"A pair of doctoral students in Washington State University’s College of Education won first place in the poster session of a national conference advocating for people with disabilities.

Katie Abrams and Kathryn Sheridan-Stiefel, both special education doctoral students, shared their findings at the TASH Conference in Phoenix on Dec. 1–3. The conference was hosted by TASH, a not-for-profit organization that advocates for human rights and inclusion for people with significant disabilities and support needs. This year’s TASH Conference theme was “Together We Rise!”

A new year brings new opportunities and wishes for happiness, good health, and prosperity. How can you apply this to your Rotary Club, and what actions do you plan to take to ensure your club prospers in the next six months?

(* from the editor: it's very fun to see how synced our Membership -Chair-turned District-Governor-Elect and our new Membership Chair are! ha!)

It’s no big secret, most New Year’s resolutions fizzle out by the time the champagne wears off. The main reason is ‘resolution’ is usually just a fancy word for ‘wish’ and has little to do with actual goal setting.

We all have wishes. Birthday wish, upon-a-star wish, holiday wish, and yes, the New Year’s Resolution wish. They are simple, you close your eyes then keep it to yourself, because we know telling someone else is bad luck! It’s difficult to imagine the percentage of wishes that come true. Based on my own experience, I have a hunch the number is fairly low. If you are seeking change in your club, business, or life, forget blowing the candles and resolve to create a GOAL.

(This article appeared in the Nelson Star.)

Rotarians from both Nelson Clubs take joy in giving back to the community during this festive season.

In keeping with a 30-year tradition, Rotary Club of Nelson Daybreak members man the Salvation Army kettles on Tuesdays outside Save-On. The Salvation Army efforts to provide Christmas hampers has a special place in Daybreakers’ hearts. Members who work along with the Global Intercultural Experience (GIE) program students in SD8. This year, 4300 cookies were made and filled 413 decorated containers. These are also distributed in the Slocan Valley and Creston.

By Logan Johnson, Youth Exchange and Youth Protection Promotions and Engagement Specialist at Rotary International)

A few years ago, volunteers of the Rotary Youth Exchange program were sending thousands of students around the globe each year to learn new languages, discover new cultures, and become global citizens. Then COVID-19 brought almost every aspect of the program to a screeching halt. Like many other aspects of Rotary, the program found new life online with virtual exchanges, which offered a safe alternative to in-person exchanges.

But many anticipated the return of in-person exchanges, and as of May 2022 in-person exchanges were planned and are happening worldwide for the first time in over two years!

Rotary Fellowships are groups of individuals who globally unite around a common interest, vocation, or recreational activity with the primary purpose to network and further friendships. Fellowships have greatly changed over the years, but today their purpose is still to unite the Rotary family and friendship to enjoy favorite recreational activities, exchange a professional network, or build a global community around a cultural identity. There are currently 103 active Fellowships worldwide that engage 50,000 people in 103 countries.

The International Travel and Hosting Fellowship is sponsoring pre and post Melbourne Convention Tours. The Pre-Convention Tour Tasmania Highlights Tour is from May 15-25 and is a circumnavigation of Tasmania. 11 days from $4798 Australian dollars per person twin shared. The Post Convention Victoria Highlights Tour is an 11 day tour taking in highlights of the state of Victoria. It runs from June 1-11 and costs $4123 Australian per person twin shared. For more information visit the ITHF website at www.ithf.org or contact Sheila Hart, Tour Committee Co-Chair. Registrations must be made within the next month.