Stories
On April 17, 2024, Yankton Rotary held its 30th Annual Bicycle Helmet Giveaway project. The money raised by Yankton Rotary paid for 260 bicycle helmets which were provided to all area second grade students. A key feature of the program involves having the students attend a bicycle safety assembly including a proper helmet fitting event.
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Three Things You Can Do For World Immunization WeekImmunization is a cornerstone of public health, saving millions of lives each year and preventing the spread of infectious diseases, like polio. Rotary International has spent over 40 years making sure children receive life-saving polio vaccines, beginning with our first immunization campaign in the Philippines in 1979. As a Rotary member, you are a part of this historic legacy, and we need your help to keep our promise to give children around the world a polio-free future. Here are three things you can do to support our #EndPolio efforts during World Immunization Week 24-30 April: |
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Sunrise Rotary - Mustang Food ShelfMarshall Sunrise Rotary donated $500 to the Mustang Food Pantry. The Mustang Food Shelf is organized to provide food supplies to students of Southwest Minnesota State University in Marshall, MN.
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DG Rich Burns April MessageThe Art of Hitting the Winning Run - It’s Spring, baseball, and our District Raffle is in full swing! Batting in the top spot with two grand prize offerings is Karl’s Appliance and their Raffle donations of two GE Profile 2-n-1 Washer Dryer systems. We owe a huge “THANK YOU to Karl’s Appliance and their continued support and generous contributions to our annual raffle event. In all, 30 Clubs have donated prizes. Be sure to look over the complete list of raffle prize donations while visiting the District website. Including the two grand prizes from Karl’s Appliance, anyone who steps into the “Batter’s box” and purchases a raffle ticket, has 32 chances of winning something spectacular! We are currently in a slump when it comes to donating to the Annual Fund. Our total donation level has been steadily dropping over the last couple of years.
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May is Youth Services MonthYouth Service recognizes the importance of empowering young people through programs such as Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Youth Exchange, and New Generations Service Exchange. May is Youth Service Month in the Rotary world. To get ready for it, learn more about how you can support young leaders: |
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Spreading Joy and Eggs at LifeScape!The Sioux Falls Rotary West club spent a lovely evening with the children and young adults served by LifeScape in Sioux Falls in late March. While the idea is to usually make a real effort to hide the eggs, when working with these kids we decided to make it a bit easier
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Le Mars Annual Banquet and CelebrationOn April 4, 2024, the Rotary Club of Le Mars held their Annual Banquet and community celebration. A feature of this event was honoring as Paul Harris Fellows, Rotarians and stand out community members who by living Rotary’s 4-Way Test, have made impacts to the communities they serve.
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Hit a Home Run for RotaryIt’s Spring, baseball, and our District Raffle is in full swing! Batting in the top spot with two grand prize offerings is Karl’s Appliance and their Raffle donations of two GE Profile 2-n-1 Washer Dryer systems. You have 32 chances of wining something spectacular! Sell or purchase your tickets NOW! Make sure you provide the stub information back to your club's President, Foundation Chair or Raffle Ticket Contact by May 10th!
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Sturgis Rotaract Seeking DonationsSturgis Rotaract NEEDS SUPPORT!! They need help reaching their $8,000 goal to purchase and install outdoor musical drums in the City Park. You can donate through Venmo. We appreciate your support!!
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Kindergarten Book GiveawayThe Vermillion Rotary Club provides a free, age-appropriate book for all the Kindergarten and Junior Kindergarten students in Vermillion, SD. It is our hope that this small act will help lead to a life filled with reading. Click here to watch the video. The video features amazing photos taken by Lisa Swanson of the children during the book distribution. You'll also get to hear a wonderful reading of Green Eggs and Ham! Thank you to the teachers and staff at Austin Elementary School and St. Agnes Catholic School for your amazing support on this project.
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Creating Hope In UgandaMatt Buley, President of the Rock Valley Rotary Club, recently led a team of Rotarians and Hope Haven staff on their inaugural wheelchair project trip to Uganda. Reflecting on the journey, Matt described the experience of serving alongside Rotary and Hope Haven in Uganda as truly remarkable.
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Kids Trivia in SturgisLily Meunier and Pate Gunderson created and hosted a Kids Trivia on March 17th at Emma's Ice Cream Emporium. They raised money for the Sturgis Rotaract to install some outdoor music instruments in the City Park.
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Supporting Sioux Falls Humane Society with Blankets and SuppliesThe Sioux Falls South Rotary Club recently rallied together for a cause close to their hearts. With needles clicking and hearts beating in unison, members embarked on a mission to bring comfort to the furry residents of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society.
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Global Grant Awarded for Human Trafficking AwarenessOn February 29th, The Rotary Club of Rapid City was awarded funding for a Global Grant to provide awareness and education on human trafficking for children and community members living on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. DG RICH BURNS recognized the team effort required to get the job done. A huge thank you to District Rotarians Dr. Ashok Kumar of the Rotary Club of Rapid City and Team Leader; Jennifer Rollins, Sandra White Shield and Tom Katus of the Rotary Club of Rapid City Rushmore. |
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Water, Sanitation, and HygieneThrough water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs, Rotary's People of Action mobilize resources, form partnerships, and invest in infrastructure and training that yield long-term change. Over the past several years, Rotary has shifted its focus to also emphasize education, collaboration, and sustainability in WASH. Our district 5610 is partnering to support a WASH grant to help Guatemala. Learn more about the Rotary International water projects happening in all parts of the world! And, stay tuned to learn more about this Global Grant that District 5610 is working on!!
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Members are Rotary’s Best Kept SecretIt’s well understood within the communities that have Rotary Clubs; “Rotary is the Best Kept Secret in Town." It really shouldn’t be that way. As Rotarians, we benefit our communities and “Create Hope In the World” in so many ways that the achievements made, shouldn’t go unnoticed. The same can be said about individual efforts where a handful of people who have the passion, power, and desire to see a particular project through to the end, prefer to stay in the background. |
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Youth Programs to Create Our Future LeadersAs a member of Rotary, you will have the opportunity to witness and become involved with Rotary’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders. Your Rotary District (5610) provides programs to help younger leaders prepare for leadership roles and learn the value of service. Listed below are four programs that are important to us as Rotarians and initiatives you will no doubt learn more about through activities in your Rotary club: |
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Flight to End Polio FundraiserThe Le Mars Rotary Club is very excited to be hosting our annual banquet which will be a fundraiser for End Polio Now. The two pilots that flew around the world last year, Peter Tehan and John Ockenfels, to raise money for polio will be our speakers. I have met them several times and heard them speak in Spencer last fall. It is not only a story about their flight, but an emotional message about polio and Rotary's efforts to End Polio Now. The event will be Thursday evening April 4, 2024 at the Willow Creek Golf Course in Le Mars. Tickets will be $30 with $10 of that going to End Polio Now. This is a fundraiser and it is hoped that your club may raise additional funds for EPN. The Le Mars club has committed an additional $1,000. To register, contact John Schneider
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Sioux City Contributes Funds for Giant Park Video GameA giant, player-powered video game that encourages movement is coming to Sioux City's Chris Larsen Park. MOVMNT, a new interactive game by playground equipment provider Burke, will be installed in the spring on the active rec lawn near Floyd Pavilion, according to Recreation Superintendent John Byrnes. |
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Global Grant UpdateTwo Past District Governors met at Whiteclay, NB to review and update the Whiteclay Makerspace grant status, on Wednesday, March 6. Linda Peterson, PDG 2014-15 and Ina Winter, PDG 2020-21, inventoried the grant purchases, and posted signage describing the Rotary grant.
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Mustang Seeds Committed to Serving American FarmersMembers from Mustang Seeds were the guest speakers at the Madison Rotary Club’s lunch meeting at Nicky’s on Monday, March 3rd. Mustang Seeds, with its rich history since 1963 in Madison, SD, continues to expand into new markets as a trusted seed and tract partner for farmers.
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RYLA Camp Accepting Applications til March 31stRYLA is Here! Don't Miss Out!!! Applications are being accepted through March 31, 2024!!!!! GreatPlainsRYLA.org is the place you want to go to register and apply! Clubs - have you gone to the website, registered and completed your Club Commitment Form? And viewed the Time Line for deadline dates? |
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Sioux Falls West Rotary “Rock And Roll for Hope Fundraiser |
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Take Courses at the Rotary Learning CenterCheck out the LEARNING CENTER at My Rotary for courses on Public Image, Membership, Club Leadership, Professional Development , Service and more! This is a great resource to get training on #Rotary! Most classes are 15-30 minutes. Requires a My Rotary account. Visit - https://my.rotary.org/en/ |
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Launch of New District Facebook PageWe are thrilled to announce the launch of our brand-new Facebook page! In our ongoing efforts to build up our public image, we have expanded our social media presence to a Facebook Page. We invite you to join us on this journey as we take our online community to new heights. Visit our page - https://www.facebook.com/district5610/ - Hit like and follow! We need your support to build our fan base. |
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Celebrate International Women's Day with Rotary!This International Women's Day, March 8, 2024 let's come together to celebrate the incredible strength, resilience, and achievements of women worldwide! We invite all Rotarian women to participate in our special campaign by sharing a photo of themselves proudly wearing their Rotary shirts. Let's showcase the power and unity of women within the Rotary family! |
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Next Steps for PELS (President-Elect Learning Seminar)Over 60 Rotarians have registered for PELS so far! Now it is time to do some pre-course work at the Learning Center and enter your club goals into Club Central. Click here to register, find access to the Learning Center and Club Central as well as See the agenda.
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Hot Links for Clubs Execs and MembersFebruary has been a busy month! We do not want anyone to miss out on the new District Website page intended for clubs and members to get information and support quickly. Our goal is to provide you resources that help promote your club's community awareness and membership growth. Below are some sections announced in February. District Website access https://rotary5610.org/ PELS Registration and Course Prerequisites Local Club News and Picture Submission for inclusion on district social media and website Facebook District Website relaunched |
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Check Out The New Revamped District WebsiteWe are excited to announce that our District website has been revamped with a robust navigation that is user friendly, easy to navigate and locate tools and resources quickly. On the Events tab - see District Calendar and Upcoming District Events, Membership Tab - see Membership Club Resources & Membership Roadmap, Foundation Tab see:
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Rotary's Focus on Creating PeaceRotary International (RI) is focused on Promoting Peace in the month of February. Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Half of them are children. We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts. Is your club involved in building peace? Share with us your story! |
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Welcome Pam Blankenzee to District 5610Just in case you missed the announcement earlier this month, Pam Blankenzee is our newest member to the District 5610 Team as webmaster. In addition to updating our website and continuing to keep it updated, Pam has a wealth of knowledge on best practices to help clubs achieve visibility goals in their communities and throughout the region which in turn promotes Rotary and increases membership opportunities. She is a Paul Harris Fellow +8 and is also the Assistant Editor for the Scouting Rotarian Newsletter. In addition to supporting our District 5610, Pam is the Webmaster/Social Media Director for District 5870 Central Texas, District 5810 North Texas, and District 5840 South Central Texas. |
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Brookings Rotarians Expand District Grants for the HolidayA $250 grant from Rotary District 5610 turned into more than $1,500 worth of food for Brookings area families this holiday season. The grants were offered to clubs throughout the district specifically to address food insecurity efforts in local communities.
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Whiteclay Makerspace Hosts Widajuri Exchange Team
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Gifting Through the Snow!Members of the Pierre/Fort Pierre Rotary Club helped Feeding South Dakota distribute food to recipients during a beautiful snowfall in Pierre on Wednesday, Valentine's Day. The weather impacted the number of people who came to receive food, and "playing in the snow" for two hours created wet gloves and cold feet, the event was considered a success. Thanks to those Rotarians who gave of their time and spirit to make it so.
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TRIVIA NIGHT at Sturgis Brewing CompanyYou're invited to attend the Trivia Night at the Sturgis Brewing Company on February 24, 6PM to 9PM hosted by the Sturgis Rotaract Club. Fundraiser to support the City Park Outdoor music equipment project. Prizes to win.
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Rotary Ramp-Up: Igniting Action in your Club Membership!Gear up for action for Club Membership! Two dynamic webinars have just wrapped up, unleashing powerful strategies to supercharge your club's membership game. Head over to our district website, https://rotary5610.org, pronto, and catch the replay! Check out the Rotary Membership Roadmap. While the Membership Chairs and Presidents in your clubs have been on the front lines of recruitment, the call to action now echoes for every member. Rotary's greatness deserves a spotlight, and we need YOU to spread the word far and wide. There are eager community members waiting to join our ranks - all we have to do is extend the invitation!
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Introducing the Public Image Resource Page!We are thrilled to announce the launch of our newest addition to the District website - Public Image Resources page! This page includes links to the Rotary Brand Center, Rotary Image and Video Library, the Rotary People of Action Campaign, Logos and more. View here.
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Mark Your Calendars for PELS Training - April 27thThis training is a must for President -Elects and other club officers, however is open to ALL Rotarians! The agenda and more information will be posted on the website under training at https://rotary5610.org. This is a hybrid 6-hour training offered online or in locations throughout the district. If you are interested in attending the training in person to build camaraderie with other Rotarians, check with your AG as to the location. Attendees will have several opportunities to win $500 for their clubs. Great training and the possibility of winning prizes....Come and enjoy a Saturday with Rotary friends!
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A Good Rotary StoryIn November, over a hundred years ago, the grade was completed on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River to what later would become the “Meridian Bridge Project” and the founding of the Yankton Rotary Club. A Sand Pump used to complete the grade was being moved to the Dakota side of the River before ice flows had gotten significant enough to shut the entire job site down for the winter. The temporary hundred yard pontoon bridge used for river crossings during the summer was removed and the river left open to allow for “slush ice” movements downstream. If a person needed to cross to Yankton from the Nebraska side, they went all the way to Sioux City. It was said to be “too dangerous” to make a river crossing at Yankton as winter started to approach. By 1924, the Meridian Bridge was completed and the community benefited greatly from those Rotarians who listened to their local community, met the challenge to “Create Hope”, and accomplished a pretty phenomenal achievement.
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Reminders for the New YearIdentify your Club officers for 2024-25 It’s that time again to determine your club's officers for the next Rotary year which begins July 1, 2024. Enter the information on the district website https://rotary5610.org or email them to the district administrator. Do you Know your Assistant Governor? The District Assistant (Area) Governors play an important role in getting information out to the clubs and bringing updates to the District Team. Take a moment and reflect on your AG. Please send the name of your AG and a brief statement about the value they bring to your club to district5610Rotary@gmail.com. A surprise may be coming your way if you respond WITHIN 2 DAYS to this request! We hope we have peaked your interest! |
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Copy of PELS Training April 27thMark your calendars: PELS Training - Saturday, April 27th This training is a must for President -Elects and other club officers, however is open to ALL Rotarians! The agenda and more information will be posted on the website soon https://rotary5610.org. This is a hybrid 6-hour training offered online or in locations throughout the district. If you are interested in attending the training in person to build camaraderie with other Rotarians, check with your AG as to the location. Attendees will have several opportunities to win $500 for their clubs. Great training and the possibility of winning prizes....Come and enjoy a Saturday with Rotary friends!
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Proven Strategies to Recruit & Retain Members Webinar |
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Rotary Club Central to be Revamped!Mark your calendar for Tuesday, 30 January when Rotary Club Central updates will go live! Rotary International is updating Rotary Club Central with a streamlined user interface that’ll improve your user experience, including:
• Updating the homepage to take you to the Club Goals page, since goal setting is the primary purpose of the tool. • Reorganizing the navigation so it’s easier to use. • Clarifying terminology to improve readability and alignment with our Action Plan. Rotary Club Central helps clubs set and report goals, as well as retrieve information and reports for club, district, and global levels. |
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A message from Pat Sutliff: | |
I am excited to announce the Rotary 2023-24 annual District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest. This contest is a great way to spread our Rotary ideals within our communities. The contest involves 6th graders who are asked to write a 200 to 500 word essay on "How can I apply the Rotary Four-Way Test to my life?" You will be amazed and excited at the perspective 6th graders have on our Four-Way Test. You need to find a 6th grade teacher or group of teachers who are willing to participate in this great project. I have found that it is usually easier to approach teachers rather than the administrators as they have so many other issues on their minds. |
Food for the Holidays Pop Up Grants
Rotary President's World Polio Day Message
Carmen Hansen Receives Kozak Service Award
Carmen Hansen of the Rushmore Rotary Club was presented the “Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award” at the 2023 District Conference in Yankton. Started in 2016, the Kozak award is the top honor given to a Rotarian in District 5610 and is given in recognition of exceptional service to Rotarians in Rotary District 5610.
In making the presentation, John Schneider, Immediate Past District Governor, noted that, “this year’s recipient, like most of those who have been honored in the past, probably doesn’t think they deserve this award. This person believes in ‘Service Above Self’ and is a living, walking, breathing example of it.”
Hansen was recognized for her service both in the community and in Rotary District 5610.
Kozak Discusses the Role of Service in Rotary
October 24 is World Polio Day
D5610 Polio Walk Raises Awareness
District 5610 Rotarians Inspired at 2023 Conference
2022-23 Rotarians of Distinction Awards
Ashok Kumar | Rapid City | 2022-23 |
John Badgley | Mobridge | 2022-23 |
Ron Gates | Mitchell | 2022-23 |
Jody Olson | Canby | 2022-23 |
Joe Stedronsky | Wagner | 2022-23 |
Ernie Bures | Tyndall | 2022-23 |
Daniel Heinemann | Canton | 2022-23 |
Gregg Gropel | Luverne | 2022-23 |
Dan Cox | Sioux City | 2022-23 |
DG Club Visits through DEC 2023
2023 District Conference Sept. 29-30
● To get inspired.
● To do things you wouldn’t normally do.
● To celebrate the accomplishments “Imagine Rotary” is all about.
At the District Conference you will hear from Rotary International presenters how we have and will “Create Hope in the World.”
Club Goal Setting
July Message from District Governor Rich Burns
"Together we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”
Rotary Fellowships
- Read this Guide for Prospective Rotary Fellowships.
- Find others interested in the topic:
- Join a discussion group or start a new one. It's a great way to share your interest with other members.
- Use Rotary’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote your idea.
- Attend the Rotary International Convention or other Rotary events.
- Reach out to district leadership in other countries to build membership.
- Apply for official recognition using this online form.
Congratulations to the winners of the District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest
Rotary Offers Several Youth Programs
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand education and learn the value of service.
Interact clubs
Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12-18 to develop leadership skills and learn about the world through service projects and activities. Learn more ›
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
RYLA is a leadership development program for young people who want to learn new skills, build their confidence, and have fun. Events range from one-day seminars to weeklong camps. Learn more ›
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary Youth Exchange builds peace one young person at a time. Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens. Exchanges for students ages 15-19 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries. Learn more ›
New Generations Service Exchange
New Generations Service Exchange is a short-term, customizable program for university students and professionals up to age 30. Participants can design exchanges that combine their professional goals with a humanitarian project. Learn more ›
How can you get involved?
All of our youth programs are connected to a Rotary club. To get involved, contact the Rotary club in your area.
2023 District Raffle Prize Winners
Sneak Peak at some of the District Raffle Prizes
Club | Prize |
Brookings | |
Canby | $100 |
Canton | |
Centerville | $100 Visa card |
Cherokee | |
Clark | |
Custer | |
Gettysburg | |
Gregory | Grand Prize: Beko 4 piece kitchen package: (Refrigerator, Range, Dishwasher and Over the Range Microhood). Up to a $6,000 retail value. Sponsored by Karl’s TV & Appliance & Gregory Rotary. |
Hot Springs | |
Le Mars | 40 inch TV |
Luverne | |
Madison | Case of Wine from Moose Winery |
Mapleton | Gift basket at $85 |
Marshall | Unique beers Brau Brothers and $100 gift certificate. Value $175. |
Marshall Sunrise | |
Mitchell | |
Mobridge | |
Pierre-Fort Pierre | $500 Gift Certificate |
Rapid City | a weekend at the Black Hills Terry Peak Lodge condo, accommodations available, compliments of Dr Ashok Kumar, Rapid City Rotary |
Rapid City Rushmore | Plant Stand/Step Stool/Chair |
Rock Valley | $100 gift certificate to Copper Rose Apparel |
Sioux Falls Downtown | $500 Visa gift card |
Sioux Falls North | |
Sioux Falls South | $100 Walmart gift card |
Sioux Falls West | $150 voucher for DTSF shopping and gift basket items |
Sibley | $25 Pizza Ranch gift card |
Sioux City | |
Spearfish | |
Tyndall | 20v Dewalt cordless drill |
Vermillion | |
Wagner | |
Watertown | |
Winner | |
Yankton | $100 gift certificate |
District Assembly Announcement
To All District 5610 Rotarians:
Notice is hereby given that the annual District 5610 District Assembly will convene on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 10:30 AM CT. Please see email sent to you on March 27th for the agenda, minutes from the September 24, 2022 business meeting, the proposed budget for RY 2023-2024, and Proposed District dues per Rotarian for RY 2023-2024.
