Serving Washington, Idaho and British Columbia
People of Action
District Digest

District Leaders

Linda Kay Bauer
District Governor
Kim Jane Edmondson
Ombudsman
Doreen Fox Kelsey
DG-Elect
Lorne Westnedge
DG-Nominee
Lynn Theresa O'Connor
Immediate Past District Governor
Luke J. Russell
District Secretary
Brenda Bookholtz
District Treasurer
Maria Kliavkoff
District Peace Committee Co-Chair
James David Bauer
Chief of Staff
Randy Bowen
Assistant Governor
Debi G Dockins
Assistant Governor
John Nicholas Guarisco
Assistant Governor
Kathleen M. Lawrence
Assistant Governor
Tom Osborn
Assistant Governor
Dewayne Mark Penner
Assistant Governor
Eric Robert Redeker
Assistant Governor
Steven Roberge
Assistant Governor
Mayumi van der Pol
Assistant Governor
Robert B. Quay Jr.
District Finance Chair
Sheila C. Hart
District Service Chair
Kees van der Pol
District Communication Officer
Emily Osborne
District Trainer

Women's History Month D5080

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Spring Assembly is almost here!

Tuesday, March 7, 2023

District Spring Assembly – April 29 – Spokane Valley Tech, 115 S University Rd, Spokane Valley, WA 99206

WHO should attend?

  1. Presidents-Elect (they vote on the budget for fiscal year 2024)
  2. Club Leaders – Secretaries, Treasurers, Presidents, Membership Chairs, Public Image Chairs, Club Administration Chairs, and others.
  3. District Leaders – Assistant Governors, Committee Chairs, Sub-committee chairs, and others. Anyone interested in serving beyond the club level in the future.
  4. All other Rotarians who have an interest in learning!

WHAT is the purpose of the Assembly?

The assembly is the primary district-led training event for club and district leaders.

It is combined with the District Membership Development Seminar.

It includes the district business meeting at which the next year’s budget is approved.

WHEN is the Assembly?

It will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2023, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Registration table opens 9:00 a.m. Lunch will be included.

WHY should I attend?

We actually have a top ten list! For now, let’s focus on three of those:

  1. There’s always something new to learn about Rotary and how to effectively lead your club and/or district.
  2. Your Rotary friends will be there. They’ll miss you if you don’t attend.
  3. There will be door prizes. Lots of door prizes.

HOW do I register?

Registration will open in DACdb by March 15. Be on the lookout for an email with registration links (this will be your personal link!). The cost will be $30 USD, which includes your lunch.

Be sure to bring your laptop or tablet with you if you register for the DACdb class, one of many session offerings.

You might also bring a reusable water bottle and your Rotary name tag to reduce waste.

Want to learn more about DACdb?

By Lynn Theresa O'Connor on Thursday, March 9, 2023
A tool is only as good as your knowledge of how to use it, correct? The District database, DACdb, is available and useful to all of you, even if your clubs still use ClubRunner.

There are many ways to learn how to make it work best for you. One way is to come to the Spring Assembly on April 29 at the Spokane Valley Tech School (see other story in this newsletter). We will have a database workshop with folks there to answer your questions. Bring your devices and the specific things you'd like to learn to do.

Also, the DACdb support page is full of answers! On Tuesdays you can take live courses on specific functions as well.

Joint District Conference 2023 with District 5110!

By Linda Kay Bauer on Monday, February 27, 2023
Start your planning!

• The District celebration starts Thursday morning, May 18th with a golf outing. There will be a Peace Summit in the afternoon, followed by Margaritaville. On Thursday evening you can enjoy dinner and fellowship in the homes of our Tri Cities Rotarians.

Home stays with local Rotarians are available for those who enjoy fellowship over hotel stays.

• Friday and Saturday engaging plenary speakers will leave you with intriguing ideas. There will be an interesting assortment of breakout discussions, and live entertainment from local talent. One highlight of the day will be a World Café focused on membership. Check out what this is at https://theworldcafe.com/key-concepts-resources/world-cafe-method/. You will want to be a part of this! The second highlight of the day after dinner will be a talent show by the Youth Exchange kids from both districts.

