I Googled it! Just 19 days until the first day of Spring 2020 which officially arrives on Thursday March 19th at 11:50 pm. And, don’t forget that there’s only 31 days until March 31st to register for our District Conference at the early booking price of $119/adult and $49/youth/Interactor/Rotaractor! Please join us. It will be a fun, memorable event when our Rotary family comes together to do what we do best…service above self! Our goal is to complete 25 projects that support children in our district, but we need your help to sponsor these community projects. If you, your club or a local business person would like to sponsor a project, please let us know. (See more details under Bits ‘n Bites below.) There will be great speakers and lots of variety with something for everyone. You’ll also attend our annual awards and changeover– two events for the price of one! So please put this day aside in your calendar, register now and let’s show our communities and our members that “Together We Succeed”.
What did we do in February? Aziz and I continued to visit clubs who invited me to speak at meetings, recognize Paul Harris Fellows, present last years’ club awards and induct new members. We’ve enjoyed every minute and continue to be inspired by the number of incredible members and friends in our D7080 Rotary family.
We’ve also been meeting with some of our young professionals to find out how they see creating more vibrancy in their clubs and within Rotary in general. We’re working with our Rotaract clubs as full Rotary partners and making sure our processes and systems in D7080 reflect this important Rotary International change. I have been inspired by their energy and ideas to keep Rotary relevant and to ensure that we continue to do good in the world well into the future.
In February, D7080 held another awesome Presidents’ Elect Training session (PETS 1) for our incoming Presidents. D7080 is again in good hands this coming Rotary year! Besides a huge “thank you” to the Training team and facilitators for organizing an exceptional event, I want to thank our incoming leaders for stepping up to this very important role. In speaking about leadership in the context of change, RI General Secretary and CEO John Hewko said that it’s a truly exciting time to be in Rotary. Our world is changing, and in order to stay relevant, we all need to embrace change. He gave us three questions to ask ourselves:
In this rapidly changing world, are we nimble enough to adapt and innovate?
Can we, given our annual change in leadership, cultivate the continuity necessary to implement those adaptations?
Are we an organization that can continue to be relevant for the 21st century?
Since the primary impetus for enacting change occurs at the club and district level, our leadership becomes critical. He goes on to say, “This means that real change — the type of lasting change to which our strategic plan aspires — requires two types of innovation. First, the innovation to change the status quo. Second, the innovation to overcome the inevitable resistance to that change.”
What is your club doing? What are your plans as we move forward? Changing is not our biggest risk – our biggest risk is not taking action! Talk soon.
Quote of the Month
“It is well that there is nothing in Rotary so sacred that it cannot be set aside in favor of things better. This is an experimental age in a changing world, and all things which are worthwhile and progressive are the cumulative effects of preceding successes and failures.”- Paul Harris circa 1936
Join the World Rotaract Week party this 9-15 March! This annual celebration highlights the success and importance of Rotaract in communities around the world.
Please see the flyer for a fun fundraising opportunity to support the combined Oakville and Burlington Rotaract Clubs on March 15. This is a pub Trivia Quiz session on a Sunday afternoon just for all us fine Rotarians and friends.
As previously communicated to all, in past years the District Membership Committee hosted a single membership summit with the membership chairs from the clubs in the District all coming together. This year, their strategy is to take the summit right to the clubs to present to all club members the various options and strategies available for membership. Through this presentation, members gain a common understanding of the flexibility that is now available to clubs to improve membership recruitment and retention, and ensure the club’s long-term vitality. If your club has not yet booked your Mini-Summit, please email Director of Membership, Brian Bennett at bbennett0324@outlook.comto set a date.
Do you want to help your members strengthen their skills?
Rotary Youth Exchange- It’s not a year in a life, IT’S A LIFE IN A YEAR!
From Dean Rutty, Youth Exchange Chair
On the first weekend of February, members of the District Youth Exchange
Committee gathered together the “inbounds”, those here from other countries, and the newly selected “outbounds”, those heading out in the summer of 2020 for a year of adventure and self-discovery, at YMCA Wanakita in Haliburton for our annual winter training camp. Described as one of the highlights of the year by many Exchange Students, our goal is to observe the students over a weekend of truly Canadian activities- snowshoeing, cross country skiing, team initiatives, and of course, sleeping outdoors in a Quinzee, a snow shelter similar to an igloo that the students build themselves.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) - April 26th - May 1st, 2020
This year’s RYLA program is alive and well...but needs your support! We are asking Rotary Clubs to sponsor 30 - 35 students between the ages of 18 - 26 to attend this dynamic, fun and engaging learning experience at the Ecology Retreat Centre in Orangeville. The cost for each sponsorship is $825. Please contact your club president and ryla7080@gmail.comfor more details.
