I am enthused and encouraged by your embrace of mental health initiatives throughout the Rotary world. More than 1,000 of you have responded so far to an ongoing survey by the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives, offering your feedback on what Rotary can do to improve the personal well-being of members.
The top suggestions are illuminating. Rotary members are asking for more fellowship, camaraderie, conversation, cohesiveness, and connection. They also want more recognition, validation, and integration. They are seeking more service opportunities, and they want more wellness activities, including mental health speakers, awareness efforts, and education.
Our members not only appreciate the greater focus on mental health, but they also believe that making more of the Rotary experience will materially improve their lives. I find it interesting that members are not asking anything dramatically new of their club — rather they want more of what we do best. For example, connection can be improved during meetings simply by assigning seating once each month to encourage people to speak with someone new.
Here are some great ways that we can help achieve these results and make Rotary more appealing to those considering membership. First, we need to acknowledge the importance of increasing belonging in our clubs and to encourage Rotary members to make the most of every opportunity for new and stronger connections. Public health experts worldwide are concerned about increasing levels of loneliness — the U.S. surgeon general has even declared it an epidemic. Mental health experts agree that finding groups and clubs around common hobbies and interests is a strong way to create greater connectedness. This is what Rotary is all about. We need to make sure all of our members are fully engaged and that our communities are better aware of this inherent strength.
Second, if your club has found new ways to build connection, please share your stories with us at mindhealth@rotary.org so we can make them more broadly known within the Rotary world. Your good ideas might inspire others. Post your service project stories on Rotary Showcase.
And finally, I encourage you to share feedback from surveys like this with your club and bring forward your own ideas to improve your club experience and meet your peers’ expectations. The journey we have begun is about more than mental health. It is about taking advantage of the full strength of our wonderful organization and helping all members feel that they are part of a community that cares deeply about their personal well-being.
Everything you do to strengthen connections in Rotary, with each other and the people we serve, also helps improve mental health. And everything we do to improve mental health helps strengthen those connections. Let’s continue this virtuous cycle.
Join the global celebration of 119 years of Rotary International.
How will you celebrate Rotary’s’ 119th birthday on 23 February?
Eg wear Rotary attire (club t-shirt, cap, apron, badge all day!). In the Toast to RI include something about the 119 years!
Show the world you're a proud Rotary member by wearing your Rotary t-shirt on February 23rd for World Rotary Day! Let's showcase unity and our global impact by donning our Rotary t-shirts or any
Rotary branded apparel and wear it at work or at the gym, or a cafe, at the beach, on a horse or even just walking down the street! Snap a pic and share using #WorldRotaryDay – let's spread the spirit of
2. Regionalisation Update February 2024 - Rotary Community Leaders (RCL)
You will all now be aware of the Rotary Community Group your club is part of, which is very exciting. Next step is finding a Leader for each of our Communities, someone to support those clubs and encourage a wonderful future for Rotary in our area.
So look around your own club and see who is a likely candidate.
Details are on this web page – scroll to the bottom for the Position Description.
MediShare, a national project of RAWCS has been fortunate to have a considerable quantity of hospital blankets donated by HealthShare NSW.
The majority of the blankets are to be shipped to Türkiye for distribution to families who suffered loss of their homes in the February 2023 earthquake and are still living in extreme sub-standard conditions.
We are working with Rotary Clubs and Tϋrk Kizilay in Türkiye, who will distribute the blankets and we have funding to ship 10 x 40’ container loads.
But we need help to fold and palletise the blankets ready for shipment. We are scheduling the first container to leave by end of February.
The work is not strenuous and best if volunteers work in pairs.
Commencing on the 1st February through to June the folding days are:
The 2nd Saturday of each month commencing the 10th February through to June. 9:30am – 2:30pm (morning tea provided, please bring own lunch. BBQ available).
MediShare’s address is Unit #3, Bldg.14, 12 – 16 Anella Avenue, Castle Hill
Please contact me to discuss when your club can assist us. M: 0419 0046 688 E: medishare.national@rawcs.org.au as we need to schedule volunteers and provide morning tea.
