District Governor's Message
Much to Celebrate in Rotary this Spring !
Mary Kessens
I’m looking forward to celebrating the Rotary Year. Plans are underway for our District Celebration to be held April 25-26, 2008 at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells. Speakers from around North America have confirmed their presentations about topics of interest to Rotarians. We will have speakers on how Rotary Clubs might work with the US Agency for International Development and World Vision. Our RI President’s Representative is a young, vibrant newspaper publisher from Canada. Plans are being made to include your favorite club projects in Pop-up Presentations throughout the Celebration. We will have a children’s program and the water park will be available for youth activities. Chances to learn about Rotary from national and international leaders will be available. I’m personally looking forward to a trip to the Spa at Chula Vista!
Remember also that deadlines are approaching for numerous Rotary International Awards. Check out the rotary.org website by searching for “Awards” and find the many ways you can recognize your members and club for exceptional service. There is also a article in this month’s newsletter about upcoming award deadlines. Remember that the deadline for Club Presidential Citations is March 31, 2008. I hope all clubs will apply for this recognition for the many ways Rotary Shares through out the year.
As we are looking to celebrate the current Rotary Year, the district is also in the midst of planning for the next Rotary Year. Check out our rotary6250.org website to register for PETS and District Assembly. District Assembly is for all Rotary leaders in clubs to learn about ways to improve their club’s operation, enhance membership recruitment and retention, improve local and international projects and utilize the resources of The Rotary Foundation. We hope that each club will bring their 2008-9 leadership team to this event on March 29, 2008 at the Cranberry Lodge in Tomah, WI. Sign up now to be a part of these many training and celebration activities.
Best Wishes in Rotary,
Mary
Has Your Club Submitted Reservations for the 5th Annual Rotary Youth Leadership (RYLA) Conference?
It’s time to begin planning for the 5th annual Rotary Youth Leadership (RYLA) Conference. The 2008 conference will be held at Camp Manito-wish YMCA in Boulder Junction on May 16 through May 18.
Clubs need to submit reservations immediately!
Names of candidates are not needed yet, only the number you plan to send.
If you have not reserved your spots for the RYLA conference, please contact Scott Hood.
For the complete packet of RYLA Conference information click here.
District Goals for the Year
Mary Kessens
Click here to download district goals as a pdf.
District News, Events and Announcements
Save These Important Rotary Dates!
Please mark your calendars or register for these important meetings as we prepare for the 2008-2009 Rotary year!
March 14 & 15, 2008
President Elect Training Seminar (PETS)
Cranberry Country Lodge, Tomah, WI
Rotary Rocks!
This very exciting and informative meeting will begin promptly at 9:00 AM on Friday, with registration lasting from 8:15 AM until 9:00 AM. You will also be able to register on-line so watch your email! A continental breakfast will be served. The meeting will last for a day and a half and will adjourn at approximately 12:00 noon on Saturday. All participants are obviously encouraged to stay over night at the Lodge and get to know the other President - Eloects from around the District. Many of your questions and concerns will be answered and resolved during casual and informal discussions. This seminar is designed for all President - Elects. Attendance is actually mandated by Rotary International. President - Elect Nominees are also encouraged to attend and will be charged a fee of approximately $235. It is absolutely crucial that everyone attends! There is no time like the present to begin preparation for the next several years. What a great opportunity for all to learn about the wonderful world of Rotary!!
An outstanding agenda of important topics will keep your attention for the entire day and a half seminar. We are very pleased to have Michael Johns, current Rotary International Director, as our evening keynote speaker. You will truly enjoy his comments!!
I cannot overemphasize the importance of this meeting. It is a very critical meeting that will do much to allow us to begin the 2008 - 09 Rotary year with a great deal of excitment and enthusiasm!!
Click here to view program and registration information.
March 29, 2008
District Assembly
Cranberry Country Lodge, Tomah, WI
Rotary Re-Rocks!
The District Assembly will begin promptly at 9:00 AM with registration beginning at 8:30 AM. Once again, you will be able to register on-line. A continental breakfast will be served during the registration period.
The Assembly is designed for all President - Elects and their entire team of club officers. In fact, all Rotarians from all clubs are encouraged to attend!! This is a wonderful opportunity to pull everything together at your club level! You can organize, create and invent new ways for your club to have an outstanding 2008 - 09 Rotary year!! All in attendance will have the exciting experiences of learning about the vast majority of our excellent porograms in District 6250!! Each presentation is designed to assist all Rotarians to have a very rewarding year!
