District 7210 Updates March

• "Believe" Ted Lasso

March is a month of new beginnings, a time when the seasons start to change, the days grow longer, and fresh opportunities emerge. It’s a reminder that growth and renewal are always possible, not just in nature but in our lives, our clubs, and our service to others.

As Rotarians, we can embrace this spirit of renewal by setting new goals, strengthening connections, and finding innovative ways to make an impact. Whether it’s revitalizing a project, welcoming new members, or re-energizing our commitment to service, this is the perfect time to take action and create meaningful change.

This month, we also focus on Clean Water and Sanitation, a fundamental need that represents a fresh start for millions. By ensuring access to safe water, we help communities thrive, improve health, and offer the promise of a better future.

Let’s make this month a time of growth, service, and renewal…because every new beginning starts with action.

Leo, Beau, Carrie and the New Kid on the Block, Todd!

Every journey is made up of small steps, each one bringing you closer to your goal.

Wishing for the finish line won’t get you there, but steady progress will. Keep moving forward, step by step!

Congratulations to last month's trivia winner, Robert Baxer , from the Warwick Valley Rotary Club.

This week's Trivia Question for a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

What is the name of the half-hour radio program/podcast that promotes the goals of Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation, focusing on service, doing good in the world, and highlighting programs addressing issues like poverty, education, health, and the environment?

Respond Here with the correct answer to be entered to win a spot at next year's District Conference and weekly prizes.

Yep-we are still bribing you to read our email 😀

Feel free to look up any answer, it's not a test of what you know but a way of learning just a little bit more about Rotary.

We are excited to announce our Keynote Speaker will be Dave Sanderson, a nationally recognized leadership speaker, accomplished author and inspirational survivor ow what is known as "The Miracle on the Hudson" As the last passenger off US Airways Flight 1549 which had to ditch into the river, he took the lessons he learned from that profound experience in the frigid water and emerged from the wreckage with a mission to encourage others to do the right thing and share coping skills to address any adversity they may face.

This year’s District Conference will take place in the heart of our district at The Inn at Bellefield in Hyde Park on June 7-8. This unique location offers a chance to come together locally, allowing our members to either commute or spend the weekend. This year's conference promises an inspiring lineup of programs and keynote speakers that will enhance our understanding of Rotary’s mission and provide fresh insights into service and leadership.

Beyond the sessions, the conference will be packed with opportunities for fun and connection, giving attendees a chance to unwind, network, and strengthen friendships. Whether you're looking forward to learning something new, reuniting with friends, or making memories with fellow Rotarians, this conference is set to be a highlight of the year. Make plans to join us for an unforgettable experience!

Registration opens at 9:00 AM on Saturday, with the program beginning at 10:00 AM and concluding at 4:30 PM, followed by dinner at 6:30 PM. On Sunday, the program runs from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, immediately followed by a special Year-End Celebration at the Culinary Institute of America.

Click below to register.

The Bounce for the Foundation fundraiser is officially underway!! A fun way to raise money, top Rotary leaders from six Rotary Districts will be competing to see who can raise the most funds for our Rotary Foundation. ALL contributions to The Rotary Foundation’s Annual Fund – SHARE made between March 1st – 20th will count towards this fundraiser! See the recent Bounce for Rotary email for more info.

A few FREE MONEY! updates:

If you’ve already completed your 2024-2025 District Grant project, please remember to check the link on the District website (https://form.jotform.com/242195912056154) to submit your club’s 'Progress Report' to complete the process.

Have you thought about what club project you’d like to receive FREE MONEY for next year? Lucky you!! The 2025-26 District Grant applications are now available online!

We want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your generous contribution to The Rotary Foundation. Your continuous support plays a critical role in enabling us to continue to eradicate polio, provide clean water, education, and everything in between. Your donations help create lasting change in communities both locally and globally. Every dollar counts and brings us one step closer to a brighter, healthier world for all. Thank you!

The Peace NOW Committee held its first meeting on February 5th, bringing together representatives from six clubs, with three others unable to attend.

Our goal is simple: to get clubs involved in Peace initiatives, help the public see Rotary’s role in promoting Peace, and attract more people who care about making a difference. Right now, we're gathering ideas on what clubs are already doing and brainstorming both short- and long-term plans to take action.

We’ll be meeting monthly as we shape our direction, and we’d love to have more club members join us!

The committee is co-chaired by Tony Marmo (Kingston Rotary) and Doug Sturomski (Greater Newburgh Rotary). If you're interested or have questions, reach out to Tony at tony@normannstaffing.com.

Join us in celebrating the newly chartered Rotaract Club at Rockland Community College, sponsored by Suffern Rotary! These passionate and driven students are ready to make a difference in their community while growing as leaders. We look forward to their success and impact!

