The 2022 Walk to End Alzheimer’s isn’t until Saturday, October 8, but now is the time to form a team or join an existing one.
Demetress Harrell, District Governor-elect, and Ruth Suhler would like to challenge all clubs in 5910 to form a team at your Club level, form another team at your place of employment or business, or join an existing team in your area and encourage your friends and co-workers to join with you. There is also an online opportunity for anyone who just wants to walk in their own neighborhood.
You can read more about the Alzheimer’s/Dementia Rotary Action Group and Alzheimer’s Association partnership HERE. This is also where you can register or join a team.
Please remember to indicate that you are a Rotary Club so that we can measure our District's impact.
Post your efforts at #EndALZ and let Demetress and me know what you are doing. Let’s see which Club is our District 5910 Champion.
Please let Ruth know if you cannot find a team in your area. You can also join her team here: Rovin’ Rotarians.
Let’s support the efforts of the Alzheimer’s Association!
Rotarians throughout District 5910 gathered at the Margaritaville Lake Resort at Lake Conroe on April 22-24 for the District Conference. DG Jerry Springfield organized a lively (and in-person) conference that featured MC Karen Chapmen who kept things fun and on point. It was great to reconnect with dear friends and make new ones during the three-day event. Thank you to Beaumont Rotary Club Past President, Tim Sudela, for the pictures.
The Rotary Club of Beaumont and the Beaumont Rotary Foundation is partnering directly with Rotary Club Lviv-International to provide support for projects in Ukraine. These projects are aimed at meeting the immediate needs of hospitals and displaced persons in the country. In the past 3 weeks, the club has raised over $50,000 to help support Ukraine. If you or your club would like to help support these efforts, you can donate at the link below.
(Please put your donation under "other" and reference "Ukraine Support" in the comment section)
In response to the deepening humanitarian crisis in Ukraine, The Rotary Foundation has created an official channel for donors around the world to contribute funds to support the relief efforts underway by Rotary districts and has designated its Disaster Response Fund as the main avenue for contributions.
Rotary International President-elect Jennifer Jones wants members to imagine the possibilities in the change they can make to transform the world.
Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, revealed the 2022-23 presidential theme, Imagine Rotary, as she urged people to dream big and harness their connections and the power of Rotary to turn those dreams into reality.
“Imagine, a world that deserves our best,” Jones told incoming district governors on 20 January, “where we get up each day knowing that we can make a difference.”
Jones, who will make history on 1 July by becoming Rotary’s first female president, gave a live online address to precede Rotary’s annual training event for district governors from around the world, the International Assembly. The assembly was rescheduled because of the COVID-19 pandemic and will now be held virtually 7-14 February.
Jones told the incoming governors about a chance she took when a member asked for assistance in getting a young peace activist out of Afghanistan during the U.S. troop withdrawal last year. At first unsure how she could help, she relied on “that certain Rotary magic” and contacted a former Rotary Peace Fellow she had met a few years earlier. Less than 24 hours later, the activist was on an evacuation list, and soon she was on her way to Europe.
Make a contribution of $100 or more to The Rotary Foundation for Polio Plus between now and May 31, 2022 and a matching donation will be made to Polio Plus thanks to two generous benefactors! (Matching funds up to $100,000 or until funds are depleted). PLEASE DONATE THROUGH MY.ROTARY.ORG TO ENSURE PROPER CREDIT.
BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE!
You will receive RI Paul Harris Fellow matching points for your contribution and in addition (upon request) the benefactor will match your contribution with points (maximum 500 points per donor) and will transfer them to your member or club account. Read more details...
RYLA 2022 is complete! High school juniors and seniors throughout Rotary 5910 assembled at the Pineywoods Camp in Woodlake, TX after a one-year hiatus. Participants took part in three days of leadership training, group challenges, fun, and games.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organized by Rotary clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
Join us for our FIRST training of the new Rotary year in Livingston
Plenary sessions on Membership, Foundation, Public Image, & Human Trafficking
Breakout sessions on Effective Meetings, DE&I and Event Planning will be offered
PLENARY SESSIONS Dr. Nissi Hamilton
is a Rotarian and a Survivor Leader of Human Trafficking serving the community. She is an active advocate for human trafficking awareness and prevention.
Bunny Pratt
and other storytellers from our District will share the Story of Rotary to showcase the “Why” for memorable presentations, collaborations, and partnerships that support Member engagement, The Rotary Foundation, and enhance Rotary’s Public Image.
Texas State Representative James White
will provide a view of his service as Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security & Public Safety and his efforts on the Human Trafficking committee.
Online Credentials will be provided separately for Virtual Attendee Registrants.
