2022-05 May

I n the fall of 2020, Kochevar re- Nine Lake Street businesses, whose owners connected with the Lake Street Council about her idea. “Suzanne had come from Ecuador, Mexico, Somalia, brought us a list of the Rotary clubs and their expertise,” Martinez re- and elsewhere, were linked with Rotary clubs calls. “So we went through the list and found businesses who said they needed that spanned the Twin Cities and its suburbs. certain services that matched the clubs’ expertise.” would sit in and listen to the program. “I’ve known Rotary for probably the last 15 years,” says the gregarious 33-year-old. It took months to make all the connec- tions. Many of the business owners had When the Lake Street Council asked if he wanted to partner with a Ro- more urgent concerns. By January 2021, tary club, he was fully onboard. “I love what they do, and they’re nice people Martinez had linked nine Lake Street to work with.” businesses, whose owners had come from Ecuador, Mexico, Somalia, and else- At the time, Quito was limping back into business. He had been pre- where, with Rotary clubs that spanned paring to open a new location for his family’s restaurant, Los Andes Latin the Twin Cities and its suburbs. The busi- Bistro, when Floyd was killed. Then the city erupted, and his restaurant nesses ranged from a taco restaurant to a was in ruins. “When we got here, people were just walking out with stuff. mental health clinic. Everything got damaged and stolen,” Quito says. “All the windows were broken. There was graffiti on all of the walls. They tried to burn one side of “A lot of the businesses had no clue the building. It was a whole week of people grabbing whatever they could. what a Rotary club was,” Martinez says. They even brought in pickup trucks and moving trucks.” “But having that extra support and guid- ance did really help those who wanted to Quito lost almost everything: TVs, speakers, boxes of silverware and make it a partnership.” plates, art on the walls. For that week, he and his extended family slept in the restaurant to spare it further damage. Then, when the chaos subsided, GUILLERMO QUITO did know about the family decided to pool their resources and start over. They reopened the Rotary. He and his family had emigrat- restaurant in September. ed from Ecuador in 1999, when he was 11 years old. For several years, he had Early in 2021, Quito sat down with project organizers and hashed out worked for an audiovisual company some goals. First, he wanted to find a mentor to help him navigate the res- at hotels and event spaces around the taurant industry. Second, he wanted help with repairs (which were ulti- Twin Cities. One of his jobs was setting mately not needed). Third, and most important, he needed to get customers up microphones and projectors at hotels in the restaurant. for Rotary club meetings. Sometimes he Members of the Rotary Club of Minneapolis Uptown did everything Rotary members they could. They held meetings at the res- taurant. They invited friends to breakfast, held meetings lunch, and dinner. “At the end of the day,” says club member Seth Tenpenny, “all and ate meals at we did was listen to Guillermo and try to help.” Los Andes Latin It worked. People came. They ate. Af- ter a year of recovery and help, Quito de- Bistro to aid in cided to return the favor. Last Thanksgiv- ing, he told the Rotarians that he wanted the restaurant’s to donate meals to people who didn’t have homes. But he didn’t know how to recovery. go about it. Fortunately, they did. The donations went so well that Quito expanded the project at Christmas. OTHER BUSINESSES had other needs. Amina Osman reopened her home health care business in July 2020 and Post Plus that fall, but she still needed help with MAY 2022  ROTARY  49

In the future, Rotarians plan to work on electrical work, communication, and her 2020 HEALING PATH PHOTOS COURTESY OF SULEKHA IBRAHIM Healing Path’s website and social media, website. and to help Sulekha Ibrahim develop partnerships with schools, universities, “We did a business assessment after and other health care organizations. our first meeting,” says Sandra Schley of the Rotary Club of Edina. “And not Above: Sulekha only did she have those needs, she also Ibrahim is a reg- had accounting needs. She had legal and istered nurse and contract issues. She needed to do an in- founder of Healing surance audit. She needed marketing as- Path Wellness Ser- sistance. Now we have a cadre of nearly vices, a clinic that 30 volunteers who have helped this one provides mental business. It’s been almost like an MBA for health services. this young woman.” Right: The clinic in May 2020. Osman had never heard of Rotary be- fore. “Rotary and the Lake Street Coun- cil have truly been amazing,” she says. “I can’t thank them enough. I have a lot of people who I look up to in Rotary and who still continue to support us.” The project has led to other relation- ships. One day, at an event organized by the Lake Street Council, Osman started talking to another business owner in the Rotary project, Sulekha Ibrahim, a young woman whose family also came from Somalia. She owned a small health care 50  ROTARY  MAY 2022

