The Difference One Person Can Make

The Power of One and the Hope It Creates in the World

You might wonder if one person can really make a difference in the world. But history proves that one person with a vision, passion, and determination can create hope and inspire others to join them in their cause. This can lead to a ripple effect of positive change.

Albert Einstein is one such example. He revolutionized physics with his theory of relativity and quantum mechanics. His discoveries have shaped our understanding of the universe and enabled many technological advances, such as nuclear energy, GPS, lasers, and more. He also advocated for peace and human rights, speaking out against war, racism, and nationalism.

Martin Luther King Jr. is another. He led the civil rights movement in the United States and fought for racial equality and social justice. He used nonviolent methods of protest, such as boycotts, marches, and speeches to challenge the system of segregation and discrimination. He also inspired millions of people around the world to join him in his vision of a society where people are judged by the content of their character, not by the color of their skin.

Malala Yousafzai is yet another. She survived a Taliban attack and became a global activist for girls’ education and women’s rights. She defied the threats and violence that tried to silence her and continued to speak up for her cause. She also founded the Malala Fund, which supports education projects in developing countries. She became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate in history and a symbol of courage and hope.

Sometimes, we might feel overwhelmed by the challenges we face in our daily lives and wonder if we make a difference. But trust me when I tell you, you do! As Rotarians, we are part of a worldwide network of 1.4 million members who volunteer our time and talents to serve our communities and the world. Consider just two lesser known Rotary initiatives and the difference they make in the world.

Rotary’s Clean Drinking Water Initiative. Rotarians have provided more than $130 million to over 2000 projects worldwide to bring clean drinking water to villages and hamlets in diverse places across the globe. With a child dying every six seconds from water borne illness, we can assume for the children of these villages we have had a profound impact. How many people on the planet can say with veracity, “I save lives”?

Rotary’s Peace Scholar Initiative. Since the program was launched by Rotary in 2002, Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,600 fellows who now work in over 140 countries. These individuals are our leaders in governments; NGOs; education and research institutions; peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies; and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank.

The changes we create through our various projects and initiatives are literally transforming the planet. Just like the projects you and your club are doing are changing your community. Be proud and yes loud of the contributions you, your club, and your fellow Rotarians are making to create hope in the world. Invite your spouse, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances to join us in our efforts.

 

As Mahatma Gandhi said (yet another person who made a difference),

‘Be the change that you wish to see in the world’ and as Rotarians we are!

John Redd

Utah Rotary District Governor 2023-2024

dgjohnredd@utahrotary.org

#UtahRotary

Your Club Can Win $1,000

Partner to Double Your Impact on 9/11

To commemorate the National Day of Service, Governor John Redd, 2023-24 District 5420 Governor, has secured a $1,000 grant for a Utah Rotary club that performs the most impactful service project in conjunction with the National Day of Service. The award can be used in any way the club deems appropriate to promote Rotary and the club.

To be eligible to compete for the grant, the club must meet the following requirements:

• The club must be a certified Rotary club or satellite club in Utah Rotary, including a Rotaract club.
• The club must complete an application with the details of their project. The form will be distributed to Utah Rotary Club Presidents in an upcoming Utah Rotary Digest issue.
• The club must partner with another organization, such as JustServe.org, Lions, Kiwanis, or an NGO.
• The winning club will be judged on the impact of the project on the community and the constituents it seeks to serve, the sustainability of the project, and the publicity and exposure the project generates for Rotary.
• The winning club must have a minimum of four people in attendance at the All-Club Gala event to be eligible to win the award.
• The project must be performed on or before September 16th of this year.
• The club must provide additional follow-up information after the project has been completed upon the request of the District Governor.
• If more than one Rotary club joins together to do a project, the award will be divided between the two clubs evenly.

The award will be presented to the club by Governor Redd on or before September 30th, 2023.

John Redd

Utah Rotary District Governor 2023-2024

#UtahRotary

Please Be Aware of a Social Media Scam

Please be aware of a current social media scam targeting Rotarians in District 5420. It begins “Hi, Rotarian ‘Your Name’” and is supposedly from DGE Todd Boyer or IPDG Jose Velasco or other district leaders. The message is “Please discretely buy X number of $100 gift cards and send them to me after which I will reimburse you for your expenses and your time and trouble.” This is a scam so don’t respond.

