There are many pathways to peace, and in Rotary, we are fortunate to have Rotary Peace Fellows who demonstrate this truth time and again.
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fellowships for leaders around the world to study peace and development, and what these peace fellows learn prepares them to work in conflict prevention and resolution and promote Positive Peace. Here are a few examples of the creative ways peace fellows advance peace:
THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE WILL FOCUS ON OUR MENTAL WELL-BEING, SHARING HOPE AND PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT.
Come and explore Nature’s powerful benefits for our communities’ mental health and well-being and the ways Rotary can create hope for our planet and the people who live here through our international connections with the world around us.
5 Enviro Friendly things you can do before & on the way to the District Conference
1. Pack your own reusable water bottle to help us keep single-use items out of the waste stream.
2. Bring your excitement about projects and plan to join the Environment Committee breakout session to discuss how to make them happen with your club. See you there!
3. Share a ride! Carpool, take the train, organize a bike caravan.
4. Plan to dress for the weather so that you can get some fresh air and stretch your legs - we'll help make that happen throughout the conference.
5. Visit the communication center once you arrive - no printed materials necessary (though some will be available). Plant a tree instead!
On February 19, 2024 DG Dave Long and Rotarains from District 5580, 5950, and 5960 attended Rotary Awareness Day at the MN State Capital to speak up in favor of Rotary and our service projects. They introduced a Rotary license plate bill to create proceeds directed to our foundations. It was a time to socialize, tell our Rotary story to legislators, and to hear from them about state efforts related to our programs and values. There were several Rotarian-legislators who greeted everyone.
Does everyone in town know what your club is up to? Do you hear “You Rotarians are always doing something, I can't turn on the radio or look at a newspaper without hearing or reading Rotary this or Rotary that!” I'm guessing the answer is no. Don't be too hard on yourselves, it's been a Rotary tradition.
Looking for easy and simple ways to make high-impact, achievable steps to reduce your carbon footprint? The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) are partnering with others on their Count Us In campaign which aims to inspire 1 billion people to take practical steps.
If 1 billion people globally take an action step, carbon emissions can be reduced by 20%! It all starts with 1 person talking to 1 friend/family member to take action together. Check out unep.org for more about UNEP’s ACTNOW campaign.
Here are 4 easy action items:
1. Shop local.
2. Walk and cycle more
3. Eat more plant-based meals
4. Reduce food waste
And here are a bonus two more ideas to add to the list:
5. Turn off your power for one hour at 8:30pm (local time) on March 23rd in honor of Earth Hour. Since its beginnings in 2007, Earth Hour has been known as the “lights off” moment, a moment of unity that brings the world together, shines a spotlight on nature loss and the climate crisis, and inspires millions more to act and advocate for urgent change.
6. Join us at the District 5580 Conference in Fargo, ND April 11 - 13 to celebrate mental health and environmental sustainability! We'd love to help you plan great environmentally-themed club project ideas with you at the Environment Committee breakout session. Hope to see you there!
District 5580’s Current International Exchange Students and US Outbound Students for the 24-25 School Year Along with DG Dave Long at the Deep Portage Conservation Camp, Walker MN. Front Row: Mae TO Brazil (Ashland), Andrea FROM Italy (Bismarck), Potential Outbound to Belgium, Samanta FROM Peru (Brainerd), Kai TO Japan (Hibbing), Alice TO Thailand (Ashland), Back Row: Elisa FROM Belgium (Fargo-Moorhead AM), Murilo FROM Brazil (Park Rapids), Ansgar FROM Germany (Moorhead), Kaho FROM Japan (Bemidji), DG Dave Long
Submitted by: Rozanne Casey, District 5580 Youth Service Chair
The Four Way Test Essay Contest is complete and we have a winner! The panel of judges from throughout our district read and ranked each of the essays submitted by clubs across the district.
This year’s Overall District Winner was Brooke Hoogland, sponsored by the Moorhead Rotary Club. A huge THANK YOU to all of the youth and clubs that participated and the judges who read and ranked all of the essays. Congratulations to Brook Hoogland!!
Did you know it is Rotary International’s World Rotaract Week???
“Every year, Rotaractors and Rotarians around the world celebrate World Rotaract Week during the week of 13 March (Rotaract Day) to commemorate the founding of the first club in 1968. World Rotaract Week is a time for celebrating the success and importance of the Rotaract program.