business called Healing Path Wellness organized last summer that was covered on local television and attended Services, which provided mental health by Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, who stopped in to meet the business services mostly to members of the Somali owners in the Lake Street project. “Many of these businesses hadn’t had community. It turned out the two women anyone listen to them about the impact of George Floyd’s murder,” Marti- had much in common, and they formed a nez says. “I think that gave the business owners a face-to-face interaction valuable connection. to showcase their storefronts and speak about some issues.” Ibrahim’s business was a couple of Meanwhile, that work continues to radiate outward. John Bodette, who miles down Lake Street from Osman’s. attended the YMCA-facilitated diversity sessions, decided to organize simi- “The clinic was completely destroyed,” lar sessions for his club. The Rotary Club of St. Cloud dedicated four full Ibrahim says. “Across the street, all these meetings to its learning journey. “They didn’t pull any punches,” says Bo- businesses were burned to the ground. dette. “There were some hard conversations. It was very straightforward. And the riots continued for days and days And what was encouraging was that we had between 70 and 90 people on and days. It was very traumatizing. My the Zoom calls. Some people brought guests from their companies. We had staff and I needed some time to deal with high school seniors from five area high schools, and they added a lot to the that.” breakout rooms.” When she was contacted about work- One project that emerged from these conversations was Preschool ing with Rotary, “I did my research [on 4 Success, through which the club is now funding free preschool classes Rotary], and I was like, wow, this is pretty for 60 children who would otherwise be unable to attend. “We talk about cool,” she says. “I was very interested in people being left behind,” says Bodette. “But these kids can’t even get to the meeting people, in working with profes- starting line, because they don’t have the same opportunity as a kid who’s sionals and building relationships.” had preschool going into kindergarten.” After nearly a year, Healing Path re- Elsewhere in the district, Rotary members have started book clubs to opened in the summer of 2021. The main discuss diversity issues. They’ve founded equity task forces and commit- challenge, as for most of the businesses, tees. One club partnered with two others outside the district to compile was getting clients through the door — an unconscious bias resource guide. And eight clubs partnered with Wallin something Rotarians helped with. “They Education Partners to found a scholarship in honor of Floyd, which, sup- really understood my vision and were ported in part by a district grant, provides $23,000 in funds and academic willing to help me with the important support for one student over four years at the University of Minnesota. points,” Ibrahim says. “For example, with marketing I said I wanted to be able to T he rebuilding went on. The residents of Lake Street, and Min- build more referral streams. So we talked neapolis, tried to piece their lives back together. The Rotary about what that means and what that members worked to learn new stories and to write better looks like.” ones. They looked north, to an under-resourced suburb called Brooklyn Park, home of many immigrants and people of color. She and Rotarians designed printed Working with the Nature Conservancy and a local nonprofit, Tree Trust, flyers customized for different audiences. the district identified places that had sparse canopy, high poverty, low In the future, they plan to work on Heal- air quality, and high rates of asthma-related hospitalization, among other ing Path’s website and social media, and attributes, and mapped out the planting of about 80 semi-mature trees to to help Ibrahim develop partnerships create a “peace forest.” with schools, universities, and other health care organizations. About 200 Rotarians gathered in Brooklyn Park for their district confer- ence last May. In the morning they held their business meeting outdoors NOT ALL THE PARTNERSHIPS have in a park. When the meeting was over, they broke for lunch; they had con- worked out so well. For some business tacted local restaurants to send food trucks. When lunch was over, the Ro- owners, the odds were just too high. Such tarians picked up their shovels and dispersed. They dug holes and planted was the case with La Loteria Market, a trees and hoped it was the beginning of something new. Mexican restaurant and grocery. The Ro- tary Club of Minneapolis City of Lakes Amid this new urban greenery, they also dedicated a peace pole. On each helped the business get parking spaces of its four sides it reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in the languages of from the city and a grant to buy new four Brooklyn Park communities: English, Lao, Spanish, and Vietnamese. point-of-sale terminals, and provided ad- vice on how to update its accounting. But “Would we have done this before George Floyd was murdered?” asks it wasn’t enough: La Loteria was evicted Tom Gump. “No. Terrible things have happened. But now it seems like by its landlords and forced to close. things are being done differently. After George Floyd, everything changed, and we changed with it.” ■ Nonetheless, Rotary members contin- ue to listen, learn, and, wherever possible, Frank Bures is a longtime contributor to Rotary and the author of The help. This included an open house they Geography of Madness. MAY 2022  ROTARY  51