We will greatly appreciate your club members volunteering their time to assist us with this project. The alternative for these blankets was to go to landfill.
1. Rotary Leadership Institute Course #78, 23-25 February 2024 by Zoom
Have YOU graduated from RLI?
What about others in your club?
Has anyone missed out?
The next event is coming up February 23-25 with registrations invited from newer, and more experienced, Rotarians. A chance to cover the groundwork and create a base of Rotary knowledge to take you…… who knows where!!!
Our first course for Rotary Leadership Institute is now open for registrations is 23rd-25th February this will be the 78th course that has been run in our District. Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) is a learning and development course offered to Rotarians to develop their skills in leadership, management, communication and strategy; to aid improvement in their performance, knowledge and enjoyment while helping to lead teams, clubs and our District. The cost is $30 per participant and most clubs cover the cost for their members.
The last two course for this Rotary year are:
Course #78 23/24/25 Feb 2024
Course #79 17/18/19 May 2024
The course consists of three parts over one weekend, all delivered by Zoom. Course materials will be sent to registered participants directly. Please click this link to register for our February Course now:
At the Presidents' Meeting on Saturday, 10th February, an excellent discussion about the current RYDA program was presented by John Elliott, Road Safety Education (RSE). Following are the links to his PowerPoint, and an edited video of his presentation at the meeting. His team would love to discuss engaging Rotary Clubs more directly. His colleagues are as follows:
John Elliott - Head of Marketing and Program Delivery (Australia) john@rse.org.au
They can present at individual clubs a version of this presentation, or can chat with individual club presidents and or youth coordinators.
To view the slightly compressedPowerPoint presentation, click HERE.
To view the video recording of John's presentation at the meeting, click HERE.
3. District Conference - 15-16 March 2024
There are just over 4 weeks until our Annual District Conference on the Central Coast. It will be the largest Conference that we have had in our District in 7 years. District Conferences showcase the scope of club engagement and opportunity. It inspires us to look beyond projects that we are already engaged in and ignites the passion within us, for service and the will to create hope in our world.
On Friday 15 March, we are hosting a Say No to Domestic and Family Violence Walk along the Terrigal foreshore. This walk is open to everyone (all Rotarians – whether you are registered for the District Conference or not - partners, family and friends are all welcome) – wear a Say No to Domestic and Family Violence shirt, or a Rotary shirt. Register here. Proceeds to support education scholarships for victims of domestic and family violence. By participating in this walk, you'll not only help raise awareness but also demonstrate your commitment to the cause and our shared values.
Our Saturday Plenary Sessions will be held at the EV Church in Erina. A fabulous venue, with over an auditorium with over 1000 seats capacity, there is loads of parking and it is only 50 minutes up the M1 from Sydney. If you live on the Central Coast – it is right at your back door!
The Saturday will be action packed with a range of guest speakers talking on everything from childhood mental health, to DNA sequencing and prostate cancer; and educating young people in Africa beyond their schooling. A range of clubs, and different organisations have stands in the Project Showcase for you to visit and engage with during the morning tea and lunch breaks; where you can gather information, build connections and be inspired for your own club projects.
Morning Tea and Lunch will be provided, and it is only $120 to register for the Saturday Plenary Sessions.
Further information about the District Conference, can be found at the Conference Website or view the section about the Conference lower down in this newsletter. To register for the Saturday Plenary Sessions, click here.
4. Programs of Scale
The application for the 2025 Programs of Scale award opens 23 February 2024!
Click on the image to the left to find more information about webinars on the application process.
The $2 million Programs of Scale grant may be awarded to one member-led, evidence-based program that is ready to scale up over three to five years to increase its impact in one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus.
In the first step of the 2025 Programs of Scale competitive grant process, The Rotary Foundation will accept concept notes summarizing scalable programs. Applicants should be qualified Rotary and Rotaract clubs and districts that have long-term plans to partner with other organizations to significantly expand service projects that have demonstrated successful results.
6. 25 FREE Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day
Have you ever had your entire day improve because of something someone did for you or to you? Something simple. Something small. Something random, but maybe not at all.