Please note that all questions regarding the proposed budget should be emailed to District Governor Elect Rich Burns at dg2023rotary.richb@gmail.com and Nicole Rawden at rawdenconsulting@gmail.com, in writing, at least one week before the District Assembly, to be held April 29, 2023. Thank you for all you do as Rotarians! You're greatly appreciated!
March is Water and Sanitation Month
13-19 March — World Rotaract Week
31 March — Preregistration discount ends for the Rotary International Convention
President Elect Training (PETS) Announcement
Presidents Elect, Presidents Nominee, Assistant Governors, Leadership Team, and Guests please join us for an inspirational couple of days. Join us starting Thursday evening April 27th for a dinner and a great chance to meet you fellow class of Presidents. Friday, April 28th will be a full day of inspirational speakers, breakout sessions, panelist discussions, wonderful food, and networking. Saturday, April 29th we will conclude at noon after our District Assembly and Raffle drawing. A full schedule of events will be emailed to PEs, PNs, AGs, and Leadership Team soon.
Rotary Youth Leadership Award Camper Applications Deadline Extended to April 15th
RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award. A RYLA participant is selected by his or her local Rotary Club to attend a camp designed to build character, leadership, personal development and good citizenship. The “Award” part of RYLA is the actual scholarship the Rotary Club provides so that a participant may attend camp free of charge. Past participants have had life-changing experiences by attending RYLA Camp, and YOU could be one of these people.
SAVE the DATES July 9-13, 2023 | Maranatha Camp
Hosted by Rotary Districts 5630 & 5610
Applications will be accepted beginning February 1 through April 15, 2023, at 11:59 PM.
APPLICATIONS
apply online at: https://greatplainsryla.org/apply
Please see the following bullet points about RYLA:
*It is a week long camp, July 9-13, 2023, held now at Maranatha Camp, Maxwell, NE
Learn how to become a Rotary Youth Exchange Host
Learn more how you become a Rotary Youth Exchange Host please contact Patrick Morrison or Bill Spindle .
Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month
June Message from District Governor John Schneider
Fellow Rotarians!
May Message from District Governor John Schneider
Fellow Rotarians!
Wow, what a great President Elect Training Seminar we had last month!! Kudos to DGE Rich Burns for organizing the event and thanks for all the District Leaders who were presenters and facilitators. Some portions were recorded and will be available for viewing. The District Assembly was held and I am excited to announce that Dan Cox of Sioux City Rotary Club was duly elected to be the District Governor in 2025-26. Nancy Moose was elected to represent our district on the Council on Legislation and Linda Peterson was named an alternate. The budget was tabled for further discussion and analysis, but the district dues will be raised $5 next fiscal year and another $5 in 2024-25. Look for an announcement of a future District Assembly on ZOOM to be held sometime in late June.
John Schneider DG 5610
April Message from District Governor John Schneider
Fellow Rotarians!
Happy spring! Three things are top of mind today. First, of course, is PETS or the Spring Leadership Conference. It is April 27-29. Please encourage your President Elect to attend. DGE Rich Burns has put together a great program. Also, beware that the Annul District Assembly will be Saturday morning of PETS to elect the DG for 2025-26, Council on Legislation Representatives and 3 District Nominating Committee Members and approve the district budget and dues. Clubs are entitled to have a delegate for every 25 members. Your President and President Elect has received all this information and some is available on the District Website. The raffle drawing will also be held. Encourage your members to purchase tickets!
Second is RYLA or Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp at Camp Maranatha, Maxwell, NE. Our RYLA Chairperson, Rene Sorenson, has done a great job of sending out information on this. Information is also available on the district website. The deadline has been extended through April 15!
Third, we are looking for 3 clubs to host Foreign Exchange Students next school year. RYE Chairman Patrick Morrison and incoming chairman Bill Spindle are the resource for this topic.
This month’s Rotary theme is Maternal and Child Health. I did a little research and found that our district partnered on a Global Grant project in 2019 to serve indigenous pregnant women in North Dakota. We have recently authorized a Global Grant partnership with a club in Uganda to provide wheelchairs and other medical devices for people with disabilities and purchase a new ultrasound machine and train staff to enhance pre-natal care. Our clubs have also done district grants projects within this area of focus. Examples are Sioux Falls West with their Children’s Inn project, Le Mars with their Then Just Feed One packing event and Luverne with their bike helmet distribution.
Please continue to work on your membership growth and retention and Foundation giving; two of my major goals for this year. I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at PETS!
Yours in Rotary!
John Schneider DG 5610
March Message from District Governor John Schneider
Yours in Rotary!!
John Schneider DG 5610
February Message from District Governor John Schneider
Fellow Rotarians!
I know most of us are tired of the cold and snowy winter most of us are having. Forty plus years ago, I have to admit that winter was my favorite season because I loved snowmobiling and downhill skiing. That was a long time ago and seems like a different life time!
We are well into the second half of the Rotary year and we need to be thinking about accomplishing our Rotary goals. Virtually every club I visited expressed concern about membership. Last week our Membership Chairman, Carmen Hansen, invited all the club membership chairs and presidents to a membership ZOOM. It was not well attended! It makes us wonder how seriously clubs really take membership. I think part of it is we don’t take the time to read emails from District Leadership. I know we all suffer from email fatigue, but we are here to help clubs in growing and to prosper. Carmen offers great information and advice about membership and has access to many resources from the Zone level and Rotary International. I have recordings of a recent great three-part ZOOM presentation about membership growth and retention that Carmen or I would be happy to share.
Moving forward DGE Rich Burn’s mind is on the upcoming PETS (President Elects Training Conference). He is putting together a great program for PE’s and he also welcomes President Elect Nominees to attend. The first step to plan PETS is to ask clubs to have their presidents for next year elected as soon as possible so that they may be informed and inspired to attend. As of now, about 13 clubs need to let us know who their PE’s are. I have emailed all those clubs and we will be following up with phone calls.
This month is Rotary “Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution” Month. February includes the first day that a Rotary meeting was held, February 23, 1905. It is now designated as the “World Understanding and Peace Day”. Rotary International supports Peace Centers around the world and provides Rotary Peace Fellow scholarships to attend. The mission of these centers is to “empower, educate, and increase the capacity of peace builders through rigorous academic training, practice and global networking opportunities”. These fellowships develop the skills needed to act as “leaders and catalysts for peace and conflict resolutions both in their communities and around the globe”.
Yours in Rotary!!
John Schneider DG 5610
Council on Legislation Representative and Alternative Representative Selected
Rotary Rose Parade Float
Watertown Rotarian Wendy Fransen and her husband Ken helped decorate the Rotary float for the 2023 Rose Parade, along with Rotarians from across the US, Canada, England, Mexico and many local Interactors. Rotary started in 1905 when carousels became popular, creating a perfect fit for the Rose Parade theme "Turning the Corner." The volunteers' combined efforts paid off as the Rotary float won the Princess Award. The Rotary float is an annual project for several districts (5280, 5300, 5320, 5330 and 6450), and having volunteers help with decorating was essential to stay within this year's $100,000 budget.
January is Vocational Service Month
January Message from District Governor John Schneider
- High ethical standards in business and professionalism
- The recognition of the worthiness of all occupations
- The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society
- Talk about your vocation in your club and take time to learn about fellow members’ vocations.
- Use your professional skills to serve a community.
- Practice your profession with integrity and inspire other to behave ethically through your own words and actions.
- Help a young person achieve his or her career aspirations.
- Guide and encourage others in their professional development.
Northern Black Hills Spearfish Rotary Helps Bell Fourche Family Struck by Double Tragedy
Our History Began with One Man's Vision
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
"Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves."
Paul Harris
Rotary founder
Our ongoing commitment
That commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe, working to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. We’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries — down from 125 in 1988.
Our Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Click Here to DONATE NOW
December Message from District Governor John Schneider
John Schneider
DG 5610
Rotary Foundation Month
Hope & Healing Fundraiser Event for Ukraine Relief
District 5610 Signature Projects
Governor's Award for Rotarian of the Quarter
She helped establish a regular schedule of monthly events for her club during her second term as President of Sioux Falls South which included 1 social and 1 service event and 2-3 regular presentations by speakers. Several of their speakers were from outside Sioux Falls and presented remotely, including a Rotary International Director from our Zone. This schedule has been a great recruiting tool for new members to the Sioux Falls South club. She is a constant reminder that new members are not only good for our clubs, but good for the new member and our communities. She had led the outreach of the Sioux Falls South club to Harrisburg, SD for potential new members. Her organization and presentation skills are key.
Mary and her family also hosted a Rotary Youth Exchange student-Awan for six months. Mary and her husband-Rex have one son. She is a graduate of Leadership South Dakota, member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, sings in the choir and is a champion for Lutheran Outdoors. She has been a member of the Lennox Band for over 25 years and plays in the USD Alumni Band.
2022-23 Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award Presented to Steve Sikorski
Past Kozak Award Winners:
2016-17 - Larry Lyngstad, Pierre-Fort Pierre
2017-18 - George Twitero, Rapid City Rushmore
2018-19 - Pat Sutliff, Rapid City Rushmore
2019-20 - Chuck Lindemann, Marshall
2020-21 - No Award (Covid Pandemic)
2021-22 - Dr. Willis Sutliff, Rapid City Rushmore
Link to District Conference 2022 Program
Join us to Celebrate Rotary at District Conference in Sioux City, IA September 22-24
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month
2022 District Celebration Event Schedule - September 22-24
Conference Speaker Line-up
Call for Club Grant Application Proposals
Good afternoon, Club Presidents and Grant Officers,
District 5610 has funds available in its FY 2023 District Designated Fund account for clubs to use on projects. This is a "Call for Proposals" from clubs to apply for these funds for projects to benefit their communities.
A few notes:
- Please use the attached grant application form.
- The district requires a 1-to-1 local club financial match. For example, if you have a $2,000 project, the club should provide $1,000 and request $1,000 from the district.
- The deadline for these grant proposals is Friday, September 30 with funds being disbursed to clubs shortly thereafter. Those clubs who submitted grant applications in May during the last fiscal year that were not funded will have those applications roll over into this grant round. Projects must be completed within 24 months of receipt of funds.
As with all Rotary grants, these proposals must be for projects that have not yet started. You will be required to submit receipts validating your expenditure of funds, and the hands-on involvement of local Rotarians is required. Projects must involve more than just “passing a check” to an organization. Please email me if you have questions.
You are invited to attend the "Better Rotarians - Better Communities" session at the District 5610 Annual Meeting September 23rd to learn more about how clubs have utilized grant funds to create successful projects.
Application can be found under News/Downloads section on the right hand column of the district website homepage.
Thank you,
Call for Nominations for District Governor for Rotary Year 2025-26
- Qualifications are to have served as a club president for a full term (per Rotary International bylaws), be a member in good standing in a club within the district, and to have been a Rotary club member for seven years before taking office. The successful candidate is expected to fulfill the training expectations and be willing to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the governor.
- Nominations or expressions of personal interest should be forwarded no later than September 30th, 2022 to:
- Include your nominee's name and Rotary Club. Should any Rotarian have any questions, please contact Doug Ling at 605-390-1502.
POLIO PLUS - Polio Case In New York
A case of polio paralysis has been reported in an adult in a suburban county of New York. This is more evidence that polio is only a plane ride away and that clusters of people who are unvaccinated are at risk of dying or having a life of paralysis if children or adults do not get the CDC recommended vaccinations. There is sewage testing proof that the vaccine derived polio virus is still circulating in Orange and Rockland counties in NY and polio immunization rates there are only 60 %. These are also counties close to NY City so further cases are very likely. Covid is also a factor as children's immunizations have lagged across the US. But what has really happened is there is a large number of people across the entire US who refuse immunizations for religious reasons and other non-scientific reasons. It is now apparent that where there are groups of non-immunized adults and children, polio is a real possibility. This is ANYWHERE in the US, including SD, MN, IA and NB. The United Kingdom has not had a paralysis case but sewage tests in London show they have a similar problem as does Israel. The take home message is to educate everyone you know that polio is not conquered even in the US and anti-vaxxers are playing with fire. Their result may be death or life long paralysis in a loved one.
Worldwide the drive to eliminate polio is steady but not great. The wild virus exists in only Afghanistan and Pakistan, but Pakistan's numbers are up to 7 as opposed to 4 for the entire year in 2021. There are a number of countries in Africa where circulating, vaccine-caused polio is a major problem. This includes Nigeria, Yeman and D R Congo. The new type 2 vaccine that has been developed should help, but many African countries are at war or having problems administering vaccines. I am still optimistic that polio can be eliminated from the world but it is extremely tough. Please continue to support Polio Plus and see that Rotary gets the promised Gates Foundation match of $2 for each $1 we donate to Polio Plus. OUR DISTRICT HAS STEPPED UP FOR POLIO PLUS IN SUCH A WONDERFUL WAY. Thanks to all of you. If you could summarize this for your fellow members and the need to give, I would appreciate it so much.
Willis Sutliff
Polio Plus Chair District 5610
Membership Minute
Membership Minute Focusing on the comfort and care of our members |
August is Membership and New Club Development Month. One of RI President Jennifer Jones' initiatives is to focus on the comfort and care of our members, and Membership Month is the perfect time to make sure that your club provides a welcoming experience. Members are more likely to stay if we listen to them and understand what they want out of Rotary. Here are a few ideas for helping people feel valued and involved:
Remember that for any Learning Center course, you’ll need a My Rotary account. Find more membership resources on My Rotary. Questions? Reach out to Carmen Hansen, District 5610 Membership Chair, carmenhansen@rushmore.com |
"Imagine One's Dream" a limited edition print, signed and dated by Darren Jones, a Chicago artist and brother to Jennifer Jones, will be auctioned at the 2022 District Rotary Conference in Sioux City
October Message from District Governor John Schneider
Governor's Award for Rotarian of the Year
Don Norton enjoys transforming communities and improving people’s lives through Rotary. He has just completed his second term as President of the Rotary Club of Brookings, South Dakota, where he is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. He serves as the Grants Chair in District 5610. He has been a Rotarian for 26 years.
Don also helps build the leadership capacity of communities across the state as CEO of the South Dakota Agricultural and Rural Leadership Program (SDARL), focusing on developing the skills, knowledge, and character of leaders through training seminars.
Don’s background is in education and communication. He taught more than 20 communication courses at the college and university level, and has received four Associated Press News Awards for broadcast journalism, including as a news anchor/reporter at WGN Radio in Chicago. He has a Master of Arts Degree in Communication from Western Illinois University, and is certified in Non-Profit Management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He is a Maxwell Leadership certified trainer, speaker and coach.
Prior to joining SDARL, Don directed the leadership programming and served as CEO of the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program. He has led leadership classes to China, India, Japan, Panama, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Scotland, and held leadership seminar meetings in Russia and Ukraine.
Don and his wife, Kay (the District 5610 Public Image Chair), have two grown sons. They enjoy singing special programs at retirement and nursing homes, and carry on a Brookings tradition with the Hopeful Spirit Chorale, a group that lifts up the spirts of the homebound and those in hospice.
Governor's Award for Rotarian of the Quarter
Tahiry Razafimanjato has been presented Rotarian of the Quarter for his dedication to Rotary and District 5610. Tahiry started Sturgis Rotaract Club, and is past president of Northern Black Hills Rotary Club, and a member of the District Membership Committee. Tahiry joined Rotary in 2015 at Northern Black Hills Rotary. Rotary was not something new for him. He grew up in a Rotarian environment in Madagascar; his dad is a long time Rotarian. Her sister and brother are also all Rotarians. For Tahiry, Rotary means more than a service. He considers Rotary as a way of life.
The District Governor Award for Rotarian of the Quarter was presented to Tahiry Razafimanjato he is a Rotarian who has gone above and beyond and has proven to be extraordinary in his service above self. This was a new award in Rotary Year 2021-22 that served to honor one individual each quarter who has exhibited these attributes. Congratulations Tahiry!
July is Rotary Transition Month: Learn more on Rotary International President Jennifer Jones Initiatives
Initiatives Overview
Rotary International President Jennifer Jones imagines a Rotary where members act to make their dreams become reality and make the most of their club experiences. During her year, Jones will focus on four presidential initiatives that Imagine Rotary: advancing our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); creating a welcoming club experience; empowering girls; and expanding our reach.
Imagine: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Diversity is one of Rotary's longstanding core values and greatest strengths. Jones knows there is more to be done to ensure that Rotary's culture exemplifies our values of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Rotary, with input and guidance from the DEI Task Force, has strengthened our commitment to DEI, resulting in a greater focus on celebrating every individual's contributions, advancing equity, and creating a more welcoming and inclusive culture.
President Jennifer Jones encourages each of us to do our part to ensure Rotary is a welcoming and inclusive community by:
- Learning more about DEI in Rotary, including understanding definitions and how to celebrate and respect our differences.
- Determining why DEI matters to our club and community and how using DEI principles can help our club grow and become stronger.
- Raising awareness of DEI, including creating a DEI committee in your club that reflects the demographics of your community.
- Taking action on DEI in our club and community for instance educating yourself about underrepresented groups in your community in order to become a more knowledgeable and effective advocate for DEI.
Learn more and take action by reading the DEI presidential brochure.
Find additional resources on our DEI web page.
Watch what Jones hopes to accomplish with DEI (download).
Imagine a welcoming club experience: Comfort and Care
Rotary has an important role to play to ensure that the club environment and experience is welcoming, inclusive, and enjoyable for all members and participants. Surveys show that comfort and care is the single greatest driver of satisfaction and our most powerful tool for retention. This begins with listening to and understanding what members and participants want out of their Rotary involvement. We often speak of the importance of "exit interviews" to better understand why former members leave. But why wait for them to leave? Jones urges club leaders to incorporate "entrance interviews" as well to understand the needs and expectations of new members at the outset. And of course, be sure to regularly survey all existing members, to ensure they have an opportunity to share thoughts about their membership experience.
Watch Jones talk about her Comfort and Care initiative (download)
Empowering Girls
Jones will continue past RI President Shekhar Mehta’s Girls Empowerment initiative, recognizing that empowered girls become empowered women. Share your Girls Empowerment projects on Showcase.
Imagine Impact: Expanding Rotary's reach media tours
Imagine Expanding Rotary's Reach Throughout the year, Jones will visit eight service projects that represent each of Rotary's areas of focus and polio eradication. The tour will provide examples of how Rotary can make a measurable difference, while introducing Rotary to new audiences and potential partners and influencers.
Watch and download video messages from Jones
- Imagine Rotary: International Assembly theme address (download)
- Goodwill message (download)
- District Conference message (download)
- Milestone message (download)
- New member message (download)
- Rotaract message (download)
- Women's Event message (download)
- Youth message (download)
Resources
Navy Seal to Address District Rotary Conference September 23
Celebrate Rotary
District Governor 2022-23 John Schneider Club Visits Schedule
June Message from District Governor Doug Lind
“In life’s journey, a bend in the road is not the end of the road, unless you refuse to make the turn”. In 2018, Penny and I decided that I should embark on this “journey” of serving as this District’s 2021-2022 District Governor. I can honestly say that it was not without a certain degree of concern and trepidation (what am I getting myself into??) that I jumped into the commitment. It’s definitely been a ride, and one I will always look back on with (mostly) fond memories. I need to use that well-worn and somewhat trite phrase that “it seems like only yesterday” …because its so very true! There were certainly moments when I doubted my sanity (and so did my wife), but luckily, there has always been my amazing team of committed, kind and forgiving Rotarian leaders to support me, pick me up when I was down, gently correcting me when I started down the wrong path, and always, always cheering me on when things were going as planned and even when they weren’t.
My wife, Penny, has been my constant supporter, editor, strategist, tech advisor and head cheerleader throughout the past three years, and I will always be grateful for her support, her love, and the occasional “nudge” when I needed it!
Nicole Rawden has been there for me always and has such an amazing talent to remind me of things before I even know I’ve forgotten them, to pull out information that I could spend a week searching for in minutes, and to always be there, even late nights and early mornings, to help me do my job better than I could ever hope to do it myself.
We have an amazing “DG Track”. IPDG Dan has been a wealth of information and advice when I was facing difficult decisions, and DGE John has become a close friend, always there to laugh together and sometimes have those uncomfortable talks about difficult decisions. I’m confident that John will be an excellent DG and further advance our District in positive ways! DGN Rich and DGND Bruce are both in the midst of DG training, and I feel both possess the right stuff to be great DG’s.
