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Rotary Days on Ice

RI President Gary Huang urged all Rotarians to Light up Rotary this year by participating in a Rotary Day- a fun informal event in the community to introduce the non-Rotary public to Rotary. On January 24^th 2015 the Rotary Club of Burnaby Metrotown and the Burnaby Rotaract Club in District 5040 partnered with Canlan Burnaby 8 Rinks to offer a Rotary Free Public Skate.

Club President Gloria Staudt stated “It was a big success…everything came together beautifully….Our partners in Canlan Burnaby 8 Rinks were happy to see so many people there, the best ever for them.”

The club involved Rotaractors on the planning committee and had display boards for Rotary and Rotaract. Canlan 8 Rinks hung skate, polio and peace fellowship banners on the lobby railings the day before the event so their customers could see them.

The Club promoted the event widely in their community:

a large banner hung on two local overpasses
ads in the local Burnaby Now newspaper
an editorial mention in both community papers
included on Burnaby 8 Rinks Public Skate schedule
flyer on the club website and Burnaby 8 rinks website
on vancity buzz
a flyer was sent to 72 local schools, circulated by members and posted on various community bulletin boards
submitted to local papers calendar of events listings

They filled to capacity the maximum number of skaters (175) for each of the 2 skate times. This event involved 350 skaters plus those who were walking around watching or talking with Rotarians about Rotary and Rotaract.

They had15 Rotarians show up to help along with 10 Rotaractors plus 3 friend helpers. One Rotarian and one Rotaract did face painting and the Rotaractors made cotton candy. They gave out bottles of water with the new Rotary logo and hot chocolate to parents and kids. Kids got goodie bags to take home. They gave out What is Rotary cards, Start with Rotary post cards, 2014 Rotary Facts brochure and past issues of the Rotarian

Gloria went on to say this was “Truly a great community event and team work including Rotaractors, business partner and partial sponsorship by Burnaby Now newspaper. Everyone won and had a great time!”

Holding a Rotary Day can help your club increase membership, strengthen relationships between the club and local organizations and community members, and improve Rotary’s image in your community. Is your club planning a community event to Light up Rotary? Check out Rotary Days on the RI website at https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/rotary-days and learn more about hosting and celebrating a Rotary Day for your club.

Imagine the collective impact if all the clubs in your District and around the world made a concerted effort to introduce the public to the fun and rewarding experiences we all enjoy as Rotarians.

The Power of Teamwork for Rotary

Submitted by: PDG George Camp, ARPIC Zone 32

The captivating power of “TEAMWORK” in The Rotarian community!
Just as it’s one thing to join a team, but quite another to perform as a team member. To put it simply, teams (CLUBS) don’t work without teamwork.
1) Teamwork creates synergy in a club – where the sum is greater than the parts.
2) Teamwork supports a more empowered way of making a difference in your community through our Rotary Club.
3) Teamwork fosters flexibility and responsiveness to those in need in their community.
4) Teamwork pleases Rotarian volunteers who like working with good teams and like minded volunteers.
5) Teamwork promotes the sense of achievement, equity and camaraderie, essential for a motivated volunteer environment.
6) Teamwork, amongst volunteering Rotarians, when managed properly, is a better way to work toward a common Goal!
Teamwork in Rotary is generally understood as the willingness of a group of Rotarians to work together to achieve a common aim. For example in Rotary we often use the phrase:” he or she is a good team player”. This means someone has the interests of the team at heart, working for the good of the team.
Teamwork is absolutely fundamental for Rotary Clubs and Districts to work effectively. Only when the skills and strengths of individual team members are joined with shared goals, and a focus on collective performance, will you start to see the benefits of a team at work. Why does this matter? Well language can sometimes be confusing. Teamwork is perhaps more helpfully understood as only part of what’s needed to create an effective Rotary Club.
Why is this distinction so important? Because whilst you can’t have a team (Effective Rotary Club) without teamwork, you can have teamwork without being a team!
It is important to remember that;
ATTITUDES COME FROM WHAT YOU VALUE AND ARE EXPREESED IN HOW YOU BEHAVE!”
When a group of ROTARIANS work together cohesively, towards a common goal, creating a positive VOLUNTEER atmosphere, and supporting each other to combine individual strengths to enhance THE ROTARY CLUBS team performance, we can effect change in our community. That community, whether in our back yard or around the world is Rotary’s job one.
This three minute video Ohio Amish Barn Raising graphically shows the value of teamwork.