D6250 RYE Chair PDG Bill with the Rotary Youth Exchange students (2021)
Youth Protection for Rotary International (“RI”) is a top priority. Many of our clubs engage with youth on a regular basis through their participation in Rotary Youth Exchange, RYLA, Interact, High School student of the month awards, and other avenues.
District 6250 and each of our clubs are guided by the following RI “Statement of Conduct for Working With Youth” when interacting with youth.
Rotary International strives to create and maintain a safe environment for all youth who participate in Rotary activities. To the best of their ability, Rotary members, their partners, and other volunteers must safeguard the children and young people with whom they come into contact and protect them from physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
As you might expect, our clubs participating with Rotary Youth Exchange have very exacting rules, regulations and requirements that must be followed. These rules come from our Federal Government, CSRYE (“Central States Rotary Youth Exchange”), NAYEN (“North American Youth Exchange Network”) and our District 6250 to name just a few of our governing bodies.
While the club rules for dealing with non-RYE students such as interact, RYLA and others do not require interaction with certain federal agencies, CSRYE and NAYEN, the threshold to protect our youth remains the same. If your club deals with youth in any capacity, your club should have policies and safeguards in place. Now is a great time to review those policies and safeguards.
Please plan to participate in our upcoming online trainings and educational opportunities for clubs in the 1st quarter of 2025. These trainings will be led by our District 6250 Youth Protection Officer and team.
In the meantime, you can review and compare your club policies and programs to the templates provided by RI at the following links.
Youth protection resources for members
Rotary provides comprehensive resources for clubs and districts that participate in youth programs so they can confidently implement our youth protection policies and act to prevent abuse and harassment:
The 2025 Vibrant Club Workshop (Part 2) is COMING SOON!
Did you miss it? You're in luck. There is a second opportunity to participate in the District's Vibrant Club Workshop on Saturday, January 11, 2025. It's FREE, but need to registerHERE...
ri President STEPHANIE URCHICK
JANUARY 2025 MESSAGE
I always walk into meetings at my home club of McMurray, Pennsylvania, with a smile on my face.A tradition of applauding late arrivals fosters positivity and engagement. Reflecting on what attracts members to Rotary, it is important to highlight the significance of friendships and joy in meetings. Members are encouraged to assess their club's culture by asking tough questions about belonging and fun. An example is given of the Rotary Club of Fukushima, Japan, which combines environmental responsibility with community fun through a trash-picking sport called SpoGomi, promoting engagement and awareness. A healthy club culture enhances member retention. I urge members to utilize Rotary magazine for inspiration to create an inclusive and enjoyable environment, reinforcing the value of belonging and commitment to the Rotary mission.
Introduced in 1965, pickleball has become the fastest growing sport in the United States. A short learning curve and an appeal to a large range of ages and abilities contribute to its wide appeal.
To commemorate World Polio Day on October 24, Kelly Dunn, Holmen Area Rotary Club, came up with the idea of doing a Pickleball for Polio event at The Blue Zone, a local indoor facility. Soon three other clubs came on board: Rotary After Hours, Rotary Club of La Crosse, and Onalaska Hilltoppers Rotary Club. These four clubs were the tournament sponsors, along with additional corporate and individual sponsors.
Open to the public, Pickleball for Polio charged $20 for players and $15 for non-players. The fee included player instructions, one free drink ticket, and donated snacks. Each club had a donation box and items for a silent auction to inspire friendly competition for the most extra funds contributed. (Rotary Club of La Crosse won the competition) The tournament attracted over 110 participants for a total of over $9000 raised for Polio Plus. Not bad for a brand new event. Plans are already underway for next Rotary year’s event.
While this was a Polio Plus fundraiser, the pickleball concept could be used for any Rotary club’s fundraising goals. If your club would like more information, contact Kelly Dunn, Holmen Area Rotary Club at kellydunn321@gmail.com.
Get Ready for TriCon 2025 – Register Now and Save!
by: Jason Beren, TriCon Conference Chair
Attention all Rotarians—TriCon 2025 is just around the corner, and it’s time to secure your spot at Rotary’s premier event of the year! Mark your calendars for April 25–26, 2025, and prepare to join us in vibrant Brookfield, Wisconsin for an unforgettable weekend. Read more...
District International Service Committee International Project Opportunities
by: PDG Edwin Bos, D6250 International Service Chair
We are excited to present the following International Project Opportunities available for clubs in our District. These projects have been preliminarily vetted, and initial agreements have been made with the host Rotary Clubs overseas. Read more...
Membership Report - January 2025
By: AG Marc Augsburger, D6250 Membership Chair
Rotarians, we are seeing our first decrease in District Membership for the year. I do know that a number of clubs have lost members due to long-time Rotarians passing away, so even though we’ve experienced a slight decline, let’s keep new members at the tips of our tongues this winter! Our District membership remains strong at 2,263 members, -3 members since the start of this Rotary year on July 1, 2024. Clubs, keep up your great work! Read more...
The Service Project Center
Help Enhance Your Club’s Public Image Through SPC
by: Michelle Skemp, Public Image District Chair
Imagine having all the information about your club's service projects conveniently stored in one accessible location. A hub for tracking statistics on people served, funds raised, grants awarded, active committees making an impact, and images and videos showcasing transformed lives. Read more...
District Friendship Exchange Committee Update
by: PDG Edwin Bos
We are thrilled to announce several exciting Rotary Friendship Exchange (RFE) opportunities for 2025! If you're interested in participating, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us. At the moment, the mini exchanges to the Netherlands and Poland are the only ones open for travelers. Read more...
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To the Tulips 2 - the Sequel and Poznan, Poland
by: PDG Edwin Bos
TULIP LOVERS & POLAND LOVERS!!!First ever Back-to-Back Mini-Rotary Friendship Exchanges. District 6250 (Wisconsin) and the Rotary Club Uithuizen - het Hoogeland (the Netherlands). District 6250 (Wisconsin) and the Rotary Club of Poznan, Poland. Read more...
Rotary Learning Center
By: Gov. Todd Restel
This month’s article focuses on the Rotary Learning Center. Read more...
Do You Have a Poem Hidden Within?
by: Michelle Skemp
Poetry is more than just words thrown on a page; it’s a twist of magically selected phrases meant to tickle your brain or whisk you away to new thoughts and perspectives. Read more...
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