Our Leadership team for the past year is one of the main reasons for the successes we’ve enjoyed as a district this year! We’ve grown, we’ve established broader and well-structured committees, we’ve developed new long-standing programs that will continue on for many years and we’ve definitely gotten the train back on the tracks after two long years of COVID pain. I’m so grateful for all the work, much of which has gone unseen by most, that District Chairs and their committees have performed. I could write a long essay on all the wonderful successes I’ve seen this year that have been performed with little fanfare, just because “it was the right thing to do”!
The other main reason for the successes our district has enjoyed this year is YOU! You are the club member that shows up to meetings, volunteers to chair projects, comes up with new innovative ideas, brings that friend or neighbor who becomes a great member, and who gives freely of his or her time and talents and treasures to make our District and our organization stronger! Never hesitate to take the next step… to chair the committee, to serve on the Board of Directors, to be an Assistant Governor, or to serve in a district leadership committee. Our success is due to people that our willing to take the next step. I know that I will never regret my decisions to do so!
Which brings me back to my opening quote…although I don’t know where I might land in my next Rotary adventure, I do know that this is definitely just a “bend in the road” and not “the end of the road”. I ask that as you thoughtfully consider the next step in your Rotary journey, and that you think and move forward boldly. I can promise that you won’t regret it! Thank you all for allowing me to serve as your District Governor. It’s been my honor and my privilege and given me many forever memories.
In Rotary, serving to change lives,
Doug Lind
District Governor 2021-2022
Thank you Rotarians of District 5610
The Trail of Governors Foundation wishes to thank the Rotary Clubs of District 5610 who generously supported the Sponsorship of the statue of former Governor and long time Rotarian, Dennis Daugaard, whose statue was added to the Trail in 2019. All Rotarians are invited to attend the unveiling of the statues of the final three of the 31 former governors who will join the Trail at 10:00AM on Friday, June 17, 2022 in the rotunda of the State Capitol.
The Club Donors are as follows: Sioux Falls Downtown, Pierre-Ft. Pierre, Mitchell, Mobridge, Winner, Centerville, and Hot Springs.
Also, received were individual contributions from Rotary members and Rotary friends in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Hot Springs, Rapid City, Salem, Spearfish, Wagner, Winner, Vermillion, Yankton and Dell Rapids. All donors are recognized on the Foundation website: www.trailofgovernors.com and as a Sponsor, Rotary District 5610 is included on the bronze plaque that accompanies Governor Daugaard's statue.
Congratulations to our District 5610 Four Way Test Essay 2022 Winners
First Place
Second Place
Third Place
District Leadership and the Class of RY 2022-23 Club Presidents attend PETS
District 5610 Polio Plus Update
The Rollercoaster Ride of Polio Elimination
The drive to eliminate polio from the world forever seems like a rollercoaster ride with emotional highs and lows. This continued last year but with a high in the real progress made in Afghanistan and Pakistan and lows in Israel having a circulating vaccine paralysis case and Malawi having a wild polio case. Overall however we showed excellent progress by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.* Afghanistan cases dropped from 141 cases in 2020 to 4 cases in 2021. Pakistan has dropped to only 1 case in 2021. And it occurred in Jan. 2021 so Pakistan has been without a polio case for 14 months. Covid caused a hold in giving vaccinations for a few months so we were pleasantly surprised to see the drop in cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan. They probably occurred due to a decrease in travel.
A Plane Ride Away
You likely saw on line or on the news that a case of wild virus polio occurred in Africa in Malawi. The genetic tests of the virus showed the origin of the virus was from Pakistan. This demonstrated the importation by international travel. The case has been surrounded by an emergency vaccination task force. It has encircled the case and is giving vaccination in concentric circles around the case until no more virus is detected in sewage and no cases in children. Africa still is considered polio free as the case is contained. This case graphically illustrates that “polio is just a plane ride away” from all of us. Another case of vaccine derived polio paralysis in Israel shows that a pocket of anti-vaxxers can put a large community at risk of polio. The case occurred in a group of Israelis who for religious reasons avoided vaccines. Groups like this could derail Rotary’s long and expensive effort to eliminate polio from the world. So please, please vaccinate your children and educate your family members to see their children are all vaccinated. Other favorable facts show that circulating virus polio cases decreased from 959 in 2020 to 38 cases in 2021.
Vaccinator Deaths in Afghanistan
Sadly the polio elimination drive saw the brutal killing of 9 more workers in Afghanistan. I personally got to meet some of the brave Afghan women vaccinators two years ago and saw how strong and committed they are to getting rid of the scourge of polio. And they all were well aware that they could be giving the ultimate sacrifice. Please tell your clubs about them and their bravery. I hope there can be money raised in their name by our clubs and district so we can be sure their lives have not been given in vane. I also hope you can talk to your members about the fact that groups of unvaccinated children could bring polio back to the United States and ruin the effort to eliminate polio from the world for good. We must continue vaccinating every child in the US.
*Global Polio Eradication Initiative members are; Rotary International, the Gates Foundation,UN WHO and UNICEF and US CDC.
Willis Sutliff, District Polio Plus Chair
Governor's Award for Rotarian of the Quarter
Bruce Nearhood will serve as District Governor for Rotary Year 2024-25
During the recent District Assembly for District 5610, Rotarian Bruce Nearhood was elected to the position of District Governor Nominee (DGN) for the 2022-23 Rotary year. The following year, 2023-24, Bruce will serve as the District Governor Elect (DGE) and he will serve as the District Governor (DG) in 2024-25.
Bruce, a member of the Rapid City Rushmore Club since 1987, has served as Club President, and also has held club leadership roles as Foundation Chair and Membership Chair, successfully launching effective growth and retention campaigns for his club and personally sponsoring eight new members. As a proven District leader, Bruce served as 5610 Foundation Chair from 2011-15 and was most recently co-chair of the 2021-22 District Conference. He also was a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institutes from 2010-19.
Bruce’s service through Rotary has extended far beyond the boundaries of our District. He has participated in five Rotary-sponsored humanitarian trips, four to Haiti and one to Guatemala. He and his wife were part of Friendship Exchanges to Italy and Japan. A passionate supporter of The Rotary Foundation, Bruce is a member of the Paul Harris Society, is a major donor, and a Level 5 Bequest Society member. Bruce has continued to expand his well-rounded knowledge of Rotary International by attending three Rotary International Conventions.
District 5610 Rotarians Provide Medical Supplies, Other Aid To Ukrainian Emergency Need
-Part of a Quarter Million Dollar Multi-District Effort; Other Donations Also Being Rushed to War-Torn Country
Rotary International is noted for its global healthcare response, especially as a major sponsor of polio eradication, clean water sources, and more. And now District 5610, which includes all Rotary clubs in South Dakota as well as portions of Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska, will send $25,000 toward emergency supplies to healthcare workers in Ukraine to assist with the urgent need in that war-torn country.
District 5610 was awarded $25,000 in disaster relief funding from The Rotary Foundation to provide "Shipping of Emergency and Healthcare Supplies for front-line emergency workers, hospitals, clinics, and physicians in Ukraine." The district is one of 10 working together on a joint project to support the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA). This multi-district Disaster Grant will provide $250,000 toward airlifting pallets of supplies into Ukraine.
Crews are assembling medical supplies (tourniquets, gauze with blood clotting powder, etc), survival food supplies and emergency aid in a warehouse in Illinois, with 330 pallets already assembled. But this isn’t the only Rotarian response to the Ukrainian crisis.
“District 5610 Rotarians also have already contributed more than $20,000 to Ukrainian support through Hope Haven, an international ministry that provides wheelchairs to those in need,” said District 5610 Governor Doug Lind. And, noted District 5610 Foundation Chair Dan Little, the district also is working on a streamlined District grant of at least $10,000 to the Rotary Club of Barlad, Romania for humanitarian relief for Ukrainian refugees.
“This will bring current and anticipated District 5610 contributions to Ukrainian aid to more than $55,000,” said Little.
Any contributions to the Rotary Foundation Disaster Fund prior to April 30, 2022 will all be allocated to Ukrainian Aid. Rotarians may donate through their MyRotary account online, designating “Ukrainian Disaster Fund,” and others may give by logging in to https://my.rotary.org/en/donate and choosing “Disaster Response Fund.”
“Many people are watching the news and wondering, ‘What can I do to help?’ and feeling helpless,” said Little. “Making a donation to this effort is one way to make a direct difference in the life of someone who is suffering.” Added District Governor Lind, “The respected reputation of Rotary International and its Foundation for being able to penetrate boundaries and provide global assistance makes this donation opportunity a very good choice for anyone wishing to help.”
Questions may be directed to your local Rotary club, or by emailing 5610dlittle@delittledvm.com
DISTRICT 5610 POLIO PLUS REPORT
Registration Now Open - District Conference September 23-24 in Sioux City
PRESIDENTS-ELECT, PRESIDENTS-NOMINEE, ASSISTANT GOVERNORS: April 7, 8, and 9th PETS/DISTRICT ASSEMBLY!
5:30 p.m. - Social hour and informal supper, THE DEPOT
Friday, April 8:
9:00 a.m. – PETS SESSION I
GOAL: Obtain preliminary skills needed to effectively lead a Rotary Club in District 5610
Welcome from DGE John Schneider and interactive sessions helping incoming Club Presidents prepare for their year of leadership
9:00 a.m. – A.G. SESSION
GOAL: Strengthen AG role to benefit Clubs and District
Discussion of the responsibilities of A.G.s and strategies for great relationships with Clubs in your area (A.G.s are asked to attend PETS sessions after completion of this A.G. session)
12:00 p.m. – LUNCH. Colors presented by the Mitchell V.F.W. And you’ll be INSPIRED by our VERY SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER – V.J. Smith
1:30 p.m. – PETS SESSION II
GOAL: Learn how to use specific processes to streamline successful Club procedure
“Practice with Parliamentary Procedure,” discussion on “How to Empower Your Club’s Secretary and Treasurer,” and “Tips on Writing Successful Rotary Grants”
3:00 p.m. – PETS SESSION III
GOAL: Learn about the Rotary Trilogy and how these teams build synergy and success
District leaders will discuss “Membership Strategies to Strengthen your Club,” “Using Public Image to Tell Your Story,” and “Growing your Club’s Foundation Impact”
5:30 p.m. – SOCIAL HOUR, followed by 6:30 p.m. DINNER. A fun evening of fellowship and laughter!
Saturday, April 9:
9:00 a.m. – PETS SESSION IV
GOAL: Review resources and encourage effective leadership
We’ll share resources available to help ensure your success, and then introduce a District 5610 panel of extraordinary Rotarians who will discuss “Leadership in Times of Change.”
11:00 a.m. – DISTRICT ASSEMBLY
12:00 p.m. – ADJOURN TO SERVICE ABOVE SELF
(NOTE: Subject to change and details to be announced. Scheduled times will be allowed for breaks and networking.)
January 11th was Human Trafficking Awareness Day
2021 District Celebration Photos
Yankton Rotary’s 100th Anniversary Gala Event
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.
Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects.
With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
Share the following weekly foundation messages regularly with your club members: Foundation 52 Weekly Messages
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
- Click on the red donate now box below to provide an additional one-time donation and/or setup recurring donations.
Rotary District 5610 Clubs Recognized for 2020-2021 Giving
Whiteclay Arts Makerspace Rotary Global Grant Project News Report for District 5610 - November 2021
2021-2022 Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award Presented to Dr. Willis C. Sutliff
Award at the District 5610 celebration conference in Deadwood on the evening
of October 15. It was presented to him by Rotary Past International Vice President Greg
Podd, PDG Ed Jacobson, and the four former winners of the award.
Sutliff has served District 5610 and it's Rotarians for over ten years as
District 5610 Polio Plus Chair. During this time he has given interesting
and informative presentations at District Conferences, changing content as
it suits the occasion. He is passionate about Polio eradication and
enthusiastic about raising funds to defeat the disease.
Willis is a member and past president of Rapid City Rushmore Rotary Club.
He is very active in the club on the International Projects Committee and
has worked hard to encourage Global Grants and Local Grants. He is
currently serving on the District's the End Human Trafficking Committee.
He and his wife, PDG Pat Suliff have hosted many Youth Exchange Students
through the years, attended several Rotary International Conferences and
traveled on and hosted several Rotary Friendship Exchanges. He and Pat are
TRF major donors.
Willis is a retired Pediatrician who practiced for 40 some years in Rapid
City and helped start Black Hills Pediatrics. As part of the local hospital
board he helped the hospital move forward and add new services. He has a
degree from UC Berkeley in Public Health, spent 3 years in the Army in
Germany and has served on American Academy of Pediatrics Committees.
Over the years, Willis has been active in his local community through his
church and Habitat for Humanity. He is currently on the Starting Strong
Board and the YFS Board where he will serve as president in 2022-23. He
also serves on several YFS committees.
Willis and Pat have 5 children and 10 grandchildren.
Past Kozak Award Winners:
2016-17 - Larry Lyngstad, Pierre-Fort Pierre
2017-18 - George Twitero, Rapid City Rushmore
2018-19 - Pat Sutliff, Rapid City Rushmore
2019-20 - Chuck Lindemann, Marshall
2020-21 - No Award (Covid Pandemic)
2021-22 - Dr. Willis Sutliff, Rapid City Rushmore
District Governor Award for Rotarian of the Quarter Presented to Kay Norton
Rotarian of Distinction 2021 Award Recipients
Breakout Facilitators
October 14-16, 2021 District 5610 Conference
Second Round of District Grants
Nominations for District Governor Nominee
May Message from District Governor Doug Lind
Our world of social media and non-stop “breaking news” makes it easy to fall into the trap of focusing on all the things wrong with our world, instead of seeing the countless blessings we have to be grateful for! ROTARY is one way, if not the best way to respond and show gratitude for all we are given; our way of “paying it forward”. Most of you already know our well-kept Rotary “secret” – the more we do for others, and the more we give, the better we feel and the more we receive!
As we get closer and closer to the finish line for this Rotary year, take a moment to step back and count your blessings, review your Rotary Goals for the year, and give it your best effort to successfully complete your goals. There’s still six weeks to go – plenty of time to bring that friend or business associate to their first Rotary meeting or project and help them become a new Rotary member.
June will be here in just a few weeks, and with it will come the first “live, in-person” Rotary International Convention in three years! Penny and I, along with thirteen other District Rotarians, are looking forward to hearing tons of great speakers, reconnecting with Rotary friends from around the world, and learning lots of new things about on-going and upcoming Rotary projects in other countries, and making lots of new friends! It’s still not too late, if you have a last-minute change of plans or happen to be an impulsive person, to attend this memorable event! Also in June, I will have the honor of passing my Governor’s pin on to incoming Governor John Schneider, at his home club in LeMars, IA. I look forward to helping John in the next several months as he assumes the responsibility of this amazing job!
Thanks everyone for your continued efforts to help our District become better, stronger and more vital than ever!
Service above self in Rotary,
Register Your Club for a World Polio Day Event & a Chance to Win Foundation Raffle Tickets
How Do We Grow Rotary? Ten Tips to Grow Rotary
September is Rotary Basic Education and Literacy Month
Seeking Volunteers for a Trip to Ukraine next month as part of a Wheelchair Distribution Project
Rotary Youth Exchange Update and Application Deadline
District Conference: Line-up begins of Guest Speakers
Rotary’s general secretary and executive team oversee a staff of more than 800, who serve Rotary members from our world headquarters in Evanston, Illinois, USA, and seven international offices. The general secretary is a member of the Rotary International Board of Directors and The Rotary Foundation Board of Trustees. John Hewko has served as Rotary International’s general secretary and chief executive officer since 2011. A charter member of the Rotary Club of Kyiv, Ukraine, Hewko lives out Rotary’s mission, whether inside or outside the office. He’s immunized children against polio in India, represented Rotary at the World Economic Forum, and bicycled 104 miles (167 km) with Rotary members in Arizona, USA, to help raise over $50 million for polio eradication. "It’s an honor to go the extra mile in serving this great organization. I see Rotary as the original social network formed to exchange ideas and resources so we can transform lives. We’re a bold NGO that believed it could end a disease, and we’ve stuck to the cause for over three decades. That thought inspires me every morning.".
Passing of Rotary District 5610 Governor Pin Ceremony
District 5610 Message from District Governor Dan Little
District 5610 Rotarians,
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your District Governor for the past year! It has been a year of challenges, success, and growth as we pursue our goal of serving others. A year of COVID-19 restrictions may have limited travel and personal interaction, but we have discovered creative solutions of staying connected electronically through Zoom and hybrid meetings. These changes have offered opportunities to share speakers and topics with other Rotarians around the world without leaving the comfort of our home or office!
A special thank you to the organizers and participants of our 2nd Virtual District Conference! Through the collaboration and commitment of many District Rotarians, we were able to present an information packed District Conference with special emphasis on our goal of Ending Human Trafficking. It will be great to resume an “in person” District Conference in Deadwood this October!
The past year has certainly validated our theme of “Rotary Opens Opportunities”! It has been exciting to see clubs grow and retain membership by offering meetings, training, and activities through online methods that have increased participation of Rotarians of all ages. Thanks to the increased efforts of our Membership and Public Image teams and the guidance of Nicole, our District Administrator, we have continued to attract new members that share our ideals of Service Above Self!
The Foundation and Global Grants Committees have developed a strong foundation for a new District focus on Ending Human Trafficking. Stay tuned for more information on how we can support this effort on a District level! We also awarded a record number of high impact District matching grants, as well as as District grants to support Technology and Infrastructure! We have also continued our support to eradicate Polio through contributions to End Polio Now. Thank you to all Rotarians that so unselfishly support the Rotary Foundation and the many projects that are possible through TRF funding.
Rotary 2020-21 has been a growth year! Like a rubber band that has been stretched, we will never to be able to go back to “how we always did things before”. Enjoy the excitement of the new normal as we not only gather again for in person meetings, but we also continue to implement the new tools that we have discovered to engage Rotarians worldwide in our quest of Service Above Self! District leadership has focused on expanding collaboration to provide a more cohesive leadership team to address the needs of the District. District Governor Elect Doug Lind is well prepared and excited to continue with many of the strategies that have been initiated over the past year.
Truly, Rotary Opens Opportunities! Thanks again for the opportunity to serve District 5610 as your District Governor.
Yours in Rotary,
Dan
District 5610 Partners with District 3860 on a Global Grant Promoting Disease Prevention and Treatment
Hope Haven is a cooperating organization to a Global Grant led by District 3860 in Tagbilaran, Philippines, whereas District 5610 is the international partner. The project is aimed at promoting disease prevention and treatment through improvement in the Philippines healthcare system, specifically providing clinical treatment and rehabilitation for persons with physical disabilities. A working trip to the area of Bohol, Philippines is planned for early March 2022 and Hope Haven is calling on volunteers.
2021 District Conference Save the Date
Wishing Everyone a Wonderful Memorial Day
District Live Raffle Drawing
Help Raise Awarness During World Innoculation Week
- Because vaccines work, Rotary and partners have reduced polio cases by 99.9% worldwide since 1988. EndPolioNow won't stop until we end the disease for good. #VaccinesWork endpol.io/c2tr
- The systems created to deliver polio vaccines to the hardest-to-reach areas of the world are helping #EndPolio workers find #COVID19 cases, trace contacts & provide info on how to slow the spread of the virus. #VaccinesWork endpol.io/c2tr
- #VaccinesWork & are the best investments we can make in human health & potential. Thanks to the polio vaccine, the world’s seen a 99.9% reduction in polio cases since 1988. @Rotary #EndPolio EndPolio.org
District 5610 Assembly Announcement
June 2021 Rotary Fellowships Month
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Membership in a fellowship is open to any interested individual. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the links below.
How do I form a fellowship?
- Read this Guide for Prospective Rotary Fellowships.
- Find others interested in the topic:
- Join a discussion group or start a new one. It's a great way to share your interest with other members.
- Use Rotary’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote your idea.
- Attend the Rotary International Convention or other Rotary events.
- Reach out to district leadership in other countries to build membership.
- Apply for official recognition using this online form.
Explore our fellowships
Interested in a particular subject? Visit the group's website or email it to learn more.
