s life like for people between the ages of 18 and 35 in the Boothbay Region of Maine? Through Rotary, young people take on leadership positions that expand their skills while they serve. Rotary does more than help during a crisis like COVID-19; it provides experiences that translate into a better future in any career.
The Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor created a new membership level to make joining more accessible for those under the age of 35. In addition, generous club members have chosen to pay the first year membership costs for the first five new members in this category.
Submitted by: Allison Kingston, Community Fundraising Coordinator, ShelterBox Canada, Rotaract Club of Toronto
ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation
ShelterBox Update
OCTOBER 2020
20 YEARS OF PREPAREDNESS: Hurricane Season is Here
The year 2020 has been a year like no other. While coronavirus continues to spread around the world, extreme weather events are now lurking as well.
Submitted by: Marjorie McPeak, District 5580 Literacy Coordinator
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused hardships for many families, one of which is the difficulty created by the loss and disruption of Literacy Education for school-age children. Under normal circumstances there is often a "summer slide" which creates a learning loss when children return to school in the Fall. It is especially true in the areas of reading and math where children may have lost 30% in reading gains and 50% of math gains from the previous school year. Perhaps this will be even more apparent this Fall because so many Library and School Programs were not available this Summer. Future testing may reveal the extent of loss for each student.
We are aware of the different plans for the return to school from one school system to another. In addition, many children will continue with full- time or part- time on-line learning. Educators recognize that certain curriculum plans which are intended for face to face delivery may not translate directly and efficiently to an on-line environment. In addition, many homes have insufficient internet access or they are homes where parents or care-givers are unable to assist the student.
Literacy Education can't wait until after the pandemic which is now reshaping education. It is incumbent on educators, parents, and students to critically problem solve, be creative, communicate and collaborate with each other for the success of each student.
Editor's Note: This section showcases news items submitted by clubs. Clubs are encouraged to send news items for inclusion in "Cross Currents".
In this month's Club News we would like to ask what your club is doing during the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak that is keeping clubs from holding face-to-face meetings throughout much of District 5580 pursuant to the U.S. Center for Disease Control recommendations against any gatherings where 10 or more people are in the same location.
We encourage other District 5580 clubs to share what you are doing to help your communities during this challenging time!
The Brainerd Rotary Club is utilizing goats to try to control the invasive European buckthorn that grows throughout the Rotary Riverside Park in Brainerd.
Submitted by: Gloria Mink, District 5580 Administrator
Unfortunately, we were not able to meet in person at the District Conference to honor Rotarians in our District who have passed. Please take a moment to remember these wonderful Rotarians by clicking the video link or image below.
In the quiet sanctuaries of our own hearts, let each of us name and call on the One whose power over us is great and gentle, firm and forgiving, holy and healing…
With You who created us, who sustain us, who give us the calling to live in peace, We come together in fellowship to celebrate lives well lived.
Hear our prayer for those who gave the full measure of themselves in Truth and Fairness to all concerned
Hear our prayer for those who found true happiness in service for others and give us hearts as generous as theirs
Help us to shape and make a world that builds good will and benefit to all concerned and through the example of these celebrated lives, help us to manifest a harvest of understanding and peace
Comfort those who grieve the loss of their loved ones and let your healing be the hope in their hearts...
Editor's Note: This section honors the Rotary legacy of District 5580 Rotarians who have passed away during each month. Clubs are encouraged to send information and share reflections for inclusion in "Cross Currents".
This month we remember James Simonson of the Fargo Rotary Club.
You can visit a Rotary Club anywhere is the World!! You can also add your club to the list and you could have an international visitor at your next club meeting!
While the world deals with the Covid-19 pandemic, more and more Rotary clubs are meeting online via Zoom or streaming their meetings on Facebook. The Rotary Club of Mt Lawley is creating a list of online Rotary club meetings happening around the world so that you can "visit" other clubs.
To add information on your online club meetings and to access the database, please take a short moment to fill out this form bit.ly/addmyonlinemeeting
Newsletter articles contain a Social Media Share Bar allowing them to be shared on various Social Media platforms.
Articles and photos for the District Newsletter can be sent to District Administrator, Gloria Mink, at gloriad5580@outlook.com and to Newsletter Editor, Greg Carlson, at gregory.carlson@ndus.edu. Articles should be sent in Microsoft Word format. Photos should be sent in .jpeg format. Past newsletter issues may be viewed here.
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