New Year Marks Rotary Mid-year, Preview of Events

Dian Edwards
District Governor 2012-2013

Happy New Year to All District 5630 Rotarians!

We have all enjoyed a little holiday break, but now it is time to take stock on what activities are scheduled for the remainder of this District 5630 Rotary Year. There are a number of special meetings and workshops designed to help district and club leaders fulfill their duties.

Please mark your calendars and plan to attend events important to your Rotary service:

February 9: District Team Training, Mid Plains Community College, North Platte – This event is designed to provide district officers, district committee chairpersons, and assistant governors with training and information they need to function effectively.
March 1-3: President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS), Denver Marriott Tech Center – This annual training will provide incoming club presidents with information and tools they can use in their year as club president. District 5630 budgets for attendance by all president-elects and encourages clubs to invest in sending their president-elect-nominees to attend as well.
March 23: District Assembly & Grant Funding Workshop, Kearney – This meeting is designed to provide club committee chairs and club officers with guidance from their district leaders. This year we will also use this forum to provide a two-hour grant-funding workshop that is required for clubs to participate in The Rotary Foundation Grant Programs.
April 26-28: District Conference, O’Neill Community Center – The O’Neill District Conference Planning Committee has been busy developing a conference agenda that will provide a nice balance of entertainment, education, and inspiration. Here is a little “sneak peak” of some fun activities being planned:

Play 9 Holes of Golf at the O’Neill Country Club
Shoot Blue Rocks with the O’Neill Gun Club
Participate in a Texas Hold’Em Tournament at the Blarney Stone
Tour Shamrock Nursery and Shop for Spring Gardens
Tour O’Neill’s own “Tomato Plant” at Garden Fresh Vegetables
Dance to the Music of the “Rumbles”

We will be enlightened, motivated and entertained by speakers:

John Baylor, Leader in Rural Development Initiatives
Kevin Kush, Motivational Speaker and Head Football Coach at Boys Town
David Moyers, RI President’s Representative to our District Conference
Tanner Odell, Celebrity Chef and Young Entrepreneur
Jason Huneke, Magician/Comedian

We will be inspired by presentations from:

Four-Way Test Essay Contest Winner
Youth Exchange Students
RYLArians
Group Study Exchange Teams
D5630’s PolioPlus NID Team
International and Community Service Projects

I want to close with a word of thanks and appreciation to all who have worked so diligently during the past six months to achieve district membership and foundation goals for this Rotary year. Let’s make a strong finish to the year with a continuation of membership growth and increased giving to The Rotary Foundation in support of humanitarian programs at home and throughout the world!

In Service of Rotary,

Dian Edwards, District Governor

P.S. Remember, the success of Rotary is built on the strength of its club members!

Saturday, April 26

District Governor Elect Sarah Cathcart (Kearney Noon) began the morning activities with a powerful flag ceremony with our guests and RYE students parading their respective flag. Representing 11 nations were; Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, India, Japan, Mexico, Romania, Spain, Ukraine, Nebraska, The United States of America and of course the flag that unites all of us, Rotary International. The US colors were presented by the VFW Color Guard Commander Gary Bush followed by the pledge of Allegiance and the national Anthem’s of Equador and United States.

District RYE Coordinator, Paula Witt (Hastings Sunrise) presented “Passport to Possibilities” to the two outbound RYE Students (25-26) with a gift for their upcoming exchange. Owen Phelps (Hastings) will be traveling to Brazil, while Mac Whitehead (McCook) will be traveling to Japan. Following we heard from the current inbound students themselves as Paula interviewed each of them about their exchange year in Nebraska.

Visiting DG Shawna Secker D-5390 (Montana) presented the “Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time” An inspirational story of how RYE is transforming lives across the globe, one student at a time.

Saturday Presentations

The Exchange Effect: Changing Lives, One Journey at a Time DG Shawna Secker, D-5390

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Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members, PDG Deb McCaslin, DMCE Toshia Jones

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Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011

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Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact, DG Whitney Smith, D-5470

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Up next PDG Deb McCaslin (Broken Bow Area) and incoming District Membership Chair Toshia Jones (Cheyenne County) presented “Rotary’s Secret Sauce: Attracting & Keeping Members“, sharing fresh ideas and proven strategies to help grow and strengthen clubs.

