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APRIL IS MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney (Presidential message retrieved from: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-message
 
I spend a lot of time thinking of family, not just my own or the extended family of Rotary, but also the families we are helping in the communities we serve. In many parts of the world, mothers and children face challenges to survive that most of us will never comprehend. According to the World Health Organization, the risk of a woman in a low-income country dying during pregnancy or childbirth, or from related causes, is about 120 times higher than that of a woman living in a high-income country. It is encouraging that infant mortality rates are declining globally, yet 4 million babies annually still die within the first year of life.
 
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE
District Governor Rick Bricker and his wife Susan Bricker
 
Greetings Rotarians! What a wild and crazy month it has been. I hope everyone is doing ok. This quarantine is getting old. Being an extrovert, I do not do well locked up at home. I have   certain restrictions that Susan has imposed on me. The dog and I are no longer allowed to play fetch in the house. The B.B.Q. grill must stay outside and heaven forbid I should ever make a face mask out of one of her bras again. Life is good.
 
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A MESSAGE FROM ROTARY PRESIDENT MARK MALONEY ON COVID-19  
Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney (Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RaRSAxY6v4M
 
See the video message below from Rotary International President Mark Maloney about Rotary International's response to the COVID-19 Crisis.
 
 
JOINT STATEMENT FROM KIWANIS INTERNATIONAL, LIONS CLUBS INTERNATIONAL, OPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL, AND ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
 
(Originally appeared here).
 
Woven through the fabric of virtually every community on earth, service clubs of Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, Optimist International, and Rotary International are working safely and diligently to maintain connections with each other and our neighbors so that we can cope with and overcome the effects of COVID-19. We are leveraging the strength of our combined networks of 3.2 million members to provide comfort and hope to those feeling the effects of isolation and fear. And we are focusing our collective skills, resources and ideas to support frontline health workers and first responders as they battle this disease and save lives.
 
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CANCELLATION OF RYLA 2020 DUE TO COVID-19
Submitted by: Matti Pelland, District 5580 RYLA Chairperson
 

Hello all Rotarians -

Thank you for your patience as the team evaluated the safest course of action for summer 2020. Sadly, we have made the decision to cancel RYLA 2020.

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POLIOPLUS RESPONDING TO THE COVID-19 CHALLENGE
By Mike McGovern, Chair of the Rotary International PolioPlus Committee and John Germ, Past Rotary International President and Chair of the Polio Countdown to History Committee

A program begun by Rotary is employing thousands of health workers to address the COVID-19 pandemic.  The program is the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) which includes Rotary’s PolioPlus program.   From the earliest days of polio eradication in the Philippines, the generosity and advocacy of Rotarians and our partners has nearly stopped polio, stopped Ebola from becoming an epidemic in Nigeria and now responds to COVID-19.  
 
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SHELTERBOX UPDATE
Submitted by: Allison Kingston, Community Fundraising Coordinator, ShelterBox Canada
ShelterBox and Rotary are official project partners in international disaster relief. ShelterBox is a registered charity independent of Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation
 
 
 
DISASTER OF CONFLICT: Meet Falmata
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TOCOPILLA MEDICAL CLINIC AND MANO A MANO IN BOLIVIA
Submitted by: Karl Everett, Harbortown Duluth Rotary, District 5580 Water and Sanitation Chair                   
 
APRILIS MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH MONTH
 
I want to thank all the Rotarians and Clubs that supported the Tocopilla Bolivia Medical Clinic, and Mano a Mano Bolivia and International for their work to complete the medical clinic that became operational this month.  We had planned to have a grand opening on March 19th but had to reschedule due to the covid19 concerns, however you are all invited to join us for the dedication on our Bolivia adventure in 2021.  I just finished the final report and it is so appropriate to this month’s Rotary theme for Maternal and Child Health Month. The goal of the project is to provide improved medical facilities for the families in the region who lack access to quality medical care due to the remoteness of the region.
 
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LITERACY CORNER: FINDING PLEASURE AND FULFILLMENT AT HOME
Submitted by: Marjorie McPeak, District 5580 Literacy Coordinator
 
In this time when the Coronavirus seems all encompassing in our communities and lives, it is hard to think of literacy and its importance.  However, with our schools no longer in session and our young people -- and often ourselves -- at home we find ourselves in situations we have rarely experienced. Literacy can still be an important aspect of our lives.  I'd like to offer a few things that can make home-bound school activities as pleasurable a learning experience as possible.
 
