Twelve months ago, I started the first of my monthly newsletter articles with the well-known Rotary phrase “He who serves best, profits most.” Considering how this phrase would apply to my then-incipient year as District Governor, I noted:
This line, from one of the traditional Rotary songs, resonates with me as the Rotary year rolls from 14/15 to 15/16. Committed Rotarians know that service isn’t always easy, nor convenient. Still, we are all committed to the goal of Service Above Self. As an aspiration, we trust that our service will be rewarded in some form.
And yet, perhaps not as you would think.
When I first joined Rotary, I intended to “do good,” and hoped that in some small way, belonging to a community service organization would lead to “profit” in the sense of business contacts and clients. Little did I know that Rotary would literally change who I was, and set me on a path of service beyond my foresight, or expectation.
Our new District Governor is an Idaho boy, through and through! He grew up in Boise, Nampa, and Caldwell; earned a BS in Chemistry at the College of Idaho. Later he obtained a Masters of Business Administration degree from the University of West Florida in 1991 and a degree in accounting from Boise State University in May 1993.
Jim retired from the U. S. Air Force in 1991, after years of flying F111 and developming and testing of new aircraft systems.
Posted by Jim Hogge, District Governor on Jun 26, 2016
We are at an exciting time of year—all new Rotary leadership July 1st. Each Club has a new President and the District has a new Governor. In most cases, this is the first time that most of us have done this. On behalf of all of us that are new, please be patient. We are doing the best that we can and are learning as fast as we can. After meeting your new Presidents at PETS, I am proud to serve with them. They have Rotary in their hearts and will make this year fun and productive.
I just returned from Seoul, South Korea. The Rotary International Convention was outstanding. The Koreans pulled out all the stops! The venue was great and the number of buses to get us to and from the hotels was beyond belief. There were 45,000 Rotarians from around the world. I believe there were about 20 of us from District 5400—it is hard to find everyone when there are 45,000. The speakers were inspiring. One morning, we had the Secretary General of the UN, Prime Minister of Korea, and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka speak to us. We were entertained by Psy of “Gangnam Style,” ask your children and/or grandchildren if you are not familiar. Here is a video that gives a few brief views of Seoul-- Gangnam Style.
One of the things that makes Rotary unique is that in July 1st of each year an entirely new group of Rotarians takes over all the leadership positions, from Rotary International President to District Governor to Club President.
It also means that our Public Image folks have to update all the club and district publications and on-line images to reflect the new President Theme. And while we're at it, make sure we're using the correct Rotary logos and brand images that were updated last year.
The new Rotary President's theme is "Rotary Serving Humanity". You should use this phrase where appropriate, replacing last year's theme which was "Be a Gift to the World", and the logos. You can download the logos from Rotary Brand Central.
Be sure to use the correct Rotary wheel - many of our clubs have not updated to the new images. The old wheel in blue/gold is no longer to be used.
John F. Germ is board chair and chief executive officer of Campbell and Associates Inc., consulting engineers. He joined the firm as an engineer in 1965 after four years in the U.S. Air Force. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the board and executive committee of the Public Education Foundation, Orange Grove Center Inc., and as board chair of Blood Assurance Inc. He also is founder and treasurer of the Chattanooga State Technical Community College Foundation and president of the Tennessee Jaycee Foundation.
Posted by Tim Bridges, Gate City Rotary on Jun 26, 2016
Taysom Rotary Park and Pavilion in Pocatello was originally built and dedicated to honor the Centennial anniversary of Rotary International in 2004. Over the years the plaque had deteriorated, mostly from weathering. The four Pocatello clubs (Centennial, Gate City, Pocatello, & Portneuf) joined together to pay for the replacement plaque, which was made by a local monument company. The plaque was officially re-dedicated on June 22. All four clubs joined in the event, as well as representatives from the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce and the Pocatello Chiefs. The Gate City club hosted a BBQ beforehand providing free hamburgers and hot dogs to all in attendance. A root beer float bar capped off the event after the rededication.
On June 10, 2016 the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation gave a grant of $22,000 to the REClaim Table Rock Project! That is enough money to finish installing the last two benches and the last 3 signs! Mark Peters, representative of Boise East was given the privilege of handing the check to Janet Gallimore, Executive Director of the Idaho State Historical Society. The project was chosen for the grant because it is in Ada County, it is educational and sustainable.
Posted by Marianne Barker, Foundation Chair on Jun 26, 2016
While we won’t know our final giving numbers to The Rotary Foundation for the year until all contributions are posted, I can say that District 5400 has met its Annual Fund-SHARE and PolioPlus goals for 2015-16. Thank you all! Each small gift added together does enable Rotarians to make change in the world.
