Rotarians “Ride for the Brand”. Yes this is Cowboy logic, but it's true. This year alone our district has had three clubs celebrate a century of giving to their community. Idaho Falls, Pocatello, Twin Falls and, last year, Boise. Today, new clubs are forming in Kuna and Star/Middleton areas. Each of our district’s clubs brings success to fundraising for their chosen projects. Projects that improve our communities, improve education, improve health and improve lives one family at a time.
Globally Rotary has changed the lives of millions by pledging to end polio with the Polio + project. Locally we are helping the environment by planting a Tree for every member in our district – thank you Laurie Zuckerman for your valued leadership.
Soon, (May 18-19) we will meet in Sun Valley for our District Conference to share your stories of how you “Ride for the Brand”. On stage will be Rotary Youth Exchange and the stories of how dreams come true. The Academy will share ideas for FUNdraising – Membership – Public Relations and My Rotary. And yes - some Cowboy fun with a Cowboy poet and line dancing to kick up your heels. So bring your cowboy duds and lets dance.
You all can help make your Conference a success by selling Raffle Tickets. This is our only district-wide fund raiser, so sell – sell – sell. By the way did you hear about our districts’ new Rotary License Plate fundraiser? Want to know more? Come to conference and find out.
Our next adventure is Rotary International Convention in Toronto, Canada, a big thanks to Rich Kirkham for getting soooooo many Idahoans interest in attending. Watch this video for what to do in Toronto - enjoy!
Well partners, thanks for making Rotary work for Humanity.
Terry Jones, '17-'18 D5400 Governor
riding for the brand in sun valley
We’re RIDING FOR THE BRAND at the Rotary District 5400 Conference in Sun Valley, May 18-19! Several new things are being offered this year as we focus on Rotary training as we “join leaders, exchange ideas and take action” with our first ever Rotary Academy. Facilitators are excited to share their thoughts and your ideas on membership, public relations, fundraising and Rotary basics.
Joining us this year from Rotary International is Philip Lustig who hails from Florida and is a past District Governor of District 6930. He is a member of the Paul Harris Society and his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren are all Paul Harris Fellows. Last year, Phil served President Risely as his Special Sergeant at Arms at the Atlanta Conference and will serve President Ian Risely in the same position this year in Toronto. Help us give Phil a warm Idaho welcome!!!
Rounding out the conference activities will be our stirring Club Showcase presentations and a special taped welcome from Jennifer Jones, a Great Marble Shoot Out, several optional Saturday afternoon activities and of course, our Rotary Youth Leadership Award and Rotary Exchange Students! And, more…..
Saturday evening will conclude the conference with a awards, a cowboy poet from Idaho Falls, the installation of our 2018-2019 District Governor Jennifer Deroin and line dancing!
Make those hotel reservations, register for the conference and come ready for some fun, some training and then, even more fun! See you in Sun Valley!
Want a tool to help give exposure to your club’s service projects, source volunteers or find a project for your club? Try justserve.org, a FREE volunteer matching site that is available to everyone. It lets organizations describe their projects, list the time and date of the activity and provides a variety of tools to communicate with volunteers. Volunteers can sign-up for projects online, or be redirected to your club’s website or contact person. They even provide tools to get your justserve.org project onto your website!
JustServe projects should not have a political or advocacy focus, be for-profit oriented, or directly involve volunteers in fundraising or other similar activities.
The best service opportunities are collaborative—working side-by-side with others from all organizations. Community service opportunities should enhance the quality of life in the community, and assist the poor and needy.
If you have questions or would like help setting your club up on Justserve.org, contact DGN Rich Kirkham at 208-251-6570 or richkirkham@gmail.com.
lasting effects of rye
My two favorite Rotary activities are youth and world service. They crossed paths when I received this heart warming email from Bill Stumbaugh, Rotarian with the Bahía de Caraquez club in Ecuador.
In October, 2016, when the outside emergency aid was diminishing [for the earthquake of 16 of April, 2016 which caused great, widespread destruction and social disruption], the club members began considering what to do to help as far as rebuilding the area, the Rotary Club received a letter from the parents of a former Rotary Youth Exchanger informing us that we would receive a donation of $35,000 from Switzerland. This totally unanticipated event was due to the efforts of the RYE girl who had been living with a family in Bahía when their house was totally destroyed by the quake. She lived through this traumatic experience, internalized the horror and suffering of her family, neighbors and friends so much that when she returned later to Switzerland in June as planned, she spoke passionately to so many in her home town of Brig about the experience and her love for Bahía de Caraquez and its people that she energized family, friends, school mates, teachers, and various community members who generated funds through a wide variety of activities to send to Bahía to help. The Rotary Club of Brig which had sponsored the youth’s RYE experience donated $10,000 to the campaign.