THANKS FROM UKRAINE REINVENTING THE WHEEL HOUSTON IN ACTION ABRACADABRA! OURCLUBS build the Panama Railroad and the Pan- ferent demographics that live in Bocas.” VIRTUAL VISIT ama Canal. One of the club’s native Panamani- Diversity’s Emily Talentino encountered this mul- ans, Kelly Hernandez has worked with champions tifaceted diversity for the first time when Floating Doctors, which brings vol- she took a vacation to Bocas del Toro in unteer medical care to the region’s re- Rotary Club of 2012. Within the next few years, she took mote islands. She met a visiting Rotary Bocas del Toro, five more. Shortly after becoming the ex- member who was working on a project ecutive director of a YMCA and a mem- with the organization and joined him Panama ber of the Rotary Club of Attleboro, Mas- at the Bocas club’s meetings. Floating sachusetts, she began volunteering for a Doctors holds a corporate membership Sometimes called the “Galapagos of small nonprofit supporting Indigenous with the club, and Hernandez became the Caribbean,” Bocas del Toro is one communities in Bocas. Inspired, she “took one of its Rotary members. “Rotary is of the most biologically diverse places a big leap” in 2014 and moved to Panama, a big network,” says the 23-year-old, on Earth. Situated off the north coast bringing with her a $5,000 donation from who is passionate about educating local of Panama and comprising several main her club to support the nonprofit. islands, dozens of cays, and hundreds of Rotary and Panama: islets, the Bocas archipelago is home to Since there wasn’t a club in Bocas Pro Mundi Beneficio Isla Bastimentos National Marine Park, a del Toro, that was the end of Talen- 32,000-acre nature reserve that protects tino’s Rotary experience. Or so she The Rotary Club of Panamá — the mangroves, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles, thought. A few years after her move, third oldest Rotary club in Latin America sea turtles, and more than 50 coral spe- she met Kurt Betzel, a former Rotarian — held its first meeting on 3 July 1919 and cies. It’s also adjacent to La Amistad In- from Texas who lives part-time in Bo- received its charter five months later. ternational Park, a vast forested region cas. Once they discovered their Rotary Today, Panama has 16 Rotary clubs and that spreads northward into neighbor- connection, the wheels started turning. 11 Rotaract clubs. ing Costa Rica and boasts 10,000 kinds They held the first meeting of the Ro- of flowering plants, 600 types of birds, tary Club of Bocas del Toro in Febru- Harmodio Arias Madrid, the first 250 types of reptiles and amphibians, ary 2019, and the club was chartered in president of the Rotary Club of Panamá, 115 varieties of freshwater fish, and 215 May 2019 with 28 members. served as president of Panama from species of mammals, including pumas, 1932 to 1936. ocelots, and jaguars. While it started with a base of expats, the club has made efforts to expand its “Rotary principles are good only when The human population of Bocas is membership into the community. During they are practiced,” Arias insisted. “Ro- equally diverse; it includes the Indig- a September 2021 online meeting, con- tary is concerned with things that are enous Ngäbe, large Afro-Caribbean and versation flowed easily between English happening, with concrete efforts and Hispanic communities, and a sizeable and Spanish. Club members recited The actions leading to the benefit of all.” Chinese-Panamanian population, some Four-Way Test in both languages, and of whom are descendants of Chinese the meeting’s speakers switched effort- In January 1936, during a tour of Cen- who immigrated to Panama to help lessly between the two. “I always joke tral and South America, Rotary founder that our official language is Spanglish,” Paul Harris planted a friendship tree in Talentino says. “We bounce back and Panama City. forth. The goal is definitely to bridge that gap and build relationships between the The motto on Panama’s coat of arms local community, expats, and all the dif- is Pro Mundi Beneficio: For the Benefit of the World — a sentiment that suits Ro- tary, Harmodio Arias, and the Rotarians of Panama. 52  ROTARY  MAY 2022

© Ozzie Hoppe /Rotary International. All Rights Reserved women about menstrual and reproduc- tion’s headquarters in Evanston, Illinois. in monthly tree plantings, particularly tive health. “We get to meet interesting “I was excited about focusing on the of almendro trees. That massive rainfor- people who might open a door to new environment. That was the thing I was est tree has been drastically harvested opportunities.” grabbing onto. Since then we’ve had to for railroad building, to the detriment of rejigger our thinking because our biggest the many animal species that rely on its Though some of the club’s activities challenges now are humanitarian aid: fruits during the dry season. With an as- had addressed the region’s biodiversity, keeping people alive and safe.” sist from Steve Bender — the president the pandemic demanded a shift toward of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, more immediate concerns. In partner- Most meetings are still held remotely, California, who has been living in Pana- ship with Rotary clubs in the United and the club is looking for a home base ma throughout much of the pandemic — States, Floating Doctors, and other or- with good Wi-Fi so this option can con- the Bocas and Newport Beach clubs are ganizations, the Bocas club arranged for tinue. “Even without COVID, our mem- also working with the Rotaract Club of the shipment from Minnesota of 43,500 bers live across six to seven islands,” Newport Beach-Global Service on a coral pounds of fortified rice, which helped Talentino says. “Sometimes water and reef project. feed many people in the local commu- wave conditions prevent them from get- nity at a time of great need. “When I first ting back to town. We think the online Its heterogeneous membership joined Rotary, it was pre-COVID,” says option will be helpful.” And because paired with a predilection for ecologi- Rebecca Kuchar, who had heard about work with her nonprofit has scaled back cal projects that protect and improve the Rotary while living near the organiza- due to the pandemic, Talentino currently region’s biodiversity make the club the lives in California part-time — so the perfect complement to the richly varied “We’ve had to remote meetings give her a way to stay Bocas del Toro. “I always thought [Ro- rejigger our thinking involved from afar. tary] was a club for old people,” Hernan- because our biggest dez says. “It’s incredible to look at our challenges now are Still, club members are eager to return club and look at all the backgrounds and to some of their pre-pandemic projects.As ages. There’s a lot of diversity, and that’s humanitarian aid: a tourist town, Bocas deals with its share really nice.” — diana schoberg keeping people of pollution, and with its draw being eco- alive and safe.” tourism, the environment is among the Above: Members of the Rotary Club of top concerns of club members. Through an initiative shared by clubs in District Bocas del Toro: (seated, from left) 4240 (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Panama), the Bocas club participates Rebecca Kuchar, Nico Corea, and Sol Iglesias; (standing) Kelly Hernandez. MAY 2022  ROTARY  53