Kindness is an incredible superpower every single person can tap into at any time, anywhere. It’s true. Kindness doesn’t have to be expensive, in fact some of the best acts of kindness are free. Don’t believe us? Read through 25 mostly FREE Ways to Celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Day on February 17th.
Another great thing about kindness is that it’s contagious. By starting with ourselves, we can inspire those around us to also act with warmth and care. This butterfly effect has been epitomized in various art projects, for example the YouTube video “Kindness Boomerang” by Life Vest Inside and the movie Pay It Forward – both demonstrate that by setting off a series of generous acts we can influence and improve the world around us. What will you do to make a positive difference today?
6. International Womens Day
If you are celebrating International Womens Day, you can find some ideas in this free downloadable planning toolkit. Just click on the image.
rich in culture and unique attractions. Here are just a few of the reasons to register early.
Give yourself a vacation to look forward to. Whether you’re making the trip of a lifetime or a return visit, you’ll find inspiration and wonder in Singapore.
Save significant money. The last day for the early registration discount is 15 December. You won’t get a lower rate.
Have your pick of airfares and hotels. It’s the right time to lock in a good airfare rate before prices almost certainly go up closer to 25-29 May.
You’ll have more room choices when you book your hotel at a special rate. Looking for a deal? A city view? Enough space for your kids? Check your options.
Book a special experience. Exclusive excursions for Rotary members can sell out, and organizers have curated tour packages to see hidden gems in Singapore and nearby countries.
Leave time to gather your entourage. Veronica and Johnny Yu, of the Rotary Club of Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines, committed to Singapore while still in Melbourne and have been encouraging others to take advantage of early registration. “You can only believe in the magic of Rotary if you go to the convention,” Johnny Yu says. No two conventions are the same, so even if you’ve been before it’s a chance to reconnect with friends and be inspired. This convention is when members turn ideas into actions for Sharing Hope With the World.
This month's theme is Peace and Conflict Prevention / Resolution Month
Today, over 70 million people are displaced as a result of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations. Half of them are children.
We refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. Rotary projects provide training that fosters understanding and provides communities with the skills to resolve conflicts.
Rotary creates environments of peace
As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect.
By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
Our commitment to peacebuilding today answers new challenges: how we can make the greatest possible impact and how we can achieve our vision of lasting change. We are approaching the concept of peace with greater cohesion and inclusivity, broadening the scope of what we mean by peacebuilding, and finding more ways for people to get involved.
Rotary creates environments where peace can happen.
Visit the Rotary International Promoting Peace page and help us make a difference…In the mean time, click on the image below to play the video.
to let us know of any bereavements you would like published. It would be much appreciated if you also sent a short biography and photo for an information
link in In Memoriam.
You may also inform your Assistant Governor, the District Secretary, or the Governor. Remember to also update
your club's member database on the District website
RLI is a training course offered to Rotarians to develop their skills in leadership and management within Clubs to improve performance, knowledge and enjoyment in leading or helping to lead Clubs in the District.
The courses consist of three parts over one weekend, all delivered by Zoom. Course materials will be sent to registered participants directly.
You are receiving this email as a member or friend of one of the Rotary Clubs within Rotary International District 9685. If, for any reason, you do not want to receive communications of this nature, please unsubscribe by un-checking the box in the 'Privacy' tab of your member profile on the District website, or by selecting the 'unsubscribe' link at the foot of this newsletter.
District eNews is reviewed weekly for publication on Thursday at least every two weeks. Content provided and all rights reserved by Rotary International District 9685 Inc
2. Regionalisation Update February 2024 - Rotary Community Leaders (RCL)
MediShare, a national project of RAWCS has been fortunate to have a considerable quantity of hospital blankets donated by HealthShare NSW.
The 2nd Saturday of each month commencing the 10th February through to June. 9:30am – 2:30pm (morning tea provided, please bring own lunch. BBQ available).
"The Club Buzz" is where you will find some exciting and relevant programs or events happening in our Clubs and in District 9685. 
Monthly theme for February is Peace and Conflict Prevention/ Resolution Month
