District News 2021-22 | District 5495

Welcome to District 5495 News

D5495 'Conference of Clubs' planned May 2-3, 2025

By Michelle Holcomb
District 5495 Governor 2024-25

I trust you had a very Merry Christmas / Hanukkah / Kwanza. And that the New Year has brought you good health with hope for peace, and prosperity.

The 2024-25 Rotary year is passing by very quickly! It's already time to plan for our Conference of Clubs, May 2 and 3, 2025 which is a celebration of all the great works our clubs and members have supported. We will have special breakouts filled with new ideas and connections to one another.

And special speakers! We are prepared to announce one today with more announcements in the days ahead. Special thanks to Alan Havir for inviting and confirming Wyn Spiller as a keynote speaker. Wyn is our 2025-27 Zone Rotary International Director, representing Zone 26/27. It is an honor to have Wyn attend our conference; there are only 17 directors worldwide on the RI Board of Directors. Join us to hear Wyn's vision and plans for the next two years.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR CONFERENCE

CLICK HERE TO MAKE ROOM RESERVATIONS

NOTE: If you are attending the Thursday, May 1 Assistant Governor Learning sessions or the TRVFA Sunset Cruise on Saguaro Lake, we suggest you book a room for Thursday night, May 1.

If you have questions, contact Jackie Wasik or Colleen Coons.

For those who register before January 31, 2025 you will be entered in a drawing that could reimburse your conference on-site fees. There will be one drawing for every 50 registrations! You may win ...

Reimbursement of the MEMBER'S registration fee. Value is $250.
Friday and Saturday night hotel room comped. Value $258 (guest pays taxes and any room service fees).
Casino credit of $50 to be used during the conference.

TOTAL VALUE = $558.00

Fine print:

1. Drawing will take place February 1, 2025.

2. Funds will be reimbursed following confirmed Conference attendance.

I look forward to seeing you at the upcoming Conference of Clubs!

Next Rotary Leadership Institute slated for January 25, 2025

ROTARY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

Sessions I, II, & III

Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) will next be held at the Anthem Civic Building, 3701 W Anthem Way, Anthem, AZ 85086 on Saturday, January 25, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All three sessions will be offered. CLICK HERE or on the logo to register.

COST: $65.00 (Most Clubs will cover this cost)

Includes: Continental Breakfast Lunch Study Materials

Contact Polly Cady at pcady@cadyfam.com for more information.

Why Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI)? Participant Interaction and FUN!

Come interact with fellow Rotarians about:

Rotary Basics

Community Service Ideas

Leadership Styles

Ethics & Vocation

Rotary’s Impact Worldwide

RLI is a world-wide organization that some refer to as Rotary’s “College of Knowledge.” RLI touches on “everything Rotary” and is not a “leadership” course to become an officer of your Club. RLI is made up of three one-day Sessions to give you an overview of what Rotary is and what it does worldwide. Its goal is to create ENTHUSIASM for Rotary and show the enormous potential of Rotary service and how with knowledge and excellent leadership in Clubs, the world will benefit.

Colleen Coons selected District Governor for 2027-2028

Colleen Coons has been selected to serve as the Rotary District 5495 Governor for 2027/2028. After retiring from a 29-year career as a director at UPS in 2021, she joined the Rotary Club of Mesa West in June 2019. Colleen is the immediate Past President (2023/24) of the Rotary Club of Mesa West. A notable Rotary Moment includes developing and executing the “Rotary Builds Bridges, McKinney Vento” program, which supports homeless and unaccompanied high school students. Building trust and believing in them encourages these students to graduate and pursue further education.

Previously, Colleen served as District 5495 Rotaract Chair, establishing a dynamic and diverse District Rotaract Council that increased the number of active Rotaract clubs from one to six, including two community-based clubs. Passionate about youth, she has hosted multiple Rotary Youth Exchange students, mentored at RYLA in both Prescott and Ponderosa, and served as an advisor on international service trips, including Crutches 4 Africa (Kenya) and Ambassadors to Mexico.

Currently, Colleen is the Vice President of the Mesa West Rotary Foundation and a board member of the District Charitable Fund. She is a graduate of Mesa Leadership, Class of 2023, and is enrolled in the Rotary Leadership Academy. Outside of Rotary, she serves on the board of Her Rights and supports OCA Advocates, focusing on projects that better the community.

A U.S. Army veteran who served at Ft. Hood, TX, and Frankfurt, Germany, Colleen holds a degree in Marketing and Economics from Cal State Long Beach. She is married to Dan Coons, a long-time Rotarian and member of The Rotary Club of Queen Creek. They are proud parents of two sons, Ryan (25) and Nicholas (24), both of whom were Rotary Youth Exchange Ambassadors. Colleen resides in Gilbert, AZ, and enjoys local and global service, continuous learning, cooking, yoga, healthy habits, and spending time with her family.

Message to Rotarians: RYLA changes lives!

By Michelle Holcomb
District 5495 Governor 2024-25

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) and Junior RYLA change lives. The teens and preteens who experience these camps are given a step up in their social development and potential leadership skills.

Leadership for these students isn't about shaping them to be future CEOs. It begins now, during their teens where they can be the leaders that keep friends away from drugs, drinking and crime.

RYLA will be held January 17 - 20, 2025 at beautiful Camp Pinerock in Prescott. Through the generosity of clubs and members donations, this special camp is at no cost to the students' families.