• Saturday will be more plenary speakers, District business meetings, and more breakout sessions to learn from one another. You will have free time to explore the beauty of the Tri Cities, and we will provide suggestions that will tickle your fancy. We’ll end the day with an inspiring keynote speaker, Jamy Bechler, and some lively music by a local Rotary band, R2B.

• Sunday come enjoy brunch, a closeout by our Rotary International Representative and our incoming District Governor, and a memorial service honoring those who have passed this year.

• There will be hands-on projects throughout the weekend.

Registration will open soon. Some events have a limited number of attendees, so register early.

• The House of Friendship is where your club or project can be showcased. Attached is information on how to reserve your spot.

• We are asking each Area to bring an item or basket for a silent auction that reflects your neighborhood and the Conference theme of Friends and Neighbors…the Magic of Rotary. Proceeds from the silent auction will go to the RI Disaster Response fund.

Calling for Memorial Information

By Nadine Parker on Tuesday, February 28, 2023
Each year at District Conference we honor Rotarians and their spouses whom we've lost in the last year.

Please send these names, positions they have held in Rotary, obituaries, photos, and any other pertinent information to Nadine Parker at ubigmooserents@gmail.com by April 10.

The Season of District Grants Preparation is Progressing

By William Dunwoody

District Grants are administered by the District Foundation Grants Sub-Committee and are part of a District Block Grant provided by the Rotary Foundation.

District Grants Timeline

  • Jan - Feb 2023

Successfully Complete District Grant Qualification Training
Training requires face-to-face, online, or recorded attendance of the 2023-2024 training program and a score of 80% or higher on an online quiz.

  • Jan - Apr 2023

Plan & Organize Your Proposed Project

  • April 15th 2023

District Grant Application Deadline
Submit Your Application Through the DACdb Grants Module.

  • May 15th 2023

District Review & Grant Approval Decision
The District Grants Review Committee evaluates each District Grant application for appropriateness and completeness prior to approval or denial of the application. Initially denied applications may be corrected prior to final decision.

  • July 2023

TRF Block Grant Approval or Denial

  • August 2023

District Distribution of Block Grant Funds to Clubs
No Club may begin a District Grant Project or expend any Club funds prior to notification of Block Grant Funds availability.

Final Report Within 2 months of the project completion

  • April 30 2024

District Grant Final Report Deadline

  • May 15 2024

Unused Grant Funds must be returned to the District.

Read More

A year of war in Ukraine

Saturday, February 25, 2023
By John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO of Rotary International (John was one of the presenters at PNWPETS this year, talking to the incoming Presidents-Elect. It was incredibly impactful from someone whose parents immigrated from Ukraine and has many personal connections to people living through this hell.)

Today is the one-year anniversary of the tragic war in Ukraine. It’s a war that never should have started. And it’s a conflict that has evolved into a non-stop humanitarian catastrophe because the Russia strategy is now to inflict as much pain on the civilian population of Ukraine as possible.


Read More

A Message About Turkey

By Andrew Leathwood on Tuesday, February 21, 2023
( Andy Leathwood is a member of the Rotary Club of Nelson Daybreak. He served as a Principal at an International School in Turkey for several years and has kept in contact with many people there.)

I know many of you are following things on the news, but I will share what my friends have been messaging me.



Read More

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association President's March Message

By Bill D. Furey on Thursday, March 2, 2023
WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT WATERTON GLACIER INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK
Todd Shepherd wanted to know about Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association(WGIPPA) so he asked our own Maria Kliavkoff, President of WGIPPA a number of questions and this was recorded in an interview. Maria answers all of Todd's questions and fully explains the origins of how Rotarians started the first International Peace Park in the world over 90 years ago and the activities and involvement of the four Rotary Districts in the park's objective of promoting peace in the world. All Rotarians in District 5080 are voting members. Watch the video and learn all about WGIPPA!

So you Want to be a Peacebuilder Club!!

Peacebuilder Clubs are a Rotarian movement creating energy and momentum for peaceful conflict resolution around the world. In 2018, the Rotary Action Group for Peace decided to champion this program in Rotary Clubs worldwide as an essential call to action for Rotarian peacebuilders.

