District Newsletter
January 1, 2021

Vocational Service Month
 
Welcome to Rotary District 5240
Rotary District 5240 consists of over 2900 members in 71 Rotary Clubs, nine Rotaract Clubs, and 58 Interact (high school) clubs. The District spans four counties in Central California - San Luis Obispo County, Santa Barbara County, Ventura County, and Kern County – as well as a Chapter Club based in Guatemala and a Young Professionals Satellite Club in Westlake Village.  Our clubs are active in all aspects of Rotary, including community and international service, youth programs, and fellowship activities.

DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

January Message from DG Deb Linden
Happy New Year Rotary Members! Thank you for all you did to serve your communities in 2020 during one of the most challenging years in recent memory. I know you and your clubs will make 2021 an even more memorable year, in a good way, with the help of the COVID-19 vaccine!
 
Vocational Service Month:
January is Vocational Service Month in Rotary, which marks the intersection of your professional life with your Rotary one. Our members represent a wide range of professions and skills and Rotary opens opportunities for business networking and mentoring of others. To help inspire ideas for Vocational Service Month (or anytime), click here to see the Rotary Vocational Service in Action Handbook. Also, check out our District Rotarian Business Network webpage where you can list your business for other members to find:   https://www.rotary5240.biz
 
Rotary DEI Webinar Series
Throughout 2020-2021, Rotary International is hosting a webinar series called Accountability + Inclusion to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Rotary.  Here is a link to the webinar schedule and the recordings of the webinars that have already been held. This is an excellent opportunity to learn how your club and members can create welcoming and inclusive Rotary clubs and projects: http://msgfocus.rotary.org/files/amf_highroad_solution/project_188/DEIWebinar-Sept2020-Description.pdf

 
Rotary and COVID:
I have received some questions about Rotary’s role in the COVID education and vaccination program. Here is an official statement from RI staff regarding RI’s involvement in the COVID response:

Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) have built a global health infrastructure that has brought polio to the brink of eradication and is now also being used to help protect communities from COVID-19. 

Given promising new developments on effective COVID-19 vaccine candidates, many Rotary members are wondering whether Rotary and its partners can play a role in the eventual distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, utilizing the polio eradication infrastructure--including the polio vaccine cold chain. While there are conversations ongoing within Rotary and between the GPEI and other organizations involved  in the pandemic response, a strategy to use the polio eradication infrastructure to distribute a future COVID-19 vaccine has not yet been decided. We will keep members updated with any developments as possibilities are explored.  

When we hear more from RI, I will notify all members in the District.
 
New Year Message:
Finally, here is a special New Year message from your DG Line – Deb, Savi, Dana, Scott, and Marta:  https://www.jibjab.com/view/make/countdown/fab73ac1-441e-4d3f-8e9a-0c413d07d9be
Deb Linden
District Governor 2020-21

DISTRICT HIGHLIGHTS

4-Way Test Essay Contest
The 4-Way Test Essay Contest is coming!
 
The goal of the contest is to encourage students to consider how “The 4-Way Test” can be used in everyday decision-making. This can be done by expressing their thoughts in an essay that relates a case or story where they applied these principles in their daily life.
Essays should be at least: 150 words for grades 1-6; 200 words for grades 7-8; and 250 words for grades 9-12.
 
Cash prizes available! For more information, click the button below.

DISTRICT ROTARY FOUNDATION

District Rotary Foundation Message
Our District Rotary Foundation Chair is PDG Frank Ortiz. Every month he will have a message regarding current foundation news and summarize foundation contributions. It's a great way to get updated on TRF.
 
View the current message by clicking the button below!
UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENTS
Grant Qualification & Certification Workshop FINAL
Jan 07, 2021
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
 
Mid-Term Training Workshop for Club Leaders
Jan 30, 2021
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
 
KernYES! Youth Empowerment Summit
Feb 27, 2021
 
View entire list

CLUB EVENTS & FUNDRAISERS

Add Your Events to the Newsletter!
This year, we will incorporate your club events and projects into the newsletter! We send the newsletter at the beginning of each month and will include events for that month.
 
Click the button below to send us your flyer, brief discription, and best link for the event.
 
 
DISTRICT STORIES
Rotary Club of Ojai’s Virtual “Taste of Ojai” a Success, netting $33,000!
We’ve all learned during these times that we need to not only carry on, but also learn how to “reimagine” carrying on our events. It was with great enthusiasm that the Rotary Club of Ojai’s 2019/2020 “Rising Star” and Taste of Ojai Chair Tara Saylor did just that and more!
 
Along with a stellar committee effort led by Tara, the club’s annual fundraising event went both live at Ojai’s Topa Mountain Winery and online via Zoom, with a well-choreographed and beautifully filmed event highlighting local restaurants, ranches, wineries and breweries for the entire community to enjoy.
 
Read more...
Pismo Beach 5 Cities Rotary Honors Essential Workers
In recognition of Rotary Gratefulness Week, the Pismo Beach-5 Cities Rotary Club honored several essential workers at their November 17th meeting.  This was a wonderful meeting that the club enjoyed because they were able to personally thank some very special people for the great work they do on a daily basis.

The workers recognized were representatives of their profession and their colleagues.  Each was given a plaque to commemorate their recognition and all but one received a $100 gift card to an area restaurant.  One honoree, California Fresh Market, received a check for $100, which they matched, to be used for a pizza party for all their employees before the start of the holiday rush.  The honored essential workers are listed below with a picture of them receiving their plaque from club President Shannon Bowdey.
 
Read more...
Simi Valley Clubs Come Together During Covid 19
During Covid 19 Pandemic, members from Rotary Clubs in Simi Valley got together to help out at the Simi Valley Senior Center. The clubs help in getting food and supplies to our seniors who have been impacted by this terrible virus. The Senior Food Share Program has been in existence for over 18 years feeding seniors in the Simi area who are financially unable to provide for themselves. There are about 70 folks who use this program. But when Covid-19 hit, the program doubled and the volunteers at the Senior Center were needing help from other volunteers. That’s when the Simi Clubs went into action. They are working every Sunday and Monday collecting food from three different stores. Every other Monday afternoon, they drive their trucks up to the Oxnard Food Share Warehouse and load their trucks up with all kinds of food which is donated by the big stores. On Tuesday, the group separates all of the food onto tables and load up approximately 140 shopping bags of food. There is usually extra eggs, milk, bread and desserts that are added in addition with the bags.  At 8:30am, the distribution starts, the seniors drive their cars through a line and the bags are then loaded up into the trunks or back seats of the senior’s cars. All this work is being done utilizing Covid-19 PPE’s and procedures.
Add Your Stories to the Newsletter!
We want your stories!  We send the newsletter at the beginning of each month and would like to include your favorite Rotary projects, events, and fundraisers. This helps spread the word about Rotary and provides ideas for other clubs.
 
Click the button below to send us a brief story and pictures.
 
     
 Website    Facebook
Please add mailservice@clubrunner.ca to your safe sender list or address book.
To view our privacy policy, click here.
 
ClubRunner
102-2060 Winston Park Drive, Oakville, ON, L6H 5R7