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JANUARY IS VOCATIONAL SERVICE MONTH
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Shekhar Mehta

Stephanie A. Urchick

President 2024-25

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

January 2025

I always walk into meetings at my home club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, with a smile on my face.

A few years ago, someone arrived late. Instead of scolding the person, we cheered. Since then, we’ve made it a tradition to applaud all members when they arrive for meetings. It’s tough not to smile with a greeting like that.

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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE
District Governor: 
Kay Parries (bio) pictured with her husband Dan Parries
 

ROTARY FRIENDSHIPS

This past week Susan Bricker passed away.  I met Susan when Rick, her husband, was District Governor.  I was President of the Moorhead club that year.  I will never forget meeting them for the first time.  I was nervous meeting the “District Governor”! Would I have the answers for Rick’s questions, was our club doing everything correctly? DG Rick was wearing red tennis shoes and Susan smiling.  They made me feel comfortable and not so nervous.  As my year as President went on Rick and Susan would ask what I was going to do after my year as President.  They planted the “seed”!  We last saw Susan in October. She asked how my year as DG was going and said she was so happy for us and Rick would have been proud.

Rotary is so much more than meetings, conferences, and projects.  It’s also about the friendships you make.  Think of the people you have met and friendships made because you are a Rotarian! 

 

NCPETS - REGISTER TODAY!

Attention Club Presidents-Elect!

Register Today!

District 5580 is joining the 2025 North Central Presidents-Elect Training

Seminar (NCPETS), giving you the opportunity to Collaborate, Network and Be Inspired by an incredible group of Rotarians!  

REGISTRATION AND HOTEL BLOCK NOW OPEN

WWW.NORTHCENTRALPETS.ORG

 

USE THE COUPON CODE AT CHECKOUT

For In-Person Attendance/Registration use Code: 2025PETS5580

There will be a virtual option held on April 22 & 24, 5:30PM - 8:00PM (Central)
 

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JANUARY ECO CHALLENGE

Submitted by Misty Dietz

January EcoChallenge - Cozy Up!

Happy New Year! This month’s challenge is easy and serves two goals. Simply by turning down your thermostat a few degrees this winter, especially when you're not home or asleep, not only saves money, but also helps save the earth by significantly reducing the amount of energy needed to heat your home, directly impacting your carbon footprint. 

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GROWING ROTARACT
Submitted by: Kadie Knudson, District 5580 Rotaract Chair
 
 
 
 
 
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.   
 
 
DICKINSON AWARDS SURPRISE GIFTS TO NONPROFITS
Submitted by Kris Fehr
 
Dickinson Rotarians are building goodwill and better friendships! The Club is incredibly grateful for all the good work that our community nonprofits do make Dickinson a better place. To end 2024, the club awarded surprise gifts of $500 each to help support five local nonprofits. The Rotary board asked Club members for recommendations for the gifts and the Club treated representatives to lunch in December while hearing about their good work in the past year. We awarded the year-end donations to AMEN Food Pantry, Badlands Crimestoppers, Connect Medical Clinic, the Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center, and Women Empowering Women. Additional initiatives are planned in the coming year when a certificate of deposit matures.
BISMARCK HOSTS 58TH ANNUAL ROTARY WRESTLING TOURNEY

Submitted by: Christi M. Stonecipher

 
The Bismarck Rotary Club hosted the 58th annual Rotary Wrestling Tournament on Friday, January 10 and Saturday, January 11 at the Events Center in Bismarck. Teams come from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota to participate in this premiere event. The club's Wrestling Committee is responsible for coordinating with Bismarck Public Schools Athletic Director, designing and selling merchandise, purchase trophies and awards, and presenting those awards at the conclusion of the tournament.  Numerous members assist by staffing the t-shirt sales booth over the 2-day tournament.
DICKINSON COMMUNITY KINDNESS AT VETERANS PANTRY
Submitted by: Kris Fehr, District Assistant Governor
 
 
The Dickinson Rotary Club has a service project each month called Community Kindness. In November, the selected charity was the veterans pantry at the Stark County Courthouse in Dickinson. We collected $160 in cash and nonperishable items for veterans in crisis or in need our community. Rotarian Natashia Cushman, left, presented the money and goods to Veterans Service Officer Jessica McClellan.
 
