
January 2025 came as a blur! Taking down all the Christmas and New Years’ stuff, putting away gifts, returning to “normal” - - at least for those of us that put off all the packing and stacking until after January 1. How many New Year Resolutions did you make? How many are still in progress thirty-one days later? We all have great intentions and SOME of YOU are great at following through! Congrats on any and all progress!
For Rotary District 5830 and Rotary International, January was a time to focus on VOCATIONAL SERVICE - - - our clubs spent time discussing, planning, organizing, soliciting, encouraging, and moving forward with our Vocational and associated projects for Rotary year 2024-2025. Many thanks to each of you for your focus on “service above self”
D5830 Foundation Dinner
By the time you read this note, we will have completed our 2024-2025 Foundation Dinner. In this month’s articles, Immediate Past District Governor Karen Maines has summarized the many awards given and recognition of service for Rotary year 2023-2024. Well done Karen and team!
The D5830 Foundation Dinner planning team (Rotarians Terri Deike, Brandie Henderson, Pamela Walters, Trudy Williams, IPDG Karen Maines, PDG Ted Huffhines, PDG Jack Welge and Rotarian/District Administrator, Shirley Pinnix-Evans) worked many, many hours to plan, organize, solicit and execute the celebration event. Over 50 Silent Auction Items were provided by D5830 clubs, which resulted in about $4500 in donations to the Rotary Foundation. In addition, the Paul Harris “raffle event” resulted in four new Paul Harris recognitions for District 5830.
At the Foundation Dinner, Beth Stubbs, Rotary International Director for Zones 30 and 31, recognized the strong efforts of D5830 and encouraged all attendees to be proud of our achievements. Beth applauded the tremendous efforts that D5830 has achieved around the world, as well as our local communities. “Your clubs have been tremendous stewards of District and Global Grant funds and improved lives for many individuals”. Polio continues to be a major area of focus but all of us have worked hard to “almost achieve” total eradication of the dreadful results of the polio virus - - please don’t stop - - - we can reach our goal with continued focus and support.
PDG Ted Huffhines continues to lead the 2025 Rotary District 5830 Legacy Dinner planning committee. During January, the D5830 Legacy Team continued to explain the “legacy focus efforts” and plan for the April 26, 2025 event which will be held in Tyler, TX. The Legacy “fireside chats” continue to share more of the Legacy Dinner Vision and Plans.
DG Elect Damon Donnell and the Athens Rotary Club have been working to launch a new Rotary in Henderson County. Several meetings have been held and a good nucleus has been formed to launch the new club, which will cover much of the area around Chandler and will be called "The Rotary Club of East Henderson County”. Tyler Sunrise Rotary’s President, Andrew Sherman, has assisted the foundation efforts with possible contacts and prospects.
During January, we conducted a planning / kick-off meeting for the Tyler Food Bank Rotary Club - - - - we had almost 30 Rotarians, Former Rotarians, and friends of Rotary attend the first meeting. Additional “Food Bank Rotary Clubs” are being planned for at least two more cities in D5830. We will provide more information in the next month’s newsletter.
Please remember - - - it is never too early to make plans and REGISTER for the 2025 Rotary International Convention which will be in Calgary, Canada June 21-25, 2025. We are ACHIEVED our RI Convention “registration goal” but there is plenty of room to still register. If you’ve never been to a Rotary International Convention, the 2025 Canada event would be a great time to expand your horizon and see how Rotarians from around the world SERVE SERVE SERVE!
Thanks for allowing me to SERVE as your DG for 2024-2025
Jeff W Johnston