Being an International District brings a whole new set of challenges with our closed border in dealing with a pandemic.
In light of a recent memo and guidelines from RI President-Elect Holger Knaack, I will be canceling all DG Official Club visits this summer and fall. It was one of my goals to conduct these virtually and thanks to COVID-19 and this directive from RI, Zoom will be my method of communication. The good news is that the clubs are getting comfortable with Zoom and social platforms. I plan to complete these virtual visits between July and September. Crossed fingers that we have a vaccine in play by December/January and an open border so that I will be able to attend in-person club functions such as Paul Harris Dinners, Club Anniversary celebrations, such as St. Catharine’s 100th Birthday in 2021, fundraisers, etc.
The DG Changeover planned for Saturday, June 27th at Wellspring Niagara will have to be virtual, but I am hoping to exchange the District gavel with Bob on the Rainbow Bridge. This will be a first for our District and a great cross border photo op with the American and Horseshoe Falls as a backdrop!
I plan to postpone the District Conference from October 24th until spring, with the hopes that it can be in person. If not, it also will be a virtual event. My goal was to have a “Pedal for Polio” cycling event as a fundraiser as part of the conference. I am going ahead with planning for this event on the 24th with a goal of every club participating by providing at least one cyclist riding a route within their club’s catchment area. My goal, with your help, is to raise $200,000 for Polio!
The Grant Management Seminar will need to be virtual as well this fall and the District Foundation Team are planning contingencies in this regard. I was hoping to have a Million Dollar Dinner to help our rapidly decreasing Rotary Foundation and Polio contributions. Given the financial climate and a Canadian dollar/USD exchange at $1.40, I see no possibility of a successful dinner, but I will be encouraging ALL clubs to be EREY/Sustaining Member clubs. Foundation giving is at an all-time low and we need to step up if we are to have sufficient funding for District and Global grants, VTT, scholarships, and Polio eradication.
Council meetings will now transition to be held via Zoom as well. Unfortunately, there will be no DG presidents' dinners in the fall. The Training Team has recommended offering PETS 1 and 2 via Zoom and DGN Anne Bermingham is in agreement with this format, which worked well for me this year. DGN and DGE Training offered by our Zone will be virtual with a much-reduced registration cost at $50 CDN.
As a result of these changes, I asked the Chair of the Finance Committee to meet to consider a revised budget to give the clubs the benefit of reduced district dues. They have done so, and we were able to remove the budgeted $150 USD assessment for PETS 2 and approximately $4.00USD per member, subject to the approval of the presidents-elect, which they did on a virtual meeting in May.
To say that COVID-19 sucks is an understatement. This is not the way DG Bob Artis, our club presidents, and RI President Mark Maloney wanted to end their year nor the way I, the club presidents-elect, RIPE Holger Knaack, and Valarie Wafer, Director, RI Board of Directors planned to start ours.
However, I will, with your help, support, and encouragement do whatever I can to ensure another successful ROTARY DISTRICT 7090 year.
Being an International District brings a whole new set of challenges with our closed border in dealing with a pandemic.