- 4x4 vehicles
- Amateur Radio
- Antique Automobiles
- Argentine Culture
- Badminton
- Bathhouse
- Beard and Moustache
- Bee
- Beer
- Bird Watching
- Caravanning
- Chess
- Comedy
- Computer Users
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Cricket
- Cruising
- Cultural Heritage
- Curling
- Cycling
- Doll Lovers
- Draughts (Checkers)
- E-Clubs
- Editors and Publishers
- Educators
- Environment
- Esperanto
- Ethics
- European Philosophy
- Executive Managers
- Fishing
- Flying
- Genealogists
- Gin
- Go
- Golf
- Gourmet Cooking
- Graphic Designers
- Healthcare Professionals
- Hiking
- Home Exchange
- Honorary Consuls
- Horseback Riding
- Hunting
- Internet
- Italian Culture
- Jazz
- Latin Culture
- Lawyers
- Leadership
- LGBT
- Magicians
- Magna Graecia
- Marathon Running
- Metalhead
- Motorcycling
- Music
- Old and Rare Books
- Palmwine
- Past District Governors
- Peace Fellows
- Photographers
- Police and Law Enforcement
- Public Health
- Quilters and Fiber Artists
- Railroads
- Recreational Vehicles
- Rotary Global History
- Rotary Heritage and History
- Rotary Means Business
- Rotary on Pins
- Rotary on Stamps
- Rowing
- Scouting
- Scuba
- Shooting Sport
- Singles
- Skiing
- Social Networks
- Strategic Planning
- Surfing
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Travel and Hosting
- Triathlon
- Wellness and Fitness
- Whisk(e)y
- Wildlife Conservation
- Wine
- Yachting
- Yoga
2021 NC PETS Post Event Resources and Recorded Sessions
March 2021 Water and Sanitation Month
The Rotary Foundation and Planned Giving
Great Plains RYLA Applications Process Now Open
District 5610 Technology/Public Image Grants to Promote Membership Programs
District requests Raffle Prize Information
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February 2021 - Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Month
NCPETS Registration is now open - Virtual Event March 12th-20th
Rotary ramps up COVID-19 vaccination efforts
by Ryan Hyland
Rotary clubs around the world are mobilizing in their communities to support the introduction and delivery of COVID-19 vaccinations. Rotary leaders are urging members to connect with their local health agencies to determine how Rotary can support COVID-19 vaccine efforts.
Rotary has decades of experience in supporting the distribution of polio vaccines as well as highlighting their power and efficacy, which is a critical reason why polio is on the brink of eradication. It’s this expertise, along with strategic partnerships and innovation, that Rotary members can tap into to protect communities from COVID-19.
Back-up for health officials
Rotary International President Holger Knaack and Foundation Trustee Chair K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran have called on Rotary members to take action on a number of levels. Rotary members in North Carolina, USA, quickly organized to offer assistance to health officials. District leaders contacted the state’s secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) to strategize support efforts.
The six district governors in North Carolina joined the state’s health department in conducting a webinar, open to the more than 12,200 Rotary members in North Carolina, to provide information about the available COVID-19 vaccines, how they will be distributed, and answer their questions so they can serve as role models and instill confidence in the vaccines in their community.
“Rotarians are leaders who are looked upon for guidance, and the more information and opportunity to share ideas with health officials, the better,” said Dawn Rochelle, governor of Rotary district 7730 (North Carolina).
Members volunteered at local vaccination sites across the state to help health officials with logistics including data entry, crowd control, and check-ins. Members also provide health workers and volunteers with food and beverages. In addition, the districts provided the state health department with a spreadsheet that included a Rotary member contact for each of the 100 counties in North Carolina.
Nancy Barbee and Rochelle, past governors of the same district, volunteered together during National Immunization Days in India. It’s those experiences with mass immunization for polio that helped them identify specific needs for how members can help support COVID-19 vaccinations.
“The polio eradication initiative gives a blueprint that provides strategy that is effective in any community,” says Rochelle, who took part in two polio immunization drives in India. “Governments take the lead on immunizations there and here in the U.S., but what’s critical to the success is the additional layer of support Rotarians bring. We are here to back-up the frontline workers with anything they need. It’s amazing to see the response of North Carolina Rotarians.”
New joint COVID-19 taskforce gives direction to clubs
Clubs: Share your COVID-19 efforts on Rotary Showcase.
At a meeting in December, the Rotary International Board of Directors and Rotary Foundation Trustees created a joint taskforce that will help guide upcoming efforts to distribute the COVID-19 vaccines and advocate for people to get vaccinated. The newly formed group will also share information promoting vaccine acceptance, and encourage service projects to stop the spread of the disease, such as social distancing, wearing masks, and washing hands frequently.
In a joint letter to district leaders, Knaack and Ravindran said members have a successful history of getting things done when help is needed. “Through the hundreds of global grants and projects, Rotary members have demonstrated what we can accomplish to raise awareness, deliver critical personal protection equipment, and provide support to frontline health workers,” they said in the letter.
The two Rotary leaders called particular attention to the importance of one specific call to action: combatting vaccine hesitancy. “Help us combat the powerful, growing force of vaccine resistance and misinformation. Our advocacy in our communities will be critical – we need to spread the message about the power of vaccines to save lives,” they urged.
Other ways clubs can mobilize around COVID-19 vaccine introduction and delivery at the local level include community education, ensuring equitable distribution of the vaccine, helping stop the continued spread of the disease, and aiding local health authorities to get prepared for mass vaccinations.
The infrastructure created by Rotary and its Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) partners is already supporting efforts to combat COVID-19. The GPEI recently announced that it is ready to support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.
1-Feb-2021
District 5610 Pre-Presidents-Elect Training to be held Virtually February 16th and February 18th
District 5610 Clubs Receive Rotary Disaster Response Grant
District 5610 Virtual Conference Video, Speaker PowerPoints, and Presentations
- District 5610 Conference Welcome - DG Dan Little - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Rotary International President Nominee Jennifer Jones - Video Segment
- Foundation - Presenter Tracy Dahl-Webb - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Grow Rotary - Presenter Kathryn Fahy - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Public Image - Presenter Chuck Lubbers - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Whiteclay Makerspace - Presenter Linda Peterson - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Rotary District 5610 Global Grant End Human Trafficking Initiative - Jennifer Rollins - PowerPoint Slides and Video Segment
- Rotary International Director Suzi Howe - Video Segment
- BridgeHope - Red Flags
- BridgeHope-Familial Trafficking
- BridgeHope-Commercial Sexual Exploitation
- National Human Trafficking Hotline
- Spotlight of Signature Projects by Clubs within our District
- Celebration of Life - Memorial Slides
Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
Call for DGND Nominations
Ina Winter
November "Rotary Foundation Month"
District 5610 Virtual Conference November 6, 2020 Tentative Program Schedule
Rotary International 2021 International Assembly Seminar Trainer Kathryn Fahy | Rotary International Director Susan “Suzi” C. Howe | Co-Founder and Executive Director of BridgeHope Jessa Crisp |
Special Guest Speakers
Update on Youth Exchange for 2021-2022
District 5610 Rotary Clubs Highlighted
Rotary Club of Luverne
Service Project Outdoor Nature Explorer Classroom Clean-up
Smiles! Someone once said “smiles” is the longest word in the world. Well, there were a lot of long, big smiles on the faces of those to whom Rotarians delivered roses to on Thursday, September 24. Of course, delivering roses was the final piece of the puzzle placed into the annual Rotary Club rose sale. As readers might recall, the Rotary club started its annual rose sale on August 18 and concluded it on September 10. In the end, the club sold 177 dozen roses. That’s a remarkable number, particularly when you factor in the possibility of covid-19 hovering around in unknown places. Covid-19 may have caused some anxiety among Rotarians and therefore limited themselves to the number of contacts made with potential customers. Nevertheless, roses arrived at Luverne Flowers on Tuesday, September 22. A small committee tagged each dozen with a name tag. This was done on Wednesday, September 23. On Thursday, September 24, an attempt to deliver all 177 dozen was made. “I made several deliveries,” remarked club member Gregg Gropel. “When I handed the roses to each recipient they immediately put on a big smile. One young lady, with a long smile upon her face, turned and looked at her husband and said, ‘Did you do this?’” Upon which her husband couldn’t help but reciprocate with his own big smile. “You could tell that dozen roses was a big hit in that family,” said Gropel. Smiles! You see, smiles is the longest word in the world because there is a mile between the two S’s. And a lot of those rose sale recipients ended the day with a mile long smile. Click here for the full article on Luverne's Annual Rose Sale.
Rotary Club of Canby
Downtown Dining A Rotary District 5610 COVID-19 grant enabled the Canby Rotary Club to purchase bistro tables for public seating around downtown Canby. Tables are placed in the walking alleys near the Canby Print Shop and Moberg Meat Center as well as in Birthday Park next to True Value. It is Rotary’s hope that the community and visitors will use these seating areas to enjoy food and drink from any of the businesses in Canby.
Rotary Club of LeMars
The Le Mars Rotary Club hosted a flag pole dedication in O’Toole Park on Central Avenue North on Wednesday, Sept. 16, and honored a longtime Rotary member, Ina Gatts. Rotary Club President Bob Lee noted the Le Mars Rotary Club was founded in June 1919. “Last year marked our 100th anniversary as a club and under the leadership of Steve Harrington, a past President and District Governor last year, the members of the club decided that we wanted to do a special project for our anniversary at O’Toole Park,” he said. “Past President Ina Gatts, who was the first woman president of the club in 1992, wanted to help with our special project as well.” Click here for the full article at LeMars Daily Sentinel.
African region declared free of wild poliovirus
Polio Plus
What is your club doing to celebrate World Polio Day on Oct. 24?
- Mark your calendar to watch the Rotary International Online Global Update on 24 October and share the event on your social media pages.
- Follow the event on social media and share it with your network.
- RSVP to the Online Global Update on Facebook and see who else is participating.
- Get early access to see a downloadable program by registering your World Polio Day event by 15 October
- Use the sample posts from the World Polio Day Toolkit on your social media pages
- Use the #EndPolio and #WorldPolioDay hashtags to follow and join the global conversation on social media.Follow End Polio Now on Facebook and Twitter.
- Follow @EndPolioNow on Facebook and Twitter, and visit the World Polio Day page on www.endpolio.org for updates.
- Update your Facebook cover photo and Twitter avatar, using the graphics provided.
- Use Rotary’s Brand Center to create a People of Action social media post about ending polio that promotes your club’s events. Just sign in, hover over Ads, and choose Online. In the options on the left, choose Fighting Polio.
- Organize a community event with club members, friends, and family members to observe World Polio Day. Invite local media representatives, officials, and other leaders to participate, and use the opportunity to introduce them to Rotary.
- Organize a viewing party for friends and club members to watch the World Polio Day events.
- Invite local media, officials, and leaders to introduce them to Rotary.
- Dedicate a club meeting to World Polio Day and update your website with the event details.
- Create a fundraising or community event. Every dollar raised is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Register your event (https://www.endpolio.org/
register-your-event) and tell us how you’re participating with the global Rotary community.
- Email or call local reporters and pitch a story about World Polio Day and your club’s contributions to the effort. Send them the news release and the fact sheet about Rotary’s efforts to eradicate Polio.
- Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper about the importance of ending polio. Send it to the op-ed or editorial features editor for consideration.
- Write your government officials asking for an official proclamation for World Polio Day. A template for the proclamation is included on the resources page.
District Governor Dan Little - Message for September 2020
When Dr. Dan Little of Brookings accepted the position of District Governor nominee for Rotary District 5610, he was looking forward to the two years of extensive training that would prepare him to lead 40 clubs throughout all of South Dakota and parts of Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa. That was in 2018.
Fast forward to the first day of his District Governor term, July 1, 2020, and the world looked much different.
“Everything changed in March, when most clubs suspended their meetings for at least a few weeks due to COVID-19. However, now about three quarters of the clubs are back to weekly gatherings, even if they are held virtually. The work of Rotary continues,” said Little.
Rotary International began in 1905 in Chicago, when Paul Harris and three other businessmen started meeting regularly to share ideas and network, “rotating” their meeting locations among their four offices. Now Rotary International membership tops 1.2 million with more than 33,000 clubs in about 200 countries. The organization is divided into 34 zones (Brookings is in Zone 29) and 531 worldwide districts. Each district has a governor, and this year’s governor for District 5610 is from right here in Brookings.
Little, a consulting veterinarian, provides expert opinions in complex scenarios regarding dairy, swine, beef, poultry, equine, small ruminants, practice management, and personal injury. Many of his current forensic investigations relate to alleged feed mixing and contamination concerns. He believes his background as a vet has helped him respond to the current challenges facing Rotary.
“Veterinarians use systematic problem solving to make decisions – possibly followed by another decision.” he said. This type of problem solving has come in handy as he helps guide his district through unprecedented times. “When faced with concerns or obstacles we must pursue the discovery of the root cause before we can effect positive change,” Little continued. “The ‘positive change’ work of Rotary has not stopped in these COVID-19 times. In fact, our mission and goals are more relevant than ever.”
Little notes that the Rotary International theme for 2020-21 is “Rotary Opens Opportunities.” Those opportunities include taking advantage of technology in ways not considered prior to the pandemic. “COVID is forcing us to adapt to the digital age. We have been stretched out of our comfort zone, but like a rubber band, I do not expect that we will ever go back to all of our past behaviors,” said Little. “Zoom and digital tools improve the ability of young professionals to participate in Rotary activities, so one unexpected result might just be membership for those who hadn’t previously been able to attend a more traditional, in-person, lunch meeting.”
Little grew up on a dairy and swine family farm near Faribault in south central Minnesota. He received his B.A. in Biology from Gustavus Adolphus College, his M. S. in Physiology of Reproduction from Texas A&M University and his DVM from the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine before establishing a veterinary practice in southeastern Minnesota in 1984.
His practice has focused on a systems management approach to food animal medicine. In addition to providing on-farm services to diagnose and prevent health challenges, he has also provided technical support to companies that desire to develop, market and implement biotech solutions in livestock systems. He has presented at national and international professional conferences and is a published author in scientific journals and industry magazines.
Although Rotary district governors are charged with the ultimate decision-making and leadership of their districts, Little ultimately sees his role as more of a “facilitator.”
“I view this position as an opportunity to be a team leader, providing the clubs in District 5610 with the Rotary International tools they need to meet their individual club goals,” explained Little. “We have tremendously talented and passionate Rotarians throughout District 5610.”
Although Little has been a Rotarian since 1994, he said he really understood the importance of membership when he joined the Brookings club after moving to Brookings in 2002. “I realized that I was immediately accepted and trusted in a new community of Rotarians.” Little subsequently served as president of the Brookings club, then as assistant governor and ultimately received the required training at the district, zone and international levels to prepare for his year as district governor.
“It’s a big commitment – one I entered into very seriously – but it’s a tremendous honor. The opportunity to be a leader in an organization where you can contribute locally but have an impact globally is humbling.”
Little remembers the first time he heard a former district governor challenge members of the Brookings Club to join the Paul Harris Society; the DG explained the global nature of Rotary’s work, but also emphasized that it was important to remember that behind each dollar donated, there was an individual, a real person, who benefitted. Little is proud to be a Paul Harris Fellow and a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Paul Harris Fellows are those who have contributed (or have had donated in their name) at least $1,000 to the Rotary Foundation, the organization that provides funding for local and global projects supporting Rotary projects involving health, economic development and peace. Last year, the Brookings Rotary Club achieved 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow status. Paul Harris Society members pledge to contribute $1,000 per year to the Rotary Foundation.
The reach is expansive; in 2018, the Rotary Foundation distributed more than $86 million to causes that reflect Rotary’s mission, most notably its continued quest to eradicate polio. “As recently as 1988, there were 350,000 cases of polio worldwide. Now, we are down to 72 isolated cases, with pockets of infection in Afghanistan and Pakistan. We’re remarkably close to total eradication,” said Little.
In addition to club members contributing to global causes, Rotarians exemplify their motto of “Service Above Self” by participating in local, club-level projects. Recent projects supported by the Brookings club, for instance, include a community food drive to benefit the Brookings Food Pantry, collaboration with the Brookings Area United Way to create the Born Learning Trails in two parks for area families to enjoy, the purchase of gift cards for all employees of area assisted living facilities, and the gift to the City of Brookings of a clock that was recently installed in the downtown area to commemorate the club’s 100th anniversary. As Little visits other clubs in the district (“a requirement of my job but also a great privilege!”), he learns about their projects, similarly organized to improve their communities and address the unique needs of their areas.
“These are the types of projects that attract people of all ages, backgrounds and experiences to Rotary,” said Little. “What does a Rotarian look like? One who cares about others and chooses to invest personal time in making the world a better place for people they may never even meet.”
Little is also a private pilot and a member of the International Fellowship of Flying Rotarians. His wife, Pat, is a retired real estate broker and provides business management services for their family businesses. They have six children and nine grandchildren within three hours of their home near Lake Campbell south of Brookings. They enjoy traveling, golfing, hiking, and spending time with family.
Article written by: Kay Norton, Brookings Rotary Club
October "Economic and Community Development Month"
District 5610 Rotary Clubs Highlighted - September 2020
Whiteclay Arts Makerspace Rotary Global Grant Approved for Rotary D5610
Project Committee Members
To view and listen to a recent media news release by South Dakota Public Broadcasting click here: A Once Tarnished Town Is Changing It's Legacy By Richard Two Bulls Sept. 1, 2020
2020 Rotary District 5610 Virtual Conference
District 5610’s Ending Human Trafficking Initiative
August Membership Development Month
INCREASE IMPACT Achieving impact and measuring results and outcomes of our work is critical in order for clubs to continue to attract members, partners, and donors. |
- DEVELOP A STRATEGY for educating members about the importance of service projects.
- CONDUCT A COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT to identify top concerns in your area. RI has great Community Assessment Tools.
- FOCUS YOUR EFFORTS – Review your club’s activities, focus on activities that make an impact.
- ENCOURAGE YOUR CLUB TO CELEBRATE SUCCESSES
EXPAND YOUR REACH Collaborating with new and different groups will help increase your club’s openness and appeal, create a more diverse membership base, and expand your capacity for service. |
- SET A GOAL to collaborate with new groups through service projects or social events, introducing more people to Rotary.
- USE ROTARY’S MEMBERSHIP TOOLS to assess your club. Membership Assessment Tools
- CONSIDER FORMING NEW CLUBS. Take advantage of flexible club models.
- TELL YOUR STORY. Use Brand Center to show your club’s impact.
ENHANCE PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT By understanding the needs of others, you’re able to improve the experience for members and others that participate in club activities. |
- FOCUS NOT ONLY ON GAINING NEW MEMBERS BUT ALSO ON DELIVERING VALUE – survey members to find out what is important. Hold a brainstorming session.
- ENCOURAGE MEMBER INVOLVEMENT - Resources for engaging current members
- UTILIZE THE LEARNING CENTER CURRICULUM – there are great leadership development courses for members and participants.
INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO ADAPT - Looking at your internal processes is essential for creating a strong foundation for innovation, sustainability, and growth. |
- HOLD BRAINSTORMING SESSIONS with club members to gather ideas for activities and service projects. Contact other organizations or clubs to partner.
- TRY NEW IDEAS; EXPAND SUCCESSFUL CLUB INITIATIVES – focus on club successes.
- REVIEW YOUR CLUB ROLES, PROCESSES AND TASKS – look for ways to become more efficient – whether its by reducing, combining, or eliminating responsibilities or using different technology. Rotary Club Health Check
- ESTABLISH A CONTINUITY PLAN – Build leaders in your club. Promote District Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI).
District Grant Applications Due July 31
John Schneider Elected District Governor Nominee and Will Serve as District Governor Rotary Year 2022-23
Message from Awan Aditya, Rotary 5610 Youth Exchange Student
Hey! My name is Awan, I’m an 18 year old youth exchange student from District 3410 Jakarta, Indonesia. I’m hosted by the Rotary club consortium of Sioux falls which includes South, Downtown, North, and West. I was hosted by 4 different families during my stay here and all of them have been incredible. Being hosted by 4 different families really broadens your views of things. I went to school at Lincoln High School. Being the extrovert person that I am, I kinda fit right in. The first football game I attended to however did not go so great. I wore red on a white theme and I couldn’t stick out even more, but it helped because people remembered me, “That kid wearing red on a white-out.”
Studying abroad has always been a dream for me, even though the US wasn’t my first choice, nor my second, let alone going to South Dakota. I kinda just accepted that anywhere I go will be great if I make it so. I have tons of friends here and have done a lot of memorable things as well. I don’t regret anything except the things I didn’t get to do. Thanks to the exchange program, it helped me grow as a person, becoming more independent than I have ever been. Also it continues to change how I view things and how I view life in general. It helped me enjoy the little things in life like having friends you can hang out with, having a person to give you rides, and how to find joy in small things like going for a walk, hiking, and having lunch with someone.
I hope that I will participate more with Rotary later in life. I am forever grateful for the opportunity Rotary has given me.
Message from Jessie Hsuan, Rotary 5610 Youth Exchange Student
Rotary Raffle Prize Winners Announcement
July 1 Marks the Start of a New Rotary Year
2020 Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award
Honors Chuck Lindemann of Marshall
Lyngstad receives Rotary’s top honor for individual Rotarians – a first-ever award for District 5610
Now more than ever, Rotary connects the world: The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention 20-26 June 2020
District Raffle Drawing on June 30
Steve Harrington, PDG
District RAFFLE 2020 Fundraising Chair
Membership Engagement Workshop Conducted for 5610 Rotarians
Memorial Day - We Remember and Honor
District Zoom Program Recording - Ann Lee Hussey Polio Plus May 5, 2020
District Zoom Program Recording - Whiteclay Makerspace April 28, 2020
Covid-19 Pop Up Grant Opportunity
- Download application by CLICKING HERE or in the "News/Downloads" section.
