Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Friends of Rotary enjoyed a spectacular Fall day on the Long Island Sound.
World Polio Day on October 24th is much more than a date on the calendar. It’s a vital time for Rotary and Rotaract clubs around the world to join our partners, supporters, and public health advocates to raise awareness and funds that will help us end polio for good. We made a promise to the children of the world: No child should suffer the consequences of this vaccine-preventable disease. Here’s how your can help:
Let's be sure to work together to keep our promise to the Children of the world! LET'S END POLIO NOW---for good!
Empowering Leaders, Serving Communities: The Third Conversation About Rotary
The third "Conversation About Rotary" meeting equipped Presidents and Presidents-elect with the leadership tools and confidence to transform their clubs—and their communities.
From Collaboration to Impact: 99,000 Meals Served
The session opened with an inspiring case study: the Bridgeport Club's partnership with Fairfield, Monroe, and Trumbull Clubs on a food packaging initiative that delivered over 99,000 meal servings to local food pantries serving families and children in need. Doug Wade walked attendees through the MyRotary lesson "Promoting Your Club as People of Action," detailing how four clubs united through Meals of Hope to package meals, mobilize community volunteers, and amplify their impact through strategic publicity.
Building Presidential Excellence
Julia guided Presidents and Presidents-elect through essential MyRotary resources—"Get Ready Club President" and "Understanding How Your Club Operates"—equipping them to lead with clarity, assess club health, and navigate the critical distinctions between Club and Board responsibilities.
Meet your D7980 Leadership Team! Saturday, August 22, twenty-four members of D7980 representing Chairs of committees and sub-committees, PDGs, AGs, and the DG Track gathered on Laurel Island to debate their goals for the year and collaborate across the boundaries of their individual groupings. Engaging with topics on leadership, service, membership, public image, foundation, and the yearly theme, “For the Children,” groups brainstormed solutions to case-study problems and the support needed to create lasting impact for peace. All are available as speakers (except the dog, sorry) for your clubs, to conduct Club Health Checks, and to listen to your ideas during the next “Conversation About Rotary & Pre-PELS” (September 1) and the District Learning Assembly (October 3). [Julia Kushigian-Secor, DGE & AI, story; Andrew Stein, photo]
Purpose
Rotary International encourages member disputes to be resolved at the local club level whenever possible, guided by the Rotary Code of Conduct and the Four-Way Test. District 7980 is developing a Conflict Resolution Team to support Rotarians when concerns cannot be resolved within their club. The team’s purpose is to provide a safe, confidential, and neutral place for Rotarians to discuss concerns, better understand conflict, and identify constructive next steps that are “fair to all concerned.”
Stronger Together: The Power of Rotary Collaboration
Rotary clubs can accomplish a great deal on their own, but we can do even more when we work together. Across Southern Connecticut, collaboration between clubs and community organizations is helping us share resources, bring more people together, and expand the impact of our service.
The Power of Rotary Collaboration
More Volunteers, Ideas, Resources, and Connections
Many service organizations face the same challenges: finding enough volunteers, raising funds, developing new ideas, and responding to growing needs. Collaboration allows us to pool our strengths. One organization may have volunteers, another may have community connections, and another may bring resources or a new idea. Each partner brings something valuable to the table.
Collaboration Does Not Mean Losing Your Club’s Identity
Sometimes clubs hesitate to collaborate because they are concerned about losing recognition or their individual identity. Working together does not mean giving that up. Every Rotary club should be proud of what makes it unique. Collaboration simply gives us another way to serve, while introducing our clubs to new people and new communities.
“When you collaborate with another organization, there can be a concern about losing recognition. In my experience, the opposite happens. Working together expands what we can accomplish.” — Stephanie Philips, District Governor, Rotary District 7980
