Program: Rotary E-Club of the SW DG Visitation Letter

Very nice message! I learned something about membership statistics I did not know, as well as about updates on polio plus.

wonderful information and a great goal to strive to achieve

It is a wonderful to think that Rotary is closing in on that dreadful disease Polio,my mother in the fifties had a mild dose of Polio,she was one of the lucky ones.

I was familiar with most of what was covered here. Our club, for example, is considering what to do to contribute to the polio initiative. We are also going to go EREY this year, if at all possible. The comments about incorporating new and younger Rotarians were very interesting. I am not in that age category but I travel extensively and, right now, am making about 25% of my terra club meetings. Hence I am having to make up a lot, especially on this Web site. So something to hook in busy people who cannot always get (or see the importance in getting) to a lunch meeting is really needed. I liked the idea of having recent inductees come up with a project and bring it to the Board for approved within 60 days of joining. I can see a lot of linkages and loyalties being created between new members and the club, as well as great service project ideas being generated.

Good briefing. If we are going to hit the $1000 goal for PolioPlus, we need to get our "giving" shoes on. !!!!!

Program presented by District 5510 Governor Don LaBarge who described the job of a Rotary District Governor. The number one requirement is to communicate throughout the District the message of Rotary International President D.K. Lee. President Lee has three priorities for the 2008-2009 Rotary year in keeping with the theme "Make Dreams Real". First, the greatest focus is still on Polio Plus. To match the very generous contribution to the program by the Bill and Melina Gates Foundation, each Rotary club is challenged to contribute $1,000 per year for the next three years. The Polio Plus campaign has been hugely successful, with the annual number of 375,000 new cases of polio reported each year now reduced to about 1800. Secondly, President Lee is challenging each club and each member to "come up with a program to save the life of a child". Statistically, 28,000 children die every single day from preventable causes. Thirdly, emphasis should be placed upon Rotary membership recruitment. The net loss of U.S. Rotary membership the past five years has been 32,000. LaBarge says it is important simply to ask someone to join. If everyone asks, the membership numbers WILL increase. Clearly, DG LaBarge is doing his part to communicate the goals of Rotary International. Good program.

None

Very good content. Good that other clubs are referenced, signifying the debth of Rotary. This should be enticing to new members and encourage using your club when local makeups are not convenient. Thank you

Learn about becoming a District Governor, polio, making dreams come true , all very important issues for Rotary.

Rotary continues to lose members each year. Sad!

I enjoyed reading Don LaBarge's information - I honestly did not know about the requirements to become a District Governor. I was especially interested in the information about the status of the Polio eradication - and the donation from the Gates foundation -that was also very interesting.

Thanks for the great program, Don! We'll certainly keep you posted on our progress!

Strike Four. Help!!!

A very good overall description of many aspects of Rotary.

I am from the south, and this brought up some very interesting points. Hope everyone is doing well, and keep up the great work.

DG Don LaBarge provided useful information about President D.K. Lee's program of work and interesting information about the Gates Foundation and it's 100 million donation to help eradicate Polio.

Interesting calendar information

Thank you for your challenge to continue our program "Polio Plus" .... that is a very important project to our club as well.

Very interesting. None, but when I tried to register the note came back that there is a duplicate name and e-mail. Maybe you could give me an explanation.

1-14-2009 DG Don LaBarge’s visitation letter was a good reminder of not only all the good that Rotary does but of the details of its own workings and its own need for continuing membership expansion efforts. It’s great to be a Rotarian and to be an active part of one’s own club. It’s another kind of satisfaction to be a part of a service organization that has ranked number one in delivering the highest percentage of dollars received directly to the beneficiaries of various projects. The Gates foundation donation of $100 million was the largest 501(c)3 contribution to a 501(c)3 in the history of the world. It speaks volumes about the effectiveness and reputation of Rotary. Thank you!

I continue to be impressed and inspired by your sergent-at-arms!

I understand what the govoner is saying about new rotarians not having the time to go to their regular meetings. I recently was given a promotion( which is a good thing) but it takes so much of my time that I am having trouble attending me regular meetings. I am very thankfull for this club and that they allow me to do make ups. Thank You! Tim Muckel

Back in 2004/2005 maybe? there were 2 events I remember clearly because they were a lot of fun and helped make everyone who participated real to each other in ways that reading a meeting or an online profile doesn't. The 1st was a birthday party where we had a live video conference with members from around the globe, including champagne toasts and symbolic feeding of the birthday cake to those not physically in the room with the cake. The other event was the installation of Stephen Shearin as president where we had a teleconference with members who couldn't attend in person. Yes, these two events depended on a group of people physically gathering in one space to share it with others not physically in the space; also they depended on technology, parts of which worked better than others. But our club wouldn't exist without technology, so I'd like to see us utilize whatever technology exists that can make us more available to each other. I would suggest starting a tradition of a live installation in cyberspace for the new president and board with whoever in the club can attend. As a technidiot, I would defer to those who have more knowledge of what's out there to decide what venue to use. How about it, all you technocrats? How could we do this? --Beth L.

Thank You!

I found your District governor's letter very inspirational. Our Club asks members to donate to RI Foundation every year, but I believe that giving separately to the Polio project is just as important. I was also struck by the membership paragraph. I am a firm believer that incoming Rotary members join to DO something not just meet. I believe that simply asking people to join Rotary is not enough; we must have a list of current work projects so prospective members can get excited about joining. After all it's Service Above Self and having lunch each week doesn't really count in my book. Let every Club draw up a list of active service opportunities and THEN ask people to join.

well laid out web site . . . enjoyed the DG comments and challenges for all Rotarians . . . as well as the perspective on wisdom and the history of New year celebrations . . . thank you

Thank you for all the info. I enjoyed the Old Wise Man story and the resolutions.

excellent overview of what goes intlo being a district governor

As always-Well done! This service is very much appreciated!

Good information.

One of the most important things is to do everything that we can to reduce attrition from Rotary Clubs. The best way that I know how to do this is by making every Rotarian feel a sense of belonging to something bigger than self. This can be accomplished in many ways, but the simplest way is to belong to Rotary Global History Fellowship. By knowing the history of Rotary each Rotarian will feel a sense of "belonging," and he/she would be more likely to stay in Rotary and to contribute to the welfare of all human beings.

It is worth attending. I gained more knowledge about Rotary International is about and so with Recswusa-Rotary eClub of the Southwest USA' programs and activities.

Very Interesting

THis was just an EXCELLENT program. I didn't know the extent of the trainingof District Officers/Leaders and it is impressive. Most impressive, however, for me was the work in eradicating polio. I had polio in 1952 and this is an awesome cause on which Rotary is taking the lead. If we want members for Rotary, we WILL get them if people believe that Rotary really WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS. Knowing that, people will make time for Rotary.

no comments its wonderful article

Don probably visited in Nov, '08--not '09--and his messages were inspiring.

great tip regarding starting a project, thought process is working.....

Your DG visitation letter was interesting and informative. Perhaps you could do something similar every year. You wouldn't have to put it on the DG him or herself to prepare it, an article written by another Rotarian describing the visitation would be just as good. You might even include some material for those of us from other districts who take advantage of the e-club for make-ups.

Newsletter from DG LaBarge was wide ranging and informative

Newsletter from DG LaBarge was wide ranging and informative

Newsletter from DG LaBarge was wide ranging and informative

History of the first 100 Rotary clubs is very interesting. I need to go back and look at the first 28 since I am a new member. This is my first E club meeting. Very interesting! Sherry Mischel

It is good to have a visit from our host district DG. Some nice information in this meeting program. We have a great time at the BOD meeting. Judy

Very interesting program.

Reminds me of 2 things - 1. Rotary is really a true demostration of service above self. 2>- Ask more to attend Rotary.

Thanks for the update. To our new RECSWUSA members, I'm working on an update of our website users guide. Please send me a private email and let me know about questions you've had that the guide should answer.