To date, 100% of our clubs are Annual Fund contributors, with 26 clubs having met their goals. Twenty-two clubs have met the benchmark of $100/capita. Boise Metro sits at the top at $232/capita. How did they do it? Could be the club’s campaign to have members sign up for Rotary Direct. 85% of club members make automatic, recurring payments to The Rotary Foundation. Or, it might be their team at el Tour de Tucson who rode for pledges.
More and more we are understanding the importance of using "Social Media" to spread the word about Rotary. Its critical to our clubs in terms of attracting new members and retaining the ones we have. Its all part of our "Public Image" enhancements. Jennifer Deroin (Nampa), our District Membership Chair, has energized a small group of Rotarians to expand our use of Social Media (think Facebook). We'll be anointing some qualified individuals to be "administrators" who can help us post information about our club's activities. Its all about "Rotary Storytelling".
But we all play a critical role in this effort! You need to go to the District Facebook page , find a post that you find interesting and "like it". then, "share it" with all your Facebook friends. If we can all get used to doing that, think of all the people that will hear about Rotary!
Posted by Marianne Barker, Foundation Chair on Jun 26, 2016
June 1 was the deadline to apply for a district grant. Twenty-five clubs and the district applied for grants totally nearly $48,000 for 24 local and international projects. The district has combined all the clubs into one block grant application, which it will submit to The Rotary Foundation after July 1st. TRF will review our application and notify us when it is approved, historically in a couple of weeks. It is our intention to fund each of the 24 projects in the amounts requested, if all are approved by The Rotary Foundation. We will notify each of our clubs as soon as we hear from TRF. Until then, do NOT order materials or spend any money, as reimbursement for expenses incurred prior to approval of the grant by TRF is not allowed.
Posted by John Biggs, Boise Metro, D5400 Public Image on Jun 26, 2016
Nineteen of the clubs in our District are customers of ClubRunner. A recent survey has shown that many clubs are not using the website/bulletin functions effectively. In order to provide a forum for training and sharing best practices, we are forming a ClubRunner Users Group. So far, we have 8 club representatives who are interested in learning more about the features of these awesome communication tools. If your club hasn't invited a member to join, now is the time. We'll set up a first training session in July. (Just so you know, this District bulletin is created in a beta version of the new ClubRunner Bulletin Creator).
ClubRunner has two main features - Club Administration and Communication. Initially, our Users Group will focus on websites and bulletins.
As a service to the Meridian community, the Meridian Rotary Club painted the exterior of Pine Street School, a 96-year-old building, in early May.
Pine Street School was the Lasting Legacy Project for the Meridian Centennial in 1993. The one-room school is used most days during the school year to teach elementary students about school life in the olden days. Members of a local teacher’s sorority volunteer to teach students in the authentic one-room school. The building is maintained through community efforts from groups like the Meridian Rotary Club, the West Ada School District, The Meridian Historical Society, and the City of Meridian.
Posted by By Patrick Plantenberg District 5390 Public Image Chair on Jun 26, 2016
In Montana, branding has been historically important.
In Townsend, our community image branding we did about 10 years ago has never caught on. The new Rotary brand works! At our District Assembly in April at Fairmont, I purchased the new Rotary lapel pins in both the pin and magnetic versions for our club members (See pictures below). I have always been a believer in wearing my Rotary wheel style lapel pin wherever I go. Every once in a while, someone would ask “What does it say on your pin?”
I have been wearing the new style Rotary lapel pin now for about two months and many people have commented-“Oh I see you’re in Rotary!” or “What is Rotary?” They actually can read the word “Rotary” on the pins! This recognition is what branding is all about.
Posted by Terry Ziegler, Rotary Foundation, District 5890 on Jun 26, 2016
No Polio Cases reported this week.
What is that Polio Eradication Picture? It's a symbol of one of the turning points in global Polio eradication - the 2014 Ulema Conference on Polio - in which scholars vouched for the efficacy of the Polio vaccine and urged all parents to have their children vaccinated.
We have had a good year with many of our fellow Rotarians joining the Bequest Society. You may wonder what that is. An addition to your will allocating $10,000.00 to be paid to the Rotary Foundation or an outright gift of the same amount qualify one to be a member of the Bequest Society. Some have purchased insurance policies that will pay out upon their death. Some have just included it in the will to come out of their estate. Either way this payment will occur when you no longer need the money.