 Big Social Doings Around the District & You're Invited

Black Tie & Boots All Clubs Gala

The Social Event of the Year

A District 5420 “Black Tie and Boots" All-Clubs Gala will be held on Saturday, September 9 at the Davis Conference Center, 1651 N. 700 West in Layton beginning with a social hour from 6-7 p.m. Dinner and a program will begin at 7 p.m. 

Suggested dress for men is "Cowboy Formal" which includes black or blue levis, cowboy hat, boots and a bow tie OR your tuxedo. Gals … you are encouraged to wear a summer dress and boots OR match your cowboy or whatever gives you a cowgirl vibe … OR go all out and come in your formal attire!

This is a qualifying event for the Club of the Year, so Governor Redd has invited a designated number of “cowboys and cowgirls” from each club to attend based on membership. 

This affordable affair – just $40 per person - is certain to be the social event of the Rotary year so dust of your boots and get ready for the fashion, festivities, food and fun! 

Help! We're Only Part Way to Sponsoring an Exchange Student from Ukraine

About $5,000 is needed to support Sasha, an exchange student from Ukraine, but the Cedar City Rotary Club has only raised $1,025 so far.

Cedar City Rotary is reaching out to other Utah clubs and individual Rotarians who want to make Sasha's exchange possible. Here's how donations can be made:

Venmo our foundation @CedarCityRotary

Mail a check to: Cedar City Rotary Club. P.O. Box 1401, Cedar City, UT 84721

For more information email Tessa Douglas, Past President, Cedar City Rotary Club, tdouglas@stech.edu

Rotary Foundation Thanks Rotarians

But the Needs Are Still Substantial

Thank you, Rotarians, for giving to The Rotary Foundation to help the people of Ukraine. Because of generous donors like you, we’ve raised more than $16 million in the past 14 months to fund hundreds of grants that have provided assistance to those affected by the war.

Your contributions have made member-led projects that are helping Ukrainian refugees and supporting relief efforts both in Ukraine and around the world possible. The needs remain substantial. We continue to approve disaster response grants to get people food, clean water, and clothes. We are authorizing grants that keep electricity flowing to hospitals, allow wounded civilians to seek care, and organize shelter for displaced families. But we need your help.

Thoughts on the Rotary Foundation

from Bruce Powell

I suppose every Rotarian has a different reason to join Rotary. We all have things that motivate us. I first joined Rotary by moving into a new neighborhood. It wasn’t long before a neighbor invited me to a Rotary meeting. I had never heard of Rotary, but he piqued my interest when I learned a coach for one on the local University’s football teams was speaking. As I entered the room, I noticed quite a few of my new neighbors. They were people that I came to know and admire. Fellowshipping, knowledge, business contacts, social interaction, fun and even a good meal could be reasons to join Rotary.

These things have all contributed to my continual membership in Rotary, but it is the Rotary Foundation that has made me a Rotarian. Contributing to Polio Plus has given me pride in knowing the world is only two countries away from eradicating this deadly disease and we will accomplish this. I know when I contribute to the Rotary Foundation my donations will be used for good. I know this not from just what I have read but I have personally witnessed the lives of desperately poor uneducated children changed dramatically for good. 

Thirty years ago, I entered a home of a little girl, Mireya The floor was dirt, the single light bulb that hung from the ceiling was the only light that helped her study. Through the Rotary Foundation she received an education. She is an attorney now, has served her community as mayor and is a defender of employee’s right. I have watched the first water being piped into a village, brought life saving materials to hospitals, seen women learn sewing skills, witnessed entire communities benefit from improved farming methods, assisted the disabled enable others to become mobile, dug latrines, assisted in vision, dental and cancer screening clinics and provided educational materials in seven different countries. All this and more because the Rotary Foundation is doing good in the world. It is a blessing to donate to the Rotary Foundation knowing these donations are being used to do good in the world, This is what keeps me in Rotary!    

Bruce Powell

Utah Rotary District Foundation Chair

Your Club's Personal Coach for Foundation Annual Giving

With the start of the new Rotary Year, I'm changing hats from District Membership Chair to Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair. Please allow me to introduce the newly formed annual fund sub-committee (AFSC) and their club assignments:

Scott Florence - SW area clubs (St. George, St. George Sunrise, Washington City, Hurricane Valley and Cedar City)

Kim Kerr - eastern clubs (Park City, Park City Sunrise, Park City Twilight, Heber Valley, Roosevelt, Vernal, Richfield, Moab, Monticello and Blanding)

Sue Vanderhoof - northern Salt Lake Valley clubs (Salt Lake City, Sugarhouse, Hispano-Latinos, Millcreek, Holladay, Valley West, Murray, Midvalley, West Jordan and Tooele Valley)

Lynn Hillstead - southern SL Valley and Utah County cubs (South Jordan, Sandy, Multicultural, South Valley, Utah E-club, Lehi, Orem-Lindon, Provo, Springville and Spanish Fork)

Dick Leatham - northern clubs (Logan, Cache Valley Morning, Brigham City, Odgen, Mt. Ogden, Layton, Kaysville, Centerville-Farmington, Farmington and Bountiful)

The Annual Fund Sub-Committee exists as a resource to all clubs to help you determine and realize your goals for giving to The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund. We can assist you with finding your next Paul Harris Fellow, Paul Harris Society member or Major Donor. We will be reaching out to club foundation chairs and/or club presidents but feel free to call on any of us whenever you have a question or need help.

We are looking forward to working with each club!

Scott Florence

Annual Fund Sub-Committee Chair

Why Clubs Should Report In-kind Donations

Data from clubs for the RY2022-23 Service Impact Report is currently in the hands of a graphic designer who will work his/her magic to create District 5420’s most important Public Image tool. But many clubs didn’t report in-kind donations. Perhaps it’s because they really didn’t have in-kind donations or because there is a lack of understanding about in-kind donations. 

In-kind donations are non-monetary donations made to nonprofit organizations. These nontraditional donations include the transfer of any asset, usually goods or services, and can be contributed by individuals or other organizations and companies.

So, if your club planted trees provided through a grant from TreeUtah and someone provided donuts or pizza for your members at the project, the value of those trees (beyond the one-third your club paid to be part of the grant) as well as the donation of donuts / pizza - is “in-kind.”

If a nice restaurant in your community contributes the meal for your club’s installation dinner … yes, that’s in-kind, too.

In RY2023-24, please consider who and how in-kind donations are made to your club for your “service above self” projects. It all adds up and contributes to Rotary’s service impact throughout the year.

Any questions, please call or text District PI Chair Linda Sappington at (435) 669-8020 or email to Lcsappi66@yahoo.com.

Join the Polio Plus Society

RI President R. Gordon McInally reminds us, "Only about 1 in every 12 Rotarians worldwide – and fewer than 1 in 5 clubs – is donating each year to RI’s polio eradication efforts." You can change those statistics when you join the Polio Plus Society, an easy and affordable way to support RI’s most important “service above self” project.

For just $8.33 a month – the cost of a movie ticket, a latte at Starbucks or a gallon and a half of gasoline for your car, motorcycle or boat - you can become a “polio warrior” joining the ranks of those fighting to eradicate only the 2nd human disease in world history (after smallpox).  

The Polio Countdown Clock is still holding at 6 cases in the entire world since January 1, 2023. But we are not yet to the finish line, so don’t wait another day to start saving lives and limbs from this dreadful virus.

To sign up TODAY, see your club Foundation Chair or email PPS Chair Rachael Palmer at rachaelpalmer73@gmail.com for more information. 

Donate to PDG Sandi's Ride to NoWhere

Join PDG Sandi Schwartz on her 6th Annual “Ride to NoWhere” on October 24th when she rides her 100 mile century on her Peloton. 

By using the QR code here, go to her page on Raise for Rotary and your donation will be applied to your individual account at The Rotary Foundation.

Her goal is to raise $5,000. and with the Gates 2:1 match, the skies the limit - just do the math! 

"I dedicate my ride to all of the workers

who put their lives at risk

to give those two life saving drops

to the children of the world."

PDG Sandi Schwartz

September 2023

Sept. 9 All Clubs event

Sept. 11 Utah Rotary Day of Service

October 2023

Oct. 24 World Polio Day - begin today to plan your project or fundraiser

November 2023

Nov. 8-12 DGE and DGN  and Zone Institute in San Diego

March

March 1-3 High Country PETS in Denver (PE’s and spouses)

May

May 25-29 Rotary International Convention in Singapore

June 

June 5-8 RYLA in Pleasant Grove, UT.

Coming in 2024

Friendship Exchange to Colombia