SAVE THE DATE HOUSTON, USA Friday, June 3, 2022 Appropriate technologies and good habits prevent disease Stop the transmission of disease This can happen through many routes Join us on Friday, through barriers: the proper use of that are not immediately obvious. June 3, the day appropriate technologies together Effective water management, sanitation, before the Rotary with improved habits. Pathogens – and hygiene can provide effective Convention, for things that make us sick – can travel barriers to disease transmission. Join us World Water from faeces (“poop”) into the mouth to learn more about how your WASH Summit 14. of another person, making them sick. programs can help keep us healthy! For registration information see: wash-rag.org

OUR CLUBS CALENDAR May events The greatest show Return of the race Fly the flags Event: Event: Event: Spring Cirqtacular Tackle the Tar Healing Field® of Honor Host: Host: Host: Rotary Club of Knoxville, Tennessee Rotary Club of Rocky Mount, Rotary Club of Winchester, Virginia North Carolina What it benefits: What it benefits: Local scholarships and projects What it benefits: Local projects Date: 6 May Local scholarships Dates: 26-30 May Dates: 13-14 May Jugglers, fire breathers, and aerial- Picture 1,000 American flags, lined up ists make this Monte Carlo-themed After a two-year hiatus, this annual in ceremonial formation, fluttering in dinner party at Zoo Knoxville more mud run is back on track. The weekend the wind. Each flag in this Memorial exciting than the average trip to the festivities will begin Friday night with Day weekend display at Winchester’s zoo. But don’t forget the animals. activities focused on health, wellness, John Handley High School is spon- Attendees can say hello to the tigers and family fun, including a fireworks sored by an individual or organization and gibbons in the Asian Trek exhibit display. The run itself will take place to honor an active military service and tour the new amphibian and Saturday on a course with more than member, veteran, first responder, or reptile conservation facility. 20 obstacles and five mud pits. With other hero. Flags can be bought and proceeds going toward scholarships, dedicated online or at the school. Put a stop to polio the club invites participants to “play in the mud and send a kid to college.” Battle of Event: the barbecue Polio Purple Pinkie Trail Run Sophisticated soiree Event: Host: Lost Pines BBQ Rotary Club of Reno Centennial Event: Showdown Sunset, Nevada Art & Wine Festival Host: What it benefits: Host: Rotary Club of Bastrop County, End Polio Now, Immunize Nevada, Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead, Texas and the club’s foundation California Date: 7 May What it benefits: What it benefits: Local projects During polio immunization cam- Local charities Dates: 27-28 May paigns, health workers apply purple Dates: 20-21 May dye to children’s pinkie fingers to keep A barbecue competition sanctioned by track of who has received the vaccine. A community tradition for four the International Barbeque Cookers That practice inspired the name of decades, the Art & Wine Festival will Association is the centerpiece of this this event, which is held in conjunc- take place for the first time since 2019. two-day kickoff to summer. Live and tion with the nonprofit Immunize Attendees can sip regional wines and silent auctions will be held simultane- Nevada. Registrants meeting at Ran- craft beers while enjoying fine art and ously in person and online, to allow cho San Rafael Regional Park can run music on the shores of picturesque bids from anywhere in the world. A a 10K, or walk or run a 5K; others can Lake Arrowhead. An additional fee pro- junior rodeo and a dance accompanied take part virtually by running one mile vides access to a VIP patio with special by live music will round out a fun- wherever they are. wine tastings and small plates. filled weekend. Tell us about your event. Write to [email protected] and put “calendar” in the subject line. MAY 2022  ROTARY  55

OUR CLUBS: DISPATCHES FROM OUR SISTER MAGAZINES Rotary volunteers in Ukraine ROTARY UKRAINE ‘A big thank you to all our Rotary members who have helped us in Ukraine’ Rotariets The war in Ukraine has increasingly dire situation. attacks, but most of the time, magazine displaced millions of people, it’s a safe place. (Ukraine) creating a devastating humani- What’s your situation tarian crisis along the country’s As of now, most of the borders. In response, The Rotary there now? military actions center around Foundation set up an official I’m living in Odesa. It’s the Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, channel for donors worldwide third most populous city in and Kharkiv. More than a doz- to support relief efforts. At press Ukraine, an important port en smaller cities are also under time, more than $3.5 million has city on the Black Sea coast, attack. The city of Mariupol in been contributed to the fund. in the southwest. Currently, the southeast of Ukraine is there’s no military presence under siege. More than 2,500 While the situation is here, but we live under the civilians have died in Mariupol evolving quickly, this interview constant threat of bombs and and close to 400,000 people with Rotariets magazine editor missiles. Often, air raid sirens are trapped, and the Russian Mykola Stebljanko, conducted will wake us up in the middle army has stopped anyone in late March, offers a telling of the night. We have to get from escaping. Many are with- picture of the troubling events up and hide in a safe place. In out electricity, water, and heat. in Ukraine as well as Rotary’s my apartment, the safest place tremendous relief efforts there. is the bathroom. We huddle What is happening with Stebljanko discusses how Rotary together and spend the rest of clubs in the country are helping the night there. Occasionally, Rotary clubs in Ukraine? and how he is adapting to the we experienced a few rocket There are 62 Rotary clubs in Ukraine. At the moment, only 56  ROTARY  MAY 2022 Photography by Florian Bachmeier