- Deadline is May 10th at noon MT / 1pm CT
- Must address needs generated from the pandemic and its impacts
- Must be local - either your community or a nearby community without a Rotary club
- It is ok to give the funds to a local organization addressing the needs you identify
- It is ok to partner with a local organization to leverage your grant funds
- Funds must be used by August 1, 2020
- Maximum award request is $2,000
- The grant project or program should enhance the public image of your Rotary club
- Grant report is due within 14 days following project completion
- Please only one request per club
- When you report, keep the original application attached to the report
- Apply online by filling out the form on WORD and submitting through the email of your club's certifying officer, and email to Ina - OR - print out the PDF, fill in, scan and send to Ina via email (through certifying officer if needed) - OR - print out the form, fill out, and mail to Ina Winter at P.O. Box 643 Hot Springs, SD 57747-0643. All applications must be received by the deadline. Use this same process for reporting.
- If you need an Apple pages form, email Ina for that form kristine.ina.winter@gmail.com
- Please keep your application and report responses short and sweet - we will ask if we need clarification. If you do need more space than the form allows, continue on an additional page.
Ina
District Zoom Program April 21 - Hear from RYLA Leaders and Last Year Campers
District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Winners Announcement
Make New International Friends
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District Zoom Program April 14th - Covid-19 Rotarian Panelists
District Raffle 2020 Prizes and Process
*The lodge can support 15-20 people , has 6 bdrms, on 20 acres of forest, and more!
Aberdeen TBA Brookings Brookings Club prize package Canby TBA Canton $250 Wine & Gift Basket Centerville $175 Gift Basket Cherokee $100 Master Card Clark Dakota Style Gift package Custer TBA Denison TBA Sioux Falls Downtown $500 gift Card | Mitchell TBA Mobridge Original art painting Pierre-Fort Pierre TBA Rapid City TBA Rushmore $100 Mostly Chocolate gift basket Rock Valley TBA Scotland TBA Sibley $50 Sibley Club gift basket Sioux City Home Fireplace cabinet (mobile) Sioux Falls North RED CHAIR framed art print, Ltd edition |
Gettysburg TBA Gregory TBA Hot Springs TBA Lemars 32" Flat Screen TV Luverne TBA Madison TBA Mapleton TBA Marshall Brau Brewery & Walnut Grove mercantile gift basket Marshall Sunrise TBA Minneota Assorted wine & glass basket | Sioux Falls South TBA Sioux Falls West $250 gift card & a case of specialty beer Spearfish TBA Tyndall Diehard battery charger Vermillion $2,500 value. White Peak Lodge 3-night stay, Black Hills Wagner TBA Watertown TBA Winner TBA Yankton TBA |
Steve Harrington, PDG
Rotary International District 5610
District 5610 Zoom Program April 7 - Starting a Caused Based Club
Announcement and Recording of March 24, 2020 All District Program Meeting
RAFFLE TICKETS SALES WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL JUNE 30th
Steve Harrington, PDG
District RAFFLE 2020 Fundraising Chair
RYLA Camper Applications Open - Camp Scheduled for July 15th to 19th
RYLA - Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp is still scheduled for July 15 to 19 at the beautiful Nebraska State 4-H Campgrounds. To date, our district has just 4 applicants planning to attend - 1 from Sibley, IA Rotary: 2 from Sioux Falls, SD North Rotary; and one from Wagner, SD Rotary. I understand the challenges we all face in recruiting applicants with school closures, but please try. Maybe your club members can reach out personally to prospects. Reminder: Applicants must be CURRENT high school sophomores or juniors. Application deadline for District 5610 Campers has been extended to May 15th in order for District 5610 students to still apply – please have applicants visit https://greatplainsryla.org/rylaapplication/, create a login using the login link in the upper right hand corner, click on Great Plains RYLA in the upper left hand corner, and complete the application. Please note the web page will indicate applications have closed; however, the above login process with still allow campers from our district to apply. Please feel free to reach out to me if you or prospective campers have any questions.
Staying Connected - Video Tutorial on Joining a Zoom Meeting
Staying Connected - 38 minute webinar recording on Getting Started with Zoom Meetings
District 5610 Conference is Cancelled
Rotary District 5610 Club Service Highlight of February 2020 "Rapid City Rushmore Rotary picks up the pencil"
It’s a simple ordinary tool that students have been using since its invention in the 1600s. But by January it has been worn down to a nub. That’s why members of Rapid City Rushmore Rotary are supplying several local elementary schools with more. Yes, it is the PENCIL!
Rushmore Rotary’s newly formed Community Action Committee selected this small project as a supplement to the club’s larger ongoing projects, such as raising thousands of dollars for the Black Hills Children’s Home and Storybook Island. The club members wanted more!
“We formed the Community Action Committee to focus resources on smaller service projects that can be quickly organized to meet urgent needs. In this case we found out that local school students needed pencils, so we took action,” stated Co-Chairs Dave Dolan and Todd Hyronimus. On Tuesday, February 18, immediately after the club meeting, 4 Rotarians delivered hundreds of pencils to three schools in Rapid City: Robbinsdale, South Park and South Middle. The principals and staff met us with smiles! More schools will be visited with the remaining collection, from over 2000 donated.
The committee discussed a long list of such projects to plan out for the future. They identified highway, parks and streams cleanups; items for food banks and shelters; teacher supplies; and the list goes on and on. This gives the club members opportunities to do good, while interacting with fellow Rotarians and serving the community in special ways.
“Belonging to a Rotary club provides members with an opportunity to give back to their communities and to connect with like-minded leaders and friends.” enthused Linda Peterson, Rotarian and Regional Public Image Coordinator for Rotary International. “The club’s early morning meetings are dynamic and face-paced, so having time to meet with fellow Rotarians outside of the meeting and do good in the community promotes fellowship.”
“Service Above Self is the motto of Rotary International. Our members believe our world becomes a better place when we give of ourselves to others. From grassroots, local community efforts, to joining Rotarians from around the world on international projects, Rotarians are proud but humble, to be making a difference in peoples lives.” President Gene Bilodeau states.
Rushmore Rotary meets every Tuesday at 7 AM at Howard Johnson Express hotel, located at 950 North Street. Visit the website for more information: www.rushmorerotary.org
Whiteclay Arts Makerspace Rotary Global Grant Proposed for Rotary D5610
District 5610 Conference Celebration
April 24-25, 2020 Hot Springs, SD-Friday afternoon, evening and Saturday morning. Bring your family and enjoy the many activities Hot Springs has to offer! Tour offerings include a drive through Wind Cave with stops at Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore.
Our Friday evening banquet will feature special Rotarian awards, recognition, and a message from RI Representative Phil Silvers. Evening entertainment includes Western music and history. Saturday morning features an inspiring message from Dr. Fozia Alvi, who grew up in Pakistan. She is an American trained physician who has been working in Calgary, Alberta, for the past 13 years. She and her husband, Tahir Alvi, are passionate humanitarians and have organized several health and education-related projects in developing nations, including opening a charity-based maternity hospital in rural Pakistan. She went in for a medical mission to the Bangladesh refugees’ camps in 2017 and was moved by the plight of Rohingya and has since been an advocate for them. She spoke at various international levels about this genocide and is also involved in advocacy for the Uyghurs of China and putting a stop to illegal organ harvesting. She currently runs her foundation, Humanity Auxilium, and organizes medical relief missions. She has been given various awards for her advocacy work including being a Nobel prize nominee in 2019 and the 2019 Advocacy Award by CAMSS.
We have booked Tom Gump from Minnesota. Tom will be speaking on the first ever Veterans Serving Veterans Rotary Club and will offer a mini-workshop on how to start a cause-based Rotary Club. Jon Ruybalid of Whiteclay Makerspace will be speaking on our first ever effort at hosting a global grant project. It is a joint effort between Whiteclay Makerspace, Inc. and District 5610 designed to support Oglala Lakota artists and craftspeople with an economic and community development project. Another presentation will be on our first ever Disaster Response grant to address Pine Ridge Reservation homes damaged by the bomb cyclones of 2019.
Click Here for registration link, tentative agenda, and hotel information. Come celebrate with us!
Roger Kozak Award Nominations Sought
Fun Opportunity "Interclub Visits"
As the district fellowship chairman I would like your club to consider the idea of a “interclub” visit.
The idea is to have three or four or more members of YOUR club plan a visit to another club within district 5610. Hopefully this would be a club that is out of your “neighborhood” so you could become familiar with other Rotarians that you do not normally meet on a regular basis. It would also give you an opportunity to seek new ideas and activities for your club as well as support their club.
Along with an activity such as this it would become an interclub exchange where THEIR club would come to visit YOUR club, and each might seek other interclub exchanges as an ongoing activity.
I would like to hear from any clubs that engage in such an activity, and get the pictures so that we may pass on the fun and experiences to other Rotarians. Our hope is to spread this activity throughout the district.
If we get pictures we could have a space at the district conference showing all of the interaction with Rotarians.
I can be reached at 605.215.6916 or rvwest6916@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
North Central President Elect Training
Multi-district PETS – March 12-14, 2020 Mayo Civic Center, Rochester, MN - The North Central Presidents-Elect Training Seminar is an annual multi-district training event for incoming Rotary Club Presidents-Elect, and Presidents-Nominee. Please submit the names of these officers as soon as possible to Nicole Rawden, rawdenconsulting@gmail.com for marketing and registration information has begun to be distributed to these officers. All are welcome. Registration fee for District 5610 President Elects will be covered by District 5610. https://www.ncpets.org/
IT'S RAFFLE TIME
Steve Harrington, PDG
District RAFFLE Fundraising Chair
Rotary and Toastmasters are now working together
Dear Rotarian, Mark Daniel Maloney President, Rotary International 2019-20 |
Just a Few Reasons Why YOU should Join Rotary NOW!
District 5610 Disaster Response Project Helps Pine Ridge Residents
Rotary District 5610 Club Service Highlight of January 2020
Rotary Club of Marshall Noon - Club’s “Student Rotarian” Guest Program
The Rotary Marshall Noon Club, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year, has a unique program that involves the Marshall Public School students in its weekly meetings. For over 30 years the club has invited select Marshall senior class students to its weekly meetings as student guests, commonly referred to as student Rotarians. The program has proven to be beneficial to all concerned.
Each year, 24 senior students – 12 females and 12 males - are nominated by the school faculty to be student Rotarians based on their academic achievement, school and community involvement, leadership and character. Each student Rotarian is asked to attend a Marshall Noon Club Meeting for two consecutive weeks. The first week, the student is introduced at the meeting by alternating club members. The students each prepare a simple bio-sheet containing their name, parent’s name, address, and activities as well as their plans after graduation. After the introduction, the student presents a 3-5-minute speech on a topic related to Rotary International. The topic is up to the student to research and is a creative way for our club to experience a Rotary “Foundation minute”. On the second week, the student presents a 5-7 minute speech highlighting their involvement in an activity that has made a difference in their life while a student at Marshall Public Schools. The topics range from academics to fine arts activities to athletic achievements.
Our club members value the personal connection to the High School students. We get a chance to know these great ambassadors of the next generation. The students also value the experience to be exposed to the good works of Rotary in their community and worldwide.
Scott Monson, Superintendent of Schools in Marshall and Rotary Marshall Noon Club member said, “One of the many things I find rewarding about the student Rotarian program is the learning that these students experience when they are researching a Rotary focus- such as promoting peace or eradicating polio for their week one speech. The research and preparation for their speeches helps them to learn more about challenges in the world and how Rotarians across the globe are stepping up to help others overcome these challenges. In my opinion, the knowledge that our student Rotarians gain is another important step in their leadership and development.”
In the Spring the students all come back together for one meeting in which they are responsible to plan, organize, and conduct. This student-led meeting challenges each student to take a role in running the normal aspects of a Rotary meeting, from leading the Pledge of Allegiance to all the multiple aspects of the program. The club is often rewarded with the talents of the students.
After the student-led meeting, the club assembles a committee to award four, $500 scholarships to the top participating student Rotarians. Each student submits their speech and fills out a scholarship application. The club committee members individually score the applications. The scores are tallied from each committee member to reveal the four highest scores. The scholarship money is awarded to their school upon enrollment of the deserving students.
The Marshall Public School District plays a vital role in the success of the student Rotarian program. It requires a significant investment in time of the superintendent and his administration and faculty. The student selection process is intentionally the sole responsibility of the school district. Removing the club from this process insures objective nominees. The school district sends an invitation letter to the parents encouraging them to attend the specific meetings attended by their son or daughter. The Marshall school district even pays for the meals of the parents who attend their student’s “week 2” meeting.
The school district also sends a letter to the student’s parents from our club’s membership committee. The letter describes Rotary and lists many of our club’s local projects with the intent of attracting new members.
The student Rotarian program in Marshall is all about connection to our community.
“Life is so busy nowadays, and there can sometimes be sort of a disconnect between the community and students. The student Rotarian program is one way that students are able to connect with civic and community members and leaders and for our Rotary members to connect with students. I see it being mutually beneficial, as students see leaders in our community and Rotarians see future leaders who potentially may be leaders in our community at some point.” Scott Monson Superintendent of Marshall Public Schools.
Matt Pedersen
Rotary Marshall Noon Club President
Pictured: Dean and Lenei | Pictured: Keziah and Grant |
Rotary Seeks Lakota Participants for Professional Exchange to Australia
The official name of this exchange is Australia-USA Wiradjuri/Oceti Sakowin Rotary Group Study Exchange. Phase 1 of this grant project will support the Rotary District 9700 delegation of young indigenous Australian professionals to Rotary District 5610 to experience a different indigenous culture and to share experiences and connections to demonstrate the way Rotary works towards building understanding, peace and vocational excellence. This is planned to occur April 2020, ending at the District Conference in Hot Springs.
Phase 2 of this grant project will be to send counterpart Native Tribal Americans to Australia in March 2021, to mirror the experience of the Phase 1 Aboriginal Australians. The Wiradjuri are a major Aboriginal indigenous tribe of southwest Australia. The 2016 census counted 786,685 Aboriginal people from more than 250 language groups or 3.3% of Australia’s population (about double the percentage of American Indians to total US population). This map shows the area the team will experience in New South Wales.
The Native American leaders in Omniceye Rotary, Cheyenne River Youth Project (CRYP), Center for American Indian Research and Native Studies (CAIRNS), Oglala Lakota College, and a number of other organizations will be consulted to provide personal connections to recruit applicants. A short form application is available from the contacts listed below. After collecting applications, interviews will be held to answer questions about the exchange and familiarize the Group Study Exchange (GSE) team with the exchange details.
How did this exchange come about? Following the 2014 International Rotary conference in Australia, a group of US Rotarians from District 5610, were hosted by Australian Rotarians from District 9700. They visited New South Wales, including Parkes, Australia, viewing aboriginal/settler primary school program and the Parkes Rotary Peace Precinct carvings by aboriginal artists. Parkes is also a Rotary Peace Community. In 2015 a delegation from District 9700 visited South Dakota and were reverse hosted by District 5610 Rotarians. The group began their visit in Rapid City and the Black Hills, hosted by Rotary clubs throughout the District, and culminated in the District 5610 conference in Pierre, SD. After the conclusion of both exchanges, a plan was formalized to create a Group Study Exchange between the two entities, comprised of non-Rotarian members. At the District 5610 conference held September 28-29, 2018 a number of the District 5610 leadership including Lorenz, Winter, Linda Peterson PDG and Zone 29 Public Image Coordinator and Pat Sutliff, PDG and Chair of the Rushmore Rotary international committee, met together with Katus to brainstorm follow-up steps. Peterson and Katus volunteered to draft a District 5610 grant request for funding of the first phase of this project to begin in 2019. Grants were approved for $2500 for Phase 1 and $10,850 for Phase 2. Cash and in-kind contributions to match this grant are welcomed.
The GSE team will attend Rotary meetings as opportunities present during location in all areas. Rotarians and Clubs in District 5610 are invited to participate in home-hosting, touring and hosting team members at club meetings. When the route is drafted, clubs along the tour will be contacted to help participate.
Nation-building and vocational development for both indigenous peoples of Australia and Native Americans in South Dakota will be beneficial to all the communities impacted. Clubs and leaders in Rotary from around District 5610 have desired a better relationship with our native population and this GSE exchange is the next step in fostering a closer relationship and cooperation between clubs and the reservations’ population. Other Rotary clubs from around the US have projects already in several locations on the reservations. There is considerable international interest in this exchange program.
Project Contacts:
Linda Peterson, Rapid City Rushmore Rotary, PDG 2014-15, RPIC Zone 27/29 2018-20Home 605-341-5006, Cell 605-390-0800 Email: Linda4Rotary@me.comTom Katus, Rapid City Rushmore Rotary, Omniceye CommitteeHome 605-718-0545, Cell 605-391-7588 Email: tmkatus@gmail.com
ROTARY YEAR FOUNDATION CLUB AWARDS
Thank you to all who contributed to one of The Rotary Foundation's charitable funds during the month of November, also known as Foundation Month in the Rotary world. While we await the results in our friendly competition for Foundation Month club giving, we do have results from TRF's club awards for Rotary Year 2018-2019.
Top Three (3) Highest Per Capita Annual Giving Banner: For the three clubs in each district that give the most, per capita, to the Annual Fund (requires a minimum of US$50 per capita.) We are pleased to announce that for District 5610, these clubs will be receiving this banner:
- 1st - Custer SD Rotary Club $712.58 per capita
- 2nd - Marshall MN Sunrise Rotary Club $361.54 per capita
- 3rd - Pierre-Fort Pierre SD Rotary Club $290.38 per capita
Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) Club: For clubs that achieved a minimum Annual Fund contribution of US$100 per capita during the Rotary Year, with every dues paying member contributing at least US$25 to the Annual Fund. Two District 5610 clubs will be receiving this banner:
- Marshall MN Sunrise Rotary Club
- Centerville SD Rotary Club
100% Foundation Giving Club: For clubs that achieve an average of $100 in per capita giving and 100% participation, with every dues-paying member contributing at least $25 to any or all of the following during the Rotary year: Annual Fund, PolioPlus Fund, approved global grants, or Endowment Fund. Five District 5610 clubs have achieved this recognition and will receive banners:
- Marshall MN Sunrise Rotary Club
- Centerville SD Rotary Club
- Marshall MN Rotary Club
- Rock Valley IA Rotary Club
- Winner SD Rotary Club
End Polio Now: Countdown to History Campaign Certificate of Appreciation: For clubs that contributed at least US $1,500 to Rotary's polio eradication efforts. These eight clubs in our district will receive this certificate:
- Brookings SD Rotary Club
- Custer SD Rotary Club
- Marshall MN Rotary Club
- Minneota MN Rotary Club
- Pierre-Fort Pierre SD Rotary Club
- Rapid City SD Rotary Club
- Rapid City SD Rushmore Rotary Club
- Winner SD Rotary Club
Of 35,000 Rotary clubs throughout the world only a few reach these levels of recognition. Because of the $50 per capita minimum, only 1550 clubs are awarded a 1st, 2nd, or 3rd top rank in Annual Fund giving. Only 3,400 clubs achieve EREY status, and only 4,000 clubs achieve 100% Foundation Giving Club status.
Congratulations to all of these clubs for achieving this recognition from The Rotary Foundation and thank you for your strong support of Rotary's charitable efforts. Your Assistant Governor will be presenting these awards to your club at a future meeting.
Ride to End Polio
It was a fine day for a bicycle ride - sunny, mild breezes, temperatures in the upper 60's. Getting to the ride, not so much. The drive down to Tucson featured a white-knuckle trek over the I-25 Raton Pass - snow pack, blowing snow, single lane 20mph travel. Not even the aggressive drivers were passing. Stopped earlier than planned at Santa Fe, NM and had to chip the ice off my bicycle before bringing it into the hotel room.
The rest of the drive was uneventful and I arrived in time to attend the Rotary pre-race dinner. Lots of fun with more fund-raising and a chance to meet up with Rotary friends from across the country. This ride was the 37th El de Tucson charity ride and the 10th year for the Ride to End Polio portion sponsored by Rotary International District 5500.
There were just under 7,000 riders in all the races. Distances of 100, 50, and 25 miles were offered and a shorter fun ride for kids was also on the agenda. Traffic control was stellar and the City of Tucson and ride organizers went all out to provide an amazing ride for the participants. Participants came from all over the United States and I even met a couple of Rotarian riders from Italy and Germany.
After mile 21, which followed a long uphill push of perhaps five miles, I was ready to quit. Hadn't put in enough training miles for that kind of punishment. But at the top of the hill, the Marana AZ Rotary Club aid station was an oasis of recovery. I stayed awhile refreshing my energy with bananas and oranges and resting my legs for the last half of the ride. The grueling uphill punishment was rewarded with a long downhill ride of about 15 miles to the final stretch which was composed of rolling terrain.
My goal of averaging 10 mph over the 50 miles and finishing in about five hours was busted. It took two hours longer than anticipated, but I did finish ahead of the the course closing...barely. The happy news is that my goal of raising $1,000 for PolioPlus was exceeded. The final tally for my first Ride to End Polio was $1,855 before the 2:1 match from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Next year? Thinking the 25 mile course is good. Looking forward to another fun time raising money for a worthy cause. Perhaps there will be other District 5610 Rotarian riders next year?
Thank you to all who pledged to support my ride. It really was you who helped me get back on the bike at mile 21.
Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
The start of the 50 mile ride. This was the event with the most riders. All kinds of human-powered vehicles were used. One guy even rode a unicycle in the 100 mile ride!
The Marana AZ Rotary Club Aid Station with some of the Rotarian riders posing in front of District 5500's semi-trailer decked out in End Polio messages.
Judging by the smiles, this was either at the beginning of the race or on the long downhill reward after the Marana aid station.
This is what my bike looked like at the Santa Fe stop. Despite the thick coating of ice and snow, the bike worked well during the ride.
District 5610 Club Service Highlights of December 2019
Rotary District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest
Wheelchair Drive
Greetings Rotarians of District 5610. Karl's TV and Appliance stores and Hope Haven International (HHI) are seeking help in the collection of wheelchairs in your areas again in 2019. Karl's TV and Appliance stores are asking you to consider promoting this drive by helping to call nursing homes, hospitals, medical equipment sales dealers, VFW's, etc, in your communities, to see if they can donate their used wheelchairs, walkers, canes and crutches. All Karl's locations will store the mobility devices at their stores as well as ship them back to HHI in Sioux Falls. Please help us to collect these items through Karl's so we can rebuild these wheelchairs and give mobility to those in need around the world. Please contact Mark Siemonsma at 712.470.0298 or msiemons@hopehaven.org if you would like to help or need more information. Thank you again and blessings to all this holiday season!
*Please note, we are not collecting electric wheelchairs or wooden crutches or canes.
DISTRICT 5610 CLUB VISITS AND MEMBER SURVEY
All but one of the 40 active clubs in District 5610 have received the official Governor's visit. I am also excited to visit, in the near future, the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology Rotaract Club. The club visits exceeded my expectations. It was truly enjoyable visiting each club and learning what the clubs are doing to serve their communities and contribute to the greater Rotary community. I am humbled by the extraordinary leadership of the clubs and have a renewed appreciation of Rotary on the ground in District 5610.
During my visits, I took a survey of the members present and offered them an opportunity to identify themselves as veteran Rotarians, novice Rotarians, or somewhere in-between. They were then asked to grade their club as vibrant, thriving, surviving, or struggling and why. Rotarians also got the opportunity to leave a message for club leadership and district leadership. Each club president got the original surveys from their club and a summary of all responses. The one club with a visit pending was surveyed online, so the survey represents the entire district. It is not a scientific survey, but the results are valuable nonetheless.
We collected 464 completed surveys which is 27% of our entire district membership of 1750. That is an extremely good rate of return. Veterans accounted for 58% of the responses, 14% were from novices, and 28% fell somewhere in-between. 29% of respondents rated their club vibrant, 37% rated it thriving, 32% rated it surviving, and the remainder of less than 2% said their club was struggling. One conclusion that may be drawn from the data is that club members are generally happy with their club and recognize that there is room for improvement.
As interesting as the numbers are, the best information from the survey came from the written comments. Overwhelmingly, our members recognize that their club needs to recruit and retain new members...many called out younger members as the most sought after prospect. The second most called out need was for basic Rotary information. I have distributed the survey results to District 5610 leadership and we will be working on delivering what the members have cited as needs. Stay tuned.
Finally, I would like to comment on the exceeding generosity and gratitude members expressed for their volunteer club and district leadership. I was not expecting that and it was quite encouraging. Thank you, District 5610 Rotarians for being Rotarians and making the world a better place in the many ways each of you contribute.
Warmly and kindly,
Ina Winter
DG 2019-2020
Giving Extended to December 10th: Rotary Foundation Month Club Challenge for November 2019
District 5610 Clubs and members are being challenged by Governor Ina Winter again in 2019 to support Rotary Foundation giving during the month of November, which is Rotary’s Foundation Month.
Winners in member giving category of the Governor’s District Awards (2 awards) will receive 1,000 points for a Paul Harris Fellow gift to be awarded as they choose. All members who give a Paul Harris Fellowship gift in November will be entered in a drawing to select the members to recognize to give the points to recognize as they desire. Clubs in each division that win the per capita category will receive 1,000 Paul Harris Fellow points gift to award as they choose. A total of 5,000 in points will be awarded.
The two Individuals with the highest Foundation giving in November will be selected either due to their gift or as selected in a drawing if we have a number of Paul Harris Fellowship gifts at the same amount.
The district club with the highest per capita giving in November Governor Division Awards (3 Divisions):
The club in each division with the highest per capita giving in November receives special governor recognition, and 1,000 Paul Harris Fellow points.
Contact Mike Gibson, District Foundation Chair for more information.
District Governor Winter Joins Ride to End Polio
After many years away from biking, she is getting back in the saddle to Ride to End Polio. Not wishing to overdo and injure herself, she is training for the 50 mile course. She is asking friends, family, and Rotarians to pledge $1/mile for this important and vital cause. Really, any pledge is welcome. All pledges will be matched 2 to 1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation is one of the highest rated charitable organizations in the world - rated 1st by Charity Navigator for 12 straight years! No safer investment for your charitable contribution.
Ina is also riding to honor her mother, Phyllis Winter, who worked as a Registered Nurse and tended to polio victims using the old iron lungs. Ina recalls her mom dragging the kids to a public immunization event and how thrilled she was to be able to give the vaccine to them.
We encourage you to support the Ride to End Polio by clicking here to reach District Governor Ina Winter's Pledge Page.
Thanks Everyone Prenatal Care for Indigenous Women has Launched
PolioPlus
Join the Celebration of World Polio Day on October 24
Does your club have a plan to celebrate World Polio Day on October 24? What will you do to highlight this important day - a watch party, a proclamation from the city government, a speaker at your weekly meeting? The graphic below has some ideas on how you and your club can help celebrate World Polio Day 2019! Review those ideas and search for others. Work with the club to determine how they will celebrate the day, and then choose materials from the resource center and other links to help you.
As important as it is to plan your club's event, it is also important to try to promote the event among your club members and the local community. We want everyone to understand that we are so close to eradicating polio from our planet. Please plan something to help celebrate the day and share that with us.
A great deal of material for World Polio Day 2019 is available on the End Polio Now website (https://www.endpolio.org/world-polio-day). You can go to this link to access all of the items listed below. The links are active in this file, so that you can click on any of the highlighted materials and you should be taken to that material on the website. The End Polio Now site also has an extensive Resource Center. The resource center provides material in the areas under the categories of: Infographics; Banners & Posters; Videos; Education; Social Media; Event Materials; Brand Center
Materials to raise awareness: https://www.endpolio.org/resource-center#see-more
1. A fact sheet – Rotary and Polio – that can be the foundation for a media contact
2. A sample press release – that can be customized for your event
3. A template for an official proclamation for world polio day
4. Images for social media to promote the World Polio Day livestream event
5. A page with example posts for Facebook and Twitter- These can be combined with the images for social media.
Materials to plan an event: https://www.endpolio.org/resource-center#see-more
1. An event planning guide
2. A template for an event invitation
3. A template for sign on a donation box
September is Basic Education and Literacy Month
Rotary International has designated September, 2019, as Basic Education and Literacy Month. 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Rotary International has a range of programs to improve global education and literacy rates (https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes/supporting-education). What is your club doing to promote education and literacy initiatives in your community? During September, please post to the District's Facebook page examples of what your club is doing to promote basic education and literacy.
Rotary clubs around the world are working on literacy. Two examples of those activities in District 5610 are tied to “Read Across America Day” on March 2 of each year. The Sioux Falls South Rotary Club has selected the Cleveland Elementary School and has been actively working to promote literacy initiatives. In addition to celebrating Read Across America Day by having Rotarians read their favorite books in classrooms, they have also donated money to allow all the students to purchase one or more books. CLICK HERE to see a local news report on their program.
The Vermillion Rotary Club has long supported the local schools through scholarships, giving bike helmets to all second graders and donating to school initiatives, such as the Community Service Day, the Robotics Team, the German Exchange student program, and many more. Several years ago, the club decided to help promote the love of reading. School officials were consulted and it was agreed that the focus should be on the Kindergarten students, since first grade students were the focus of another program for Read Across America Day. The club purchased age appropriate books for all Kindergarten students in the community, with extra copies for teachers to use in the classroom. CLICK HERE or on the image below to see a video that was made using some of the photos from the book distribution on Read Across America Day in 2018.
Vermillion Rotary Duck Race Raises Money for Community Center
Rotary Basics Explained in Booklet
FOUNDATION GIVING SETS RECORDS
Thanks to all the District 5610 Rotarians who have donated to the Rotary Foundation our District has seen its second year in a row of significant increases. Donations from the District in fiscal years 15, 16 and 17 averaged around $95 per Rotarian. In FY 18, Governor Harrington challenged all the clubs to increase contributions and that number jumped to over $113. During his club meetings in FY 19, Governor Lorenz asked Rotarians to make Foundation donations a priority and you answered his call. By the end of the recently completed FY 19, the average donation per Rotarian in District 5610 jumped to over $131. Thank you for your donations and for helping us to spread the word about the excellent work that results from those donations.
Donations to the Rotary foundation include donations to the Annual Fund, the Polio Plus campaign, as well as any endowments, with the majority of our contributions being targeted toward the Annual Fund. Annual fund contributions are held for three years by the Foundation and the interest is used to fund the Foundation’s operations. After three years the money is allocated by the foundation to support local grants (the money for our District 5610 grants) as well as global grants for projects in which many of our District’s clubs participate. Your donations to the Rotary Foundation are helping to eradicate Polio, and fund numerous projects within our District and around the globe. Thank you.
Catching up with Rotary Peace Scholar DJ Fravel
Requesting New and Used Wheelchairs to Provide Individuals with Mobility Worldwide
District Governor Ina Winter's Goals for Rotary Year 2019-2020
District Clubs Recruit 94 New Members
Two District 5610 Rotarians to be Inducted into the South Dakota Hall Of Fame
Foundation Giving
Dr. Willis Sutliff Presents a Polio Plus Campaign Update
Rotary District 2022-25 Leadership
During the recent District Assembly for District 5610, Rotarian Bruce Nearhood was elected to the position of District Governor Nominee (DGN) for the 2022-23 Rotary year. The following year, 2023-24, Bruce will serve as the District Governor Elect (DGE) and he will serve as the District Governor (DG) in 2024-25.
Bruce, a member of the Rapid City Rushmore Club since 1987, has served as Club President, and also has held club leadership roles as Foundation Chair and Membership Chair, successfully launching effective growth and retention campaigns for his club and personally sponsoring eight new members. As a proven District leader, Bruce served as 5610 Foundation Chair from 2011-15 and was most recently co-chair of the 2021-22 District Conference. He also was a facilitator for the Rotary Leadership Institutes from 2010-19.
Bruce’s service through Rotary has extended far beyond the boundaries of our District. He has participated in five Rotary-sponsored humanitarian trips, four to Haiti and one to Guatemala. He and his wife were part of Friendship Exchanges to Italy and Japan. A passionate supporter of The Rotary Foundation, Bruce is a member of the Paul Harris Society, is a major donor, and a Level 5 Bequest Society member. Bruce has continued to expand his well-rounded knowledge of Rotary International by attending three Rotary International Conventions.
Rotary District 5610 Leadership
Sushil Gupta resigns as RI president-nominee
My Fellow Rotarians,
It is with a heavy heart that I announce my resignation as the president-nominee of Rotary International. While it was my dream to serve as your president, my health prevents me from giving my absolute best to you and the office of the president at this time. I believe Rotary deserves nothing less than that from those elected to represent this great organization of ours.
I have made this difficult decision after much soul searching and conferring with my family. This is not only a disappointment for us, but I am also keenly aware that this will be a disappointment for many Rotarians in India who were so proud to see someone from our country again named as president. I know that this is what is best for Rotary International.
I have been a Rotarian for more than 40 years and it has given me everything I could ask for. I can think of no higher honor than to have been selected by the Nominating Committee as president of Rotary for the 2020-21 Rotary year. I will continue to proudly serve as a Rotary member and pursue some major initiatives that I wanted to accomplish during my year as president, because I know that we are poised to achieve more great things in the future.
I wish nothing but the best to the candidate who succeeds me as president and thank you all for the support and encouragement you have shown me in the past year.
-Sushil Gupta
Great Plains RYLA Camp
Great Plains RYLA Camp
Working for a membership gain in District 5610
Potential Global Grant Project in District 5610
Le Mars Rotary Club Celebrates 100th Anniversary
LE MARS — The Le Mars Rotary Club attained a special distinction at its centennial banquet on April 9, that of being a 100 percent Paul Harris Fellow Club. Seven members were recognized as fellows at the banquet, with the awards presented by Rotary District 5610 Governor Dave Lorenz and local club president Chris Becker. They are: Steve Albert, Peter Streit, Opal Anderson, Matt Washburn, Joel Johnson, James Klein and Debra Young.
“Congratulations to Le Mars Rotary, what a wonderful accomplishment, being a service to your community for 100 years,” Lorenz said. “Le Mars has always been a bright star in Rotary in District 5610 and we can see the evidence of that tonight.”
Great Plains Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award. A RYLA participant is selected by his or her local Rotary Club to attend a camp designed to build character, leadership, personal development and good citizenship. The “Award” part of RYLA is the actual scholarship the Rotary Club provides so that a participant may attend camp. Many participants have had life-changing experiences by attending RYLA Camp, and YOU could be one of those people.
Rotary District 5630 has hosted Great Plains RYLA for more than 1,200 students since 1990. Using the Nebraska State 4-H campground facilities near Halsey in the scenic Nebraska Sandhills, RYLA has trained young leaders through activities, workshops, and a variety of presentations by speakers in business, government, and education.
The camp is a six-day experience full of outdoor activities such as canoeing or tubing, a fun ropes course, and many other outdoor activities that emphasize teamwork and decision making. In addition, RYLA focuses on service and Rotary’s role in building stronger communities by emphasizing both local and global citizenship. Previous RYLArians serve as junior counselors and Rotarian men and women serve as senior counselors.
Learn more about RYLA and upcoming application deadlines by visiting https://greatplainsryla.org/students/about/
2019 Rotary Peace Fellowship Applications now available and hear from Global Scholar DJ Fravel
As a Rotary leader, you play a key role in communicating information about Rotary Peace Centers programs to potential candidates. We encourage you to use and share these resources:
- The Rotary Peace Centers Program Guide — information on eligibility requirements and finding qualified candidates
- Share this video explaining the application process.
- Share the application page where candidates find information on the fellowship and helpful application tips.
- Send personalized emails with the fellowship announcement to contacts within your network.
- Facilitate an introduction with the Rotary Peace Centers staff (rotarypeacecenters@rotary.org
) and we will be happy to follow-up! - Follow us on the Rotary Peace Centers Facebook page and share fellowship updates.
- Present on the Rotary Peace Fellowship at an organization you are connected with. A PowerPoint presentation is available online.
Meet our District 5610 Youth Exchange Inbound Students
Great Plains Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award. A RYLA participant is selected by his or her local Rotary Club to attend a camp designed to build character, leadership, personal development and good citizenship. The “Award” part of RYLA is the actual scholarship the Rotary Club provides so that a participant may attend camp. Many participants have had life-changing experiences by attending RYLA Camp, and YOU could be one of those people.
Rotary District 5630 has hosted Great Plains RYLA for more than 1,200 students since 1990. Using the Nebraska State 4-H campground facilities near Halsey in the scenic Nebraska Sandhills, RYLA has trained young leaders through activities, workshops, and a variety of presentations by speakers in business, government, and education.
The camp is a six-day experience full of outdoor activities such as canoeing or tubing, a fun ropes course, and many other outdoor activities that emphasize teamwork and decision making. In addition, RYLA focuses on service and Rotary’s role in building stronger communities by emphasizing both local and global citizenship. Previous RYLArians serve as junior counselors and Rotarian men and women serve as senior counselors.
Learn more about RYLA and upcoming application deadlines by visiting https://greatplainsryla.org/students/about/
End Polio Now
Kathy was one of several local children to obtain polio. It was a perilous time for the family as the doctor would say things like "if she doesn't die" instead of "when she gets better". Fortunately, she survived the disease with some mild symptoms such as back pain and weakness in the limbs that remain with her to this day. We are very thankful that we are so far removed from polio that we only know the horrors of this disease from hearing stories from people like Kathy. But there are still some remote places that polio remains a reality. This gives us all the more incentive as Rotarians to continue the fight. The Centerville Rotary club would like to thank Kathy for sharing her amazing story.
Rotarians of Distinction
Letter from Barry Rassin and Ron D. Burton
We welcomed Rotarians, Rotary staff members, Rotaractors, and guests to our livestream viewing and virtual reality event here at Rotary headquarters in Evanston. It was an amazing experience—not only sharing our excitement and enthusiasm for polio eradication with so many strong supporters, but knowing that our event was just one of the 3,300 registered World Polio Day events taking place around the world on that day. Everyone helped raise awareness of our work; everyone brought eradication that much closer.
Rotary’s work to eradicate polio continues, as does our work to promote literacy, economic development, better health, clean water, and peace throughout the world—all of it supported by our Rotary Foundation. In its 101st year, our Foundation continues to be the engine that drives the Rotary machine, allowing Rotary clubs and districts to aspire to larger, more ambitious projects with transformative, sustainable impact.
If your club is thinking about taking on a more ambitious project, remember that Rotary Action Groups (RAGs) are great resources. RAGs are international groups of Rotarians, family members, program participants, and alumni who are experts in a particular field, such as microcredit, peace, family health, disasters, or water. In addition to contributing technical expertise, RAGs can also assist clubs with global grant projects by helping prepare grant applications, conduct community assessments, identify partners, raise funds, and establish monitoring and evaluation plans.
Some of the largest RAGs serve as leaders in Rotary’s areas of focus and help clubs take on large-scale global grant projects: RAG for Population and Development,Water and Sanitation RAG, RAG for Family Health and AIDs Prevention,Microfinance and Community Development RAG, and RAG for Peace. Connect directly with a RAG for assistance with a project, district, or global grant, at any stage of planning.
You can end Foundation Month on a charitable note by participating in Giving Tuesday, 27 November. Rotary will be joining thousands of other organizations worldwide for a global day of giving. Our new online giving platform has made it easier than ever to give to the Foundation, and you can easily notify someone of a gift made in their honor via email or by printing and delivering a customized notification yourself.
We usually refer to The Rotary Foundation as Our Foundation. Unlike most charities, our Foundation is truly Our Foundation, because it is both supported by the Rotary family, and supports the work we do. This year, our Foundation has already approved 222 district grants, with $31.9 million USD in total funding, and 41 global grants, with $11.9 million in total funding.
Our ambitious goals to grow our endowment and our annual giving set the stage for a larger, more effective, more sustainable Rotary—that will Be the Inspiration for generations to come.
Yours in Rotary,
Barry Rassin
President, Rotary International 2018-19
Ron D. Burton
Trustee Chair, The Rotary Foundation 2018-19
Osborne Inspires Rotarians at District Conference
Letter from Ron Burton - Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair
The work that Rotary does, with the support of The Rotary Foundation, is not abstract. It is real, and it changes the lives of real people, in ways that are so fundamental that it’s hard to explain. You have to see it for yourself. And when you understand the Foundation’s power to transform, you can’t help but become passionate about it.
When I became a district governor in 1987, Rotary’s largest-ever fundraising campaign at that time was underway. We were raising money to fight polio. In those days, poliovirus ran rampant. We had 350,000 cases in more than 125 countries in 1988. Also that year, Rotary and some partners founded the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. As we all got to work fighting polio, real progress began to happen. Thanks to our commitment, since then, cases of polio have been reduced by more than 99.9 percent. We’re witnessing history, and the Foundation is part of that real change.
There are countless other ways the Foundation changes real lives — families who enjoy clean water thanks to a global grant, or children who learned to read through a literacy project funded by a district grant. Today in Rotary, we have opportunities to change the world like never before, if we choose to rise to our own potential.
