When the Covid-19 Pandemic struck, it seemed as if most of our activities came to a stop. Now, it seems the District is getting busier and busier. In February, our District Governor-Elect participated in a virtual International Assembly where our incoming Rotary International President Shekhar Mehta introduced his theme for 2021-2022, “Serve To Change Lives”.
It is time to CeLeBrAte what WE as a District have done this Rotary year. Friday, April 23 and Saturday, April 24, those are the dates – write them down. You can attend in person or virtually.
It's time to play our next PUBLIC IMAGE OLYMPIC GAME! This next game is to create a Club Brochure or a Rack Card. Both of these item are important tools for promoting your Club in the community and for increasing Club Membership. We have extended the deadline for this game to end of March. Too many of us suffered lost of power, no water or have been displaced from our homes, it's only fair.
Our 3rd District 5810 Flag Summit will be a Zoom Meeting on Saturday, March 20, 2021 from 9:30 AM to Noon. As in the past our primary focus is on Sharing Best Practices. District 5810 has over 20 clubs that have flag subscription programs, each with unique ways of organizing and implementing their program.
President-elect Shekhar Mehta encourages members to be changemakers and announces his theme for the 2021-2022 Rotary year, Serve to Change Lives. Learn more: http://on.rotary.org/3j6bVuc
The Rotary Club of Allen Sunrise supported a local blood drive at Watters Creek at Montgomery Farms in Allen, TX. The drive occurred on a chilly afternoon on December 30, 2020. In one afternoon, 15 units of whole blood were collected, which has the potential to impact 45 community members. Due to Covid-19, blood donations are critical, and the club's donations will help address a a nationwide shortage.
The week before the Super Bowl, Metrocrest Services asked for soup donations. The Addison Midday Rotary Club of 25 members was challenged to fill up the trunk of Club Member Mary Jo’s car with soup for Metrocrest Services at our weekly meeting. The challenge was met and exceeded expectations - the soup donations ‘spilled’ over to the back seat of her car.
"We cannot do great things on this earth, only small things with great love." - Mother Teresa Rotary has two official mottoes: 1) Service Above Self, 2) One Profits Most Who Serves Best. Plano West Rotary leads outdoor, mask required service projects each month. It also leads "passive" projects volunteers can do from the safety of their home.
Seventy-five residents at Heritage Nursing Home received essential goods (shampoo, conditioner, body wash), a warm blanket, and a stuffed animal thanks to the Grand Prairie Metro Rotarians! Even Grand Prairie Police Officer Seitz stopped by Main Event to lend a hand!!
Plano Rotary Club was on track to celebrate 2020-2021 as its 75th anniversary when Covid-19 hit and our club saw an opportunity to serve the community in a new way. Since our dues included our lunches, we took that part of our dues and bought meals for various non-profits that are busy serving others every day.
Last Friday, one of our White Rock Rotary members, Enid Jones, arranged a wonderful joint Zoom with Regina Edwards of the Farmers Branch Club and Dominica Pradere of the Montego Bay Rotary Club in Jamaica.
On February 27th, Richardson East Rotary Club held its Games and Gala, the first ever virtual! When planning started back in July 2020, there was still a chance to hold an in-person event, however rather quickly it was apparent that it would be very questionable and therefore all efforts were put into a virtual event.
Rotarian Kathy Mixson of the Melissa Rotary Club has been serving at one of the Collin County Covid Vaccination sites for the past few weeks. The large site has been working daily to admirer the available vaccines to first responders and those over 65. Thank you Kathy for service above self.
... and a whole new set of challenges for the North Texas Food Bank and all the people they serve. Trisha Cunningham, CEO of the Food Bank, knew that the demand was increasing with little way to mobilize for immediate action. Their trucks were grounded, the supply change to grocery stores was fragile, and most people were trapped in their homes. For those with food insecurity, this was a crisis in the making.
Some caring Rotarians in Rockwall reached out to spread a little cheer for Valentine’s Day. They created hundreds of homemade Valentine’s Day cards for seniors living in local nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Tom Nuckols (Thomas Wheeler Nuckols) was a person of broad perspective and scope, the definition of an interdisciplinary thinker and educator. He loved engaging people in conversation, which could on occasion lead into a mini-lecture. He was a Paul Harris Fellow and as a Rotary Peace Fellow traveled to India, Viet Nam, and China to promote Rotary's efforts of building goodwill and better friendships. Tom's life exemplified Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self."