Greetings fellow District Rotarians:

This is a special time of year when we celebrate the birth of the Christ child as Christians, and get together with family and friends and exchange gifts, eat too much and visit about old times.  This is also the close of the first half of the Rotary year.  Sheryl and I visited all 33 clubs, RYLA and the In bound youth exchange orientation, all  in July, August and September.  The last club visit was our home club of St Paul on September 22.  The club visits were really my favorite thing to do as District Governor.  Needless to say not all clubs have the same personality, but the one thing they have in common is helping others locally, regionally and around the world. This year’s RI President’s theme of Rotary Serving Humanity certainly describes the clubs and their projects in District 5630.  I look forward to visiting as many clubs as I can a second time to help promote club, district and RI goals and events in 2017.

Thanks to Rotarian Paul Stec and his team, especially Beth Lobner, for another successful Big Red Blowout. The event raised more funds for the Rotary Foundation, District budget expense help and funds shared by all the clubs supporting the record breaking sales this year.  The finale was the annual bus trip to the NU vs IL game, tailgate, game, and  the prime rib dinner at Chances R in York. What a great day for all the winners, their guests and selling Rotarians. We were able to show case what Rotary does locally and around the world. Thanks again District 5630 for supporting this worthwhile event.

October was also the Fall Assembly at UNK computer lab in Kearney and lead by PDG Don Peterson, Membership Chair, and PDG Dian Edwards, DGN Dale Schultz, District Foundation Chair Scott McLaughlin, and District Global Grants Subcommittee Chair (and host) Sri Seshadri.  Scott and  Dale presented the requirements for clubs to qualify and be awarded funds for their local District Grant projects. The goal is to have as many clubs as possible qualify and receive the DDF monies. Don and Dian made a zoom facilitated membership promotion presentation. They reviewed membership growth ideas including the use of the Zone Cadre Program, which District 5630 has supported with meetings in Sidney and Minden. Don is trying to put together another Cadre meeting next spring in or around North Platte. Thus far we have had 12 clubs and approximately 30 members attend the team approach strategy to increase membership in Rotary clubs and educate and engage these new members. We hope the North Platte event will draw all clubs interested in growing and engaging their new membership growth.

Finally we closed October with the Zone Leadership Institute in Salt Lake City, UT. This annual event is for District Leadership training for the combined Zones 21b and 27. All Districts invited emerging leaders, those interested Rotarians who would like an opportunity to  attend this informative and educational event to see if they would like to do more than the club level of leadership. We had two emerging leaders attend. Finally all Districts were asked to invite Young Professionals to a separate YP Summit. These young professionals, already Rotarians under age 40, meet with other YP’s to get energized about Rotary and trained with the tools to serve each District. The District had 3 YP’s that were able to accept the offer to attend, and I can tell you they are all excited and ready to serve as leaders, speakers at club and district level meetings and membership coaches.  Be ready to hear about the emerging leader and YP program at the District conference, May 18-20, 2017.

November was Foundation month and many clubs had special events to raise funds for the Rotary Foundation. District 5630 was able to pledge its annual DDF 20% excess rollover funds to Polio Plus to support the Polio Foundation. This is the centennial year of the Rotary Foundation. RI President John Germ has set a Total annual goal of $300 million. Your gift to the Foundation will not only go for this goal, but help insure an additional century of doing good in the world and Serving Humanity.

December is Disease Prevention and Treatment month. Disease prevention and treatment takes In many forms, from supporting studies, to helping immunize people, to improve drinking water and sanitation infrastructure. As you know the world relies on Rotary to handle these global challenges and set an example for others to follow. Rotary Serving Humanity.

Also December is when your clubs elect officers for 2017-2018 Rotary year. December 31 is the deadline for election of officers and February 1, 2017 is the deadline for reporting your officers to RI. Current officers can submit this information via My Rotary.

As this year comes to an end, I hope you all take the time to reflect upon what you have done as a member of Rotary so far, and what you hope tp accomplish in the new year as you do your part in Rotary Serving Humanity.

May you all have a blessed Christmas time with your families, friends and fellow Rotarians. Let us celebrate the New Year by serving humanity.

Thank you all for being a Rotarian.

Tom Mortimer                                                                        

DG2016-17