District Governor Rich Burns recognized Chuck Lubbers in the October District Leadership Meeting as the Rotarian of the Quarter. Chuck is a member of The Rotary Club of Vermillion and serves on the District's Public Image Team. He is being recognized for taking the initiative to update and organize the district website. Chuck also participated in disseminating Polio Plus information to clubs for Polio Day. He continues to provide timely feedback and guidance to the district team leading towards better club/district relationships. The entire District Leadership Team thanks Chuck for his Service above Self. Congratulations and thank you, Chuck!!
District Governor Rich Burns recognized Chuck Lubbers in the October District Leadership Meeting as the Rotarian of the Quarter. Chuck is a member of The Rotary Club of Vermillion and serves on the District's Public Image Team. He is being recognized for taking the initiative to update and organize the district website. Chuck also participated in disseminating Polio Plus information to clubs for Polio Day. He continues to provide timely feedback and guidance to the district team leading towards better club/district relationships. The entire District Leadership Team thanks Chuck for his Service above Self. Congratulations and thank you, Chuck!!
November is The Rotary Foundation month and as your District Foundation Committee Chairman, PDG John Schneider, I want to highlight 3 aspects of Foundation giving. As you may know, 47.5% of the donations made by Rotarians in our district return to our district to be used at our discretion.
A message from our District Governor Rich Burns - What Giving is all about...Giving is making a commitment. To have 18 individual Rotary clubs in District 5610 stepping up to support the initiation of our “Food 4 the Holidays” program speaks volumes about our commitment. Identified in 2016 as a friendly competition between clubs, to support a common community needs project, and having so many Clubs participate demonstrates Rotary’s strength in the places we live.
Clubs from locations with under 1000 residence to those in major metropolitan areas all identified unique ways to leverage Rotary’s support to eliminate food insecurities. There were bake sales, can drives, backpacks for kids, food for homeless veterans, community delivery teams, food gift baskets, food insecurity coupons, the ideas were original and endless. In all, we will be providing over $5800 and supporting all of the 18 Clubs who participated in their way to provide “Food 4 the Holidays.” I want to thank each and every Club involved for their commitment and outstanding job well done to help make the Holiday season a blessing for everyone.
Rich Burns, District Governor 5610
District 5610 District Governor Visit Schedule from 7/30/2023-12/31/2023
Click on the "Read More" link to see the visits thus far and the remaining visits in 2023.
What do you have when you get almost 80 sophomores, juniors, counselors and a dynamic leadership team together
at Camp Maranatha?
That’s easy – a RYLA week of total fun, making new friends, learning leadership skills, discovering the 4 pillars of Rotary and
implementing them!
| A message from Pat Sutliff: | |
 | I am excited to announce the Rotary 2023-24 annual District 5610 Four Way Test Essay Contest. This contest is a great way to spread our Rotary ideals within our communities. The contest involves 6th graders who are asked to write a 200 to 500 word essay on "How can I apply the Rotary Four-Way Test to my life?" You will be amazed and excited at the perspective 6th graders have on our Four-Way Test. You need to find a 6th grade teacher or group of teachers who are willing to participate in this great project. I have found that it is usually easier to approach teachers rather than the administrators as they have so many other issues on their minds. |
District 5610 Governor, Rich Burns, announces a special pop up mini-grant program in support of community projects that provide food for the holidays. Check the image below for grant requirements. The one-page application is filled out in a Google form and can be found here: https://forms.gle/LTXWovLUaXy7jcFC9
World Polio Day is on October 24, and Rotary International President Gordon McInally has a message for all Rotarians. Working with partners, Rotary has reduced wild polio cases to just a few this year, but even one is too many. Now is the time to help finally end the threat of Polio from the Earth.
Carmen Hansen of the Rushmore Rotary Club was presented the “Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award” at the 2023 District Conference in Yankton. Started in 2016, the Kozak award is the top honor given to a Rotarian in District 5610 and is given in recognition of exceptional service to Rotarians in Rotary District 5610.
In making the presentation, John Schneider, Immediate Past District Governor, noted that, “this year’s recipient, like most of those who have been honored in the past, probably doesn’t think they deserve this award. This person believes in ‘Service Above Self’ and is a living, walking, breathing example of it.”
Hansen was recognized for her service both in the community and in Rotary District 5610.
Roger Kozak, District 5610 Governor in 2009-2010, strongly believed in the importance of local and international service in Rotary. Each year since 2016 the "Roger Kozak Service Above Self Award" is given to a District Rotarian who exemplifies that service. In the short video below we hear Roger discuss the importance of service. This video was recorded only one or two years before his passing. To watch the video simply click on the image below. To read more about Roger Kozak and past recipients CLICK HERE.