OCTOBER MEMBERSHIP SOCIAL & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT INITIATIVE
Save the Date, Tuesday,October 5, 2021, and plan a National Night Out Party hosted by your Rotary Club at a public spot in your community.
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaignthat promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie. Register your party for free at https://natw.org
Engage your members to showcase your Rotary Club's involvement in the community, promote the 4 Way Test and Service Above Self mantras of Rotary, and advocate against Human Exploitation and Human Trafficking, a key initiative in our district this Rotary year.
Ideas:
Partner with the Parks Department, a Shopping Center, local Community Center, or School with a convenient outdoor space
Be sure and follow Lone Star Provisional Rotary E-Club of Texas on Facebook. The club meets virtually the 1st & 3rd Thursday of each month. Zoom in to make-up and meet new folks or refer a friend!
On June 20, 2021, Rotary District 5910 installed Jerry Springfield as its Governor for the 2021-2022 year.
Jerry Springfield joined the Diboll Rotary Club in 1977 and served as President of that club twice and served as Chair of Community Service and Vocational Service committees. After a job change, he joined the Lufkin Rotary club, where he served on the Board of Directors. In 2001, left a regular club to begin teaching at Woodville High School where he organized and sponsored the Interact Club of Woodville High School thus retaining the Rotary connection. In April 2010, he joined the Woodville Rotary Club. As a member of that club he has been president twice, Chair of Administration Committee, Chair of Membership, Secretary four times. Jerry, a multiple Paul Harris fellow and member of the Paul Harris Society, and his wife, Roschelle, also a Rotarian and multiple Paul Harris fellow, have two children and four grandchildren. They reside in the Pineywoods of East Texas on land that has been in Mrs. Springfield's family for over one hundred sixty years.
Look for when Jerry will be visiting your club to say hi!
There is still time to register for the 2022 Rotary International Convention!
District 5910 is a major sponsor of the International Convention with past District Governor John Hathaway serving on the host committee.
This convention gives us a chance to share our Texas hospitality and welcome our Rotary family and friends from around the globe. Together, we'll share ideas about how "Rotary Opens Opportunities" to create positive and sustainable change to our world's most important issues. District 5890 is the home of 2020-2022 Rotary International Director Suzi Howe, and she looks forward to seeing all of you here!
Volunteer opportunities are available! See website for details!
The 2021 Virtual Convention will be better than ever, opening more innovative opportunities to learn and to engage with the family of Rotary, near and far. You’ll be able to network in virtual lounges, meet new partners in service, and join fun activities with Rotary members from around the world.
Congratulations on “making it through” the pandemic and now working toward being on the other side of it! District 5910 can celebrate the fact that our members and our clubs have found ways to adapt in order to continue meeting and providing service in your communities in ways that conformed with the guidance provided by health officials. Many Rotary districts were not so lucky, having lost clubs due to the lockdowns.
Through your commitment and dedication, you kept going in whatever manner worked for your club and your members, and we can hopefully now begin the return to normal activities as more and more people are vaccinated.
As we near the end of this Rotary year, our International President Holger Knaack has reaffirmed his focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our district has made some progress on those priorities, but more work is still ahead:
June is designated Rotary Fellowships Monthto recognize the importance of international fellowship and goodwill among Rotarians with similar recreational and vocational interests, promote increased participation in fellowships, and increase understanding of this program.
What are the benefits for Rotarians in joining the Rotary Fellowships? Fellowship provides opportunities for Rotarians to make lasting friendships outside their own Club, District or country. Fellowships contribute to the advancement of world understanding and peace. Also, Fellowships serve as an incentive for attracting new members to Rotary and retaining our existing members. Indeed, Rotary Fellowship, together with the Rotarian Action Groups, serve as an effective tool in promoting membership development and should be actively promoted in our Districts.
Please make sure your club is entering all of its goals for the 2021-2022 Rotary Year. Entering club goals is a great way to keep your club on track and growing!
Our virtual 2021 district conference is now in the record books, and it was a success! Congratulations to Rebekah Maxwell and her committee for a great job offering interesting and informative sessions that were respectful of everyone’s time. Thursday and Friday’s sessions were scheduled around the lunch hour, and we finished with a very successful in person service project on Saturday by packing meals with Rise Against Hunger - our first in person district event in over a year! It was so nice to see each other and reconnect.
Another success for the district this year is the formation of the 5910 E-club! We hope to have enough members to charter it before the end of this Rotary year. Click here for a promotional video about the club: District 5910 YouTube Channel. See Julie Martineau or Ruth Finkelstein Suhler’s article in this newsletter.
The theme for May is Rotary’s fifth avenue of service: Youth Service. Youth Service recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs.
