Our District 7070 newsletter is meant to keep everyone in our Rotary family up to date on latest news from around the Rotary world, from the clubs in our District, from the various committees in District 7070 and beyond. We send it out to all active Rotarians and post it on to our District Facebook page. We ask that you share this letter and keep our entire Rotary family and friends informed. Make sure they all get a copy. The deadline for your story submissions is always 4 days prior to the end of the month. Check out our District 7070 Facebook Page, Twitter, Instagram accounts and our District 7070 website for even more of the latest news about Rotary here in southern Ontario and around the world. 

Send In Your Stories and Photos for the Next Edition:

Please send your Rotary Club stories (deadline is always 4 days prior to the end of the month) to our District  Public Image Chair, Dave Andrews at  dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com

A suggestion to the  District Leadership Team, Assistant Governors and Committee Chairs : Send in a story about what your committee is doing and tell our clubs how they can connect with you. 

A suggestion to 2023-24 Club Presidents: There is a place in the Newsletter for News from Clubs. What have you accomplished that you would like to announce to everyone in the District?

HERE IS WHAT IS INSIDE THIS MONTH. YOU CAN CLICK ON EACH TOPIC TO READ THE WHOLE STORY RIGHT HERE IN THE INDEX ....

NEWSLETTERS:

• District Governor John Burns' April 2024 Newsletter
• Rotary International President Gordon McInally's April 2024 Message
• Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation Barry Rassin's April 2024 Newsletter
• The April 2024 video from Drew Kessler, Rotary International Director, Zone 28 & 32

In his April 2024 Newsletter, District 7070 Governor John Burns, Agent 7070, reminds us that April is Environmental Month and urges us to take action and make an impact in out communities, such as the 2024 Rotary Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. He thanks Bob Wallace on learning Tuesdays Rotary Foundation program, and Johanna deBoer on the International Women's day event in the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College. Our District Governor reminds us of many events coming up in April:  Learning Tuesdays  "Rotary - What's In a Name", Rotary Leadership Institute, the District 7070 Environmental Symposium, and Bowmanville's 100th Anniversary, and the District Assembly (on June 1). Please plan now............

In President Gordon McInally's  April 2024 Message, he says that Rotary has a vital role to play in advancing the cause of peace. He often says Rotary needs to work toward peace as aggressively as those who wish to wage war. He says that it is up to us to model peacebuilding behavior among each other. He asks us to help each other find greater understanding and productive alternatives to words that cause hurt and distrust and to stick to our principles, but never doubt the sincerity of each other to end conflicts, not inflame them. Gordon says that it is in times of crisis and despair that we need empathy most of all. Empathy is the most powerful tool of peace, and it is vital if we are to take the first brave, humble steps to Create Hope in the World. ......

In the Chair of the Trustees of The Rotary Foundation (and Rotary International Past President)  Barry Rassin's April 2024 Newsletter, Barry says that environmental threats facing our countries are real. He attended the COP28 climate change convention in Dubai, part of the Rotary delegation. Consensus was that progress on addressing climate change has been too slow. Participants said the world needs to pick up the pace to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Barry says that Rotary can be part of the solution.  He added that The Rotary Foundation, you can increase our impact by pooling resources with clubs and districts around the world, as we protect the environment. We can all help protect the environment through our giving to the Foundation. Rotary can’t save the planet all by itself. But as our progress in ending polio proves, Rotary’s impact is great when we put our vision for a better world.......

To embrace current technology and to be a resource to all members of Zone’s 28/32, the current newsletter has been transitioned to an interactive blog style format that will be managed and moderated by the Zone leadership team. Look for the "In The Zone"  April 2024 video from Drew Kessler, our Rotary International Director, together with Christine Etienne (Director Elect)  in the April 2024 District 7070 Newsletter. When Drew's "In The Zone"  April 2024 video is available, it will be inserted into the District 7070 April Newsletter that appears on our Rotary District 7070 website and also on the Rotary Zone 28 and 32 website . ....... Please Read more...

