PEOPLE OF ACTION

Rotary is known by the results that are achieved. Rotary International provides services to others, promotes integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through its fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

 

Welcome to Rotary in District 5020. We represent Rotarians on Vancouver Island, B.C. and Western Washington from Pierce County south to Woodland including the Olympic Peninsula. Rotary unites over a million people worldwide to take action locally and globally. Each day, our members pour their passion, integrity, and intelligence into completing projects that have a lasting impact. We persevere until we deliver real, lasting solutions.

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PEOPLE OF ACTION

WHO WE ARE

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

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.

What we do

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
  • Grow local economies

Get involved

Our mission

We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

Vision statement

Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

We are opportunity-creators

Rotary members look for opportunities to improve our communities today and invest in the next generation for tomorrow.

We are problem-solvers

Together, we apply our professional experience and personal commitment to tackle our communities’ most persistent problems, finding new, effective ways to enhance health, stability, and prosperity across the globe.

We are people of action

We connect passionate people with diverse perspectives to exchange ideas, forge lifelong friendships, and, above all, take action to change the world.

We are community-builders

We collaborate with community leaders who want to get to work on projects that have a real, lasting impact on people’s lives.

OUR CAUSES

Rotary is dedicated to causes that build international relationships, improve lives, and create a better world to support our peace efforts and end polio forever..

Promoting peace

Rotary encourages conversations to foster understanding within and across cultures. We train adults and young leaders to prevent and mediate conflict and help refugees who have fled dangerous areas.

Fighting disease

We educate and equip communities to stop the spread of life-threatening diseases like polio, HIV/AIDS, and malaria. We improve and expand access to low-cost and free health care in developing areas.

Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene

We support local solutions to bring clean water, sanitation, and hygiene to more people every day. We don’t just build wells and walk away. We share our expertise with community leaders and educators to make sure our projects succeed long-term.

Saving mothers and children

Nearly 6 million children under the age of five die each year because of malnutrition, poor health care, and inadequate sanitation. We expand access to quality care, so mothers and their children can live and grow stronger.

Supporting education

More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy.

Growing local economies

We carry out service projects that enhance economic and community development and create opportunities for decent and productive work for young and old. We also strengthen local entrepreneurs and community leaders, particularly women, in impoverished communities.

Protecting the environment

Rotary members are tackling environmental issues the way they always do: coming up with projects, using their connections to change policy and planning for the future.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

As a global network that strives to build a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change, Rotary values diversity and celebrates the contributions of people of all backgrounds, regardless of their age, ethnicity, race, color, abilities, religion, socioeconomic status, culture, sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

A top priority for Rotary is growing and diversifying our membership to make sure we reflect the communities we serve.

We're creating an organization that is more open and inclusive, fair to all, builds goodwill, and benefits our communities. We want people with differing perspectives and ideas who will help Rotary take action to create lasting change in communities around the world.

Through Rotary, you'll find unique opportunities to get involved. Everyone is welcome in Rotary.

 

DIVERSITY

Rotary welcomes people of all backgrounds, cultures, experiences, and identities.

EQUITY

Rotary strives for the fair treatment, opportunity, and advancement of all Rotary participants.

INCLUSION

Rotary is working to create experiences where all people feel welcomed, respected, and valued.

2021-2022 RI PRESIDENT

Shekhar Mehta

President 2021-22

Rotary Club of Calcutta-Mahanagar (West Bengal, India)

 

Mehta, an accountant, is chair of the Skyline Group, a real estate development company he founded. He is also a director of Operation Eyesight Universal (India), a Canada-based organization.

Mehta has been actively involved in disaster response and is a trustee of ShelterBox, UK. After the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he helped build nearly 500 homes for families affected by the disaster.

He pioneered a program that has performed more than 1,500 life-changing heart surgeries in South Asia. He is also the architect of the TEACH Program, which promotes literacy throughout India and has reached thousands of schools.

A Rotary member since 1984, Mehta has served Rotary as director, member or chair of several committees, zone coordinator, training leader, member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, and district governor. He is also the chair of Rotary Foundation (India).

Mehta has received Rotary’s Service Above Self Award and The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service and Distinguished Service Awards.