Click on the following links to learn more about programs The Rotary Club of Beaumont takes part in to help support Youth Service.
The Rotary District 5910 Annual Conference was held Thursday, April 22nd through Saturday, April 24th, 2021. The second virtual conference the District experienced, we are happy to report that 194 Rotarians and Rotaractors attended the all-club meeting to kick off the Conference. At least thirteen clubs decided to host their weekly club meeting in conjunction with the kick-off event as guest speaker, Sylvia Whitlock, shared her story of becoming the first female president of a Rotary Club. Global Grant Scholar, Sakurah Fisher, joined the Zoom session from Japan, making it a truly international experience. On Thursday, we also heard from Rhonda Kennedy about the opportunities for Rotarians to volunteer at the 2022 Rotary International Convention in Houston, Texas.
A roomful of Texas City Rotarians attends District Conference together as a Club meeting.
During the last quarter of this truly unusual Rotary year, we are looking forward with hope to the time that we will be able to meet in person, shake hands, hug our friends, and enjoy face to face interactions once again. However, many of our activities will finish this year in a virtual format until health officials deem it safe to return to normal:
District Training Assembly including club officer training – April 10, 2021 at 9:00 am – will be virtual.
District Conference - April 22, 23, and 24 – hybrid: combination of both in person activities and virtual activities.
All Club Meeting: To kick off this unique district conference, all clubs are encouraged to move their regular weekly meeting to Thursday, April 22 at 11:30, join the district Zoom meeting, and participate in an All Club Meeting with Sylvia Whitlock, the history-making first female Rotarian, as the speaker. Please let me know (BeckyLMason@mac.com) as soon as possible if your club will participate in our first ever All Club Meeting.
Rotary International Convention - June 12 – 16, 2021 - virtual
o Registration: The Virtual Convention will be open to all Rotarians. Event registration will open in mid-April and will include a promotional fee of $49 for 21 days, with an increase afterward to $65.
o The Rotaract, Youth Exchange Officer and Inter-Country Committee pre-conventions will be held June 10 - 11, 2021. The cost of each preconvention event is $20. Both the convention and preconvention events include access to the House of Friendship.
Maternal and child care is one of Rotary’s main causes. Rotary makes health care available to vulnerable mothers and children so they can live longer and grow stronger.
It is estimated that close to 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation, which can all be prevented. Rotary clubs and districts dedicate their efforts to improve access to quality care so that mothers and children can have long-serving opportunities for a healthy future. Projects to support mothers and children include mobile prenatal clinics, cancer screening, immunizations, and training on how to protect themselves and their children from disease.
Several projects highlight innovative solutions that provide health care to mothers and children:
Nigeria averages only one physician for every 2,500 people and creative solutions are needed to expand health care reach. Read about how innovative integration of telehealth medicine have helped those living in rural Nigeria.
Brazil has experienced high infant mortality rates and several Rotary clubs partnered together to provide solutions. Read about how a Rotary club partnership led to an increase in resources for the incubators and access to Neonatal intensive care units at the Dr. Leopoldo Bevilacqua Regional Hospital in Brazil’s Ribeira Valley.
Watch this video to learn more about how Rotary supports mothers and children:
With sadness we announce that the Board of Directors of Rotary International has decided to suspend our Youth Exchange Program for another year. It has been a specifically difficult decision for our International President, since he and his wife over the past years have served as host parents for over 40 exchange students. Although we had been optimistic, this decision did not come unexpected. Different from the US, in Europe and in other places around the world they are preparing for a new wave of infections; in fact, several countries right now consider a more serious lockdown than ever before. Please click here for an excerpt from the letter of the RI President explaining their decision.
Needless to say, the District Youth Exchange Committee and all volunteers in our exchange program are very sad not being able to send students from Texas to other parts of the world or to welcome students from abroad to our District. Not being able to provide students this life-changing experience does not mean, however, that the District Youth Exchange Committee will be “out of work” for a year. For the coming months, we will be re-evaluating and re-organizing our program, so that we come back well-prepared and stronger than ever before!
Recruiting Outbound Students and Host Clubs for 2022-23 will Begin in the Fall
Last Rotary year, District 5910 Rotarians responded to a PolioPlus Challenge Match with District Cash Giving of $242,149.00 for the year. Combined with $28,186.00 in DDF contributions, (matched 1:1 by The Rotary Foundation World Fund), the district generated $298,521.00 in total cash giving. For the second year in a row, D5910 was the #1 PolioPlus giving district in Zone 25B. When the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation matched these contributions 2:1, it resulted in total funding of $895,563.00 for Polio Eradication as a direct result of D5910 efforts.
