Rotary International President, Olayinka Hakeem Babalola (Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria) District 6330 Governor, Lorna Gunning Fratschko (Rotary Club of London Hyde Park) Club Newsletter Editor, Kitty Bucsko
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: http://www.6330passport.org
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2026-2027 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR AND THEMES
Month
Theme
July Maternal and Child Health
August
Membership and New Club Development
September Basic Education and Literacy
October Economic and Community Development
November The Rotary Foundation
December Disease Prevention and Treatment
January Vocational Service
February Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
March Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
April Environment
May Youth Service
June
Rotary Fellowships
MONTH OF AUGUST
Membership and New Club Development
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Focus on Basic Education and Literacy
Tuesday, September 8 - World Literacy Day
Rotary Anthem
Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem!
Click here for We are the World.
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
AUGUST MESSAGE 2026
My challenge to you
Peace does not happen by accident. It must be pursued deliberately, built strategically, and woven intentionally into everything we do. That is the challenge I am placing before the Rotary world this year.
Rotary recognizes peacebuilding as one of our areas of focus. But I believe peace must be more than a category of work we set aside for certain projects. It must become a lens, one we choose to look through every time we plan, every time we serve, every time we ask what kind of impact we truly want to leave behind.
The Institute for Economics and Peace has identified eight Pillars of Positive Peace: well-functioning government, a sound business environment, equitable distribution of resources, acceptance of the rights of others, good relations with neighbours, free flow of information, high levels of human capital, and low levels of corruption. These pillars describe the conditions that make lasting peace possible. And when I look at them carefully, I see enormous potential for Rotary. Not because our work automatically advances peace, but because it can when we are deliberate about it.
That is the key word: deliberate.
A water project does not build peace on its own. But a water project designed with the Pillars of Positive Peace in mind – one that asks how equitable access to resources strengthens community trust – can begin to lay that foundation. A vocational training program does not guarantee reconciliation. But one that intentionally brings divided communities together around shared economic opportunity can start to build it. The project does not change. The intention does.
In Colombia, Rotary’s Pathways to Peace and Prosperity program shows us what this looks like in practice. Working in communities shaped by decades of armed conflict and displacement, the program combines economic empowerment with conflict resolution training and community-led reconciliation. Peace was not a hoped-for side effect. It was central to the design. That is the standard I am calling all of us to follow.
As you plan your next project, whatever the focus area, I want you to pause and ask one question: How does this create the conditions for peace? Consult the Pillars of Positive Peace. Find where your work connects. Then, make that connection intentional. Share what you discover with your club, your district, and your community. The more we talk about peace as a practice rather than a destination, the more naturally it will shape everything we do.
This is not about doing different work. It is about doing our work differently, with greater awareness, greater purpose, and a clearer vision of the world we are trying to build. Every Rotary project carries potential. Our task is to unlock it, not by chance but by choice.
OLAYINKA “YINKA” HAKEEM BABALOLA President, Rotary International (2026-2027)
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
AUGUST MESSAGE 2026
Care without borders
As I sat beside my father in the hospital, listening to the quiet rhythm of machines that now spoke more steadily than his own voice, life felt stripped down to its essentials. Serious illness has a way of doing that. It reveals what matters most, and it reminds us – sometimes gently, sometimes painfully – of what should matter to all of us.
My father was facing advanced cancer. The path was uneven and often cruel, yet even in that difficult space I was struck by a simple truth: Every person, everywhere, deserves access to care that honours their dignity. Not just treatment but compassion. Not just medicine but the assurance that their life holds value.
Watching nurses move with practiced grace and doctors offer both honesty and hope, I was struck by the thought that millions will never experience this level of support. Not because their lives matter less, but because access to care remains uneven across countries and communities. This is not a political argument; it is a human one.
Every family deserves the same chance at healing. Through my years in Rotary, I have come to understand that The Rotary Foundation shows us how this belief is shared across cultures and nations.
At a time when international development funding for disease prevention and treatment is contracting, vital health projects risk losing momentum. Our Foundation – and you, our members – provide the community-driven support needed to keep that from happening.
We are funding vaccines in Pakistan, training health workers in Mozambique, and strengthening fragile health systems in Guatemala. Through the Foundation, international cooperation is not an abstract ideal. It is a responsibility, achievable when people choose to act with generosity, partnership, and shared humanity. I am so proud of our collective leadership.
Sitting there, holding my father’s hand as he drifted in and out of sleep, I was reminded of how fragile and precious life is. The measure of a just world is not found in its wealth or its power but in how fiercely it protects the vulnerable.
My father’s fight was personal; sadly he died in June. But the fight for equitable, compassionate health care that honours every life equally is universal. It belongs to all of us. Through your generosity and commitment to our Foundation – and through the simple act of caring across borders – we move closer to a world where no one is left behind.
JENNIFER JONES
Foundation Trustee Chair,
2026-2027
NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
In District 6330, Rotary leadership – past, present, future
Above (left to right) PDG Mike Chaffee (2022-2023) - PDG Sonja Glass (2023-2024) –PDG Katherine Hahn (2024-2025) – PDG Jeff Ferweda (2025-2026) – DG Lorna Gunning Fratschko (2026-2027)
Above left - DGE Dawn Kennedy (2027-2028) Above right – DGN Peter Maranger (2028-2029)
Remembering Rotary’s July theme – Dignity with Care
Each year, thousands of women and children around the world continue to face preventable health challenges simply because they lack access to basic medical care. Through its July focus on Maternal and Child Health, Rotary works to change that reality. Rotary members support projects that provide prenatal care, safe childbirth, vaccinations, nutrition, clean water, and education for families giving mothers the opportunity to thrive and children the chance to grow into healthy, productive adults.
