Happy April!
 

Beautiful flowers like daffodils are blooming and bushes like forsythia are blossoming. It is a time of rebirth and optimism. More and more of us are being vaccinated and looking forward to meeting in person for our meetings and activities.

 

I am happy so many clubs have signed on to participate in is the first multi-district Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup. The environmental service project participation includes our district 7120 and 14 other districts covering 8 states and 2 Canadian provinces will be gathering to pick up debris along the s the Great Lakes shorelines and tributaries.   Thank you to Gary Anderson, Chair of the District Environmental Action Committee for coordinating the cleanup efforts in District 7120!  Whether you're vaccinated or not, please abide by CDC guidelines to follow the mask mandate and stay at least 6 feet from people you don’t live with.

 

Also, please contact Gary at gwa1948@aol.com if you would like to be added to the District Environmental Action Committee mailing list. After the Watershed Cleanup, the Committee will concentrate on future environmental initiatives.

 

You should have received a recent email from Dr. Sim Covington and I about the mission and initial activity of the new District Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Sim is the chair of our District DEI Committee and our first initiative is asking clubs to participate in the United Way 21 Day challenge. Clubs are encouraged to start the challenge the week of April 11.  The purpose of the challenge is an opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community. If you have any questions on this or would like to be added to the DEI Committee mailing list, please email Dr. Covington at esco360@hotmail.com.

 

I want to also to remind you that April is Rotary Maternal and Child Heath month when Rotarians all over the world focus on this important Rotary Foundation Area of focus. Through Rotary International Global grants, Rotarians improve access to essential medical services for mothers and their children. The Rotary Foundation reaches mothers and children in need by giving communities the help and training they need to take control of their own maternal and infant health care. If clubs are interested in pursuing a global grant in this area, go to the RI website for further information and review the projects which have been funded.

 

Speaking of the Rotary Foundation, the Rotary Zones 28/32 have scheduled its first Foundation Gala for May 12. Rotary District 7120 is located in Zone 32.  Rotarians are invited to participate in the Gala to raise funds for the Rotary Foundation.  Please go to this link for more information:

https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50077/sitepage/trf-2021-event/trf-2021-program

 

The month of May is right around the corner.  As you are aware, my home club, the Penfield Rotary Club is hosting the first virtual District Conference on May 8.  The weekend begins on Friday, May 7 with the annual District Meeting. After the meeting, we will enjoy a district-wide fellowship with a District Trivia Contest.  Please join your fellow District 7120 Rotarians on May 7 and May 8 for the first Virtual District Conference.

 

One other event I want to alert you to is that on Tuesday, May 11, there will be a Multi-District (D-7120, D-7170, D-7190) “conference” event.  Our 3 Districts are meeting virtually for our District Conferences.  We are scheduling this one event together with Past Rotary International President Barry Rassin, and Drew Kessler, RI Director-Elect.  Barry chairs the Shaping Rotary’s Future Committee. The link for this event will be sent in a future email.

 

Thank you again for all you are doing to continue to engage with your clubs.

 

Yours in Rotary,

 

Linda

District Governor 2020-2021

Rotary District 7120

585-354-5259 (cell)