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MAY IS YOUTH SERVICE MONTH
 
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PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Shekhar Mehta

Shekhar Mehta

President 2021-22

(Presidential message retrieved from: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-message)

Due to your positive response to the Each One, Bring One initiative, I am so happy to see that the membership trends in Rotary are looking up. Let us not lose this momentum — keep inviting new members, and also work hard to retain every member we attract. I look forward to seeing you next month in Houston at the 2022 Rotary International Convention, which I assure you will be a great event.

Also in Houston this June, we will be hosting my final presidential conference. We have devoted this year to conferences built around Rotary’s areas of focus. They have been a tremendous success, both in terms of attendance and in the ideas that were generated.

Last fall, our conference in the Philippines, which focused on protecting the environment and growing local economies, attracted 2,200 people online. In Brazil, our meeting centered around water, sanitation, and hygiene and how it relates to disease prevention and treatment; more than 600 people attended. That was followed by an event about the environment, economy, and peace in Maputo, Mozambique, which attracted around 400 in-person attendees and another 700 virtually. Our conference about keeping the economy and environment in harmony, held in Venice, Italy, had more than 600 in attendance.
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE
Keith Brokke
D5580 District Governor 2021-22
 
MAY:  Youth Service Month

The theme for May is Rotary’s fifth avenue of service: Youth Service. Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs.  The following Rotary programs fall under Youth Service: 

Rotaract (ages 18 to 30, but now extended to unlimited age).  District 5580 has Rotaract clubs at the University of Jamestown, ND, University of MN in Duluth, and Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Interact (High School age)

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (Camp RYLA for students who have completed grade 10 or 11).

Youth Exchange (out-bound to various countries around the world or In-bound for students from abroad wishing to attend high school in the USA or Canada).

Camp RYLA (July 10-16, 2022) and Youth Exchange have been inactive since 2020 due to COVID-19 but will be active again in Rotary Year 2022-23.
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VIRTUAL DISTRICT 5580 CONFERENCE
The virtual District 5580 Conference was a huge SUCCESS!  Thank you to all the speakers for very informative and inspirational presentations. You were all amazing! Sending a special shout out to Patty Baltz and the entire training committee for organizing the incredible lineup of speakers. Finally, congratulations to Mark Leutgeb on receiving the ROTARIAN OF THE YEAR award.
 
Additional information, powerpoint presentations, links, and recordings of the sessions can be found here: https://rotary5580.org/sitepage/virtual-district-5580-conference-2022.
AWARDS
Awards presented by: Rozanne Casey, Awards Chairperson
 
 
Congratulations to all the award winners and thank you for your "Service Above Self"
 
 
 
HISTORY OF WOMEN IN ROTARY

Submitted by: PDG Thomas Riley

Imagining Women in Rotary: Minnesota Women did it over a century ago.

President-elect Jen has asked all of us this coming year to “imagine Rotary”. In fact some Rotarians have been imagining Rotary from close to its inception some hundred and seventeen years ago. Among these are the strong women who imagined Rotary more than a century ago.

In 1980 I began to make the transition from young hippy archaeologist to staid Associate Professor in a department of Anthropology at a major university. By 1983 that transition was so far advanced that I owned a suit and tie and a pair of wing tips, my hair and beard had been trimmed to reasonable length, and I had ditched the necklace of puka shell and fruit bat teeth that I had acquired during excavations on some Pacific Island for a Seiko watch with an expandable wristband. I had also accepted a part-time position as Associate Dean of the Graduate College at my university, and was an almost acceptable facsimile of a rising not-so-young-anymore academic.

 
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FOUNDATION
Submitted by: Herb Schmidt, District Foundation Chair
 

Happy May Fellow Rotarians!

As the Ukraine crisis continues Rotarians keep stepping up to help those displaced by this war. Our District 5580 approved transferring $20,000 in DDF (District Designated Funds) to the Ukraine Disaster Recovery Fund. In addition D5580 applied for and received a $25,000 Disaster Recovery grant from the Rotary Foundation. This grant must be used within our district to provide aid to Ukraine. Your contributions to the Rotary Foundation are what makes this support possible. Numerous clubs have also been individually contributing directly through the Duluth Skyline Rotary club. The individual contributions are being administered by the Duluth Skyline club which has a working relationship with the Fryderyk Chopin Rotary club in Warsaw, Poland.

The following is an update on Rotarian support as of March 20 from Rotary Foundation Regional Cordinator, Rich Kaye.

 
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MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS

I recently came across this wonderful article about the benefits of Rotary from the Northmont Rotary Club, and I couldn't have summed it up better myself. If anyone ever asks you about what you get out of being in Rotary, here are twenty quick responses, but always remember-share YOUR story! That's when people really grasp what Rotary is all about.

20 BENEFITS OF ROTARY MEMBERSHIP

"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that no man can sincerely try to help another without helping himself" Ralph Waldo Emerson

1. Friendship ~ In an increasingly complex world, Rotary provides one of the most basic human needs; the need for friendship & fellowship. It is one of two reasons Rotary began in 1905.
2. Business Development ~ The second original reason for Rotary's beginning is business development. Everyone needs to network. Rotary consists of a cross section of every business community. It's members come from all walks of life. Rotarians help each other and collectively help others.
3. Personal Growth & Development ~ Membership in Rotary continues one's growth & education in human relations & personal development.
4. Leadership Development ~ Rotary is an organization of leaders & successful people. Serving in Rotary is like a college education. Leadership: - learning how to motivate, influence, and lead leaders.
5. Citizenship in the Community ~ Membership in Rotary club makes one a better community citizen. The average Rotary club consists of the most active citizens of any community.
 
