Our District newsletter is meant to keep everyone in our Rotary family up to date on latest news from around the Rotary world, from the clubs in our District and from the various committees in District 7070 and beyond. Please keep our family informed. Make sure they get a copy. The deadline for your story submissions is always 4 days prior to the end of the month. Scroll all the way down and find out "What's Inside" this month, please read more .......

Dear fellow Rotarians, 

Happy New Year!  All the best to you and your family in 2020.

Nominations for the position of District Governor for the Rotary year 2022-23

From District Governor Beth Selby

Hello Everyone,

District 7070 is looking for Rotarians who are interested in leading our District as Governor in the 2022-2023 Rotary year – July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023.  

All Rotary Clubs in District 7070 are invited to submit suggestions to me on or before Friday, January 12, 2020. Nomination forms should be scanned and sent by email to dgbeth@bethselby.com. Receipt of each form will be made by return email. Please retain the original form......

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In Mark Maloney's January 2020 Newsletter, it is all about Rotary’s commitment to vocational service which Marks says is built on the highest ethical standards in business and professions, the recognition of the worthiness of all useful work, and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society. His last point is so important. No matter our profession, Mark notes that we all contribute mightily to the world when we conduct our work with integrity and always adhere to The Four-Way Test. He also says that no Rotarian should feel pressured to put in more time than a volunteer position should ever demand. This is particularly important in our efforts to reach younger new members. We want to see a Rotary where no one is ever asked to choose between being a good Rotarian and being a good parent, business owner, manager, or employee. When we ask busy young people to join us, we should not be asking them to give up their time and freedom....

In his January 2020 message to Rotarians, Gary Huang, Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation, (and also Past President of Rotary International), reminds us all about polio eradication and the final mile of our journey being a difficult one. Pakistan and Afghanistan are great challenges for us — but Gary says that  we have met so many great challenges before. Every time a goal has seemed out of reach, Rotarians have stood together and answered the call. He noted that these are the times that we need each other most. Gary encourages all Rotarians to make history. The finish line is within reach......

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YOU'RE INVITED! On May 10, 2019, Rotary lost a charismatic, dynamic leader with the passing of Past District Governor Bill Patchett. To celebrate Bill and his tremendous work for Rotary District 7070, we will gather in Cobourg to celebrate his achievements. We will remember Bill for his passion and for his legendary, tenacious work for End Polio Now and The Rotary Foundation fundraising efforts. Please join us!
For all the details go to https://rotary7070.org/event/bill%E2%80%99s-birthday-bash/    ....

Are you going to the District 7070 Conference at the Westin Prince Hotel in Toronto on October 23 to 25, 2020? Be sure to register. Here's how.....

Discover the true spirit of aloha with people of action from all over the world at the 2020 Rotary International Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, June 6 - 10, 2020. Register TODAY.  Here is a link to the video to promote the Honolulu 2020 Convention:   https://vimeo.com/313026044/a96886586e . Register at https://www.riconvention.org/en/honolulu.  Please read more to see a note from our "On To Convention" chair , Past District Governor Michael Bell.....

Aloha Rotarians in Zones 24 and 32,

Looking forward to connecting with you in Honolulu at the International Convention! I’m delighted to invite you to our annual Beyond Borders Dinner celebration on June 7, 2020, 6:30pm hosted by RI Director Jeffry Cadorette. We are excited to be hosting this event at the stunning Royal Hawaiian Resort Hotel, one of Honolulu’s famous landmarks....... 

It's contest time for District 7070 Rotary, Rotaract, Interact, and Earlyact Clubs! This year it's all about Instagram. The winner will receive $500 towards the community service project of your club’s choice (local or international). Contest closes February 28, 2020. For all the details, go to www.rotary7070.org/Stories/instagram-contest.

Rotary District 7070  “A Mill for Bill” Campaign

Help us raise $1 million USD in support of our Rotary Foundation in the 2019/20 Rotary Year!

Bill’s dream is for District 7070 to raise $1 million USD for our Rotary Foundation!

What better way to honour Bill than by making his dream a reality in 2019-20?

Have YOU made your contribution? 

Here is where we are today:  OVER $ 686,952.00

Please read more to see how you and your Rotary Club can contribute.......

Congratulations to Jeff and Rita Rayman, founders of The Guardian Project. On December 12, they were presented with the Wilf Wilkinson Peace Award for the 2018-2019 Rotary Year by Past District Governor Mary Lou Harrison and Rotary International Past President Wilf Wilkinson for their efforts to promote a culture of peace and non-violence in post-conflict areas through sustainable agriculture.....

