Our News

In her April 2025 Newsletter, District 7070 Governor Virginia O'Reilly reminds us that April 2025 is District 7070’s focus on the Environment coinciding with Earth Day 2025 as we kick-off to the 2025 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. The goal every year is to make this the single largest cleanup event coinciding with Earth Day.  What are you and your Club doing for the Watershed Cleanup?   Many Clubs have environmental events, including waterway cleanups and planting indigenous plants and trees across Saturdays in April.  They are welcoming Rotarians from other Clubs and Non-Rotarians to join them. Check the listing of events and projects in this newsletter and Let’s make April our ‘Rotary Day of Service’ Month and encourage people to join our activities as People of Action! ......  

To mark Earth Day this year, District 7070 Rotarians will be active on April 26th in cleanups as part of the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. Clubs and community groups will also be engaged in other environmental actions during the week. To reinforce the positive impact of all these actions, the District Environmental Action Committee is hosting a Virtual symposium on April 24th, 2025, at 7:00 PM. EST. Please join us in the event to understand the significance.

The symposium will feature expert speakers who will raise awareness of the character and scale of accumulating debris around the world and in the Great Lakes Watershed, highlighting the hazards this accumulation poses to human and ecological health. It will also be an opportunity to find out what we can do beyond single cleanup events and build partnerships with community groups who share our interest in improving the natural environment. Please read more to register today. ....

Our 5th Annual Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup Event (GLWC) is quickly approaching!  Please mark your calendar for Saturday April 26. 2025.  More information will come from your District Environmental Action Committee very soon. Thank you - Dan Coombes - Chair GLWC (dancoombes4@gmail.com)

What is your club doing ?  What are you planning? Here are some of the projects goign on in Rotary District 7070 and WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN.....

On Saturday, April 26, 2025, thousands of Rotarians & Non-Rotarians, on both sides of the Canadian and U.S. border, will roll up their sleeves and collect refuse along the shoreline and many waterway tributaries to the Great Lakes basin. Rotary Clubs in District 7070 , right here in south central Ontario to  lead the way  as they invited friends and family to help support one of Rotary's areas of focus: Supporting The Environment. 

It is up to YOU and your Rotary Club to Lead The Way. 

This is a great example of ROTARY IN ACTION and brings considerable community attention to the importance of ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY.  We will be joined by 35 Rotary Districts in over 2,000 clubs and 75,000 Rotarians surrounding the Great Lakes.  This is our day to show 'Rotary in Action' on a massive scale, as we promote 'Environmental Sustainability' within our communities.  Thank you to District 7070 Chair of the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup ,  Dan Coombes, for getting our clubs in action. 

We asked all Rotary District 7070 Club Presidents  PRESIDENTS  to tell us what they are doing . Here are just some of the Clean up Events in our District. WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN IN with your Rotary friends and help clean up at any of these events. Just contact them in advance:

PLEASE NOTE: SOME EVENTS ARE APRIL 12, APRIL 13, APRIL 19, APRIL 22, AND APRIL 26.   Please Read more.....

With Environmental Sustainability taking root within Rotary as the 7th Area of Focus, Rotary has designated April 2025 as the Environment Month. Check the link below to see what Rotarians around the world are doing to improve the health of planet.

https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-and-earth-day

Within District 7070, most clubs are participating in the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. On Saturday April 26, 2025, thousands of Rotarians & Non-Rotarians alike, on both sides of the Canadian and U.S. border will roll up their sleeves to collect refuse along the shoreline, and innumerable waterway tributaries to the Great Lakes basin......

April 15 – Learning Tuesday Membership Session

Title: What’s in it for Me? Expanding our Reach.

 

Joan Barrett and her District 7070 Membership Committee INVITE YOU to watch the recording and see our Special Guests:  District Governor Elect: Niecy Dillon- Tyrovolas   AND a few clubs from our District 7070 who will share  - how they have grown their membership since July 1, of this Rotary year. .... Please Read More....

Rotary District 7070 members (Rotarians and Rotaractors) and their families celebrated St. Patrick's Day in style at the March 16, 2025 St Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada!

The host Rotary Clubs of Toronto and Etobicoke were thrilled to have an amazing Rotary float showcasing our commitment to community service and fellowship.

The float included the Rotary Club of Toronto's partners: Sherbourne Health Bus and Sprint Senior Care.

Well done everyone.

Lots of great photos, before, during and after......

.....

Dear Rotarians

I am absolutely thrilled to extend to you a warm and heartfelt invitation to join us for the recording of the 2025 Rotary District 7070 Peace Symposium, themed "Harmonizing Hearts and Hands for Peace," that took place on March 18, 2025 .  Imagine being part of a gathering where distinguished humanitarians and industry leaders from across the globe unite under the inspiring theme of "Harmonizing Hearts and Hands for Peace." This theme encapsulates our belief that creating lasting peace is a harmonious effort that requires the unity of compassionate hearts and capable hands. . ......

Another fantastic event - Rotary District 7070 International Women's Day LIVE from the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario Canada, on March 6, 2025 as we celebrated the tremendous success of Women of Action in Rotary District 7070, here in southern Ontario. Shauna Moore, chair of the event interviewed three successful women of action in District 7070: Rotary District 7070 Past Governor Lynda Ryder (who is also President of the Rotary Club of Etobicoke for the third time), Deb Murray from the Rotary Club of Trenton (so successful in many clubs and in out District Rotary Youth Exchange activities), and Sonam Choeden (Assistant Governor and a member of the Toronto Tibetan Rotary Club).

