Two months ago, how many of us could have believed that we would be experiencing such incredible change both in our everyday lives, and in Rotary? And back then, how many thought that the COVID-19 situation could last this long? Many thought
2-3 weeks! A huge shout out and thank you to our District 7080 clubs who rose quickly to the challenge of staying connected during these unprecedented times.
44 of our 48 clubs have been meeting online. Determined not to let Rotary go dark, members are finding new ways to stay connected and to help their communities. This is indeed a “pivot point” for Rotary and for us. The world has changed before our very eyes. We must find new ways to heal our planet. Rotary is needed more now than ever before.
As I reflect back on this year, I can’t help but think of our Flamingo Challenge that came from the July 2018 edition of the Rotarian magazine. Past RI President Barry Rassin told us that he believed we needed the curiosity, courage and conviction to look for better ways to strengthen and grow Rotary. He wrote in the July 2018 edition of The Rotarian:
“I couldn’t think of a more appropriate image to reflect the message I want to convey to Rotarians. That one flamingo, going the other way, represents so much of what we need to do in Rotary. That flamingo knows everyone’s going one way. She sees it. But she also sees that maybe the path they’re on isn’t the best path. Maybe, just maybe, there’s a better path over there, and she wants to get a good look before she goes marching on with her friends. And if, when she does stop and look, that new path does seem better, she’ll call the rest of the crew to come over and check it out with her. And maybe, just maybe, they’ll all choose that better path together. Change is hard. And the longer we’ve been going one way, the more friends we have with us, the harder it is to be the one who turns around and does it differently. But change — not change for its own sake, but careful, considered, goal-directed change — is essential for any organization that wants to evolve, stay relevant, and move forward in the right direction.”
The COVID-19 situation has proven that “necessity is the mother of invention”. It has provided us with the need and the incentive to think differently…to find better ways to stay connected and work together, and we have risen to the challenge! Many clubs have reported increased attendance at their on-line meetings. We are working in partnership with D7090 and D7820 to share our district-wide speaker series. More information below. We’re making our online meetings more fun and interesting through themed events, socials and engaging guest speakers from outside our district who could never have attended our meetings in person. Clubs are working more closely in their clusters to provide support to each other and their communities. A plethora of creative ideas are emerging. Please remember to post and share them on the links provided below under “CONNECTING THROUGH ONLINE MEETINGS”.
Our conference theme this year was “Together We Succeed.” How appropriate especially at this time! A huge thank you to our essential workers who are working tirelessly to keep us safe. Let’s show them and our neighbours that Rotarians and Rotaractors support them by tying ribbons around our trees and balconies.
I am so incredibly proud to be a member of District
7080 and part of the team. Let’s keep working
together…of course, maintaining our social distance!
Stay safe and stay well.
Kudos to you all for finding ways to keep Rotary
vibrant, to support your community and for all that
you do.
D7080… you rock!
Quote of the Month
“This is Rotary and I am sure that these challenges will bring out our considerable strengths - ingenuity, decisiveness, flexibility, and integrity” -George-Robertson-Burnett
Rotaract District Representatives Pari Gujar & Jananee Savuntharanathan
District Website Rotaract Page
The Rotaract page on the District website is a great resource to connect with Rotaract clubs in the District and review important resources such as the Rotaract Handbook and Rotaract Citation. We also have updated versions of the Standard Rotaract Club Constitution and Rotaract Recommended Bylaws that incoming board members will need to review. Check out the page here: https://rotary7080.org/sitepage/rotaract-clubs
Rotaract Club of Mississauga puts together Compassion Task Force
Members of the Rotaract Club of Mississauga have put together a compassion task force to help those in need. Ideas include grocery runs, a healthy meal, pharmacy pickups, check-in phone calls, and other tasks. More information can be found here: https://forms.gle/5Yx9kLRX12aLbDLw9
Subscribe to Young Leaders in Action Newsletter
Young Leaders in Action is a great newsletter sent out by Rotary monthly that focuses on the initiatives. Subscribe to this newsletter, and others, on MyRotary -
Congratulations to the 44 clubs in District 7080 who have successfully continued to meet online as they have not been able to meet in person due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many clubs are reporting a higher attendance rate which is great news! The provision of Zoom licenses by the District to each cluster has greatly facilitated this online activity, both at the club and cluster levels. We must remember that it is still a requirement for clubs to meet, and especially important for us to carry on the work of Rotary during this time when the community needs us the most.
We know of a number of unique ideas that clubs have come up with for their own online activities. We are certain that there are others and thought it helpful to create a vehicle where clubs can post some of their unique online activities or learn what other clubs are doing that they may be able to adopt in their online activities.
