What a month it has been for Rotary and the District! History was made when Jennifer Jones was selected as the first woman President for Rotary International. Her term will be the 2022-23 year. She is a dedicated Rotarian and has earned the position. What a great thing for Rotary. There is more about her later in the newsletter
We had a very successful Membership Seminar on August 15. What a great job Hung Wei and her team did putting that program together. It was entertaining, provided a lot of information on how to live in this virtual Rotary world and gave everyone a lot to consider as we strive to make membership meaningful. You can view the membership presentation by going to the District website https://rotarydistrict5170.org/.
The Public Relations Committee has been very busy promoting Rotary in our communities. Several articles had come out, in print and online, highlighting the great work the clubs are doing and spotlighting individual Rotary members for their tireless service to others. A shout out to Maggie Padovani and her team for all their efforts.
My club visits have started and although I miss being there in person, it has been a real pleasure to visit them virtually. The amount of activity clubs are doing, even with the health department restrictions, is impressive. They are finding ways to serve the needs of their communities and are asking for more ideas. What a great district!
Looking ahead, the Business Expo scheduled for October 15th will not be occurring. We have decided instead to do a virtual Avenues of Service on October 17th. Featured speaker will be Heidi Kuhn, Founder and CEO of Roots of Peace. Other details are now being finalized.
The Rotary Virtual Institute will be taking place on November 12 to 14. This is a unique opportunity to attend this training. This training is available to all Rotarians and because it is virtual, the cost is very reasonable. To get more information, follow this link https://zone2627.org/2020-rotary-institute/ to the Zone website.
The District is also planning a leadership seminar in November. We are awaiting the availability of the presenter John Lipp, Executive Director of Friends of the Alameda Animal Shelter. He presents leadership skills and fund raising ideas in an informative and entertaining way.
Thanks for all you do, keep up the great work and stay healthy.
Share preparedness informationin communities impacted by these disasters. The Red Cross Emergency App is a powerful tool to get localized alerts, find open shelters and preparedness and response information (text "GETEMERGENCY" to 90999).
Recruit Volunteers – Due to the coronavirus pandemic, a busy disaster season, and increased travel restrictions, we are recruiting additional volunteers in priority areas such as Sheltering, Disaster Health Services, and Blood Drive Support. More information available here.
Due to the fires, some blood drives are being cancelled. Sign up to donate blood. When people sign up on this link in the comments they should put their Rotary Club so that we can tell which clubs are participating https://sleevesup.redcrossblood.org/campaign/rotary-district-5170-virtual-blood-drive-january-may-2020/ You can share this on social media too. Also, have your Rotarian's take a picture and share that they are a Rotarian helping to save lives by giving blood.
Greetings from your 2020-2021 District Public Relations Team. There are some exciting new developments this Rotary year with individuals from our committee assigned to each area as a District PR resource for your clubs. For this month’s article we wanted to give an overview of the social media platforms available, why each one could be valuable to your PR efforts, and how you can use them to engage new and existing audiences. Social media channels allow you to develop and share a targeted message that can be more effective at reaching your audience than traditional media sources. Not only can you share unidirectionally, you can start a conversation with the people you are engaging with to generate greater value from your efforts. Today we will talk about the four primary platforms and the primary methods of sharing content.
Interact 5170 is kicking into high gear! Governor Charlize Nguyen, a senior at Palo Alto High School, and Lt. Governor Kenny Ng, a senior at Washington High School, along with support from District Co-Chairs Peter Allen and Julie Herndon, hosted a boot camp in mid-July for their District Council, equipping their team with skills needed for another successful year.
Our InteractDistrict Council held their annual New Presidents’ Meeting digitally on Saturday, August 15, 2020. Approximately 200 Interact leaders from around the district came together to learn about club management and share their Interact stories -- why they joined Interact and why they stayed. With their recently unveiled theme, “Setting Sail,” the dynamic duo of Charlize and Kenny will strive to take Interact 5170 to greater heights.
Jennifer E. Jones, a member of the Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland, Ontario, Canada, has been nominated to become Rotary International’s president for 2022-23, a groundbreaking selection that will make her the first woman to hold that office in the organization’s 115-year history.
Jones will officially become president-nominee on 1 October if no other candidates challenge her.
Mateo A.T. Caparas, a past Rotary International president who championed Rotary’s earliest efforts to fight polio and created the program that became Rotary Community Corps, died 15 July. He was 96.
Caparas, known as M.A.T., served as RI president in 1986-87 and used his term to encourage members to inspire hope, through service, in communities around the world.
Cupertino Rotary Partners with Cupertino Chamber - "Skip a Lunch, Give a Lunch" Program
The Rotary Club of Cupertino (www.cupertinorotary.org) like other service organizations, is improvising in the face of pandemic-induced restrictions and finding creative ways to support each other and the community. Its Skip a Lunch, Give a Lunch is a service project in partnership with the Cupertino Chamber of Commerce’s “Cupertino Together” program to serve meals to those in need during this pandemic, $20 buys a meal for a person in need!
ROTARY FREMONT BRIDGE CLUB RAISES $12,000 FOR RUBY’S PLACE
The Fremont Bridge Rotary Clubhas been on a mission to raise funds for Ruby’s Place, in support of battered women with children and human trafficking.
“When Linea McPherson, our club Community Service chair announced we would be raising $5,000 to support Ruby’s Place, a shelter for battered women, I was concerned if we could raise that amount in a month’s time,” said Paul Andrus, president Fremont Bridge Rotary Club. “Well, Linea showed me! With the majority of the fundraising coming from her efforts, I am proud to announce that our club has raised $12,000 towards grocery gift cards for the women and children at Ruby’s Place,” he added.
Gilroy Rotary Club Raises $7,000 to Support Immediate Needs - Funds support GUSD and St. Joseph Center
When the coronavirus hit in mid-March, the Gilroy Rotary Club wasted no time setting up a process to raise funds to help. Past President Mark Turner said, “As Rotarians, we knew it was our duty and responsibility to become a part of the solution during the COVID crisis.
ROTARY CLUB OF DOWNTOWN SAN JOSE DONATES FULLY EQUIPPED DISASTER RELIEF VEHICLE TO CATHOLIC CHARITIES
The Rotary Club of San Jose (www.sjrotary.org) presented ceremoniously at a press briefing Wednesday, August 12th, a fully equipped multi-purpose “Disaster Relief Vehicle” to Gregory Kepferle, CEO of Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County. The vehicle will assist in emergency needs, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County is a non-profit organization that serves and advocates for individuals and families in need, especially those living in poverty or who are uninsured.
You are cordially invited to join in an informal discussion with current and Past District Governors on Saturday, September 26, from 3 – 5pm. Topics include:
Who can be District Governor?
How is the District Governor selected?
What roles does the District Governor have in the years before and after the DG year?
What is the expected time commitment?
Is there a financial commitment?
What resources does the District and Rotary International provide to assist the District Governor?
Interact 5170 is kicking into high gear! Governor Charlize Nguyen, a senior at Palo Alto High School, and Lt. Governor Kenny Ng, a senior at Washington High School, along with support from District Co-Chairs Peter Allen and Julie Herndon, hosted a boot camp in mid-July for their District Council, equipping their team with skills needed for another successful year.