RYLA SENIOR

The cost is $450 per student.
Includes housing, food and transportation.
Maximum attendance is 150 students.
Junior counselors and adult supervisors costs are also covered.
Application deadline is December 15, 2024.

Please discuss a financial contribution as a club to support as many students as possible. Your club doesn't need to recruit the students being supported by your donations ... though selecting your local students is encouraged!

The link to our online donation form for TRVFA is: https://www.sagepayments.net/eftcart/forms/donate.asp?M_id=347561423623

Please contact fellow Rotarian AJ Sheridan, as soon as possible to make a commitment. 928.308.6780 chairman@ryla5495pinerock.org

Thank you for being part of Rotary District 5495's future.

Rotary Leadership Institute graduates celebrate in Fountain Hills!

District 5495 held its most recent Rotary Leadership Institute Nov. 16 in Fountain Hills. Ten Rotarians completed their third and final RLI class and were presented their RLI graduation certificates from D5495 Governor Michelle Holcomb.

Those graduating were:

John, Calhoun – Peoria North

Darlene Eger – Peoria North

Margaret Fried – Peoria North

Becky Hill – Kingman Route 66

Suzanne Heninger – Silver Creek

Gary Holcomb – Verdes

Patricia Krueger – Gilbert

Kevin Maldonado – Scottsdale

Cindy Vawter – Kingman Route 66

Gary Whitehill – Mesa West:

In addition, 10 Rotarians took part in Session II and six in Session I.

Click HERE to see additional photographs from the Nov. 16 session.

The next session of RLI is scheduled for Jan. 25, 2025. Click here for more information.

As you may be aware, Rotary Clubs have been experiencing a problem with their Facebook pages and Instagram accounts being shut down by parent company Meta for perceived copyright violations for the use of the Rotary logo. Rotary International has been working with Meta on the problem, but it is critical that all clubs and districts register their social media pages with Rotary in order to prevent them from being closed by Meta (or to get them reinstated if your page has already been shut down). Here is the text of an email I received directly from Andy Sternberg, Social Media & Audience Development Manager at Rotary International, with further instructions and the link to register your social media accounts:

Dear RI Directors,

We are aware that numerous Rotary club and district Facebook Pages and Instagram accounts have been closed by Meta without prior notice. This issue has escalated recently, and we are working closely with Meta (the company behind Facebook and Instagram) to find a solution.

While we have not yet identified the root cause or a guaranteed method for restoration, Meta did reinstate several Rotary-related pages last week at our request. With your help, we can identify additional pages that need reinstatement.

Please share this link (on.rotary.org/fbissue) with social media admins of Rotary clubs and districts in your region. Completing this form will allow us to add these pages to Meta’s “allow list” within their Brand Rights Protection tool as part of our efforts to resolve the issue.

For pages already removed by Meta, please indicate this on the form. Page admins will then receive an email with specific instructions (from Meta’s guidance) and an official letter from Rotary International to support their restoration efforts. We will submit a consolidated list of pages requiring reinstatement in bulk to Meta for processing and review.

We are focused on finding a lasting solution to restore these pages and prevent future disruptions. Your support in sharing this message will help us gather the necessary information and expedite the process.

Here is the form link once more: on.rotary.org/fbissue

Thank you for your assistance.

Best regards,

Andy Sternberg

Manager, Social Media & Audience Development

I urge you all to take immediate action and register your social media accounts, per Andy’s email.

Thank you,

Dan

Daniel C. Himelspach

Rotary International Director

303-349-5689

DG13-14@DisputeManagementInc.com

All Rotary Gatherings = Membership Opportunities

Do you ever feel that you need to squeeze everything you can from every day? Whether you have a deadline or a goal or like me you overcommit and need to catch up.

So, we try doing two or more things at once. ‘Studies show’ multi-tasking is not the best way to get things done. ‘They say’ when balancing multiple projects, each project only gets a portion your best work.

In Rotary the same holds true … right?

I say no!

In Rotary EVERYTHING we do must have TWO purposes. We don’t have time to mess around with single purpose activities! Let’s get two benefits from every Rotary Club activity!

Some examples of two-fers:

Clubs who have exceptional meeting speakers find those meetings to be an excellent recruiting tool.
Most clubs have discovered service projects are a fantastic way to recruit members.
Clubs are inviting potential members to their social events.
Fund raising by selling puzzles or holiday wreaths at a local event and talking membership.
And most importantly, invite local businesses to speak at your club. Shine a light on them and let them know ROTARY MEANS BUSINESS!

As we all try to shape our Rotary activities to maximize the person-power, dollars spent and time spent, always add to your event plans a membership factor. The ideal committee for any activity will include the membership committee who can take advantage of the low hanging fruit found at your numerous events.

Happy fruit picking!

Michelle Holcomb

5495 DG 4NOW

Applications now accepted for District Governor 2027-28

Applications from qualified candidates are now being accepted for the position of District 5495 Governor for 2027-2028.

The date for all candidates to be interviewed will be held on or after November 10th, 2024 on a date in November to be established by the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee will notify each applicant of the time for his or her interview appointment to be conducted at a date, time and location in November, 2024 yet to be
determined.

Applicants, please submit:

• the attached application form containing an endorsement by your club officers. CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE APPLICATION.

• your biography and a photograph

• a statement addressing your desire and qualifications for the position

* Your written responses to the questions attached here (CLICK ON 'READ MORE.')