Rotary Club of Boca Raton West | Newsletter 12 | MAY/ 2023

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2022-2023

President: Luciana Beuke

Vice President: Dini Heizer

President Elect: Angelica Blakely

Past President: Luciana Beuke

Secretary: Marli Saraiva

Sargent at Arms: Bernadete Zagonel

Treasurer: Janne Gesund

Directors:

- Aloysio Vasconcellos

- Angélica Blakely

- Douglas Heizer - DGE 2023-2024

Newsletter Editor: Dini Heizer

President RI: Jennifer Jones

Governor: Louis Vocelle Jr. (Buck)

NEWSLETTER ED. 12 | MAY/ 2023

District 6930 Assembly: Building Stronger Clubs

LLast Saturday, the District 6930 Assembly was held at Okeechobee High School, where representatives from various areas within the district gathered to discuss various topics Our area (Area 1), proudly represented by the orange color, won the biggest attendance, and our club, Boca Raton West won the biggest club with a proportional attendance.

The event kicked off with an engaging session led by Lyle Fried, who spoke on "Club Culture and Managing Change." Fried emphasized the importance of building a positive club culture by creating an inclusive environment that fosters growth and innovation. He also touched on the need for effective change management to keep clubs

relevant and responsive to their members' needs.

The second general session was led by Zone 34 Coordinator Mike Darragh, who spoke on "Creative Membership Strategies." Darragh emphasized the need for clubs to be innovative in their approach to membership recruitment and retention, citing the importance of leveraging social media and hosting events that appeal to a wide range of interests and backgrounds

Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions led by experienced club members and district leaders. These sessions covered topics such as Membership, Presidents-Elect, Secretaries, Treasurers, PR/Communications, Leading The Way (PEs), Club Culture and Retention, Membership Attraction, The Rotary Foundation, AGs, and Governor Aides.

As a member of the Boca Raton West Club, it was a pleasure to attend the District 6930 Assembly and connect with other club members and district leaders. The event was not only a platform for attendees to learn from experienced leaders and network with others but also an opportunity to develop a sense of shared purpose and commitment to our clubs and the district as a whole.

The success of the District 6930 Assembly was a credit to the hard work and dedication of Governor-elect Douglas Heizer and his team. We look forward to seeing the initiatives and programs that will be developed to help clubs and communities thrive during the 2023-2024 term, and we are excited to continue playing an active role in the growth and success of our district.

By Dini Heizer

Lyle Fried

Mike Darragh

Douglas Heizer - DGE

Dini Heizer and Lígia Assunção

Rotary Club of Boca Raton West

KOREA’S FIRST FEMALE DISTRICT GOVERNOR SPEAKS ABOUT WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP

Q. In 2005-06, you became the first female district governor in Korea, serving District 3700. Can you talk about your path to get there?

Sunghee Nam: I joined Rotary in 1998 and attended the district conference a few months later. That year’s district governor was former RI Director Chang-gon Lim. He received a standing ovation whenever he got up to speak, and it made me think about the respect he was given because he was willing to serve others for a year at the expense of everything else. I decided I wantedtobedistrictgovernorsomeday.

In September 2020, Rotary formed a task force charged with assessing the current status of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in Rotary and shaping a comprehensive action plan to help us further value and live those principles throughout the organization. Thisisthelatestinaseriesof blog postsfrom DEI Task Force members reflecting on their work on the committee and why it is critical fortheorganization.

Sunghee Nam received her doctorate in Education from Yeungnam University in 2001 and is currently the president of Daegu Health College. She is a founding member and past president of the Rotary Club of Daegu-Sooryeon and has held various leadership positions at both the club and district level. She is currently RI President’s RepresentativeforDistrict3610.

I began to work hard in Rotary, serving as club president twice. We increased our membership and giving to The Rotary Foundation and received recognition as an outstanding club. When the process began to elect a governor for 2004-05, I felt it would be ideal to have the first female district governor in Korea’s history during Rotary’s 100th anniversary. I spoke to leaders in my district, and they agreed. But they also felt it was important to build consensus across districts in Korea. Many of the other governors were in their 70s, and as I was in my 40s, they felt the timing wasn’t right. But a year later, I was nominated for governor. Although I was disappointed not to serve during the centennial, I made it my motto that we were beginning the next 100 years with an increase of women in leadership.

Q: How has your example inspired other women to seek leadership positions in Korea?

Sunghee Nam

Sunghee Nam: A month or two after I was nominated as governor, another woman was also nominated as governor in District 3690. Suddenly, Rotary had two women governors in Korea. Each district began to form active women’s committees. I was invited to training programs and traveled all over the country givingspeeches.

I knew it was important to take the right steps becauseasthefirstKoreanwomangovernor,I would be viewed as a role model. I worked hard and later served as a training leader for the International Assembly. I continued to donate thousands every year to the Foundation.

When I visited our sister district in Japan, people were surprised to learn I was governor. Even now, women make up only about 6% of membership in Japan. But in 2007-08, Japan had its first female district governor, and I believe that decision was influenced by the fact that Korea had nominatedfemaledistrictgovernors.

Q: You are a member of RI’s DEI Task Force. HowdoesDEIhelpwomeninRotary?