The Peacebuilder Club program is designed to enhance Rotary International’s mission of, “advancing world understanding, goodwill and peace” through the promotion of programs and projects that align with our organization’s Seven Areas of Focus and support the Objects of Rotary.

Rotarian Peacebuilder Clubs commit to engage in dialogues and projects that promote positive peace both in their communities and across the globe.To find out how to become a Rotarian Peacebuilder and to transform you club into a Rotary Peacebuilder Club, please read on...
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4 ways to be a disruptor for peace

Saturday, February 25, 2023

By Rebecca Crall, Areas of Focus Manager, Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention

In a conversation recently with a group of professional peacebuilders, one of my colleagues (and a new Rotary member) surprised me when he referred to Rotary as a “disruptor for peace.” A disruptor for peace? That was something new and unexpected.

Disruption signals great change – change that’s happening fast. It often feels like it’s taking place at a dizzying pace, and it’s associated with chaos and displacement. It’s not something we often imagine wanting more of. But my colleague’s comment got me thinking of disrupting for good: using our platform as Rotary members to disrupt violence and create peace. Can we apply this idea to build a future where peace is our norm?

Read More

What is PETS all about anyway?

Thursday, March 9, 2023
Here's a wee video about why PETS is a good thing! Watch it here!

20 Fs of a Fabulous Club

Sunday, February 26, 2023
A Fabulous and Flourishing Club (VIBRANT)
FUN (Clubs need Fun and Funny moments and at times to be FROLICKY)
FOOD (restaurant meal, snacks, ice-cream cone, pot luck dinners, hot dogs, international)
FELLOWSHIP (among Rotarians and welcoming guests and family members)
FOUNDATION / FULLFILLMENT (the reasons for being in the club: service, fellowship, fun, doing good, projects, etc)
FEMALE (representing diversity: gender, age, background, ethnicity, religion, etc)
FINE WINE & FESTIVITY (representing celebration and honouring Rotarians and others, and toasts)
FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT (representing youth and cultural exchange)
FORM & FUNCTION (Rotarians can expect that meetings will have common elements week after week)
FAIR (to all concerned)
FAR-SEEING & FORWARD-LOOKING (but mindful of traditions)
FUTURE-ORIENTED (adapting with the changing world)
FINANCIAL (good stewards of monies earned and monies spent)
FIRED-UP & FUELED (inspired and energized to do good!)
FIRST & FOREMOST (a desire to be THE club that people want to join)
FLOWERING (representing continual growth in membership, in contributions to the Rotary Foundation and in fundraisers and service projects)
FLUENT (Members have a solid understanding of Rotary: history, programs, websites, procedures)
FOCUSSED (Canadian spelling :-)) (a sense of purpose in what we do)
FORGIVABLE (we recognize that we are all volunteers with varying skills and strengths)
FORESIGHT (an articulated vision and strategic plan that EVERYONE is familiar with and supports)
FRESHMAN (a reminder that not every Rotarian has the same length of Rotary experiences)
FRANK (members can be open and honest)
FACILITY (a visible, accessible, and sustainable location, known by the community)
FAMILY (include Rotarians’ families in activities)
FIRST IMPRESSION (welcoming Greeters and Rotarians)

Can you think of more?

Rotary Learning - Cultivating Effective Projects (Webinar Series)

Thursday, March 2, 2023
All Rotary members are invited to participate in an exciting five-part webinar series designed to support you as you cultivate effective projects that will create a sustainable impact in your community and around the world. These webinars will offer tools and strategies to help you plan, find resources for, implement, and evaluate your projects, including youth service projects. Read More

The Learning Center is a Valuable Resource

Sunday, February 26, 2023
The Learning Center can be a valuable resource for members who want to know more about different facets of Rotary. You can take courses about The Rotary Foundation, our Areas of Focus, and soooo much more!

Such as preparing for your new roles in your clubs!

Read More

End Polio Now 2022 Year in Review

Monday, February 27, 2023
2022 in review
For polio eradication efforts, 2022 brought good news. Fewer genetic strains of the virus are circulating than ever before. Afghanistan and Pakistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic. And support from political, medical, and community leaders in those areas has strengthened vaccination efforts during the past year. Global support for polio eradication also reached new heights, as was proven at the World Health Summit in October, when Rotary and international partners and donors pledged a combined US$2.6 billion to eradicate the disease.

