This November, as we celebrate The Rotary Foundation, I invite you to consider not only what we give but why we give. The Foundation is more than a fund for projects. It is the beating heart of our promise that service, rooted in trust and friendship, can create lasting change.
Thank you to everyone who participated in the October 23 to 25 2024-2026 District Conference ! We had representation from throughout the District, good sessions, great speakers, and FUN!!! The committee worked hard and they delivered on a wonderful event. If you have not attended a District Conference, plan to attend the 2026 conference next October in Brainerd.
November is Foundation month! Let us celebrate the wonders The Rotary Foundation accomplishes. Some ideas to celebrate in a meaningful way: • Informative conversations about The Rotary Foundation - talk with Dave Long our District Foundation Chair, "Dr. Bob" McClellan on what an annual fund contribution can do; or Gary and Cindy Nolte about Rotary's PolioPlus efforts. • Grant workshops - has your Club applied for a District Grant? Matching grants can be used for large and small projects; • A Fundraising campaign in your club to make all members Paul Harris Fellows; • Recognize your Club donors and service leaders; and • Carry out service projects in the community.
Rotarians from all over the district traveled to Duluth, Minnesota to take in what the area has to offer and attend the 2025 District Conference. It was a time of fellowship, listening and learning from inspiring speakers, awards and FUN! Starting with an Icebreaker event at the Historic Union Depot, enjoyed amazing food from Bellisio’s and sipped on local brews!
Thanks to all of you who attended the District Conference - for joining one of two hands-on projects, stopping by our table, adding to the 5580 Eco Project Map and/or attending our breakout session. At that session we mentioned the 5-district "Unite for Water" initiative as a focus for Earth Day. The goal is 100% club participation... so now's the time to start dreaming up a related club project that you can do in April! Your challenge is to build momentum around this idea and start planning. We would love to help you learn more, brainstorm ideas and find resources. Big or small, your impact on your local watershed matters. Have fun and please be in touch.
The District 5580 4-Way Essay Contest materials are now available and ready for you to download and print. The essay contest is open to students in their final 2 years of high school, and the District winner will receive a $1,250 cash award (includes Regional Award of $150). Six Regional Winners will each receive a cash price of $150.
Clubs are encouraged to begin contacting their schools and distributing materials as soon as possible. Your club’s participation is a statement of interest in the ideas of our young people and demonstrates our belief that it is important to reward our youth for expressing their views in a constructive and meaningful way.
14th Annual Pancake Karnival for PolioPlus a success
At the annual Pancake Karnival, Dickinson Rotarians took over the Eagles Club's kitchen, serving pancakes and sausage to more than 500 people in four hours and netting more than $13,000! This year's Pancake Karnival was held in memory of Past District Governor Jim Ozbun, a Dickinson Rotarian who started the event 14 years ago. The Club also held a silent auction of close to 20 donated gift baskets to boost profits. President Joy Schoch is pictured flipping pancakes.
The Bismarck Rotary Club again hosted a concession stand at Papa's Pumpkin Patch for three weekends in October. Local high school students work alongside Rotarians, earning service hours while participating in a fun community activity. While total numbers aren't in for the 2025 season yet, the stand has served as a significant fundraiser for the Bismarck Rotary Club for several years, bringing in thousands of dollars for local and international projects.
Dickinson Rotarians shared their love of literacy with each third grade student in Dickinson, Belfield and South Heart during the annual Dictionary Project in October. "It is such a pleasure to see the excitement of the students and know we have provided a tool they can use in their learning process," said Rotarian Deb Barros, who has coordinated the project for the past several years. "The teachers look forward to Rotary coming into their schools every year." Fourteen Rotarians conducted an introductory lesson in each class. This year, 14 Dickinson Rotarians distributed 491 dictionaries to students in 26 classes at 13 schools.
Detroit Lakes Noon Rotary successfully completed one of our cherished services projects, our annual initiative of distributing dictionaries to every third-grade student in the area. That included 9 schools and 425 dictionaries that were distributed- participating schools include Detroit Lakes' two public elementary schools, Frazee, Waubun/Ogema, Lake Park/Audubon, Circle of Life, Holy Rosary, and Faith Christian.
This project remains a highlight for us each year, and witnessing the students' enthusiasm as they explore the pages and discover the valuable information within is truly rewarding. The students are able to keep these dictionaries and take them home at the end of the academic year. We are proud to support learning and literacy within our communities.
WE CAN ONLY SHARE YOUR CLUB'S NEWS, IF WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CLUB'S NEWS!
The number one thing most clubs want to know is what is happening around the District, but we can't help spread the word if we don't know what your club is up to.
Please submit a summary of your club events, news and projects to Renae Ronquist and Gloria Mink by the 10th of each month. We can include information in our Monday Minutes and in our newsletter.
.jpg){kind=small}