July 2024

Welcome to Rotary Year 2024- 2025

Click HERE to view DG Mark's special video message to all Rotarians.

Who Is Mark Odland?

Meet Your District Governor for

Rotary Year 2024-2025

Mark has been married to LaRae for 53 years and together they are actively involved in supporting and leading organizations throughout SW Michigan. During Mark’s tenure serving as President of the South Haven Rotary, his club led the district in membership growth; received the Presidential Gold Citation and received the South Haven Community Investment Award in 2020. Mark also serves as President of the Speakers Series of South Haven, President of the South Haven Resource Council, Secretary of the Corewell Hospice South Board of Directors, and former Treasurer of the Samaritas Foundation. He serves his community as Chairperson of the South Haven Township Planning Commission. He was named to the Michigan Insurance Hall of Fame in 2010.

His professional career spanned nearly 40 years as an executive with State Farm Insurance Companies serving as Vice President Claims and later as Vice President with responsibilities for operations in Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois. He is a graduate of Augustana University and completed graduate studies at University of Virginia Darden School of Business. He earned the Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter Designation (CPCU) and holds the Master Citizen Planner credentials.

Mark and LaRae have two sons and five grandchildren with families residing in Illinois and North Carolina. Their home in South Haven overlooks Lake Michigan where they are often found enjoying the lake life.

Annual Giving to Date to

The Rotary Foundation

Launch Your Legacy!

Registration NOW OPEN!

Rotary Action Group:

Mental Health Initiatives

Good Emotional Well-Being = Rotary Longevity

Research has confirmed four lifestyle habits that promote positive mental health and longevity.

When all four are present, individuals typically enjoy a longer life span and greater emotional well-being.

Here they are:

1. Social connection

2. Loving partner/relationship

3. Spiritual/religious practice

and 4 ….

… wait for it …

SINGING !!

Think of how Rotary was founded and the practice of each club;

… the guiding principles of the four-way test. … shared goals that create social bonding. … those famous Rotary songbooks!

It’s no wonder Marshall Rotary club marked 100 years of service this year. It’s no wonder 2024-25 DG Mark and partner LaRae Odland are going strong at 53 years of marriage! It’s no wonder outgoing DG Sharalyn Davis emphasized, “Rotary is about Love!” as her parting words at the D6360 Governor Transition event – which of course followed a room full of Rotarians singing America the Beautiful. Thank you for leading South Haven Rotarian Anna Rydecki.

It all adds up as to how Rotarians inner mental and emotional well-being pulls them through outer social, political, health, and economic challenges. And why Rotarians have the resilience to thrive!

As D6360 Mental Health Club moves forward into 2024-25 as a newly sanctioned committee, feel free to refresh yourself on Past RI President Gordon McInally’s call to Mental Health by viewing the video here: World Mental Health Day Webinar - YouTube.

And … keep singing!

__________________________

For further information on RI’s Mental Health initiatives:

Explore the Rotary Mental Health Toolkits: T o o l k i t s - M en ta l H ea l th I n i t ia t i v e s Rotary Ac t i o n G r o up (ra g on m ent al h ealt h .o r g)
Follow Rotary Action Group for Mental Health here: F a c e b o o k. RAG MH has been active for 5 years!
View Gordon McInally’s World MH Day presentation here: World Mental Health Day Webinar - YouTube.

_________________________

Jacquie Blackwell MA Psy is owner of Amazing Learning Center Mental Health Services. She has been a member of Lakeshore Rotary Club since 2020. In 2021 she was named Rotarian of the Year for creating the ‘Take it or Leave it’ winter accessories holiday-tree service project. Jacquie chairs the D6360 Mental Health Steering Committee.

What's UP With Youth Services?

Youth Programs = Your Club Young and Vibrant!!

Get ready for the new Rotary year by making sure your club is participating in all Rotary Youth Programs!

OPPORTUNITIES: Through Youth Programs, students become more confident, experienced, college and career ready!

District 6360 Rotary Youth Programs

· Interact Clubs

· Rotary Student Program

· Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp

· Youth Exchange

Your District Youth Program Chairs are happy to make a presentation at your club meeting. Call us to schedule.

· RYLA Camp – Don Deibler, Director donalddeibler@yahoo.com, Cell: 269-599-1341

· Interact Clubs – (NEW Chair) Emily Quiggle, Emily.quiggle@hassk12.org; Cell: 269-986-5588

· Rotary Student Program – Jackie Huie, DGE, jhuie@johnsonrauhoff.com, Cell: 269-930-1325

· Youth Exchange – Margie Haas, haasmargie@gmail.com; Cell: 269-838-3392

Youth Programs are integrated together offering students leadership, communication, organizational skills that translate into post-secondary opportunities!

The Countdown to RYLA!!

RYLA camp is almost here, and we have a full camp this year!

There are lots of great activities, projects, and programs to provide the youth of our communities with a meaningful experience!

If you would like to experience what RYLA camp is all about, please join us for a picnic lunch, team project presentations, and closing ceremonies, Sunday July 14 beginning at 1 pm.

For more information visit the RYLA page on the District website.

Registration NOW Open for 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary!

Join us in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the 2025 Rotary International Convention! June 21-25, 2025

Register now for only $525 USD! Click here to register, and share the news with your Clubs and fellow Rotarians!

Prepare to be captivated by Calgary’s vibrant culture, embraced by warm hospitality, and inspired by the spirit of Rotary as we gather in this iconic destination.

Calgary is Canada's third most diverse city – over 240 ethnic origins and 165 languages spoken.
It is home of the famous Calgary Stampede, founded in 1912
You will be only one one-hour drive from the iconic Canadian Rockies (but you can see them from Calgary!)

The countdown is on! Explore the Calgary Convention Host website:

Registration and Hotel
Signature Events
Host Hospitality
Pre and Post-tours!

Membership

Zoom Webinar July 8

Looking for Tips and Techniques to Help Your Club Grow?

DG Marl Odland has never met a Rotarian who didn’t want their club to become more vibrant and attractive to every member and appealing to new members. Every Rotary Club wants their club to succeed, grow, become more irresistible and have a bigger impact on the well-being of their community. After all, we are a membership driven organization that does service in our communities and around the world. The more members we have, the bigger the impact we have in our towns and beyond. And, with more members comes even more people sharing the load and helping with our service projects.

Membership growth continues to be our biggest challenge and our greatest opportunity not only here in our District but around the world. We are making progress, but there is much more to be done. Your District team will soon launch several new initiatives to help every club that wants to grow achieve that goal. I am pleased to share a great resource from our Zone that will help.

This session will offer interesting, timely, short and to the point tips and techniques designed to help make your club irresistible and growing. Just 45 minutes of interactive learning designed for every Rotary member who wants to see their club grow offered monthly over the next 12 months. Just show up and see if there is something for you.

The third meeting is on Monday, July 8 from 7:30- 8:15 PM. The theme that week will be 'Building Partnerships Through Change.' You won't want to miss!

Here is the link to the ZOOM meetings:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86755780910?pwd=pOP9Y2J6g78EkCgPLFnDT4kH5OOgfc.1