To adapt, as laid out in Rotary’s Action Plan, we must occasionally step out of our comfort zone and try something new. Here are two examples of clubs that adapted — one with heart and one through critical thinking and strategy.
Kay Parries (bio) pictured with her husband Dan Parries
To District 5580 Rotarians and your families,
Thank you for supporting your Clubs and the District. Together, you have accomplished a lot in your clubs this past year. Take time to reflect on the lives you have impacted by volunteering and fundraising in your communities to support projects locally and worldwide.
Plan ahead and join fellow Rotarians at the District Conference. If you've attended a conference in the past, you know how fun and informative they are. If you've never attended a District Conference, you're in for a great time. Connect with old friends and make new ones. Learn something new and leave with good memories and new tools for Rotary and personal growth! See you there!
District 5580 Clubs pay a portion of PETS when submitting payment for their District dues. To ensure that no additional charges are incurred, use code PETS5580 during registration checkout.
December EcoChallenge: Resolve to Be “People of Eco Action”
Happy holiday season! The Network of Rotary Eco Clubs recently featured speaker Michael Koch, the European Chair of Rotary International’s Environmental Sustainability Resource Action Group (ESRAG) Every Club Climate Friendly Initiative. His challenge to all of us is simple: let’s be part of the solution by reducing our club “footprint” while increasing our “handprint.” Michael presented three paths to get there - financial contributions, effective projects and club carbon neutrality. The points below are from his summary slide. You can find great Rotary project examples, club ideas and many more resources in the full presentation pdf, also below. Let’s ring in the new year together with a resolution to act boldly for the planet in 2025!
Orientation for our District 5580 Inbound Int’l Exchange Students was held at the “Spanish Village” in the Concordia Language Camps near Bemidji, MN, in early September. Pictured L to R: Hjalte/DENMARK/ Bismarck; Prabhaporn “Jan” /THAILAND / Fargo-Moorhead AM; Candela “Cande”/ARGENTINA /Fergus Falls Noon; Elizabeth “Ellie”/AUSTRIA /Moorhead; Yi-Nuo “Enoch”/TAIWAN/Park Rapids
GLOBAL GRANTS REPORT—YOUR DISTRICT DESIGNATED FUNDS (DDF) AT WORK.
The District Grants sub-Committee met in October and approved DDF funding for four Global Grants (GG).
We are partnering with the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, the sponsoring club, on a potable water project in Guatemala. The RC of Milwaukee is very active in Guatemala completing a number of water and other projects in that country.
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.
Submitted by: Brian Walmark, past president, Port Arthur Rotary
Santa gets “HIP” and delivers donated laptops to First Nations school in remote northern First Nations
In a heartwarming initiative, representatives from Honouring Indigenous Peoples, (HIP), an organization established by Rotary, Corporations For Community Connections (CFCC), a not-for-profit organization that refurbishes donated laptops from the private sector, and Siemens Energy Canada, a major multinational corporation, were invited by Wasaya Airlines to join their annual Santa Run. The colleagues embarked on a journey to spread Christmas cheer to Fort Severn, Bearskin and Muskrat Dam First Nations, three remote Indigenous communities in Ontario’s far north. The group delivered much-needed laptops to local schools, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities for the children. In addition, they brought along bags of candy and toothbrushes, ensuring the students received both sweet treats and essential hygiene products.
Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotary hosts a holiday pajama (gifting) party
More than 200 sets of PJ's wound up in the Christmas stockings of families in need this month, thanks to local Rotarians.
Detroit Lakes Breakfast Rotarians gathered at La Barista in Detroit Lakes earlier this month to bundle up the pajamas they had purchased for holiday distribution to area families in need. More than 200 sets of pajamas were purchased, in sizes ranging from newborn to adult. Contributed / Kathy Michaelson
Bismarck Rotarians enjoyed great food and wonderful fellowship at a holiday gathering at the home of Rotarian Karen Jacobus and her husband Gus Miller on Thursday, December 12. Happy Holidays everyone!
Welcome new member of Duluth Skyline Rotary Club, John Senich.
John grew up in Hibbing and his father was a Rotarian for more than 25 years. John said that he wants to carry on the service. John worked for UnitedHealth Group for 21 years and now has started The Entrepreneur's Source assisting people with their career transitions. John and his wife Courtney have three kids; Ben, Carly and Ethan. Ethan has already attended his first Skyline meeting. We are pleased to welcome John to our Club.
In the November 2024 issue it recognizes two new members, Adam Hughley and Joe Meierhoff mistakenly being from Skyline Rotary. Adam and Joe are from the Duluth Harbortown Rotary club. We apologize for this mistake.
Adam Hughley
Adam Hughley is the business owner and manager of Happy Sleeper Mattress and Furniture Store. He is also a youth hockey and soccer coach, board member of Glen Avon Hockey Club, and an avid mountain biker.
Joe Meierhoff
Joe Meierhoff is the Regional Sourcing Manager for Strategic Materials (SMI), North America’s largest glass recycler. He is responsible for the Midwest: Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and his home base Duluth Minnesota.
Joe was born and raised in Duluth, went to school in Proctor followed by a tour of duty with the US Marine in the Gulf War. He is married to his beloved wife Laurena of 30 years and has two kids Lily and Jace.
Spending time with family out on the water or on the ski hill is where you’ll find him in his off time.
Orientation for our District 5580 Inbound Int’l Exchange Students was held at the “Spanish Village” in the Concordia Language Camps near Bemidji, MN, in early September. Pictured L to R: Hjalte/DENMARK/ Bismarck; Prabhaporn “Jan” /THAILAND / Fargo-Moorhead AM; Candela “Cande”/ARGENTINA /Fergus Falls Noon; Elizabeth “Ellie”/AUSTRIA /Moorhead; Yi-Nuo “Enoch”/TAIWAN/Park Rapids
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