He and his wife, Rashi, are Major Donors and members of the Bequest Society.

Visit the to:

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE – JULY

PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE – JULY

I wish each of you and your families a great Rotary New Year! Together, let us make it the best year of our lives, by making it a year to grow more and do more. Let this be a year of changemakers, and let us begin with our membership.

That is precisely why the Each One, Bring One initiative is so important. During this year, I urge you to dream of new ways in which Rotary can expand its reach into your community and therefore the world. If each member introduces one person to Rotary, our membership can increase to 1.3 million by July 2022. So, let’s just do it!

Imagine the change we, as Rotary members, can make when there are so many more of us! More people to care for others, more people to Serve to Change Lives. Think of the impact we can have through grow more, do more. More members will enable us to embark on bigger and bolder service projects. And each of us can also continue to serve in our own personal ways, responding to needs in our communities.

The beauty of Rotary is that service means different things to different people around the world. One element, however, that we can incorporate into all of our service initiatives is empowering girls. Unfortunately, even in this day and age, girls and young women face disproportionate challenges all over the world. We have the power to lead the charge for gender equality. Empowering girls and young women to have greater access to education, better health care, more employment, and equality in all walks of life should be embedded in every Rotary project we launch. Girls are future leaders, so we must ensure that we help them shape their future.

The biggest gift we are given
Is the power to touch a life,

To change, to make a difference
In the circle of life.

If we can reach out
With our hand, heart, and soul,

The magic will start to happen
As the wheel begins to roll.

Let’s turn the wheel together
So all humanity thrives,

We have the power and the magic
To Serve to Change Lives.

These are challenging times, and I compliment each of your efforts in grappling with COVID-19. No challenge is too big for Rotarians. The bigger the challenge, the more passionate the Rotarian. Look at what we can do when we take on a colossal challenge such as eradicating polio. Look at the millions of lives we improve by strengthening access to water, sanitation, and hygiene. Look at what we do every year to promote peace in places where it seems unimaginable. Our basic education and literacy programs have nation-building impact.

This year, let us challenge ourselves to do more such projects and programs that have national reach and impact. This year, let us Serve to Change Lives.

UNITE DISTRICT 5020 (PEOPLE OF ACTION MAGAZINE)

DISTRICT 5020 GOVERNORS MESSAGE

ARE YOU A RINO (ROTARIAN IN NAME ONLY)?

by |

Do you leave your Rotary meetings inspired?  Are you excited to tell friends and colleagues about Rotary?  Do you raise your hand when a club member is looking for volunteers?  Are you excited to get involved with a fundraiser?  If you can say Yes to all these……… CONGRATULATIONS, you are NOT A RINO!  Rotary isn’t just a club for people to join but rather an invitation to endless opportunities. 

 2021/22 RI President Shekhar Mehta’s theme is Serve to Change Lives and his personal mantra is “Service is the rent that we pay for the space we occupy on this earth”   President Shekhar’s main goal for 2021/22 is to grow Rotary to 1.3 million by July 2022.  We can help with this goal by embracing his initiatives:

Each one Bring one – every Rotarian introduce a friend, relative or colleague to Rotary.

Do more Grow more – the more involved we are in club activities, the more we get out of our Rotary experience and the more likely we are to attract new Rotarians.  The good work of Rotary can only be accomplished by ensuring we maintain or grow our membership base.

Rotary Service Days – organize a hands-on service project in your community.  We are all Rotary ambassadors and should be proud to share our Rotary story.  When we tell others about our good deeds, we grow the capacity to do even more.

Rotary’s past was a focus on perfect attendance, Rotary’s future is to focus on perfect engagement.