Seven workshop tracks will be available! One specific to secretaries and treasurers; one for those involved in youth programs; and additional tracks for those who want to learn more about the Foundation, Membership and Retention, how to get started on a service project, fundraising ideas and a session on how to incorporate more fun into your meetings called "weekly meetings and all that jazz!!".
Plan to attend this event with many of your Rotarians from your Club!!!! ROTARY RE-ROCKS!!!!!!! And.....we will see you on March 29th!!!!
Click here to view program and registration information.
Much more about these three very important meetings will be coming your way in the very near future!!! Stay tuned!!
Yours In Rotary,
Tom Marshall
Governor Elect
Youth Protection - It's Not Just for Youth Exchange Any Longer
Imagine the following scenario:
You are President of your Rotary Club. You are already seven months into your term, and things are going well. Your club is active in many projects, your membership is holding steady and even growing, and you are starting to feel really comfortable standing up in front of the group every week to conduct your meetings. Rotary life is pretty good right now.
It’s Friday afternoon and you are at work, just getting back into your office from your weekly Friday afternoon meetings. Before going home to enjoy your weekend, you check your voice mail messages. One of the messages is from a staff member at Rotary International (RI).
The message from the RI staffer offers no details, but the staff member says it is urgent that you call back, and you can sense that urgency in their voice. You wonder why RI wants to talk to you and why it is so urgent. Everything in your club is running well, so this must be one of those ‘good’ calls, congratulating you on one of your club’s many achievements so far this year.
So, you pick up the phone and call the RI staff person back. After saying hello and the usual small talk, the RI staffer begins to tell you the reason for their call. Suddenly, a blank looks comes across your face, and soon your whole body becomes numb. With each word from the RI staffer, a knot in your stomach begins to grow and get bigger.
The RI staffer informs you that Rotary International, along with your club, is being sued for child abuse. It seems that a parent is claiming that someone from your club abused their child during a Rotary sponsored program, an end of school day ‘reading buddy’ program, which partners elementary school children in your community with reading difficulties with a Rotarian who works after school with the child to help with reading. What’s more, the alleged abuse happened in 2000, almost eight years ago, before you were even a member of the Rotary Club, much less its President. The ‘reading buddy’ program has been well received in your community, has been very successful and has received much publicity as a model program for helping children with reading difficulties.
At the end of the call, you thank the RI staffer for calling and hang up the phone. You stare blankly into space, wondering what to do next.
Does this scenario sound unrealistic to you? While the above example is fictional, the fact of the matter is that there ARE very real scenarios that have occurred in the Rotary world in recent past, some in our very own District 6250.
Rotary International has recognized the need to implement policies regarding Youth Protection for a few years now, and Rotary District 6250 is no exception.
Since October 2007, a group of District Rotarians have been meeting to fine tune and implement Youth Protection policies and programs for all Rotarians in District 6250. Headed by chairperson Al Steevens (PDG 2001-02) from the Baraboo Rotary Club, the committee is looking at ALL youth activities that Rotary gets involved with, not just youth exchange.
Currently the committee is working on finalizing Youth Protection policies for the District that can be incorporated into your own Rotary Clubs and working on an implementation plan to train all Rotarians in Youth Protection for all youth activities that our club may be involved with.
At the President Elect Training Seminar (PETS), attendees will get a preview of the committee’s work, with more information on Youth Protection being presented at District Assembly and District Conference. A plan to roll out training to all Rotarians is being worked on for future implementation.
As Rotarians involved with all sorts of youth programs, we need to take seriously the topic of youth protection. We need to ensure that our youth activities provide a safe, fun and healthy environment for all participants.
Youth Protection – it’s not just for Youth Exchange any longer.
Youth Protection Training Offered March 1st
Linda Buchs-Hammonds will be providing a Youth Protection training session March 1st from 11am - noon in Wisconsin Rapids. YEO's and YEC's (even if your club only has an outbound student) need to have this training. If you have not had this training and are able to go, please contact Linda so she can plan. This training session will also serve as the Youth Protection training required for those involved in any Rotary youth activities though there will be a special emphasis on youth exchange. E-mail lindabuchshammonds@charter.net to let Linda know you want to come. She will verify your plans to attend and give you details of the location of the training.