Submitted by: Karl Everett (Karl_everett@q.com), District 5580 Water & Sanitation Chair
We recently traveled to Bolivia to visit our Rotary District projects that included medical clinics and water well projects.I’m happy to report that all projects have been successfully completed and functioning. The Rotary 5580 Laguna Sulti Water Well Projects in Chirusi Rosario & Tajamar are in operation and serving these Communities. The Chirusi Rosario water tank was completed on October 26, 2022, and they claim that this water tank with its ROTARY logo is the tallest in the whole wide world.
WE CAN ONLY SHARE YOUR CLUB'S NEWS, IF WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CLUB'S NEWS!
The number one thing most clubs want to know is what is happening around the District, but we can't help spread the word if we don't know what your club is up to.
Please submit a summary of your club events, news and projects to Renae Ronquist and Gloria Mink by the 10th of each month. We can include information in our Monday Minutes and in our newsletter.
Superior Rotary will be holding the 12th annual Craft Beer and Wine Tasting the week of March 18th. Festivities include a social event at Barkers Island Inn, 6:00 pm on March 20th that hosts, as implied, craft beer and wine tasting. In addition there will be great food, silent and live auctions, a spirit wall and 50/50 Raffle to round out the evening. Tickets can be purchased online at the Superior Rotary Website.
The entire week March 18-24th an on-line auction continues the fundraising campaign. Anyone can bid through Bidding Owl. A wide array of items is available for auction. If you are out of town, remember all gift certificates can be mailed with no additional charge.
Funds raised will go to Northwest Wisconsin Community Service Agency and Northwood Technical College Dreamkeepers Fund. These organizations use monies for emergency funds.
The Wahpeton-Breckenridge Rotary Club will be holding Rotary Community Blood Screenings April 29-May 3, 2024, with the help of our local CHI St. Francis Medical Center and our local Essentia and Sanford Clinics. We're taking appointments already.
We do this project usually in April and October (it depends on when it works for all 3 medical providers). Last fall, there were 17 critical health concerns found for which customers were notified to see their medical providers soon.
Our Club has done this project for many years; some 'regular' customers use the screenings as a more affordable way to monitor their health.
The Bismarck Rotary Club hosted the 102nd Annual Boy Scouts Report to the Governor at their meeting on February 14.
The Northern Lights Council (NLC) of the Boy Scouts of America includes the entire state of North Dakota, 18 counties in northwest Minnesota, and 2 counties each in Montana and South Dakota.
Included in the report were these statistics from the NLC’s 2023 scouting year:
Over 3,000 elementery aged youth were involved in the program
Over 3,700 merit badges were awarded
102 scouts earned their Eagle Scout award
There were 5,000 nights of camping
Boy Scout volunteers averaged 90 hours of work in 2023
Governor Doug Burgum thanked the parents and Boy Scout leaders present for their work in providing the scouting experience to our youth, and the Rotary Club for hosting this event for over 100 years.
Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Fergus Falls Sunrise and the Rotary Club of Grand Rapids Centennial and their new members. Welcome to Rotary!
Rod Spidahl
(Fergus Falls Sunrise)
Rod is a retired pastor. He has served as a missionary in Africa. He enjoys maple syruping in the spring, working the family concession stand at the Minnesota State Fair and being with grandkids.
Jeremy Danielson
(Fergus Falls Sunrise)
Jeremy is in the retail business. He has volunteered in various organizations such as Kids against Tobacco, Humane Society of Ottertail County. He joined Rotary with hopes to play a role in the continued success of our community.
Kirk Adams
(Grand Rapids Centennial)
Kirk is in Bank Management.
Shane Skelly
(Grand Rapids Centennial)
Shane is in Financial Management.
Jayson Newman
(Grand Rapids Centennial)
Jayson is a Civil Engineer.
John Kelsch
(Grand Rapids Centennial)
John is a Museum Curator.
Britta Arendt
(Grand Rapids Centennial)
Britta is the Director of Development for the Local Boys and Girls Club.
Eric Northard, former Grand Rapids Rotarian and District 5580 Interact Chair, passed away on March 6 in his home. Eric and Nancy moved to Chattanooga TN last year to live closer to their daughter Alex and grandson. Their son Jon and his wife Rosana live in Seattle with their son. Eric taught school in Bigfork and Grand Rapids, was a Unitarian minister and a great person. He had a positive influence on so many people - especially youth in his classes and those he met or hosted throughYouth Exchange.
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