The period for accepting nominations for the 2018 – 19 Distinguished Service Award has closed.  We will begin accepting nominations in January 2020.   In the meantime you may wish to get started gathering the information you will need for the nomination by downloading the form ( https://rotary.qualtrics.com/CP/File.php?F=F_6L3ZpSkjrZO3ATX ) .....

A special report prepared for Rotary International by the Johns Hopkins Center for Civil Society Studies estimated the value of Rotary member volunteer hours at $850 million a year.....

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected and as our members’ international interests grow, the RI Board of Directors reviewed policies governing Inter-Country Committees at the October 2019 meeting. The RI Board of Directors reaffirmed the important function of ICCs to create bridges, foster peace, and facilitate cooperation between different cultures and nations. In support of Rotary’s strategic priorities to enhance participant engagement and increase our ability to adapt, the RI Board approved numerous policy changes that will promote greater participation in Inter-Country Committees........

It is with great sadness when we loose members of our District 7070 Rotary family this month. Everyone in District 7070 wants to expresses their deepest sympathies to our extended Rotary family. If you hear of any Rotarian who has passed away, please send your notices to our District Newsletter Editor, Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com.

In his January 2020 letter to Rotarians, as we enter our seventh month of the new Rotary year,  Past District Governor Michael Bell, Chair of the District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee, encourages every Rotarian to make a conscious effort to make a donation to The Rotary Foundation, whatever you can afford, to the Annual Programs Fund and to the PolioPlus Fund, and to the Endowment Fund, and urges everyone to honour Past District Governor Bill Patchett and give just a "Little More for Bill" as we all try to reach "A Mill for Bill". 

Michael invites everyone  to Cobourg on January 19, 2020,from 1 to 3 pm at the Best Western Hotel, to celebrate Bill Patchett's Rotary life and his tremendous support for The Rotary Foundation, on the day of Bill's birthday, complete with a cake. This will be an excellent time to bring your cheques made out to The Rotary Foundation Canada, as we remember Bill and donate just a little more for Bill, this Rotary year. There is more news in PDG Michael's letter........

December 12, 2019 - GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative) head sheds some light on the global type 2 circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV2) situation, the need for increased production of type 2-containing oral polio vaccine, and what this means for containment.....

Please read carefully the Questions from The Rotarian and the answers from John Sever. Rotary International PolioPlus Committee Vice-Chair in october 2019's Rotarian Magazine about Rotary's new Polio Endgame Strategy 2019-2023.....

The Rotary Club of Alliston is using the Rotary Virtual Reality Polio Kit as part of their Canada Day Celebrations in Alliston, Ontario. It was also on display for users to see the VR film "Two Drops of Patience" last year's District Conference and  at World Polio Day in Durham Region. Your club can also borrow the kit . Mary Lou Harrison and Assistant Governor Shirley Ross have two kits. they consist of a pull up banner and a small plastic box with 5 VR headsets, 5 sets of ear phones, 2 iPhone adapters, cleaning wipes, and a safety use card.

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Please register NOW for the 2020 Grow Rotary Workshop in Vaughan on JANUARY 18, 2020. 

On October 5^th we had a very successful workshop in Cobourg with a room full of “buzz” and Rotarians who generated great ideas to engage and inspire. Roll up your sleeves and get ready to participate in the first 2020 Workshop.  This workshop is for all Rotarians interested in your club’s path to Grow Rotary and how all aspects of our club impact membership. Read more for all of the details....   

My club, the Rotary Club of St. Andrew, Jamaica, has a storied history. We were chartered in 1966, four years after Jamaica’s independence from the United Kingdom, as the third Rotary club in Jamaica. We have a pioneering spirit as demonstrated by being the first Rotary club in Jamaica to allow women to join. Rotary is a wonderful global movement that allows individuals to come together and take actions that are an expression of our collective will to make this world a better place. Our members are our greatest strength, and membership matters. But our greatest strength is also our greatest challenge. Like a lot of clubs, we struggle with membership. How do we recruit new members, retain existing members, transition members of Rotaract into Rotary, and re-engage current or former members? .....

A passport Rotary club is designed to attract a diverse demographic, and from my perspective, it’s working. On the last Tuesday of each month, I merrily waltz my way into Karma Collab Hub for an evening of wine, cheese, laughter and community impact; all in the company of great friends and with the guidance of Rotary members from local clubs. It’s unlike any community I’ve ever experienced, and I’ve come to realize that my Rotary badge is consistently (and quite unintentionally) accompanied by a wide grin.....

Although August was Membership and New Club Development Month, ANYTIME is the perfect time to celebrate your club’s members and consider the many options available for strengthening your membership. The following ideas can get you started:........

