Rotary District 6840
2024-2025 Leadership
Weekly Newsletter

Volume 1 | Issue 21

 March 25, 2025
DISTRIBUTION: 24-25 and 25-26 Presidents, Assistant Governors, Deputy Governors, and District and Club Committee Chairs
 
Greetings from Pascagoula, MS!  I am staying on the beautiful MS East Coast this week as I wrap up club visits. Visiting clubs is my favorite job as Governor.  Meeting more of my Rotary family and learning about the exciting service projects and activities you organize to Create Magic in our communities and around the world inspires me!
 
Announcements
 
  • RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards):  I am excited to announce that applications for RYLA are now open! RYLA is a leadership training experience for high school students who demonstrate leadership potential. Sponsoring a student for RYLA is an investment in the future of our communities. By providing this opportunity, clubs help young leaders develop critical leadership and teamwork skills, gain confidence in public speaking and decision-making, understand Rotary’s values and the importance of service, and build lasting relationships with other future leaders. Rotary Clubs are encouraged to identify and sponsor outstanding high school students to attend RYLA. Whether they are already demonstrating leadership in school, sports, or community service, RYLA will help them refine their skills and inspire them to make a difference. Let’s empower the next generation of leaders together! For recruitment letters for high school guidance counselors, information for club leaders, and application links, please visit: https://ryla6840.mystrikingly.com/
  • District Conference:  WE HAVE ADDED POINTS FOR CONFERENCE REGITRATION!  SEE THE ONLINE WINNING PLAYS AND GET THOSE POINTS RECORDED.  Your conference committee has been working tirelessly to bring you an informative and fun conference. For more information and to register, click HERE.  To keep costs as low as possible for attendees, we need to raise funds to offset conference costs, and we need your help!  There are several sponsorship levels available; if you know of a business that could benefit from advertising to almost 2000 Rotarians in MS and LA, please contact John Olinde (LA) johnfolinde@gmail.com or Carolyn Ishee (MS) carolynishee@gmail.com and they will be happy to reach out or coordinate with you.  Club leaders:  In addition to sponsorships, we also have ads for sale in the official program.  This would be a great opportunity for your club to thank outgoing leaders for their service, welcome incoming leadership, or advertise your signature project or event to other members in the district.  Please ask your club members to help spread the word about these opportunities. Many of our members are business owners who could benefit from this advertising opportunity.   
  • Rise Against Hunger:   As People of Service, District Conference is the perfect opportunity to come together and participate in a meaningful districtwide service project. I have chosen to host a Rise Against Hunger food packing event on Friday, June 6th, immediately before Food Fest.  I am asking each club to recruit 5 volunteers (Rotarians, family members, Interact students, etc.) and donate $500 to support this project. Please don’t forget to budget for this project and to begin recruiting members.  If you would like to learn more about Rise Against Hunger, visit www.riseagainsthunger.org
  • Rise Against Hunger Cooking Competition: To add a fun twist to our district service project, the District Conference Committee thought it might be fun to host a cooking competition utilizing the Rise Against Hunger (RAH) food packets.  Each club president received a RAH food packet at the Halftime Show in January.  All the clubs in each territory should work together to come up with one winning dish!  I will provide a RAH food packet to each Assistant Governor the week of District Conference.  The designated club/member should cook and bring your territory’s winning dish to Food Fest, where impartial, non-Rotarian judges will determine the winner. 
     
  • Grant Closings and Applications:  It’s that time of year when we close out last year’s grants and apply for next year!  All 2024-2025 grants must be closed by March 31st, and 2025-2026 grant applications must be completed by May 31st.  In order to apply for grants, your club must attend a Grants Management Seminar and be certified.  If you missed the Grants Management training at PETS, you have two opportunities to attend via Zoom:  April 7th at 5:30 and on May 2nd at 6 pm. Both will include the step by step directions for applying for a District Grant by the May 31st deadline.  To Register select one of the following links:  April 7th Zoom  or May 2nd Zoom.  If you need assistance closing 24-25 grants or have any questions, please contact Bob Vaughn at bobvaughn6840@gmail.com or call at 832-671-6700 (leave VM). 
  • April—Maternal and Child Health Month: Have you scheduled a club presentation about maternal and child health? Have you considered a service projected related to this area of focus? The Rotary Brand Center has videos to inspire your members on many topics, including this one. Check them out and let’s Create Magic for mothers and children during April!  
  • Winning Points:  It is great to see so many clubs/territories entering points!  The competition is getting fierce!  In order to keep that competitive fire alive, we will stop publishing points in the newsletter during April.  AGs, get with your clubs and help them review the Winning Plays and get their points entered! These points will determine most of the awards at District Conference, and I know you all want to see your club and territory represented. Additionally, we have added points for Conference Registration and participation. Review them online and let’s get those registrations completed and the points entered! There are some great prizes up for grabs, including a party for the winning territory! Don’t let your team down; get those points in!
  • Help us provide meaningful content in the Touchdown Times: What is your club’s next service project, fundraiser, or really interesting speaker? We want to know! Thanks to those who have already submitted information. Please email Ashley.mayley.5@gmail.com with the details at least 3 weeks in advance so we can help promote your event to other Rotarians in the district. 
Upcoming District Events 
 
March 25:  East Coast Territory Fireside Chat (SRYC)
March 26:  Pascagoula club visit
March 27:Slidell Northshore Anniversary (1984)
March 27:  Moss Point club visit
March 27:  Gautier club visit
March 29:  District Team Training
March 31:  Petal Anniversary (1972)
March 31:  2024-2025 Grant Closing deadline
April 1:  Hammond Anniversary (1922)
April 1:Pascagoula Anniversary (1922)
April 2:  New Orleans club visit
April 7:  Grants Management Training
April 9:  Amite Anniversary (1928)
April 17:  Westwego Anniversary (1976)
April 19:  St. Bernard Anniversary (1963)
April 21:  Bogalusa Anniversary (1931)
April 22:  Mental Health Initiative Meeting
April 26:  Club Training Assembly
April 30:  Edgewater Anniversary (1986)
May 2:   Grants Management Training
May 8:  St. Bernard club visit
May 31:  2025-2026 Grant Applications due
June 5-8:  DISTRICT CONFERENCE SUPER BOWL
 
Hope you have a great week and are blessed by your commitment to Service Above Self! 
 
Go Team Rotary!!
 
--Samantha Walley
District Governor 2024-2025
Proud Member of the Rotary Club of Bay St. Louis
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