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From the Governor's Desk
blind diversity
Canyon County Sunrise Rotary Club is a small club of only 15 members AND YET it is a very diverse club! One of Rotary’s Core Values is diversity. Still, this is the FIRST club I have visited so far that had an equal number of men and women in attendance at the meeting. Nevertheless, the club seemed unaware of the 50/50 split. In fact, they appeared to be almost blind to it!
METRICS OF A FAMILY. There were other measures of diversity that were likewise obvious to me but rather unnoticed and appeared insignificant to the club members themselves who see one another simply as ‘family’. For example, the club has both ‘experienced’ members over 80 years of age and young members under 40. The club has affluent professionals and regular working folks. Racial differences are evident in the group. Clergy and non clergy are likewise both represented. Charter club members since 1991 sit alongside new members of less than 4 months membership. US Veterans and non veterans alike both contribute happy dollars and speak of love for Rotary, country and family.
INCLUSION. I never got the impression that Canyon County Sunrise Club deliberately tried to create a diverse membership. It just happened because they are INCLUSIVE. Clubs with greater diversity have a greater capacity to serve their community and communities around the world. Diverse clubs create a culture of acceptance, where differences are respected, supported, and valued.
I salute the Canyon County Sunrise Rotary Club for making diversity look absolutely effortless AND fun! Bravo!
Rich Kirkham, '19-'20 District 5400 Governor
UPCOMING FUNDRAISERS
Rotary & Rarity Fundraiser Rug Event- Better Corn for Guatemala
October 13, 2019
5-9pm
Boise SW Club is hosting a fundraiser for "Better Corn in Guatemala." The owner of Rarity Rugs will donate 50% of all sales from rugs, art, and jewelry to Rotary in support of this important cause.
Please consider attending this unique and colorful event with true artisan style rugs (featuring 100-300 yr old rugs for sale).
Haunted Halloween Hogwarts Maze – Bring your wands!
Join the Twin Falls Rotary After Hours for this fun, safe, warmer alternative this Halloween AND you get to help your local school dist! We are hosting Harry Potter theme Haunted Mazes at Canyon Crest Event Center October 31st 5:30-8pm to help raise funds for school supplies, field trips and hygiene items for students in need in the Twin Falls area. Cost is only $3/person and/or a school supply from the lists.
There will be 2 mazes; a toddler friendly (not scary) simple open maze that has a couple dead ends but easy for the little ones to get around that would appeal to toddlers up to 5.
The second haunted maze will be Hogwart’s Castle! This maze will be a little more scary and completely enclosed. Get ready to meet all of Harry Potter’s friends (and enemies) in the maze IF you can find your way out..... Help Harry in an epic battle to defeat Voldemort! This maze will appeal to the 5 and up group, including parents.
There will also be lots of fun age appropriate games & races with prizes, a cookie decorating table, face painting and more! All children will receive a trick or treat bag with candy and other prizes.
Join your friends in the beautiful setting of Idaho State University’s Stephens Performing Arts Center for one of the most delightfully indulgent evenings of the new year: A Chocolate Lover’s Affair, presented by the Pocatello Rotary Club and Cole Chevrolet.
You’ll enjoy samples of chocolate masterpieces from 25 of the region’s finest restaurants, bakeries and confectioners, in all of the ways chocolate is at its best. Walk down lanes devoted to different chocolate marvels:
Cookies
Cakes
Brownies
Pastries
Specialty Candies
When you’re done sampling all of the evening’s wonderful creations, you’ll get to vote on the best in each category, and Best Overall. The vendors will be showcasing their finest work – It’s an evening not to be missed!
And because everything is better with chocolate, expect an evening of perfect balance:
A selection of wines available for purchase.
Hors d’oeuvres.
No-host bar.
Music by Rail City Jazz.
A Chocolate Lover’s Affair is sure to become one of Pocatello’s signature community events.
In 2017/18 RI President Ian Riseley asked us to plant 1.2 million trees (or shrubs). We not only met the challenge, we crushed it by planting over 4 million!
Two times a year we host a giving event. We have local businesses sponsor the cost of the venue and food so that 100% of the guest ticket fees ($100/person) go into a "winner-take all" pot for the winning charity.
Our board vets and nominates 4-5 charities per event that are allowed to give a 5 minute pitch to the guests about what the charity does and how the funds would be used. At the end of the evening, each guest casts their vote and the winning charity is presented with an over-sized check at the end of the meeting which serves as a great photo opp to promote even larger attendance at the following giving event.
Our mandates for charities are: (1) secular, (2) local, and (3) the $ must be spent in the Treasure Valley.
In the Spring, our event raised ~$25,000 in the span of just 3 hours. The winner was the local chapter of Canine Companions for Independence. Due to other corporate donations, we were also able to send the other non-profits home with over $1,000 each as well.
When - October 23rd - 5:30 - 8:30pm
Where - Zion's Bank Building 17th Floor Banquet Room