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Take just a minute and ask yourself why you joined Rotary? Most of us come back with “I was asked”. But why did you respond? Or why did you pursue asking about Rotary until you were proposed for membership? What makes you and all Rotarians so different and driven to perform service?
The reason this is so important relates to membership and the sustainability of our organization. If we can not describe why we are here, we are also at a loss to tell others why they should join. And it goes further. If we can not explain why we joined and what makes us who we are, we may also be much less likely to stay, and to support The Rotary Foundation, which is the chief engine driving the global work we perform.
What we do know is that as people of action we carry around a mindset of service though our vocation, through our communities and through our associations. It is why when asked to serve our answer is almost always a resounding yes.
There are five outstanding examples of this I want you to know about this month and these are just five of the hundreds of small ways we make a difference:
PDG Carroll Greenwaldt (Longview), for organizing food delivery for the food needy during COVID;
Pres. Denise Hurst (Mineola), for organizing water delivery and food services in her community following the Texas Deep Freeze;
Leon Word (Gladewater), for providing life-saving CPR to Judge Tim Bryan following the Judge’s heart attack before a Gladewater Rotary Club meeting;
Pres. Sarah Jenkins (Leaders in Service E-Club) and Public Image Dir. Sarah Fox (5830), for providing direction, help, and support in leading 5830’s Public Image and Website Committee through difficult times during the pandemic; and
PDG Ted Huffhines (Marshall), for organizing and leading a most successful virtual Foundation Celebration for which over 100 Rotarians and Guests signed up, having the opportunity to hear PRIP and Trustee Chair-Elect John Germ.
When you see these Rotarians thank them for their service and for leading 5830 as the Action District.
Lone Star P.E.T.S. is fast approaching as we start Monday, March 8th at 6:00 P.M and continue through the following Saturday. Not only is this year’s event open to presidents-elect and presidents-nominee but also to current presidents who would like to experience PETS again. Ask anyone who has attended and they will tell you it is one of the best events Rotary hosts each year. The training is excellent, and the friendships you make will last a lifetime. It is required training for our presidents to serve. Additionally, to be eligible to receive RI Foundation grant funds, attendance at grant training is required.
Our district Rotaractors are most welcome this year, as well. Since this year’s event is virtual, you won’t get a better deal for the cost of attendance - $50.00.District 5830 will reimburse this charge upon confirmed attendance. When registering, please ensure that you use the e-mail address you intend to login with, otherwise you won’t be able to access the programs. Your district P.E.T.S. team so looks forward to seeing all of you there. Take care, stay safe, and thank you for all of the good work that you do.
District 5830 was NUMBER ONE in Per Capita Giving and in Polio Plus Giving for 2019-2020! This District and our Rotarians have stepped up and generously supported our Foundation and its programs even during the challenges of the pandemic. This has helped maintain a strong trend that has been in place for several years, and WE NEED IT TO CONTINUE!
District Foundation team will be holding a Matching Points Campaign from April 1st through June 1st.
If you donate $100 or more to TRF, you will receive an additional 100 matching points towards your next Paul Harris Fellow. If you donate $500 or more, you will receive an extra 100 points beyond the match; i.e., $500 donation receives 600 points. This is an excellent way to reach Paul Harris Fellow or your next level status much more quickly. It is also a strategy that could help your club become an ALL PAUL HARRIS FELLOW CLUB! This status comes with recognition for your club from The Rotary Foundation, and is very special!
Details about the Matching Points Campaign will be sent to Club Presidents and Club Foundation Chairs in the next week from PDG Tom Dewitt.
This is the title of one of the best pamphlets that Rotary has produced in recent times. It’s short, to the point and packed with great ideas!
Soon, President Elects will be in the first virtual Lone Star PETS and will discuss how their club can be a VIBRANT CLUB. Among many characteristics of a vibrant club, MEMBERSHIP GROWTH is probably the BEST indicator of VIBRANCY.
Are your club members “sold” on Rotary? Do members not only accept but BELIEVE in Rotary’s ability to open new opportunities by networking/connecting with other individuals, clubs and districts for doing service? Do they support The Rotary Foundation? Are the members SOLD on YOUR CLUB as THE place for fellowship, meeting community leaders, and growing personally and professionally?
Since March 2020, clubs have been challenged beyond words to maintain connections, do service and raise funds and our membership reports reflect that challenge with a decrease in membership of -4.49% since July 1, 2020. With the rollout of a third Covid vaccine, hopefully, the “return to normal” is within sight in a few months.
As leaders, have you and your boards thought of how to “return to normal”? It’s an OPPORTUNITY! It’s an opportunity to reintroduce Rotary to your members who have been cautiously staying away, and to your communities that need to know that Rotary continued to serve during the quarantines and shutdowns. It’s an OPPORTUNTIY to GROW your clubs by having Rotary Information Events for your local Chamber of Commerce, other non-profits, or referrals from your club members.
Let the people know ROTARY IS BACK! Although we really never left, we are soon going to be back meeting regularly, going group service projects and hosting fun parties, auctions, food feasts and other FUNd Raisers!! Make a PLAN to return to being a VIBRANT CLUB!!
Also, EXTEND YOUR REACH/IMPACT as a club: find members who could champion one of the 3 following ideas:
University-based Rotary Club: fit the lifestyle of university life, casual, on campus, perhaps breakfast before classes. Encourage “happy dollars” (NO fines!!) for good news or bragging rights. New clubs are popping up with an average age of 22!
Corporate lunch clubs: club meetings held at a corporation’s campus, brown bag the lunch, casual. Thinking Eastman, Komatsu, Trane.
“Passport” Clubs: Young professionals. Visit a Junior Chamber of Commerce or Young Professionals group. Question: How would YOU like to network with over 35,000 other cities? How? Join the Passport Rotary Club of ______. Target Young Professionals. Use social media to announce virtual, in-person or hybrid information events. Need 20 members to start a club or 8 members to be a satellite club of a host Rotary Club.
