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JANUARY IS VOCATIONAL SERVICE 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)

January 2024

In difficult times like these, it’s impossible to avoid feeling heartbroken over the devastation and loss of life caused by war and destruction. 

Rotary always stands against harming and displacing civilian populations and using armed aggression instead of pursuing peaceful solutions. We advocate for the observance and respect of international law. We believe in strong action to defend and promote peace, even in the darkest of times.

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DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE

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!
 
 
UNLOCKING PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
Submitted by: Jim Herrington, District Learning Facilitator
Unlocking Professional Growth with Rotary's Learning Center
 
In my previous professional experience, I had the privilege of benefiting from a dedicated individual who provided personalized career insights and professional development plans. While this support was invaluable, I realized that sustained growth required proactive measures on my part.
 
Choosing a cost-effective approach, I turned to readily available resources like audiobooks and podcasts, many of which are accessible through public libraries. Although these tools were beneficial, I craved a more structured and customizable learning experience.

Enter Rotary International, a game-changer in the realm of professional development. Through the Learning Center on My.Rotary.org, Rotarians gain access to a comprehensive library of courses, with a dedicated section on Professional Development. Whether it's honing your speechwriting or perfecting your delivery skills for an upcoming business event, the Learning Center has you covered. From conflict management to communication skills, the Professional Development section offers a diverse array of courses tailored to your needs.

What sets this apart? It's all included with your Rotary membership. Don't miss out on the opportunity to maximize your Rotary experience. Sign in to My.Rotary.org today and embark on the journey to becoming the best version of yourself.

 

ECO CHALLENGE
Submitted by: District 5580 Environment Committee

Eat like the climate depends on it

A new year brings heightened awareness of the need to address climate change.  Have you considered altering your eating habits?  An initiative called “Veganuary” is prompting a growing number of people to eat lower on the food chain in an effort to stave off the waste, land issues, water consumption and climate emissions that are too often associated with meat production and other animal products (dairy can be especially impactful).  Check out these statistics from the University of CO - Boulder.  Can you reduce your animal product (especially beef) intake this month?  Try going vegan for a meal, a day, a week or the rest of the month.  This website has some great recipes if you need a starting point:  https://veganuary.com/en-us/  Let us know your favorite ones.  Bon appetit!

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
Submitted by: District Environmental Committee
Hey, District 5580 - let’s take collective action for the planet in 2024! Your district Environment Committee is here to help.
 
Our mission: To advocate for environmental sustainability in our district by providing resources, tools, and inspiration to help our district's clubs thrive in a way consistent with Rotary International's focus area of the environment.
 
Now a year and a half old, we’ve been working behind the scenes to bring you tips and ideas on how to live more gently on the planet. For the rest of this Rotary year we’re also looking forward to hearing from clubs who complete an environmentally-related project and would like to be reimbursed $100 for their efforts! Buy some tools, purchase materials, match a grant, treat your volunteers to pizza – anything goes as long as your project is focused on making a positive environmental impact. All you need to do is send a quick email to us at envirocomm5580@gmail.com telling us what you did, how many people participated, and how you spent your $100. We’d love to see photos or a video, too!
 
DG Dave Long’s goal is for every club to do something in honor of the newest Rotary Area of Focus. Need ideas? Check out our new tab on the district 5580 website (under “Club Support”): https://rotary5580.org/sitepage/protecting-the-environment. You’ll find a simple project report form and a handful of project templates posted. We’ll continue to add more, plus links to other resources such as speaker ideas, EcoChallenges and the latest from ESRAG (the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group). Let us know what other resources would help spur your club into taking action.
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PUBLIC IMAGE GRANT DOLLARS
Submitted by: Linda Marrin, District Public Image Chair
 
We’re waiting to hand out money… are you ready to receive it?

Scott Soderberg and the Public Image Team are waiting to provide public image matching grant money for your approved project. If you’ve never received district public image grant dollars, you can get up to $400 in matching funds. You’re eligible for up to $250 if you’ve received a district public image grant in the past. Is your club wondering what to do? Contact Scott (rotaryscott5580@gmail.com or any Public Image team member for ideas, here are a few for starters:

  • How about a brochure to have in business locations and to hand to potential members?
  • How about club business cards for the same purpose?

We can provide templates for you to make it easier. You can have the brochures or cards printed locally to support one of your local businesses.

Keep checking the newsletter for public image project ideas and projects completed by other district clubs. 

RYLA 2024 WEBINAR!
Submitted by: Beth Althoff
 

Let's get rolling on RYLA 2024!

RYLA is designed to give high school students hands-on active learning activities and sessions to build on their own leadership skills. Held on the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) campus, RYLA 5580 encourages youth to explore their own strengths and develop their own style of leadership.

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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.   
PACKING MEALS FOR CHILDREN ACROSS THE GLOBE
Submitted by: Eugene LaDoucer
 
F-M Area Rotarians Volunteer to Pack Meals for Children Across the Globe 
More than 30 Rotarians, family members and friends gathered at the Fargo Dome Thursday evening, Jan. 11, in support of the 10th annual Feed My Starving Children FargoPack event. Those gathered were focused on helping organizers meet the ambitious goal of packing 10 million meals in 10 days. 
 
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BISMARCK ROTARY HOSTS WRESTLING TOURNEY
Submitted By: Christi M. Stonecipher
 
The club also hosted the Rotary Wrestling Tournament in Bismarck in early January.
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SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST AIMS TO ELEVATE ATHLETE PERFORMANCE
Submitted by: David Long, District Governor
 
 
Sports Psychologist Works to Get Best Out of Athletes’ Performance, Life
 
The guest speaker at Thursday’s meeting educated club members of the many challenges facing today’s youth, specifically young athletes. As a sports psychologist, Dr. Kelly Gast is committed to helping young athletes improve their performance and life by addressing issues such as confidence, mental health and coaching methods.  
In her presentation, Gast pointed our that anxiety levels, brought on by things like technology, school shootings, the Covid pandemic and others, are significantly higher for youth today that 50 years ago.
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BISMARCK RING BELLS

Submitted by Christi M. Stonecipher

Bismarck Rotarians once again rang bells (and sang Christmas carols!) around the Salvation Army kettle at Scheels on Saturdays during December to help raise money for those in need in their community.  The Bismarck Rotary Club has been participating in the Salvation Army's bell-ringing campaign for decades. 

 

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MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Jan. 16, 2024 5:15 p.m.
 
GRANT SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING
Jan. 18, 2024 6:30 p.m.
 
EXECUTIVE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
Chase on the Lake
Jan. 20, 2024 10:00 a.m.
 
RYLA WEBINAR FOR CLUBS
Jan. 31, 2024 6:00 p.m.
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Feb. 20, 2024 6:00 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 6:00 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 6:00 p.m.
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
May 21, 2024 6:00 p.m.
 
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
May 25, 2024 – May 29, 2024
 
MONTHLY CLUB CALL
Jun. 18, 2024 6:00 p.m.
 
ROTARY CITATION AWARD DEADLINE
Jun. 30, 2024
 
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