News

Open World Russia and Ukraine Programs

The Open World Leadership Center has issued Grant Guidelines for Open World Russia and Ukraine Programs 2011. The Open World Leadership Center requires grantee organizations (RI) to submit a list of local host Rotary clubs/districts with their plans for hosting Open World delegations, including hosting dates and themes. RI has to receive this information no later than Friday, 20 August 2010.

Open World supports specialized and niche-nominated groups and programs. Participants for such groups are nominated by RI through Rotary clubs in Russia and Ukraine. RI received a number of proposals for the program from Russian and Ukrainian Rotary Clubs that do not have a host Rotary Club in the U.S.

Hosting specialized Open World delegations presents a unique opportunity to facilitate existing relationships or establish new connections with Eurasian countries and support Rotary movement in that region. Let me know if you'd like to host a specialized group from Russia or Ukraine that has been nominated by a Rotary Club there.

RI Open World Program Info
Registration Form
Hosting Themes for Russia and Ukraine
List of proposals for OW programs from Russian Rotary Clubs
Open World Program

Please complete the registration form and e-mail it to RI at Natalia Kunzer or Open World by Friday, 20 August.

Visit the Open World Program webpage for program’s overview, RI Open World brochure, FAQ, host Rotary Club/District responsibilities and other program-related materials.

Arboretum Project Begins

The first tree was planted on July 6, celebrating the beginning of the Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum expected to open in 2013. The arboretum, a project of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee, will be a 40-acre natural area along the Milwaukee River from North Avenue to Locust Street, stretching upward through Riverside Park. It will be bounded on the west by the Milwaukee River and the east by the Oak Leaf Trail. Wheelchair accessible trails - 3.5 miles in all - will run through the area, connecting the river trails to the community. To create the arboretum more than 1,000 trees will be planted, replacing gravel and brush that now consume the property. View video.

Donating Frequent Flyer Miles

I had some extra miles in my United Airlines Frequent Flier program. I don't really plan on using them (and there is nothing I can use them for since it was a small amount) so I chose the Charity Miles option to redeem my miles. I was pleasantly surprised to see that I could donate the miles in increments of 1,000 to Rotary International. Again, this may be a good idea for those who have miles that are about to expire or for those airlines which you aren't going to use much. The transfer is instantaneous and does not cost you a penny. (Presented by Anne Niederkorn, Ripon Rotary)

Rotary's Parliament

(The below article was taken and adapted from Rotary International Website.)

The Council on Legislation, Rotary's “parliament,” meets every three years to deliberate and act upon all proposed enactments and resolutions submitted by clubs, district conferences, the General Council and Conference of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland, and the RI Board. The Council itself also makes proposals. Rotary District 6270’s representative was PDG Gary Olsen, who is a member of the Waukesha, WI Rotary Club and an accounting professor at Carroll University. The 2010 Council on Legislation met in Chicago from 25-30 April 2010 and voted on more than 200 items.

The Council on Legislation is an important part of Rotary’s governance process. While the Board of Directors sets policies for Rotary International, the Council is where Rotary clubs have their say in the governance of the association. Every three years, each district sends a representative to the Council, which reviews proposed legislation. Every club and district is entitled to submit legislation to the Council, and some of Rotary’s most important work has resulted from Council action. Women were admitted into Rotary because of the action of the 1989 Council on Legislation, and PolioPlus was born as the result of the 1986 Council.

The Council consists of Representatives from Rotary's 531 districts from every part of the Rotary world. Voting members include one elected representative of the clubs of each Rotary district. Some nonvoting members include the chair and vice chair of the Council, the RI president, members of the RI Board, and past RI presidents.

Representatives to the 2010 Council on Legislation left Chicago having enacted a number of monumental measures that will make e-clubs a permanent part of Rotary International, create a fifth Avenue of Service for New Generations, increase the annual per capita dues that clubs pay to RI by US$1, and give Rotarians in North America a choice of how they receive The Rotarian .

Rotary clubs will pay per capita dues to RI of $51 per year in 2011-12, $52 per year in 2012-13, and $53 per year in 2013-14. Per capita dues were already set at $50 for 2010-11.

The increase is only half the amount the Board of Directors had originally planned to seek. But after favorable financial forecasts, the Board offered an amended request for the $1 increase. RI's General Surplus Fund is well above the Council-mandated minimum reserves. Market performance has improved, and the Secretariat has made significant cuts in expenses.

After years as part of a pilot project, e-clubs found a permanent home in Rotary. Representatives approved a measure that will allow up to two e-clubs per district, amended from just one per district. Proponents of the amendment argued that districts that use more than one language would be better served by more e-clubs.