To ensure you are not a RINO, during the 2021/22 Rotary year I challenge each Rotarian in District 5020 to ‘Serve to Change Lives’ by:

    1. Introducing at least one person to Rotary
    2. Taking part in at least one club fundraiser
    3. Taking part in at least one club service project

In addition to President Shekhar’s initiatives, this Rotary year the District is implementing its own initiatives in which clubs can participate:

    1. Matching grants up to $500 each to assist clubs with promotion and marketing of their clubs. Ideas such as, but not limited to, ensuring current Rotary logo on community signage/club brochures/bookmarks/websites, a reception to attract new members, a rewards program for members who bring in new members etc.
    2. A ‘People of Action’ photo contest. Clubs can submit action photos and if photo is a finalist the club could share in the $2500 prize money.
    3. Initiative to promote ‘Rotary Direct’ – clubs with the highest percentage of members signed up for Rotary Direct by November 30th will be eligible to win one of the following prizes 1ST prize $2500, 2ND prize $1,000, 3RD prize $500. Prize money is to be used for a club local or international project and can be used towards a district grant.
    4. The District will give every new member $10US towards their first Paul Harris. If the new member makes a further $15US contribution to the Rotary Foundation (Annual Fund or PolioPlus) before June 30, 2022, their Foundation account will be credited with an additional 200 recognition points (essentially, they will then have $225 towards their first Paul Harris).
    5. Every time a Rotarian sponsors a new member the sponsor Rotarian’s name will be entered into a draw to attend the RI Convention in Houston (includes convention fee, accommodation and return flight).

During this Rotary year and as we come out of the pandemic, we will most likely see some changes which inevitably will help grow Rotary.   Clubs will have the ability to incorporate virtual options in several ways that we have become familiar with over the past year.  There are so many exciting opportunities to explore: Rotary meetings where you can invite speakers from around the world; the ability to visit clubs on every continent; the potential to attend club meetings from the comfort of your home, while traveling or from the office.  Embracing these changes can reduce meal costs and travel times and allow for some very interesting programs.  Clubs can also build on successful virtual fundraisers held this past year!

As exciting as all of this is, we are all looking forward to the time when we can meet in person and shake hands again! It looks like meeting restrictions will be lifted soon and I am very hopeful the border will open in the fall, giving me the opportunity to do club visits and meet many of you in person.

Please put May 13/14th, 2022 in your calendar to attend the District Training and Conference in Victoria!  More information about this exciting event to come . . . . . .

Thank you to all of you for what you do for Rotary and for being engaged.

ARE YOU A RINO (ROTARIAN IN NAME ONLY)?

by | Jun 22, 2021

Do you leave your Rotary meetings inspired?  Are you excited to tell friends and colleagues about Rotary?  Do you raise your hand when a club member is looking for volunteers?  Are you excited to get involved with a fundraiser?  If you can say Yes to all these……......

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UPCOMING KEY EVENTS

District Training and Conference 2022

Victoria May 13-14 2022

CALLING ALL COWBOYS AN COWGIRLS! Save the date to saddle up to the big O’ ranch for a rootin’ tootin’ good time! Join us in Victoria on May 13th and 14th for District Training and Conference!

Rotary International Convention

Houston Texas, June 4-8 2022

DISCOVER NEW HORIZONS in Houston Texas at the 2022 RI Convention, please join your fellow D5020 Rotarians!

LATEST NEWS

JOIN THE DISTRICT TEAM

Are you interested in helping to further world peace? Do you like working with youth or clubs?

The District Youth Exchange committee is looking for Rotarians who are interested in becoming a part of a vibrant team that will support both our clubs and our Youth Exchange students while having a positive impact on world peace as we learn about different cultures together with this life-changing experience for students.

We are looking for highly motivated, outgoing Rotarians who are interested in shaping this dynamic team for the future. Due to the size of our district and the global nature of the program, much of our communication is online and through our database. Being tech-savvy is an asset for any of these positions and training support will be provided. Previous youth exchange experience at the club level is not required for some positions.

 

  • Treasurer – responsible for maintaining the financial records, acceptance, and disbursement of funds, as well as creation and tracking of the Youth Exchange Budget.
  • US Compliance Officer – responsible for monitoring the screening and vetting of US Youth Exchange volunteers and host families
  • US Short Term Coordinator – responsible for coordinating the selection, screening, and training of US Short Term Exchange students

 

The complete job descriptions for all three positions are hyperlinked in this email.  Training and support for all positions will be provided. If you are interested in any of these important positions, please contact the District Youth Exchange Vice-Chair, Natalie Crawshaw, at nataliecrawshaw.rotary5020@outlook.com and let her know the positions you are interested in applying for.

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