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DISTRICT GOVERNOR'S MESSAGE

Fellow Rotarians!

This month I'd like to introduce you to a Rotarian I never met.  A Rotarian whose story illustrates a greater point.  Ivan Haynes was a member of the Madison East - Monona Rotary Club.  He graduated from UW-Madison and spent most of his career at Nelson Industries in Stoughton, where he rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Board of Directors.  He was a member of countless organizations with time left over to be an avid square and round dancer!  Ivan was a loving husband to Sandra Risler and proud step-father to five adult children.  He passed away in 2018 at the age of 87.  

Current Madison East - Monona Rotary Club president Penelope Kochanski says "When I first came into the presidency Ivan welcomed me with open arms and helped me with anything he could. He was such a joy and a pleasure to have in our club. He always had a smile on his face." 

Long-time fellow Rotarian Jerry Henrich added "Ivan was member of our club before I joined, and I’ve been around for about 30 years!  Ivan was very meticulous and always thought through everything he did before he acted.  He was the Treasurer of our Foundation for many years and only relinquished his duties in the year prior to his passing.  Although not secretive, Ivan was very protective of his privacy.  He did not have an e-mail account and preferred snail mail, the telephone, or best, a private meeting to conduct business.  He always tried to attend our meetings until his failing health prevented regular attendance."

Why did I want to introduce you to Ivan?  Because I think we sometimes forget how much some of our fellow Rotarians have come to respect Rotary.  I  imagine Ivan as being very similar to some of the Rotarians in my own club; level headed, conservative with money, sometimes questioning club or district decisions.  Ivan spent decades carefully observing Rotary and with what result?  On January 13th we received word that, through cumulative giving, Ivan Haynes joined the Rotary Foundation’s prestigious Arch Klumph Trustee’s Circle.  His gifts will continue to benefit Rotary and our District for many years to come.  I’ve invited Sandra and Ivan's step children to RotaryFest  so that we can thank them and hear first hand what made Ivan so respect the organization that we are all a part of. 

 

RYLA 2020!  IS YOUR CLUB MISSING OUT? 
Our District's Rotary Youth Leadership Camp will be taking place from May 17-17 at Camp Upham Woods in Wisconsin Dells.  As always all  District clubs are welcome to send participants but some priority will be given to get the following clubs involved in the program ... Caledonia , Chippewa Falls, Chippewa After Hours, Deforest, Eau Claire Morning and Noon, Granton, Madison Horizons, South and After Hours, Onalaska, Oregon, Platteville, Sparta, Stoughton, Tomah, Viroqua, Waupun and Wisconsin Dells. 
 
Contact your AG's and nearby clubs about sharing transportation and if you're a Rotarian who would like to get involved please contact us:  Michelle TerMaat-McGrath of the Madison Downtown Rotary Club, EMAIL -or- Phone 608-886-9272 or Ben Bauer of the Marshfield Sunrise Club, EMAIL -or- Phone 715-650-1060. 
 
More information on RYLA can be accessed via this link.  ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS & CAMP
 
 
 
ROTARYFEST UPDATE - THE DISTRICT CONFERENCE WITH A TWIST!
Special RotaryFest update!  Last month I shared that PDG Ronnie Gabalda and his wife Sanda from District 3850 in the Philippines will be joining us at RotaryFest as the RI President's Official Representative.  Ronnie will share his views on Rotary Connects the World and describe the myraid of ways that his District and ours have been connecting since our own PDG Dean Ryerson and their own PDG Mark Ortiz sat together at a table in 2012 and started the connection!  In addition to Ronnie, the District is currently in high-level negotiations with Winston Churchill (yes him) to be the Master of Ceremonies for Saturday night's RotaryFest Grand Finale.  Find out if we were successful next month.
 
RotaryFest takes place from June 19-21 in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.  One of Rotary International President Mark Maloney's major goals is to make Rotary more family friendly  ....  we're aiming to do just that!  Come one come all!  Check out the RotaryFest video that describes almost everything that will be taking place.  Register here as soon as possible:  ROTARYFEST REGISTRATION LINK - SCROLL DOWN IN THE LINK FOR DETAILS ON THE ENTIRE WEEKEND
 
 
ROTARY PASSPORT CLUB
I'm inviting you to join me in the formation and planning of the brand new District 6250 Passport Club.   To learn about the Passport Club model follow this link: ROTARY PASSPORT CLUB  Help shape the club! This brand-new Rotary club model may be the perfect fit for you for the following reasons:
  • Develop lifetime friendships and belong to the D6250 Passport club network, D6250 network, Rotary International Network, and your local community.
  • Attend quarterly Professional Development, Service, and Social events.
  • Participate in only one Virtual Meeting on Friday Mornings at 8am on the first of the month.
  • Opportunity to attend Rotary District Conferences, Rotary International Convention, One Rotary Summits, Rotary Friendship Exchanges.
  • Become more connected to Rotary Projects such as Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Youth Exchange, and local Rotary club projects.
  • Ability to attend other Rotary clubs’ events and meetings.
  • Be a Rotarian without geographical or time limitations.
Join our Zoom Meeting to learn more:  April 3, 2020 08:00 AM CT; https://zoom.us/j/402402707; Meeting ID: 402 402 707; 1 646 876 9923
 
IMPORTANT DISTRICT DATES

Please keep in mind that some important District Events are taking place in the coming months.  Registration for these events is available here REGISTER HERE, via the District website and via the links provided further down in this eBulletin.  If you are having problems registering please contact me at ROTARYDISTRICT6250@MORGANDATA.COM ... we're always here to help!

 

HE'S IN BANGKOK - THANK YOU FROM A KENYAN PEACE SCHOLAR
I have to once again say thank you to District 6250 for endorsing me to this prestigious event. I must say that coming to Chulalongkorn University has really widened my scope of thinking and my knowledge in the arena of peace conflict and development. 
 
Your support has led to new networks, new friendships and new thoughts that I must implement while back home. I might be penniless in implementing my ICA as approved by Rotary Peace Centre and Dr Vitoon. But I have the spirit of doing the work and hope to further my work.
 
Once again thank you very much for the support, I do appreciate your District endorsement
 
Mr. Solomon Odero
Destined Youth Initiative-Kenya
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CALEDONIA SCHOOL DESKS FIND NEW PURPOSE IN NEW PLACE

There’s something to be said for the longevity of school desks after they seat students for many years. Once districts update their furniture, what happens to the old desks?

For 50 desks at Caledonia High School, they get a new purpose in Africa, through a program called “Books for the World.” 

Last Tuesday, the desks were loaded onto a truck from Dakota Supply Group (DSG) and headed to Madison, Wisconsin. From there, they’ll be shipped down to the Second Wind Foundation in LaPorte, Texas and eventually to Africa to English-speaking parts of the continent. 

It’s all thanks to a network of Rotarians, including Caledonia Rotary Club member Steve Reiman. 

“I heard about it through a Rotarian in La Crescent, Bill Ohm,” he said. “He is a friend of a Rotarian in Madison, Thom Weiss.”

Read more...
MISSION CONTROL CENTER  - HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PASSION?
Very happy to report that it looks like our lift off has gotten us into a comfortable orbit.  As many of you know, this coming weekend the 2020-21 Rotary "relief crews" are gathering at PETS in Itasca, Illinois in order to train for their launch this coming July 1st.  In the meantime we have four months before they arrive and all 3,000 have to focus on this year's mission.  Have we met our goals in terms of membership and foundation giving?  Are you and is your club more engaged now than at the start of the year?  Importantly, do you feel you're making a difference?  If not let your president and president-elect know and find something you are passionate about within the Swiss Army Knife that is Rotary!  Relief crew will be here in 4 months ... lets all make sure the transition will be as seamless as possible.  That means stepping up to all that Rotary has to offer! 
 
The March DISTRICT 6250 MISSION CONTROL CENTER is pushing out a lot of new data about our lift off and how your club and our District are doing.  Follow the link to see the Rotary opportunities that your club may not be taking advantage of.  Find something that you feel passionate about and TELL your club what you want to do.  As I've said all year; don't wait for permission, don't wait for a budget ... people will rally behind your great idea!  Here is just one example related to the picture at right:  DISTRICT 6250 ROTARIAN; FORMER MILWAUKEE BREWER FIND THEIR PASSION.
 
RFE - BRAZIL AND RUSSIA OPEN, CHILE JUST BACK
​​​​​​Spots for the 2020 District Friendship Exchanges to Russia and Brazil are open.  Friendship Exchanges are exchanges between groups of Rotarians for the purpose of creating connections and friendships.  The magic of Rotary happens when these friendships morph into relationships from which projects can be born!  Anyone Rotarian can participate in a Friendship Exchange.  Anyone with connections in certain parts of the world is encouraged to consider leading a Friendship Exchange.  More information on the DISTRICT FRIENDSHIP EXCHANGE PAGE.
 
​​​​​​Click on Read More to read all about the District Friendship Exchange to Chile that just returned from the country in February
 
Read more...
ON THE GROUND IN GUATEMALA - PEOPLE OF ACTION!
I always emphasize when doing power point presentations on international projects that we are not Rotary, we are Rotary International!  Anyone that has participated on a team trip to visit and work on international projects returns as a changed Rotarian.  You get it.  You feel it in your heart and fully comprehend the tremendous need beyond our own communities.
Read more...
DISTRICT INTERACT AND ROTARACT REPORT
How many active and registered Interact clubs do we have in the District?  36!  How many High Schools and communities in our District do not have an Interact Club?  A lot!  Why establish a Interact Club in your community?  Engagement!  Bringing young people into the wide wide world of Rotary is exciting for them and and for us.  This spring break La Crosse Interact is sending members to Central America while they also raise funds for a school bus in Afganistan.  Fort Atkinson Interact, for the second time, is sending members to the Philippines to work on various projects.  Lodi Interact has done a piggery project in Zimbabwe and has raised funds to help fight the fires in Australia.  Middleton Interact is helping to drill wells in Liberia!  Locally?  Don't get us started ... 36 clubs in our District and over 10,000 clubs world wide have an impact on their local communities and on their local Rotary clubs that simply can't be measured.
 
The BIGGEST IMPEDIMENT that most Rotary Clubs see in starting an Interact Club is perceived competition from other High School clubs.  Don't fight them join them!  Co-brand an existing Club that has a similar mission and bring the strengths of Rotary and of Interact to your community.  For students interested in the world, and a lot of them are, Interact brings international connections in spades.  So consider approaching and existing Club Advisor about co-branding and bring Interact to your community.
 
Finally, we're happy to announce that Holland Foelker (at right); former District 6250 Interactor, former member of the UW-Platteville Rotaract Club and now a member of the UW-Madison Rotaract Club, will be sharing stories about the many connections that Rotary has made for her.  Where?  At RotaryFest - the District Conference with a Twist!  Register today!
 
ALOHA!  HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL ROTARY CONVENTION!
 

 

Read more...
POLIOPLUS - FIGHT WITH FLIGHT!
Two Rotarians from Iowa on a quest to fly a single engine Cessna around the world.  MEET THE PILOTS and consider supporting their efforts!
 
 
 
 
 
REGISTER FOR UPCOMING EVENTS IN THE DISTRICT
PETS 2020 (President Elect Training) -Register Now
Westin Resort, Itasca
Mar 06, 2020 – Mar 08, 2020
 
Rotarian World Curling Championships
Madison Curling Club / Edgewater Hotel
Mar 27, 2020 10:00 AM –
Apr 03, 2020 10:00 PM
 
Fitchburg-Verona Rotary Bowling Against Hunger
Ten Pin Alley
Mar 28, 2020
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
 
2020 Grant Management Seminar Eau Claire
The Pablo Center
Apr 02, 2020
5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
 
Outbound Youth Exchange Orientation
Clarion Hotel And Convention Center
Apr 03, 2020 5:00 PM –
Apr 04, 2020 3:00 PM
 
District Board Meeting April 2020
Zoom
Apr 28, 2020
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
 
View entire list
 
THE SWISS ARMY KNIFE THAT IS ROTARY ... JUST A FEW EXAMPLES BELOW ... IT'S UP TO YOU TO USE IT!
 
THIRSTING FOR MORE?  THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL NEWS FEED!!!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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