Bill's Blog

Post summary: Nancy Rhodes put out a call last week to clubs, asking them to help sponsor a kid at the district conference.

One of the best features of District Conference is the chance to see all our Youth Exchange kids.  They always do a flag ceremony and then sit and have lunch with Rotarians.  It is impressive to see how well they do, and fun to hear from them.  One of the problems we face is that conferences are pretty expensive.  There are hotel costs and meal costs, and they come at a time when RYE costs are already rising pretty fast because of ever-higher insurance costs.  So clubs are struggling to help meet these costs.  Last week Nancy Rhodes put out a call to club presidents to see if non-hosting clubs would be able to help some of these kids get to our district conference.  As you would expect, the response was positive and immediate.  Fred and Betsy Wittenberger will sponsor one child, as will Rick Luedtke.  And both the Elkhorn and Milwaukee Amigos Rotary Clubs have committed to helping sponsor a RYE student.  Very impressive, folks.  Thank you!

Post summary: Our clubs are remarkably active, performing service activities all around the world as well as in their communities. In May, 20 clubs will talk about those projects.

Every District Governor that I have spoken with says the same thing -- the best part of the job is visiting clubs.  I have certainly enjoyed my visits.  Clubs are fun and people are friendly.  But what most stands out for me is the remarkable number of service projects our clubs do.  Every club I have visited has some project of which they are justifiably proud.  But...

Somehow few other clubs know what any club is doing.  We have a House of Friendship at District Conference every year, and that helps, but it usually shows very few projects -- there just isn't that much room.  So I proposed that we try something new at the 2010 conference -- we would have special breakout sessions for club presentations.  I sent a letter out to all presidents hoping to get some interest.  And it is working!  Here is what we have so far:

• Manitowoc - making meetings fun
• Montello - Father Marquette Days
• Waukesha Noon - Bluesfest
• Plymouth - Children's Health Education
• Mequon Thiensville - Guatamala Medical Relief
• Mayfair - Easter eggs and food for students
• West Bend clubs - Enchantment in the Park
• Oshkosh Southwest - soy cows in Peru
• Elmbrook - literacy
• Racine Founders - Vegas night
• Oconomowoc - Brewfest
• Delavan-Darien - 4th of July Fireworks
• Mitchell Field - Senior Citizen prom
• Fond du Lac morning - birthday books

Isn't that a great collection of projects?  I think we in Rotary have much to teach each other, and these presentations should help that process along greatly.  Thank you all for your willingness to share.

Post summary: There has been a huge outpouring of support for the people of Haiti from our clubs in the last week. I was personally shocked by both the size of the effort, and the speed of the response. It really was awe inspiring.

Within hours after the earthquake, I was getting emails from around the district all looking to help and asking for suggestions.  Dan Christianson, our Shlter Box coordinator, was first to suggest that avenue.  He spent the day on the phone, on the web, and on TV.  As he told several people, "Today my insurance job is not going to get done.  Today my job is Haiti."  He started getting support from clubs immediately.  Brian Preiss of the West Allis club reported his club donated shelter boxes right away.  Erik Moeser describes Elmbrook President Charley Shirley's response this way -- "It started with our International Committee designating $1000 of its current year budget to purchase one Shelter Box.  Then the club kicked in another $1000 from its emergency fund.   At that point the idea developed to encourage individual members to jump on board, and in "passing the hat" (so to speak, a little more organized than that) at our Friday AM meeting we raised another $2000 and $1000 more has trickled in over the weekend so far.  So the Elmbrook Rotary Club is sending 5 boxes to Haiti."

As you all know, in each of my club visits I have talked with club boards about keeping costs down, trying to respond to a very serious economic downturn here in the US.  We have worked hard to provide what we think will be the least expensive District Conference in years.  I have watched every penny of the district's dues.  All because times are tough!  Yet, despite all the problems we know we have here in the US, the minute people saw the disaster in Haiti, everyone opened their wallet.  Over the next weeks I know we are going to have many more stories to tell of clubs that stepped up to help.  It is inspiring to see clubs reach down so deeply to help.  This is not a time when folks have lots of extra money, but it is still a time when Rotarians will do everything they can when they see a need.

Congratulations Disrict 6270.  You are making us all proud.

Post summary: The typical governor in our district puts on 15,000- 20,000 miles making all the club visits and attending other meetings, but it is worth it to see the many great activities led by Rotary clubs in Southeastern Wisconsin

When I started my year as governor in July, our district had 58 clubs.  We now have 60.  Lots of folks worked for years to pull together the Milwaukee Amigos Club, and I expect them to be a highlight of the district for many years.  Jim Chitwood and the leadership of the Neenah Club then went on to form the Fox Valley morning club in November.  Both clubs chartered with over 30 members, and both bring great enthusiasm to the district.

This is not to say that we have no struggles.  Two clubs are down to 8 members each and are looking to rebuild.  But I like the attitude of their leaders.  To quote one, "Rotary has been in this city for 75 years.  It is not going to end on my watch."  Other clubs have seen the recession take members out of the clubs as they lose their jobs or are transfrred.  These are tough times, and all of us are being affected.

But these are also times when some folks shine.  I think of the new stage bult in Wauwatosa by the clubs there.  And how about the four Washington County clubs and their new Christmas light show?  I hear they are collecting thousands of canned goods for the local food pantries and that long lines of cars wait each weekend to take the kids through the show.  Add to that all the other clubs that stood in the cold to ring bells for the Salvation army, bought toys for kids, helped the local food pantry...  The list of good deeds done by Rotary clubs is very long.

With so many clubs doing so much, it does not seem fair for me to ask for more, but I will. I want you to share your work with other clubs.  In the next weeks I will be asking each club president to appoint a speaker for the District Conference in May.  I will ask each speaker to tell us all about a club service project or fund raiser so that we can learn from each other.  At this point one person knows all the great things being done by Rotary clubs -- me.  It is time we shared those great ideas with the rest of the district.  When your president asks you to present, don't be shy.  We will all get better by learning from each other.  And it is clear to me, we have great projects to describe.

Post summary: We have gone over a decade since chartering our last new club in the district, and now we have chartered two in just three months!

There are lots of great weeks that come with being a district governor, but some weeks are especially good.  This week began on Saturday with the selection of Group Study Exhange (GSE) participants.  We had eight really good applicants for the four spots on the team that will be going to Sweden in May.  What a tough choice to make, but what a great team we will be sending over there! 

Then on Tuesday I was able to participate in the chartering of the newest club in the district -- the Neenah Morning Club.  They chartered with over 30 members (20 are required) and lots of enthusiasm.  This group has been gathering and preparing for over six months with the help of Jim Chitwood, Karen Fredrick, and lots of folks at the Neenah Noon Club.  I was honored to be able to sign their charter papers.  Mark Keiting is their founding president and is already doing a great job getting them organized -- and making sure meetings are fun.  I look forward to seeing this club grow.

When we began this year, our district had 58 clubs.  Now we are up to 60.  One of the very nice things about new clubs is that they communicate some of that enthusiasm to the rest of us.  My thanks o all the new members and to the many experienced Rotarians who provided guidance through the formation stages.

The next part of my week -- barring a snow emergency that shuts down the city -- is to speak at my own club.  Traditionally, governors visit all the clubs in the district and then go back to their own club.  It marks the end of a long visitation process and is a kind of homecoming.  I love my home club -- Oshkosh Southwest -- and look forward to returning to them.  It will be a great way to finish what has been a spectacular week.

District 6270

Conference 2010

Hosted by Oshkosh Rotary Southwest
May 14 - 16, 2010