We are seeing new clubs chartered in our districts! Get in on the excitement of growing Rotary. Phoenix 223 is honored to present another workshop for Region 36 on how to start Alumni & Interest-Based Clubs in your district.
Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM CDT
Type: Zoom Meeting
Format: Part Presentation/Part Interview
Emcee: Team Lead Linda Marrin
Moderator: 5950 DG Tom Gump
Panelists: Mike DeLuca will answer questions about his Alumni Club, where he serves as Vice President.
DG Andy Rajapakse, from Australia, will answer questions about his Koala Bear Interest-based Club.
Cutting Edge Content: Club types and models will be discussed (recently updated by RI)
Participants: District New Club Champions (DNCCs), Districts Membership Chairs (DNCs), Assistant Rotary Coordinators (ARCs), anyone interested in growing Rotary!
Starting a new club takes a mix of inspiration and good planning. Tom Gump, District 5950 DG, has been hands on with the chartering of four new clubs in his District and has served as a presenter and consultant to launch new Rotary clubs throughout the US and all over the world. Read a summary of the 6 steps for New Beginnings from the April 2021 edition of Rotary Magazine. "By breaking the process down into steps, you can start a new club that has the strong sense of purpose and solid basis that will allow it to thrive." Are you ready for a New Beginning?
One of the most significant impacts on Rotary membership growth, engagement and retention during 2021 will be the way every Rotary club shifts from primarily virtual club meetings to Hybrid Meetings (a combination of members meeting in-person and virtually). Just as clubs effectively pivoted to virtual meetings, the next opportunity is to prepare for the in-person/virtual hybrid experience. As the pandemic declines, and more are vaccinated, many members will want to gather again. The Hybrid Meeting model honors and serves both groups … those who wish to meet in person and members most comfortable attending virtually.
The Region 36 Hybrid Meetings Team is pleased to report we are well positioned for the expansion of Hybrid meetings due to District 5950’s development of a comprehensive set of training materials. These may be referenced on the 5950 District website on the Going Hybrid Training page.
Additional hybrid meeting best practices including recommendations for the technology support needed at the club and district levels are under development. If you would like to share your club’s hybrid experience or participate in the development of best practices, contact Bruce Baumberger, PDG 6440, Region 36 Technology and Communication Resources Coordinator: gov.bruce@rotary6440.org.

Zone 25A Rotary Institute – Cartagena, Colombia – September 23-25
by Gladys Maldonado, Institute Chair
This year’s Zone 25 Institute in Columbia will be an exciting event! The institute will offer information, education, socializing and fun! By being part of this great event, you will have the opportunity to meet our RI Director Suzi Howe, all Zone 25A District Governors and District Rotary Foundation, Public Image and Membership Chairs. This is an opportunity you will not find anywhere else. Join us as we share the joy of reuniting with each other after a very long wait. We’ll update and reinforce our knowledge of Rotary, plan the future together and, of course, make friends with common goals. Our Institute will be honored with the presence of RI President Shekhar Mehta, his wife, Rashi, and many Rotary leaders from around the world.
The location for this event is unique and amazing. Cartagena de Indias is one of the most important tourist destinations in Colombia and Latin America. It is a city with a special charm and magic, located on a very strategic coast of Colombia. It has a historic walled city in its center, declared as National Patrimony of Colombia in 1959 and World Heritage by UNESCO in 1984. Cartagena with its charm, its paradisiac beaches and its important ports of the world will host the Zone 25A Rotary Institute on the 23rd, 24th and 25th of September 2021.
If you are interested in receiving more information about the Zone 25A Institute you can complete the form at this link: 2021 RI Institute Cartagena. There will be English translation for key speakers. You can also follow us on Instagram at @InstitutoZona25A, on Facebook at @InstitutoRotarioZona25A2021 and of course our website ircartagena2021.com.
Great things are happening in our Region - and in District 6440 in Northern Illinois. The Elgin Breakfast Leadership Speaker Series recently hosted RI President Nominee Jennifer Jones to talk about the future of Rotary.
Get ready for exciting service in our Region! The 2021-22 District Governor-Elect class, and partners, gathered virtually in early February for some serious planning & some fun at the 2021 International Assembly. This training meeting prepared district governors-elect for their role as governor, introduced our organization’s priorities for the coming year, and provided opportunities to network with fellow governors-elect from around the world. The International Assembly also featured an informative program for governor-elect partners, designed to appeal to their diverse interests and experiences.
A key moment at every International Assembly is the president elect’s revelation of the Rotary theme for the coming year. You may watch the videos of Shekhar Mehta’s announcement and all other International Assembly speakers.

