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District Conference Registration Open! Join fellow Rotarians in a week long event!  150 already registered!

Welcome to April!

Dear Fellow Rotarians,
 
Globally, in developed and developing countries, child mortality is on the decline and life expectancy on the rise.  In 1960, 182 of every 1,000 children born died before turning five; today, that number is down to below 40.  A child born in 1960 could expect to live an average of just 52 years; by contrast, a child born this year can expect to live to 77.
 
As of now, the factors most likely to determine a child’s fate are set at birth; where he or she is born, the educational and economic condition of the family, the availability of medical care.  However,  one of the most significant advances in public health has reached every country and must now reach every child:  immunization.
 
In many parts of the world, the use of vaccines has nearly eliminated diseases that once were widespread, such as diphtheria, tetanus, and rubella.  Thanks to vaccines, 20 million lives have been saved from measles since 2000.  Smallpox has been eradicated – and with our continued efforts, Polio will be next.
 
Thirty years ago, there were an estimated 350,000 cases of Polio per year world-wide.  As I write this, only 27 cases have been reported in 2021 – all of them the vaccine-derived poliovirus, or cVDPV.  No wild poliovirus (WPV) has been reported.  cVDPV is caused primarily by low immunization rates.  The best way to prevent them and stop them when there is an outbreak is to vaccinate children.  Outbreaks are usually rapidly stopped with 2-3 rounds of high-quality supplementary immunization activities.
 
Overall, the World Health Organization estimates that immunization prevents an estimated 2 million to 3 million deaths each year.  It also averts a tremendous burden of disability and economic loss.  Nevertheless, we could be doing so much better:  An additional 1.5 million deaths could be avoided by improving vaccine coverage worldwide.
 
This month, from April 24-30, we join WHO, UNICEF, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in celebrating World Immunization Week, raising awareness of the incredible impact that vaccines have had on global health.  In this year of COVID… to celebrate the incredible work of the scientists that created the new vaccines… and the healthcare workers who have worked so hard to begin to administer them… we can do our part to keep our communities healthy by helping Rotary spread the word about the importance of vaccinations. 
 
We Rotarians know firsthand that #VaccinesWork.  Since 1985, we have contributed more than $2.1 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect nearly 3 billion children from Polio.  It is time to step up again to make sure our communities are fully aware of the importance of vaccinations.
 
I can think of three easy ways for you to take action:
  • Download Rotary’s World Immunization Week Toolkit to get graphics and sample social media posts.  Here is the link: ______
  • Raise awareness(original had a space between aware and ness)  of vaccination and polio eradication efforts by painting your nails – or pinkie – purple, or customize our new End Polio Now artwork with your signature and words of support.  Post your pictures on social media using the hashtags #EndPolio and #VaccinesWork.
  • Donate to Rotary’s PolioPlus Fund.  Your contribution will be tripled, thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
This past year has pointed to the uncertainty of our world.  Vaccines offer something remarkable:  a way to protect our children throughout their lives.  By working together to safeguard all children against Polio and other preventable diseases and advocating for getting the Coronavirus vaccine, Rotary is opening opportunities now and for generations to come.
 
Be well and healthy!
 
Bill Pritchard
6250 District Governor 2020-2021
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Don't miss these sessions at District Conference! 

 
 
 
Josh Mansee
La Crosse Rotary - After Hours, President-Elect 2020-2021
District 6250 Foundation Chair
608-386-2641
 
 

District Member Count: 2546

Member Growth Success:
Lake Mills +9, Sun Prairie +6, Mayville +6, LaCrosse After Hours +6, Beaver Dam +6

 
  
We have now surpassed a full year living in a pandemic world. As the disruption erupted, we have been forced to make adjustments both in life and in Rotary. Some Rotary Club have been quite challenged during this time, while others seem to be thriving. The Rotary Club of Lake Mills is one of those clubs which have thrived during this past year. They have increased their membership from 37 to 46 members! That’s a 24% increase in club membership!

Club President Mick Selck has attempted to learn if there is an underlying reason to why they’ve had such success and feels that most of the new members have learned about their club through projects (see list below) and felt a desire to also give back to the community. There is also somewhat of a business element to members joining as well. The Rotary Club of Lake Mills is a larger club in relation to the size of Lake Mills so they are very present and visible in the community. Their annual Beer and Wine fundraiser draws a large crowd under a normal non-covid environment (450 people in 2018 and 2019!), which gives the club a lot of momentum and bolsters awareness of their presence in the community. Another observation is their new members are often introduced by different people in the club. This tells me the whole club is invested in the efforts of growing the club and nurturing the new members!
Mick’s advice for those clubs looking to replicate the success of the Rotary Club of Lake Mills is as follows:
1.      Market your club.  Put your good deeds out there for the community to see via Social Media and Newspapers.  Invite reporters / news outlets to join the club or at least keep them in the loop.
2.      Word of mouth.  Make sure your members are talking up the club when they have opportunities in their friend groups / business groups / other civic organizations.  (We have several people that are members of multiple organizations.)
3.      We have a presenter at every meeting.  We learn about them, they learn about us.  Every presenter for a non-profit gets a $100 donation for coming and sometimes more.
4.      Have strong interact club.  Although it may be many years before they come back as Rotarians, and possibly in another community, we have members who recall their involvement in Rotary at a young age.  Plus, these kids have parents, so the Rotary name gets spread even more.

Here is a list of all the projects the Rotary Club of Lake Mills does.
 
Local projects included:
  • providing educational scholarships for Lake Mills High and Lakeside Lutheran students,
  • hosting the annual post prom party for both High Schools,
  • installing batting cages at Wallace and Rotary parks,
  • providing the Jefferson County Rock River free clinic with new computers,
  • hosting the Pyramid City Run to benefit the Jefferson County Drug Free Coalition,
  • providing the Lake Mills Fire Department funds for fire safety instruction materials,
  • planting of 26 trees at local parks,
  • Rotary Park concession stand and park improvements, and
  • providing funds toward
    • the gym floor project at the Rock Lake Activity Center,
    • the Chamber of Commerce’s Town and Country Days,
    • Lake Mills Fireworks,
    • Lake Mills EMS, and
    • many others. 
International projects included:
  • Rotary International’s on-going project of eradicating Polio world-wide,
  • a Philippine WALK program that provides children and people with artificial limbs,
  • a “Change Her Story Ghana” project education about women’s health, and
  • hosting international friendship exchanges.
I hope their success motivates your club to have equal success!
 
John Locke
D6250 Membership Chair
608-385-7954

 

Have you ever wondered how clubs create those beautiful "Together, We CONNECT" (Inspire, Transform, End Polio, etc.) Facebook posts using Rotary's People of Action campaign, like the one shown below? The easiest way to create these is using the Create Your Own: People of Action Facebook Post tool in Brand Center, at brandcenter.rotary.org. First time using the tool? We've put together step-by-step instructions for you, here. All you'll need is a My Rotary account and a photo showing your club's Rotarians in action!
 
Social media has become an integral part of how Rotary clubs communicate. Facebook launched 17 years ago. Since its inception, social media platforms have changed the way we communicate and connect with each other. Having a strong website presence and a social media presence should be top of your list of tactics in 2021. 
 
Interested in learning more, register for the District Conference. On Thursday, April 22, the Public Image committee will be sharing many tips and tricks to help you share your club’s story. Hope to see you there.
 
Did you know that District 6250 has four social media platforms? Follow us on social media.
 
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We have now rolled by the one year mark of when this crazy world turned itself upside down and the world of Rotary as we know it was flipped over. We have become resilient, we have adapted and we have continued to give back to our communities - in so many ways. We've come together as Rotarians to continue the motto of Service Above Self and really figured out that even though we were "alone" a lot of the year, our Rotary family stretches across the globe. 
 
We've maintained relationships with the youth in our community as much as we could and we've continued to support them in their adaptation to the changes in their lives. Youth programs in Rotary allow us to connect to students as their minds are forming ideas around what the world is like. At the upcoming District Conference, we'll share how Youth programs can be the foundation for our future Rotarians. RYLA opens the first opportunity and carries the student into Interact back at their high school. Through Interact, they learn about stretching worldwide and the possibility of Youth Exchange shines in their eyes. As they return and transition into adulthood and into college Rotaract is there to carry them through to their professional career. 
 
If we continue to engage with these students, we are laying the bricks one by one with every experience that they have with our clubs. We just have to provide the mortar and encourage them to want to keep adding rows of experiences. 
 
Don't forget that RYLA is on the books for May 16th and 17th and the Committee has been working hard to put on a Virtual Event this year!  

RYLA is going virtual in 2021! 

As much as we wish we could see you all at Camp Upham Woods this year, we're playing it safe as we make it through the pandemic.

Participants will attend sessions virtually over two days in May, 2021:

  • May 16th, 2:00-5:00pm

  • May 17th, 6:00-8:00pm

Details have been released on the District 6250 website: https://rotary6250.org/page/ryla.
 
Laura Lee
Email

 

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UPCOMING DISTRICT EVENTS
District Conference 2021
Virtual
Apr 18, 2021 – Apr 24, 2021
 
District 6250 Board Meeting - Zoom
Zoom
May 05, 2021
6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
 
RYLA 2021
Virtual
May 16, 2021
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
 
View entire list
Russell Hampton
ClubRunner
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