We've all heard it said that today's youth and young adults are the future, the next generation, a new generation.  This is true for Rotary as well.  Today's youth and young adults are tomorrow's community and business leaders, parents, and Rotarians.  That's why we underscore the importance of of Rotary involvement in shaping the lives of youth and young adults with September as New Generations Month.

Now that New Generations is the 5th Avenue of Service, Rotary's commitment to youth and young adults has even more emphasis.

The Rotary Manual of Procedure says, "It is the responsibility of each Rotarian to prepare the New Generations - all young people up to the age of 30 - by improving their life skills to ensure a
better future, while recognizing the diversity of their needs. All clubs and districts are encouraged to undertake projects that support the fundamental needs of the New Generations: health, human values, education, and self-development."

In District 6710 we support youth and young adults through programs such as Rotaract for our young professionals and college students, Interact, RYLA, and the Speech Contest for our high school students, District and local scholarships, and the many, many projects of individual clubs.

How does your club support youth and young adults?  How can you highlight New Generations Month?  Check out some of the resources below.

RI president-elect Kalyan Banerjee has introduced a new recognition, the Changemaker Award, to accompany the Presidential Citation during the 2011-12 Rotary year.

  

To quality for a Changemaker Award, clubs will choose from a menu of activities and complete a minimum number for each avenue.  All activities must be undertaken and completed between July 1, 2011 and March 1, 2012.  District governors will select three clubs in the district - the top-performing small, medium, and large clubs - to be entered into a zone and international competition, culminating in the opportunity to be recognized onstage at the 2012 RI Convention in Bangkok, Thailand.  

 

Activities include demonstrating a net gain in membership over three straight years (2009-12) for Club Service, and conducting a career counseling or vocational training program in the community for Vocational Service.

 

Review the full criteria for the Changemaker Award.

Interact and Rotaract clubs may also apply for the Changemaker Award.  Click here for the Interact application.  Click here for the Rotaract application.

 

The 2011-12 Presidential Citation will recognize achievements related to membership development and contributing to The Rotary Foundation , and will feature club and district recognition categories.  The top 15 districts and 15 clubs certified by governors and validated by RI will be recognized onstage at the 2012 convention.

 

Clubs will select from criteria such as increasing the number of younger professionals in the club by 2 percent and inducting RI or Rotary Foundation program alumni.  Districts will choose from a variety of goals, including 100 percent participation in the Annual Programs Fund.

 

Review the full criteria for the Presidential Citation.

 

Excerpts from rotary.org.

 

Why is Membership Growth Important for Rotary?

• New members bring fresh ideas, interests and increased energy
• Increased capacity for service
• Younger members provide long-term continuity!

How to Make Membership Growth a Club Priority:

• Complete a classification survey early in the year
• Review a 5 year membership profile
• Determine a realistic membership goal for your club

How Does a Classification Survey Relate to Membership:

• The survey can help identify potential new members
• It can point out economic and employment trends
• A broad range of professions means-wide ranging types of experience and knowledge
• A wide range of professions helps the club be more effective in all activities

Start making plans now for your club to cash in on the $10,000 available for 2011-12!  The Application forms for 2011-12 District Simplified Grants are now on the District Website . 

 

This year the Rotaract/Interact District conference will be combined with the Rotary District conference in October. There will be a Interact and Rotaract workshops during the conference.  

Additionally, on Saturday and Rotaract/Interact members will have a post conference meeting from 2:00 - 4:30pm. All Rotarians are invited to attend this meeting and find out  more about Rotaract and Interact clubs in the district.

 

RLI Graduates

 

For more information and to register visit http://riunday.org/

The 2011-12 District 6710 Speech Contest schedule and host clubs for the advanced contests are being finalized. Contest Packets will be available around September 21st.  

  

This year Tom Grassham of the Paducah Club has agreed to serve as the Speech Contest's Western Region Coordinator.  He has a lot of good energy and ideas and is a tremendous resource for the Western Kentucky Clubs he will serve:  Clinton, Fulton, Hickman, Mayfield, Murray, Marshall, Paducah, Cadiz, Dawson Springs, Hopkinsville, Madisonville, Princeton, Muhlenberg, Daviess, Henderson, Owensboro, and Union County Clubs.

 

This position has been established to better serve the clubs in the far western end of the state.  Tom will work with those clubs in the Western Region to promote the contest and generate student interest.  Tom is planning on a workshop for Rotary Club speech chairs and committees late this fall.  Look for further details on the District Web Site.  

 

We are pleased that Tom has agreed to serve as the Speech Contest Western Coordinator.  

 

Anyone interested in being a Regional Coordinator for the Central or East Region please contact Stan Klausing, District Speech Contest Coordinator.  Speech contest information is posted regularly on the District Web site under the Speech Contest tab in the left margin.

 

Stan Klausing, District Speech Coordinator

W-502-222-5366 | H- 502-241-9393 | C-502-445-6845

stan@scott-klausing.com | Stanklausing@bellsouth.net

The 2011-12 District Directories are now available.  Copies have been mailed over the coming weeks to all district chairpersons and leaders, past district governors, club presidents, and club secretaries.  DG Rick will also provide additional copies during his club visit.  Please contact Mary Kathryn DeLodder to receive additional copies.

In response to the humanitarian crisis in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Somalia, The Rotary Foundation has established the Rotary Horn of Africa Famine and Refugee Relief Fund, which will support recovery projects in the affected areas.

Learn how to donate, and read about District 9200's famine relief efforts in northern Kenya.

From 14 September to 14 October, Rotary club members are eligible to win 1,000 extra Rotary Foundation recognition points simply by registering on Member Access. Registrants will be entered into a drawing, and the winner will be announced after mid-October.

 

Start the registration process by using a valid e-mail address to create an account. You may be asked to provide additional information to help us determine your relationship with Rotary International and match you with your record in our database. Within 24 hours, you will receive a verification e-mail with a hyperlink that will connect you to a Member Access screen to complete your registration. If you do not see the e-mail in your inbox, check your spam/bulk/junk folder.

 

If you have questions, e-mail the Contact Center at

contact.center@rotary.org or phone 866-9-ROTARY(866-976-8279) toll-free.  The Contact Center provides services in English and Spanish and operates Monday-Friday, 08:00-17:00. 

The Rotary Foundation is looking for talented Rotarians to strengthen its future by building support for its charitable efforts. 

If you work as a certified public accountant, fund development professional, or estate planning attorney and would like to know more about how to help Rotarians support the Foundation, please e-mail your name, contact information, and area of expertise to  plannedgiving@rotary.org. 

The Foundation will provide you with educational materials that can help you assist Rotarians in your geographic area who are looking to learn more about charitable estate and financial planning.

 

Vocational Service focuses on:

• Adherence to and promotion of the highest ethical standards in all occupations, including fair treatment of employers, employees, associates, competitors, and the public.
• The recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians.
• The contribution of your vocational talents to solving the problems of society and meeting the needs of the community.

During October, Rotarians are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service. Discussions on vocational service can lead to projects that not only develop the ethical consciousness and vocational skills of Rotarians but also the talents within their communities. Vocational Service Month is an opportunity to begin year-long vocational service activities, ranging from Rotary discussions to awards to community projects. Following are some suggested activities to undertake during Vocational Service Month:

• Devote the first meeting in October to examining the second Avenue of Service, including The Four-Way Test and The Declaration of Rotarians in Business and Professions. After expanding members' awareness, solicit their input in planning projects for the remainder of the year.
• Introduce a "mini-classifications talk" series in which each member gives a five-minute talk on his or her vocation. Schedule one speaker for the beginning of each meeting until everyone has made a presentation. The purpose of these talks is to promote vocational awareness among Rotarians and help them recognize the worthiness of all useful occupations.
• Present a vocational award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement while maintaining very high ethical standards. Promote the presentation within the community, and consider making it an annual October event.