Sunghee Nam: DEI is about recognizing and respecting differences and treating everyone with dignity and respect, allowing everyone’s voices to be heard, and providing equitable opportunities for fellowship, service, and leadership. Rotary has emphasized DEI and created a code of conduct to help women –and others in Rotary – feel comfortable within an environment that is collaborative, positive, andhealthyforeveryone.

When I became governor in my late 40s, most district leaders were in their 70s. When they met me at meetings, they just called me by my full name like I was their daughter. I didn’t feelcomfortable,butitwashardformeto

raise my voice. With DEI, we are striving to create an environment where everyone, regardless of gender or age, feels comfortable speakingup.

Q: What have you valued most about your serviceinRotary?

Sunghee Nam: I often say that the two best decisions I have made in life are the decision to have children and the decision to join Rotary. The fact that someone I love will continue to live on this planet makes a big difference in my life and gives me increased motivationtomaketheworldabetterplace. For society to work well, altruistic actions are needed. Rotary is the driving force for people to do unselfish acts around the world and in their communities. We spend our money, time, and energy doing something for other peopleandforsociety.

In Rotary, I have helped solve problems and resolve conflicts. I have met people from all walks of life. My world has expanded and I havelearnedalot.

By RotaryInternational

Join the Youth Service Month celebration

May is Rotary’s Youth Service Month! Throughout the month, Rotarians, Rotaractors, and young leaders in the Rotary family, including Interactors and RYLA and Rotary Youth Exchange participants, celebrate the service, leadership development, connections, and FUN of Rotary’s programs for young leaders. Join us by recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of your youth participants and the members who empower them!Rotary International will celebrate youth service by sharing a series of stories about the power of youth voice and the adults who champion youth voice on the Service in Action blog and Rotary Voices blog in May and with special features on the 60th anniversary of Interact in the May issue of Rotary magazine.

RSVP to join the celebration and receive updates on all Youth Service Month stories and content.

SUMMARY OF MEETING - APRIL

On April 13, the Rotary Club of Boca Raton West had the privilege of hosting a speaker who presented a fascinating project on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene in Guatemala. The guest speaker was Richard S. Lawrence. Lawrence's talk shed light on the direction needed for clean water and sanitation in Guatemala, and the efforts being made by his team to improve the situation

The meeting began with a brief introduction of Richard S. Lawrence and his background. Lawrencehasbeeninvolvedinphilanthropic work for many years and has a deep interest in improving the lives of people living in impoverished areas around the world His latest project is focused on Guatemala, where he and his team are working to provide safe water, sanitation, and hygiene productstorural communities.

Lawrence shared some startling statistics about Guatemala's water and sanitation situation According to him, more than half of the rural population in Guatemala lacks access to safe drinking water, and a staggering 86% of the population has no access to basic sanitation facilities. These alarming figures have resulted in high rates of water-borne diseases, such as cholera, dysentery, and typhoid fever, which have claimedmany livesovertheyears.

The project goal is to address these issues by providing cleanwaterandsanitation

Richard S. Lawrence

facilities to rural communities in Guatemala. Lawrence's team has partnered with local organizations, such as the Guatemalan government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, to implement sustainable and long-term solutions to improve water, sanitation, and hygienepractices.

Lawrence shared some of the key initiatives being undertaken in Guatemala. These include drilling wells, building latrines and hygiene stations, and providing training and education to local communities on proper sanitation practices. Lawrence emphasized that the project approach is not just to provide basic infrastructure but to engage communities and empower them to take ownership of the project and sustain the benefitsinthelong term.

The meeting ended with a round of applause for Richard S. Lawrence and his team for their efforts in improving water, sanitation, and hygiene practices in Guatemala The Rotary Club of Boca Raton West expressed their appreciation for Lawrence's commitment.

The meeting with Richard S. Lawrence was an eye-opener to the direction needed for clean water and sanitation in Guatemala. The project approach of engaging and empowering communities to take ownership of the project is a promising model for achieving sustainable change. The Rotary Club of Boca Raton West hopes to continue its support of the project and contribute to improving thelivesof peopleinGuatemala

DISTRICT CALENDAR

RCBRW CALENDAR

MAY

RLI

MAY/ 06

Port St. Lucie

District Governor

Instalation

JULY/ 01

District Conference

OCTOBER/ 12 - 15

VISIT US

rotarybocaratonwest.org

RotaryBocaRatonWest

instagram.com/rotarybocaratonwest/

Youth Service Month

04

-InternationalLabourDay

-AloysioVasconcellos

11-ClubCelebration

-15thAnniversary

- Place:Chloe´sBistro

-Address:6885SW18thSt

BocaRaton,FL33433

18-EventobyRCBRWest

-HumanTraffickingAwareness

-Place:PicanhaBrazil

-Address:5650WSampleRd, Margate,FL33073

20-DogsHelpingDogsClub

-MeetatHomesFurDogsExpo

-Place:BarklandDogPark

-Address:9245RanchRoad

ParklandFL,33067

RCBocaRatonWest

RotaryClubofBocaRatonWest

Rotary Boca Raton West

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82654778393?

pwd=eXhrYmlzWWRCRDdBbmRTNWQ0a2w3Zz09#success

25-RotaryMoment

-Speaker:FagnerMoutinho

-Place:Oli´sFashionCuisine

-Address: 6897SW18ThSt

BocaRaton,FL33433