ROTARY SERVICE AND ENGAGEMENT

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Rotary Service and Engagement
 
August, 2020
Connect.Partner.Serve
 
 
Rotary Opens Opportunities
 
As RI President Holger Knaack declared at the Rotary International Assembly earlier this year, Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join, but rather an invitation to endless opportunities. Rotary Opens Opportunities — everything we do opens another opportunity for someone, somewhere, said Knaack. Rotary opens pathways for members to improve their lives and the lives of those they help through service projects. Rotary opens leadership opportunities and gives members the chance to travel the world to put their service ideas into action and make lifelong connections.

Knaack continues to encourage Rotary to be open to new approaches and embrace change. In 2020-21, he recommends that every club have at least one strategic planning meeting. At that meeting, members should use Rotary’s Action Plan to guide their discussions, asking themselves what they want their club to be like in five years and how they can bring more value to their members.

The 2020-21 Rotary Citation will recognize clubs’ accomplishments that are related to Rotary’s strategic priorities and make a positive difference in their communities. Encourage your clubs to work toward the citation’s goals.
 
 
 
  Membership and New Club Development Month  
 
 
August is Membership and New Club Development Month, a time to recognize our members and the amazing work they do in their communities. In 2020, Rotarians around the world are finding ways to open opportunities, showing their incredible commitment to making the world a safer and better place. Read their stories.

Membership Month is also a time to consider how people can engage with Rotary. Learn about how you can grow membership through service, develop leaders, find new opportunities to network, and build a community within Rotary’s global family.
 
2020 Rotary Virtual Convention breakout sessions
 
Rotary’s first-ever virtual convention attracted more than 60,000 registrants and 175,000 viewers during its weeklong program. The robust participation shows that Rotary members are finding ways to experience key parts of Rotary’s annual international convention, fellowship and fun, despite the COVID-19 pandemic that forced the cancellation of the in-person convention that had been planned for Honolulu, Hawaii, USA, this year.

Virtual breakout sessions covered topics like how to engage members online, how to plan events that are better for the environment, growing Rotary with new club types, using digital trends to engage with millennials, and others.

Learn more about planning and implementing projects that make an impact. The recordings of several breakout sessions from the 2020 Rotary Virtual Convention are now available. You can also view the slide presentations and find other materials from these sessions in the 2020 Virtual Convention Breakout Presentations topic in the Learning Center.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Also, read the general secretary’s report to the 2020 convention for details on how we continue to be guided by Rotary’s Action Plan.
 
 
 Rotary International Convention in Taipei 
 
Submit breakout session proposals 
Do you have an idea or project that you want to share with your Rotary family? Breakout sessions can inspire attendees, help them polish their leadership skills and give them new ideas for projects, fundraising, strengthening membership, and more!

Help us build a breakout program that celebrates Rotary’s diversity! We are seeking proposals in English, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. Submit your proposal online by Wednesday, 30 September 2020.

If you have any questions, please contact us at conventionbreakouts@rotary.org.
 
  Updates 
 
 
 
 
Rotary’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) progress
 
The COVID-19 pandemic and anti-racism movements around the world are calling attention inequalities and the need for social justice. It’s essential that Rotary be inclusive of all cultures, experiences, and identities. Watch the breakout session Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Rotary: How Are We Doing? In it, you’ll hear from Rotarians at the forefront of change, learn about Rotary’s DEI progress, and be equipped with the tools to help create a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization. Afterward, explore Rotary’s DEI resources for clubs and programs.
 
 
Supporting the environment becomes an area of focus
 
After a unanimous vote by The Rotary Foundation Trustees and the RI Board of Directors, Rotary has a new area of focus — supporting the environment. Rotary has long supported activities that sustain the environment, and in the past five years, we have allocated $18 million to such projects through global grants related to other areas of focus. Adding the environment as a distinct cause formalizes our longtime community-based efforts and will give Rotary members more ways to increase our global impact and expand our reach.

The Foundation is developing the eligibility criteria for grants in supporting the environment and will have more information in October. Global grant applications focused on the environment will be accepted starting 1 July 2021.

Learn more about how you can support the environment.
 
Virtual meeting backgrounds
Online meetings are now common for work, school, socializing, and, of course, Rotary club gatherings. Fortunately, we have more Rotary virtual backgrounds than ever including backgrounds for Rotary, Rotaract, End Polio Now, and the areas of focus. Find them by signing in to the Brand Center and choosing Materials, then CLUB RESOURCES.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The Rotary Service newsletter provides information to help Rotary members plan effective and inspired service projects. The bimonthly newsletter is sent to subscribers, District Governors, District Community Service and International Service Chairs. Please forward this to anyone who may be interested.
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