Please take moment to check out this resource on the Membership page in the district website at https://rotary7080.org/sitepage/membership. Once on the Membership landing page, scroll down the left hand column to “Links”, then click on “Online Ideas Link” to get to the page. We’d appreciate any and all feedback.
An email was sent to all Club Presidents on April 23rd informing them of a district-wide speaker series available to members via Zoom. It started on April 30th with Dr. Atif Kubrusi, Emeritus Professor of Economics at McMaster University who spoke about the global long term economic impact of the Coronavirus pandemic and provided an understanding of the factors that will shape what the world will look like after COVID-19. Both District 7090 and 7820 have offered to share their speaker series with us. Stay tuned for more information.
DISTRICT 7820 MORNING SHOW
Some may remember Louisa Horne D7820 Governor (Nova Scotia, PEI, Newfoundland & Labrador, St. Pierre et Miquelon) from our Membership Summit in 2018. D7820 has agreed to share their district’s speaker series with us. They have a formidable line-up of Rotary International speakers for the next few weeks. This weekly series can be accessed through Facebook Live. When using Facebook Live, there is no need for a login or password.
Simply go to https://www.facebook.com/RotaryDistrict7820/, “Like” the site and if you’re viewing at the time of the event, it will show. If you’re viewing later, scroll down to the date of the event and watch.
COVID-19 #RotaryResponds Telethon - May 2nd, 2020 11 am EDT
(10 am US CDT)
Rotary International is pleased to share with you that they are championing a COVID-19 #RotaryResponds one-hour Telethon to raise critical funds for disaster response. This telethon will be simulcast on Rotary International’s Facebook page. The goal is to raise more than $1 million dollars.
Rotary’s 1.2 million members across the globe have taken swift action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $3.4 million in Rotary Disaster Response Grants have already been put into action on the frontlines to battle COVID-19. Additionally, millions more have been raised by our People of Action - they have responded quickly and are truly saving lives. Now, we need to do more and the need for additional funding is a priority.
The Telethon date is Saturday, May 2nd, 2020, 10:00 a.m. U.S. Central Daylight Time (Chicago, Illinois).
We will hear stories of hope, inspiration and gratitude from Rotarians, Rotaractors and friends of Rotary from across the globe as they share what they are doing to help their communities. The telethon will also showcase how our polio eradication infrastructure is helping to combat COVID-19.
How can you participate:
Participate in the telethon on Facebook Live. You can find the link on Rotary International’s Facebook Page at facebook.com/rotary.
Spread the word through your social media channels.
Invite others outside of Rotary to watch and see first-hand what our People of Action are doing to combat COVID-19.
Post on social media during the broadcast and on the day of the event at #RotaryResponds and @Rotary.
Encourage your Rotary District to donate District Designated Funds (DDF) at Donate DDF. Note: DDF and cash received between April 22nd and May 3rd will be considered part of the telethon fundraising.
The Rotary Club of Milton supports local hero making & donating Personal Protective Equipment
Forwarded by John Lintack, President Rotary Milton
In late March, a few weeks into the COVID lock down, Ryan Dorland was speaking with his cousin, a nurse on the front lines. It was an emotional call, with her sharing her fears and concerns with the shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Notably, she and co-workers were being rationed to one disposable mask for an entire 12 hour shift, with other critical supplies running dangerously low.
Ryan’s reaction was instantaneous...he said “How can I help?”
With no prior experience, just a burning desire to help his cousin and other front-line health care workers, he sprang into action. Read more...
SERVICE CLUBS UNITE TO OVERCOME COVID-19
Clubs of Rotary International,
Kiwanis International, Lions Clubs International, and Optimist International are working safely and diligently to maintain connections with each other and our neighbors so that we can cope with and overcome the effects of COVID-19. We are leveraging the strength of our combined networks of 3.2 million members to provide comfort and hope to those feeling the effects of isolation and fear.
Our Club and District Support Coordinators connected with every DG and DGE in their area at the end of March to find out what districts and clubs were doing during the pandemic. Read what they wrote:
We have heard so many inspiring stories and ideas over the course of the week, but here are some examples of your leadership in action:
One club raised money to buy lunches for local grocery store workers, local school workers, and emergency medical staff. It was a great way of thanking others for their hard work, and of supporting local business.
District leaders everywhere quickly embraced Zoom calls with AGs, to begin planning multi-club projects, focused on supporting healthcare professionals.
In many districts, smaller clubs are starting to hold joint online meetings, alternating the responsibilities of programming and running the meeting, each week.
It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of:
Doug Gerrard - April 12 at Mississauga Trillium Hospital from complications after a lengthy illness. Doug and his wife Jan were the driving force behind the resurrection of the Mississauga Rotary Camp Enterprise, a business leadership workshop for local high school students at the UTM campus.
Maryanne Levine - wife of Harry Levine on April 22 in Oakville hospital after an illness. Harry and Maryanne are known to many Rotarians through their CRS Marketing business.
To all those who have lost family members recently, know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very difficult time.
Halton Hills Establishes a Volunteer Registry during COVID-19
By Dan Rochester, President, Rotary Club of Acton
With the onset of the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent declarations of States of Emergency, the Community Development division of the Town of Halton Hills Recreation and Parks Department undertook the task of coordinating the service needs of individuals within the community with the agencies best able to meet those needs. The Town of Halton Hills is working with Halton Region, municipalities and local organizations to help the most vulnerable residents. The main goal will be to target vulnerable, self-isolating residents who are:
Financially insecure
Cannot access essential goods through other channels/support networks; and/or
Are self-isolating due to compromised immune status;
Even when you can’t hold training meetings in person, members can still develop new skills and knowledge by taking courses online. Rotary’s Learning Center offers courses on everything from managing training sessions and mentoring to leading change and dealing with conflict. See the course catalog on My Rotary, which includes links to each course.
Rotarians can learn basic information through the Learning Center courses, then attend more in-depth webinars or online meetings to generate ideas together, make action plans, and even organize community projects.
Courses are available in 20 languages, including Mandarin (listed under “traditional Chinese”), Swedish, Thai, and several Eastern European languages.
In these changing times, does your club need help with identifying your vision and translating that into a club plan? If so, contact Adrian DeCoo, Visioning Chair at adriandecoo@rogers.com and take a look at RI’s Strategic Planning Guide.
2020-2021 Club Goals – Attention all President's-Elect!
Now is the time to work with your incoming board and make sure your club goals are in Rotary Club Central (RCC). This was covered at PETS in February and March. Most important are your clubs’ goals for MEMBERSHIP and FOUNDATION. Please also discuss with your board and members other goals that are listed in Rotary Club Central that will help provide focus for the coming year.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Development
From by Brian King, RI Director of Membership Development
Earning the Rotary Citation is an honor that RI President Mark D. Maloney hopes clubs strive to achieve. To earn the citation, please complete activities and report your accomplishments to Rotary by 30 June.
What if social distancing makes it hard to achieve some goals?
We recognize that social distancing and hardships may limit some of the goals that clubs are able to achieve this year. Because of this, the requirements for achieving the 2019-20 citation will be revised. Instead of achieving 5 of the 9 goals in each category, clubs will need to achieve a minimum of three goals in each category. No changes will be made to the Presidential Distinction requirements and clubs still need to be in good standing to be eligible.
Where should I enter my club’s accomplishments?
The 2019-20 Rotary Citation Achievement Guide explains how and where to report each citation goal. If a club member who isn’t an officer wants to record citation progress in Rotary Club Central, you can learn to delegate your level of access temporarily to allow the member to do so.
From Joe Berninger, Rotary Club of Ohio Pathways (D-6600)
The Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP) is a thriving collaboration between Cooperative for Education and Rotary International, dedicated to breaking the cycle of poverty in Guatemala through education. Over 20 years—with the help of Rotarians like you—we've served more than 225,000 students in need.
Since many of our presentations are already virtual, we'd be happy to present to your Club over Skype or Zoom in real time. If your meetings are pre-recorded, we'd be happy to provide one of those as well.
If your Club is interested in hearing more about the GLP, sign-up for a virtual presentation by clicking the button below.
Our team of Rotarians is ready to share our mission with your membership. To get an idea of what a virtual presentation for your Club would be like, watch one of our recent recordings below!
I look forward to hearing from you and send your membership strength and health during this uncertain time.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Joe Berninger
Guatemala Literacy Project (GLP)
Rotary Club of Ohio Pathways (D-6600) www.guatemalaliteracy.org
GUATEMALA…Women working in the Garbage Dump
From Aldo Villanovich, International Service Director
Two years ago, two Rotarians from here visited the Guatemala Garbage Dump, where men, women and children scavenge through the garbage to earn perhaps $3.00 per day. There they met members of CREAMOS that are helping to change lives by training the women with job skills in a Sewing Center. Soon after, Rotary here provided assistance. First by purchasing sewing machines and secondly by providing funds to purchase food during this time of need, as means to earn a living ceased during COVID 19.
Amazing things happened:
a) The women took the food given to them and distributed to others less fortunate and not on the CREAMOS program.
b) Using the skills learned at the Sewing Center and with material provided, they now make masks for COVID 19 needs.
These results were not envisioned two years ago…But what a wonderful way to help those in need. Thank you Rotarians in D7080.
Indigenous Peoples Partnership of Rotary Clubs - A Bird’s Eye View of Services and Projects
From Rotarian Doctor Syed Imtiaz Ahmad, International Director, Rotary Club of Palgrave
Rotary Club of Palgrave joined the Indigenous Peoples Partnership Committee (IPPC) in 2019 which included Rotary clubs of Belleville, Trenton, and Wellington. Several other clubs have shown interest in joining this cluster of clubs. Even the Rotary Club of Rayleigh Mills in UK has made a donation for service to indigenous people. IPPC has been working with several communities of indigenous people located in
Tyendinaga, Kingston, and the remote northern Ontario community of Nibinamik located in Summer Beaver. Rotary Club of Palgrave as well as others in the cluster have made donations to the funds being raised by the Nibinamik Education Centre for a tour by their students to institutions of higher learning and educations sites in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) while staying at the University of Toronto. IPPC also received a wish list from the Nibinamik Education Centre consisting of requests such as LEGO toys for student creative activities, and learning materials such as books in Oji-Cree language. Toys have been shipped. List of books to be purchased is being developed in collaboration with GoodMinds publisher and supplier of Indigenous books in Brantford, Ontario. Some other items were sent to other indigenous communities based on the requests IPPC received from them. Examples are aids for art, Christmas gift packs, and mylar blankets.
IPPC has also been offering bursaries open to students in all Indigenous Peoples communities in Canada. Rotary Club of Palgrave has completed the processing applications it received this year. One student has been selected for award to study at a university and one at a community college. Other clubs in the IPPC cluster are also engaged in making similar awards.
We watched an interesting interview with Dr. Robert Gallo and Dr. Chumakov (FDA) recently about the possibility of using the polio vaccine to help immunize against other viruses. Check out the link at
If you don’t subscribe or read the End Polio Now newsletter, take a look at how the Polio infrastructure is supporting the world’s COVID-19 response:
Over the next several months the polio infrastructure Rotary helped build – including its tools, workforce, and extensive surveillance networks – will be used to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 by supporting preparedness and response activities in many countries, including Nigeria, Pakistan and Afghanistan. This truly represents the ‘Plus” in PolioPlus.
Building on decades of experience stopping polio outbreaks, Rotary and our partners have a critical role to play in protecting communities from this unprecedented pandemic, just as the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) did in the past to respond to outbreaks of Ebola, yellow fever, and Avian flu.
In places like Nigeria, Afghanistan and Pakistan polio staff are tracing contacts and testing for COVID-19, combatting misinformation and sensitizing health professionals on the disease. The GPEI’s coordination mechanisms – such as hotlines and emergency operations centers – and physical assets like vehicles and computers have also been deployed against COVID-19.
A reminder when planning your budget for next year, to put funds aside to support our 2020-21 RYLA program (April 25 – 30, 2021) and your local Camp Enterprise program. Updated documents for the RYLA program can be found by going to our District website at https://rotary7080.org/sitepage/ryla.
Rotary Youth Exchange – RYE
Stay tuned for more information regarding our 2020-21 RYE program. The RYE Committee is closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation and will meet in May to discuss plans for the coming year.
Bits 'n Bites
The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention
Save the date: The 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention will be between 20-26 June 2020.
This year's virtual convention is a great opportunity to connect with Rotary participants from around the world to experience the spirit of Rotary, find inspiration through innovation, celebrate our resilience and ability to adapt, exchange ideas, explore how clubs are addressing COVID-19 around the world, and much more
If nothing else, COVID-19 has made the innovation juices run! Rotarians and communities are trying new ideas to connect and help each other. Together we succeed!
came from the July 2018 edition of the Rotarian magazine. Past RI President Barry Rassin told us that he believed we needed the curiosity, courage and conviction to look for better ways to strengthen and grow Rotary. He wrote in the July 2018 edition of The Rotarian:
Members of the Rotaract Club of Mississauga have put together a compassion task force to help those in need. Ideas include grocery runs, a healthy meal, pharmacy pickups, check-in phone calls, and other tasks. More information can be found here: 
Rotary’s 1.2 million members across the globe have taken swift action to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $3.4 million in Rotary Disaster Response Grants have already been put into action on the frontlines to battle COVID-19. Additionally, millions more have been raised by our People of Action - they have responded quickly and are truly saving lives. Now, we need to do more and the need for additional funding is a priority.
In late March, a few weeks into the COVID lock down, Ryan Dorland was speaking with his cousin, a nurse on the front lines. It was an emotional call, with her sharing her fears and concerns with the shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Notably, she and co-workers were being rationed to one disposable mask for an entire 12 hour shift, with other critical supplies running dangerously low.