In a complex, fast-changing world, excellent Rotary club leadership is essential to the future of Rotary.  One of the best ways to strengthen your Club is to give your members the tools and skills to be better Rotarians.  Rotary Leadership Institute is the solution.  This is your opportunity to learn more about Rotary and share your ideas with other Rotarians, and it is a great learning experience for newer Rotarians, for your incoming Board of Directors, and for any Rotarian who wants to learn more about Rotary.  Here is more of the story........

Our 4th Annual Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup Event (GLWC) is quickly approaching!  Please mark your calendar for Saturday April 27, 2024.  More information will come from your District Environmental Action Committee very soon. Thank you - Dan Coombes - Chair GLWC (dancoombes4@gmail.com)

What is your club doing ?  What are you planning? Here's one example.....

At The Second Marsh in Oshawa, Ontario, the Rotary Clubs of Oshawa, Oshawa-Parkwood and Courtice and civic leaders will be helping the Friends of The Second Marsh to clean up the Second Marsh on Lake Ontario. The SECOND MARSH is a 137 ha coastal wetland located in the southeast portion of Oshawa, (Regional Municipality of Durham), Ontario, Canada.  The combination of Second Marsh with the adjacent areas of McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve and Darlington Provincial Park represents nearly 400 hectares, one of the largest publicly accessible waterfront spaces available in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).  It is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario in a major urban center, and is unique in being the largest remaining wetland in the GTA.

For even more ideas....... Please Read more .......

Save the Date.

To Purchase tickets :

Visit bowmanvillerotaryclub.eventbrite.ca

Join your fellow Rotarians during the Rotary International Convention in Singapore at the annual Zones 28 & 32 Beyond Borders dinner, Sunday, May 26, 2024 at One Farrer Hotel.  CLICK HERE to get your tickets.

District Governor Elect VIRGINIA O'REILLY INVITES YOU TO 2024 DISTRICT 7070 CONFERENCE on OCTOBER 25 - 27, 2024.

BE PREPARED TO BE IRRESTIBLE -- IRRESTIBLE FUN, FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP

REGISTRATION  Price $319.00 + HST ( expires June 30, 2024)........  Price $349.00 + HST (Until Conference ). PLEASE REGISTER HERE
https://www.crsadmin.com/eventportal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=1b4dac31-d860-4653-968f-fc7fee4756bc

COME JOIN US AT THE WONDERFUL NOTTAWASAGA RESORT in  ALLISTON, ONTARIO. 

It is always with great sadness when we loose members of our District 7070 Rotary family. Everyone in District 7070 wants to expresses their deepest sympathies to our extended Rotary family. Please send your notices to Newsletter Editor Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com .....

In his April 2024 letter to Rotarians,  Past District Governor Bob Wallace, Chair of the District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee, encourages every Rotarian to set and meet their club and personal goals and make a conscious effort to make a donation to The Rotary Foundation, whatever you can afford, to the Annual Programs Fund, the PolioPlus Fund, the Disaster Response Fund, and to the Endowment Fund. Are you a member of the Paul Harris Society OR the PolioPlus Society? Find out how.........

Thank you to the District 7070 Rotary Foundation Chair Bob Wallace and his committee for another successful  Learning Tuesdays Zoom  - "The Importance of The Rotary Foundation" on March 12, 2024. The recording will be soon available on the Rotary District 7070 You Tube Channel. Past District Governor Bob Wallace, the Chair of our Rotary District 7070 Rotary Foundation Committee welcomed keynote speaker, Chris Etienne Rotary International Director Elect for our Rotary Zones 28 & 32, who talked about  the overall importance of the Foundation.

Would Rotary exist without the Foundation?  

There were stories about:  the outcomes of grants, Polio, and the Endowment Fund and 2025 by 2025, and that it is our money for us to use on district and global grants.  If you missed the original version, be sure to tune in to recording. Available soon. 