Give your members a meaningful Rotary experience by offering them opportunities to make a positive difference and connect with others. They’ll make valuable friendships and feel good about Rotary and the work we’re doing to make the world a better place. Has your club found ideas to help your club take a fresh approach with these resources?  Log into myrotary and find out right here, how your club can be a strong club. .......

Dear Fellow Rotarians in District 7070,

In the October 1, 2019 District 7070 Newsletter, we introduced you to the Area of Focus Coordinators and their roles in our Areas of Focus. Here is our challenge to YOU - every Rotarian in District 7070: Do you want ti become a member of one of the Areas of Focus Action Committees? Does your club need help starting a project? Please read more to find out how.....

To Rotarians in District 7070 and beyond:

Brush-a-mania will be celebrating 20 years in 2020.  Here is a chance for your Rotary Club to join an outstanding community service project right in your home community. Here is a letter from Dr. Raffy Choulijan of the Rotary Club of Scarborough Passport with all of the details how your club can be part of our service to our youth........

Here is the latest Honouring Indigenous People Rotary News and Events, projects, blogs, photos, films, resources, and a letter from Chair, Rotarian Chris Snyder. There are many major initiatives and resources available to you and your Rotary club. If you have a good news story, please send it to us. Click here to get the latest newsletters, information and updates about HIP (Honouring Indigenous Peoples)! OR check the Action Committees Menu Bar in the District Newsletter under HIP.  This rapidly growing nation-wide movement, HIP,  is a partnership between Indigenous Peoples & Rotarians. Each newsletter also contains stories about supporters, just like you, who are making an impact across Canada by taking action to create lasting change! Here are some highlights .........

In her January 2020 Newsletter, Tess Widdifield, the Rotary and Community Fundraising Manager for Shelterbox Canada and a member of The Rotary Club of Toronto Twilight, talks about Shelterbox responding to current disasters and current Shelterbox operations world wide and thanks Rotarians for their kind contributions.  Here's more of her newsletter...

In October 2019, the Board of Directors of Rotary International made several changes to the policies related to Rotaract, which were recommended by the Elevate Rotaract Task Force. The 2019 Council on Legislation amended the constitutional documents of Rotary International to include Rotaract clubs as a membership type. After this landmark decision in April, RI President Mark Maloney appointed the Elevate Rotaract Task Force, composed of Rotaractors and Rotarians, to recommend updates to policies to better reflect Rotaract’s newly elevated status. At every stage of the Task Force’s discussions, the critical goals were to learn what Rotaractors want from their membership and to give them every opportunity to shape these important policy decisions through surveys and focus groups. To learn more about the changes and see answers to frequently asked questions, please click here.

Attention Rotarians in District 7070:  Do you want to start a Rotaract club? Check out these 10 steps that will guide you in the process. You can also view a webinar or take the online course in the Learning Center to learn why community-based Rotaract clubs are so great, how easy they are to start, and how getting involved in Rotaract can inspire and engage Rotary members, too.

We're excited to share the updated (May 2018)  Rotaract Handbook! Download now for everything you need to organize, certify, and manage your Rotaract Club. This is a great resource: how to start a Rotaract Club, find members, and very useful for Rotary Club sponsors and advisors. How to build a Rotaract Club, engage and retain members, finding sustainable projects, how to promote your club, and so much more.  

Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends, and family:

We're happy to announce the 2020 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) District 7070 program and want you to save the date (May 1 to 6, 2020) for youth ages 19-25! Registrations are now open until March 15, 2020. We are very pleased to share the success of the 2019 program with you. With over 189+ individuals involved last year and 23 District 7070 Rotary Clubs involved, we know that 2020 will be a smashing hit with your support. Please take a look at our 2019 Year End Report which shows you the summary of last year's participants, speakers, programming, spending, and feedback! .Please Read More for all of the details of the 2020 RYLA Program ......

The Rotary wheel — our mark of excellence — is a symbol of Rotary’s leadership. It is the purest visual representation of what we have achieved and all that we are yet to accomplish. In a world where we are constantly bombarded by thousands of advertising messages daily, it’s vital to have a consistent, high-quality representation of our brand to cut through the noise. Amanda Wendt, vice chair of the RI Communications Committee, discusses how your club can promote and protect our brand and why you should......

Rotary’s public image is shaped by the actions of YOU,  each member in your Rotary Club, as well as by your involvement in the community, your presence on the web and social media, and the publications Rotary produces. Is your club working actively to shape that image? Here is an opportunity to see some resources you can use and how you can teach your members how to do this in a way that promotes community awareness of Rotary’s work around the world.....