OUR CLUBS: DISPATCHES FROM OUR SISTER MAGAZINES the Rotary Club of Kherson Top: In early March, missiles hit a residential district in the city of Zhytomyr, killing three people. has temporarily suspended meetings, because the city is Lower left: Mykola Stebljanko in the pre-war years. Lower right: Tatyana, 22, says goodbye to her under the control of the Rus- boyfriend Oleksander, 23, at a barracks in Lviv. Oleksander has received his conscription notice. sian military. I recently spoke with the Rotarians there. None Courtesy of Mykola Stebljanko of them are able to escape and they are trapped inside the city. ians distribute this humani- Crimea, for 40 years. But in What’s your message to They no longer meet or do any tarian help to the cities that 2015, I had to leave my na- projects for fear of personal are in dire need of it. Most of tive city because of the Rus- the Rotary clubs around safety. Our district governor the items are clothes, food, sian annexation of Crimea. sent a letter of support to all and medicine. So, my wife, Olga, and I the world? Rotarians in Kherson. moved to Odesa. We felt our On behalf of Rotarians in Third, we are trying to move to Ukraine would keep Ukraine, I would like to say Other Rotary clubs continue help Rotarians’ family mem- us safe. a big thank you to all our to operate and are trying their bers who want to leave the Rotary members who have best to conduct Rotary services. country. We have received When people asked us helped us in Ukraine. It We have created a special many requests from Rotar- why we do not want to means a lot to us during this coordination committee. Each ians in Europe and America leave Odesa and go outside difficult time in our coun- club has a representative on the who would like to host our Ukraine, I always answer: try’s history. At the same committee, and we meet online family members and relatives. We were forced to leave our time, I would like to appeal twice a day to discuss issues motherland once in 2015. to Rotary people to lobby that are facing our clubs. Why don’t you leave We don’t want to leave our their governments and push country again. We are Ukrai- for peace. We are grateful to What kind of relief Ukraine? nians and we would like to our friends around the world I’m already a refugee. I lived stay in Ukraine. who are helping us. projects are Ukrainian in Simferopol, the capital of — ryan hyland/wen huang clubs doing? Our Rotary services fall into the following three areas: The first involves provid- ing help to our hospitals, where a large number of wounded civilians are being treated. The hospitals are in dire need of medical sup- plies. Our district has set up special accounts and has received about US$100,000 from Rotary clubs and districts around the world. We have already purchased and distributed medicine and equipment. We have also re- ceived two Rotary Founda- tion disaster response grants. Second, we are working to coordinate humanitarian aid. Rotary clubs and districts are sending aid via trucks, ships, and air carriers. We are rebuilding Rotary’s humani- tarian hubs along Ukraine’s borders with Poland, Slova- kia, Hungary, and Romania. They have received all the supply items and sent them across the border to our cit- ies. Then, we have different hubs inside Ukraine near the border regions, where Rotar- MAY 2022  ROTARY  57

OUR CLUBS FIND OUT THE LAST TIME YOUR CLUB UPDATED ITS LOGO. HANDBOOK Was it before 2013? Does your logo’s wheel contain more than one color? If yes, then it’s time for a change. Logos to go DON’T SEARCH THE WEB How to keep your to download the Rotary logo or club’s graphics other branding material. While up-to-date Google may be your friend for many things, it’s also packed Montague M. Bear did not have with off-brand Rotary logos. it easy. A Chicago engraver, he created Rotary’s first logo in 1905 INSTEAD, OPEN YOUR ACCOUNT — a wagon wheel with 13 spokes. When members complained that on My Rotary and go to the Brand Center. it looked too static, he added what There you’ll find the tools needed to he intended to be clouds, but create your own club logo, ads, and other which his critics thought looked club resources. like dust, impossibly appearing on both sides of the wheel. USE THE TEMPLATE IN After the 1912 convention, THE BRAND CENTER to create your club’s Bear’s wagon wheel was replaced by the current, gear-like look, new logo. Type in the name of your Rotary club, followed by a wide range of varia- download the logo, and you’re done. tions. The current design became standard in 2013: a simplified, Illustrations by James Graham monochrome wheel along with the Rotary wordmark, which reproduces well in different sizes across digital platforms. This new logo also provides space to add your club’s name. While many Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact clubs have updated their logos, others have not, which harms the consistency of Rotary’s image across the world. “We need Rotary to speak with one voice,” says Liz Thiam, Rotary’s brand specialist. As with major consumer brands, Rotary’s marks feature a standardized and specific font, color, and design that is legally protected, Thiam says, “just like the Nike Swoosh.” But have no fear: With these tips, within minutes any member can create a proper club logo for use on their website, social media accounts, or event signage by visiting the recently updated Brand Center at My Rotary. — joseph derr 58  ROTARY  MAY 2022

