President Jennifer Jones has made a special plea to get club logos updated. Go to Rotary Brand Center to find the correct version.
Newsletter editor appeal for assistance: please consider helping me with this monthly newsletter especially if you are technically inclined.
Message Received from ClubRunner
Now Available: 2023 Changeover Training Webinar Recordings
Thank you to everyone that was able to attend our 2023 ClubRunner Changeover Training Series! In case you missed any of the webinars or simply wish to make reference to them again, each session was recorded and is now available for you to watch at any time!
We marked the 155th anniversary of our founder’s birth, Paul Harris in April. We sit back and think of the vision of that gentleman who simply wanted to facilitate and improve the way of life for his fellow citizen. Aligned with our theme this year, our district’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) committee hosted an online seminar where Kangana Chawla, master’s student in Counselling Psychology at Yorkville University, shared insights about the unconscious social and cultural biases we’ve developed throughout our lives and their daily implications.
As we move into May, we enter an interesting time of the year as we transition from Winter, through Spring and look towards Summer. In Rotary, we are also in the midst of transition, within Clubs, within the District and within Rotary International itself, as we celebrate our current leaders while looking forward to the new Rotary year.
To be effective, this transition process relies on one thing – a functional succession planning mechanism at all levels of our organization. Rotary International has a well-developed succession planning process to identify the RI President-Elect and President Nominee. At the District level, we also have a process to identify Governor-Elect and Governor-Nominee. This approach to succession planning allows for a smooth changeover from one Rotary year to the next, and allows in-coming leaders to gain a better understanding of the organisation.
At a more local level, I would encourage our District Clubs to review their succession planning systems and determine if changes are needed to permit future leaders to be identified sufficiently in advance of the Rotary year end / start to allow not only a smooth transition of responsibilities, but also to allow incoming leaders to benefit from a period of “apprenticeship” before taking on their new roles.
Our current transition period has brought and will bring with it a number of ways of celebrating Rotary’s current leaders and welcoming the new leadership. The recent 2023 District Conference led by District Governor Michel Wong Kee Song was an instructional and inspirational event. The RI Convention in Melbourne at the end of May will provide a wonderful opportunity to renew existing and create new friendships within the world-wide Rotary community. And our Annual District Changeover event on June 24 is being planned to be an informal family-friendly BBQ (details below).
So enjoy this period of transition, take advantage of the opportunities to enhance your knowledge and understanding of the Rotary world, but most importantly – enjoy the fun and fellowship which is such an important part of the Rotary experience.
30 years ago the native Rusty-Patched bumble bee (Bombus affinis) was as common as three out of every ten bumblebees seen. We haven’t seen one since 2009. The alarming rate of pollinator decline, food production challenges, soil depletion, chemical pollution, climate change, carbon emission, and sequestration are some of the most serious environmental issues we face. Scientists predict that if we stay on this trajectory we have less than 60 years of harvesting crops before soil collapse and untenable climate change halts crop production. A third of the food we eat is attributed to the pollination services of bees. An abundance of healthy native bees, ensures this food. In D7040, 32 of our economically important crops (valued at $690 billion per year in Ontario) are pollinated by native pollinators.
Whilst many Rotary clubs (20+ in D7040) and hundreds of friends participate in No Mow May with enthusiasm, others are skeptical, complacent, or critical. Some find it inconceivable to change minds and lawns from what we have, for decades, been doing, creating, caring for, and what we are fiercely proud of. There are entrenched beliefs about lawns - how it should look, lawn care, and its function. Sometimes our views are emotionally charged: Those who had Lyme’s or other tick-borne diseases (or know someone so unfortunate) are appalled at the thought of not mowing. Many concerns are based on misinformation and beliefs not backed by science. FAQ like “What about ticks?”, “What happens after May?”, and more, are answered on our D7040 website. Some did not like the name No Mow MAY and suggestions like “Mindful May”, “Pollinator Month” or the inspirational “Grow More May” developed by the Rotary Club of Gananoque , will potentially replace the No Mow message.
At Harvard, researchers found that lawns with multiple species of grasses and wildflowers require far less mowing and water than would the typical turf. We need to think twice about perfectly manicured lawns requiring water (in dry months), fertilizer and herbicides (bad for your health and the environment), topsoil, GMO seeds, maintenance labour, and machines (producing air, particle, and noise pollution), in addition to releasing an insane amount of greenhouse gasses (those that are fossil-fuelled). Let’s face it, it costs a lot of money to maintain a lawn in pristine condition. There are powerful corporations, heavily invested in the estimated $8 billion turfgrass lawn industry in North America, and they sponsor universities and institutions that actively advocate against No Mow May.
Environmental leaders say we don’t do enough, we should do more, and that just not mowing in May is not nearly enough. I tend to agree. If we can do for the Environment what Rotary has done for Polio we will have an enormous impact. We can spread awareness and take action, creating sustainable urban habitats. May is a perfect time to imagine thriving living lawns. Our gardens, patios and balconies can be places for healing the earth. Imagine your community in 60 years. What legacy do you want to leave? Let us be responsible ancestors!
Honouring Indigenous Peoples(HIP) National Experience in Winnipeg
The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston and the Rotary Club of Brockville sponsored two students who recently attended the HIP National Experience in Winnipeg. CBC and CTV captured interviews with some of the youth at the HIP National Experience which can be viewed by clicking on the links below.
Nearly a decade ago, while I was the chair of the Strengthen Rotary’s Brand Committee, we conducted in-depth research to better understand how the public viewed Rotary, our members, and our work. What we learned was that we needed to reposition the Rotary brand by focusing on clear, consistent messages and a unified visual identity.
Based on the committee’s recommendation, the Board of Directors approved new brand guidelines, which included how clubs should use the Rotary logo. Simply put, club logos should include the club name either above or below the Rotary logo, like this:
A brand is more than just a logo, but a logo is a big part of our visual identity. When the public sees it throughout their community, they begin to think of Rotary members as people of action. Using the same visual elements unites Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact and allows us, as a diverse global organization, to tell our story with one voice.
The RI Board of Directors is asking every club to update its logo to align with Rotary’s brand guidelines. We are asking you to:
Help clubs in your district understand why we all need to use the Rotary logo correctly
Show clubs how to create their own logo and use it consistently on their website, social media accounts, and other marketing materials, like banners, brochures, signs, and clothing
You can use the resources below, as well as those in the newly updated Brand Center, for assistance. I also encourage you to contact your Rotary Public Image Coordinator Mary Lou Harrison from Toronto Sunrise and their team for additional guidance and support. They are eager to help.
This year, my Imagine Impact tour will highlight how Rotary members are creating positive, lasting change while it also introduces Rotary to new audiences and potential partners. This is where I need your help. Think of how much more impact these stories will have when they’re shared with one global voice!
Let’s continue to help our clubs attract the next generation of people of action as we increase our impact around the world.
