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MARCH IS WATER & SANITATION MONTH
March is Water & Sanitation Month | Metro Rotary Columbia MO
WORLD ROTARACT WEEK
WORLD ROTARACT WEEK WAS MARCH 8-14TH
                                                                         
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PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Rotary International President, Holger Knaack (Presidential message retrieved from: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-message
 
March 2021
As someone who knows firsthand the great leadership potential of Rotaractors, I always look forward to World Rotaract Week, which we are celebrating from 8 to 14 March.  Rotaractors are the focus of all three of my presidential conferences this year, and I was proud when, two years ago, the Council on Legislation voted to elevate Rotaract by including Rotaract clubs as members of Rotary International. Before that, the Council had already made dual membership possible, and shortly after, the Board of Directors decided to do away with Rotaract’s age limits.
 
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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE
District Governor Robert (Bob) McLean and his wife Terri pictured with RI President Elect Holger Knaack and his wife Susanne
 
First, a “shout out” to the Rotaractors across the district.  Rotaract was officially inaugurated in 1968 with World Rotaract Week, observed annually the week of 13 March.  Thank you for all the amazing work you are doing through fellowship and service to your community and the world! 

The Rotary theme for March is Water and Sanitation/Hygiene (WaSH).  Though one of RI's seven areas of focus, it directly impacts all other areas.  Lack of adequate water and sanitation/hygiene is a disastrous problem across the globe and a growing issue in North America.  The March Rotary magazine has an excellent article on failing sanitation infrastructure in rural America and the role this is having in perpetuating health and socioeconomic disparities.  Highlighting the work of MacArthur “genius grant” recipient, Catherine Coleman Flowers, the article offers important insights into what is not working and shares some of the things Rotarians CAN DO to take action!  One such action is as much about building positive peace as it is improving infrastructure. Flowers quotes Bryan Stevenson (founder of the Equal Justice Initiative) “...everyone is better then the worst thing that they’ve ever done.”  Taking that affirming perspective, applying it to ourselves and to others, can help foster openness to conversation rather than entrench divisiveness.

 

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PETS Training Concluded for 2021-22
PETS (President-Elect Training Seminar) Concluded for Rotary Year 2021-2022
In preparing for the 2021-22 Rotary year, the Presidents-Elect of 64 District 5580 Rotary clubs completed two 2-hour sessions of training. While this is not as many hours of training as would be required for in-person meetings, we will have monthly meetings with the Presidents and Assistant Governors beginning in July 2021 and continuing with meetings on the 3rd Tuesday of each month throughout the Rotary year.......
 
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ROTARY: WOMEN: CHANGE
Join DGN Kay Biga in the initiative to grow our percentage of women members and attend this fun, fast paced, and interactive training!
Rotary: Women: Change - A frank conversation on how to attract and retain women members
Featuring guest speaker Pam Solberg-Tapper!  
This training is open to all, including friends, family, and fellow Rotarians.
 
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WALKING THE WALK ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS
By Ann Marie Kimball, MD, MPH, Member of the Rotary Club of Bainbridge Island; World Community Service chair; and member of the Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers
Rotary is engaging vigorously in the fight against COVID-19. I am honored to serve on a new task force Rotary International has created, but it’s also caused me to think about our role as Rotarians. How can we continue our progress toward polio eradication in the time of COVID-19?
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DISTRICT CONFERENCE AWARDS & MEMORIALS
ROTARY DISTRICT 5580 DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The planning for our virtual Rotary District Conference is well underway! 
We want to remind you of some important dates, encourage participation, and remind your club to apply for awards.  
 
 
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WORLD WATER DAY - MARCH 22
Submitted by: Karl Everett, District Water and Sanitation Chair
 
Monday, March 22 is designated as World Water Day by the United Nations as an annual event focusing on the importance of freshwater to make us aware of the importance of water resources.   World Water Day celebrates water and raises awareness of the 2.2 billion people living without access to safe water.  The 2021 theme of World Water Day is the theme is valuing water. Under the theme of valuing water, the 2021 campaign is generating a global, public conversation on social media about how people value water for all its uses. The aim is to create a more comprehensive understanding of how water is valued by different people in different contexts so we can safeguard this precious resource for everyone. Referencing the World Water Day site, In the lead-up to 22 March, people and organizations host World Water Day events and participate in the global public campaign, launched in the preceding months by UN-Water on https://www.worldwaterday.org/.
 
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LITERACY CORNER
Submitted by: Marjorie McPeak, District 5580 Literacy Coordinator
 
Literacy is the way that we interact with the world around us, and how we shape it by so doing.  It is how we communicate with others via reading and writing, but also by speaking and creating.  
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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". 
  • Rotaract Clubs in Thunder Bay and Nipigon raise $3,500 for PolioPlus
  • Dickinson Rotary Club's Annual Donation to PolioPlus
We encourage District 5580 clubs to share what your accomplishments and events! 
 
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GREAT LAKES WATERSHED CLEANUP
Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup
Mobilizing Rotarians
The Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup initiative is an effort to focus attention to the Great Lakes and to all
the great work that is being done to cleanup our lakes, streams, and waterways..........
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LAKEHEAD ROTARY PRESENTS CULINARY ADVENTURES
FOR MORE INFO https://lakeheadrotary.com/event/culinary-adventures-with-volker-and-rhonda/ 
 
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 Newsletter Editor Ashley Hall at ashleydhall21@gmail.com.  Articles should be sent in Microsoft Word format.  Photos should be sent in .jpeg format. Past newsletter issues may be viewed here.

Monthly Club President Call
Mar 16, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
Assistant Governor Meeting with DGE Keith
Mar 18, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
Rotary - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion IP Series
Mar 26, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
GRANT APPLICATION DEADLINE
Mar 31, 2021
 
Women in Rotary Project e-Meeting
Apr 01, 2021
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM
 
GRANTS SUB-COMMITTEE WEBINAR MEETING
Apr 15, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
Monthly Club President Call
Apr 20, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
ROTARY DISTRICT 5580 CONFERENCE 2021
Virtual
Apr 26, 2021 – May 01, 2021
 
PAST GOVERNORS' COUNCIL (electronic)
Apr 29, 2021
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE (electronic)
Apr 29, 2021
10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
 
Rotary - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion IP Series
Apr 30, 2021
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
 
Monthly Club President Call
May 18, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL CONVENTION
Jun 12, 2021 – Jun 16, 2021
 
Monthly Club President Call
Jun 15, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
Assistant Governor Meeting with DGE Keith
Jun 17, 2021
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
 
ROTARY ZONE 25B & 29 INSTITUTE
Sep 07, 2021 – Sep 12, 2021
 
FALL LEADERSHIP MEETINGS (electronic)
Oct 29, 2021 – Oct 30, 2021
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE (electronic)
Jan 29, 2022 9:00 AM
 
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