Welcome Rotary District 5190 to a new Rotary year, full of passion, visions and wonderful goals! We have some incredible Rotarians taking the helm of their respective Rotary Clubs starting July 1, 2023, the Presidents of 23-24 and the Area Governors 23-24. The picture above is from President Elect Training held in March 2023 and I would like to let you know just how hard they have all worked to get to this point.
Due to the Presidents Elect and the Area Governors working around the clock, we were able to secure approximately $116,000 in District Simplified Grants and within 24 hours of our asking, the money was approved and sent to the District!! Yes, they worked hard to get it done, many were on vacation. It was an amazing feat according to PDG/Foundation Chair Doug McDonald and Grants Chair Bill Boon. We all should be very proud of them.
We start this new Rotary year with a new Rotary International President, Gordon McInally, who has challenged each one of us to Create Hope In The World. He hopes that we will open the lines of communication on mental health, not just in others, but in ourselves to. Ask the question, "how are you REALLY doing?"
Also, we will have a new District Theme: Rotary From The Heart. I ask you to take a moment and think about that. For you it might be a project, a fundraiser, your Rotary Club, or maybe a Rotarian that touched your heart with a gesture on a day you really needed it. Throughout this year, I will be reaching out to ask you what it means for you, please share with me. We are working on getting the story of Rotarians out to the public, sharing with our communities, because you truly are the lifeforce to Rotary District 5190.
Thank you for choosing Rotary and Rotary District 5190 and I look forward to spending time with you as I travel this incredible District.
Rotary From The Heart ❤
Stacy L. Graham
Rotary District 5190 Governor 23-24
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District Grants for 2023-2024
Open for Business
We have great news about District Grants! Because so many clubs filed their Grant Plans by the May 31 deadline (thank you!), we were able to put together our Block Grant request and file it with The Rotary Foundation. We have already received approval of our request of the maximum amount of just over $116,000. We can expect these funds being transferred to the district soon after July 1.
We have also been notified that qualified clubs may start to apply for District Grants and may begin working on their projects as soon as the District has approved your club’s Grant Application. So, if your club is qualified (meaning that a current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)has been signed by two Grants Management-trained Rotarians including the 23-24 President), you are able to start to write a grant in the District Grants Module on the district website.
Signed MOUs are due at the end of June and may be emailed in their entirety to Doug McDonald (email address below).
Of course, grants for 23-24 won't be approved until a final report on the club’s 22-23 projects have been completed and approved. Final reports are also due at the end of June.
For more information contact:
District Grants Chair Bill Boon
whboon@sbcglobal.net
775-636-0384
District Rotary Foundation Chair Doug McDonald
Dougmcdonald49@gmail.com
530-632-6536
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- Vocational Service -
the Forgotten Heart of Rotary
In recent years, vocational service has been largely ignored, relegated to second-class status, or even abandoned by some clubs. It shouldn’t be. The founding concept of Rotary was to bring together members from a diversity of vocations throughout the community for fellowship (service came later). Each of the four individuals who are regarded as the first Rotarians were from different vocations, and the 1905 roster of the first Rotary Club (of Chicago) prominently features each member’s vocation next to their name. That founding concept is reflected in two of Rotary’s guiding principles, both of which are embodied in the standard Rotary Club constitution: the classification principle and the second object of Rotary, which elevates and recognizes every member’s vocation as worthy of respect and as an opportunity to serve.
As Rotary grew, members began to recognize and promote the importance of ethics in business, which is reflected in the Rotarian Code of Conduct and the Four-Way Test. In fact, being an ethical business person is itself a form of vocational service, as is using your skills to help others. For example, if Paul Harris were to...(to read the full article, click here.)
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Area 4 Rotary Clubs District Grant
Helps Create a Youth Center
Four local Rotary Clubs have come together to provide a Rotary District grant to Bright Futures for Youth to support the new NEO Youth Center. The Rotary Club of Grass Valley, the Rotary Club of Grass Valley South, Rotary Club of Nevada City, and 49er Rotary Breakfast Club all came together to submit the grant request to Rotary District 5190.
“We’re always looking at new ways to connect with youth and expand our mission, and the NEO Youth Center expansion is a perfect opportunity,” said Jennifer Singer, Executive Director of Bright Futures for Youth. “The Youth Center will offer more youth and young adults a place to socialize, make new friends, explore new interests and passions, and even get help with their homework in a comfortable and safe environment.”
The Rotary grant will specifically support the development of the NEO Café portion of the youth center. “A special feature of the NEO Youth Center will be the Youth Café, where young people can hang out with their friends in an inclusive environment that is safe, relaxed and friendly. The Café setting enables youth to develop strong relationships with peers and staff and obtain information and get advice,” said Sandra Barrington, President of the Rotary Club of Grass Valley.