Thanks.
Linda Buchs-Hammonds
Assistant Chair D6250 RYE
Youth Inbound Coordinator Search
As you may know, our District 6250 Youth Exchange Program is currently looking for a new Inbound Coordinator. Jean Hathway, from Janesville, has been in that position for several years and is going to retire on or about July 1.
So........we are looking for someone to take her place as the Inbound Coordinator for our District. This is truly an exciting positon and a wonderful opportunity to become involved with students and families from throughout the world. As you know, our Youth Exchange program is among the very best!!! The person whom we are looking for has to enjoy students and working with families!!! This is an excellent way to "MAKE DREAMS REAL".
Please survey your clubs and see if you can find some interested Rotarians. Have them be in touch with me or with Linda Buchs-Hammonds at Lindabuchshammonds@charter.net
Thank you so much.
Tom Marshall
Governor Elect
tom.marshall@wrps.org
Past District Governor Hal Keitel Appointed Foundation Chair for District 6250
PDG Hal Keitel appointed as Foundation Chair for District 6250. PDG Hal is a past Group Study Exchange leader to Germany and a Rotary Foundation Bequest Society member. He and his wife Julie currently live in La Crosse, WI where he is a member of the Rotary Club of LaCrosse.
District Speech Contest - Applicants and Judges Needed
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
As you know, the District Speech Contest is scheduled for Sunday, April 20, 2008. The deadline for applications is March 31, 2008.
The committee is looking for three judges to evaluate the speakers. The judges may be either Rotarians or Non-Rotarians, but it is suggested that they have public speaking talents.
If you know of someone who would be interested in assisting the committee by volunteering to be a judge, please respond to:
Katie Bally, Chairperson, District Speech Contest, kbally@sbcglobal.net, 608-233-8000
Thank you!
Katie Maahs-Bally
Club News, Events and Announcements
Do you have an upcoming Club Event or accomplishment that you would like to announce? Send your pre-written article to: rotarydistrict6250@morgandata.com.
Zone 27/28 Newsletter - Great Membership Tips!
Click here to checkout great membership and retention ideas!
Rotary Club of Madison Holds 8th Annual Rotary Ethics Symposium
On Friday, February 1, the Rotary Club of Madison held it's 8th Annual Rotary Ethics Symposium with over 200 students in attendance. Click here to view the full report.
RI News
2008 Rotary International Convention News
June 15 - 18
Los Angeles, CA
Now is the time to register for the International Convention in Los Angeles which wil be held June 15 - June 18, 2008. Join thousands of Rotarians from all over the world at the 99th annual convention where we "can see the stars"!!
RI Conventions are meant to stimulate, inspire, and inform all Rotarians at an international level--particularly incoming and foundation officers as they learn how ROTARY SHARES with them as well as communities around the world. You can learn how to strengthen your club and identify services and fellowship opportunities through listening to speakers, participating in breakout sessions, visiting the Club and District Projects Exhibition, and talking to fellow Rotarians and members of the Rotary family.
Why not plan a pre or post convention vacation with your own family?
Log on to www.Rotary2008.com for further details. You can also go to the Rotary International website for applications and information about housing.
Please let me know if you are planning on attending and we can arrange a District 6250 gathering at one of the hotels.
Let me know if you have any questions!!!
In Your Rotary Service,
Tom Marshall
Governor Elect
Wide World of Books Project at 2008 Convention
President Wilkinson encourages Rotary Clubs around the world to support projects that improve literacy rates.
Here is the challenge: Students in California rank among the lowest in the nation in reading skills. Nearly one-third of California’s 5 million children do not speak English as their native language. In the five-county, Southern California region, four out of five, or more than 1 million kindergarten through third-grade students are reading below grade level.
Southern California and Nevada Rotarians share the Reading by 9 goal that 95% of the children read English at grade level by age nine.
