I’ve been delaying writing my message this month because of the unprecedented and rapid changes that have been happening around us. What was true for us yesterday has changed today. We live in uncertain and often scary times, but what has resonated with me is the idea that we are all connected and are all responsible for protecting and helping each other. That we’re in this together, and that to get through this with the best possible results, we must work together. Rotary’s community spirit is needed now more than ever.
And this applies to staying connected with our Rotary family. Every club now has access to Zoom for meetings which can be booked though your Assistant Governor. Clubs can also purchase their own licences - please see the Zoom note below. We strongly recommend every member sign up for a free zoom registration. We cannot let our clubs go “dark” during this time. Make your meetings fun with entertaining themes and different speakers. Share different videos and encourage members to take courses at the RI Learning Centre on My Rotary. Take time to learn more about how you can connect using Zoom. Let’s all become comfortable with online meetings. My club had their first online meeting last week and it was great!
I have kept my message shorter, not because I have little to say, (that would be the day!) but because my daughter sent me an open letter from our friend and partner Bill Gates entitled “What is the Corona/COVID-19 Virus Really Teaching Us?”. Multi-billionaire Gates, 64 - who donated £85 million to combat this virus in February, believes that despite the chaos, there is “a spiritual purpose behind everything that happens”. It sums up how we could look at our current situation and find hope and inspiration for better ways to serve and show kindness to each other. Bill speaks about shifting our paradigms and looking at this as an opportunity to come through this challenge with a far better “new normal” and with the understanding that we are unequivocally connected. The “Ultimate Flamingo Challenge!”
Do your part by adhering to the recommended hygiene, physical distancing and isolation guidelines, stay connected with your fellow Rotarians and your communities, help where you can, and above all, stay well.
Quote of the Month
“In the UK, the clocks go forward on March 29th. Not sure how far forward but I think 4 months should do it!” - Unknown
All clubs within District 7080 have access to Zoom meeting software to conduct their meetings online. If your club already has access to an online meeting service such as Zoom, GotoMeeting, Join.me, Google Hangouts etc. please continue to use these services.
The district has purchased Zoom host licences for each cluster to share with their respective clubs. Please contact your Assistant Governor for details on how to schedule your own club meetings using Zoom.
The district has prepared these online meeting resources to help you get comfortable with conducting your own online meetings. https://rotary7080.org/page/online-meeting-resources. Stay tuned for more information about Zoom training opportunities.
Getting your own Zoom account
If your club would like to have their own Zoom meeting software and not have to share with their cluster, the following options are available to you:
Your club can piggyback on the Zoom district purchase agreement for a Zoom Business licence to use whenever you want. The price is $135 per year. This is a 50% discount from the regular price. This licence will be attached to the district Zoom account. You can host online meetings with up to 300 participants. Email admin@rotary7080.org for more information.
Purchase a Zoom Pro host licence directly from Zoom. This would be owned by your club and not part of the district Zoom account. There is a 20% discount offered by Zoom through Rotary Global Rewards.The discounted price is $160 per year. You can host online meetings with up to 100 participants with no time limit to the meetings length:
Anyone can get a free Basic licence directly from Zoom. There is a 40 minute limit with 3 or more people and meetings cannot be recorded. Note: Zoom has temporarily lifted the 40 minute time limit on some free accounts due to COVID-19.
RI - INCREASED OPTIONS TO USE ROTARY FOUNDATION GRANTS TO SUPPORT ROTARY’S RESPONSE TO COVID-19
As of March 24th, the Chair, Gary Huang and the Executive Committee of the Rotary Foundation approved the use of Rotary Foundation grants including global, district and disaster response grants to support Rotary’s response to COVID-19. For more information please see:
2020-21 District Grants for COVID-19 Relief Projects
D77080 has allocated US$20,000 that is expected to be surplus in the 2020-2021 District Grant availability for COVID-19 Relief Projects. Maximum of US$4000 per project and per Club. As a one-time exception, The Foundation will allow expenses related to COVID-19 to be reimbursed through 2020-2021 District Grants. For COVID-19 relief only, the deadline for District Grant applications is extended to April 30. Questions to DRFC Norm Bindon, norm.rotary@rogers.com. A note that the grant-writing committee is available to help with writing your grant.
The Rotary Foundation Update
The following update is an outreach that many of you may have already received via email or reviewed on Facebook.
The Rotary Support Center does not have phone or contribution processing capabilities at this time. They are only available to answer inquiries via email. Their email address is rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org. Members should not email contributions to this email address.