Youth Services is an important avenue of service for Rotary to support local youth in the schools and in the community. Clubs sponsor specific schools, help build school gardens, provide scholarships, sponsor youth to attend leadership camps, and sponsor local programs like the speech and music contests.
In addition to the Rotary District Grant of $24,988, the Rotary Club of Grass Valley is donating an additional $15,000 from a special fund to honor a past club member Mike Johnson. “Mike Johnson passed away many years ago and his impact on youth services in Rotary is still vibrant today. Mike was a big advocate to support local youth programs and was instrumental in bringing Rotary Youth Leadership Awards and REGL Leadership Camp to our area,” said Barrington. This grant project will provide an opportunity to honor Mike Johnson’s work in Rotary with a plaque at the youth center in his memory.
The Clubs also are supporting the project with hands on service projects. The Rotary Club of Nevada City helped put together a pergola for the outdoor area of the project. The Rotary Club of Grass Valley is building a new storage unit for the youth center. The clubs will also be helping to assemble furniture and install some of the café items. The goal is to have the youth center and café up and running by the new school year. In the future the clubs can continue to support this project with outdoor patio projects and helping with the youth center garden.
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Rotary Rafters Eliminating Polio Raft Trip North Fork of the American River (Class 3) Saturday August 26th 2023
Don’t miss out on the 2023’s epic snowpack runoff season. Again, this year after a COVID hiatus, the Rotary rafting trip is with the commercial rafting company H2O Rafting Guides. Tyler Soule is the owner operator and our host. Being “Born” into a rafting family, Tyler has been rafting all his life and is one of the most recognized “Big Water” Class 5 guides in the industry. All his guides share his rafting passion and are extremely competent and a joy to be with too. We’re running the North Fork American River, and for any changes and additional trip details, please contact Bob Santin directly (see contact info below).
The $130 cost PP will cover all our expenses and $50 PP will be donated to Rotary’s Polio Plus campaign to eliminate polio from our Earth. The Bill Gates Foundation will double match this amount making it a valued donation unsurpassed anywhere.
See Bob Santin from the Rotary Club of Auburn if you have any questions at bobsantincolfax@gmail.com, 530-906-7524 cell, or would just like to sign up for this fun day of Rotarian Fellowship and Polio Plus Benefit. Further detailed raft trip information will be sent out to applicants prior to our launch date.
Sign-ups and prepayment due by August 7th via check, cash, or VENMO (@Bob-Santin).
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ENGAGEMENT LEADS TO RETENTION
Invite new members to participate in meetings, service projects, and other events, and see what interests them.
Some interesting facts, in District 5190 from 1st July 2019, until 1st July 2022, we admitted 596 new Rotarians but at the same time we then said goodbye to 847.
Our retention rate over that 3 year period for existing members was 68.22%. Our retention rate over that 3 year period for new members was 77.68%. Granted this was during the pandemic and clubs are rebounding now, but we still have a lot of work to do on retention.
It is wonderful to induct new members and start new clubs, especially new style clubs, but we need to Retain current membership by engaging members.
How to engage new members?
Invite new members to participate in meetings, service projects, and other events, and see what interests them. Because mentorship is important to younger professionals, identify established members who would be great connections and make introductions.
When new members join your club, connect with them, and find out what inspires them. Create a new member orientation strategy to keep them active and engaged. Either by a fireside chat or one-on-one, communicate with new members directly. Engagement leads to retention.
Ask your members to share their ideas. Show them respect, encourage them to make suggestions, and encourage others to take them seriously. Recognize when members are absent and make contact to show the club cares about them.
As new members take on leadership roles and start projects, it’s OK to ask if they need help. Check in regularly to make sure they’re finding their place in your club. Celebrate their efforts at club meetings.
How to engage current members and club leadership Assess and evaluate the health of your club and its membership by using our Rotary Club Health Check (PDF). Create awareness around the challenges your club faces. Ask yourself, “Does my club need to evolve?” If it does, download our Membership Assessment Tools for step-by-step guidance.
Ask your fellow members what they want. Build trust and respect with them — former members, longstanding members, and current members. They hold the keys to your club’s traditions and to its future. Our Member Satisfaction Survey (PDF) can help.
Coordinate events, speakers, and service projects that are challenging, exciting, and relevant to your club. Visit Develop Projects. Find ideas for activities that reflect your members’ diversity and personalities in Be A Vibrant Club.
Rotarians in clubs that have a strategic plan, report higher satisfaction and engagements. They are also more likely to intend to stay members. Download Rotary’s Strategic Planning Guide and Strengthening Your Membership: Creating Your Membership Plan.
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