The Rotary Foundation requires Rotary and Rotaract Clubs that want to apply for Global and District Grants to be qualified.  Clubs are qualified when two of its members have successfully completed the two on-line quizzes connected to the training modules.  In addition, the President and President Elect of Clubs must sign and submit the MOU – Memorandum Of Understanding to the District.  The qualification is valid for one Rotary year. All documents for the 2024-25 Rotary year are posted under the Rotary Foundation tab on the District’s website, www.rotary7070.org   For any questions, please contact PDG Lars Henriksson, District Grants Sub-Committee Chair at pdglars.henriksson@gmail.com

REMEMBER: To qualify, a Club must have at least two of its members complete the qualification process.  In addition, the Club must submit an MOU to the District, signed by the President and President Elect.   Please Read more for details.............

Rotary and Rotaract Clubs that want to apply for District Grants in the 2024-25 Rotary year must submit their applications between March 1 – May 31, 2024.  Applications are made on the application form found under the Rotary Foundation tab on the District’s website, www.rotary7070.org 

The Club applying for the Grant must be qualified for the 2024-25 Rotary year.  Supporting Clubs are also encouraged to become qualified. 

Please, note that an application for a District Grant is not a guarantee for a grant.  Applications are evaluated by the District Grants Sub-Committee.  Final decision will be made by the Rotary Foundation, which they approve the Spending Plan submitted by D7070 in July 2024.

For more information, please contact PDG Lars Henriksson, pdglars.henriksson@gmail.com

Everyone working on a Global Grant application is looking to add DDF – District Designated Funds – to the funding of the project.  Without DDF, the Rotary Foundation will not provide any funds to the project. 

D7070 has guidelines for matching Club cash contribution with our DDF. At the same time, the amount of DDF the District has is limited.  It is based on the funds we raised three years back for the Annual Fund.  There are also many areas where we can and want use our DDF.

Effective immediately, we are therefore requiring everyone looking for DDF to a Global Grant project to complete and submit a DDF Request Form.  The form is available on the District’s website, under the Rotary Foundation tab..  Projects that have not submitted a DDF Request Form run the risk of not receiving any DDF.

For more information, please contact PDG Lars Henriksson at pdglars.henriksson@gmail.com

Districts and Rotary and Rotaract clubs play a key role in recruiting and recommending Rotary Peace Fellow candidates. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards fellowships to leaders in peace and development to study at one of the Rotary Peace Centers at premier universities around the world. The fellows can earn a master’s degree or a postgraduate diploma through the professional development certificate program. The application will be open 1 February through 15 May, and the peace fellows who are selected will begin their studies in 2025. Find out who is eligible and how they can apply.

Help midcareer change-makers and young professionals who have peacebuilding experience apply for a fully funded Rotary Peace Fellowship. Connect with your district Rotary Peace Fellowship subcommittee chair to learn more about recruiting candidates from your communities......

Dear fellow Rotarians in District 7070,

Raise for Rotary is a platform that allows individuals, clubs, and districts to create online fundraisers that benefit The Rotary Foundation. It is a great way to celebrate personal events and special occasions. Organizers can share their fundraisers through social media, email, and text, so family, friends, colleagues, and supporters can donate online...... Please Read more....

Follow the latest news on Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio, every week. Here is a link to the latest cases - updated every week. See the country-specific section and more details, right here at http://polioeradication.org/polio-today/polio-now/this-week/.   For the headlines. please Read more.....

When polio vaccinators fanned out across the Democratic Republic of the Congo last year to stop an outbreak, they carried a powerful new tool: cellphones that tracked their progress as they went from door to door. Equipped with an app, the phones send data back to a command center where staff can see missed homes on a digital map and redirect teams on the ground. The country is helping pioneer geospatial tracking to stop polio outbreaks. Vaccinators, trained by the World Health Organization, hit the streets in June 2023, armed with hundreds of phones, after an outbreak of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1. Read more about using phones to combat polio.

At last year's Rotary District 7070 Conference, we saw a video about Paul Alexander, a 78-year-old from Texas, USA, who spent most of his life in an iron lung. Paul died on 11 March. Paul , who contracted polio in 1952, had been a member of a Rotary e-club and spoke at Rotary events. Read a story we reported in 2015.