This year, two district members who have again offered a PolioPlus Challenge Match. For any PolioPlus contributions submitted between February 15 and June 1, 2021, the two donors will make a 1.5 to 1.0 match on the first $50,000 in new contributions.
New D5910 Contributions submitted by June 1, 2021
$ 50,000
D5910 Donor #1 - 100% Match (1 to 1)
on first $ 50,000 in NEW Contributions
$ 50,000
D5910 Donor #2 - 50% Match (1/2 to 1)
on first $ 50,000 in NEW Contributions
$ 25,000
Total from NEW Contributions from
D5910 PLUS Challenge Match
$125,000
Bill Melinda Gates Foundation - 2 to 1 (200%)
Match on ALL Contributions
$250,000
Total Funds for Polio Eradication
$375,000
($375,000 / $50,000 = 7.5 to 1.0 Match)
Thru February 15, 2021, District 5910 members had already donated over $118,000 to PolioPlus. With new contributions earning the full $75,000 match, plus DDF, World Fund Match and the Gates Match, District 5910 can provide at least $893,563 in funding for Polio Eradication this year. LET’S DO IT!
A highlight of this crazy year: we recently hosted RI President Holger Knaack at a virtual meeting to recognize and thank our most dedicated supporters of the Rotary Foundation – members of the Paul Harris Society (those who commit to give $1,000 per year to the Foundation, as long as they are able), plus supporters at the major donor level and above. President Holger talked about why he supports the Foundation, the lifesaving work that is being done in our communities and around the world as a result of our efforts, and how important it is that we continue our ongoing support for the Foundation. He also talked about the positive impact that he expects from the selection of the first woman to serve as president of our organization, Jennifer Jones. It was a great day for Rotary 5910!
As we begin the last quarter of this Rotary year, let’s finish strong with participation in the upcoming events:
Clean water is a basic need for human beings. When people, especially children, have access to clean water, they live healthier and more productive lives. However, at least 3,000 children die each day from diseases caused by unsafe water, which is what motivates our members to build wells, install rainwater harvesting systems, and teach community members how to maintain new infrastructure.
While very few people die of thirst, millions die from preventable waterborne diseases, providing the impetus for our members to also improve sanitation facilities in undeveloped countries. Members start by providing toilets and latrines that flush into a sewer or safe enclosure and then add education programs to promote hand-washing and other good hygiene habits.
March 1, 2021, is the deadline to submit nominations for the District 5910 Roll of Fame.
Below are copies of the District's Nomination Form which includes requirements for Role of Fame nominees and Master List of the Previous Roll of Fame Recipients. Please attach a picture of the nominee to the application for use in the Powerpoint presentation.
Please have your club review its membership and, if appropriate, nominate one Rotarian that you feel deserves our District's highest honorary award. Prior recipients are not eligible for a second award. The nominee should be able to attend the District Conference (Covid dependent) later in the spring to receive the award in person.
March 1, 2021, is the deadline to submit nominations for the District 5910 Roll of Fame.
Below are copies of the District's Nomination Form which includes requirements for Role of Fame nominees and Master List of the Previous Roll of Fame Recipients. Please attach a picture of the nominee to the application for use in the Powerpoint presentation.
Please have your club review its membership and, if appropriate, nominate one Rotarian that you feel deserves our District's highest honorary award. Prior recipients are not eligible for a second award. The nominee should be able to attend the District Conference (Covid dependent) later in the spring to receive the award in person.
Citations are given to clubs for achieving goals that strengthen Rotary and their club. Goals include increasing club membership, developing sustainable service projects, giving to The Rotary Foundation, and building awareness of Rotary in your community.
We encourage every club to set their goals and a date to reach their first citation!
More information on how to earn a citation can be found HERE.
Rotary Citation: What is it? And How Your Club Can Earn One!
Professional development is right at your fingertips with the Rotary Learning Center, which offers members a range of interactive courses on navigating Rotary's online tools and developing leadership skills to prepare for new Rotary roles.
Anyone with a My Rotary account can take a free course in the Learning Center. Among the many courses available are How to Run a Webinar, How to Propose Legislation, Rotary Club Central Resources, and role-specific selections.
Get started by finding the Learning Center under the LEARNING & REFERENCE tab on Rotary.org. If you are already registered on the site, you will have a profile. If not, it's easy to create an account. From the MY PROFILE tab, you can modify your profile, find announcements about new and upcoming courses, and join a community to discuss what you're learning.
A great way to begin is by viewing the How to Navigate the Learning Center video tutorial, which covers what's available and how to make the most of it.
The center's catalog allows users to browse a list of subjects or see a complete rundown of all the courses offered. When registering for a course, you can either proceed to the material immediately or save it for later, returning to it from the MY COURSES tab.