Rotary touches lives and changes people. Rotary Youth Exchange touches teens and changes student’s lives. I hope you find RYE touches your life, and changes you. I hope it doesn’t take a house falling down around you before the change happens.
Thanks to you all for your ongoing commitment to RYE.
Todd Fischer, District RYLA Chair
RYLA - Recruit Your Students Now
Students have been submitting applications with more than half the available spots filled. If you have not gotten emails with information about your students, that means you need to get them to fill in the online application. Our goal is to have the camp full by May 15th so recruit your students now.
The student applications are full of thoughtful details, like this response to one of the questions: "I am passionate about living life with a purpose and not letting people drag me down. I love to try new things and fill my life with excitement. My biggest fear is having regrets when I'm older, so I try to take every opportunity I can get to create a fun, exciting, meaningful life as well as better myself, and help my community and others.”
Todd Fischer, District RYLA Chair
only a few weeks left!
celebrating paul harris' birthday
Thursday, April 19, 2018 marked the 150th birthday of Paul Percy Harris, founder of Rotary.
The Emmett Club displayed balloons and sang Happy Birthday to him (not bad for a non-singing club). Each member present received a Rotary coin as President Kathy Buck read a little about Paul Harris’ birth and journey to share his vision of Rotary.
DG Terry Jones was also in attendance and assisted the induction of Emmett's newest member, Dennis Wiley. It was a very special moment for him to be inducted on the birthdate of our founder.
To top off the meeting – where we had a dynamic cowboy speaker – one of Emmett's Past Presidents informed the club that his father Mark Adams, who joined Rotary in another town because of his visits to our club, received his first Paul Harris on that day also. Mark is a member of the Kirkwood Rotary Club, a suburb of St. Louis, Missouri.
The legacy of Paul Harris is alive and well in District 5400 and elsewhere!
Kathy Buck, President, Emmett Rotary
District google calendar
You or your club can add the District 5400 Google Calendar to your calendar subscriptions by clicking here. Here are some advantages to creating a club calendar and integrating D5400's with it:
- Copy District Events that interest you to your personal or club calendars for access to key dates all in one place
- Choose to make the District Calendar visible or hidden on your computer or personal devices
- Control what your audience sees to keep events, deadlines or speakers private, available only to a select few, or public for everyone to see
- Unsubscribe at anytime
- It's free to use and has both mobile and desktop apps
Pocatello Rotary has used this tool for many years. You can see their calendar in action on theClub’s Website
Outlook users can also import the District Google Calendar to Outlook. If your club needs help setting up their own calendar or adding the District's, ask around your club for resources or call Rich Kirkham at 208-251-2222 or rich@richkirkham.com and he will be happy to assist you.
grant updates
It’s May – ten months of the Rotary year are now behind us. How is your club progressing toward its Annual Fund and PolioPlus goals? I can tell you that at least 15 of our 43 clubs are more than 70% of the way to their AF goals and PP goals. Will this be the first year that 100% of our clubs meet their Annual goals and 100% of our clubs contribute to PolioPlus? Check your club’s progress on Rotary Club Central.
If you have an open Rotary Foundation district grant, and your project is finished, you need to upload the final report form and pdf copies of your receipts here.Final reports or progress reports for continuing projects are due May 15, 2018.
It’s also time to be thinking about applying for a Rotary Foundation District Grant for 2018-19. The deadline for completed and signed applications is June 1, 2018. Click herefor instructions on completing your application and the terms of funding.
Marianne Barker, District Foundation Chair
elmore's endeavors
It has been a busy month at the Elmore County Club. They had guests from their local charter school who talked about project-based learning.
Next, the club will be presenting the Sheriff and Police Chief 3 weighted blankets each for their patrol cars and 14 weighted lap pads to the schools. Weighted blankets and lap pads have proven to reduce anxiety in stressful mental and physical environments.
Additionally, the club will also be sending their youngest and newest member to this summer's international convention in Toronto, Canada.
You can also find them fundraising for scholarships and projects by selling corndogs at Crazee Dayz in May, followed by refreshing the community rose garden.
Nancy Thomson, Elmore County
Riseley's visit a success
April 12, 2018, was a fantastic day for the Idaho Falls Rotary Club as they celebrated 100 years as an organization. Their club meeting was held at The Waterfront with two presentations; the first by Rotarian Tim Hopkins providing a superb review of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club’s past 100 years, followed by Rotarian Kevin Call presenting The Heritage Park Project, the club’s next big endeavor.
In the afternoon a groundbreaking for The Heritage Park was held with local city dignitaries and Rotarians, including Rotary International President Ian Riseley. A private dinner followed and the invited guests included District Governor Terry Jones, District Governor Elect Jennifer Deroin, other District 5400 officials and past club presidents of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club.
