Dear Dream Team,

 

I love fall!  Nature’s glorious colors, cooler weather and yummy food.  (Oops!  I’m not in Kansas anymore!)  In Rotary it is Vocational Service Month.  It is a great time to work with the youth in our community or spend time mentoring a young person.   We’ll be offering you a chance to do just that at the October District Council.

 

Membership

 

As I look at the report on the District website for Membership, I can see that you are all working very hard.  I know that we will have a wonderful year and that your club will have its best year ever.  If you brought potential members to the Foundation Seminar, I’m hopeful that we’ll see those folks joining in October.  If you have a hands-on project this month, invite potential members so they can get their hands dirty! 

 

Membership Chair Carl Kruse has lots of good ideas to help you with your growth.  After attending the Rotary Zone 23/24 Institute, he has picked up some new ideas on how to work with and attract the four generations (Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Generation X’ers and Millennials). 

 

The Rotary Foundation

 

Our Rotary Foundation Drive is under way with the primary focus on Annual Programs Fund.  I’m confident that we will exceed our goals!  The raffle tickets will be downloadable from the website (Foundation News Center) shortly to help generate more money for The Rotary Foundation.  If you need a Foundation Program, be sure to check with your Assistant Governor.  They can either provide a program or help you find one that will be interesting to your club.

 

We continue to eradicate Polio and the fundraising is an important part of that.  I was reminded at the Rotary Zone 23/24 Institute, how blessed we are here in Southern California, but also how Polio is just a “plane ride away”.  One of our Rotarians, Club President Lauri Stock from the San Diego Uptown Sunrise Club will be embarking on a Polio National Immunization Day in Cote d’Ivoire.  I’m sure she’ll have some amazing stories to tell when she returns.  Remember to have fun with your fundraising take it to your community!

 

District Council – October 21, 2008

 

At the October District Council, we celebrate the graduation of the Leadership Development Academy Class of 2008.  Please support your club members who are graduating.  Make it a fun time for them!  There will be lots of pomp and circumstance associated with such a grand occasion!

 

The “Commencement” Speaker for the evening is Madeleine Homan from The Ken Blanchard Companies.  She is their top speaker and we are very fortunate to experience her message, energy and enthusiasm.  As part of Vocational Service Month, why don’t you and your club members bring along your employees, your work associates and your mentees.  It will be a great chance for Rotarians and Rotaractors to improve leadership skills within Rotary as well as the workplace.  In addition, it’s a great place to show future members the business value of joining your Rotary Club.

 

Be sure to sign up early.  I’d hate for you to miss out since we had a sellout at the last District Council!

 

Foundation Gala – January 10, 2009

 

Our Foundation Gala is just around the corner.  Foundation Gala Chair Maureen Eberle and the committee are able to hold the price at $75 which is remarkable with all of the escalating costs occurring these days.  Our featured speakers are Past District Governor John T. Capps (Wizard 2.0!) and his wife Jane.  If you’ve heard them speak before, be sure to spread the word about how terrific they are!  Registration should be on the website in the next day or two.

 

At this event, we’ll celebrate the many ways we use The Rotary Foundation to Make Dreams Real throughout the world.  You’ll soon be hearing about an opportunity to showcase one of your club’s projects.

 

There are a very limited number of discounted hotel rooms available, so be sure to reserve those right away.  Information for this will also be on the website.

 

I am asking each club to provide a donated item for the Foundation Gala Raffle.  Your Assistant Governor will be contacting you soon to find out what you will be donating.  These prizes will be awarded to those who turn in their raffle tickets for their Rotary Foundation donations.

 

See you at the Omni Hotel (also known as the Rotary Emerald City) in downtown San Diego!

 

Rotary International Assembly

 

Each year our District has the privilege to host the training of the incoming class of District Governors from around the world.  During this time in January 2009 there are a number of opportunities to experience the internationality of Rotary while staying in San Diego.  There will be volunteering opportunities as greeters at the airport and hotel, assistance with the Spouse Project, as well as Host Hospitality.  Your club should start planning now for Host Hospitality Night, January 22, 2009.  Plan an event that you can invite District Governor Elects and their partners to so that they can get a flavor of our part of the world.  If you have questions on Host Hospitality, contact Dale Bailey at the District Office. 

 

Future Dates to Save

 

January 22, 2009           International Assembly – Host Hospitality Night

February 10, 2009          District Council

March 28, 2009              District Assembly

April 10, 2009                District Council

April 25, 2009                Rotarians At Work Day

May 14-17, 2009            District Conference

June 16, 2009                District Council

 

 

Remember to support Vocational Service Month and I look forward to seeing all of you at the October District Council!

 

Pam Russell

District Governor 2008-2009

Rotary District 5340

Telephone: 619.723.3651

Fax: 858.271.4138

www.rotary5340.org