UPDATE YOUR DIGITAL PRESENCE FIRST, such as your website and social media. Then set aside a budget and update printed materi- als, starting with signage, event banners, and clothing. After that, refresh Rotary business cards, club flyers, brochures, trading banners, and name badges. PROVIDE YOUR CLUB’S UPDATED LOGO to project partners and outside organizations so they don’t search online — and potentially download an old wagon wheel. RESOURCES • Find official logo templates and graphics for clubs, along with brand guidelines, at rotary. org/brandcenter. • To learn more about Rotary’s brand, take a quick course at rotary.org/learn. DON’T OBSCURE THE WHEEL or use it to depict another graphic element. “I’ve seen the Rotary wheel turned into sunrises and pancakes,” says Thiam. “When a club logo is altered or used improperly, it can create confusion and mistrust.” MAY 2022  ROTARY  59

OUR CLUBS Rotary members honored as Champions of Girls’ Empowerment Six Rotary members were honored in March as People of Action: Champions of Girls’ Empowerment during Rotary Day with UNICEF in New York City. This distinction recognizes the honorees’ commit- ment to improving girls’ access to education, health, and sanitation and hygiene resources, as well as their work to create environments where girls can flourish. Empowering Girls is one of RI President Shekhar Mehta’s key initiatives, and he is encouraging clubs and dis- tricts to make it a focus of their service projects this year. Momtaz Chowdhury Elaine Ruiz Rotary Club of Dhaka Mavericks, Bangladesh Rotary Club of Senador Guiomard, Brazil Chowdhury is vice president of the Institution for Shelter, Training, and Develop- ment of Underprivileged Girls in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which provides housing, food, Ruiz is the director of Sewing and education for girls through secondary school. The organization offers vocational the Future, a project that offers training and, when the girls graduate, job placement assistance. Chowdhury has also professional training to young women in the criminal justice helped girls through the international development or- system. It prepares girls to become ganization BRAC and her family’s own educational seamstresses, artisans, and service philanthropy projects. Chowdhury believes that workers, which helps them find instilling leadership and entrepreneurial skills in work after they’re released and girls benefits them as well as their communi- reduces their chances of being ties, which is why she works with banks to convicted of crimes again. Ruiz provide flexible loans for female entrepre- serves as a liaison between the neurs. She also collaborates with banks girls and the justice system and to provide small-business aid to women plays an integral part in establish- who have lost their jobs because of the ing financial partnerships in the COVID-19 pandemic. community. Mildred Fragante Illustrations by Viktor Miller Gausa Rotary Club of Cubao Metro Aurora, Philippines Fragante has worked hard throughout her career to raise awareness of abuse of women and children. She was a producer for Women’s Desk (later known as Draw the Line), a national TV program that collaborat- ed with the Philippine government’s Women and Children Protection Center on stories about domestic abuse. Fragante also founded Aurora, a resource and education program that works to empower girls, and Reconnect, which pairs journalists and authors with survivors of abuse so that the writers can better tell these stories. As president of her club in 2018-19, she secured a Rotary Foundation global grant to renovate a commu- nity shelter for abused girls. 60  ROTARY  MAY 2022

Srinidhi S U Rotaract Club of Swarna Bengaluru, India Srinidhi S U has devoted his efforts in Rotaract to the health needs of women and girls in his community. He served as the project chair for a menstrual hygiene management session in 2018 and later founded Project Sthree to address women’s health concerns, includ- ing menstrual hygiene, thyroid and breast cancer, and HPV, in and around Bengaluru. The initiative also provides leadership and safety training. He has participated in District 3190’s Red Dot Talks, which encourage men to discuss menstrual issues. His work has given more than 5,000 girls a greater awareness of menstrual hygiene. Lydiah Njoroge Rotary Club of Kiambu, Kenya Njoroge is the manager of the Freedom for Girls program at Health Education Africa Resource Team (HEART), which has directly affected the lives of almost 300,000 girls in Kenya and other parts of East Africa by providing hygiene products to keep them healthy and in school. Njoroge has conducted extensive research on how menstrual concerns affect girls’ access to education. She has worked with Rotary clubs in the U.S. and Kenya and with Procter & Gamble’s Always Keeping Girls in School initiative; she facilitates relationships with program partners to provide girls with resources and help them get an education. The Freedom for Girls program has reached girls in more than 500 schools and trained over 10,000 teachers in mentoring female students. Motalib Weijters Rotary Club of Uden, The Netherlands As a child adopted by Dutch parents, Weijters knew very little about his biological family or about life in their home country of Bangladesh. In 1994, he reconnected with them and saw the needs of people in their community. While in Bangladesh, he worked on water and sanitation projects and later founded a clinic for moth- ers and children. He also established a cervical and breast cancer treatment center that offers services to women and girls in need. These initiatives have helped more than 21,000 people. The clinics are financially supported by nongovernmental organizations and Rotary clubs in the Netherlands and Bangladesh. — ryan hyland MAY 2022  ROTARY  61