World Polio Day is a day to remind us about our commitment to eradicate Polio.
What is our commitment: In 1978 Rotary chose, as its primary project, a hope to eradicate Polio from this world. We then realized that we cannot do this alone. We started to look for partners and formed an alliance with several nations and organizations with the same vision. In 1988 that alliance formed the” Global Initiative to Eradicate Polio”, where all partners would consolidate their funds and the initiative then will design and implement a program to eradicate Polio from the world. Our Rotary agreed to pledge $50 million each year. Gates foundation joined the Global Initiative later and agreed to match our Rotary Polio Plus Funds 2:1.
What have we achieved: Of the three Polio strains we have already eradicated Type 2 and 3. Type 1 is still active in three countries, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Mozambique. Intense work is being done in these countries to reach our final goal. We have got the commitment from Taliban to help in this effort.
During the recent District 5610 Conference, 24 Rotarians participated in the Polio Walk. Chair of the District's Polio Plus Committee, Ashok Kumar, noted that this first-time event succeeded in both bringing some early morning fun for the participants as well as raising awareness of Rotary's efforts to eradicate polio from the Earth. The walk on the Meridian pedestrian bridge in Yankton allowed the participants to share Rotary's mission with the community and provided a wonderful view of the sunrise over the Missouri River. 
At the 2023 District 5610 Conference, DG Rich Burns introduced the new Rotarians of Distinction. The Rotarians of Distinction Award is presented to individuals who through service to their Rotary club and community have distinguished themselves, even among all Rotarians who strive to place service above self. The recipients have traveled different paths in their Rotary service, but those paths have all resulted in a record of service that identifies them as ROTARIANS OF DISTINCTION.
Ashok Kumar | Rapid City | 2022-23 |
John Badgley | Mobridge | 2022-23 |
Ron Gates | Mitchell | 2022-23 |
Jody Olson | Canby | 2022-23 |
Joe Stedronsky | Wagner | 2022-23 |
Ernie Bures | Tyndall | 2022-23 |
Daniel Heinemann | Canton | 2022-23 |
Gregg Gropel | Luverne | 2022-23 |
Dan Cox | Sioux City | 2022-23 |
https://www.rotary5610.org/PhotoAlbums/district-conference-2023Please click on the story headline/link to see a list of DG club visits. 
OUR District 5610 Goals
“Create Hope in the World” is staying the course and continuing our support of past District goals set for youth initiatives, membership growth (so everyone feels included), and increasing our Foundation capacity. Tack on Rotary International’s continuing initiatives for Ending Polio,
Empowering Women and Girls, and Ending Human Trafficking, it becomes pretty obvious we need to become not just a District with Clubs but a Village!
“Create Hope in the World” is staying the course and continuing our support of past District goals set for youth initiatives, membership growth (so everyone feels included), and increasing our Foundation capacity. Tack on Rotary International’s continuing initiatives for Ending Polio,
Empowering Women and Girls, and Ending Human Trafficking, it becomes pretty obvious we need to become not just a District with Clubs but a Village!
Therefore, my District goal is strengthening the connection between the District and Clubs. Click on the story link above to learn about my three-prong approach will be forward facing.
It is time to update club goals for 2023-24. If you are new in the President's role, start by going to the Rotary Club Central Link found on your home page. If more information is needed, please go to Goal Setting.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.
How do I join a fellowship?
Membership in a fellowship is open to any interested individual. You can contact a fellowship directly by using the links below.
How do I form a fellowship?
- Read this Guide for Prospective Rotary Fellowships.
- Find others interested in the topic:
- Join a discussion group or start a new one. It's a great way to share your interest with other members.
- Use Rotary’s presence on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn to promote your idea.
- Attend the Rotary International Convention or other Rotary events.
- Reach out to district leadership in other countries to build membership.
- Apply for official recognition using this online form.
Explore our fellowships: Interested in a particular subject? Visit the group's website or email it to learn more. https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
- For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
- $50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
- $500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Click Here to DONATE NOW
Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships. Over time, Rotary’s reach and vision gradually extended to humanitarian service. Members have a long track record of addressing challenges in their communities and around the world.
"Whatever Rotary may mean to us, to the world it will be known by the results it achieves."
Paul Harris
Rotary founder
Our ongoing commitment
That commitment endures today through an organization that remains truly international. Only 16 years after being founded, Rotary had clubs on six continents. Our members now span the globe, working to solve some of our world’s most challenging problems. We’re not afraid to dream big and set bold goals. We began our fight against polio in 1979 with a project to immunize 6 million children in the Philippines. Today, polio remains endemic in only two countries — down from 125 in 1988.
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