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DECEMBER IS DISEASE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT MONTH
 
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
Shekhar Mehta

R. Gordon R. McInally

President 2023-24

(Presidential message retrieved from: https://my.rotary.org/en/news-media/office-president/presidential-message)

December 2023

In December, I will attend the United Nations COP28 climate change summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There, I will speak about the convergence of two global crises: climate and mental health. As the World Health Organization has noted, climate change worsens risk factors — such as disruptions to homes and livelihoods — for mental health problems. The emotional distress of a disaster also makes it difficult for people to recover and rebuild. 

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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE
Dave Long
D5580 District Governor 2023-24
 

NEW ROTARY CLUB!!
It's official!! As of November 28, Rotary District 5580 has a new club! Congratulations and welcome to the 22 charter members of the new Rotary Club of Missouri River, ND, USA. Thanks to your efforts along with the support and guidance of DG Dave, Advisor Blaine, and many others, you’ve now joined the network of over 1.4 million members and 34,000 clubs that are doing good in the world. By starting this new club, you are People of Action!
 
MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE
Mental Health Initiative
Rotary District 5580 supports RI President Gordon McInally in his initiative to break stigma, raise awareness & increase access.  Club’s will receive up to $100 towards a Mental Health Initiative.    
Learn more and get ideas at https://www.ragonmentalhealth.org/.
 
To apply simply submit the following to District Administrator Gloria Mink.
 
PUBLIC IMAGE GRANT
Could your club benefit from up to $250 to $400 for Public Image projects?  
 
Here's how:
  1. Identify a project.  Determine the potential cost.
  2. Complete the PUBLIC IMAGE GRANT APPLICATION and email it to Scott Soderberg, as instructed on the form.
  3. Scott will contact you with any questions, or for clarification. 
  4. If approved, you can proceed with your project.
  5. On project completion, submit the completion information and return it to Scott.
SIMPLE right?!
 
Here’s what a couple of our 5580 clubs have done with Public Image grant money:
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ECO CHALLENGE
Submitted by Jill Baum, Environment Committee

Sustainable meetings!

'Tis the season to look forward to the new year - How much more sustainable can you make your club's practices in 2024?  Here are some ideas:  

  • Consider eliminating single-use items like paper plates and plastic cutlery.  
  • Do away with plastic water bottles entirely and offer a pitcher and glasses instead.  
  • Send communications electronically rather than printing lots of pages.  
  • Double-side your copy pages when you do need to print.  
  • Challenge your members to walk, bike, bus or carpool.
  • Hold a meeting online every now and then.
  • Designate an Eco Coordinator or Sustainability Guru (and join in on our monthly Environment Committee meetings!)
  • Plan an environmentally-beneficial project in your community.

Happy new year!

 

NEW MEMBER GIFT
 
All new members inducted into District 5580 Clubs from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2024 are eligible to receive a new member gift of a Rotary shirt shown in the graphic. 
To receive the shirt the Club President or Secretary needs to email Mark Leutgeb, District membership Chair, at mvleutgeb@gmail.com with the name and brief bio of the new member, male or female shirt size, and mailing address. Shirts will not shrink.  The shirt will be shipped and the new member will be announced in the District newsletter.   
We hope that our new Rotary District 5580 members will wear their shirts proudly throughout their communities sharing the news about the good work that Rotarians do. 
 
2024 DISTRICT CONFERENCE SAVE THE DATE 
 
The District Conference Team has been hard at work preparing for the 2024 Rotary District 5580 Conference!  Save the dates, April 11-13, 2024.  More info to come!
 
 
CLUB NEWS
 
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. 
News can be sent to renae@surgetoday.com and gloriad5580@outlook.com.   
BISMARCK ROTARIANS IN SANTA RUN
Submitted by: Christi M. Stonecipher
 
Bismarck Rotarians and family members cheered on participants of the Santa Run on Saturday, December 9.  The Bismarck Santa Run 5K and Ultra-Cool Mile events are organized by “The Santa Run,” a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to raise awareness of addiction issues in the community and to assist individuals in recovery.  Proceeds from the Bismarck Santa Run are used to support RADD (Runners Against Destructive Decisions), a running group formed to provide a healthy lifestyle alternative for individuals in recovery and the recovery community.
 
INTERNATIONAL FALLS BOOK DISTRIBUTION
Submitted by: Carol Grim, International Falls Rotary Club
 
Kindergarten class at Falls Elementary
 
The International Falls Rotary Club distributed books to all pre-school and kindergarten students as a part of their Love Of Reading Early program or LORE. This is a plan to make the community and each child’s home a literature rich environment. The books included a letter to the parents about the importance of reading with children and some suggestions for reading activities. 
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DICKINSON DONATION TO POLIOPLUS

Submitted by Kris Fehr

The Dickinson Rotary Club has donated $6,500 to The Rotary Foundation for PolioPlus. The funds were raised in October at the annual Pancake Karnival. The Club also donated $25 per member who played Rotary Foundation Turkey Bingo in November, Rotary Foundation Month. The funds will be earmarked for the Every Rotarian Every Year campaign for The Annual Fund.

