Posted on Dec 03, 2019

DG's December 2019 Message to Members

 

 

 

 
 
December 2019 Governor’s Message:
 

The holiday season is a joyful time to be with family and friends.  It is also a time to reflect and be grateful for all that we have as Rotarians when others locally and globally have so little.  Today, December 3rd is Giving Tuesday and my best hope is that all Rotarians in Alaska will remember to give generously to the Rotary Foundation.  The Rotary Foundation has earned the highest possible rating from independent evaluator Charity Navigators for the past twelve years.  When the Rotary Foundation partners with others your donation is increased and has greater impact. The Rotary Foundation tackles head on some of the world’s most difficult problems, delivering sustainable and long lasting results. Rotarians are able to use a vast network and resources of the Rotary Foundation to take action locally and globally.  Our members can donate funds that support the Rotary Peace Centers that trains Peace Fellows in the skills of Peace Building and Conflict Resolution.

I have completed 33 of 38 Rotary Club visits, and this week I’ll be making visits to three clubs in Fairbanks.  Next week I’ll be wrapping up my club visits, my own Fairbanks Sunrisers Rotary Club the final stop of this tremendous journey that began on July 1-5 in Ketchikan. Having visited 38 clubs has allowed me to meet many dedicated Rotarians who serve their club and serve others locally and globally.  I’ve seen first hand the many projects and fundraisers clubs in our Rotary District 5010 do.  Rotarians are making a difference here in Alaska.  Above all else, I’ve met new Rotarian friends and learned of club successes, club challenges and club plans for the future.  Rotarians care deeply about their clubs and take seriously the work they do to make the world a better place.

In the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with D5010 Rotary Youth Exchange.  DGN Cheryl, DGE Joe and I met with RYE Chair Jeff Johnson (Palmer Club) and Deputy Chair to get caught up on all things youth exchange.  At this meeting we talked about the implementation of the new RYE application and screening interview process implemented in 2019 for selection of 2020 Outbound students.  We also discussed the D5010 West Coast Tour, specifically the purpose and benefits of the tour.  A consensus decision was made to cancel the tour in 2020, replacing it with something smaller in Alaska in 2020 providing time to have a more collaborative process to design the purpose and benefits of any outside tour sponsored by D5010.  We also spent time talking about Youth Protection and how important it is that all our various volunteers and host families know what to do when a student may face unwelcome behaviors, including sexual harassment.  The following week I attended a planning session with the RYE team, who also participated in Awareness Training about harassment and abuse. Club YEO’s will receive similar training at Winter Orientation.

The D5010 Conference Planning Committee is in full swing planning the 2020 Peace Forum and District Conference to be held April 30 to May 3, 2020 in Fairbanks.  A brief promo video is available on the RotaryDistrict5010 website. Please note: Full registration includes the Peace Forum on Thursday.  Currently registration is $375 for early bird registration now until the end of the year 12/31/2019.  After 12/31, registration will increase to $400 (includes the banquet). Otherwise the Peace Forum only is $50 and the Saturday DG banquet only is otherwise $75.   Friday and/or Saturday all day registration is $150 each (includes lunch).  Banquet separately is $75. Friday or Saturday lunch separately is $50.  Young leader, Rotaract, or anyone under 30 may register for the full conference for $100.  Note, Rotarian spouses should register as a Rotarian attendee.  A link to register for the conference can be found at:  https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=48e0d9a0-67db-4574-9867-b8c61179c09d

I would like to encourage all Club Presidents to designate someone in their club to submit stories with pictures of recent club service projects, fundraising events, youth programs, etc., in the time period of July 2019 to the present.  We are looking for bite sized articles (3-4 paragraphs - what, when, where, who).  Send only a few pictures, but choose those pictures where Rotarians are having fun or a picture of Rotarians with the beneficiaries of the project. Please send your articles to Andre’ Layral for review.  You may submit the articles using the new D5010 Mobile APP (GoTo Latest News button, select Submit a News Story).  You may also e-mail to alayral.1920@gmail.com

If you enjoy writing and would like to help serve as an editor to review and edit Club News stories for me, please contact me by calling 907-460-7786.  If you are web savvy and would like to be trained how to post these stories on our district ClubRunner website, please contact me.  We are not planning to send out a print or digital newsletter, instead we are encouraging members to utilize the D5010 Mobile APP by going to Social Media,  then use the D5010 website or D5010 Facebook buttons.  

Sincerely,

 

DG Andre’ Layral

alayral.1920@gmail.com

Cell 907-460-7786

Upcoming Events or Deadlines:

December 15, 2019- Deadline to designate your club RYLA Chair and submit your RYLA Club Commitment Form (find it at https://rotarydistrict5010.org/Page/ryla).

December 31, 2019- Early District Conference Registration ends, goes up to $400 on 1/1/2020

    https://www.crsadmin.com/EventPortal/Registrations/PublicFill/EventPublicFill.aspx?evtid=48e0d9a0-67db-4574-9867-b8c61179c09d

February 1, 2020 - 9:00-4:00 PM

D5010 Team Training Assembly (aka., District Leadership Meeting) in Anchorage

March 5-8, 2020. RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) in Homer

    https://rotarydistrict5010.org/Page/ryla 

April 30, 2020 - D5010 Peace Forum - Fairbanks Westmark Hotel

    (open to Rotarians, Young Leaders and other interested community members)

May 1-3 - D5010 District Conference - Fairbanks Westmark Hotel

June 6-10, 2020 - Rotary International Conference - Honolulu Hawaii