|
May is an exciting month in Rotary and one in which we can return to traditions. Rotary’s first program of the month is Law Day, in which we invite esteemed members of the Idaho Bar Association to join our luncheon. On May 17th, we have the chance to serve our community with a blood drive in partnership with the American Red Cross.
May is also the time when we are able to recognize the students to whom we award our annual scholarships. With May being “Youth Service” month for Rotary clubs around the world, I can’t think of a better time to celebrate the achievements and aspirations of local students who plan to continue their education and service to their community. Another way our club is serving our youth is with the return of RYLA, or Rotary Youth Leaders in Action camp. Applications are now open to students who wish to join around 100 other Idaho teens for a weeklong leadership training event at the College of Southern Idaho in July. The RYLA experience is “focused on guiding the students to discover a strong sense of confidence in oneself and expressing empathy for others, which is driven through the strong supportive environment created during the long weekend.” Our club can help build future local leaders eager to serve their community by sponsoring local youth to participate in this unique experience. I encourage you to tell your friends and family – applications are due June 1.
Speaking of the return of things, I look forward to the joyous gathering at the annual Rotary District 5400 Conference in Sun Valley on May 20-22. This important conference allows clubs within the District to hear from one another, learn from the successes and failures clubs experience, visit with our District Governor (our club’s own Russell Johnson) and others in District leadership, and to receive inspiration we can take back to share with our club boards and members. This is a unique time to reconnect with our Rotary friends in service and recall what our collect efforts can mean in our communities and around the world. I’m so pleased our club has a tradition of encouraging participation in this event by sponsoring members who want to attend.
As nature becomes revived and reinvigorated with the return of spring weather, may we also be revived and reinvigorated in our commitment to Rotary by getting involved in one or more of the exciting activities this May. Reap the rewards of membership through participation.
|
