Last month I was happy to report that our lift off had put us into a comfortable orbit. That our 2020-21 Rotary "relief crews" were gathering at PETS in order to train for their launch in July. That all 3,000 of us could focus on the final third of the Rotary Year and begin looking forward to a successful end to this year's mission.
What a difference a month makes ... the visions of a smooth, end of year, Rotary landing have transformed into the hard work needed to make a dignified crash landing. Many of you are in professions that are on the front lines in this crisis. Others are helping family and friends through difficult times. Our Club and District Leaders are doing a multitude of things to keep the Rotary spirit alive and to keep all of us engaged. No matter what your are doing THANK YOU! As our RI President mentions in his message below, Rotary has only gotten stronger after each previous crisis in its 100+ year history. We will be stronger after this crisis as well.
Now is the time to notice that the Rotary Foundation is providing additional flexibility so that clubs can more easily create their own Rotary "stimulus". ROTARY COVID-19 UPDATES Now is the time to recognize that our District is an absolute leader in YOUTH EXCHANGEand that we have recently been recognized as such (see article below). Now is the time to focus on your Club Leaders, many of whom could use your help and ideas to make sure that your club remains vibrant and more relevant than ever in your community. And now is the time to understand how Rotary Clubs around the world are helping their communities. ROTARY COVID-19 INITIATIVES The Swiss Army Knife that is Rotary has many powerful tools, now is the time to use them!
Finally, the Rotary Foundation will be seeing tremendous demands on it's monetary resources in the months (and years) ahead. Now is the time to make a contribution, an extra contribution and/or sign-up for Rotary Direct. Please do what you can. I have knowing that our past efforts in so many areas are helping to mitigate the crisis we are in today and that our combined efforts will help the world to recover tomorrow. ROTARY FOUNDATION DONATION LINK
Stay well and click on "read more" if interested in the weekly e-mails that have been sent to Club Leaders since the crisis began.
On March 24th the Rotary Foundation made $1 million in additional Disaster Relief funding available to Rotary Districts around the world and encouraged giving by both Districts and individuals. Our District is working on behalf of all District Clubs to secure the maximum allowed amount under this program - $25,000. To apply the District needs funding idea(s) from your Club and, therefore, this morning the following letter went out to all Club Presidents and President-Elects. Please help your Club Leaders make certain that your club is taking full advantage of this opportunity. Read more for details.
UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR CLUB!
April 2nd from 5:30 to 9:00 pm First Ever District Grant Management Seminar on ZOOM. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER.
Under the provisions of the Rotary Foundation’s District and Global Grants programs, club’s desiring to participate must be certified. Part of that certification process is attendance at a Rotary Grant Management Seminar (GMS). Clubs need only have one representative at a GMS, however, it is recommended that the club president-elect and foundation chair both attend.
We have made the very difficult decision today to cancel our RYLA program for this upcoming May 15-17, 2020. Based on the severity of the COVID-19 outbreak, Upham Woods has decided to keep it's facility closed through the month of May. Ultimately, the safety of our students, staff, and Rotarians is highest priority for us.
We plan to do whatever we can to provide some sort of experience for our students signed up to attend this year. The options include rescheduling the RYLA program for sometime this summer or early fall based on availability at Upham Woods. Another option would be to provide some sort of virtual program that our team has already begun working on! We’re carefully considering these options and will follow up with more information on those plans as soon as they become finalized.
We appreciate your patience with the decision making process and insight as we move forward. On behalf of the team, please know how incredibly grateful we are for your interest and support of the RYLA program and the opportunity to foster leadership in not only yourself but also those around you. We are remaining incredibly positive that we will have the opportunity to experience the RYLA magic we had been planning for over the past several months.
It is with disappointment and sadness that we have decided to cancel the Short Term Exchange Program (STEP) for summer 2020. As the COVID-19 virus continues to impact countries around the world, we believe it is clear that travel plans abroad would be risky at best. Furthermore, both Spain and Germany have already cancelled their 2020 STEP program.
All of our 2020 students have been personally contacted this afternoon to tell them of this decision. We have decided to honor their present application and current match if possible should our students wish to participate next summer (2021). If their match withdraws from the program, we will work to make a new match next year.
If the student withdraws from our program before June 30, 2020 they will receive a full refund. If the withdrawal from the program occurs after July 1, 2020 they will receive a $150 dollar refund. The orientation scheduled for April 2020 will be rescheduled for spring 2021.
DG Note: Read more for additional information and a recent national award received by our Youth Exchange Team.
Posted by John Storck - President Mayville Rotary Club
Last week the Mayville Rotary Club Board voted to make an initial contribution of $1,500 to a new community project aimed at assisting small, struggling businesses in Mayville and surrounding communities. The project is called "Round Up for a Cause." The project will raise money through donations and also through individuals "rounding up" their purchases at Piggly Wiggly. (The way that works is that if your bill at Piggly Wiggly is $20.10 you could round up to $21 or even $25. The amount of the "round up" would go into a fund to help these struggling businesses.)
The fund has been supported by our Rotary Club, the Mayville Lions, and also by a $5,000 gift from Piggly Wiggly. Additional donations are accepted. Contact ______ if you are interested in participating.
"Read More" for additional details and a draft grant application.
Posted by Jason Beren - District 6250 Board Member
As we look to find ways to Connect, Grow, and Serve during the COVID-19 emergency here's one way to expand your knowledge of Rotary, visit MyRotary and the Rotary Online Learning Center and enroll in one or more classes. See all that it has to offer here: ROTARY LEARNING CENTER
Problems getting into the Rotary Learning Center? It's probably because you don't have a MyRotary account ... something that every Rotarian should have. Click on "read more" below.
Posted by Kerri Murray - Rotary Club of Montecito, California
Dear RI District 6250,
I am reaching out to let you know I'm thinking of the well-being of you and your family. I am hopeful you are staying safe and healthy during this difficult time.
As coronavirus spreads around the globe, governments have imposed quarantines of unprecedented scale to flatten the curve. These include sealing borders and travel restrictions, recommendations on handwashing, practicing social-distancing, and orders to remain at home. But what if you don’t have a home, access to clean water, or a local support network to begin with?
Coronavirus has the potential to ravage the world’s most vulnerable: the tens of millions of refugees and internally displaced people. The virus knows no boundaries and is reaching the furthest parts of our world.
On March 24th the Rotary Foundation made $1 million in additional Disaster Relief funding available to Rotary Districts around the world and encouraged giving by both Districts and individuals. Our District is working on behalf of all District Clubs to secure the maximum allowed amount under this program - $25,000. To apply the District needs funding idea(s) from your Club and, therefore, this morning the following letter went out to all Club Presidents and President-Elects. 
UNIQUE AND IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR YOU AND YOUR CLUB! 
It is with disappointment and sadness that we have decided to cancel the Short Term Exchange Program (STEP) for summer 2020. As the COVID-19 virus continues to impact countries around the world, we believe it is clear that travel plans abroad would be risky at best. Furthermore, both Spain and Germany have already cancelled their 2020 STEP program.
Last week the Mayville Rotary Club Board voted to make an initial contribution of $1,500 to a new community project aimed at assisting small, struggling businesses in Mayville and surrounding communities. The project is called "Round Up for a Cause." The project will raise money through donations and also through individuals "rounding up" their purchases at Piggly Wiggly. (The way that works is that if your bill at Piggly Wiggly is $20.10 you could round up to $21 or even $25. The amount of the "round up" would go into a fund to help these struggling businesses.)
As we look to find ways to Connect, Grow, and Serve during the COVID-19 emergency here's one way to expand your knowledge of Rotary, visit MyRotary and the Rotary Online Learning Center and enroll in one or more classes. See all that it has to offer here: 
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