TRUSTEE CHAIR’S MESSAGE SERVICE ABOVE SELF We can build a better future THE OBJECT OF ROTARY As an engineer, I have worked my en- help local health centers reach more peo- The Object of Rotary is to encourage tire life for success that can be measured. ple who are vulnerable to malaria, such and foster the ideal of service as a I believe in the kind of success you can as mothers and children. PMFZ is also basis of worthy enterprise and, in reach out and touch. And I also know collecting and analyzing data to ensure particular, to encourage and foster: that it doesn’t come overnight, it hap- medical supplies get to where they are pens one step at a time. needed most. This work, along with the First The development of close collaboration between implement- acquaintance as an opportunity for At The Rotary Foundation, we don’t set- ing partners and Rotary and Rotaract service; tle for a vague idea of doing good; we take clubs across Zambia, has comprised the measurable steps, ones that are concrete first bold steps toward our goal. Second High ethical standards and real, toward a defined goal. It’s progress in business and professions, the that you can see and tell your family and PolioPlus is another example of a recognition of the worthiness friends about, each step of the way. global project that has been engineered of all useful occupations, and for impact. The fact that we have reduced the dignifying of each Rotarian’s Measurable success is what our new polio cases by 99.9 percent worldwide is occupation as an opportunity to Programs of Scale grants are all about. a testament to your generous contribu- serve society; The first member-led program to receive tions, our strong partnerships through the this annual $2 million grant, Partners for Global Polio Eradication Initiative, and a Third The application of the ideal of a Malaria-Free Zambia (PMFZ), seeks to vast network of volunteers who adminis- service in each Rotarian’s personal, reduce malaria by 90 percent in 10 highly ter drops to children around the world. business, and community life; affected districts within two provinces of Zambia. It’s an ambitious but achiev- And we won’t stop now. Rotary spear- Fourth The advancement of able goal, based on a community health headed the drive to end polio, and Rotary international understanding, worker model that has been successful will complete it. Encourage your district goodwill, and peace through a in reducing malaria in other parts of leaders to designate leftover District world fellowship of business and Zambia, as implemented by Rotary mem- Designated Funds (DDF) for polio eradi- professional persons united in the bers and our partners on the ground. cation, so we can finish the job. ideal of service. To help end malaria in Zambia, The As an engineer, I have been proud to THE FOUR-WAY TEST Rotary Foundation, World Vision U.S., see my blueprints transformed into great and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation structures and facilities. But perhaps Of the things we think, say, or do: are each contributing $2 million to PMFZ, I am even prouder of how together in Ro- whose Rotary-led program already has tary we have engineered a better world 1. Is it the truth? begun to expand life-saving malaria — measurably, step by step, project by 2. Is it fair to all concerned? diagnosis and treatment to hundreds project. In Rotary, we can all be engi- 3. Will it build goodwill and better more rural communities. So far this Rota- neers of hope, building a better future for ry year, PMFZ has trained, equipped, and the next generation. friendships? deployed more than 1,300 of the 2,500 4. Will it be beneficial to all new community health workers who will JOHN F. GERM concerned? Foundation trustee chair ROTARIAN CODE OF CONDUCT 62  ROTARY  MAY 2022 The following code of conduct has been adopted for the use of Rotarians: As a Rotarian, I will 1. Act with integrity and high ethical standards in my personal and professional life 2. Deal fairly with others and treat them and their occupations with respect 3. Use my professional skills through Rotary to: mentor young people, help those with special needs, and improve people’s quality of life in my community and in the world 4. Avoid behavior that reflects adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians 5. Help maintain a harassment-free environment in Rotary meetings, events, and activities, report any suspected harassment, and help ensure non-retaliation to those individuals that report harassment. Illustration by Viktor Miller Gausa