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HOW TO MAKE MEETINGS VIRTUALLY ENJOYABLE
(Written by Evan Burrell. First appeared here)
 
 
When people first started to embrace online communication, it was only possible to do a few things at once. But the possibilities of online communication have since been transformed by technologies that allow us to speak, listen, write, share screens, to see each other and hold private group conversations – all at the same time.
 
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FOUNDATION UPDATE AND "EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY YEAR" INITIATIVE
Submitted by: Past District Governor Herb Schmidt, District 5580 Rotary Foundation Chair
 
 
 
Fellow Rotarians,
 
It’s that time of year again!  If you haven’t done it already, it’s time to start planning for new projects for the 2020 and 2021 fiscal year. If you want to leverage your club’s financial resources for your special projects, please consider applying for a district matching grant. All qualifying grants are matched 1:1 by the district thereby doubling your financial resources for a project.
 
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CLUB NEWS
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.  
 
Perham Rotary Reaches Out With $50,000 Community Donation During COVID-19
(Submitted by Chuck Johnson, Perham Rotary Club)
 
The Perham Rotary Club is reaching out to the Perham Area with $50,000 to help local businesses and individuals during the COVID-19 crisis.
In an electronic meeting Wednesday, April 8th, the club unanimously committed to twin $25,000 donations to help local folks deal with C-19:
 
  • $25,00 for the Starfish Fund to help local businesses deal with COVID-19.   KLN instigated this fund recently with a $25,000 donation, which has been matched by the Perham Economic Development Authority and now Rotary.   Additional private donations have raised this fund to over $100,000.   The City of Perham/EDA will oversee this fund, which is designed to help local businesses deal with the C-19 crisis.    COVID-19 has created the biggest challenge that businesses have ever seen.   Ground rules are being written as we speak on a statewide and national basis.   Perham’s thriving business community is scrambling to adapt and survive, and Starfish will help them with this process.   The first Starfish organizational meeting to set ground rules for distribution of funds is set for Friday the 10th.
  • $25,000 to help individuals/families whose lives have been turned upside down by COVID-19, and who are having staredowns with personal financial survival.    These funds will be distributed in $500 increments to individuals/families who are trying to pay their bills in these hard times.  Rotarians are submitting the names of individuals/families who need this help.   The club has set tight parameters so these donations will be highly confidential.   If you are aware of somebody who desperately needs this $500 donation, please get hold of a Perham Rotarian.   The club is committed to distributing this $25,000 confidentially and quickly.
Cloquet Rotary Donates to B & B Food Train
(Written by Karen Smith, First appeared April 15 here). 
 
The Rotary Club of Cloquet is pleased to donate $500 to the B & B Market Food Train.   This is an initiative which has become increasingly critical to helping those in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.  B & B Market owners, John and Kim Lind, and their staff organize and direct community donations by providing boxes of grocery essentials and gift certificates to families, individuals and organizations in need.  The community support and participation have been amazing, and the recipients of the benefits are so appreciative.  
 
The Rotary theme is “service above self,” and the Cloquet Club wishes to do its part to serve the community during this challenging time.  Presenting John Lind of B&B Market with a symbolic $500 check are Dave Kauma and Julie Rothmeier from the Rotary Club of Cloquet.
 
We encourage other District 5580 clubs to share what you are doing to help your communities during this challenging time!
HONORING ROTARIANS
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".
 
 
 
NEWSLETTER INFORMATION
 

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.

e-PETS (President-Elect Training) - Session 2
Apr 21, 2020
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
ROTARY DISTRICT 5580 CONFERENCE 2020 - Cancelled
Madden's on Gull Lake
Apr 23, 2020 – Apr 25, 2020
 
PAST GOVERNORS' COUNCIL (Webinar)
Apr 23, 2020
9:00 AM – 10:15 AM
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING (Webinar)
Apr 23, 2020
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
 
e-PETS (President-Elect Training) - Session 3
Apr 28, 2020
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
GRANTS SPENDING PLAN MEETING (Webinar)
Apr 29, 2020
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
RYLA SUBMISSIONS AND PAYMENTS DUE
Apr 30, 2020
 
Reconvene - GRANTS SPENDING PLAN MEETING (Webinar)
Apr 30, 2020
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
e-PETS (President-Elect Training) - Session 4
May 05, 2020
5:00 PM – 5:30 PM
 
Annual Business Meeting (Webinar)
May 05, 2020
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2020 - Cancelled
Jun 06, 2020 – Jun 10, 2020
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Program
Jul 12, 2020 – Jul 18, 2020
 
ZONES 25B & 29 INSTITUTE
Sep 08, 2020 – Sep 13, 2020
 
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