One of the most popular courses is Strengthen Rotary, which teaches members to incorporate Rotary values into everyday activities. The Rotary Club Central Resources course, another popular offering, helps members set goals and improve membership information.
Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations.
Half of them are children.
We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
Rotary creates environments of peace
As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect.
By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Our commitment to peacebuilding today answers new challenges: how we can make the greatest possible impact and how we can achieve our vision of lasting change. We are approaching the concept of peace with greater cohesion and inclusivity, broadening the scope of what we mean by peacebuilding, and finding more ways for people to get involved.
Rotary creates environments where peace can happen.
We may be in the midst of a global pandemic but Rotary 5910 is still going strong by serving our communities, raising funds to support those activities, and continuing to meet – not in the usual ways but adapted to the health guidelines.
Some clubs are finding ways to support their communities’ COVID vaccination efforts including promotion of local efforts, volunteering for non-medical support activities at vaccination sites (helping with paperwork, monitoring people after they get their shot, etc.), and posting pictures of themselves getting their vaccination to encourage others.
In other pandemic-related news, RI President Holger Knaack announced that the Taipei, Taiwan convention scheduled for June will be virtual. Like so many other events that have been moved to a virtual format, we are disappointed that we can’t meet in person, but it will allow more people to participate since it won’t involve expensive travel. The 2022 International convention will be in Houston, and we plan to assist them since we are their neighbors. I hope that many of our members will be able to attend....
Our RYLA steering committee has given a great deal of effort and thought into formulating a viable plan for having a RYLA camp in the 2020-21 Rotary year. We have poured over numerous date changes and program adaptations that would allow us to hold RYLA while mitigating the risk of COVID-19 exposure. Ultimately, we feel that we do not have a plan with which we are 100% comfortable. At this point in the Rotary year, we have made the decision to cancel any further plans for trying to make it work.
RYLA 2021 will be Jan 7-9. We will likely allow clubs to register both Juniors and Seniors so that students you really wanted to send this year can still be sponsored for next year if your Club wishes.
Thank you for your support. I know that for some this is a huge disappointment, but we will be back next year better than ever. To the woods!
- Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.
- The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians.
- The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.
Click Read More to find out how you and your club can focus on Vocational Service this month.
Hopefully, you and your family found meaningful ways to celebrate the holiday season this year while still keeping everyone in your families, your clubs, and your communities safe. It’s an ongoing challenge in a multitude of ways.
Please send your assistant governor any updates on what your club has been doing and is planning for the new year to adapt your meetings, your service projects, and your fellowship activities within the current health guidelines. And as the COVID-19 vaccine begins to roll out, how can your club be involved in encouraging your members and your community at large to be vaccinated when their time comes?
Thanks to Rotary’s experience with the polio eradication campaign, we are natural leaders in this effort. Brainstorm with your members and talk to healthcare leaders in your area to see if there is a role you could play, and share your ideas with us all! And be sure to post your activities on FaceBook. If you’ll send me a friend request and tag me when you post something, we can share it on the district Facebook page.
This effort is just beginning, and we hope to have some visuals or articles that we can use as we go forward.
There is a movement within the district governors in the seven districts in Texas to be able to say that Rotary in Texas promotes and encourages everyone to be vaccinated. Will you join me and the other clubs in our district and around Texas? Remember that we are #People of Action!
As we work our way through this crisis, keep in mind that isolation is a major issue for many people right now. The article below talks about ways we can counteract the effects of isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic while keeping everyone safe:
In these difficult days, we are so heartened to receive such uplifting reports on the unrelenting efforts of our Rotary members who have responded in their communities against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, the single question we hear time and again as we traverse the virtual world is, “Are we getting involved with COVID vaccination?” Considering the success and expertise we have gained in our polio eradication effort, this question is both natural and timely.
The answer is yes. We will have an important role in the months ahead.
This does not mean we will deviate in any way from our avowed commitment to eradicating polio, which remains our highest priority and will continue to be our only corporate program. Polio vaccinations and surveillance activities must continue unabated, as must our effort to raise $50 million per year for this effort.
But as we know, there is a pandemic sweeping the world. The Board of RI and the Trustees of our Foundation met in joint session and have agreed that we have a role to play.
We ask you, then, to encourage your clubs to:
Utilize Rotary’s knowledge of vaccine safety and efficacy based on our polio eradication experience to conduct vaccination education and communication outreach in your communities. This will need to be tailored to local contexts to address unique cultural and regional needs. Your leadership will be critical in crafting the appropriate messages and strategies.
Engage, where appropriate, with our current polio eradication partners WHO and UNICEF at the country level to offer Rotary’s support to COVID-19 response activities, including vaccination efforts.
Partner at the local level with governments, corporations, and foundations to support Rotary activities at the country level.
Through hundreds of global grants and projects, Rotary members have demonstrated what we can accomplish to raise awareness, deliver critical personal protection equipment, and provide support for frontline health workers. As you learn of work being done in your area, please encourage clubs to add to the more than 3,000 projects already registered on Rotary Showcase (please log in to My Rotary first, and navigate to Rotary Showcase). We would like to know about them.
We have one final call to action: Help us combat the powerful, growing force of vaccine resistance and misinformation. Our advocacy in our communities will be critical — we need to spread the message about the power of vaccines to save lives.
Working together, we have done so much to adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic, to care for our communities, and to prepare Rotarians for the work ahead.
We do this for ourselves and for future generations. We do this as part of our obligation to support our world as it faces the most significant challenge of this generation.
Thank you.
Holger Knaack K.R. Ravindran President, Rotary International Chair, The Rotary Foundation
We believe good health care is everyone’s right. Yet 400 million people in the world can’t afford or don’t have access to basic health care.
Disease results in misery, pain, and poverty for millions of people worldwide. That’s why treating and preventing disease is so important to us. We lead efforts both large and small. We set up temporary clinics, blood donation centers, and training facilities in underserved communities struggling with outbreaks and health care access. We design and build infrastructure that allows doctors, patients, and governments to work together.
Our members combat diseases like malaria, HIV/AIDS, Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, and polio. Prevention is important, which is why we also focus on health education and bringing people routine hearing, vision, and dental care.
HOW ROTARY MAKES HELP HAPPEN
We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases. Rotary members have hundreds of health projects underway around the world at any given time.
OUR IMPACT ON DISEASE
The Rotary Foundation is changing the world by providing grants for projects and activities around the globe and in your own backyard.
Rotary makes amazing things happen, like:
Providing clean water: Rotary has worked with partners to provide more than 80 percent of Ghana’s people with clean water to fight Guinea worm disease.
Reducing HIV infection: In Liberia, Rotary members are helping women get tested for HIV early in their pregnancies. They used prenatal care to reduce new HIV infections in children by 95 percent over two years.
Ending polio: Rotary members have played a key role in bringing the world to the brink of polio eradication. Their efforts have not only ended polio in 122 countries but also created a system for tackling myriad other health priorities, such as Ebola.
Join Rotary friends for a fun, multi-club, holiday party filled with mirth & merriment!
Please register to attend. Virtual Zoom login information will be provided to registrants before the event. Zoom room opens at 6:15 pm. Festivities begin at 6:30 pm.
U.G.L.Y. Sweater Poll*
Holiday Movie Trivia
Win, Lose, or Draw Holiday style
Virtual Choir presentation plus the World premiere of "12 Days of Rotary"
... offering leadership and Rotary education training for Rotarians!
The Rotary Leadership Institute is a development program using facilitation in small groups to engage Rotarians and strengthen clubs through quality leadership education.
RLI’s Part 1 is a great start for new Rotarians, as well as a good summary for experienced ones. It would be great if everyone “new” to Rotary attend at least Part 1.
Parts 2 and 3 build on the foundation – completing all three parts is a great idea for incoming club presidents and board members. It builds action and sustainability in your local club!
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic all in person classes are suspended until further notice. District 5910 has partnered with The Lone Star Division RLI and will participate with their schedule of on-line courses. The one day courses are now offered in 2 hour sessions in the comfort of your own home.
Cindy Cherry from the Rotary Club of Beaumont, Sally Andrews and Tim Andrews from the Rotary Club of Vidor all graduated having completed sessions one, two and three in October.
Trained facilitators from our District are DGE Jerry Springfield from the Rotary Club of Woodville, DGN Demetress Harrell from the Rotary Club of Angelina, Amy Killgore and Ava Sloan from the Rotary Club of League City.
Participating in sessions one or two were Leon Willhite from Palestine, Jan Ricketts from the Woodlands, PDG Betsy Robinson, Jane McFaddin and Teresa Vencil from League City, Ruth Shuler from Galveston, Rebekah Maxwell and Deborah Drago from Beaumont, Meg Brown from Bridge City, and Dave Thompson from Huntsville.
To find upcoming RLI classes, visit the District 5910’s web site. If you have questions please contact Ava Sloan ava@rodinconsulting.com or 832-315-0502.
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. As the charitable arm of Rotary International, we tap into a global network of Rotarians who invest their time, money, and expertise into our priorities, such as eradicating polio and promoting peace. Foundation grants empower Rotarians to approach challenges such as poverty, illiteracy, and malnutrition with sustainable solutions that leave a lasting impact.
Strong financial oversight, a stellar charity rating, and a unique funding model mean that we make the very most of your contribution. Give and become a part of Rotary’s life-changing work!
The collective leadership and expertise of our 1.2 million members helps us tackle some of the world’s biggest challenges, locally and globally. We are united by common values and vision for the future as we sharpen our focus with targeted specific causes that will reach communities most in need.
Click the Read More buttonto learn more about the history of the Rotary Foundation
For over a century, Rotary has committed itself to addressing the health needs of communities all over the world. In recognition of that commitment, Rotary will honor six members of the Rotary family - Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Peace Fellow Alumni - as Rotary People of Action: Champions of Health during Rotary Day at the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26-27 February 2021.
Dr. James LeDuc, from the Rotary Club of Galveston, has been selected as the nominee from District 5910 for this prestigious recognition.
Click the Read More button to get more Information about Dr. LeDuc, or you can view his Rotary Member Spotlight HERE.
Time flies—once again it is World Polio Day. Interestingly, this year it occurs as the world is contending with another virus, COVID-19. But, while our attention is focused on the current disease, we cannot lose track of a scourge that sickened and killed millions over the course of the 20th century and which is always just one plane flight away from our children and grandchildren as long as it remains in circulation in the wild.
We are now down to just 4 countries in which polio is endemic: Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nigeria, and Iran. Nigeria has now been without cases for 4 years. Iran, which is still on the list has not had a case for over 5 years. However, Pakistan and Afghanistan, after dipping to lows in 2017, have been rising. Pakistan’s cases grew from just 8 in 2017 to a total of 147 in 2019 and the rate has increased in 2020. Afghanistan had a total of 14 cases in 2017, but more than doubled in 2019 to 29 and is currently at 47 in 2020.1 We are so close to finishing the job that we cannot risk losing ground.
Click the Read More button to learn more about Polio and how you can help in the fight to eradicate it.
Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities.
The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable and long term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods by :
1. Building the capacity of entrepreneurs, community leaders, local organizations, and community networks to support economic development in impoverished communities;
2. Developing opportunities for productive work;
3. Reducing poverty in under-served communities;
4. Supporting studies for career-minded professionals related to economic and community development.
Rotary supports investments in people to create measurable and enduring economic improvement in their lives and communities.
The Rotary Foundation enables Rotarians to invest in people by creating sustainable, measurable and long term economic improvements in their communities and livelihoods by :
1. Building the capacity of entrepreneurs, community leaders, local organizations, and community networks to support economic development in impoverished communities;
2. Developing opportunities for productive work;
3. Reducing poverty in under-served communities;
4. Supporting studies for career-minded professionals related to economic and community development.
During 2019-20, for the second year in a row, Rotarians from District 5910 led all other districts in Zone 25b in PolioPlus contributions.
Now, in celebration of what Rotary has already accomplished in Polio Eradication, but more importantly, in anticipation of finishing the job, join Rotarians and Rotaractors from around the world for World Polio Day. If we stay committed, polio will be only the second human disease ever to be eradicated.
Plan an event for your community.
Join the effort to ensure every child receives the polio vaccine and end polio by organizing a World Polio Day event. In 2019, Rotary members held more than 5,900 events in 136 countries. This year, online events and activities will allow us to expand our reach even more and inspire others to join with Rotary.
Not sure how to take action for World Polio Day?
From virtual event ideas to social media posts and photos, the World Polio Day Toolkit at www.EndPolio.Org can help you start planning and promoting your activities now.
Nominations Open For People of Action: Champions of Health
Completed nomination forms due Saturday, Oct. 3
In keeping with Rotary International’s longstanding commitment to improving access to health services and promoting community resiliency, Rotary will honor six individuals – Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Peace Fellow Alumni - as Rotary People of Action: Champions of Health during Rotary Day at the World Health Organization (WHO) on 26-27 February, 2021 in Geneva.
These distinguished individuals will be honored for their commitment to using their time and talents to aid mothers and their children, protect communities from diseases, and strengthen health systems.
2020-21 District Governors, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Rotary Peace Fellow Alumni have the opportunity to nominate one individual that meets the recognition criteria below.
RECOGNITION CRITERIA
Individual Eligibility:
People of Action nominees must be:
A Rotarian, Rotaract member, or Peace Fellow Alumni
Over the age of 18 by the nomination deadline of 9 October 2020.
All nominees must have held a leadership role in a hands-on service project.
Nominees should be involved with projects that are currently active or concluded no earlier than June 2020
Project Criteria:
Nominees must be involved in a project that addresses health concerns or improves health infrastructure/resource availability in their community or around the world. Projects should have a hands-on service component and involve more than fundraising.