WADENA ROTARY CLUB FINE ARTS BANQUET
Submitted by: Nate Loer, Club President (Wadena)
 

Each year, the Wadena Rotary Club partners with the Wadena-Deer Creek Schools to host a Fine Arts Banquet.  This event originated with the late Dick Hess, a local newspaper columnist and Rotarian, who felt that the achievements of students who participated in the fine arts deserved recognition and should not be overlooked.  The first banquet was held in the spring of 1982 and has continued every year since.

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ELY CLUB KEEPS MARATHON RUNNERS HYDRATED
Submitted by: PDG Craig Loughery
 
 
Example of Ely Rotary involved in Local events... Each year, there is a 26 mile Marathon in the fall, traversing the hills and lakefronts around Ely.. And each year, members of the Ely club operate a watering station along the way... as well as participate in the running. This year, member Mike Murray ran the half marathon; and members  Emily Roose and Susan Polege were part of the "Limber Jills," a team of ladies that carried a canoe the full length..Here is a pic of Susan Polege portaging her 5 mile stretch.. 
 
WELCOME NEW MEMBER TO DICKINSON CLUB
Submitted by: Kris Fehr, District Assistant Governor
 
Dickinson Rotary Club welcomed local audiologist David Ness, left, as a new member in December. David works at Heart River
Hearing Aid Practice and jumped into the Rotary experience by volunteering at Trick or Trunk and hasn’t looked back! He is sponsored for membership by Rotarians Natashia Cushman and Marvin Eberts.
 
WELCOME NEW MEMBER TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF ELY
Submitted by: Thomas Moore, Club President (Ely) 
 
New Member of the Rotary Club of Ely - Meet Joe Weise
 
 

Joe’s previous experiences include being an electrician, teacher and a firefighter for the U S Forest Service.

He now works for Thrivent and owns a laundromat in Ely.

He and his spouse Emily attended Camp du Nord, then later met as camp counselors and got married. They have two sons who are both active in the arts.

In his spare time Joe likes to ice fish for lake trout and loves to read.

 
HONORING ROTARIANS
 

Roseanne (Rosey) Byrne

(Wife of District Membership Chair Mark Leutgeb) 

1955- 2024

 
 
 

Susan Bricker

(Wife of PDG Rick Bricker) 

February 26, 1954 ~ January 14, 2025 
 
Susan was very involved in District 5580 activities during Rick Bricker's District Governor year (2019-2020) and was well known for her friendly personality and social media skills - always sharing the fellowship of Rotary.  Susan also worked endless hours on the projects she was passionate about, especially the End Human Trafficking project; being on the committee organizing the REHT festival.
 
 
 
 
January Theme - Vocational Service
Jan. 01, 2025 – Jan. 31, 2025
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Jan. 18, 2025 9:00 a.m.
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Zoom
Jan. 21, 2025 6:00 p.m.
 
February Theme - Peace and Conflict Prevention
Feb. 01, 2025 – Feb. 28, 2025
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Zoom
Feb. 18, 2025 6:00 p.m.
 
ROTARY'S ANNIVERSARY
Feb. 23, 2025
 
March Theme - Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
Mar. 01, 2025 – Mar. 31, 2025
 
WORLD ROTARACT WEEK
Mar. 10, 2025 – Mar. 16, 2025
 
NORTH CENTRAL PETS - In Person Event
Mar. 13, 2025 – Mar. 15, 2025
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Zoom
Mar. 18, 2025 6:00 p.m.
 
PREREGISTRATION DISCOUNT ENDS - RI CONVENTION
Mar. 31, 2025
 
April Theme - Environment
Apr. 01, 2025 – Apr. 30, 2025
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Zoom
Apr. 15, 2025 6:00 p.m.
 
NORTH CENTRAL PETS - Virtual Event
Apr. 22, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
 
NORTH CENTRAL PETS - Virtual Event
Apr. 24, 2025
5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
 
May Theme - Youth Services
May 01, 2025 – May 31, 2025
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Zoom
May 20, 2025 6:00 p.m.
 
June Theme - Rotary Fellowships
Jun. 01, 2025 – Jun. 30, 2025
 
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