The social media team at Rotary headquarters are encouraged to see a growing number of clubs adopt social media to promote Rotary and tell their stories. They realize that keeping up with all the changes to social media can be challenging. So they wanted to share one of the exciting new features we have been using to tell Rotary’s story, and give you a few tips for creating your own. Follow the steps laid out by Rotary's Social & Digital Specialist to create your own Instagram story. Read about the application's features on the application and how to use them to spread the word that we are People of Action.  Click here to read more. 

Making videos requires seeing the Rotary story in a different way. How do we convey that we are people of action who are taking tangible steps to make a difference in this world? There are already assets out there that show the Rotary story in a big picture way and these can be found on myrotary.org in the brand center and on YouTube and Vimeo.......

The Public Image Newsletters are located under the Public Image Tab of the District 7070 Website www.rotary7070.org under "Public Image Newsletters". They are an excellent resource to assist you with boosting your club's Public Image. 

Rotary Connects The World. That's the Theme for 2019-20. One connection is between Rotary Clubs in our own District . Do you have events or fundraisers that you want other clubs to know about? Perhaps a project with which you need their assistance. Find out how you can Connect Your Club with District 7070 Rotary Clubs ........

The Rotary Clubs of York and Markham-Unionville Rotary Club jointly present  their 2020 Chinese New Year Celebration Dinner Friday, February 7, 2020. Everyone in District 7070 is invited with proceeds going to The Rotary Foundation and our Mill for Bill Campaign. Please Read More for all of the details....... 

All Rotarians  are invited to the 100th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Belleville on April 1, 2020.  Cocktails at 5:30pm with Dinner 6:30pm at the  RAMADA BY WYNDHAM,  Belleville Harbourview Conference Centre, 11 Bay Bridge Rd, Belleville, Ontario. Get your reservations TODAY. Please read more for all of the details.....

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Willowdale who have just contributed to the Relief Fund in the Bahamas. Citizens of the Bahamas are now starting to recover from the devastating effects that Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, especially the Grand Bahama & the Abaco Islands. Rotarians have rolled-up their sleeves to help communities recover when natural disasters strike......

Learn everywhere and anytime with Rotary’s Learning Center. Take advantage of a wealth of training materials designed to help you learn new skills and become more successful in what you do.Take courses, find resources, connect with an online community, talk with other registrants and course moderators, customize your user profile, and track your progress. Sign in with your My Rotary account at rotary.org/learn, or find the link on My Rotary under the Learning & Reference tab. Enrich your Rotary experience and leadership by visiting the improved rotary.org/learn

What is your Club like in three years?   Rotary Clubs, like any other organization, change over time.  Change may be the result of events outside our control, but change can also be the result of activities we take.  One way to have impact on where your Club is heading is to plan for the future; have a Vision and create an Action Plan to reach that Vision. For many years, District 7070 is offering interested Clubs a Visioning Program.  A team of experienced Rotarians act as facilitators for your Club.  The concept is that the participants, Club members, place themselves three to five years into the future and paint a picture of what their Club is like at that time.  How many members does the Club have?  What is the image of your Club in the community?  What projects is your Club doing at that time?  Your idividual members visions are combined and voted upon, reaching consensus on a common Vision for your Club........

The new and improved Rotary Club Central is here. It's now faster, easier to navigate, and presents past and current club data in a more accessible way.  You will be able to navigate more easily with our modern interface and use this essential planning tool on your mobile phone or tablet. You can also quickly track service activity and see your past and current club data in easy-to-read charts and graphs. Log into myrotary and check out the new Rotary Club Central today. For more details please Read more .....

Your Rotary, Rotaract, or Interact club can earn a Rotary Citation for achieving goals that strengthen Rotary and your club. Goals include increasing club membership, developing sustainable service projects, giving to The Rotary Foundation, and building awareness of Rotary in your community. Here's how.......

In a complex, fast-changing world, excellent Rotary club leadership is essential to the future of Rotary.  One of the best ways to strengthen your Club is to give your members the tools and skills to be better Rotarians.  Rotary Leadership Institute is the solution.  This is your opportunity to learn more about Rotary and share your ideas with other Rotarians, and it is a great learning experience for newer Rotarians. April 13 and November 16, 2019 courses I, II and III were a tremendous success.  Next year's date for RLI  has been announced. REGISTER TODAY. Here is more of the story........

 Have you checked out the Rotary website: www.rotary.org    ?   Have you registered as a member and are you familiar with all of the tools in myrotary?  There are many more links that will help you lead your club.......