Dear Dream Team,

 

Our year is underway and I know that your club is busy planning great projects and events for the coming year to Make Dreams Real.  This can be a challenging time when members are out of town enjoying vacation, family and friends.  However, it’s a great time to do a make-up at a club and get some ideas to bring home.

 

Membership

 

August arrives and with it comes Membership & Extension Month.  As I visit the clubs, I am delighted to hear so many of you talking about growing your clubs by adding new members.  This month’s Rotarian Magazine features “Rotary Basics” which is an outstanding summary meant to be shared with new Rotarians.  Ask your club members to bring in their copy when they are done so that you can pass on the great information.

 

We had the best turnout ever at the Membership Seminar led by Carl Kruse.  The presentations were outstanding with great ideas for everyone to use.  Thanks to all who participated as presenters and attendees!  We’ll look forward to super results in the coming months.

 

The Rotary Foundation

 

Dan Gensler, Trudy Armstrong and the team are working hard on the Foundation Seminar, Saturday, September 13 at the Salk Institute.  Registration is available at the District Website.  Sister Ethel from Missionvale, South Africa is our keynote speaker.  This soft-spoken Irish nun will share her story about the work she does for the community through her Missionvale Care Centre.  If you happened to hear her at the RI Convention in Copenhagen in 2006, you’ll know that we are in for a very special treat.  I’ve heard more than one Rotarian say that the Foundation Seminar was so inspiring that they really became committed to Rotary after they had attended.  As a Rotary leader, be sure to sign up.  Bring a potential Rotarian with you.  Your club members will follow your lead!

 

Our Ambassadorial Scholars are arriving this month.  We have six this year representing Italy, Germany, South Korea, China and Japan.  Be sure to get to know them.  Invite them to your club’s meeting and events. When you see them at District events, introduce yourself.  Let’s give them the best possible Rotary experience while they are here!  If you’d like to help out, contact Dale Barnes at dale@dalebarnes.com for more information.

 

Strategic Planning

 

An integral part of any club's leadership plan is a strategic plan that points the way to the future for the club.  We are now offering strategic planning to clubs that wish to examine their strengths, pinpoint their weaknesses, and plan their future.  Trained facilitators will lead representatives of a club through a 4-hour session and help them envision their future, as well as define some ways to get to that future.  We have the capacity to help a few clubs this calendar year, and more in 2009.  If you would like to inquire about a session for your club contact Louise Andres at louiserandres@gmail.com.   

 

Yellow Pages

 

A great way to find Rotarians to do business with as well as advertise your own business is the District Website Yellow Pages.  We’ve moved up the ad space on the front page of the District Website so it is more visible to Rotarians when they visit the site.  As Rotary leaders, please consider placing an ad.  The cost is either $50 or $150 depending on the type of ad.  This will help fund some extra projects in support of the clubs that we would like to accomplish this year.

 

 

See you at the District Council on August 12 at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido!

 

 

Pam Russell

District Governor 2008-2009

Rotary District 5340

Telephone: 619.723.3651

Fax: 858.271.4138

www.rotary5340.org