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I hope you all had a joyous Christmas and Holiday Season. We have had a great time with our children and their families this past week. The couple days before Christmas were pretty brutal, however, fighting the extreme cold and wind to move snow to get the feed trucks in. I hope the worst weather is over, but some areas are experiencing some large snowfalls as I write this.

January is Vocational Service Month. In my 38 years of being a Rotarian, I’ve been a little confused as to what vocational service means in Rotary. I found an article on-line that explains it quite well. The concept of vocational service is rooted in the Second Objective in the Object of Rotary which calls on Rotarians to “encourage and foster”:

High ethical standards in business and professionalism
The recognition of the worthiness of all occupations
The dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society

As a Rotarian consider these suggestions to put the above ideals into action.

Talk about your vocation in your club and take time to learn about fellow members’ vocations.
Use your professional skills to serve a community.
Practice your profession with integrity and inspire other to behave ethically through your own words and actions.
Help a young person achieve his or her career aspirations.
Guide and encourage others in their professional development.

As I recall my membership in Rotary, I see that our club members have done a good job with most if not all of these points. Some of the most interesting programs that we have had is members or guests talking about their business or profession.

As we begin the second half of the Rotary year, I want to remind you of my District Rotary goals of 10% membership growth and $250,000 in donations to The Rotary Foundation. I will bring these up several times before the end of the year. When Carol and I have confidence in winter weather travel, we will hit the road again to visit clubs and present banners recognizing outstanding donations to The Rotary Foundation.

Finally, I want to strongly encourage clubs to hold their officer elections ASAP. We need to know who the President Elects are and encourage them to attend PETS in Mitchell April 27-29. DGE Rich Burns has great plans to provide a fun, educational and inspirational experience for all who attend.

John Schneider

DG 5610

Rotary Rose Parade Float

Watertown Rotarian Wendy Fransen and her husband Ken helped decorate the Rotary float for the 2023 Rose Parade, along with Rotarians from across the US, Canada, England, Mexico and many local Interactors. Rotary started in 1905 when carousels became popular, creating a perfect fit for the Rose Parade theme "Turning the Corner." The volunteers' combined efforts paid off as the Rotary float won the Princess Award. The Rotary float is an annual project for several districts (5280, 5300, 5320, 5330 and 6450), and having volunteers help with decorating was essential to stay within this year's $100,000 budget.

Wendy said, "Having attended 23 Rotary International conventions and participating in various service projects, our work on the Rotary float is at the top of my list for a project requiring hard work and resulting in immense pride!!"

Council on Legislation Representative and Alternative Representative Selected

The nominating committee has selected PDG Nancy Moose to serve as the next District 5610 Council on Legislation Representative. The COL Alternate Representative selected is PDG Linda Peterson.

Our Foundation

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.

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Our History

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.