"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." - Robert Swan
October is a full month with Environmental Days of Service, World Polio Day and the monthly theme is Community Economic Development Month. Plenty to be excited about and all causes that each of us are connected to in different ways.
I am grateful to be surrounded by Rotarians in our district that make saving our planet a priority. Not only have we had ESRAG (Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group) rise out of the passion and persistence of District 6250 Rotarians, now we have embarked on a worldwide effort around pollination. I had the incredible opportunity to represent District 6250 and join environmental leaders from around the country to launch the Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership. (Photos by Gary Noren)
The synergy around this partnership will most definitely change the world and I look forward to serving beside each of you to move these efforts forward. We are creating hope in the world together. More below!
Rotary members have been at the center of the worldwide effort to eradicate polio for more than three decades. Rotary launched PolioPlus in 1985. Since then, cases have plummeted more than 99.9%, sparing more than 20 million people from paralysis. Rotary has helped immunize nearly 3 billion children against polio, but we're not done. We've gotten recent reminders that this disease is only a plane ride away. Each of us can play a role in finishing this important work. I look forward to seeing the great work each of you are doing to raise dollars to support our efforts and finally eradicate this horrible disease.
ALSO, if you are looking for a way to enjoy fellowship while bringing light to mental health – join our District 6250 Hope Squad for the NAMI walk THIS SATURDAY on October 7th. You are not going to want to miss this day of fellowship and fun! Get registered HERE
Hope is certainly on the horizon! Thank you for being the curators of such impactful work.
Michelle McGrath, Ed.D
D6250 Governor
RY 2023-2024
ri President gordon R. Mcinally
President 2023-24
OCTOBER message
With Rotary placing a special focus on mental health, clubs are taking action to address community challenges. Examples include the Rotary Club of Tiaong-Hiyas in the Philippines forming a Rotary Community Corps focused on health education and wellness support, and the Rotary Clubs of Colorado Endowed Fellowship for Pediatric Mental Health enhancing access to mental health care for children. Rotary members are encouraged to ask each other "How are you really?" and reach out to mindhealth@rotary.org with ideas on mental health in the Rotary world. On World Mental Health Day, a Facebook Live event will be held to further explore how Rotary members can get involved.
Meet Maiah O'Rourke, a bright undergraduate pursuing Agricultural and Applied Economics at UW-Madison. Currently serving as the President of Rotaract-UW, Maiah's passion for community service was sparked after her travels to Argentina with Rotary's Short Term Exchange Program. After graduation in May 2024, she plans to pursue a Master's degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Copenhagen.
After 35 years, Polio’s Cornered - We Must Finish the Job
by: Ed Futa
Rotary and its partners in the global polio eradication initiative have made great strides to reduce polio cases by 99.9% worldwide over the past 35 years, and we've reduced the circulation of wild polio to just Pakistan and Afghanistan.
That is why as we approach this world polio day on October 24, as a Rotary member, I am pleased to recognize this progress. However, I ask everyone to help us finish the job and end polio for good to ensure that this paralyzing disease does not return to polio-free countries, putting children everywhere at risk. Read moreHERE
Countdown to World Polio Day – October 24
by Kathy Reinolt
Back in the 1980’s, one Rotarian proposed the idea to eradicate Polio from the face of the earth. We are on the cusp of that momentous event! How can you be part of putting an end to this paralyzing disease? Read moreHERE
Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership (MR-OP) Launch
by: Roz Schnick
On September 28, 2023, several prominent organizations gathered in La Crosse, WI to sign the Mississippi River Operation Pollination Partnership (MR-OP), a major collaboration between multiple organizations that have a stake in protecting the MR’s natural environment. La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds welcomed a group of pollinator supporters (at Rotarian Roz Schnick’s “The Monarchy”) by saying how important it is for leaders “up and down” the MR to pledge their support for insect pollinators. The groups that signed this MR-OP agreed that “pollinator loss” is a major environmental concern for our planet’s future health. In turn, these groups support local organizations and residents pledging to take action to help make the world a better place for our children and their children. Read moreHERE
Vibrant Club Workshop
by: DGN Michael Kloss
Are you ready for what's coming up in District 6250 Membership and this year's Vibrant Club Workshop? Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect. Read more HERE
Showing Up and Filling Your Cup
By Liz Evans
Service Over Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best. The two Rotary mottoes. To me, these mottoes speak of the enormous value of volunteerism, to the community and to oneself.
Another saying that resonates with me is, “you can’t pour from an empty cup.” Have you ever felt burnt out or depleted and can’t bear the thought of giving more of yourself? That is what it means to have an empty cup. Read more HERE
October offers TWO Public Image opportunities
By: PR Lynn Perez-Hewitt
Environmental Days of Service are the 3rd thru the 9th, but of course any environmental project at any time is a great chance to demonstrate your club’s commitment to the environment, Rotary’s Seventh Area of Focus. Read more HERE
The combination of an identified need and the amazing work of Dr. Kofi Effah and his team at the Catholic Hospital, Battor’s Cervical Cancer Prevention and Training Center (CCPTC), led to this Rotary project. We learned of Dr. Effah and the CCPTC from TogetherHER, a non-profit focused on cancer prevention and treatment. After verifying the extremely high quality of the work of the CCPTC, the Eau Claire and Accra East Rotary Clubs partnered to provide 50 thermal ablation devices to the Center located in the Republic of Ghana, a country with a population of 26 million, 16 regions, and 260 districts.