 

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DICKINSON PIE AUCTION
Submitted By: Kris Fehr
 
The Dickinson Rotary Club held its annual Pie Auction in November, with $2,016 raised by auctioning 17 pies and other delicious treats. Auctioneer Jory Boothe, a Dickinson State University Rodeo Club member, entertained and efficiently conducted the auction in less than 30 minutes. Proceeds will be donated to the free local Thanksgiving Community Meal and the local food pantry. Photo: Club President-Elect Kyle Smith assisted with the auction by displaying the treats, like this dark chocolate cake.
DICKINSON DONATES TO SCHOOL AND POLICE
Submitted by: Kris Fehr
 
The Dickinson Rotary Club donated $500 to the Dickinson Public Schools and Dickinson Police Department food drive, helping to provide 32 food baskets for needy families.
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DICKINSON TRICK OR TRUNK
Submitted by: Kris Fehr
 
The Dickinson Rotary Club has raised its community profile by participating in the downtown Dickinson Trick or Trunk community trick or treating event on Halloween for the past few years. The event is outdoors and and attended by thousands of children and parents. The Rotarians wore Rotary-themed clothing designed and made by Community Kindness Rotarian Dawn Pruitt and adopted the theme "Rotarians Knocking out Polio." 
 
 
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

Congratulations to the Rotary Club of Detroit Lakes and their new members.  Welcome to Rotary! 

 

Jason Koch 

Jason Koch grew up in Thief River Falls Minnesota.  He loved sports growing up where he played basketball, football, and raced motocross. Jason went on to play college basketball at Northland Community College in Thief River Falls. He graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead, double majoring in Business Management and Marketing.  Most weekends you will find him on a golf course or traveling to his next adventure.
He's worked in the banking industry for 15 years & currently the Branch Manager at American National Bank in Detroit Lakes.  Jason is a member of DL Rotary, DL Chamber Of Commerce, Kiwanis Club &  Lakes Country Networking.
 

Dr. Jaimie Deraney

Dr. Jaimie Deraney and his wife, Susan along with their sons live in Detroit Lakes, MN. Dr.  Deraney is an OB/Gyn with Sanford Health Detroit Lakes with outreach locations to Perham, MN, and Pelican Rapids, MN. He attended undergraduate and medical school at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, and OB/Gyn residency training at the University of Kansas Wesley Medical Center in Wichita, KS. Dr. Deraney enjoys fishing, skiing, traveling, attending his children’s sporting events, and spending time with family.  He was elected to the Detroit Lakes City Council in 2022 and enjoys his civic responsibilities.
 

Mary Richter

Mary Richter and her husband Tyler grew up in Perham, MN, and moved back to the area when Mary took the job as an audiologist at Sanford Detroit Lakes starting in January 2020. Mary attended MSU Mankato in 2010 with a Bachelor of Science, and a 2013 Doctor of Audiology from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Mary worked as an Audiologist at HealthPartners in St. Paul from Jan 2014 to 2020.  They have two boys. 
 

Joy Quitberg

Joy Quitberg and her husband, Shawn, live in Detroit Lakes with their two sons.  Joy has been a practicing optometrist since graduating from Pacific University College of Optometry in 2002 and employed with Sanford Health since 2007.  In her free time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and camping. 
 

Gina Hansen

Gina Hansen and her husband Eric live in Detroit Lakes. They have one daughter and a son that keep them busy and on the go. As a family, they enjoy spending time outdoors: swimming, camping, bonfires, hitting up playgrounds, and biking. Gina joined Sanford Health of Detroit Lakes as an optometrist in January 2021.
 

Dylan Ramstad

Dylan Ramstad Skoyles is an attorney at Ramstad Skoyles Winters & Bakken in Detroit Lakes.  As a child, Dylan developed a love of the outdoors and when he is not working, enjoys canoeing, camping, hiking, snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, mountain biking, road biking, and hunting.  An active member of the biking community Dylan is currently the president of Lakes Area Mountain Bike and Trail Alliance (LAMBAT) which promotes biking in the area.  In the winter, he is lucky enough to be an assistant coach for the Detroit Lakes High School Nordic team.
 

Jordyn Bement

Jordyn Bement graduated from Detroit Lakes High School. She then went to Mstate for her Associate of Arts Degree in Business Marketing, Sales & Management. Jordyn currently works for the Detroit Lakes Tribune as an advertising and marketing consultant. She loves to help businesses spread their marketing message and create brand awareness. Jordyn & partner Cole, along with their children, reside by Strawberry Lake. She loves spending her free time with her friends and family and enjoys some quiet time reading a book. 
 
EARLY REGISTRATION ENDS - INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Dec. 15, 2023
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Dec. 19, 2023 5:15 p.m.
 
4 WAY TEST ESSAY CONTEST DEADLINE
Dec. 31, 2023
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Jan. 16, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chase on the Lake
Jan. 20, 2024 10:00 a.m.
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Feb. 20, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
NORTH CENTRAL PETS - In Person Event
Feb. 23, 2024 – Feb. 24, 2024
 
ROTARY'S ANNIVERSARY
Feb. 23, 2024
 
NORTH CENTRAL PETS - Virtual Event
Mar. 07, 2024 – Mar. 08, 2024
 
WORLD ROTARACT WEEK
Mar. 11, 2024 – Mar. 17, 2024
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Mar. 19, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
PREREGISTRATION DISCOUNT ENDS - RI CONVENTION
Mar. 31, 2024
 
ROTARY DISTRICT 5580 CONFERENCE
Apr. 11, 2024 – Apr. 13, 2024
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Apr. 16, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
May 21, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
May 25, 2024 – May 29, 2024
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Jun. 18, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
ROTARY CITATION AWARD DEADLINE
Jun. 30, 2024
 
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