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Wow! I’m sure the last 7 months have seemed challenging to all Rotarians, but in District 5830 we’ve risen to the task.
Here are the facts! I have visited with all but two clubs and am now on my second round of visits with the rest. We have two new Rotaract Clubs and two new Rotary Satellite Clubs in formation; we’ve added 89 new Rotarians and have regained 11 Rotarians who had previously slipped away. With all the hard work, we are still down net 71 from July 1st.
The Rotary Foundation Giving is slightly ahead of last year at $51,075. Service projects and planned fundraisers where social distancing was possible have gone ahead despite COVID-19, and at least two clubs have already qualified for the Rotary Citation Award.
Now is the time for our second wind. We are realistically poised for a great finish, but Club Presidents need to check to be certain club goals were entered in Rotary Club Central and completed goals were entered and verified. Don’t give your Bill Campbell Club Rotary Club of the Year Award away to another Club!
We have great things happening in our district! Foundation Chair PDG Ted Huffhines has worked hard on a Foundation Banquet which will now be Virtual and feature Past RI President and TRF Trustee Chair Elect John Germ. We will be recognizing Foundation Major Donors, new Paul Harris Fellows (PHF) and Multiple PHFs and Paul Harris Society and Bequest Society Members. It's virtual, so $10 will give you unlimited access to all that is going on, and $10 more buys a chance on a PHF (or multiple PHF). Sign up today while you are thinking about it.
Following the Foundation Virtual Event will be Lone Star P.E.T.S. Mike Groom, DGE, has a news article on that, but honestly P.E.T.S. was a real highlight of my time in Rotary. It served to introduce me to other Presidents as well as International Leadership and make the past years spent as a club director gel into what is the true worldwide presence of Rotary International.
This month, we also congratulate former AG and Past Longview President James Roberts on assuming his new role as AG for Area 6.
And we are just getting started here. March and April will bring their own Rotary happenings, and in May, we will host our Polio Plus District Event.
Lone Star P.E.T.S. is fast approaching as we start Monday, February 22nd 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 receive RI Foundation grant funds, attendance at grant training is required for clubs to be certified to receive these funds.
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 log-in 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.
Celebrate LOVE on Feb 14th with your Valentine! Celebrate ROTARY on the 23rd—Rotary’s 116th Birthday!
A view from Zones 30 and 31: As you know, District 5830 is part of Zone 31. Our monthly membership report shows 71.43% of our clubs have a membership goal in MyRotary. Check your stats, and add your clubs membership goals. Goals can INSPIRE and FOCUS your activities. We started the Rotary year with 1,536 members and are now at 1,468, a 4.43% drop. We have a 33% female membership and almost a 9% “under 40” membership. Of note is the retention stat: we went from 92% to 88.7%. Now is a good time to review club ENGAGEMENT guidelines to make sure members feel connected, have service roles, and feel valued. Does EACH member have a significant role in the club?
The Zones 30-31 Innovative Club Advocate team is currently tracking 131 new clubs. 27 have started informational meetings, 15 have started organizational meetings, and 4 are ready to charter. 85 clubs are in the incubation/conceptual stage. New satellite clubs were formed in Districts 6170 and 6510.
Satellite clubs add members to your current club, but they can meet at different times (after hours?) and take on different service projects. Satellite clubs can start with a few members and achieve the “Satellite Club” label when they achieve 8 members minimum. They are a great way to GROW ROTARY—grow your membership! Provide service to your community and the world!
Due to the constraints of COVID-19, our RYLA camp has been postponed and adjusted to a hybrid format for 2021. Campers will attend a virtual session on April 24 where they will meet their teams, hear from engaging speakers, participate in various activities, and getting started on their RYLA journey. During the weekend of Sept 18-19, students will attend a 1-day session in person at Clements Scout Ranch where they will get to meet their teammates face-to-face and enjoy many of the traditional aspects of camp, including low- and high-ropes elements.
At this time, club coordinators need to select the 1-day session that all of their students will attend together in September. Click here to select your club's session. Please complete this no later than February 6th.
If you would like to join the RYLA staff, please apply online (even if you already did earlier this year) at ryla5830.com/staff.
Questions can be directed to our operations team at info@ryla5830.com.
Things to keep in mind:
ALL students from your club must attend the same in-person session.
Each session will be held from approximately 8am to 630pm.