The District 7080 Peace Committee would like you to consider inviting one of our dynamic committee members to be a speaker at a club meeting. We can inform you on Peace activities and projects, how to become a Peace Builder Club and much more! Our objective is to help you become aware of the many opportunities we have to promote peace, in our communities and globally. Rotary International is now accepting applications for the 2021 Rotary Peace Fellowships. Can you think of anyone who might be a candidate? Please contact Kathi Dick at kmbd1008@gmail.com., or Ernie Ginsler at ernie@ginsler.com., for information regarding the Peace Fellowship Program or to book a speaker.
From John Gilvesy, IPDG, Rotary Club of Tillsonburg
It is a great pleasure to announce that our Global Grant application for microfinance in Honduras has been approved. The recent message from The Rotary Foundation reads as follows:
"Congratulations! Your global grant application for funding to help boost economic development by providing loans and training to individual clients and SME clients in Puerto Cortes, Honduras, submitted by the Rotary Club of Puerto Cortés (D-7080) and the Rotary Club off Tillsonburg (D-7080), has been approved by The Rotary Foundation and The Rotary Foundation of Canada. The award is in the amount of US$ 251,070."
Travel Opportunity – Hidden Treasures – Italy May 25-30, 2020
Would you like to see more of Italy? Here’s an opportunity from D2090 in Italy. You can view the itinerary and a letter to Club Presidents to share with their members.
TRAINING AND LEARNING
The Essentials of Understanding
Conflict – New Course in the
Rotary Learning Centre
The Essentials of Understanding
Conflict course is available in the
Learning Center. Explore the various
conflict management styles that can
help you develop more collaborative relationships. Check it out in the Learning Centre Catalog
In May 2019, Toastmasters and Rotary International came to an agreement to form a strategic alliance. We now have an incredible opportunity for both organizations to work together and leverage our combined strengths to help members achieve their personal goals, grow their networks and enhance their leadership and communication skills. Read more at
Join us at the 2019/2020 Rotary District 7080 Conference for a full day of engaging guest speakers, District changeover and awards and a team-building children’s service project that will directly give back to children in the area. Before March 31st, Rotarians can register for only $119 and Rotaractors, Interactors and Youth can register for only $49. Prices increase April 1st. Guarantee your spot for this unforgettable day at http://www.rotary7080conference.com/ If you would like to sponsor a project, please contact Jennifer Ngo adgrotary@gmail.com or Nita Kang nitakang76@gmail.com for more information.
THE FLAMINGO CHALLENGE - INNOVATIVE IDEAS
The Environment – What’s in a name?
From Louise Gardiner, President Elect Rotary Kitchener
What’s in a name? Everything! The idea from Rotary International of considering environmental issues as a new area of focus isn’t new to some of us who are already focusing on our community environments. What is new is calling it what it is – The Environment!
State of the Region Luncheon - Region of Waterloo, ON
From Howard Pell, Rotary Club of Kitchener
Karen Redman and members of the Kitchener Rotary club and the Kitchener-Westmount Rotary club worked together to hold this event. The purpose of the event was two-fold. Karen wished to convey her thoughts to the public about her role as Chair of the Region as well as provide an update on the current state of the Region. The second purpose was to remind non-Rotarians in the Region that Rotary is still a strong force and always looking for new members to help us make our community, and the world, a better place to live.
Former Global Peace Scholar Katie Fettes Ambassador for the http://economicsandpeace.org/ has been added to our speakers list. Katie is able to deliver presentations on the concept of “positive peace” and discuss the Global Peace Index and Positive Peace Index, two tools used by the Institute to analyze peace and quantify its economic value.
Additionally, knowledgeable speakers from our district are available to come to your meetings to speak about Membership, Youth, Community and International Service, Peace, Foundation, Public Image and more. Just reach out to the committee director. Contact information can be found on our district website.
Join us at the 2019/2020 Rotary District 7080 Conferenc