2022 CONVENTION ShSuhtuttetresrtsotcokc.kc.ocomm Action figures Before the Rotary Interna- development, peace, addiction Houston’s Downtown Aquarium tional Convention, leaders prevention, the environment, of Rotary Action Groups will or water. Action groups offer giene and the Rotary Action During the convention Raymond Boyd / Getty Images gather for an open house to their technical expertise and Group for Refugees, Forced itself, 4-8 June, attendees can share experiences and search support as clubs plan and Displacement, and Migra- find another type of interna- for collaborative opportunities. implement projects. They can tion, both of which were tional group led by Rotary The event, called RAGTime, help clubs and districts find established in 2020-21. The members. Many Rotary Fel- will take place 2 June at Hous- partners and funding, prepare evening will include heavy lowships, whose members ton’s Downtown Aquarium, grant applications, conduct appetizers and light music. To share a common interest a six-acre entertainment and community assessments, and learn more about the event or passion, will have their dining complex that is home develop plans to monitor and and buy tickets to attend, own booths at the House of to more than 300 species of evaluate their projects.  visit dna-rag.com/rotary-in- Friendship, inside the George aquatic animals. action/ragtime-2022. R. Brown Convention Center. At the open house, you Rotary Action Groups can meet representatives of Learn more and register at convention.rotary.org. are independent, global, Ro- most of the 27 action groups, tary-affiliated groups that are including the two newest: made up of experts in a par- the Rotary Action Group for ticular field, such as economic Menstrual Health and Hy- CROSSWORD 7 Letters for taxees 61 Reply to a coveted 27 Camaro named for 10 Letters for May focus invitation a race acronym superlative chums By Victor Fleming 13 Scottish boy 64 “C’est la _____!” 28 “Drat!” and “Egad!” Rotary Club of Little Rock, Arkansas 14 Bad Behaviour star 65 Trey’s designation 29 Onetime label for Stephen 15 Certain 37-Down 66 College in Cedar Otis Redding 16 Letters for a Rapids 30 “What bothers _____ dot-com’s address 17 Had breakfast 67 “Be on the lookout” that you don’t 18 “Finished!” 20 Speed Wagon message seem to care” maker 68 Aesthetic 31 Sports MD’s 21 Boyfriend 23 Accrue, as interest expression specialty 24 Arid-area refuges       26 Really short 69 _____X 34 Composer Ned musical notes 70 Nursery stock sold 36 Capri or Wight 29 Stevie Wonder’s     in rolls 37 Whitetail or “My Cherie _____”     32 Emulate an ace 71 Crowd around 15-Across 33 Big-time brat 35 Not an exact fig. 72 Agnus _____ 38 Second banana, 36 “Apple cider” girl      39 Some municipal for short buildings DOWN 40 Forced out 43 _____Kosh B’gosh    44 Big abbreviation 1 Kind of bacon 41 Boo-boo, to a tot     in vinyl records 2 Spade of design 42 1991 Nicholson 45 Gullies 46 Last Oldsmobiles 3 Lightbulb, in Baker book about       made comics John Updike 49 Chemically 4 _____ pro nobis 46 Pub draught nonreactive     50 Like deceitful 5 Bygone 47 Instrumental’s lack word-mincers communication 48 “Down by the Old 54 Allude    55 Another, in Aragon 6 Covering of old Mill _____” 56 Tiny, to a tot     60 “It’s so-o-o cold!” Titleists 50 Hotshot’s 7 Symbol of absolute nickname, perhaps     rule 51 A bit creepy 8 Guidry or Darling 52 Popular nasal       9 Escort to the door spray      10 Break open 53 Marx brother suddenly 57 Commercial     11 Onetime FBI head 58 Foal’s dad Louis 59 Himalayan beast     12 Dentist’s directive of legend 19 Martini drinker’s 62 “Got milk?” supply comeback, maybe ACROSS 4 Letters for wagerers who 22 Excessive interest 63 Decline 1 Runner in Steamboat don’t go to the games or Springs races 25 “_____we on the same page?” Solution on page 10 MAY 2022  ROTARY  63

FOUN Making the magic happen Jim Lang’s tricks don’t violate The Four-Way Test “Wizard” I DON’T HAVE A WALLET THAT BURNS UP MONEY. My district governor. I would perform box? It’s totally empty.” I just show Jim Lang at conventions to attract people to it, and you might decide that it wife has that. That’s not true, but our booth. I traveled all over the seems empty. So I believe that I’m Rotary Club it’s a cute line. I use a special wal- world and did magic because of true to The Four-Way Test. of Trumbull, let that you stoke up with lighter Rotary. I was in China, and I started Connecticut fluid. It’s got the mother of all doing a magic show on the Great WHEN PEOPLE ASK “How did you do that?” wicks, and there’s a little striker. Wall. I’ve performed in 26 coun- It’s a surprising effect. It looks like tries and all the states. about a trick, I say, “I did it very flames coming out of the wallet. well.” Most of these things you A MAGICIAN MAKES his living through can learn about on YouTube. But ISTARTEDDOINGMAGICWHENI was about seven when you find out how it’s done, deception. But I can’t lie to you; it’s kind of disappointing. You’ve and I got a magic kit for Christmas. Rotarians don’t do that. We’ve all popped that balloon. Lots of kids do, and they outgrow seen magicians who say, “See this it. I never did. My father was a — as told to nat reade 64  ROTARY  MAY 2022 Photography by Michael D. Wilson

ARE YOU READY TO PLAY? Learn what happens when every club uses one voice to tell Rotary’s story. Tune in to on.rotary.org/gameshow to watch “One Voice, Every Club.”

DISCOVER NEW HORIZONS AT THE 2022 ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, USA, 4-8 JUNE 2022 Build connections. Exchange ideas. Share successes. Register today at convention.rotary.org. And invite a friend to join you. Nonmembers are welcome to register and attend.