Here is a video: 

Dear Fellow Rotarians in District 7070,

Rotarians in District 7070 have been committed over the past nearly 40 years to raising funds to immunize children worldwide and our efforts are paying off.  You should be proud of the difference that Rotary has made in the lives of millions of children by eliminating this dreadful disease.

The Rotary Club of Seoul-Hansoo, Korea, had about 100 members when Rotary Foundation Trustee Chun-Wook Hyun began his year as district governor nearly a decade ago. Determined to increase membership, district leaders developed a five-year strategic plan for future growth. By creating several satellite clubs – sub-units of Rotary clubs that meet on different days and times but otherwise share their identity with the original clubs – the Seoul-Hansoo club grew to 433 members. It's just one way clubs are innovating, adapting, and creating great club experiences for their members. Read Hyun’s “magical” membership growth tips.

President-elect Stephanie A. Urchick is calling upon Rotary members to make their clubs “simply irresistible” to community members seeking service and fellowship. She calls on members to use Rotary’s Action Plan to assess where they are and where they need to go. Urchick talks about her priorities in an interview with Rotary magazine. Tom Gump, presidential aide to Urchick, further breaks down the concept in his blog post for Rotary Voices..... Please Read more .....

Thank you to Rotary District 7070 Membership Chair Joan Barrett and her committee for an excellent Learning Tuesdays on February 20, 2024, on  "Membership Workshop  - Club Culture", that featured our Rotary International President 2024-25 Stephanie Urchick and the 2024-24 Aide to President Stephanie , Tom Gump.  We all learned some new ways to add and retain members in our clubs. Be sure to register see the recording on the Rotary District You Tube Channel . It makes a great learning experience for your members..........

Past District Governor Mike Cooksey once told me that if you want more Rotary members, you have to ask. He told everyone he saw to "Get your Ask in Gear". His words certainly reflect one of the District 7070 Action Plans. Our goal is to receive 100 inquires from  the "Join Us" or "Interested In Joining Us?" button on the District 7070 Website. Here is our challenge to your club:  By the end of this Rotary year we want over 40 Rotary Clubs have a "Join Us" or "Interested In Joining Us?" button on their own club website AND for your club to have a "member conversion process" from these inquiries.  It's up to you.

To see how we have done , Please Read more........

Early in the new year,  Rotary International sees a big increase in inquiries about joining Rotary. District and club leaders: Remember to follow up with these prospective members to ensure that they have a positive experience. You can gain a better understanding of how to turn leads into members by taking the Online Membership Leads course. Use the Refer a new member form if you know someone who might be interested in joining. The updated form allows all Rotary members to refer a prospective member to their own club or to a different club.

Many clubs face challenges related to three things: attracting new members, keeping members engaged, and finding meaningful ways to contribute to their communities. Use the Club Planning Assistant to get tailored advice for addressing your club’s challenges. Club leaders, you’ll receive an instant response with links to the resources we recommend to help you address your club’s most pressing challenges. You can then build these suggested strategies into your club’s membership plan.

Welcome to the brand new section in our District newsletter. Our Past District Governor Iosif Ciosa is our District Training Chair and he wants to give every member of the Rotary famiy in District 7070 the best possible opportunity to learn more about Rotary and your leadership opportunities.   Be sure to drop by this section each month to see what new training / eadership opportunities are in store for you. 

There are lots of tips and tools of the trade when it comes to Public Image, Membership and The Rotary Foundation when it comes to you and your Rotary or Rotaract club. This is exactly what we have in store for you.

On Tuesdays, starting on January 16, 2024 , on a monthly basis , we will be presenting learning opportinities, in one-hour zoom sessions,  for you and your club members,  to help you with many ways that you can learn more about Rotary and really help your club.

Here is how we have divided up the sessions: January 16 - Public Image; February 20 - Membership; March 12 - Rotary Foundation; April 16 - Public Image; May 21 - Membership; and June 18 - Rotary Foundation. Stay tuned for more details, these sessions are being developed as we speak. 

From your District 7070 Chairs: Dave Andrews (Public Image); Joan Barrett (Membership) and Bob Wallace (Rotary Foundation) and your District 7070 Learning Chair Iosif Ciosa.. 

To District 7070 Committees:       From: Committee Chair: Iosif Ciosa

Learning 2023/2024 Description Form

Here is the Learning Description Form that we would like you to fill out and sent to Iosif Ciosa when you create the learning event that we will put on the District Website.

You may attach pictures, flyers, artwork or graphics (please make sure that pictures or graphics are not copywritten and are royalty free).

Please Read more to see the form.....

With Environmental Sustainability taking root within Rotary as the 7^th Area of Focus, Rotary has designated April 2024 as the Environment Month. Check the link below to see what Rotarians around the world are doing to improve the health of planet.

https://www.rotary.org/en/rotary-and-earth-day

Within District 7070, most clubs are participating in the Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. On Saturday April 27, 2024, thousands of Rotarians & Non-Rotarians alike, on both sides of the Canadian and U.S. border will roll up their sleeves to collect refuse along the shoreline, and innumerable waterway tributaries to the Great Lakes basin......

As we approach the spring season, the Environmental Action Committee is pleased to announce that clubs across the district are getting ready for hands-on projects. 

- April 24th - Environmental Symposium - A virtual (on line)  and in-person event Live from the Rotary Global Classroom at Durham College in Oshawa, Ontario . Details to follow.

Richard Mewhinney met with PDG Ron Dick, PDG Bob Wallace, and Prince Kumar to initiate a trial of a project board utilizing the Rotary Showcase as a platform. We need the help of every club in District 7070 to add projects to the Rotary Showcase. They will not only appear on the Project Database for the entre Rotary world to see (and perhaps help you with your project) but also act as part of our Rotary District 7070 Project Board. REMINDER: Beginning this year, in 2023-24, if your club is looking to receive a Rotary Citation, your service projects have to go into Rotary Showcase.

Log into MyRotary , go to the online tools and click Rotary Showcase. Rotary members and program participants are improving lives in communities around the world every day through thousands of service projects. Explore the good work that we’re doing locally and globally, and share these projects through social media.

Please welcome  Ally Buck, the new Rotary and Community Fundraising Coordinator with ShelterBox Canada. She is looking forward to getting to know the Rotary Clubs and Rotarians that support ShelterBox. She is originally from Pictou County, Nova Scotia where she attended the Nova Scotia Community College’s Social Services/Community Development program. In 2018 she relocated to Kingston, Ontario to attend Queen’s University where she graduated with her BA in Global Development Studies last June.

 Here's is her latest newsletter.....

Rotary members Create Hope In the World through their commitment to providing Basic Education and Literacy to their home communities and communities around the world.  Be sure to see the latest issues of the BELRAG newsletter, learn how Rotarians are committed to improving basic education and literacy.  See our website for more information: https://belrag.org/. Thank you to Courtney Doldron for linking us up with the Newsletters.

Enjoy the Newsletters as you support BEL programs to Create Hope in the World.

Carolyn Johnson
Chair Emeritus, BELRAG

Here is the latest Honouring Indigenous People Rotary News and Events, projects, blogs, photos, films, and resources. There are many major initiatives and resources available to you and your Rotary club. Your Club can help.  Our District 7070 Action Committee's Areas of Focus Coordinator is Bill Empey from the Rotary Club of Toronto   If you have a good news story, or want to help starting a project, please contact Bill. Here are some news highlights .........

To the Rotary District 7070 Family,

Thank you all for your applications that we received by the December 15 deadline. District 7070 received a significant number of outstanding candidates, making the selection process quite challenging. Honouring Indigenous Peoples (HIP) received applications from hundreds of candidates across Canada, and only 50 could be chosen to participate. These very special students enjoyed a truly transformational experience. We  need your help to raise the final amount for the program ..... Please Read more .....

Your Rotary District 7070 Diversity Equity & Inclusion  (DEI) Committee is welcoming members. If you would like to join a committee that is actively working to celebrate the rich diversity we have in our district and strive to create more inclusive clubs, please get in touch with Shauna Moore - shaunanmoore@gmail.com

The Rotaract Club of  Willowdale is a proud ambassador of a recent Reading Glasses Initiative, commenced by Rotarian Christopher Jones of AUT Transit Union Local 113 Toronto. In doing so, our Club has been able to contribute to the collection of gently used, and new reading glasses for marginalized communities in the Philipines. The first shipment of reading glasses was well received in Makati, Philippines, and we plan to continue this project into the summer of 2024.

If any members of District 7070 would like to make a financial contribution or donate reading glasses with a known prescription, please contact williwdalerotaracts@gmail.com.  Please Read more to see some of the photos.....

Amy Taghavi-Tekieyeh

Co-President, Rotaract Club of Willowdale 

Each year, the Interact Awards encourage young leaders to submit videos, photos, and essays that spread awareness about Interact. See the winning entries.

Our goals:

- To give Rotaractors a home after they graduate from a university-based Rotaract club

- To address service area gaps in Rotaract programs

- To foster and grow Rotaract in the District

- To be a central club that allows for tracking numbers and coordinating large-scale events like the Rotaract District Conference

-  To be an access point between Rotaract and Rotary Clubs

- To be an inclusive space that builds goodwill and better friendships

- To foster Rotarians of the future

- To be a fun club where young professionals and university students get to network, and develop under rotary.   

We look for your support in making this a reality. 

Additionally below is our Linktree containing our social media and Sign-up Sheet, please circulate it to your club and networks. 

https://linktr.ee/rotaract7070eclub

Please Read more to see the poster....

Rotaract club presidents are now able to report current and incoming secretaries, treasurers, and committee chairs to Rotary International. Reporting these appointments will help assure your club leaders get the latest news and resources to support club-led activities. Log in to My Rotary and access the Club Administration section of your account.

After the wonderful District Conference in Oshawa featuring our exchange students .....

I am sure you are all wanting to get in on the fun and excitement and get YOUR OWN EXCHANGE STUDENT.

At the Stirling Rotary Clubhouse on Nov 1, 2023,  the Rotary Clubs of Stirling, Trenton, Brighton & Campbellford  held a joint information session for prospective outbound students.  We had 16 interested students and most students brought both of their parents.  If you need a copy of the live presentation please contact trevor@thlogistics.ca . There is still time to get a student for late August 2024 !   Do you need more information ?    Please contact co-chairs Beth Selby selbyandvail@gmail.com or Trevor Hagerman  trevor@thlogistics.ca

Not sure about August 2024 but August 2025 might work for you, please contact us .. we can do a presentation via Zoom or possibly in person visit to your club.

Chairs

Beth & Trevor

Attention - Rotarians and Rotoractors! ...... Interested in helping our district youth?  Want to make lifelong friendships? 
The District Rotary Youth Exchange Committee welcomes you to join us!  We meet monthly to select and support our District’s Rotary Youth Exchange Inbound and Outbound Students.  Contact PDG Beth Selby (selbyandvail@gmail.com) or Trevor Hagerman (trevorshelley2020@gmail.com).

Nearly a decade ago, while Jennifer Jones was the chair of the Strengthen Rotary’s Brand Committee, Rotary International conducted in-depth research to better understand how the public viewed Rotary, our members, and our work. What we learned was that we needed to reposition the Rotary brand by focusing on clear, consistent messages and a unified visual identity. Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Rotary International Board of Directors approved new brand guidelines, which included how clubs should use the Rotary logo.......

To Rotarians in District 7070:

It's TIME TO GET YOUR CLUB NOTICED. Prospective members are checking YOU out - What will they see? Don't be left behind.  REGISTER TODAY.

To assist the Rotary Clubs of District 7070 GET NOTICED, at the request of District Governor John Burns, the District Public Relations Committee is continuing the Rotary Club ClubRunner Website Refresh Program and Promotional Half Back Discount.

THIS PROGRAM IS NOW AVAILABLE FOR YOUR CLUB in 2023-24. Thirty-two of our District 7070 Rotary clubs have already completed the refresh program.  These club websites are getting noticed by the public and by their potential members who are checking them out. When a prospective member looks to join a club, they look at YOUR club website. GET YOUR CLUB WEBSITE REFRESHED - REGISTER TODAY. 

Please Read more.......

Here are a few ideas from Rotary International for strengthen Rotary's brand...

Looking For A Place to Find Speakers?   Got a good Speaker you have recently heard?  Well, you've come to the right place!

We want this to be a great resource for speakers for your club. The speakers listed have been all recommended by clubs in our District. The list will be updated often, so you may want to "bookmark" this page! Speakers are listed by category as shown on the District 7070 website "Speakers Corner" page under the Our Work Tab.  

Just follow the instructions on the Speakers Corner Page and then contact Rotary District 7070 Public Image Chair Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com. with the speakers (and their info on this form) that you wish to add to Speaker's Corner for all of the clubs to enjoy.

OUR GOAL: We would like to see each club in our District recommend at least one speaker that other clubs would just love to hear. Please use the form and send it to Dave TODAY. Let's really build a significant Speaker's Corner.

Note: The Speakers Corner Page is only accessible by Rotarians and Rotaractors with a clubrunner ID and password and not available to the general public . (to respect the privacy to the speakers who have volunteered to speak to other Clubs) 

Check out the link and truthfully answer the questions on your club's web presence. Your 2024-25 Club President already has a copy.

Then put together a plan to increase your club's web presence. https://msgfocus.rotary.org/c/19h6LOvKjkO2GcFw6fOJhn9DTktBO

Rotary’s public image is shaped by the actions of every member, from how we conduct ourselves in meetings to how we represent Rotary at events and respond to needs in our communities. The club public image committee’s role is to create and implement a plan to tell Rotary’s local story, promote the club’s activities in the area, and raise awareness of Rotary’s work around the world. This list will help you assess how well your committee is shaping Rotary’s image.

Check the Club Public Image Checklist. See how many checks you have accomplished , and start working on the rest of the checks.  Your 2024-25 Club President already has a copy.  Here is the checklist. 

The Rotary International Board of Directors has made it very clear. A brand is more than just a logo, but a logo is a big part of our visual identity. When the public sees it throughout their community, they begin to think of Rotary members as people of action. Using the same visual elements unites Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact and allows us, as a diverse global organization, to tell our story with one voice.

The RI Board of Directors is asking every club to update its logo to align with Rotary’s brand guidelines

Unfortunately, I have  noticed that some Rotary Clubs in our District are altering the Rotary logo for use in the marketing and promotion of their various events and projects.

This sends the wrong signal to the public. Many do not know who we are now and different “looks” to our logo just makes it worse. Please use the Rotary Brand Center ( see : https://brandcenter.rotary.org/en-us ) and USE ONLY THE ONE ROTARY LOGO in your marketing and public relations initiatives. That would include your website , all social media sites and any signs you may have created.  

A consistent voice and unified visual identity are essential components of a strong brand. Learn how to use Rotary’s communication and design elements to build awareness and recognition of Rotary and to tell the story of people of action. We continue to strive for One clear consistent look and message in all that we do, to ensure that everyone knows our “Rotary” message.....

In the Summer of 2020, we asked Rob MacArthur, our District 7070 Public Image Public Investigator to carry out an investigation on all 55 Rotary clubs with respect to their club's Public Image.  Rob looked at your club's basic web site setup as well as social media channels and the way they were being used. A spreadsheet of the results was made available for our District Leadership Team and Assistant Governors to look at in the Fall of 2020. The Pie Chart included shows a graphical representation of the results.  Where do you "think" your club fits in this chart? What is the Image that the public have, about your club? Here is what Rob found out... Please Read more....

Our District 7070 Public Image Committee is calling for YOU  (Rotaractors and Rotarians in the District)  to join our District Public Image Committee.  Our scope is to boost Rotary's Public Image and to assist Rotary Clubs in D7070 to do the same.

We are looking for YOU, Rotaractors and Rotarians who have experience in the field of Public Relations, Social Media platforms, and news writing. We want you to use those very special talents to assist clubs and our Committee . Are you that Rotarian?  Are you that Rotaractor? Are you interested ? Please contact Dave Andrews at dave.f.andrews99@gmail.com and we can set up a time to chat about your interests.

Be sure to see the Public Image menu tab on our District Website and check out our District Facebook Page , Twitter account and Instagram account and the District Newsletters too, for some idea of what we do. 

Do you have events or fundraisers that you want other clubs to know about?  Perhaps a project with which you need their assistance?  Here are just three ways you can get your event, your message , a story about your club, or your "ask for help" out to your neighbouring Rotary Clubs, RIGHT HERE IN THIS NEWSLETTER:........

Here is a note from Michael Soo Chan, a polio survivor who attended the Rotary Club of Ajax March 21, 2024 meeting which highlighted Kimberly Smith, Coordinator Polio Canada & National Programs, Community Programs, Skill Development and Employment of March of Dimes Canada and their outstanding work.:

The Rotary Citation awards recognize the hard work clubs do throughout the year. Taking action toward achieving the citation goals helps clubs engage their members, stay relevant in their communities, and run more efficiently. A welcoming and engaging club also reflects the values of Rotary. When clubs achieve citation goals, they contribute to the overall health and culture of Rotary for generations to come. Your Rotary, Rotaract, or Interact club can earn a Rotary Citation for achieving goals that strengthen Rotary and your club. Goals include increasing club membership, developing sustainable service projects, giving to The Rotary Foundation, and building awareness of Rotary in your community. 

Here's how.......

From Victoria Ruger, Club and District Management Product Manager and Chonticha Yurai, Grants and Service Product Manager

You all know the benefits of using Rotary Club Central, which is designed to be the place where you set our goals and track your progress.

Rotary Showcase, however, is the best place for you to plan your service projects, share the outcomes, and show the impact in ways that can attract more partners or inspire other clubs.In the coming months, both online tools will be updated. This includes phasing out the Service Activities section in Rotary Club Central — a change that will simplify how you track projects and allow you to focus your efforts in one place.......

This is to introduce the District 7070 Technology team. Let's meet our team members. We are a team that can provide answers to any of your queries about MY ROTARY, CLUBRUNNER, ZOOM, and social media.

If you have any questions or problems that we can help with please contact me.

If your club would like any training in these areas, also please let us know. We recognize that these software programs are a great help and want you to get the most out of them.......

As we are returning step by step to a more normal life, after COVID, it is now time to also look at the plans for the future for YOUR CLUB.  Club Visioning offers a process to develop an Action Plan for the Club.  Each member of the Club is invited to participate, and the session can be either on-line or in person.  Interested?  Please, contact Lars Henriksson at pdglars.henriksson@gmail.com to find out more about the Club Visioning program.

Rotary Clubs, like most other organizations, will benefit from having a plan for the next couple of years.  What are YOUR goals?  What do you want YOUR Club to be like - two or three years down the road? 

Strategic planning consists more or less of these three steps. 

• A description of where you are now, the Club’s status. 

• As a group, you and your club members decide what and where you want to be in two, three years. 

• By developing an Action Plan, you and your club members map out how to reach your goals. 

Please Read more ........

We now have a new and refreshed District 7070 Website. Be sure to take a look at the change over the next short period of time. Be sure to register for your club's website refresh too.  In the meantime, check out the resources and articles available to you today.  Use them on your club website, and as posts in your social media accounts.

Have you checked out our District 7070 Website lately?  https://rotary7070.org/

Have you checked out the up-to-the-minute scrolling stories that you can share with your members and post on to your club website and social media pages? Have you checked out the new concise menu tabs? Have you seen all of the links at the bottom of the page?  There's more good news here... Please Read more.....