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LITERACY CORNER
Submitted by: Marjorie McPeak 
   
There have been many different challenges for both families and schools during the Pandemic and combating a crisis in Literacy is one of them.
      The Literacy Crisis did not start with the Pandemic.  In 2019 results from national and international testing and exams showed stagnate or declining American performance in reading as well as a widening gap between high and low performers.  The Pandemic has compounded this issue and recently already low-achieving schools have fallen farther behind with the potential of widening the pre-existing achievement gap between the rich and the poor and the high and low performers.  Future testing will further identify this possible problem.          
 
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CLUB NEWS
 
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. 
News can be sent to renae@surgetoday.com and gloriad5580@outlook.com.   
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$10,000 TO UKRAINE FROM THIEF RIVER FALLS ROTARY
STORYLINE: Timing, An idea, $10000 to the Ukraine from Thief River Falls Rotary  (FYI! we call ourselves the “other” TRF!)
 
 
FRONT ROW: Tom Greelis, Jessica Muller (Treasurer), Jim Dagg (Match Donor), Emery Lee (Executive Secretary), Paul Burnett (President), Joe Hedrick (Board Member) BACK ROW: Drew Erickson, Teri Averill (President Elect), Rhonda Stucy, Don Sollum, Steve Lillestol,  Mike Barry, Paul Adams, Kermit Genereux (Board Member) NOT PICTURED: Dave Anderson, Scott Fricke (Board Member), Jordan Kofstad, Jerod Kolden, Blake Kuznia, Richard Laager, Tony McLean, LeeAnn Nelson, Shawn Newland, Richard Sjoberg, Mark Thune, Shane Zutz and other non-Rotarian donors Melvine Dagg, Bruce Mattson and Mark Johnson

In response to that humanitarian crisis, The Rotary Foundation has designated the Rotary Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions from donors around the world to support relief efforts by Rotarians.

It so happened that some weeks ago a Rotarian was intending to contribute to the noble efforts of the Ukrainian peoples with regard to the humanitarian crisis concerning their plight to flea and survive.  Somewhere, in that timing of recognition readiness a local Rotary email made the rounds (copied from The Rotary Foundation messaging about the Rotary Disaster Response Fund) and suddenly an idea was born!  Our Rotary member reasoned that he could combine his hope to contribute individually but make an even bigger splash by starting a matching gift opportunity…and boy did the idea take off! 

 
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DICKINSON ROTARY CLUB
Submitted by: Kris Fehr, Assistant Governor (Area 2) 
Collin Grage, a senior at Richardton Taylor High School, received a $1,000 Vocational Scholarship from the Dickinson, ND Rotary Club and presented by Rotarian Jon Hodnefield, right. Collin will attend a summer lineman course at Bismarck State College then work for Denny’s Electric in Dickinson. In the fall he will return to his training at BSC so he can help keep the lights and heat on!
STRIVE
Submitted by: Donn Peterson, Assistant Governor (Area 9)
 
Photo taken at the last Brainerd High School STRIVE meeting on April 27, 2022.  Adults pictured: Principal Andrea Rusk, STRIVE Rotary Coordinator Michelle Francis, STRIVE BHS Representative  Amy Sjoblad, Mentor Dolly Matten - Brainerd Sunrise Rotary club, and Mentor Donn Peterson. 
 
STRIVE (Students Taking Renewed Interest In the Value of Education) is a Rotary sponsored mentoring program with scholarship incentives for select high school seniors who desire to improve their academic performance and who meet our program criteria.  Criteria include high school graduation, regular STRIVE meeting attendance, improved GPA's, and completion of a goal setting plan.
 
The Rotary Club of Brainerd - Noon Club sponsors a STRIVE program at Brainerd High School, beginning in 2008 and a STRIVE program at Pillager High School beginning in 2014.  Several of our club members also participate in the Rotary Club of Central Lakes sponsored STRIVE program at Pine River - Backus High School beginning in 2013 and a STRIVE program at Pequot Lakes High School scheduled to begin in 2016.
 
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HONORING ROTARIANS
 

2021-22 Memorial Video 

 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Jun 04, 2022 – Jun 08, 2022
 
DISTRICT GOVERNOR CHANGE OF GAVEL
Great Lakes Aquarium
Jun 22, 2022
5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
 
ROTARY CITATION AWARD NOMINATIONS DUE
Jun 30, 2022
 
ROTARY NORTH STAR ZONE INSTITUTE
Sep 15, 2022 – Sep 18, 2022
 
BI-MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Sep 20, 2022
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
 
BI-MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Nov 15, 2022
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
 
BI-MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Jan 17, 2023
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
 
BI-MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Mar 21, 2023
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
 
2023 ROTARY TRI DISTRICT CONFERENCE - MADDEN'S
Madden's on Gull Lake
Apr 29, 2023
 
BI-MONTHLY CLUB CALL
May 16, 2023
4:45 PM – 5:45 PM
 
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