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Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Learn more about our structure and our foundation and our strategic vision. Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to: Promote peace, Fight disease, Provide clean water, Sanitation and hygiene Save mothers and children, Support education, and Grow local economies.

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Covid-19 Relief

District 5500 Funds Now Available to your Clubs for COVID-19 Relief

If you want to help neighbors who are struggling because of the COVID-19 crisis, your club can receive up to $500 from the district - immediately! We have money available that was originally budgeted for the Honolulu convention, now canceled. Let's put that money to work in our local communities.

Here are the simple steps to follow to qualify for funding (first come, first served):

1. Decide on who needs emergency help in your community. It can be a food bank, a clinic, a child care or youth center, or any organization providing vital service in this time of crisis.

2. Send a brief, one-paragraph description of your plan to PDG Kirk Reed,wkirkreed@gmail.com<mailto:wkirkreed@gmail.com>. How will you use up to $500 from the district to help meet an immediate need in your community?

3. Include a name and a mailing address along with the amount of money requested. A check will be mailed to your club without delay.

Requests must be received by April 30 and will be approved until funds are exhausted.

We are People of Action. We can do it together - now!

It's Here

Announcing Spring Into Rotary

The District 5500 website rotaryd5500.org has NEW on-line training videos specifically for our Rotary District 5500 Secretary, Treasurer, Public Image, Foundation, Membership, and the previously recorded webinar from Rotary Youth Exchange. Additionally, since so many clubs are utilizing Zoom, you will find a link to Zoom 411. Your District 5500 Training Team has developed these tools so you can take advantage of training in the comfort of your home.

As you finish the appropriate training, on or before June 15, submit your name to the District Training Chair, Ann Huber (huberaunt@aol.com) so you can be entered into a drawing.

Here is the link rotaryd5500.org/sitepage/training-center. Also In addition, on the top of the District 5500 website, there is now a Training Center menu item for quicker access.

Our District 5500 is listening to Rotary club members. We want to make the required training available at all times and have as many club officers and members to have convenient access. If you have not been to a Rotary training session, these videos are worth your time, even if you have had the same position in the club for a few years.

Rotary is changing with the times

and we want you to be aware of all these changes.

Covid 19

DISTRICT GOVERNOR MESSAGE RE: CORONAVIRUS

This post of Mr. Rogers reminds me what Rotary stands for and what District 5500 and our Clubs stand for in the midst of these uncertain times while we continue to wonder how to manage the current coronavirus pandemic. We need to remind ourselves that we are Rotary, we are strong, and we are all in this together. We are also the helpers. That's what we do. Thank you Mr. Rogers.

The two most important things right now are to help keep our club members connected and our communities supported.

To keep club members connected, club leaders can offer new meeting styles including virtual meetings using Zoom, GoToMeetings, Facebook Liveor WebEx so members continue to experience the club camaraderie and fellowship even if it's virtual. Many of our clubs are using these options now as they try to meet the needs of their members and the challenges as best they can.

Club leaders can also reach out to other members, especially the older members, with a simple phone call that conveys the caring and concern for fellow Rotarians. Emails can be sent on a weekly basis to maintain the communication and business connections among club members. Committee decisions and voting can be handled with online meetings. The clubs are encouraged to do everything possible to make sure all members feel valued and important-because they are!

Zoom for Meetings

Zoom Is Available

Zoom is alive and working for our District.

10 Rotary Members have been designated as Zoom Administrators, two for each area.

When asking to set up a Zoom Meeting, you will need the date, the time and the duration of the club meeting or board meeting. If the meeting is reoccurring each week, or twice monthly, be sure to mention this to your Zoom Administrator.

For added security

The club president should share the meeting information with only their club members unless they really want to invite others.
Every meeting WILL use a password.
Club Presidents must NOT post the login information on their FB page or Website. They should send this information via email to whomever they want to attend. Sharing this information is wrong unless the host is aware of who is being invited

Please contact Diane Ventura-Goodyear if you experience any problems with Zoom or you need help setting it up.

Day Of Peace November 7, 2020

Your health and safety is very important to us. With deference to the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic and consistent with the declaration by the Governor of Arizona of a health emergency and the guidance from the City of Tucson to suspend all gatherings of more than 100 people, we have postponed the Day of Peace until November 7, 2020.

Hawaii Convention Canceled

I regret to announce that the Rotary International Convention, scheduled for June 6-10, 2020, in Honolulu, Hawaii, has been canceled in response to the ongoing threat of COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus. This decision was necessary to protect the health of everyone involved.

Everyone who registered for the convention or the Rotaract, Youth Exchange Officers, and Rotary and the United Nations preconvention events will receive a full refund. All exhibitors will also receive full refunds.

For those District 5500 members and guests who registered, you can help expedite the process by canceling your registrations online using your My Rotary account. Those who had already canceled their registrations will receive full refunds, including refunds of the $50.00 cancellation fee.

Please visit: http://www.riconvention.org/en/honolulu <https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.riconvention.org%2Fen%2Fhonolulu&data=02%7C01%7C%7C366e4385aa9f443a9b9608d7cc327d6e%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637202389526757851&sdata=P4q9v2mjLW2vyDSkQflIPDD1EaqilC1u%2FwDsmcd%2B%2FM8%3D&reserved=0 > for more information.

You are welcome to contact me at any time, email, text or phone call. Thank you all and please be safe.

Ellie

Save The Date - District Conference

Registration will be open soon so stay tuned!! Have questions? Contact

PETS 2020-2021

Southwest Rotary Presidents-Elect Training Seminar just ended in Los Angeles for our District 5500 incoming presidents for 2020-2021. Our 3 Musketeers (Diane, Hank, and Ellie) spoke to more than 600 attendees about our District and the good Rotary is doing in our communities and around the world. It was a great 3 days.

RI Theme 2020-21

Rotary International President-elect Holger Knaack is encouraging Rotarians to seize the many opportunities Rotary offers to enrich their lives and the communities they serve.

Knaack, a member of the Rotary Club of Herzogtum Lauenburg-Mölln, Germany, revealed the 2020-21 presidential theme, Rotary Opens Opportunities, to incoming district governors at the Rotary International Assembly in San Diego, California, USA, on 20 January.

Congrats from The Rotary Foundation