The measure defines e-clubs as Rotary clubs that meet through electronic communications. A handful of e-clubs have been operating as part of the pilot project set to end 30 June. Some of the pilot clubs meet solely through online forums, while others combine electronic with in-person meetings.

Representatives also voted to add a fifth Avenue of Service, New Generations, to the four that already exist: Club Service, Vocational Service, Community Service, and International Service. Before starting a project, Rotarians are asked to think broadly about how their club and its members can contribute within each avenue. Supporters of the fifth avenue feel it will encourage and recognize the positive change implemented by youth and young adults involved in leadership development efforts, service projects, and exchange programs.

In the final days of the Council, representatives voted to give Rotarians in the United States and Canada the option of receiving an electronic version of The Rotarian magazine. The Council rejected a proposal to completely do away with the subscription requirement, but it did allow for joint subscriptions for two Rotarians residing at the same address. It also voted against giving a choice between print and electronic magazines to Rotarians living outside North America. The Council tackled a variety of other issues, including decreasing the number of members on the Nominating Committee for President of Rotary International from 34 to 17; giving the Board authority to take steps to limit the number of election complaints from a district, including disqualifying a nominee for district governor; giving the Board authority to eliminate or change district boundaries if a district falls below 33 clubs or 1,200 members; and precluding clubs from limiting membership based on sexual orientation.

Rotaract Club

To the right is a photograph of the Rotaract Club of the Ripon Area. Rotaract is a service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract members address the physical and social needs of their community. Official notification (individual membership pins, etc.) have been received from Rotary International.

The Rotaract Club of the Ripon Area will be holding a hamburger stand fundraiser at Ripon College on May 1. Stop by and help support this young club.

2010 PETS

On a nice winter Friday, March 19, 2010, Manitowoc Rotary Club President Dr. Joseph DiRaimondo, welcomed almost 250 President Elects, President Nominees, Rotarians and guests to the 2010 PETS at the Holiday Inn, Manitowoc, WI. The Upper Midwest PETS consists of Rotary Districts 6220 and 6270. District Governor Elects Steve Selvick and Paul Decker exhorted Rotarians to find something in Rotary that "you have a passion for". The first plenary session was a great presentation by Dr. Peter Jonas, a Cardinal Stritch University Professor on "Servant Leadership". Peter encouraged Rotarians to follow 10 characteristics of servant leadership to be more effective club presidents. Following this plenary session, President Elects transitioned to discussion groups by club size to discuss funding club projects. The luncheon speaker was Dr. Stephanie Urchick, the Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Zone 29. She described the Rotary Foundation programs like the offering plate at her church. The Annual Program Fund is the day to day offering that funds Group Study Exchange and Ambassadorial Scholars. The "special offering" plate, like Easter Flowers, are for restricted programs like Polio Plus. The "Endowment Fund" offering keeps the Rotary Foundation going for the long term. She then told President Elects that it is their job to educate and inspire Rotarians. She closed by saying, "Hit the ground running, get everyone in your club involved, make it fun & interesting and 'sharing your tool belts', you unique skills and talents. After lunch, there were more break out sessions discussing membership and retention and individual district break-out sessions.

The high point of the conference was Friday evening which included a cocktail hour including available photographs with RI President Elect Ray Klinginsmith. At dinner, RYE Students from 6220 and 6270 performed a magnificent talent show including "If Thou be Near" by Ana-Sophie of Germany and "Boa Sorte" by Mima Benedetto and Marcela Kemp, both of Brazil. The key note address of PETS was clearly the after dinner talk by Rotary International President Elect (RIPE) Ray Klinginsmith of Missouri. Using his "cowboy logic", Ray gave us memorable quotes including, "Talk more and say less", "keep Rotary Simple", and "blessed are those who dream dreams and are willing to do the work to make it happen". Emphasizing his theme of "Building Communities and Bridging Continents", Ray stressed the four avenues of service of Rotary. Quoting Confucious, Ray said, "I live in a small house, but my window looks out on a big world". He closed by saying that "we need heroes". The best way to be a Hometown Hero, he said, is to do a good job as your club president.

Saturday morning included a timely session on using social networking sites to increase Rotary membership. Clubs should use Linked-in, Facebook and even Twitter to reach young professionals that we need in Rotary today. Young professionals will invariably ask, "what's your Rotary Club web site?". The smart club president will pay attention to their club website. PETS ended with an actual Rotary Club Meeting for lunch, modeling President Elects how to run a good meeting.

Kenosha's New Website

Kenosha Rotary Club is pleased to announce the launch of their new website. View it at www.kenosharotary.org.

Rotary International Conferences Dates Change

Please note the change of dates for the 2011 and 2012 Rotary International Conferences.
New Orleans = May 20-25, 2011
Bangkok, Thailand = May 6-9, 2012