District Address: Telephone: Email:
PO Box 445 641-330-3118 des@district5970.org
New Hampton, IA 50659
Seeking District Governor Candidates
Are you or a fellow Rotarian looking to grow in District 5970 and Rotary International? We’ve begun the search for the 2028-2029 Rotary Year District Governor. As District Governor, you’ll be charged with leading the district, serving as an officer of RI and most importantly inspiring our clubs to reach new heights . Get the complete position description.
To apply, you must meet the following qualifications include:
Be a current member in good standing
Completed 7 years of Rotary membership prior to taking office
Served a term as President of a Rotary Club,
Possess good leadership skills
Have strong interpersonal skills and ability to work with others
Able to speak in public
Desire to promote the good work of Rotary on a local and international level
If you’re ready to take on this Rotary leadership role please complete this Application. It requires your secretary's certification. Please send the completed form by April 6, 2025 to District Executive Secretary Suellen Kolbet at des@district5970.org
Global Scholar Lela UdryApril, 2025
This past month, I finished up my second trimester of classes. Although I haven’t gotten all of my grades back yet, the ones that I have gotten back have been good! I’m slowly but surely progressing on my thesis, and my third trimester of classes started this past week.
I have continued collaborating with the organization that Cecilia told me about, Noves Vies. This month, I assisted in the preparation of country reports for several asylum clients of the organization. I researched country conditions in the Gambia and prepared a document for one of their attorneys to help them prepare for the meeting with their client. I am very grateful for the opportunity to collaborate!
Arabic is also going well–even though the course is challenging, I can tell that I am progressing slowly but surely. In the break between classes, I took a brief trip to Morocco, where I saw Tangier and Chefchaouen. It was an incredible opportunity to put what I am learning in class into practice! I am attaching some pictures.
I am still looking for post-graduation jobs. The search is progressing slowly but surely, and I am optimistic that I will be able to find something soon. Thank you all for your continued support, I greatly appreciate it
Rotary Update #3—4/28 Hello from Edinburgh! I am writing this just as I wrap up my last final for my masters classes! It's incredible to me how quickly these two semesters have gone-- I can hardly believe I’m entering the final phase of my degree here at the University of Edinburgh. It has been such an incredible journey so far, and I am so looking forward to the next chapter; writing my dissertation this summer! My course load this semester has been more intense than the last, but I have loved all the class content. I took classes on the anthropology of education, social inequalities in education, and conflict and education, as well as a research methods class in preparation for our dissertation project this summer. The work is challenging, but it is also fascinating and so rewarding.
One of the highlights of the semester was a trip to London with my degree cohort, where we visited some organizations working in the comparative education and international development field. We visited the British Council offices, chatted with students and faculty from at University College London, and heard from education advocacy organizers at the Inter-parliamentary Network on Education and Results UK. It was eye opening to hear from people working in the field and get a broader sense of what careers are available after graduation. I also got to go a few days early to sightsee with a small group of friends from the cohort, which was ideal as there wasn’t much time for tourist-ing once we joined the full group for the organization visits. We wandered the city, visited museums, and enjoyed some incredible food in Chinatown.
This semester was a busy one, and I definitely had my nose to the grindstone for a good part of it, but I’ve also had chances to get out and enjoy life in Edinburgh. I visited other parts of Scotland such as Stirling and Glasgow, toured museums, spent time outdoors, got to connect with friends from all over the world, and now as the weather gets warmer and the days get longer, enjoy plenty of picnics and pub gardens with my friends. Another highlight of the last few months was getting connect with Rotarians here in Edinburgh, particularly for their Burns Night suppers in January. Burns Night, which is officially on the 25th of January but takes place throughout the week, is a dinner in celebration of the great Scottish Poet Robert Burns. The evening consists of poetry recitations, bagpiping, a hearty meal of haggis, neeps, (mashed turnips) and tatties (mashed potatoes), whisky toasts, and traditional Scottish Ceilidh dancing. I went to every Burns supper I was invited to, and as a result, ended up eating haggis four times over in the span of a week! My favorite was hosted by my wonderful host club, the Rotary Club of Portobello.
Wishing you a happy spring in Decorah!
Hallie
|
Michelle Bell, District Foundation Chair 
|
A New Polio Banner is available for Club Events! See it here. Contact foundationchair@district5970.com to borrow it
David Jenson of the Algna Rotary Club has been selected as the District Governor for the 2027-2028 Rotary year. Congratulations David!
Stephanie A. Urchick
President 2024-25
May 2025
No matter how long we’ve been with Rotary, we all benefit from the energy and fresh perspectives of our young leaders. It is my privilege to place this month’s presidential message in the capable hands of one young leader, Vitor Joventino. In his column, Vitor reminds us how teamwork and inclusivity can spark transformative change. As you read his message, I encourage you to reflect on its insights, share in his excitement, and embrace new opportunities to learn. — Stephanie Urchick
I remember the exact moment when I realized the power of Rotary’s youth programs. It was a Saturday morning in Australia during my year as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. I stood among a group of young leaders at a Rotary Youth Leadership Awards event. The organizers challenged us to stand on a large tarp spread across the floor and, without stepping off, find a way to fold it in half.
At first, the task seemed simple. But as we moved, strategized, and adjusted, the reality set in — it required teamwork, agility, and constant communication.
Rotaractors and Rotarians guided us, but no one dictated how to succeed. The decisions were ours to make. And then something remarkable happened. Without being instructed, we collectively decided that no one would be left behind as our space on the tarp shrank.
One of our teammates was a person who uses a wheelchair, giving us an opportunity to adapt, ensuring that he was fully part of the experience. We shifted, lifted the tarp, and reconfigured our positions, using our time to think, plan, and act as a team. In the end, we successfully completed the challenge together.
As we celebrated our success, one participant said, “Society works the same way — challenges will come, but instead of leaving people behind, we must find ways to include everyone.” It was such a profound thought for someone so young, yet it perfectly captured the essence of our experience.
Interact empowers young people to create service projects with real and lasting impact. Youth Exchange builds global citizens who return home with broader perspectives and stronger leadership skills. RYLA develops young leaders equipped to inspire and mobilize others. All of this is The Magic of Rotary, emerging through the actions of youth. These programs are the heart of Rotary’s ability to grow and adapt in a changing world.
But the success of these programs depends on more than young leaders — it requires Rotary members who believe in their potential. I encourage you to sponsor an Interact club, host an exchange student, and support a RYLA participant. Your involvement does more than sustain these programs; it multiplies their impact and ensures that young leaders are not just beneficiaries of Rotary but active contributors.
To those already supporting youth programs, thank you. Your mentorship and commitment make all the difference. And to those considering getting involved, now is the time! Because youth leadership isn’t just Rotary’s future, it’s Rotary’s present.
VITOR JOVENTINO
Rotaract Club of Penápolis, Brazil
At the Cedar Rapids West Rotary meeting on April 17, 2024, Peter Teahen of the Cedar Rapids West Rotary Club was awarded the prestigious "Service Above Self" award. He is pictured here with John Ockenfels, District Governor Carole Bernhard, and Past District Governor Jill Olsen.
2024-25: The Magic of Rotary
RI President-elect Stephanie Urchick celebrates the magic of Rotary. She says members create that magic with every project completed, every dollar donated, and every new member of Rotary.
.png)
