WOW! What a year 2020 was. I know I’m glad it’s over, and I’m looking forward to a new and improved year – 2021.
As a District, we did actually pull off some pretty neat things:
RYLA – While the RYLA camp was cancelled, the RYLA management worked to create a new virtual camping model, giving a chance for those who didn’t get to go to camp a chance to experience RYLA, make new friends and learn new lessons.
YOUTH EXCHANGE – Again the pandemic struck. Long term and short term exchanges were cancelled, but again the RYE management team pulled together to create a virtual exchange experience.
In January, Rotary International will send each Rotary Club its semi-annual dues invoice for all active club members on the club roster as of January 1, 2021. Also reflected on the Rotary International statement is a pro-rata dues invoice for any active club member who joined the Rotary Club between July 2, 2020 and December 31, 2020.
Invoices from Rotary International are payable to Rotary International upon receipt.
Some brands are recognized around the world just by their logos. When people see the logo, they instantly know what it means and what to expect from the product. Building that kind of visual recognition requires effort, including years of using a logo widely and consistently. Companies work at this because earning that global recognition benefits their business.
RYLead 5810 is halfway through this year's " virtual camp"! We have completed three of our six modules and are ready to have fun and work hard with the final three, beginning on January 10, 2021.
Santa’s elves were busy in Rockwall making Christmas brighter for the men and women of our military this year. For troops on duty during the holidays, in addition to the important job of protecting our freedoms in all corners of the world, it’s tough to be away from friends and loved ones.
2020 has been an incredibly challenging year and it’s still not over. Hopefully, the end is coming given the vaccines are here. The Rotary Club of Dallas has made a difference in a number of ways this year.
On December 21, the Rotary Club of Addison gave the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas an early Christmas gift - a check for $170,000 from the proceeds of the 30th Addison Rotary Open, held on September 14, 2020.
CFB Rotary celebrated its sixtieth birthday with a festive lunch at noon on Thursday, November 19, at the Brookhaven Country Club. President Sonja Dodds joined two of our most senior members, John Dodd and Dick Calvert, in displaying the Club's original charter!
Richardson Rotary Club reached a momentous milestone in December 2020. The Club's Foundation Committee Chair, Radi Al-Rashed had a vision at the beginning of his term as Chair to make the club "100% Paul Harris" by the end of the year. That goal has now been achieved.
From a smaller beginning thirteen years ago, the Snider Plaza Tree Lighting has become one of the signature events of the Rotary Club of Park Cities, attracting about 6,000 people last year. The community was entertained with music, food and beverages, while the kids could visit the Fun Zone or talk to Santa. Well, that was last year!
Member, Dr. Joel Davis, gave members a hands-on lesson on his new hobby teaching us how stained glass art is created. We had a great time and lots of laughs and walked away with a special ornament.
The Greenville Rotary Club’s 24th annual Cotton Patch Challenge was a big success this year. The bike ride held on the third Saturday in September had a large participation and fantastic weather.
The Melissa Rotary conducted a service project at the Melissa Community Outreach, a food pantry for the area. The Club came out to help sort items and organize the MCO Food Pantry.
Plano West Rotary didn't want to just 'write a check' to support veterans. Its members wanted to serve veterans. They partnered with American Legion and Dallas Veterans Affairs Medical Center to give over 450 comfy pajamas to children of veterans.
On the afternoon of December 9, members of the Addison Rotary Club continued the Club's long legacy of service to the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RHMD) by hosting visitors to the "Trains at NorthPark" (Trains) exhibit.
Thanks to our 9 volunteers of Plano West Rotary club, other Rotarians, and friends who helped with their Adopt-a-Highway clean-up they do every other month, over on Avenue K, between Spring Creek Parkway and Parker Road. It looks "marvelous"! :)
Rotary Club or Wylie East Fork launched a toy drive as we made the decision to cease our in-person meetings. We understood this would create enough of a challenge that our participation might suffer.
