• RIPE Jennifer Jones has named DEI as a Presidential Initiative for 2022-2023. Here’s what she has said:
    • In Rotary, we celebrate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It does not matter who you are, who you love, how you worship, whether you have a disability, or what culture or country you are from. What matters is that you want to strengthen communities and take action to create lasting change.
  • RI’s commitment to DEI includes this language:
    • We believe that all people hold visible and invisible qualities that inherently make them unique, and we strive to create an inclusive culture where each person knows they are valued and belong.
  • RIPE Jennifer has encouraged all of us, individuals and clubs, to show our commitment to DEI by taking a few simple steps:
    • Learning more about DEI in Rotary.
    • Determining why DEI matters in our own club and in our own area and how using these principles can help our clubs grow and become stronger.
    • Raising awareness and increasing understanding about DEI.
    • Taking action on DEI in our clubs and in our communities.
  • We understand that DEI can take many forms but one point RI stresses is that our clubs should mirror our communities.
  • The District 7680 DEI Team is here to help all of us better understand how we can use DEI to make our clubs stronger and grow membership. We know this is a journey and our role will be in helping clubs navigate it.
  • There will be multiple options and multiple ways for Rotarians to participate in how we deal with DE&I in our district over the next Rotary Year.  While is early, there are two things happening that Rotarians will participate with DEI this month-one specifically for the 2022-23 District Leadership Team and one for each and every Rotarian
  • District Leadership Team 2022-23
    • Jennifer Jones also shared, “I believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion…begins at the top…” On Sat May 14th and Sat May 28th (10a-12p) members of the 2022-23 District Leadership Team will discuss what that means for District 7680.The future of Rotary will be very bright or incredibly bleak.  Decisions made now can ensure that 7680 will have a real regional/international impact in 2030 rather than drifting away like many of the “social clubs” of prior generations.  Please see DACDb for more details and register for the session that best works for your schedule.
  • Survey this Week
    • Every Rotarian can participate in how 7680 approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion now giving their thoughts through an online survey that will be emailed out later this week.  Your answers to only a few questions will help 7680 approach the future well and make sure that our Rotary is Stronger and more Impactful tomorrow.

Chris Arline