Students must be driven to and from camp by a Rotarian.
Clubs that have not selected a session by February 6th will be assigned a session based on available space.
Campers must attend the virtual session prior to attending in person.
FAQs:
What if a student does not want to attend one or both parts of RYLA?
As in previous years, if a student decides not to attend camp, their spot should be filled by an alternate applicant.
What if a student who attended the virtual session is unable to attend in person?
All students must attend the virtual session to be eligible to attend the in-person session of camp. The virtual session will lay the foundation of leadership and team bonding necessary to a successful experience in person. Please set this expectation and make the requirements clear to students before they commit to attending RYLA 2021. Commitment and follow-through are important leadership skills!
We understand that sometimes students get sick or have an emergency that will not allow them to attend in person. In that case, an alternate will not be able to attend in their place this year.
What can our students expect during virtual RYLA?
Even though we are moving part of our camp experience online this year, we will never lose the spirit of RYLA! Our board and staff are fully committed to bringing the core elements of the RYLA experience to all campers this year, even online. The virtual session of camp will consist of a variety of interactive sessions covering the same topics we would typically discuss throughout a RYLA weekend. The virtual atmosphere will also give us all new opportunities to build and showcase unique leadership skills that we've never been able to utilize at RYLA before.
See the attached flier that can be shared with students and parents preparing for camp!
Where will/should the students be to participate in the virtual session?
That's a great question with a few possible answers! We encourage clubs to support students in any way they can to ensure strong internet connections while maintaining health & safety during RYLA. Students may stay in their homes, if they have a quiet, private location to attend RYLA and a stable internet connection. Clubs may also work with their members or the school leadership to secure a location for students to gather such as the club's meeting space, a member's office, or the school computer lab or library.
If your club elects to provide a space for students to gather together for camp, please consider also providing lunch, snacks, and drinks for the day.
What are the timeframes for virtual and in-person sessions?
We plan to host virtual RYLA from 10am-5:30pm and each in-person session from 8am (check-in) to 6:30pm (dismissal). These times may change slightly, but please plan for full days of activity!
Message from Rotary District 5830 International Convention Chair, PDG John Henson
I am sure that all of you have heard by now that the 2021 Taipei Convention has been changed to a Virtual Convention due to the ongoing challenge with the Covid-19 situation.
Please be assured that Rotary International is taking every precaution to help maintain the safety and health of all of us Rotarians. Unfortunately this is the second convention that has been cancelled due to the virus. BUT, this can be a very positive situation for all of us in 5830. Now, you / we / everyone can attend an International Convention, even if it is a virtual experience. So, I highly encourage you to go to the Rotary International website and see how easy it will be for you and all your club members to join in the excitement of an International Convention; I guarantee you will not be disappointed. It certainly won’t be the same as being there in person but is the next best thing. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION. “RI will refund Convention Registrations and Hotel Deposits will be returned, so relax and wait for the news.”
Speaking of being there in person, guess where the 2022 convention will be held---HOUSTON, TEXAS!!!! Yes, just down the road from us. AND hopefully by the time the Houston Convention rolls around next June, all of us will have been vaccinated and able to meet face-to-face. If you have never attended an International Convention in person, Houston will be a great first time experience. I know that DGE Mike is already thinking about chartering several buses so we all can go to the convention together. That will be lots of fun and fellowship. So, put June 12-16 on your calendar, and go to the Houston Convention. It should be a fantastic event!
Pine Tree High School Interact Club sponsors Tiffany Caldemeyer and Susan Curtis want their students to learn how it feels to help others without expecting anything in return.
Wow! I’m sure the last 7 months have seemed challenging to all Rotarians, but in District 5830 we’ve risen to the task.
Due to the constraints of COVID-19, our RYLA camp has been postponed and adjusted to a hybrid format for 2021. Campers will attend a virtual session on April 24 where they will meet their teams, hear from engaging speakers, participate in various activities, and getting started on their RYLA journey. During the weekend of Sept 18-19, students will attend a 1-day session in person at Clements Scout Ranch where they will get to meet their teammates face-to-face and enjoy many of the traditional aspects of camp, including low- and high-ropes elements.
Pine Tree High School Interact Club sponsors Tiffany Caldemeyer and Susan Curtis want their students to learn how it feels to help others without expecting anything in return.