How can you help: Every Rotarian attending the LA2008 Convention is being asked to donate one or more books to the ROTARY’S WIDE WORLD OF BOOKS, which will then be distribute by Reading by 9 to public elementary schools in Southern California and Nevada. Please bring books for kindergarten through third-grade only. Any language is welcome! Also, you can insert a personal note with the name of your Rotary Club
All the books collected will be in display in a mountain of books, at the entrance to the LA Convention Center. We expect so many books that we approached the Guinness Organization in London and applied for and got accepted to set the Guinness World Record. A representative of the Guinness Organization will be present in Los Angeles to certify this world record, which will get Rotary into the Guinness Book of World Records.
Be part of Rotary’s largest international book drive! Help RI make it into the Guinness Book of World Records! Be proud to be a Rotarian!
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact PDG Ingo Werk, Chair of the LA2008 Commemorative Project ROTARY’S WIDE WORLD OF BOOKS, at ingo.wrek@gmail.com
The LA2008 Convention will leave behind the legacy of ROTARY’S WIDE WORLD OF BOOKS and will play a crucial part in the Reading by 9 program.
So, please bring a book and be part of ROARY’S WIDE WORLD OF BOOKS!
Yours in Rotary Service.Alice Muntean, North American Coordinator
818-610-2052
Rotary International Awards Nominations Sought
Greetings from RI Headquarters in Evanston! I am writing to remind you about three upcoming award deadlines. Clubs are encouraged to submit their nominations in a timely manner to enable the District Governor to meet these deadlines. Nomination materials for each of these awards are available at www.rotary.org by clicking on the following menu items: Members > General Information > Awards.
Please note Rotary International has established the following rule when submitting an award nomination.
All nominations should be mailed to the District Governor Mary Kessens, 1017 Hampshire Place, Madison, WI 52711. Please note that the deadlines for submitting all of the following nominations to the District Governor are not negotiable due to Rotary International deadlines. Late or incomplete submittals to the District Governor will not be recognized nor will they be recognized by Rotary International.
Significant Achievement Award
Deadline for submittal to District Governor is February 29, 2008. If more than one nomination is received, the project best fitting the description below will be forwarded.
This award recognizes outstanding club service projects. To be eligible, projects must:
• address a significant problem or need in the local community
• involve most or all of the club members in personal rather than monetary service
• be commensurate with the club's size and resources
• be capable of emulation by other Rotary clubs
• be currently active or reach a conclusion during the Rotary year for which the award is given
• be carried out by a single Rotary club
No club may receive the award more than once for the same project. District governors may forward one nomination to RI for consideration. Multiple nominations from a single district will not be considered.
Presidential Citation
Deadline to submit a nomination to District Governor is March 31, 2008. All complete and eligible nominations will be forwarded to RI. Incomplete or late nominations will not be forwarded to Rotary International nor returned for edits.
The Presidential Citation program is revised on an annual basis by the RI president to complement the president's theme for the year. This year’s program supports President Wilf Wilkinson’s Rotary Shares theme. The 2007-08 Presidential Citation brochure, available on the Web, highlights different activities that a club can participate in to qualify for this award. To qualify for a citation, clubs must achieve a net increase of at least one member by 31 March 2008 and complete one activity from each of the six categories listed in the brochure. Club presidents must fill out and sign their club’s Presidential Citation Certification Form and send it to their district governor by 31 March 2008.
Rotaract and Interact clubs may also qualify for a Presidential Citation by completing at least four activities overall from any of the categories in the brochure. The sponsoring Rotary club must sign the Rotaract and Interact Presidential Citation Certification Form and submit it to the district governor by 31 March 2008.
This year, district governors can receive special recognition if 50% or more of the clubs in their district qualify for the Presidential Citation and the governor and 50% of the district’s club presidents personally bring a new member into Rotary between 1 July 2007 and 31 March 2008. If our district meets these additional goals, the DG will need to indicate so on the list submitted to RI and provide the names of each of the new members brought into Rotary along with the names of their sponsors. Your district governor has met this goal and hopes all club presidents have also brought in a new member this year! Remember to include the name of the person you brought in to Rotary this year!
Public Relations Award
Deadline for submittal to District Governor is April 31, 2008. If more than one nomination is received, the project best fitting the purpose of the award will be forwarded.
The purpose of this award is to recognize Rotary clubs that have generated increased awareness and understanding of Rotary through outstanding media coverage or public relations efforts. Public relations campaigns undertaken between 15 March 2007 and 15 March 2008 are eligible for this year’s award. Please note that in order to qualify, clubs must have undertaken a significant media campaign that demonstrably improved Rotary’s visibility and image within the community.