Eligible projects should:
Be related to maternal and child health or;
Provide an example of health systems strengthening activities or;
Connect to the polio eradication effort or;
Show how an existing health project has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic or;
Address the issue of vaccine hesitancy.
Ideal projects should demonstrate:
Collaboration: Partnerships between the individual, Rotary, other organizations, and beneficiaries within the community.
Impact: The project provides quantifiable results and can demonstrate a measurable change in conditions for the individuals or community served.
Sustainability: Providing long-term solutions to community needs that can be supported after the project ends.
In-Person/Zoom Meeting Training, Small and Large Meeting
Tech Set-up Videos and Support Documents
District 5950 held an in depth, one-hour Going Hybrid Training in in-person/Zoom hybrid meeting to teach, train and model the hybrid approach to running effective meetings. We’ve created support documents and an equipment Buying Guide to download along with several short, comprehensive “How to do the Tech Set-Up” videos for both small and large meetings. Links for all these resources are on this page! Gain the confidence, knowledge and technical resources to jump-start your hybrid meetings.
Click Read More to access resources to help your club go hybrid.
Worldwide, 67 million children have no access to education, and more than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Rotarians support educational projects that provide technology, teacher training, vocational training teams, student meal programs, and low-cost textbooks to communities. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.
CLICK HERE for more information on how to join a Rotary club!
Many of you have inquired about how to assist the areas that were impacted by Hurricane Laura. Our neighbors in Southwest Louisiana were severely impacted, and to donate to their disaster assistance fund
Rotarian contacts in the Lake Charles area indicate that there is a need for volunteers to help with the preparation and serving of meals, especially with the BBQ Relief Team that is in the area and providing 25,000 to 30,000 meals a day to the Lake Charles, Sulphur, and Westlake communities. If you have members who are looking for ways to help, this would be a great way. Copy and paste this link to sign up to work:
Also, The Rotary Club of Abbeville brought in their “shower trailer” to the Lake Charles area so that first responders helping with Hurricane Laura cleanup efforts could take a hot shower. With the challenges of no electricity and minimal availability of water, this unit has not been able to keep up with the needs for its use.
If your club has a similar shower trailer, or if you or one of your members knows where we can obtain an additional unit if you could let either Jake Cavanaugh in Lake Charles/Sulphur (337-842-3074) or Frank Bradshaw at the District Office (337-237-0628) know in order that we can make arrangements to get it to Lake Charles so that we can help.
Jennifer Jones has been a longtime supporter and friend of District 5910. We would like to congratulate Jennifer on her historic nomination and express our support for her on her journey ahead.
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history. A current Rotary Foundation trustee, Jones has been a member since 1997 and has served Rotary as vice president, director, training leader, committee chair, moderator, and district governor. Read more on the nomination: https://on.rotary.org/2DDj58H
Think of your friends, coworkers and family members who have a heart for service and would enjoy the fellowship, friendship and service opportunities that Rotary offers. Invite them to a meeting!
CLICK HERE for more information on how to join a Rotary club!
Rotarians are "People of Action", and each of the clubs in District 5910, make an impact in their community. Together, they're making a difference by working together as a team to solve issues, make changes, and partner with like minded individuals and organizations.
CLICK HERE for more information on how to join a Rotary club!
Rotary’s official website, Rotary.org, offers information about membership, scholarships, Rotary events, online giving opportunities, the latest Rotary news, and stories of Rotary service and other activities all over the globe.
Click Read More to learn about what resources you gain access to when you register an account.
District 5910 is saddened by the loss of Fred Sandberg, a dedicated Rotarian for almost 30 years. Fred was a Past District Governor, a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, member of the District 5910 Roll of Fame and has received numerous Rotary awards and recognitions. He will truly be missed.
Donating to Rotary means clean water and sanitation. Health and hope in areas that were once ravaged by diseases like polio. Economic development and new opportunities. Your financial help makes all this happen, and more.
The Rotary Foundation Trustees and Rotary International Board of Directors have both unanimously approved adding a new area of focus: supporting the environment.
More than $18 million in Foundation global grant funding has been allocated to environment-related projects over the past five years. Creating a distinct area of focus to support the environment will give Rotary members even more ways to bring about positive change in the world and increase our impact.
For the health and safety of all participants, District 5910 will conduct all district level events virtually in place of in-person meetings, at least through the end of December. Rotary International strongly encourages clubs to consider virtual meetings as well, but leaves the final choice to the individual club based upon local conditions and health advisories. Rotary is monitoring updates and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to ensure the safest and most appropriate actions are taken for our members. Read the latest RI response to COVID-19:
