The year is off to a rollicking start! I have met with a number of clubs, via zoom, and learned a great deal about all of the wonderful service and fellowship that goes on all over the district! Although, like everyone, I would prefer to meet in person, it is still fun to get to know everyone – no matter how we must do it!

 

By the way, if your club is not meeting virtually, please reach out to me. We can work with any club in the district to get everyone meeting, or, we can ‘partner’ clubs that are meeting virtually, so that we ‘Keep our Rotary Light On,’ as IPDG Steve says.

 

August is Membership Month! - which always strikes us as odd because summer is always a little slower here in southern New England. Our answer to that is to make every month Membership Month! By focusing on making our current clubs stronger, more vibrant, and even more fun, we will make ourselves Totally Irresistible! Finding ‘Rotarians at Heart’ will be easier, because they will also find us.

 

The District Membership Committee, under the leadership of Chair Missy Garlisi has had its first meeting already! This committee is working on ways to help all of our clubs increase their membership, even in the time of Covid. I also share with you that we have clubs in our district who have inducted new members in this time of pandemic. You will be hearing more from this fine committee. They are also working on ways to consult with you about strategies to further club membership goals.

 

So, meet your District Membership Committee -

            Missy Garlisi, Braintree, Chair

            Paul Corrigan, Weymouth

            Kevin McGovern, Cranston

            Joe Small, Nantasket Hull

            Jennifer Vincent, Fall River

            Zack Whittenberger, Pawtuxet Valley

 

The committee seeks a member from the Cape and Islands to round out representation. If you are an energetic Rotarian from that area, and would like to help clubs grow, please do not hesitate to contact Melissa Garlisi, mgarlisi@comcast.net, to express your interest.

 

Our brand new committee, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, also had  its first organizational meeting and outlined the work that the committee must do in preparation for developing a solid program that will be advantageous – and helpful - to the clubs in our district.

 

Let me introduce you to this fine committee:

            Billy Roberts, D.G.E., Barnstable/Sunrise – Chair

            Carl Alves, Dartmouth

            Patricia Armstrong, Yarmouth

            Jurgen Craig-Muller, Hyannis

            Robert Cruz, Wakefield

            Helen Mastico, Rockland/Hanson

            David P. Sampson, Bourne/Sandwich

            Usha Vakil, Nantasket/Hull

 

As their first service to the district, the committee brings the Rotary Club of Duxbury program, shown below, to your attention.

 

 

 

The Duxbury Rotary Club is sponsoring a listening session in concert with the Interfaith Council. Their ultimate goal is a Prejudice Free Duxbury! This is an exciting opportunity and they invite any District Rotarian to join in and participate. The path to do that is shown in the poster. We must all work for social justice, and it begins by listening and learning!

 

 

 

The district’s first zoom session on Fundraising in the Age of Covid zoom session was the brainchild of IPDG and current District Trainer Steve Albright with the goal of supporting clubs who are facing fundraising difficulties. We realize that we will have to move our fundraising online and the team of Steve, PDG Dave Clifton and PDG Charlie Murphy have been researching resources that can be shared with all the clubs.

 

The initial session began with a presentation by Cecily Smith, from District 7230, who was extraordinary and shared numerous ideas of how to have successful online fundraisers. This session was recorded and we'll let you know soon how to access it. It has become clear that we will have to have more fundraisers in order to support our community action goals. So, let’s get on with it!!

 

 

On a rotary friendship exchange, you’re never just a tourist. You get to genuinely experience another culture, guided by friends in Rotary. Exchange participants take turns hosting and visiting one another, forging friendships that last a lifetime.

 

Friendship Exchange participants travel as individuals, couples, families, or groups, and may include Rotary members and nonmembers. All exchanges are funded by the participants and their districts, and hosts are not expected to assume a significant financial burden.

 

Visitors are rewarded with warm hospitality and an international travel experience unlike any other.

 

For more information and to explore possibilities, contact Frances Jeffries, District Friendship Exchange Coordinator (francesjeffries@gmail.com or 508.241.6643) and/or go to www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/friendship-exchange 

 

 

 

The Rotarians4NuclearBan invite you to two webinars where discussion will take place about how to end nuclear proliferation. All of the pertinent information is shown in the following announcement.

 

Brad Boyd, Area 1 Assistant Governor, announces the annual Habitat for Humanity bike ride, Sept 13, at the Apuxcit trading post in Bourne. The website with all the details is www.rideforhomes.com. Last year the Rotary “2 Wheel Test” team had 22 riders and raised $9600. They are, of course, trying to top that!

 

That’s it for today, folks, I’m looking forward to continued Zoom meetings and visiting your clubs in person when that’s possible. Please reach out to me with any questions or concerns.

 

And, of course, please stay safe and well.

 

 

Charlene J. Jarest, District Governor 2020/2021

Rotary International, District 7950

508-269-9008

cjarest@comcast.net