Welcome to Rotary Year 2020-2021! The new year is certainly starting out differently than any of us could have imagined. You, our District 5240 members, have faced challenges and hardships that changed the very way we have been doing business. You have created new ways to serve your communities and to come together as clubs. I believe this experience will forever change the way we live Rotary.
2020-2021 Rotary International President Holger Knaack’s theme this year is Rotary Opens Opportunities. He selected this theme long before the COVID-19 pandemic, but it is so appropriate now.We have the opportunity to re-examine and re-create how our clubs operate, how we do our fundraisers, how we serve our communities, and how we engage our current and future members. Please take a few minutes to views this short (4 minutes) video message for our clubs from RI President Holger: Holger Message to Clubs
As we begin this new year, our focus will be on:
- Growing Rotary, including:
- Expanding our membership by starting new, innovative clubs
- Making sure we are taking care of and retaining our club members.
- Encouraging clubs to attract and retain members through service projects, large and small.
- Click HERE to review the new 3-year District 5240 Membership Plan.
- Supporting The Rotary Foundation - OUR Foundation - including:
- Finishing the fight against Polio by organizing fundraising events and awareness campaigns for the Rotary Polio Plus fund. Click HERE to read how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted Rotary’s Polio efforts.
- Encouraging donations to The Rotary Foundation (Polio, Disaster Fund, Annual Fund) with the $52.40 Challenge (more info on this in August).
- Supporting Rotary’s Peace efforts through the Peacebuilder club and Peace Scholar programs.
- Enhancing our Rotary Brand, including:
- Focusing on our member and visitor experience at our club meetings so everyone feels welcome, valued, and engaged.
- Branding our Rotary efforts through media presence, social media, signage, and other creative ways to raise awareness about Rotary.
- Enhancing our community impact by branding our community service projects. Click HERE to learn about public image grants available through the District Charitable Foundation.
As we continue the important work of Rotary, every Rotarian in every club must make sure we hold the basic tenants of Rotary in our hearts and reflect them in our actions. We need to consider how we conduct ourselves in our clubs and in every aspect of our lives. Rotary recently released a powerful statement which applies to all of us:
Finally, let’s all give a huge Thank You to 2019-2020 District Governor Savi Bhim and all our 2019-2020 Club Presidents and District staff for leading us through an incredibly challenging time, including helping our clubs begin online meetings and adjust their projects and fundraisers. Let’s carry on their great work in 2020-2021!
Deb Linden
District Governor 2020-21