Congratulations to Rotary District 7070 Assistant Governor Shauna Moore - a fantastic event again this year.

Interesting to note: 2 of the last three Rotary International Presidents are women: Jennifer Jones and Stephanie Urchick.

Here is District 7070, in southern Ontario, our District Governor s for the next for years are women: Virginia O'Reilly ; Niecy Dillon-Tyrovolas, Liz Compton, and Tina Martin. We are in good hands.

For those who joined us virtually, thank you for your patience.

Plans are already happening for next year's event! Stay tuned. See below for some photos

The Rotary Foundation requires Rotary and Rotaract Clubs that want to apply for Global and District Grants to be qualified EVERY YEAR.  Clubs are qualified when two of its members have successfully completed the two on-line quizzes connected to the training modules.  In addition, the President and President Elect of Clubs must sign and submit the MOU – Memorandum Of Understanding to the District.  The qualification is valid for one Rotary year. All documents for the 2025-26 Rotary year are posted under the Rotary Foundation tab on the District’s website, www.rotary7070.org   For any questions, please contact PDG Lars Henriksson, District Grants Sub-Committee Chair at pdglars.henriksson@gmail.com

REMEMBER: To qualify, a Club must have at least two of its members complete the qualification process.  In addition, the Club must submit an MOU to the District, signed by the President and President Elect.   Please Read more for details.............

THE MAGIC OF MILLIONS: 

At the Rotary District 7070 Conference , on October 26, Bob Wallace and Jim Louttit announced a new Rotary District 7070 Goal for The Rotary Foundation called "The Magic of Millions". Our goal is to raise, by June 30, 2025, is $1 million . Please appoint an ambassador for your club to help you promote the Magic of Millions . Throughout the year, please encourage your members to donate to : the Annual Programs Fund, the Polio Fund, The Disaster Response Fund and to the Endowment Fund.  At the Rotary Foundation Grants Seminar in Oshawa on November 16 , you found out even more how you can help us reach that Magic of Millions. 

District Governor Elect NIECY DILLON TYROVOLAS INVITES YOU TO 2025 DISTRICT 7070 CONFERENCE on OCTOBER 24-26, 2025.

We are thrilled to announce DGE Niecy Dillon's 2025 Conference at the beautiful Fern Resort in Orillia. Take this opportunity to book your ticket for fun and fellowship by copying this link.

https://www.crsadmin.com/eventportal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=7146fb67-a3fd-40bf-9287-60d44ae87a0c . Registrations are now open. Rooms are limited - only 102 of them - many of them on the waterfront and are suitable for singles, doubles and groups. We do hope that you will join us.

The District 7070 Conference Committee

Registration is now open for the 2025 convention. Next year’s Rotary International Convention is in Calgary, Canada! Register TODAY. .   https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/2025-rotary-convention-calgary

A note from District Governor Virginia O'Reilly: The 2018 Rotary International Convention was a blast in Toronto!  And we have another one in Canada!!  Expect an exhilarating journey of connections and inspiration at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary! Engage in riveting discussions, learn from distinguished speakers, exchange best practices, discover innovative projects, and form lifelong connections with fellow Rotarians from around the world. Take part in this transformative event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025. Register by 15 December to take advantage of the early registration discount!

For more information, CLICK HERE!  And watch this video from Convention Chair Bryn Styles to see why everyone should join us in Calgary!

Frequently asked questions: https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/about/faqs

Programs and Eventshttps://convention.rotary.org/en-us/program-and-events

Please Read more right here to see important updates ........

Dear fellow Rotarians in District 7070,

Rotarians in District 7070 have been committed to The Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation. You should be proud of the difference that Rotary have made in the lives of millions of people throughout the world by the project funded by The Rotary Foundation.

I want to thank you for your past efforts and ask that you recommit to helping us raise funds for The Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation.

We are inviting you to join our efforts to continue for The Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation.  To become a member of the Paul Harris Society you are asked to commit to making an annual donation of $1000 USD or more to The Annual Programs Fund of the Rotary Foundation.

We hope that with your commitment in joining the Paul Harris Society, we will make a significant difference in our world.

To sign up go to https://rotary7070.org/sitepage/paul-harris-society-district-7070

Bob

Bob Wallace

Past District Governor

Chair, District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee

Dear Fellow Rotarians in District 7070,

Rotarians in District 7070 have been committed over the past nearly 40 years to raising funds to immunize children worldwide and our efforts are paying off.  You should be proud of the difference that Rotary has made in the lives of millions of children by eliminating this dreadful disease.

I want to thank you for your past efforts and ask that you recommit to helping us raise funds to finish Rotary’s number one initiative of eradicating polio.  Rotary is still committed to raising $50 million a year for this effort.

As such, we are launching the Polio Plus Society and are inviting you to join our efforts to continue to raise funds to eradicate polio.  To become a member of the Polio Plus Society you are asked to commit to making an annual donation of $100 USD or more to The Rotary Foundation’s Polio Plus Fund until the last two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are certified free of the wild polio virus.

A PolioPlus Society membership form can be downloaded here or you can also complete an on-line registration form by clicking here

For more information and to sign up today, please  go to https://rotary7070.org/sitepage/polioplus-society-1

Bob

Bob Wallace

Past District Governor

Chair - District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee