During a recent Zoom meeting with Rotarians and Rotaractors, I looked at the smiling faces on my screen and realized how much our organization has changed in a short period. It is clear that there is no going back to the "old normal" in Rotary — and I see that as an exciting opportunity! Innovation and change are happening at so many levels as we rethink and remake Rotary. Rotary's new flexibility is blending with digital culture to drive change in ways that many of us have never seen before. We can learn a lot from Rotarians like Rebecca Fry — who, at age 31, already has 15 years of Rotary experience. It is important that we celebrate the contributions of people of all backgrounds and promote people from underrepresented groups so that they have greater opportunities to participate as members and leaders in Rotary. The tools to make Rotary more inclusive, more relevant, and more fun for everyone are at our fingertips. Let's use them now, and we will see how Rotary Opens Opportunities for ourselves and for those yet to discover us.
District Governor Lisle Chase Monthly Message
My Rotary Family...October has arrived and we are in the 2nd Quarter of the Rotary year. This month we focus on growing local economies. Have you measured your progress against your plans? World Polio Day is October 24th. Our District will celebrate this day and you are all invited to join us. Join us too, in making your contributions to the End Polio Fund at TRF. Every little bit helps as we support RI President Holger Knaack who asked us to help Rotary keep it’s promise to the Children of the world – let us End Polio Now. Family, I applaud your efforts and your passion and drive. We will emerge from this pandemic, stronger, more resilient and better Rotarians.
Watch District Governor Monthly Video Message
Rotary Monthly Focus
Growing Local Economies is considered by Rotary International as an integral part of Economic and Community Development in fight against poverty. This Area of Focus is also directly linked to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With nearly 800 million people around the world living on less than US$1.90 a day, Rotary is committed to providing sustainable solutions to poverty. Rotarians across the world and in District 7030 work assiduously to implement projects that’s promote improvement in socioeconomic standing of and the quality of life for individuals and communities.
FACTS
US$9.2 Million spent by The Rotary Foundation to grow local economies and reduce poverty.
795 Million people in the world do not have enough to eat.
60% of the world’s hungry people are women and girls.
70% of the worlds poorest people in rural areas depend on agriculture for their livelihood.
For ideas on what your club can do, see how Rotarians are Growing Local Economies by supporting Economic and Community Development at Rotary Showcase.
And click here for more information on this Area of Focus.
District Monthly Special Events
07th October: Website Optimization and Conversions - The Seven Deadly Sins
In October, District 7030 keeps up the pace with its Special Public Event on Website Optimization & Conversions - Spotting The 7 Deadly Sins of Websites. On Wednesday 7th October at 6:00 p.m., District 7030 will be hosting website consultants Tim Ash and Bernadette Chin Lee who shall guide attendees through the do's and don'ts of websites. This fast-paced and practical session will not only provide participants with a crash course on website optimization and the common errors present and mistakes made in almost every website, and how you can avoid them; but also, provide clarity on why you are not seeing more loyalty through subscriptions or sales from your website visitors.
20th October: PolioPlus Within The Context Of COVID-19
As a prelude to and in recognition of World Polio Day, District 7030 is pleased to host the RI Director of PolioPlus – Carol Pandak – who shall be addressing Rotarians, Rotaractors and guests on the connection between the work of PolioPlus and COVID-19 relief efforts around the world. This most relevant and timely presentation will reveal how critical the PolioPlus infrastructure and resources are to COVID-19 testing and evaluations, as well as, the role it will soon play in COVID-19 vaccination distributions.
Watch District Special Events Recap For September
A Place For Peace
Through the Peacebuilding efforts of Clubs within District 7030, the Rotary Foundation has declared District 7030 a Rotary Peace Centre Peacebuilder District. Additionally, two more clubs in District 7030 - Rotary Clubs of Central Port of Spain and Maraval have been declared as PeaceBuilder Clubs by the Rotary Action Group for Peace, bringing the total number to three.
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District Initiatives
Take Action for World Polio Day 2020
World Polio Day is a time for Rotarians and Rotaractors across the globe to raise awareness about our work to eradicate polio for good. If we stay committed to making progress, polio will be the second human disease ever to be eradicated. Let’s Take Action! A polio-free world is possible, but we can achieve it only by taking action together. With the challenges to vaccination programs posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s even more crucial that Rotary continues to build awareness and raise funds for polio eradication. Not sure how to take action for World Polio Day? From virtual event ideas to social media posts and photos, the World Polio Day Toolkit can help you start planning and promoting your activities now. Don't forget that you can register your own club's event to share your World Polio Day celebration, as well as, to mark your calendars to watch Rotary’s World Polio Day Online Global Update on 24 October. Remember...Rotarians were at the forefront of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative from the start. Let us Keep our promise to the children of the world!
ONE CARIBBEAN Multi-District World Polio Day Event
Amongst all the trials and tribulations we have all had to face for the year, it has never been more important for us as Rotarians and Rotaractors to continue to recognize and support the mission and goals of PolioPlus and that of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. In the spirit of unity, collaboration and camaraderie, something very special is being planned for us all as Caribbean members of the Rotary family. For the first time ever, Districts 7000, 7020 and 7030 are partnering to produce a singular World Polio Day event! The One Caribbean Multi-District World Polio Day Online Event launches immediate following the World Polio Day Global update and will be broadcasted online in three languages (English, French and Spanish) via Facebook Live at 10:00 a.m (GMT -4). If you or your club were looking for something special to do on World Polio Day, you can look forward to this milestone occasion and view an assortment of notable and exciting messages, remarks and information from persons across our region at the One Caribbean Multi-District World Polio Day Online Event. With the recent declaration by the WHO of Africa being free from the wild poliovirus, as well as, the growing connection between the infrastructure and resources of PolioPlus and COVID-19, it is incumbent for us all to remain vigilant in our commitment to this most worthy cause.
District 7030 Membership Committee Updates
September 17th 2020 saw the birth of a new Rotary Club in District 7030 in this the 1st quarter of the Rotary year 2020/2021 brining the number of clubs within the district to 73. The new club was Chartered with 33 members strong and membership includes Business Professionals, former Rotaractors, Interactors and 13 former Rotarians - “people of action” with over 105 years of serving communities across Guyana.
People of Action...Clubs In Service
District P.E.T.S & Conference
Conference Chair Konrad Wagner officially announced District 7030 P.E.T.S & Conference 2021. The event theme of Service • Sustainability • Peace was introduced and Rotarians were invited to register online via the conference website. For those who missed it or for those who want to see it again, recordings of the launch are now available.
What is Strategic planning? “Strategic planning is an organization’s process of defining its future direction and making decisions on allocating its resources to pursue this direction – A set of aimed at targets”. We often hear of the lack of engagement of members and here we have the perfect opportunity to engage, excite and ultimately inspire members with a wealth of knowledge sitting in the club to be part of the process – the very ones who would then ensure the success of activities.
From Here On...
The relationship between the United Nations and Rotary is longstanding and has existed since the establishment of the United Nations in 1945. “From Here On”, is the title of the Rotary publication referring to the Charter of the United Nations. The publication was meant to explain and to help Rotarians understand the purposes and goals of the United Nations. This year we celebrate 75 years partnership between the United Nations and Rotary! After almost 75 years this relationship still exists and has thus proven to be sustainable. Past President Gerard den Dekker of the Rotary Club of Paramaribo presents a summary of this extra-ordinary longstanding partnership.
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Join District 7030 Facebook Groups
Members and Clubs are encouraged to join the new District 7030 Groups on Facebook. Participate in one or as many groups as you would like and invite your friends, colleagues or anyone you think may be interested...groups are open to all. Not only will you be able follow information and updates posted within each group, but also, you are free to post and share yourselves! Whether you are interested in District Programs such as Peace-Building, Childhood Obesity Prevention, Environmental Sustainability and Interact, or want to find the latest information about various club service projects, activities and events within District 7030, there is a group for you!
Did You Know...
Every Rotary, Every Year (EREY) was started years ago by the Board of Trustees as a fundraising initiative for the Annual Fund. The goal of Every Rotarian, Every Year is to encourage support of the Annual Fund and increase Rotarian engagement with the Foundation. This effort is based on the idea that if every Rotarian gave at least US$25 every year to the Annual Fund, the possibilities of what the Foundation could accomplish would multiply. To recognize EREY, the Rotary Foundation even has recognition banners for clubs where every member contributes at least US$25 to the Annual Fund with a US$100 per capita during the Rotary year. In 2019-20, the EREY accomplished a lot:
- Rotarians gave a little over $126 million to the Annual Fund
- The Foundation awarded more than 1,300 global grants
With nearly a third of Rotarians making a gift to the annual fund and becoming EREY eligible worldwide, Rotary achieved a lot and improved the lives of many. Can you imagine how many more lives could be changed through grant projects if we encourage even more Rotarians to contribute at least US $25 to the Annual Fund every year?
Anyone who donates as an individual donor US$100 or more per year to the benefit of the Annual Fund of The Rotary Foundation is automatically recognized by the Rotary Foundation as a Sustaining Member. Sustaining members are crucial to the Foundation. If every club member contributes US$100 every year, Rotary could double its efforts to help needy people worldwide and support the continued growth of its programs.
You can not only participate in Professional Development Courses via the Rotary Learning Center, but also, have access to an ever-increasing number of training and learning tools for all things Rotary.
The new issue of the "Rotary" magazine (formerly "The Rotarian") is out. Subscribe to the digital version now to receive it regularly and on time each month via email.
Submissions
Interested in having your Club's activities or member's stories featured in one of the District publications (Newsletter, Website, Social Media)?
Please send articles, videos, photos and/or links to such via email to:
