If you are not sure, register for the 2017 District Assembly! Not only will we be providing training for secretaries, treasurers, and presidents-elect, we have lots more in store for you. With the successful workshop held in January, it has been decided to run another series of workshops a the Assembly in the areas of membership, public image, and communications & technology. If you missed the first one, and you are interested in increasing your club's success, definitely plan time to attend one or all three of these workshops. Each of these three areas are truly the responsibility of every member, and if we join together and create a well-oiled machine, we will be able to accomplish so much. Learn more here!

 

In addition, there will be a special Non-profit showcase which will bring together a multitude of organizations focused on the homelessness and hunger issues in our backyards. We are encouraging them to identify professional skills that they need assistance and reach out to Rotarians to fill those roles as volunteers. Our members have a broad range of skills that non-profits often cannot afford and our commitment to service may be the perfect answer. The opportunities will provide a deeper purpose and will make a huge difference in how these organizations move forward. If you would be willing to volunteer, please complete this short survey. We will keep your information confidential and will only use it to let you know if there is a match with one of the non-profits. Of course, you can attend the Showcase and introduce yourself.

 

So, register and come to the Assembly and learn how you can make Rotary better, in your community and around the world.

After a weekend of inspiration and collaboration, Presidents-elect from District 7930 and seven other districts around New England, are now prepared to complete the plans for their year of leadership in their clubs.  Northeast PETS was totally transformed this year in order to help all incoming presidents to Inspire to Lead, Empower to Achieve. That was our promise to them and we are asking them to pay it forward in their clubs.

 

Thursday afternoon provided icebreakers with a purpose. Andy Winig challenged everyone to share Rotary with passion that inspires others to become engaged with our mission. Imagine 250+ people pairing off and practicing and beginning to master an effective "Why Rotary" elevator speech. Then it was off to three business networking opportunities with 10 people each: exchanging business cards, sharing their professional story, and developing relationships with other Rotarians. The last session of the afternoon was a presentation by Mitty Chang on How to Reshape Your Digital Story and learn how to engage young professionals. Lots of ideas and excitement were the story of the afternoon.

 

Ian Riseley, RI President-elect was our keynote speaker for dinner. His charm and sense of humor were clearly visible as he shared his vision of the 2017-18 Rotary theme: Rotary: Making a Difference. It is what we do as Rotarians every day. His unique spin on this is how important it is for Rotary to begin to track volunteer hours and dollars donated in service to the world. Each club has been asked to make sure they document the impact we have in ClubCentral so that RI can aggregate the worldwide numbers and demonstrate how critical Rotary is to those who need us.

The Rotary District 7930 Softball League is looking for teams and players to join the league for the 2017 season. The league is an ASA sanctioned slow pitch league. Games are played Monday to Wednesday evenings starting the first week of May. Each team plays one game per week. The regular season ends the middle of July followed by playoff games.

 

Each team is allowed four non-Rotarians on their team if they can not field a team of Rotarians only. Some teams consist of Rotarians from several Rotary clubs so if your club cannot sponsor a team but you would like to play we will find a team near you that you can join. The league is a great opportunity for Rotarians from different Rotary clubs to get to know each other.

 

For information about the league please contact league commissioner Bruce Mauch at brucem@chelseaclock.com.

The Reading Memorial High School Interact Club traveled to Philadelphia on the weekend of March 10 to 12 on a field trip chaperoned by Reading Rotary. As part of the trip 14 Interact Members served meals to approximately 200 people at the Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, a soup kitchen and homeless shelter. The RMHS Interact planned the trip to include both sightseeing and service. Inspired by the hunger and homelessness initiative in District 7930, Interact Club President Allie Foley said: "We really wanted to find a community service project that helped the homeless." In addition to serving dinner on Saturday evening, the Interact Club made fleece blankets to donate to Sunday Breakfast. Interact Sponsor Reading Rotary Club donated $500 to the Rescue Mission.

In addition to the service, the group toured some historic sites in Philadelphia, saw the Liberty Bell, raced Superintendent and Interact Club Advisor John Doherty up the Museum of Art step a la Rocky Balboa.

Other highlights of the trip were visiting Reading Terminal Market and seeing Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Rotary Leadership Institute is a leadership development program of discovery learning, collaboration and the exchange of ideas designed to improve Rotary Clubs and strengthen lives. The program is energized by facilitated learning in the areas of leadership, team building, planning, marketing, communication and organization. It is further enriched through the sharing of experiences and ideas with Rotarians from our District and beyond.

Each session is highly interactive, with a minimum of lecturing, providing lots of opportunity to share and experience ideas. Sessions are led by Rotary leaders who have been trained in facilitation techniques that maximize the discovery learning experience. Most workshops are limited to 10-15 participants who participate in interactive discussion, role playing and problem solving activities.

Course fees are per registrant per day, and cover the cost of breakfast and lunch, meeting space, and learning tools. It is recommended that clubs cover the workshop fee. The District will reimburse clubs for one participant taking a Part I workshop in Peabody.

District 7930 Rotary Clubs are invited to suggest eligible Rotarians for the District Representative to the Rotary International 2017, 2018 and 2019 Councils on Resolutions and the 2019 Council on Legislation (COL). The term begins July 1, 2017. The COL will convene for the purpose of amending the constitutional documents of Rotary International. The selection shall be made by Club Election at the District 7930 Business meeting procedure as per RI By-Laws.
 
Any club in the district may suggest a candidate for Representative, but if a club suggests a Rotarian who is a member of a different club, the Rotarian's club must agree in writing for the nomination to be accepted. Clubs must provide a brief (one page suggested) resume indicating their candidate’s background and reason he or she should be selected.
 
To be eligible, the candidate must be a current member of a club in the District and must have served a full term as District Governor as at July 1 , 2017.

• over 90 offerings for breakouts
• multiple speakers including international change-makers
• District dinner, trip to Atlanta Aquarium and Coke World
• Atlanta Braves Strike Out Polio night
• Tour the CDC
• Candlelight vigil to end human trafficking
• and lots more!

 

I would like to invite your Rotary Club to participate in the 2017 RYLA program.  If you have already participated, you know that this is a fabulous program for high school students to develop leadership skills.  If you are not familiar with RYLA, please indulge me and let me tell you about RYLA.

High School students from schools all over our district are invited to a weekend at Camp Rotary in Boxford.  We can accept 80 students and the program is almost always a sell-out with a waiting list.