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October 2020 News

Register Now For Rotary Internation Convention in Taipei
 
 
Feel the Energy in Taipei

The 2021 Rotary International Convention will be here before you know it, and it’s one you won’t want to miss. Join us in energizing Taipei, Taiwan, 12-16 June, to connect with people of action from around the world. Together, we’ll discover opportunities to expand our potential through motivating sessions, inspiring speakers, lively entertainment, and much more.

Help us build a program of inclusive breakout sessions to provide new ideas for service, strengthen membership, and celebrate Rotary’s diversity. We’re seeking proposals in Chinese, English, Japanese, or Korean. Submit your proposal online by Wednesday, 30 September.

We hope you’ll join us to Feel the Energy in Taipei. Explore the official Facebook event page and click to show that you’re interested or planning to attend. Then, you’ll receive updates and be able to connect with other attendees. Download and use our promotional materials to encourage your network to attend.

Prescott Sunup Rotary Continues Medical Grade Mask Donation Project
Posted by Terry Smith
Last month, Sunup Rotary of Prescott embarked on a huge project to provide those in our community who are facing acute challenges with top-quality, 3-ply medical-grade masks which were purchased and the then donated by friends in Taiwan. This week the Sunup Rotary Club of Prescott delivered another 4000 of these masks, bringing our total mask donations to over 5000. The club delivered masks to the following shelters and food banks this week: 
 
  • The Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) operates an emergency homeless shelter, offers advocacy towards obtaining housing and income, repair assistance to low income homeowners, and operates a thrift store to serve their clients in need. 2500 masks.  
 
The Yarnell Food Bank provides food and basic provisions to the Yarnell area community through weekly deliveries to families and individuals and by welcoming all drop-ins on Fridays from 8 AM – 12 PM. 500 masks.
 
Prescott Area Shelter and Services (PASS), which provides temporary housing, resources, individualized case management, and a pathway to permanent housing for women, children, and veterans. 500 masks
 
Prescott Community Cupboard Food Bank provides desperately needed support to people who are experiencing food insecurity. The food bank provides emergency food supplies to all in need, between 2:30 – 4:30 pm, Monday – Friday. 500 masks.
 
The Sunup Rotary Club is committed, as are all Rotary clubs, to working to meet the needs of our communities. The club is currently meeting on Wednesday mornings at 6:30 AM at the Prescott Resort. Visit us at our website at www.prescottsunuprotary.orgfor more information on the club. You are most welcome to join us at our meetings!
 

Scottsdale North Rotary Club Featured in Foothills Food Bank News
Posted by Cherry Baumbusch
Since 2000, the Scottsdale North Rotary Club (formerly the Pinnacle Peak Rotary) has been a wonderful supporter of the Food Bank. Stacy Edwards dropped off a shopping cart filled with school supplies and fantastic backpacks for our September school drive.  The group has volunteered in the warehouse on Saturdays sorting food, hosted food and monetary drives with their 28 members and adopted families during the holidays.  They have also done special projects assisting clients in need. 
 
Thank you, Rotary, we can always count on your commitment to service in our community.
 

Arizona Rotary Leadership Academy (RLA) is Underway
Posted by RLA Dean Gene Medina
 
The Arizona Rotary Leadership Academy (RLA)year is underway. On August 29th,  26 RLA candidates and 8 academy faculty, representing Districts 5500 and 5495, and 29 Rotary clubs, participated the 17thannual Student Orientation program via Zoom. What a learning adventure! What a talented group of candidates. 
 
We had opportunities to reflect on the work of “People of Action”, meet academy colleagues, hear our Governors’(Diane and Elizabeth) thoughts about RLA and its role in district leadership training, and review the six courses of the academy program:  
  • September:The Rotary Brand: Become a Rotary Brand Champion
  • October:Understanding and Utilizing The Rotary Foundation (TRF). 
  • November:Collaboration and Funding to Meet Needs.
  • January:Building on a Heritage of Leadership and Accomplishments: Districts 5500 and 5495
  • February:How to Succeed in Membership Growth and Retention
  • March:Rotary’s Fiduciary Responsibilities and Youth Protection. 
Using a self-paced, computer-based online learning framework, candidates work independently online at their own pace and on their own schedule. Learning is facilitated and guided by talented and experienced past District Governors and senior Rotarians. These courses range from 8 to 12 hours to complete.
 
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Peace Poles, Peace Awareness, and Peaceful People of Action
Posted by Steve Bjornstad
Your D5495 Peacebuilders have been enthusiastic about Peace Poles for at least the past few years. There are estimated to be over 250,000 Peace Poles in every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace and, today, many grace the parks, schools, and business centers of Arizona communities thanks to the efforts of Arizona Rotarians.
 
As many of you know, Peace Poles originated in Japan in 1955 and are created and installed as a monument displaying the message "May Peace Prevail on Earth” written in the several languages of each community. They have become the most recognized monument dedicated to peace in the world. For many, they represent the highest aspirations of peace and goodwill inherent in the human heart, symbolizing the hopes and dreams of the entire human family.
 
 
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Four Questions About Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Posted by Maria Arcocha White - Rotary Club of Toledo, Ohio
(The following article was submitted by D5495 DEI Chair PDG Barb Feder)
 
 
What does the phrase "diversity, equity, and inclusion" mean to you?
 
I immigrated to the United States from Cuba in 1962, when I was three years old. Growing up, I was the only person like me, and I was called names. So I’ve always been very sensitive to exclusion.

When I started my career in the 1980s, women and people of color had begun to come into the professional workforce, and U.S. businesses were starting to realize that there were growing minority populations they needed to appeal to. For me, that translated into a personal passion around diversity. But after working for almost 30 years in the diversity-training space, I realized that we were not focusing enough on creating cultures of inclusion. I started my own company to take a different approach.

I lead with inclusion, because I believe that if you create an inclusive environment, then diversity will come. If you focus only on diversity, you’re just focusing on checking boxes of people who are visibly different. You’ll never change culture because you’re not focusing on behavior.

Diversity is a fact. Inclusion is an act — it takes effort and practice. But over time, it should lead you to a more equitable place, with equal opportunity for all people.

 

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Dr. Sarah Puberty To Speak At Interact Fall Leadership Conference
Posted by Art Harrington
Dr. Sarah Tuberty will be our outstanding motivational speaker for this year’s Fall Leadership Conference
for Interact Club leaders and advisors.  FLC this year will be packaged in a condensed virtual 9:00 a.m. to noon format on Saturday, October 24 — and it will be FREE!
 
As a former President of an Interact Club, a leader in RYLA, a Rotary Youth Exchange Ambassador, a Rotaract leader, and now a Rotarian, Sarah is a living model of our Fall Leadership Conference Theme this year, Together, We Can! 
 
Born without a left hand, Sarah will share her incredible story about how it is possible to overcome immense challenges you encounter in life, and how Rotary’s programs have helped to shape her life, and make her the person she is today. After graduating from St. Mark’s College in California, she served as an AmeriCorps volunteer.  
 
 
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Upcoming Peace E-Conferences
Posted by PDG Nancy Van Pelt
 
Rotarians, perhaps you attended our recent Pursuing Peace Conference and want to learn more.  Perhaps you were unable to attend and hoped for another opportunity to connect Rotary and Peace.  
We’ve recently been invited to TWO e-conferences that may interest you!
 
The first event, offered by District 5300, will be content-rich, with an impressive slate of speakers that includes the Lead Economist of the World Bank, immediate past Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney, and more! Please do check out the speakers and agenda.  CLICK HERE for a copy of the flyer and more information. 
 
PEACE out of CHAOS - a Pandemic 
 31st Annual Rotary District 5300 Peace Conference
Saturday, October 24, 2020 9:00am – 1:00 pm
A Free Virtual Conference
To Register: www.district5300.org/peace-conference/
 
 
The second event, offered by our friends in Southern Arizona District 5500, will be held on November 7 from 9:am-noon.  Entitled Inner Peace in a Time of Conflict
 
 
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Virtual RYLA Coming Soon
Posted by PDG Sherry Mischel on Sep 26, 2020
 
SAVE THE DATE!
 
A first in Arizona rotary history!!:  A VIRTUAL RYLA program will be presented over the weekend, October 9 and 10, 2020.  Participate from the comfort of your home or wherever you may be.  Do not miss out on this exciting and innovative program!   
 
 

October Message From Interact DG Ashton
Hello everyone! I hope you are doing well.
 
            In any year, there are always struggles maintaining membership in an Interact club, and this is especially true right now. As our Assistant Governors work with their clubs, many find that the clubs are struggling because of a lack of membership, lack of leadership, and lack of service projects. On top of this, some clubs are in the process of rebuilding after years of inactivity. This is why we are especially hopeful for the Virtual RYLA and Virtual Fall Leadership Conference. 
 
            Our Fall Leadership Conference has the theme “Together We Can,” and we aim to give club officers and advisors the much-needed tools to lead their clubs this year. One of the tools we will be presenting at the conference is a website made by one of our own AGs called Volunteer Hero. Volunteer Hero is a website that advisors can use to track community service hours done by club members. Using a centralized system to track hours makes everything more accessible and more efficient, and members still have a way to submit hours, even if they are not at school in person. This year, FLC will be condensed into a three hour morning session, and while it does seem short, our committee is working very hard to make sure our clubs get all the information they need to function.
 
            As I have been talking at Rotary meetings and workshops, I am super excited to see how many Rotarians are interested in youth services. Whether you are helping at a RYLA, sponsoring an Interact club, or helping at an event, your participation is what makes Rotary Youth Services as meaningful as it is. Your support allows high schoolers like me to really grow as both a leader and as a person. If you would like to connect with your Interact clubs, we can connect you with the club and the Assistant Governor assigned to the club. You can always contact me at ashtonkling34@gmail.com or Art Harrington at arthts@msn.com. Don’t forget that Interact is the start of the chain that leads all the way to Rotary.
 
         Thank you, and stay safe!