Our Governor, ILLINOIS, has issued a shelter-in-place order this afternoon. This means that no staff will be allowed into One Rotary Center. Any contributions sent to One Rotary Center will not be processed for some time. Additionally, our capability for accepting faxed contributions has also been placed on hold indefinitely. We highly encourage members who would like to contribute to do so online at myrotary.org/donate. Club officers do have the option to donate on behalf of their club members once they sign in (instructions attached).
Again, the best place to make a contribution is online at myrotary.org/donate.
In closing, if you have questions, please do not hesitate to reach out and I will do my best to assist you, however most importantly, take care of yourselves and your families.
RI CONVENTION
The 2020 International Convention in Hawaii has been cancelled due growing Corona virus concerns. Please refer to the message from RI President Mark Maloney for more details on how refunds will be processed.
DISTRICT CONFERENCE
The District Conference has been rescheduled to October 3rd. This will be a combined 2019-20 and 2020-21 Conference. Registrar Bill Proctor has sent an email to all registrants asking if they wish to hold over their deposit or would like it refunded for now. The cost will remain at $119/adult until July 31st. A reminder that we are closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will keep you updated as we move forward. Please see http://www.rotary7080conference.com/ for updated information.
PRESIDENTS’ MEETING
Our President’s meeting has been changed from May 7th to a Zoom meeting on May 28th. Club Presidents and Presidents Elect or a club delegate are invited to register online.
DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
We will be holding a special meeting at the beginning of the Presidents’ meeting on May 28th to obtain approvals for several revised policies and for the 2020-21 budget. It is important for all presidents and Presidents’ Elect or a delegate to register and attend.
CLUB LEADERSHIP TRAINING
The April 4th date is now officially cancelled and alternate online offerings will be shared within the next few weeks.
RLI - ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
The May RLI event has been cancelled for this Rotary year. The next offering in the district will be in the Fall.
RYLA - ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
Our RYLA event has been cancelled for this year and plans are already underway for next year's event which is scheduled for April 2021. Next year's information is already on our District website! Registrants from this year will automatically be offered the opportunity to attend next year’s event. Please send the names of any selected students to ryla7080@gmail.com.
CAMP ENTERPRISE
Our Camp Enterprise events for this year have been cancelled. They will resume in the next Rotary year.
RYE - ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Dean Rutty and his team have been working to ensure the safety of our youth exchange students both here and abroad. Some students are returning home early, some will continue on in their host country and all those who are hosted in D7080 will remain in Canada through to the end of their term or until it is safe to return home.
CLUB MEETINGS
Don’t cancel your club meetings. Simply replace them with Zoom meetings. See Darren’s instructions under “Zoom” above.
WORKING IN CLUSTERS
Now is an excellent opportunity to share ideas and work with your cluster clubs. Remember, your Assistant Governor holds a licensed version of Zoom that is available for use by the clubs in your cluster.
GUELPH CENTENNIAL GALA
Due to the COVID-19 virus, the Rotary Centennial Gala spectacular event of the century has been postponed. It will be an exciting party to celebrate 100 years of Rotary in Guelph and support the centennial projects – 60,000 tree forest, hiking trails, an observatory, a planetarium, and the community room at the new Grand River Conservation Authority’s Nature Centre.
At the Centennial Gala and any time before it, you will have an opportunity to purchase your star from our Name a Star program to support the gift to the community of a planetarium and observatory. Please see details on rotaryguelph.ca website. Information for the Gala will be posted on the website as soon as final details are confirmed. For further information please contact rhclark@uoguelph.ca.
INFORMATION/LINKS
Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Bob Wright, Co-President of Rotary Fergus Elora shares a good link from
Johns Hopkins University that provides updated global information on the
Your Rotary Legacy Webinar - April 14th and 15th, 2020
From John Stairs, Chris Offer and Carolyn Ferguson
This is an opportunity to learn the features of The Rotary Foundation Endowment. What is it? How are the funds used? How much money is in Rotary’s Endowment? What are the recent changes and how you can become involved.
This upcoming April webinar is focused on better understanding the significance and relevance of Rotary's endowment. The "why" behind its value and purpose and the reasons and resources available to clubs and individuals to become interested. The hope is that this will complement the Foundation training that you have in place already within your geographic areas of partnership.
In consultation with District Governor Lesley, I wish to forward this message to Club Presidents & Club International Service Directors. I wish to suggest supporting ShelterBox. Rotary’s strength lies in sustainable solutions rather than that of being a first responder but our RI strategic partner ShelterBox Canada has that strength. Shelter Box is endorsed and supported by Rotary International.
Please note, that by supporting ShelterBox Canada, you may not support a specific need, but you will contribute to replenish the warehouses for future needs. Please continue to serve and support the world’s needs during these troubled times.
Immediate needs to get nutrition for the Children of the Dump in Guatemala
From Aldo Villanocich, International Service Director
There is an immediate crisis for the families in the Guatemala City Garbage Dump Community. Thousands depend on the Garbage Dump where they “harvest” food and recyclables to survive, but the Dump is temporarily closed, making it impossible for families to have even a meager income.
Safe Passage/Camino Seguro of New Gloucester, Maine & Guatemala are there to provide immediate assistance. If Rotarians or your Rotary Club can help monetarily, please contact Aldo Villanovich at calcon@sympatico.ca or Bruce Friesen at rbfriesen57@gmail.com, and we will connect you directly with the DONATION page.
YOUTH SERVICE
Interact – An Inspiring Interact Story
Forwarded by Helene Burrowes
The following is a story from a D7080 Interact club – Levi Creek Public School in Mississauga.
On Mon, Feb 17, 2020, School Teacher Kiran Pothula wrote about a project that young Interact student (Will) had started. The yarn was donated by Rotarian Lynne Mack.
“Sharing some great news with you both. The yarn donated was used to loom knit sweaters for rescue dogs and cats in shelters. One of the students in my class started a charity 3 years ago- Good Will Good Karma. Once we found out about it, children wanted to knit sweaters for the rescue animals. So, that is what we did. On Valentine's day, we donated them to Will as a token of sharing and celebrating LOVE! Please see the message from Will's mom below! Will will be on Breakfast Television tomorrow morning at 7:30 am!”
RI Director Elect Valarie Wafer’s 2020 and Life on Land 2021 Life under Water
Here’s information on two exciting Rotary Symposiums that our Zone 28 is hosting in November 2020 and January 2021. The first, Life On Land, will be held in Anchorage, Alaska this November. The second symposium takes place January 14-16, 2021. We are excited to visit Hamilton, Bermuda for this event, which will focus on the Unites Nations Sustainable Development Goal, Life Under Water.
Attention Club Presidents, Presidents Elect – RI is collecting club and club officer information for the 2020-21 Rotary year, and they need your help. They ask your club to report incoming club officers to Rotary to help them compile resources for Rotary members around the world, including the online interactive directory and the Club Finder found on My Rotary. This will also ensure that incoming club officers receive vital information from Rotary. This is a reminder that if you have not already done so, please submit the names of your club’s incoming officers by the end of this month.
Well, there are certainly ample opportunities to look for innovative ideas in today’s world! Please remember to post them on our D7080 Community Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/137599706274736/
Coffee on the Wall
From Doug Vincent.... from my friend Tom Telfer.
I sat with a friend in a well-known coffee shop and as we enjoyed our coffee, a man entered and sat at a table beside us. He called the waiter and placed his order, saying, "Two cups of coffee, one of them there on the wall."
We heard this with interest and observed he was served one cup of coffee but paid for two. After he left, the waiter pasted a note on the wall saying, "A Cup of Coffee."
Soon, two other men entered and ordered three cups of coffee, two on the table and one on the wall. They had the two cups but paid for three and left. The waiter did the same - he pasted a piece of paper on the wall saying, "A Cup of Coffee."
It was something unique and perplexing for us. We finished our coffee, paid the bill and left. After a few days, we visited this coffee shop again. While enjoying our coffee, a poorly dressed man entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and ordered, "One cup of coffee from the wall."
The waiter served coffee to this man with the customary respect and dignity. The man had his coffee and left without paying. We were amazed to watch all this, as the waiter took off a piece of paper from the wall and threw it in the dust bin.
Now it was no surprise for us - the matter was very clear. The great respect for the needy shown by the inhabitants of this town made our eyes well up in tears.
Ponder upon the need of what this man wanted... He entered the coffee shop without having to lower his self-esteem. He had no need to ask for a free coffee, without asking or knowing if someone might give it to him. He only looked at the wall, placed an order and enjoyed his coffee, then left.
Probably the most beautiful wall you may ever see anywhere!
D7080 2020 District Conference
NEW DATE! October 3, 2020 – a great time to celebrate our D7080 joint conference for both 2019-20 and 2020-21 years! Here, we’ll connect to open more opportunities to work together and provide service to children in our communities. If you haven’t already registered, please do so at: http://www.rotary7080conference.com. A reminder that we will continue to closely monitor the COVID-19 situation and that we will keep you updated as we move forward.
2019-20 Awards submission deadline is now June 30th, 2020
Due to the postponement of the District Conference date to October 3, the new deadline to submit awards for the 2019-20 year will now be June 30th, 2020. Please send your applications to Clarence Haverson at chaverson@rogers.com before that date.
and left. After a few days, we visited this coffee shop again. While enjoying our coffee, a poorly dressed man entered. As he seated himself, he looked at the wall and ordered, "One cup of coffee from the wall."