Visiting Rotarian Neeraj Bhatnagar, PAG District 3011 (Dehli, India) presented his first of two presentations, “Unlocking Growth: Transforming Rotary Membership in India.” PAG Neeraj demonstrated how innovative strategies are driving incredible membership and engagement across one of Rotary’s most dynamic regions.

Visiting DG Whitney Smith D-5470 (Southern Colorado) presented “Branding Rotary: Making a Lasting Impact” teaching how to harness the power of storytelling, social media and visual identity to effectively share Rotary’s mission and amplify its impact in your community.

Luncheon Keynote

Davanne Moul; Sr. Sales Director Mary Kay, delivered a powerful message of how passion, planning and perseverance has lifted her to tower above others. Ms. Moul intertwined messages of hope with her stories of growing up on a ranch in Aladdin WY. Ms Moul described how she has lived a life of service to others and how that has empowered her to become a top sales leader for Mary Kay nationally for many years. Her message most certainly encouraged all to pursue their dreams.

Pride Points: 60 Years of Inspiration, Innovation & Impact, Davanne Moul Mary Kay

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Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus, PAG Neeraj Bhatnagar, D-3011

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How it Began... PDG Pedro Zanini & Elba Bernat D-4945

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Global Grants: Turning Vision into Action, PDG Dale Schultz

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CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service, Dr. Kim Baxter

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PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney Bio

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PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Daniel Maloney [Speech w/ cues]

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PRIP TRF Trustee Chair-Elect Mark Maloney

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PAG Neeraj returned to the stage to present “Rotary’s Blueprint for Global Impact: The 7 Areas of Focus“, a message of how one person with a single focus can drive meaningful change in communities around the world.

PDG Bob Mayber, DRFC (North Platte Noon) shared “The Heart of Rotary: Transforming Lives Through Giving.” Bob shared a hopeful message of how the simple act of giving can be a force multiplier in Rotary’s mission and provide immeasurable impact on the lives of people whom he thought he would never meet.

PDG Pedro Zanini D-4945 (Argentina) and his wife Elba Bernat presented “This is How it Began“, sharing how a chance meeting of two DG classmates PDG Pedro and PDG Don Peterson (Kearney Dawn) on ZOOM and later in Person in Atlanta, GA would lead to a lasting friendship, and a “Ripple-Effect” of many wonderful projects.

PDG Dale Schultz (Hastings Sunrise) walked everyone through four individual Global Grant projects between D-4945 and D-5630 totaling more than $140,000. Sharing how Rotary has made a lasting impact through the power of collaboration.

Dr. Kim Baxter (North Platte) presented “CRMC Clinic: Honoring Life through Service” A global grant in Kenya. Dr. Baxter shared the incredible work being done to improve healthcare and make a lasting impact in Kenya through this vision to honor his son, Craig Baxter.

Past President Mike McQuillan (Ogallala) served as the emcee for the Dinner and District Celebration. The event was held at the historic Haythorn Ranch Arthur, NE recognizing the efforts of everyone across the district. The Haythorn Family was so gracious hosting and providing a world class Nebraska beef dinner.

Our most honored guests were Past Rotary International President, Mark Daniel Maloney and his lovely wife Gay. It was very special to have PRIP Maloney attend our District Conference because the PRIP is only allowed ONE official appointment from the current RI President each year. Having Lorena’s PRIP from her year as President of the Ogallala Rotary club accept her invitation was truly an honor.

Mark delivered an inspirational message with a little humor tossed in for good measure. “Marks Magical Markers” should be something that every Rotarian should strive to achieve. Download the speech and use the cues to view the Powerpoint and follow along with his message. Mark’s Bio is also provided on the right.

District Awards

Club of the Year (Small)

Arnold

Club of the Year (Medium)

Kearney Dawn

Club of the Year (Large)

Holdrege

Rotarian of the Year

PDG Deb McCaslin