A Gala Event closed out the day with stunning performances by local high school students, a look-back club video and a keynote address by International President Ian Risely. All guest were treated to centennial cake and ice cream. Additionally, all the guest were able to enjoy an outstanding display of club history with rarely seen artifacts. Now the Idaho Falls Rotary Club is set for the next 100 years!
The Montpelier Rotary Club participated in the Modern Woodsman Trivia Night to help raise money for the Bear Lake County Hospital fundraiser to purchase a new MRI machine. The club members, spouses, children and their exchange student from Belgium took first place.
Jim Griglack, Montpelier Rotary
ROTORACT COMING TO BOISE
After months of planning, Boise will get its own Rotoract Club! There will be an informational meeting/happy hour on May 3 at 5:30PM inviting young professionals and students who are looking forward to service-oriented networking and professional development opportunities. If you know someone who would be interested, have them attend oremail Ryan for more information.
One new wild polio case Reported This Week
NO new Wild Polio cases this week. What is that Polio Eradication Picture? It's the World Immunization Week symbol. This week, we celebrate the millions of children's lives saved and the millions more saved from paralysis by vaccines of all types.
The Countdown to History starts after the final Wild Polio case. Today, we count two weeks since the report of the most recent Wild Polio case. Rotary is committed to raise $50 Million (including Rotarian, public, and DDF donations) to be matched by $100 mil from the Gates Foundation - for each of the next three years - for a total of $450 million for the Global Polio Eradication effort!
Kenya, SYRIA, SOMALIA, Nigeria & DRC - A vaccine derived Polio environmental sample was confirmed in Nigeria this week. No Polio cases have been reported in Nigeria, Kenya or Somalia. No new cases of circulating vaccine-derived Poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) were reported this week in Syria (last case 9/20/17) leaving the total number of Syrian cases at 74 for 2017 and 0 for 2018. One new case was reported in DRC bringing their 2018 total to 4 (22 in 2017).
Quote of the Day - "What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do." — John Ruskin
The Final Three Endemic Countries:
Pakistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. One Polio case reported in 2018 - the most recent case was from the Balochistan Province with an onset of paralysis on 3/8/18. Eight cases reported in 2017. One new Polio-Positive Environmental Sample was reported this week (in Khyber Province). A major Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine campaign - synchronized with Afghanistan - started on 4/09/18 - is ongoing.
Afghanistan: No new Polio cases reported this week. Seven Polio cases reported in 2018 - the most recent case was from the Kunar province with the onset of paralysis on 03/03/18. Fourteen cases reported in 2017 A major Bivalent Oral Polio Vaccine campaign - synchronized with a campaign in Pakistan - started on 4/09/18 - is ongoing. No new Polio-Positive Environmental Samples were reported this week.
Nigeria: No new Polio cases have been reported in 2017 or 2018. The most recent Polio case was reported on 8/20/16. Nigeria has once again gone 1-3/4 years without a Wild Polio case.
Terry Ziegler, Rotary District 5890 Polio Eradication Chair & Zone 21B/27 PHS Coordinator
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We’re RIDING FOR THE BRAND at the Rotary District 5400 Conference in Sun Valley, May 18-19! Several new things are being offered this year as we focus on Rotary training as we “join leaders, exchange ideas and take action” with our first ever Rotary Academy. Facilitators are excited to share their thoughts and your ideas on membership, public relations, fundraising and Rotary basics.
My two favorite Rotary activities are youth and world service. They crossed paths when I received this heart warming email from Bill Stumbaugh, Rotarian with the Bahía de Caraquez club in Ecuador.
Students have been submitting applications with more than half the available spots filled. If you have not gotten emails with information about your students, that means you need to get them to fill in the 
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It’s May – ten months of the Rotary year are now behind us. How is your club progressing toward its Annual Fund and PolioPlus goals? I can tell you that at least 15 of our 43 clubs are more than 70% of the way to their AF goals and PP goals. Will this be the first year that 100% of our clubs meet their Annual goals and 100% of our clubs contribute to PolioPlus? Check your club’s progress on .jpeg)
It has been a busy month at the Elmore County Club. They had guests from their local charter school who talked about project-based learning.
April 12, 2018, was a fantastic day for the Idaho Falls Rotary Club as they celebrated 100 years as an organization. Their club meeting was held at The Waterfront with two presentations; the first by Rotarian Tim Hopkins providing a superb review of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club’s past 100 years, followed by Rotarian Kevin Call presenting The Heritage Park Project, the club’s next big endeavor.
In the afternoon a groundbreaking for The Heritage Park was held with local city dignitaries and Rotarians, including Rotary International President Ian Riseley. A private dinner followed and the invited guests included District Governor Terry Jones, District Governor Elect Jennifer Deroin, other District 5400 officials and past club presidents of the Idaho Falls Rotary Club. 
The Montpelier Rotary Club participated in the M