The Rotary Foundation is the way Rotary accomplishes amazing things on a global scale. The Foundation is there for us now, and will be there for the talented and dedicated Rotarians of the future. They will look back at our work today, if we do it right, and thank us for leaving them with a legacy to help fix the problems of their time.
Giving to the Foundation is the way we make all of these dreams — today’s and tomorrow’s — possible. For me, true philanthropy is not measured by the size of one’s gift but rather by the gift in relation to one’s financial ability. Imagine the impact we could make if each and every Rotarian gave whatever they could today.
We Rotarians care about service and giving back. We are also careful planners. Donating to The Rotary Foundation is, without a doubt, a wise investment. For 10 years straight, our Foundation has received the highest possible score from the independent evaluator Charity Navigator, for its strong financial health and its commitment to accountability and transparency.
Let’s reaffirm our commitment to tangible change in the world by mobilizing everyone in our clubs and districts to support The Rotary Foundation generously today. Though we may never know who our gift helped, we will be sure that our donation was invested well and the impact of our gifts was real.
Sincerely,
Ron D. Burton
Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair
program
Polio Plus
A special thank you just in for ...
Early Rotary District 5610 Conference in Vermillion Registration
- Registration: For planning and meal counts, please have your District Conference registration completed by September 14: Use attached form or CLICK HERE
- Early Bird registration deadline to qualify for a drawing for FREE Lodging for the District Conference is this WEDNESDAY, Aug 15.
- Hotel room DEADLINE (Aug 28/29): Please try to book your room by the end of this month. Any unbooked rooms we have blocked for the Rotary District Conference will be released one month before the conference dates. NOTE: This is a busy event weekend in Vermillion – Please book early!
- Hotel options are listed on page two of the online registration form (and see below).
District Conference 2018 Vermillion Program
RevUp Membership District 5610
2018 District Conference - Please Join us in Vermillion
Record Setting Foundraiser Year
Rotary Friendship Exchange Team Travels to Sweden
District Governor's Message - July 2018
Omniceye Rotary publishes Pine Ridge Services Request Directory
District Governor 2019-20 Ina Winter Upcoming Club Visits
RI President-elect Mark Daniel Maloney’s theme for 2019-20, Rotary Connects the World, asks Rotarians to strengthen the many ways that Rotary Connects the World, building the connections that allow talented, thoughtful, and generous people to unite and take meaningful action through Rotary service.
Schedule of District 5610 District Governor Club Visits RY 2019-2020
District Governor 2018-19 Dave Lorenz Upcoming Club Visits
As we enter a new Rotary year, I am reminded of the vision statement of Rotary International:
“Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."
As 2018-19 Rotary International President Barry Rassin said, “we unite because we know that we are far stronger together than we could ever be alone.”
As I travel District 5610 during the 2018-19 Rotary year, I look forward to building on the work done before us and together we all can BE THE INSPIRATION for better things yet to come.
July 3 – Vermillion | July 16 – Rock Valley | ||
July 17 - Luverne | July 23 – Sibley | ||
July 24 - Mapleton | July 31 – Marshall Noon | ||
August 2 – Marshall Sunrise | August 2 – Canby | ||
August 6 – Sioux City | August 8 – Minneota | ||
August 9 – Denison | August 13 – Tyndall | ||
August 21 – Yankton | August 23 - Centerville | ||
August 27 - Cherokee | August 30 - Winner | ||
Sept. 12 - Gregory |
| ||
Sept. 13 - Hot Springs | Sept. 18 - Rapid City Rushmore | ||
Sept. 20 - Scotland | Sept. 24 - Aberdeen | ||
Oct. 2 - Brookings | Oct. 4 - Watertown | ||
Oct. 8 - Custer | Oct. 10 - Spearfish | ||
Oct. 15 - Madison | Oct. 18 - Gettysburg | ||
Oct. 25 - Mitchell | Oct. 29 - Pierre - Ft. Pierre | ||
Oct. 31 -Wagner | Nov. 5 - Mobridge | ||
Nov. 6 - Clark | Nov. 7 - Sioux Falls North | ||
Nov. 9 - Sioux Falls West | Nov. 12 - Downtown Sioux Falls | ||
Nov. 13 - Canton | Nov. 27 - Suburban Sioux City | ||
Feb. 4 - Sioux Falls South | May 14 - LeMars |
Stomp Out Polio at Zone Institute
Bring awareness to polio eradication by wandering the streets of Boise and your community in these limited-edition classic kicks. Shoes are $50 and all proceeds ($25 on average depending on shoe stock availability) will benefit Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund. Order now and pick up your pair at the 2018 Zone Conference in Boise, Idaho! If you are unable to make Zone but can’t live without these, we can ship them to you for an additional charge.
This fundraiser is a Rotarian-driven endeavor, promoted by the Zone 27 Public Image Team. We’re this close. Let’s Drop to Zero!
Order online at https://rotary5400.org/page/stomp-out-polio/, or email: michelaswarthout@gmail.com
Register for the 2018 Zone Institute at https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=78725cf8-52e5-4078-8842-1753880d7ff5
District 4 Way Test Contest Winners
Get the Clubrunner app on your phone for instant access to all your club members...and the District leaders too!
Wow! What a terrific Raffle!
Canby (Gift Basket) – Jan Hansen, Centerville
Canton (Gift Basket) – Jennifer Soma, Brookings
Centerville (Gift Basket) – Jeff Schramm, Winner
Cherokee ($100 Gift Card) – Cindy Dannenbring, Madison
Clark (Gift Basket) – Di Bohlman, Centerville
Custer (Gift Basket) – Karen Kraus, Custer
Gregory (assisted with grand prize) Ken Jones, Yankton
Hot Springs (Golf, Spa getaway) Ron Gates, Mitchell
LeMars (HD TV) Jerry Johnson, Vermillion
Luverne (Gift Basket) Ellen Lee, Pierre/Ft Pierre
Madison (Gift Basket) Bernie Hanson, Watertown
Mapelton (Desk Clock) Tora Rozum, Mitchell
Marshall Noon (Gift Basket, Gift Card) Ron Gates, Mitchell
Marshall Sunrise ($100 Schwans Card) Dave Johnson, Watertown
Minneota (Gift Basket) Tad Perry, Pierre
Mitchell ($250 Cabella’s Card) Gopal Vyas, Mitchell
Mobridge (Gift Basket) Kevin Donlin, Madison
Pierre/Ft Pierre (Gift Basket) Chris Becker, LeMars
Rapid City (Gift Basket) Tom Dice, Mitchell
Rapid City Rushmore (Gift Basket) Laura Root, Winner
Rock Valley ($100 Gift Card) Bryan Hisel, Mitchell
Scotland (Beef Bucks) Cindy Howell, Rapid City
Sibley (Cenex Gift card, Basket) Jean Koehler
SF Downtown ($500 Gift Card) T Hazel, Mobridge
SF North ($250 Gift Card) Steve Sikorski, Sioux Falls
SF South ($100 Amazon Card) Mary Edelen, Vermillion
SF West ($250 Gift Card) Mike Pekas, Sioux Falls
Spearfish (Gift Basket) Bonnie Ryken, Yankton
Tyndall (DeWalt Drill Kit) Cindy Olson, Sioux Falls
Vermillion (Beef Bucks, Wine) Carl Tonjes) Sioux Falls
Wagner (State Park Passes) Jim Mehlhaff, Pierre/Ft Pierre
Watertown (Gift Basket) Joel Leyden, Winner
Winner (Custom built walnut table) Tom Van Holland, Rock Valley
Yankton (Riibe Outdoors Adventure) Roger Novotny, Pierre/Ft Pierre
Governor’s Club Membership Challenge April-June 2018
How is your club doing on the membership challenge?
Division I – LeMars, Mapleton, Marshall Sunrise, Minneota, Rock Valley, Scotland, Canton, Centerville, Sibley, Wagner, Clark, Gettysburg, Suburban Sioux City, Gregory and Tyndall.
Division II – Madison, Marshall, Mobridge, Sioux Falls North, Sioux Falls South, Yankton, Spearfish, Aberdeen, Canby, Cherokee, Custer, Denison, and Hot Springs.
Division III - Mitchell, Pierre-Ft Pierre, Rapid City, Rapid City Rushmore, Sioux Falls Downtown, Sioux City, Watertown, Winner, Sioux Falls West, Vermillion, Brookings, and Luverne.
Clubs submit a one-page description of their club, focusing on “Why Are You in Rotary, and Why Join Your Club?”
• 10 pts-Clubs who have a membership chair listed in Club Runner.
• 7 pts-Per new member registered in April, May and June.
• 2 pts-Each new guest brought to a club meeting, event or social. The guest should be a potential new member.
• 3 pts-Each new membership orientation class offered.
• 10 pts-For Clubs with zero members leaving before July 1st, except for extenuating circumstances, i.e. moving, death.
If clubs have already started the challenge and earned points, include those figures. Clubs will be recognized at the fall District Conference in Vermillion.
Submit your points and club description to Carmen Hansen, District Membership Chair, carmenhansen@rushmore.com.
About Friendship Exchanges
Friendship Exchange is one of the few International Exchange programs in Rotary that Rotarians can participate in. Vocational Training Teams are another. Because of tax laws, many exchanges and scholarships are not available to Rotarians or their families. However, in a Friendship Exchange a Rotarian and their spouse or friend are able to fully participate. The exchange consists of a team of 10 to 12 people traveling to another Rotary District around the world and touring there for about 2 weeks. During this time they are hosted in Rotarian homes, visit many Rotary meetings and projects, and see the country or area from the local's view. The team is taken to places that the local people think are important and would like to share. It really gives you a chance to learn about the customs, foods, etc of the area that you usually miss as a regular tourist. On these exchanges you typically pay your transportation to and from the country and for small gifts that you bring for the hosting Rotarians. Then the district that is visited sends a team to the country that they just hosted and those who participated in the exchange are responsible for hosting that returning team. Hosting on either side means providing home stays, food in restaurants some times, paying for entrance fees and providing transportation around the district. Some of these hosting duties may vary depending on the specifics of the particular exchange.
Friendship Exchanges are an amazing way to make lasting friendships around the world. I also think that they are a great beginning to peace in our world as we learn more about each other, begin to understand each other and build lasting relationships. I am always looking for contacts in other districts who might want to do a Friendship Exchange with our district. Any ideas that people have for places to go or contacts abroad who might be helpful are very much appreciated. Any questions please contact me.
—Pat Sutliff, District 5610 Friendship Exchange Chair sutliff@midco.net or 605-593-2896
Food For Kidz project in Marshall
Rotaract flourishing in Black Hills!
Membership Seminars
Presidents-elect and Secretary Training Features Speakers
CLUB SECRETARIES TO MEET AT PETS on April 13
Support for Water and Sanitation builds
Leadership Institute rolls out for 2018
4/28/18 – Wagner, SD. Contact persons are Kelsey Doom, Larry Lyngstad.
TBD – Southeast SD/Northwest IA. More information to follow.
District Governor Steve Harrington has pledged District Funds to cover the cost for one member from each club to participate in the program. (see scholarship certificate attached.) Club presidents are asked to select one Rotarian from their club to attend the training. The cost for Rotarians to attend the program remains at $35 per individual, and clubs are requested to cover the charge. This fee covers course materials, meals and refreshments. If you are interested in providing a course in your area, contact your area’s Assistant Governor, or send me a message at: lglyngstad@mncomm.com.
Larry Lyngstad, RLI Coordinator
District Foundation Month Challenge
Large club winner was Rapid City Rushmore Rotary with a total of $5,460.
Midsize club winner was Madison SD Rotary with a total of $1,400.
Small club winner was Wagner SD with a total of $3,850.
We had a number of individual gifts of $1,000 by Rotarians and by decision of the District Governor and the Foundation Chair we decided to award the Paul Harris Points to the Rotarian who got in their gift first. That Rotarian was our own newsletter editor Linda Peterson who made an electronic gift on November 1 at the beginning of the challenge and the Rotary Foundation month. (Ed. Note: Just following my Club Foundation Chair’s directives!)
Great job by all Rotarians and thanks for your support of the Rotary Foundation and all the wonderful things that the Rotary Foundation is doing. This may be a great time to look and see what your Foundation is doing around the world at https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary/rotary-foundation.
Marshall clubs at work
District essay contest begins
Community assessments in global grants
Make sure that Rotarians in your club who are planning global grant projects know about this requirement and the many benefits of conducting a community assessment. These assessments:
* Improve project design
Defining People of Action stories
Stories about fundraisers, contributions, or international service projects are important and an integral part of what we do, but they’re not necessarily People of Action stories. The People of Action campaign is designed to help better inform our local communities about Rotary and the work we do for the places we call home. To let the rest of the world know who we are, we must let our neighbors know first.
How do you tell a great People of Action story? A People of Action story connects with people by showing the positive impact we have on our communities. The best way to do this is by incorporating certain elements effectively into your story, such as:
* A clear focus on a Rotary project in your local community
Inspire others through vocational service
* Help young people achieve their career goals.
D5610 Launches YouTube Channel!
District 5610 Raffle Cooking Again!
Prize drawings - PETS conference April 12-14, 2018 Mitchell (need not be present to win).
MISSION HAITI REPORT
SDSM&T Rotaract members stuff Puppies for Polio
District Conference Survey Results
Here are a few facts to consider:
• 19 of those 40 respondents attended both days or 48%
• 12 of those 40 respondents were new or 30%
• 85 of 1,846 District Rotarians attended part of all the conference or 4.6%
• Each speaker program was rated on a 5 point scale system.
o 11 of the 28 programs rated under 4 points
o Overall rating for the conference is 4.02 out of 5
o Lowest rating 3.48; highest rating 4.52
o Programs under 4.00 should be assessed for value, content, presentation, program speaker
• 149 comments were received on programs
• 83 comments were received on improvements and other topics not asked in the survey
o 20 comments referred to poor attendance
o 19 comments referred to better speakers/more topical breakouts
o 11 comments referred to shorten the duration of the conference
o 4 comments referred to honor clubs/individuals
o Remaining comments were miscellaneous with several referring to enjoying the conference and kudos to the host group.
Register for the Zone Institute
Membership Update
At District Conference last fall, we rolled out a great tool, Club Membership Guide for Engaging and Expanding Members. If your club didn't get a copy, contact me and I will get you your copy as well as tools to use it. I'm looking forward to working with all clubs in 2018.
Happy New Year to all.
Carmen Hansen, District 5610 Membership Chair
carmenhansen@rushmore.com 605-484-6056
Governor's Message - June 2018
District Administrator named
Foundation Month Club Challenge
District 5610 Clubs and members are challenged by Governor Steve Harrington to Rotary Foundation giving during the month of November, which is Rotary’s Foundation Month.
Winners in member giving category of the Governor’s District Awards (2 awards) will receive a $1,000 Paul Harris Fellow gift to award as they choose. Clubs in each division that win the per capita category will receive a $1,000 Paul Harris Fellow gift to award as they choose. A total of $5,000 in prizes.
Governor District Awards for:
The two Individuals with the highest Foundation giving in November
The district club with the highest per capita giving in November
Governor Division Awards (3 Divisions):
The club in each division with the highest per capita giving in November receives special governor recognition, and a $1,000 Paul Harris Fellow gift.
Division I – Canton, Centerville, Clark, Gettysburg, Gregory, Huron, LeMars, Mapleton, Marshall Sunrise, Minneota, Rock Valley, Scotland, Sibley, , Suburban Sioux City, Tyndall, and Wagner. (16)
Division II – Aberdeen, Canby, Cherokee, Custer, Denison, Hot Springs, Madison, Marshall, Mobridge, Sioux Falls North, Sioux Falls South, Spearfish, and Yankton. (13)
Division III - Brookings, Luverne, Mitchell, Pierre-Ft Pierre, Rapid City, Rapid City Rushmore, Sioux Falls Downtown, Sioux Falls West, Sioux City, Watertown, Winner, and Vermillion. (12)
Contest parameters: Winners will be determined by monitoring all Foundation giving from NOVEMBER 1 to DECEMBER 10. Giving will be extended to December 10 to allow late donations to be register in Rotary Foundation records.
Contact Mike Gibson, District Foundation Chair for more information. Mike.Gibson@bankwest-sd.com
District Grants Training Webinars Schedule
Mon. 5/21/2018 8:00 PM CST (7:00 PM MST) – preregister at https://zoom.us/meeting/
District Grants Awarded
Centerville | $ 3,375 | City Park |
Hot Springs | $ 7,800 | Centennial Park Stage |
Luverne | $ 2,000 | Dog Park |
Marshall Sunrise | $ 4,000 | Replace Playground Equipment in Liberty Park, Marshall, MN |
Pierre - Fort Pierre | $ 6,000 | Freezer for Community Youth Involved |
Rapid City Rushmore | $ 3,250 | Thrive Life Skills |
Scotland | $ 1,000 | Scotland City Sign |
Sioux City | $ 1,000 | Costume Corner at Pier Center for Autism (CAP Grant) |
Sioux Falls South | $ 5,000 | Books for students at Cleveland Elementary |
Sioux Falls West | $ 1,000 | Boys and Girls Club Scholarships |
Administrative | $ 179 | Web Conference Subscription, Postage, etc. |
$ 34,604 |
Conference Agenda
Friday, October 13, 2017
8:30 am Registration
9-12 noon RLI Facilitator Training - Larry Lyngstad
Noon-12:45 pm Sandwich Lunch Bar
12:45-2:15 pm Opening and Welcome General Assembly
Color Guard, Chris Becker, Master of Ceremonies
Welcome from Paul Jacobson, President, Le Mars Rotary
Steve Harrington, DG
Welcome from Iowa Senator Bill Anderson
Welcome from Dick Kirchoff, Le Mars Mayor
Club Roll Call
Pamela Stewart, RI President’s Representative
Invite to Vermillion District Conference 2018
2:15-2:30 pm Break
2:30-3:30 pm Breakout Sessions Period A
Foundation – Mike Gibson/Larry Dimmit
Membership-Part 1 – Carmen Hansen/Kelly Atkinson
Clubrunner/Club Central – Linda Peterson
3:30-3:45 Break
3:45-4:45 Breakout Session Period B
Public Image for Clubs – Linda Peterson
District Grants – Bruce Young
International Projects – St. Jude School, Palestine Project
4:45-6:00 Break & Open Period
6:00-6:30 Social Hour
6:30-7:30 Dinner
7:30-8:30 Foundation Dinner & Celebration
Welcome from Sibley Rotary
Foundation Awards
Polio Survivor – Dixie Kooiker
Polio Update – Willis Sutliff
Keynote Speaker Larry Dimmit “Foundation Update”
Saturday, October 14, 2017
8-9:00 am Registration & Breakfast Bar Period
9-10:00 am Opening and Welcome Session
Welcome from Sioux City Rotary
Public Image Citations
Friendship Exchange
Scholarship Presentations
Keynote Speaker DG Steve Harrington
10:00-10:15 am Break
10:15-11:15 am General Session
School of St. Jude – Pat Sutliff
Hope Haven – Steve Sikorski
Haiti – Steve Harrington
11:15-12:00 Break
12:00-1:30 pm Lunch
Welcome from Cherokee Rotary
Memorial Celebration
4-Way Test Essay Winner
Keynote Speaker Kelly Atkinson
1:30-1:45 pm Break
1:45-2:45 pm Breakout Sessions Period C
Public Image “People of Action” – Linda Peterson
Foundation – Mike Gibson/Larry Dimmit
Membership-Part 2 – Carmen Hansen/Kelly Atkinson
2:45-3:00 Break
3:00-5:00 Le Mars Community Tours: (see locations on inside back cover)
Veteran’s Memorial Park
Alley Art & Historical Murals
Plymouth County Fairgrounds
Plymouth County Historical Museum
5:00-5:30 Open Conference Break
5:30-6:15 Social Hour
6:15-7:45 Dinner
Special Awards, Roger Kozak Award
Recognition of Conference Committee
Keynote Speaker Pamela Stewart RI Representative
7:45-8:00 Break
8:00-9:00 The Browns Concert
Danish Friendship Exchange Team
World Polio Day
How to contribute to the Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Rotary Donor Advised Fund
By check
Payable to: The Rotary Foundation DAF
Memo line: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund #608
Mail to: Rotary DAF, c/o NRS, 12 Gill Street, Suite 2600, Woburn, MA, 01801
By credit card
Online at: https://www.your-fundaccount.com/rotary/HowToContribute.asp
Account name: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund
Account number: 608
By wire transfer
To the account of: Boston Private Bank & Trust Company
ABA number: 011002343
For credit to: The Rotary Foundation
Account number: 943423732
For Further Credit: TRF DAF
Account name: Gulf Coast Disaster Relief Fund #608
You must fax a copy of the wire authorization to +1-781-658-2497 to complete the transfer. Hopefully this will help those Rotarians in our district that are interested in helping those people and communities that are affected by Hurricane Harvey. Thank you.