Posted by Rhea Allen, Nampa Rotary on Jun 26, 2016
Rhea Allen, incoming President of Nampa Rotary, went to Seoul for the International convention and had a blast. In her presentation you'll see photos of the House of Friendship, some delicious Rambutan Fruit, Canadian Rotarians and the opening session with 45,000 Rotarians! If you look close, you'll find Beth Markley and Scott Swan in a picture. See Rhea's Slide Show
Posted by Mary Reiman, Boise Metro on Jun 26, 2016
The annual el Tour de Tucson (District 5500) will be held on November 19th. This is an amazing event in which many, many non-profits from around the country participate in a series of bike rides as a fund raiser! Rotary International has sponsored a team since 2009 and has raised over $25 million for Polio Plus. Ride distances range from 5 miles to 104 miles, depending on how far you want to go. There's also a stay-at-home/club and ride your stationary bike!
Last year a group from Boise Metro went down and, with sponsors here at home, raised over $9,000, including various matches. Jeff Larsen, an avid cyclist and club member, has a trailer that will hold 25 bikes. So consider joining us! There's a lot going on at the event beside a bike ride. Lets have District 5400 raise a lot of money for Polio Plus! Check it out here:
Posted by Allison Dunn, Boise Metro on Jun 26, 2016
I've taken a Shoes to South Africa Challenge! I am working with a Nampa Rotarian Kenton Lee and his non-profit organization, Because International, the creator of “The Shoe That Grows”. This is a shoe that grows with a child’s foot from age 4 to age 9 and children ages 9 to 14. My goal is to raise funds to fill a duffle bag (or 2,3,4) of 50 pairs of shoes and my husband and I will take them to Johannesburg, South Africa in August to give to kids at an orphanage. There are an estimated 3.7 million orphans in South Africa, many of these children do not have shoes or have shoes that don't fit. Each duffle holds 50 pairs of shoes, each pair costs $15. Even a small donation will help me achieve my goal! Thanks so much for checking this out, click below to learn more. http://fundraise.theshoethatgrows.org/DelibrateDirections (Note: having friends take duffle bags full of shoes with them is Kenton's strategy to minimize his shipping costs)
Nampa Rotary invites teams and sponsors for the annual Rotary Golf for Hope tournament that benefits youth-focused programs. Five-person teams will play Wednesday, July 13, in a scramble format at Nampa’s Ridgecrest Golf Course, located in Nampa.
This is the 27th year that Nampa Rotary has hosted the fundraiser that helps Hope House, a home for children in need, and other community organizations. Today, it is the service club’s largest fund-raiser.
The day begins with breakfast and an opportunity to buy tickets for a raffle. The shotgun start occurs at 8 a.m. and the day wraps up with lunch and awards.
Cost is $85 per person or $425 for a five-member team. Registration fees also cover a free one-year subscription to Golf Digest if you register online at www.golf4hope.org. The deadline to register is July 8.
Businesses or individuals interested in being a sponsor for the event should contact Dan Walters at 208-287-5450 or 3915homes@gmail.com.
With the start of the new Rotary year, there are two great opportunities for some "press"! (Particularly for the small-town clubs with weekly papers who are always looking for news!)
Introduce the community to your new club officers. Submit a photo of your "passing the gavel" ceremony, and your new President. Include a brief bio of your new President.
District Governor Hogge will be starting his club visits soon. Invite some one from the paper to attend. write a brief article with a photo of your new President with the D.G.
Don't forget to include the photos you take on your Facebook page!
Next year, 2017, will offer some amazing opportunities for "P.R.". Not only is it the 100th anniversary of the Rotary Foundation, but we'll also celebrate "100 Years of Rotary in Idaho". The first Rotary club in Idaho, Boise "downtown", was chartered in June of 2017. There are several other clubs chartered in the year after.
The Boise club is planning on a huge gala event to commemorate its own birthday, but there will be lots of ideas for celebration at the District level. So stay tuned.................
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I've taken a Shoes to South Africa Challenge! I am working with a Nampa Rotarian Kenton Lee and his non-profit organization, Because International, the creator of “The Shoe That Grows”. This is a shoe that grows with a child’s foot from age 4 to age 9 and children ages 9 to 14. My goal is to raise funds to fill a duffle bag (or 2,3,4) of 50 pairs of shoes and my husband and I will take them to Johannesburg, South Africa in August to give to kids at an orphanage. There are an estimated 3.7 million orphans in South Africa, many of these children do not have shoes or have shoes that don't fit. Each duffle holds 50 pairs of shoes, each pair costs $15. Even a small donation will help me achieve my goal! Thanks so much for checking this out, click below to learn more. http://fundraise.theshoethatgrows.org/DelibrateDirections (Note: having friends take duffle bags full of shoes with them is Kenton's strategy to minimize his shipping costs)