📅March 25, 2025
⏰ 7:00 PM
📍 Zoom (Link to follow in a separate email)

Join our upcoming Town Hall Meeting to learn how your club can participate in the Rotary Epic Day of Service! Get insights, ideas, and resources to plan impactful projects and engage your community. Don’t miss this chance to collaborate and make a difference together!

The Epic Day of Service website is open for Club Presidents or Project Champions to register their club and enter project information. If your club hasn't started entering your project, you can enter it at Epic Day of Service . The process is pretty simple to register the club and enter a project. The website provides your club with logos, press releases, flyers and project ideas. This year you can even fundraise through the Epic Day website to collect donations for your club. It's all there, made simple as the website collects the donations and forwards the proceeds back to your club less a small fee that includes credit card processing.

Epic Day of Service is all about Community Service, attracting new Members, expanding Rotary's reach through Public Image, and an option to Fundraise. See the Epic Day Flyer for additional information. Other useful resources can be found on the Epic Day website on the For Rotary Members > Resources page.

A survey released by Feeding America in 2022 for the 23 counties in the service area of the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY that includes the nine counties of our Rotary District revealed that 1 in 9 people were living in food insecurity. That amounted to 166,320 individuals. To measure our collective district impact on food insecurity within our region a short Google survey was created and recently emailed to clubs in the district on their programs to alleviate hunger. Eleven Rotary Clubs have already responded, Cairo, Goshen, New Paltz, Nyack, Nanuet-West Nyack, Patterson, Pawling, Ramapo Valley, Red Hook, Southeast, and Walden. If your club would share their program the survey link is District 7210 Food Insecurity Survey

As your clubs wrap up your District grants, please remember to check the link on the District website (https://form.jotform.com/242195912056154) and submit the 'Progress Report' to complete the process. Grant applications for the upcoming 2025-2026 Rotary year will be opening soon, so stay tuned for more information.

We want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for your generous contribution to The Rotary Foundation. Your support plays a critical role in enabling us to continue our work, from eradicating polio to providing clean water and education, and everything in between. Your donation helps us create lasting change in communities both locally and globally.

But our work doesn’t stop here—there’s still much more to be done. We encourage you to consider giving again, or increasing your contribution, to ensure we can continue to build on our impact. Every dollar counts and brings us one step closer to a brighter, healthier world for all.

Together, we can make a difference!

Due to everyone’s incredible generosity, we’re on track to exceed our overall giving goals for the year; but only if every member continues to support our Rotary Foundation. Let’s keep the momentum going! Your continued support is making a huge impact in our local communities and abroad.

The District Public Image Committee will meet on Monday, March 24th, at 4 PM via Zoom, and we’re always looking for new members to join! This month, we’re excited to finalize the district’s new membership and service page, a key resource to support growth and engagement. Remember, the PI Committee is here to help with all your club’s needs, whether it’s designing flyers, brochures, or graphics, we’re just an email away!

With just four months left in this Rotary year, we encourage all clubs to actively invite new members, create incentives for joining, and develop engaging programs to keep current members involved.

As the weather warms up, consider hosting a Rotary Family Day at a local park—an opportunity for parents with young children to enjoy a fun outing while learning about Rotary. To grow, we must meet potential members where they are and create meaningful connections. Be intentional about expanding your club, and don’t be afraid to try new approaches—repeating the same programs may not always bring results!

Share the gift of Rotary with friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues. Invite them to a Rotary event, tell them why you joined, and showcase the connections, impact, and growth they can experience through Rotary.

For more information and support, contact Membership Chair Tony Marmo at tony@normannstaffing.com.

Council on Addiction Prevention and Education

This weekend on RadioRotary on Sunday, March 9, 2025, co-hosts Kathy Kruger and Jonah Triebwasser will be talking with Dora Celestino about the great work of the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education of Dutchess County.

Listen to Radio Rotary on Sundays on “The Beacon” on 92.5 and 920AM along with 96.5 and 94.3FM and WBNR at 1260AM and WLNA at 1420AM Sundays at 7:00 a.m. or https://www.wghq.fm/ or ask Alexa to play "WGHQ" or at 7:30 a.m. or on WBPM 92.9 FM or https://www.929wbpm.com/player/ or ask Alexa to play "WBPM."

Anytime at www.RadioRotary.org (past episodes also available)

• March 20-22: MNE PELS at Hanover Marriott, Whippany, NJ (PE's & AG's)
• May 3: District Learning Assembly at New Paltz HS (ALL members!)
• June 7-8: District Conference at The Inn at Bellefield, Hyde Park, NY (ALL members!)
• June 21-25: Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Alberta Canada (ALL members!)

Take part in this transformative, one-of-a-kind event and experience the Magic All Around at the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada 21-25 June 2025. Learn more and register here.

Help us build a great slideshows that tell our Rotary story!

Keeping members informed between meetings is essential for boosting engagement in your club. Does your club have an effective way to communicate updates and events? Share your methods with us! We'll gather all submissions and share them with everyone next month, providing fresh ideas to enhance communication and connection in your club.