The Social Committee is thrilled to invite you and your significant others to this year’s Halloween Party at Ziad’s residence on Nov 02, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Please RSVP using the link below.
All members, including their friends and family, are welcome to join. Mark will share more details about this program.
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Greetings Girls' Empowerment Alumni,
(This email is being sent to Former Global Ambassadors for Girls' Empowerment Presidential Initative)
As most of you already know, the Girls’ Empowerment Presidential Initiative was sunset at the end of the 2023-2024 year by Rotary International. While efforts, projects and activities centered on Girls’ Empowerment were encouraged to continue among clubs and districts around the world, many people have wondered and expressed “what’s next for Girls’ Empowerment?” or “how do we really ensure real sustainability and growth in this area?”...this correspondence aims to formally address such questions and update you on the exciting future for Girls’ Empowerment.
Earlier this (2024-2025) Rotary year, RI President Stephanie Urchick asked for the formation of a new Rotary Action Group (RAG) dedicated to Girls’ Empowerment. With endorsements by the Past Chair of the Global Taskforce for Girls’ Empowerment - Elizabeth Usovicz - as well as, support from several RI Directors, Zone and District leaders across the globe, such a RAG is essentially the next logical step to ensure continuity, sustainability and development of all that began in 2021 with the Girls’ Empowerment (née Empowering Girls) Presidential Initiative and that grew to unimaginable heights of success around the world continuously over the last three plus (3+) years.
With the roles, functions and scope that a RAG provides, the benefits, advantages and potentials for Girls’ Empowerment can be focused and maintained, while also emphasizing and accommodating a diversity of opportunities for impactful and meaningful projects, programs, and partnerships at international, regional and local levels, as well as, providing a global hub for ideas, resources and connections. Not to mention the fact that members of a RAG do not have to be members of the Rotary family and thus allows for much broader participation and engagement.
Following RI President Stephanie’s request, a core planning and organizing team has been working on the formation and establishment of a (new) Rotary Action Group for Girls’ Empowerment (RAGGE) which shall be dedicated to continuing and enhancing the amazing work of Girls’ Empowerment around the world. The process of building towards a consolidated and organized RAG with the principles and goals of the Girls’ Empowerment movement is both challenging and exciting. So to ensure both the viability and long-term sustainability of this proposed new RAGGE, key and experienced Rotary International Staff have been and will continue to be part of the planning and organizing process and provide guidance on the necessary steps to be taken and best practices to be followed.
In addition to maintaining the term “Girls’ Empowerment”, the scope of the proposed new RAGGE will encompass the multiple foundational priorities that have been part of the initiative since 2021, including: Education, Health & Wellness, Safety & Well-Being, Economic Enhancement & Security, and Advocacy & Engagement. Concurrently, the program objectives of the proposed new RAGGE will enhance several previous standards, such as regular informative events, use of the Rotary Service Project Center, strong communication assets (website, social media, chat groups, e-blasts, etc.), partnerships both across and beyond Rotary, project support mechanisms and a centralized hub for resources and networking.
We are now at the stage of preparing the official application to Rotary International to establish and charter the proposed new RAGGE…and this is where we need your support!
As prior global ambassadors for Girls’ Empowerment, you are the key to bringing the proposed new RAGGE to life and making it thrive. Equally so, your regional and local networks of district and club advocates and champions of Girls’ Empowerment are pivotal to this endeavor.
Timeline-wise, the hope is to submit a formal application to Rotary International within the next month or so, with the underlying goal of being able to officially announce the RAGGE at Calgary 2025 wherein RI President Stephanie and other Rotary leaders are being kept up-to-date to leverage our collective strengths globally.
You are therefore invited to SIGN-UP and be included in the formation, establishment and operation of the proposed new RAGGE where you will be kept up-to-date and informed as things progress, as well as, invited to participate in planning meetings and discussions. Plus, those that signup will be the first to be offered charter membership in the RAGGE.
Feel free to share this message and call-to-action with your networks, including district and club advocates/champions, interested members of your zone, district or club, and even appropriate non-members of the Rotary family.
Let’s make this happen for the good of all girls around the world!
In Rotary Service ~
Rotary Action Group for Girls Empowerment (proposed) Organizing Team
Organizing Team Members:
PDG Tina Fischlin (USA) PDG Josje Bootsma (Amsterdam) PDG Dawn Rochelle (USA) DG Rysheeka Bush (USA) PDG Annemarie Mostert (South Africa) DGN Debbie Kenyon-Jackson (Amsterdam) PDG Pam Stewart (USA) ARPIC Sean Paddy (Trinidad) PDG Susan Wakefield (Australia) EPNC Kim Walden (USA)
CC: RIP Stephanie Urchick & PRID Elizabeth Usovicz
It is really great to see our club members getting involved in the club events. It was a great pumpkin and a close vote but Christie Whitbeck and her Astro pumpkin won the prize to go to the district contest at the first colony mall this week.
Life continues in Rotary for Christie as she has been moved from Honorary member status to full active member status on 1 November.
Lerleen Hawkins is the October 2024 Rotarian of the Month. Congratulations Lerleen!
Lerleen has been a long-time Sugar Land Rotary Club member and has been married to Larry for over 50 years!
Lerleen embodies the idea of stepping in where help is needed. If you've been in the club for any time, you are probably familiar with seeing Lerleen helping at the front table! She has served several times as club Secretary, Vice President, Sugar Land Rotary College "Professor," and more.
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