I am deeply gratified by the enthusiasm shown across the world in the past year to better support the mental health needs of each other and the people we serve.
Submitted by: Jim Herrington, District Learning Facilitator
Thinking about joining your club's leadership?
A successful Rotary Club relies on the contributions of all its members. Each individual's unique talents, skills, and knowledge are crucial to ensure that the club's work does not fall on just a few members. At some point, you might consider—or be asked to take on—a leadership role within the club. This might lead you to wonder, “What does that entail, and what are the specific responsibilities of each position?”
To help you understand, here are Rotary’s guidelines outlining the responsibilities of some key club leadership positions:
Just as "No Mow May" was catching on, naturalists are clarifying what truly matters most in this movement to help pollinators: mowing less, and more intentionally, rather than not at all. Thus the new term "Low Mow May" and its extension into "Slow Mow Summer" - our challenge for this month! Give the pollinators a hand by allowing early-blooming species like dandelions and creeping charlie to nourish pollinators as they come out of hibernation. Just remember to mow before the dandelions go to seed! Then try mowing less frequently on an as-needed only basis for the rest of the season. Consider also planting a few native species in your yard to help the bees and their allies even more. There's a ton of great information out there about the benefits of giving yourself, and your yard, a break - here are two of them to enjoy as you kick up your feet and let your lawn mower sit a while longer:
Submitted by: Molly Herrington, District Grants Subcommittee Chair
WHAT TYPES OF ROTARY GRANTS EXIST?
Grants can help you leverage club resources and make a greater impact in your community and around the world! Our district offers three different types of grants:
Global Grant: This is for larger international projects, to fund humanitarian projects, vocational training teams, or global scholars that meet The Rotary Foundation criteria including the Seven Areas of Focus. Minimum Scope of $30,000.
District Grant: This grant type is designed for smaller international or local community service and other projects that meet The Rotary Foundation and District 5580 criteria. Our district will match club contributions up to $5,000 for a single club or up to $15,000 for multi-club projects.
World Community Service (WCS) Grant: Is is a unique funding opportunity for our District. These funds are for international projects only that may not meet The Rotary Foundation criteria. The district will match club contributions up to $15,000 for multi-club projects. The Rotary Foundation limits the types of construction projects they will fund and so the WCS grant fund was established to enable us to fund construction of schools and clinics in developing countries such as Guatemala, Bolivia and India. This pool of grant funding is funded entirely from District dues; $15 per person per year.
Applying for Rotary grant funding is as easy as 1, 2, 3!
Submitted by: Tim LeClair, District Rotary Foundation Chair
If you have heard our Foundation presentation, you will know we strongly encourage supporting The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Annual Fund. Your contributions to the annual fund are invested by TRF for three years and then are made available to our district and world fund to fund the grants that enable us to have a positive impact on our local and international communities. Your dues to Rotary International do not fund our grant programs. It is OUR contributions to the Annual Fund that fund our District and Global Grants.
Our Foundation Annual Fund giving goal is an average of $100 per Rotarian in our district. At the time this article was prepared, our district was averaging $76.95 per Rotarian. However, 12 clubs were at $100 or more average giving per Rotarian. Another 7 clubs were in the $80 to $99 average per member.
Submitted by:R. Blake Crosby, D5580 International Service Chair, Fargo-Moorhead AM Club
Global Grants are large dollar projects that support international activities in Rotary’s areas of focus and are a combination of funds provided by sponsor clubs, districts, and matching funds from The Rotary Foundation.
Rotary International (RI) strongly encourages each District to appoint an International Service Chair (DISC). RI reports there are 428 DISCs throughout the RI world. Clubs will contact various DISCs to present their project and request financial partnering. The RI Foundation provides an 80% match from the World Fund for all District Designated Funds (DDF) contributions up to a maximum of $400,000 USD.
Most Rotarians have heard one or the other of the two mottoes of Rotary. The first of these, “One Profits Most Who Serves the Best”, was the earliest motto and dates from 1910, when Art Sheldon of the Rotary Club of Chicago, Club No 1, said in a speech “He Profits Most who Serves his Fellows Best.” At the second Association of Rotary Club’s Convention in Portland, Oregon, in1910, the motto “He Profits Most Who Serves the Best” was adopted as the official motto of the organization.