For more information on developing effective public relations, please consult the RI Web site section on Public Relations by clicking on the following menu items: Members > Running a club > Public Relations.
No club may receive the award more than once for the same project. District governors may forward one nomination to RI for consideration.
Rotary World Peace Summit
Rotary International President Wilfred Wilkinson extends invitation to attend the Rotary World Peace Summit, April 25-27.
Click here to view President Wilkinson's invitation to District Governor Mary Kessens.
Click here to view the World Peace Summit Brochure.
Call for Applications for Rotary Peace Programs
Call for Applications
The Rotary Foundation announces a call for applications for the 2009-11 Rotary World Peace Fellowships (RWPF) and January 2009 Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies (RPCS) Program session. The deadline for completed applications to be submitted to The Rotary Foundation for these sessions is 1 July 2008.
Program Synopses
The Rotary Centers for International Studies program offers fellowships for master’s degree study fields related to peace and conflict resolution. Beyond academics, the Rotary World Peace Fellows who participate in the program also gain practical skills in conflict resolution appropriate to their individual careers.
Up to 60 Rotary World Peace Fellows each year each year enroll in the six Rotary Centers based at leading universities in five countries: International Christian University, Japan; Universidad del Salvador, Argentina; University of Bradford, United Kingdom; University of Queensland, Australia; University of California-Berkeley, Calif., U.S.A., and Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program is a professional development program held in Bangkok, Thailand, through which up to 30 participants embark on three months of intensive study instructed by some of the leading specialists in the peace and conflict resolution fields. The customized curriculum has been crafted by specialists in the field to capitalize on the experience of both participants and lecturers while balancing theoretical and practical learning.
Ideal for busy professionals, the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program’s customized curriculum helps promising leaders expand their global outlook, strengthen their negotiation skills, and ultimately make a positive impact on future peace and conflict resolution efforts worldwide.
Promotional Materials
Please feel free to use this announcement to advertise Rotary’s peace programs and recruit applicants. We appreciate your help and support as we train leaders to build peace.
For More Information
Please contact Laura Tell, Rotary Centers Program Assistant, at +1-847-866-3307 with any questions or for more information. Program materials and participant profiles can be downloaded at www.rotary.org.
Laura Tell
Program Assistant
Rotary Centers for International Studies
laura.tell@rotary.org
+1.847.866.3307
+1.847.556.2141 (fax)
1560 Sherman Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
Water & Sanitation Rotarian Action Group
UN World Water Day, March 22, 2008
Potable water and adequate sanitation has been a shared vision of Rotarians and unicef for a long time. It's a daily privilege so many of us take for granted, but it's a sad fact that the lack of these basic needs is the second largest killer worldwide of children under 5.
Click here to view the WASRAG bulletin and learn more about World Water Day and how Rotarians can help!
Ask Mary
Do you have a question for our District Governor Mary Kessens? If so click here to email your questions to Mary Kessens.
Dear Mary,
Mary, do you have something that defines the criteria to be entitled an Honorary Member, a Senior Active Member and a Senior Exempt Member? I am trying to find these online but have had no luck.
Thanks,
Mike Dillis
Secretary
Madison South Rotary
Hello Mike,
I think what you are looking for is in the “2007 Manual of Procedure”, Bylaws of Rotary International, Article 4. You can download the Manual of Procedure from the RI website. RI only allows for two classes of members, active and honorary. Clubs sometimes get around these classes by meeting the criteria described by RI, but waiving meal costs for older Rotarians who may meet certain qualifications. For a person to retain Rotary membership, they must at minimum pay District 6250 and Rotary International dues. Attendance requirements are described in Article Nine of the “Standard Rotary Club Constitution”.
Best Wishes in Rotary,
Mary
Update on Annual Giving
Foundation Reports
Click here to view the updated Club Goals Report!
More Information on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Matching Grant
Click here to read an announcement from The Rotary Foundation regarding the Matching Grant from the Bill and Linda Gates Foundation. Watch our district and the Rotary International website for more information as it becomes available.
Polio Plus in Action E-Newsletter
Click here to view the Polio Plus in Action E-Newsletter.
Attendance Report
Click here to submit your club's attendance report
Sparta Adds 11 New Members 12% Year to Date!
Click here to see the full December Attendance Report.