There were challenges in 2022 as well. The poliovirus appeared in places it hasn’t been for a long time: Israel, the United Kingdom, and the United States, to name a few. Wild poliovirus cases were reported in Mozambique, related to the 2021 case in Malawi caused by wild poliovirus imported from Pakistan. News of these cases didn’t slow our eradication efforts, however. If anything, it made us even more determined. Now is our best chance to finish the fight against polio.
Read More

Membership moment - a video (An oldie but a good one!)

Tuesday, March 7, 2023
(I can't embed videos, so click on this link. You'll enjoy it!)

https://studio.youtube.com/video/_oeIO-Oz-vc/edit

Nelson Daybreak's International Dinner

By Sheila Hart on Monday, February 13, 2023
This is an event well worth attending!

Website Updates During the Month of February

Wednesday, March 1, 2023
This article lists the internal changes that have been made to the various Top Menu and Side Menu links contained in the website during the prior month.
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Insurance for Canadian Rotary Clubs

By Doreen Fox Kelsey on Thursday, March 9, 2023

Change of Insurance Provider for Canadian Rotary Clubs in District 5080

District leaders approved a change of insurance provider at the recent district council meeting that will provide broader liability coverage at lower expense. The new provider is Wilson M. Beck Insurance Services, Inc. of Kamloops. This cost savings is made possible in part by partnering with several other districts and increasing our purchasing volume as a group.

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Help Wanted - Serve Rotary at the District Level!

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

District Conference Committee We are looking for Chairs for Workshop Topics/Leaders, Media and Marketing, Past District Governor's Dinner, and Memorial Tribute. I would love for you to join the team. lindakaybauer@gmail.com.

• Youth Services Chair There are three subcommittees within this committee--Youth Exchange, Interact, and RYLA.. The chair serves for 3 years. Other positions are open within the Youth Exchange committee. Contact DG Linda Bauer for more information (lindakaybauer@gmail.com).

• Public Image Committee members Join Lynn O'Connor in this exciting committee. In this committee, you will find our District Digest editor, webmaster, social media lead, marketing and media resources, and many other opportunities to lead. Contact Lynn at lynnoconnorrotarydg@gmail.com for more information.

• Annual Fund DevelopmentThis Chair is a member of the District Rotary Foundation Committee and reports to the District Rotary Foundation Chair. The Fundraising Subcommittee Chair is responsible for overseeing the district’s fundraising strategy and helping clubs set and achieve their contribution goals for the Annual Fund. Please contact DRFC Bill Dunwoody at whd@dunwoodyfamily.net for more information.

• New Disaster Response subcommittees need members. Contact the Master of Disaster, Dan Crawford, dcrawford@peakoneadmin.com.

• Vocational and Community Service Chairs. Contact Sheila Hart, sheilahart@shaw.ca for more information.

District Alumni Chair Alumni are valued members of the Rotary family who have participated in a Rotary program, and include Rotary Peace Fellows, scholars, Youth Exchange students, Rotaractors, Interactors, and participants in other Rotary youth and scholarship programs. The alumni chair can help Rotarians maintain relationships with alumni, which can lead to better projects, fundraisers, and new members. The district alumni chair will have the opportunity to encourage proven leaders to strengthen their connection with Rotary, ultimately allowing clubs to give back even more to their communities. Contact DG Linda Bauer, lindakaybauer@gmail if you have questions or are interested in applying.

• New Clubs Advocate - assists the Membership Development Committee Chair in starting new Rotary, Rotaract, and Satellite Clubs. Contact Todd Shepherd at toddssbs@gmail.com

Grants Subcommittee Chair Understudy - works with Grants Subcommittee Chair Karen Cook over the next three years with the goal to take on leadership of this committee at the end of her term of service.

Read More

Deadlines for submission to the Digest

By Lynn Theresa O'Connor on Thursday, March 9, 2023
This District newsletter is yours! I'm glad that there is so much you want to share with each other! Clubs... please share your stories - events you'd like to invite others to, successful projects you're proud of!

The deadline for submissions is the last Wednesday of the month for publication the first week of the following month.