Singing has been a staple of many Rotary Clubs for more than a hundred and eighteen years. Harry L. Ruggles, the fifth member of the first Rotary Club in Chicago, made it a regular part of Rotary meetings there as early as 1906, and singing spread to many clubs early on.
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: Georgette Wondolkowski, Rotary Club of Superior
Rotary Club of Superior Will Purchase a Second Ambulance for use in Ukraine
The Rotary Club of Superior recently was approved for a district grant for its campaign Twin Ports Uniting with Ukraine. These funds will assist in the purchase of a second ambulance with medical supplies to be used in Ukraine. They have already purchased one ambulance stocked with medical supplies which is actively being used in Ukraine. This project involved Rotarians from many areas. Once all the funding is secured, the ambulance and supplies will be purchased by partnering Rotarians in Whitstable, United Kingdom. This ambulance will be part of a caravan driven from the UK to Ukraine, nearly 1,200 miles. Members of Rotary Club Ukraine Unity in Lviv are also part of the procurement and delivery team. They receive the aid and distribute it throughout their country.
Left to right: Ken Liddicoat, DFC teacher accepting the donation from Arne Wohlschlegel, President and Managing Director of Siemens Energy Canada and Philip Schaus, President and CEO of Corporations for Community Connections
Rotary HIP and Toronto-based Donors Provide Refurbished Laptops to Indigenous Groups in Thunder Bay
Thunder Bay, ON – A collaborative effort from Siemens Energy Canada, a German-based company with a subsidiary in Canada, Corporations for Community Connections and Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) from Toronto and Montreal brought much-needed technology to Indigenous organizations in the Thunder Bay area. During May 8th and 9th, the visitors distributed refurbished laptops to Nokiiwin Tribal Council, the Ontario Native Women’s Association, Dennis Franklin Cromarty School, Fort William First Nation and Mishkeegogamang First Nation, aiming to shorten the digital divide and enhance educational opportunities for First Nations youth in the region. “The need is much greater,” said Brian Walmark, a HIP volunteer, I hope our visitors have seen that this donation only scratches the surface of the need across the North.”
Submitted by: Christi M. Stonecipher, Bismarck Rotary Club
A Busy May in Bismarck!
The Bismarck Rotary Club once again coordinated Keep Bismarck Beautiful, a clean-up event on the first Saturday in May. This was the 7th annual Keep Bismarck Beautiful and it attracted more than 200 people to help pick up roadways and parks in the Bismarck area. Some Rotarians also spend time cleaning up the Bismarck Rotary Arboretum during the event, a long-standing service project of the club.
Submitted by: Kris Fehr, District Assistant Governor, Dickinson Rotary Club
Dickinson Rotarian Todd Otto was presented his Paul Harris +5 pin by club President Urja Aryal. Todd has donated funds that, combined with club matching points, equaled $6,000 to The Rotary Foundation. “Doing Good in the World.”
Submitted by: Kris Fehr, District Assistant Governor, Dickinson Rotary Club
The Dickinson Rotary Club welcomed Friscoe Erdahl, left, new market president with Dacotah Bank, as a new Rotary member. Friscoe received his membership materials from President-Elect Kyle Smith. He will be the main corporate member for the bank, replacing Travis Ellisson.
The Dickinson Rotary Club has welcomed Nathan Huntington as a new member. Nate is a retired Marine Corps helicopter pilot. He manages building projects with the Theodore Roosevelt Foundation and is sponsored by Joe Wiegand. Nate received his membership certificate and materials from club President Urja Aryal.
Ashley was born and raised in Red Rock, Ontario, and returned in 2019 after attending Carleton University, Algonquin College, and working along the North Shore of Lake Superior.
She is currently the Community Development Officer/Project Lead for the Township of Red Rock, managing projects from major infrastructure replacement to plan development and implementation. Ashley is a RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange Alumnus, having spent her exchange year in Cahors, France.
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