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From Rotary District 5130 Governor Erna Stevenson -
DG Erna Stevenson 2006-2007
Rotary District 5130 News
Issue 10, April 2007
DG ERNA's Newsletter
In this issue:
- A New Rotary Club in Rohnert Park!
- 2007 District Conference next month: First time Rotary Business Expo
AND: "Celebrating Women in Rotary: the First 20 Years!"
- RYLA Promotes Youth Leadership
A NEW CLUB IS FORMING
A new club is being organized in our District! My warm congratulations to the Rotary Club of Rohnert Park-Cotati, for its initiative in forming a new club in the area. I had the pleasure of attending the organizational meeting last week and it was so exciting to see 40-45 people excited about the new club and becoming Rotarians. And the support the Rohnert-Park Cotati members are exhibiting is phenomenal. If you have friends or business associates who live or work in Rohnert Park-Cotati, please ask them to contact President Tim Miller, 303-4126, tmiller@ap.net. MEMBERSHIP Just learned at PETS (the annual Rotary President-Elect Training seminar) that new figures show that only about 10% of us have sponsored a new Rotarian. Since 100% of us benefit from new growth, why not pick up the phone right now and invite someone to a meeting? I also got this tip at PETS, good especially for people in lunchtime clubs: offer to pick up your guest at their place of work, and you've got them in the car with you twice. Surely you'll find a good topic of conversation.
District Assembly and Conference Dates April 14th District Assembly, "Mission Possible"
It is not too late to get a commitment from your board and new Rotarians to attend. It is such a wonderful opportunity to learn about the essentials of Rotary. Registration forms are on the District website, www.rotary5130.org. Register today! On Friday night, the 13th, a reception will be held at the Hampton Inn; information is on the registration form. May 17-20th District Conference, Doubletree, Rohnert Park. Cirque du Rotary features the inspiring magic illusion act of Billy Riggs, along with the Governor's Ball on Saturday night, celebrating the "First 10 Years of Women in Rotary!" At the Doubletree in Rohnert Park. RI Vice-President E and Zone 23 Director, Jerry Hall will be one of the keynote speakers. Our RI Representative will be PDG Hal Darcey, District 5000, Hawaii. BUSINESS EXPO AT DISTRICT CONFERENCE For the first time, we have a Rotary Business Expo in conjunction with the Conference, on Friday. Rotary's roots came from the desire to connect with others in business and the professions. Recent focus groups show that prospective members under 40 would very much appreciate a renewed emphasis on business and professional connections in Rotary. This isn't just about self-promotion. It also speaks to Rotary's commitment to honor all worthy occupations and to celebrate the successes that have allowed us to make the contribution of time and resources to Rotary service. To participate in this new/old concept close to home, please contact Expo Chair Peter Hoberg (Santa Rosa Sunrise) phoberg@comcast.net, 486-1500.
A MESSAGE FROM LUIS VINCENTE GIAY, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRUSTEES
"As one of our Foundation's foremost supporters, you know the direct impact Foundation programs have in shaping the young minds of the world through education and Group study Exchange. You know that clean water wells save millions of children from certain death each year. Sustainable projects that alleviate poverty, eliminate hunger, and improve basic education empower those less fortunate to provide for their families and be productive members of their societies. These are only a few reasons why I am counting on you to help Lead the Way and encourage every Rotarian in each of our 32,442 Rotary clubs to contribute to the Annual Programs Fund before this Rotary year ends. Let us use our intellect, creativity, labors, fellowship, and philanthropy to support our Rotary Foundation and make our world a better place today than we found it yesterday." So please dig out the checkbook and write that check today!
POLIOPLUS IN ACTION
After the international spread of 2003-2005, endemic poliovirus has been beaten back to only four parts of four countries. Global polio eradication depends on the engagement of the leaders of the "final four" countries: Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. The strategies and tools to eradicate polio are better than ever. The program now has vaccines which are twice as effective and diagnostic tools that detect and track poliovirus twice as fast as before. Visit the Global Polio Eradication Initiative web site for the most up-to-date progress report information, www.polioeradication.org.
AWARDS
Information has been distributed to the clubs. Take the time to fill out the forms. The deadline to submit the awards applications is April 14th at the District Assembly or prior. The Committee will meet to judge the entries April 28th.
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS (RYLA)
By PDG Jack Vallerga
Rotarians in Australia and New Zealand who were interested in the development of youth leadership prior to 1949, was the first roots for RYLA. The roots of RYLA in the USA started in 1949 after this idea spread from Australia and New Zealand to the USA. The overall purpose of this early youth program was to promote the leadership of youth. RYLA was adopted by the Board of Rotary International in 1971 and has continued to grow. RYLA programs are flourishing all over the Rotary World today. The age range for RYLA is from 18 to 24 years of age, but varies widely in some countries.
The Purpose of RYLA Is To:
- Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth.
- Encourage and assist selected youth leaders and potential leaders in methods of responsible and effective voluntary youth leadership by providing them with a training experience.
- Encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth.
- Publicly recognize the high qualities of many young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth leaders.
There is a wide range of programs in RYLA throughout the world with such topics as: group dynamics, public speaking, community problems, international problems, social and moral responsibility, volunteerism, and many more topics. Some meetings are held for only one day and others are for a week. This meeting time varies all over the world. RYLA started in District 513 (later to be 5130) in 1989-1990, at which time it was a District Goal to start RYLA in the District. Several Rotarians were considered for the Chairman of the District RYLA Committee, and finally Duane Blackwill, Past President of the Rotary Club of Petaluma agreed to accept this position.
Four suggestions were given to Duane:
- The program would be held the first or second week after school in all the high schools in the District were out
- The participants would be juniors in high school so that they would be back in school the following year and able to speak to their sponsoring Rotary Clubs.
- The Chairman would meet with Adrian Mendes, PDG of District 516 (later to be 5160) to get information about their weeklong program
- The Chairman would talk with the RYLA Chairman from District 510 (later to be 5100.)
Duane did all of the above suggestions and RYLA was off and running in our District in June 1990 at Westminster Woods. Each club in the District is asked to sponsor at least two students to RYLA each year. Because of the work of Duane Blackwill (who passed away in 2006) this has been a very successful program in our District. Lou Steinberg, President Elect of the Rotary Club of Petaluma, is the current District RYLA Chairman, and he is carrying on the work that PDG Duane Blackwill started in 1989-1900.
Yours in Service
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