Steve Harrington
District Governor 2017-18, 712-898-8689
Membership Sessions in Le Mars
Rotary Foundation Goal
I encourage you to look at all the various Rotary Foundation news on the Rotary.org website. As we are well into the Second Century of The Rotary Foundation, some great things are happening throughout the world because of our involvement in the Foundation. We need to keep in front of ourselves and our clubs all the things The Rotary Foundation has achieved and continues to achieve because of our support of The Rotary Foundation. I encourage you to look at the latest news on how the Polio eradication is developing because of Rotary’s efforts to vaccinate children and raise awareness of polio.
Perhaps your own club is involved in a District Grant application project and take note of the work that our District and Clubs are doing throughout our district to improve lives and our communities in our district. Thanks to all the hard work and processes that our Grants Chairman Bruce Young has put in place. There is one more grant training on May 21, which Bruce has developed and noted in this newsletter for Grant Training.
If as your District Foundation Chair, I can do anything to move your club’s involvement in the Rotary Foundation along please feel free to reach out and discuss it with me. Mike.gibson@bankwest-sd.bank.
Rotary Centennial Plaza in Sioux Falls
10 tips to attract and retain quality members
By Tom Gump, president of the Rotary Club of Edina Morningside, Minnesota, USA, and a District 5950 trainer
Since 1 July, 2016, my Rotary club has recruited and brought in 31 new members. Eleven of these new members are women and eight of them are under 40 years of age. The club has gone from being classified as a “medium” sized club of 68 members in our district to being classified as a “large” club of 93 members in just over nine months. How did this happen? Here’s our tips:
1. Know your club’s strengths. If you meet in the morning, you will probably be a good fit for a 9 to 5 employee. But if you meet at noon, you’re more likely to appeal to retirees or parents of school-age children. If someone doesn’t fit your format, recommend them to another club. They won’t forget you and may send you someone another day. Let all the clubs in your area know you are looking for members, and they may send you some that better fit your format than their own.
2. Keep a list of potential recruits. It doesn’t matter if it’s a paper list or if it’s kept on the desktop of your computer – it just makes you think about those people and others that may be a fit for your club.
Youth Exchange Students Arrive!
RLI Facilitator Training
District Administrator position open
I am available to answer any questions.
Great Job District 5610 Rotarians!
2018 District Conference Update
PEOPLE of ACTION
- Digital Banner Template
- Shortened “What We See” video with a 25-second and 85-second version. This allows clubs to add in their own tagline in the last 5 seconds.
- “What We See” Video with no voiceover with a 30-second and 90-second version of the video, and a script for each. This allows Rotarians to record the video in their own language or dialect.
- Using the People of Action Campaign: Television ads (Guide)
- Using the People of Action Campaign: Radio ads (Guide)
- Radio ad with no voiceover. This allows Rotarians to record a radio ad in their own voice, language, or dialect.
D5610 Rotary Conference in Le Mars
PDG Ed Jacobson has the goal that every Rotarian should attend a District Conference at least once in the next 5 years. I hope that the Conference in Le Mars is one that you will attend! And come on Iowans! It’s not often that you get the chance to attend a conference this close to home! The Black Hills area clubs are going to have us outnumbered…
My committee has worked hard to put this Conference together. Please come and take advantage of our efforts. Please register ASAP on the District Website by clicking on the event listing. I so look forward to meeting you in Le Mars October 13 &14!
New! Online Membership Course
News & Events from Clubs
Activities of the Centerville Rotary Club
Rotarian Bot receives Community Service Award
Governor Filmed Presentation & Club Visits Schedule
CUSTER - JULY 17
RUSHMORE - JULY 18
SPEARFISH - JULY 19
HOT SPRINGS - JULY 20
RAPID CITY - JULY 20
CHEROKEE – JULY 31
SCOTLAND – AUG 3
ABERDEEN - AUG 7
GETTYSBURG - AUG 10
MINNEOTA - AUG 16
MARSHALL SUNRISE - AUG 17
CANBY – AUG 17
SIOUX FALLS WEST – AUG 25
SIOUX FALLS SOUTH - AUG 28
WINNER - AUG 31
CLARK – SEPT 5
HURON - SEPT 6
SIOUX CITY - SEPT 11
GREGORY - SEPT 13
ROCK VALLEY – SEPT 18
MADISON – OCT 2
BROOKING – OCT 3
CANTON – OCT 10
WAGNER – OCT 18
TYNDALL – OCT 23
DENISON – OCT 26
CENTERVILLE – NOV 2
YANKTON – NOV 7
MITCHELL - NOV 9
Membership Matters workshops across the District
Workshops were held in Rapid City on May 20, with 14 attendees representing six clubs: Custer, Rapid City, Rapid City Rushmore, Northern Hills-Spearfish, Hot Springs, and Pierre-Ft. Pierre. The four-hour session was packed with information and small group breakout sessions to practice what we learned. Gleanings from trainer Larry Petrash, PDG 20-14-15 D5790, Texas, Zone 21b Membership Cadre:
* Becoming a vibrant club takes intentional effort.
* Planning with trilogy continuum, both club and district chairs: Membership, Foundation, Public Image.
* Engagement of all members is essential.
* Set goals, enter in Club Central, update often.
* Retention plan is very important. Do often and continually revisit.
The next workshop was held in Brookings on June 2, followed by Rotarians from Vermillion, Sioux City, and Le Mars in Sioux City on June 3. The workshops were conducted by PDG Bob Delavan, Zone 27 Membership Cadre instructor from Grand Junction, Colorado. The course included techniques and ideas to create sustained club membership growth and retention. Attendees left with great ways to grow new club membership, and retained current members. Retention is important because four of ten new members leave Rotary within the first three years.
Bring your talents to promote Rotary!
—Linda Peterson at 605-341-5006 or email Linda4Rotary@me.com
Rotary Showcase
— Chuck Lubbers, AG Area 7
Youth Exchange events
Saturday evening, the students were hosted by Marshall, MN Rotarian Olga Reuvekamp, where they enjoyed phenomenal food, fellowship, and hospitality.
Sunday morning, the students gathered at the Reuvekamp family business, Hilltop Dairy near Elkton, SD, for meaningful discussion – the inbounds reflected on their soon-to-end Rotary Youth Exchange experience and shared insight with the District’s two outbound students. The outbound students will depart for their overseas learning experience in a few short months.
The students wanted to share a huge THANK YOU with all of the Rotarians who have supported them through their Rotary Youth Exchange opportunity. This program requires a plethora of support – from required Club Youth Exchange Committee positions, to host families, Club Presidents, and Rotarians who help the students fulfill completion of items off their “bucket list”, we are so grateful to each of you. Thank you.
Rotary Leaders Fly to District 5610 to Deliver Membership Workshops
Membership Matters workshops are being scheduled for several locations across the District. “These workshops have been warmly received and feedback from evaluations forms has been excellent,” said District 5610 Governor Ed Jacobson. “I hope every member who reads this will consider attending one of the workshops.” Register for the workshop of your choice now! Click on the listing in Events Calendar on right!
District Foundation Raffle has BIG prizes!
Karl’s TV & Appliances will partner with D5610 to provide a GRAND PRIZE for the Foundation Raffle: LG Kitchen Appliance package worth up to $7,500 at Karl’s retail pricing. In addition, Karl’s will sell raffle tickets for us at every location in South Dakota! A large sign/poster to promote ticket sales will be displayed in each of their 14 SD stores. The twelve communities in SD with Karl’s stores are: Aberdeen, Brookings, Gregory, Huron, Madison, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls(2), Spearfish(2), Watertown, Winner and Yankton. We are only working with the stores in SD because of concerns about state laws regarding raffles. We get permission from the state and from the city of Mitchell to do our raffle. We don’t ask for those permissions in our border states, so we thought it prudent to stay within SD borders. However, the winner of the Grand Prize may deal with the closest Karl’s store, no matter where. But stores outside SD will NOT sell raffle tickets.
If you have a Karl’s location in your community, consider inviting the store manager to your meeting. You might even ask he/she to speak about their newest products.
District Leadership Training Seminar
Training for Rotary District and Club Officers Scheduled April 6-8, 2017 at Highland Event Center, Mitchell, SD
Information on hotel rates is posted in the event listing.
To receive on-going notices and the agenda, club board members must be listed on the District website as 2017-18 officers or members of Rotary – and your email address must be posted with your listing.
*NOTE: Rotary International stresses that the current president of any club whose president-elect fails to attend PETS must continue as president in the coming year.
Steve Harrington, District Governor Elect
Register NOW for Atlanta Convention!
Join many ROTARIANS from our District and from all over the world in ATLANTA JUNE 10-14, 2017 AND CELEBRATE THE CENTENNIAL OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION! Register online at www.rotary.org Promotional videos found at www.ricon17promotion.org
Rotarians in our Zone get recognition!
Working with the media to promote Rotary
Rotary International rolled out the new "People of Action" campaign at the RI Convention in Atlanta. We will design a media campaign for our District to begin as soon as materials become available. You can download materials for your club too at the Brand Center on www.Rotary.org by logging in.
I have a great powerpoint on “Publicizing an Event” that I would be happy to present to your club or event committee. I also have website and social media training that will assist your club in using these digital tools. Please contact me to schedule! I will travel anywhere in the District to meet with your club.
Foundation Giving Goal
PROMOTING PEACE FIGHTING DISEASE
PROVIDING CLEAN WATER SAVING MOTHERS AND CHILDREN
SUPPORTING EDUCATION GROWING LOCAL ECONOMIES
That first gift that all started it in 1917 was for the amount of $26.50. If you have never given to the Rotary Foundation, would you consider giving a gift of $26.50 in this anniversary year? If you have given in the past, please consider increasing your gift by $26.50 or more. Thank you for your generous support of the Rotary Foundation!
Club Extension Events
Foundation AND Membership Day!
This event is open to all Rotarians in the District. Presidents, Presidents-Elect, and Club Rotary Foundation Chairs are especially encouraged to attend. Click on the District Foundation Day event link to register for this event.
Get on the Bus, Gus!
Rotary International Conference in Atlanta, GA ~ June 10-14, 2017 Register now at www.riconvention.org
In planning the trip we believed we had projected a cost high enough to cover any of the Atlanta hotels that were listed on the Rotary website. However, Buckhead is an upscale area of Atlanta, and the cost of the Ritz-Carlton is higher than our estimate. This means that we have to raise the price of the trip by $100 ($20 per Atlanta night) per person for double occupancy and $200 ($40 per Atlanta night) per person for single occupancy. Thus the double occupancy price is now $2,027.00, and the single occupancy price is $3,156.00. The reservation fee remains $500 for double occupancy and $750 for single occupancy.
Please plan to get your deposit to Brookings by October 1. After that date we will be seeking Rotarians from other Districts to fill up the bus. At last count we were looking for six more couples to make the trip a GO! Final deadline for deposits is November 15.
REVISED Information is on this District website in the Download section.
Club Visits Schedule from DG Ed
Rotary Foundation Celebrates 100 Years!
RLI Opportunity at District Conference
Rotarians may register for course I, which will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26 at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Pierre. Registration is limited to ten participants.
Rotarians who have previously completed course I may fulfill the requirements of the program by completing course II, which will also begin at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, August 26. Registration is limited to ten participants.
A one-time reduced course fee of $20 will be charged for those attending an RLI course during the conference. Clubs will be billed for the course fee of registrants from respective clubs, which must be paid prior to the beginning of the course. Registrations will be accepted on a first-come basis, however, additional registrations beyond the ten maximum for each course will be placed in a back-up position in the event of a cancellation.
Registrations may be made on the District website by clicking on the event listing, and must be made prior to August 15. Rotarians attending the conference who live a significant distance from where courses are generally offered are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity.
Please contact me with any questions. —Larry Lyngstad, RLI District Coordinator
Grants Training Scheduled Thursday, April 14
Grants training is needed by any club expecting to apply for a grant through The Rotary Foundation. The person managing the club’s grant application must show they have completed this training. The training will be conducted by District Foundation Grants Chair Ina Winter of Hot Springs.
The District Leadership Training session starts with a meeting of District Leaders on Thursday, April 14. Club president training and training for all other interested Rotarians is scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. on Friday. All Rotarians are encouraged to attend! The expanded schedule, including the Thursday grant training, is posted on the District website.
Acheivement Award for Public Relations/Public Image
Clark Club Has Heart!
The idea was founded around Valentines Day. A perfect match with Rotary Has Heart. New member, Margaret Grimm is manager of the Senior Golden Living Center, Member Janet Roehrich is the owner of Roetell Senior Living Center, and Gayle Wookey is owner/manager of the Wookey Assisted Living Center. All three of these Rotarians stepped up to making arrangements in their Centers for the event.
Sioux Falls Downtown Club makes Donation
Monday's $50,000 donation to the Arc of Dreams marks Rotary as one of the largest contributors to this iconic stainless steel structure that will be spanning the Big Sioux River downtown. SculptureWalk Sioux Falls Arc of Dreams project is a privately funded sculpture slated for downtown Sioux Falls.
Global Scholar Reports
Vocational Training Team member goes to Perú
Linda is available to give a presentation about this project anytime, contact her at Linda4Rotary@me.com.
How to have a Vibrant Club?
District Conference 2016 Invite
https://www.facebook.com/groups/district5610/
Let's Promote The End of Polio!
There are many ways we can be a part of this moment in history. For example:
Host a viewing party, invite friends and co-workers
Have a viewing party in your office! Its at 4:30 anyway!
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper outlining the successes of Polio Plus
Invite local media folks to watch the event
How about this: A FLASHMOB! Arrange a venue with big TVs and a bar!
You can download the official "Tool Kit" here http://www.endpolio.org/docs/default-source/world-polio-day/world-polio-day-toolkit-en15.pdf?sfvrsn=2. It contains lots of ideas!
DID YOU KNOW? Over the past five years, District 5610 Rotarians have contributed nearly $200,000 to Polio Plus!! Donate your contribution today! Our Governor for South Dakota has declared October 23 World Polio Day, I would hope that Districts in the nearby states have also obtained Proclamations. See the download panel for the PDF. Have you contacted your city mayor for a proclamation?
Polio is almost licked, but there's a way to go. Lets do our part!
Rotary Has Heart! ... in District 5610!
District 4 Way Test Essay Contest
Foundation Day - November 7!
District Conference Agenda Posted!
Conference Agenda posted in Download Section!
Welcome to our District 5610 website!
International & Zone news
Want to know more about our incoming International President? See the News Release in downloads. Please pass along to your local newspaper, other media, and your members.
District Resource Leader Invitation
District Literacy Book Drive
How to get reports from Rotary Foundation
Forty2 Solar and Rotary
Global Grant Scholarship Applicants Wanted!
Successful applicants will receive a $30,000 grant for GRADUATE level studies. Must provide proof of at least provisional acceptance to a university OUTSIDE the USA. Graduate Studies must be related to one of the six areas of Rotary International focus: Peace and Conflict Resolution; Disease Prevention and Treatment; Water & Sanitation; Maternal & Child Health; Basic Education Literacy; Economic & Community Development.
How to apply:
Application deadline is FEBRUARY 1, 2015. Applications are on the District website.
Applicants cannot be related in any way to a member of Rotary.
Applicants must residents of District 5610.
Further information can be obtained by contacting: David Lorenz dlorenz@usd.edu — Scholarship Chair
District Raffle Prizes Needed
We are asking clubs to send the money directly to the Rotary Foundation rather than turning it in at PETS,
We are emphasizing that raffle ticket purchases are not tax deductible, since there is a chance of winning a prize.
Clubs should submit prize commitments now to Joe Mauss or Mark Barry, District Raffle Co-Chairs. Drawings for prizes will be April 9-11, at the 2015 PETS Conference. If any questions, please contact Joe Mauss joe_mauss@mmi.net or Mark Barry mbarry@dieselmachinery.com
School of St. Jude Support Project
If your club would like to provide support, but do not have the resources for the full donation, here is a great option. Our District sent $1320 in May to St. Jude for this year. We are on our way to making a difference in our world by changing the future for one very poor, bright child in Arusha, Tanzania and helping in the classroom of a very dedicated teacher. Together we are all making our world a better place!!
Rotary Leadership Institute - Be A Leader!
What is RLI? It is a grassroots, multi-district leadership and Rotary development program using facilitation in small groups to engage Rotarians and strengthen clubs. The sessions also provide leadership skills that are useful to the individual's career.
Members may attend any RLI session around the district, and will be awarded a certificate after completing all three parts. Check the District website calendar for dates and locations. If you wanted to attend another location for any sessions, you could, as the material is the same.
The discussion among different clubs' members is the most valuable part, your input will be needed, so speak up and take part! Some of you may have many years in Rotary, some are very young in their Rotary life. Some of you may have lead committees or clubs, some of you may have very small roles in your club so far. But you will find that all Rotarians matter, whatever their role in the club.
The cost is $35/person or $100 for 3 sessions per person. Registration file may be downloaded from the website. It is recommended that the clubs pay for the attendees, as the benefit to your club from the training is IMMEASURABLE! ENORMOUS! INVALUABLE TO THE FUTURE OF YOUR CLUB!
November is Foundation Giving Month
World Polio Day
If you make a donation to Polio Plus on October 24, it will be double matched by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and you will get points toward your Paul Harris Fellowship award. Download the attached file for additional information and links to videos and graphics.
Solar Projects deploying
Friendship Exchange with India
4 Way Test Essay Contest winners due to District
Attention all clubs planning on participating in the DISTRICT 5610 ROTARY 4 WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST:
Local winners are due to Pat Sutliff by March 15, 2015. They can be sent by e-mail sutliff@midco.net or regular mail, 4819 Steamboat Circle, Rapid City, SD 57702 Winners will be announced at PETS in April.
The contest is conducted with 6th graders and any 6th grader in our district is eligible to compete by going through their local Rotary Club. Your club can set up the contest in your community by working with one school or all of the schools there. You need to show the students a copy of our 4-Way Test and perhaps explain what it means to us. Then the students write a 200 - 500 word essay explaining "How Can I Apply the 4-Way Test to my life?" and submit them to your club where you choose a winner that you then submit to the district. Usually clubs have 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners but just the 1st is sent on to the district. The prizes for this contest are 1st prize $200, 2nd prize $100 and 3rd prize $50. For questions or more information please contact: Pat Sutliff pmsutliff@gmail.com cell # 605-593-2896
Zone Speakers now available!
Pedaling for a Purpose
Keith Harris visits District 5610
Sewing Machines for India
Need Club Participation in Sewing Machines Grant
4 Way Test Essay Contest is District-wide
District 4 Way Test Essay Contest - DEADLINE MARCH 15!
Zone Training Institute
District Leaders invited to Training
RLI Events Planned
ROTARY LEADERSHIP TRAINING (RLI)
Tell your club president you want to attend! If you missed a session or two last year, sign up again, to get your graduation certification!
About D5610
Some of our most interesting features include: Mt. Rushmore in the Black Hills—a carving of four American Presidents on a granite mountain; Crazy Horse Monument—another huge carving of the Indian chief; lakes formed by dams and stocked with fish; horizon-to-horizon spanning ranches with large herds of cattle and buffalo; charming small towns, and mid-sized cities bustling with business and culture. While the pace of life may be considerably slower than that of the major industrial cities in America, we are proud of the up-to-date facilities, excellent educational and cultural opportunities, and short commutes!
One of the pleasures of living in this region is the distinct four seasons, from the depths of a cold winter night to the heights of a hot summer day, and every change in-between—sometimes in the same day! The high northern plains are generally dry, while the eastern low lands near the rivers experience higher rainfall and humidity. Hunting, fishing, snow sports, hiking, biking, motorcycle touring and camping are just a few of the outdoors activities enjoyed by residents and vacationers to the area. Symphonies, operas, Broadway plays, county fairs, concerts, hockey, museums, art galleries, restaurants and shopping round out a full spectrum of entertainment available.
Rotary clubs in our district host exchanges of all kinds, from high school students, the former Group Study exchanges, to sister city and Rotary Friendship exchanges. We enjoy building relationships with peoples from all cultures. Sitting down to a meal and getting to know someone from another country, examining the similarities and differences, and making our visitors feel comfortable and welcome, is a common attribute in all our communities.
The District and Clubs’ projects range from community assistance to international grants. See the Grants page for more information. Contact any of the local club leadership if you are interested in joining Rotary!
Polio Plus news
Polio Plus news
It has been a real roller coaster month for Polio Plus with the out breaks in Africa and in Syria. But more perspective is available from Dr. Bruce Aylward from WHO who has a presentation at https://www.rotary.org/en/world-polio-day-rotary-spotlights-fight-end-disease that he gave on World Polio Day. The following is (mostly) from his presentation.
—Willis Sutliff, MD, Polio Subcommittee Chair