Rotary believes that every child deserves the best possible start in life and that every mother should have access to quality healthcare before, during, and after childbirth. By partnering with local communities, healthcare professionals, and international organizations, Rotary helps strengthen healthcare systems and create lasting improvements that continue long after a project is complete. When we invest in the health of mothers and children, we are investing in stronger families, healthier communities, and a brighter future for generations to come.
Here in Sarnia, the *Tampon Tuesday initiative part of a movement that began in London, Ontario and has spread to communities across Canada demonstrates how local action can support the health and dignity of women and girls.
By providing menstrual hygiene products to those who need them, volunteers help remove barriers to education, employment, and daily life, reminding us that maternal and child health begins with meeting essential human needs.
The movement was founded in 2009 by Bell Media in London after learning that menstrual hygiene products were among the most requested but least donated items at food banks. Since then, it has grown into a grassroots initiative with chapters and annual campaigns in several communities.
According to the official Tampon Tuesday website, current participating locations include:
• London (the original chapter)
• Sarnia
• Calgary
• New York City
In addition, other communities have adopted the concept through organizations such as local United Ways. For example:
• Kingston has held annual Tampon Tuesday drives since 2020 through the local United Way, collecting well over 100,000 menstrual hygiene products each year for community agencies.
• The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry region has also organized Tampon Tuesday campaigns through its United Way.
And the Rotary Club of Sarnia supports the Tampon Tuesday initiative! Kudos to all involved!
*tampontuesday.com
Rotarians Adelle and Kurtis at the forefront
ROTARY’S AUGUST FOCUS – MEMBERSHIP & NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT
Finding Your Place in Rotary
"I came to one meeting because a friend invited me. I stayed because I found my people."
If you ask ten Rotarians why they joined, you'll probably hear ten different answers.
• One came for business networking.
• Another was invited by a neighbour.
• Someone else simply wanted to give back after retirement.
Yet, years later, very few would say that's why they stayed. They stayed because Rotary became something much bigger than they ever expected.
The Teacher Who Found a New Classroom
"I thought my teaching career was over," she said. "Rotary simply gave me a different classroom."
The Young Professional Looking for Purpose
"I realized," he said, "that what I do for a living could also become a way of serving humanity."
The Quiet Member Who Became a Leader
"The person I became through Rotary wasn't the person who first walked through the door."
Rotary has a remarkable way of helping people discover strengths they never knew they possessed.
Friendship That Lasts a Lifetime
Perhaps the greatest surprise for many members is the friendships. Rotarians celebrate birthdays together, comfort one another during difficult times, mentor each other's children, travel together, and support one another through life's joys and challenges.
Projects bring people together but friendships keep them together. Many members will tell you they joined a club. Instead, they found a family.
There Is No Single "Rotarian"
One of Rotary's greatest strengths is that no two members are alike.
Artists – Teachers – Mechanics - Business owners – Nurses – Students –Engineers – Retirees - Community volunteers
Every person brings different experiences, talents and passions.
• Some enjoy fundraising.
• Others love organizing events.
• Some mentor youth.
• Some build playgrounds.
• Some travel internationally.
• Others quietly volunteer behind the scenes.
There isn't one way to serve. There are hundreds.
Finding Your Niche
Paul Harris, Rotary's founder, believed that friendship and service could make the world a better place. More than a century later, his vision continues to inspire over a million members around the globe.
The beautiful thing about Rotary is that you don't have to know exactly where you fit when you first join.
Your niche often finds you.
One project leads to another. One conversation becomes a friendship. One small act of service becomes a lifelong passion.
And before long, you realize you haven't simply joined an organization.
You've become part of a worldwide family working together to create hope, strengthen communities, and make life better for people they may never even meet.
Perhaps that's the real reason people join Rotary. Not because they were looking for another meeting.
But because they were looking for a place where they could truly make a difference and discovered that, together, they could accomplish far more than they ever imagined.
THE EIGHT KEY FACTORS, OR PILLARS, THAT COMPRISE POSITIVE PEACE ARE:
Well-functioning Government Source
A well-functioning government delivers high-quality public and civil services, engenders trust and participation, demonstrates political stability and upholds the rule of law. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Government Openness and Transparency, Government Effectiveness: Estimate and Rule of Law: Estimate.
Sound Business Environment
The strength of economic conditions as well as the formal institutions that support the operation of the private sector. Business competitiveness and economic productivity are both associated with the most peaceful countries and are key to a robust business environment. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Regulatory Quality, Financial Institutions Index and GDP per capita.
Equitable Distribution of Resources
Peaceful countries tend to ensure equity in access to resources such as education, health and, to a lesser extent, equity in income distribution. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Inequality-adjusted life expectancy index, Education and income inequality and Equality of Opportunity.
Acceptance of the Rights of Others
Peaceful nations enforce formal laws that guarantee basic human rights and freedoms and the informal social and cultural norms that relate to behaviours of citizens. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Gender Inequality, Group Grievance and Exclusion by Socio-Economic Group.
Good Relations with Neighbours
Harmonious relations with other countries or between ethnic, religious and cultural groups within a country are vital for peace. Countries with positive internal and external relations are more peaceful and tend to be more politically stable, have better functioning governments, are regionally integrated and have lower levels of organised internal conflict. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Law to Support Equal Treatment of Population Segments, International Tourism and Freedom to trade internationally.
Free Flow of Information
Free and independent media disseminates information in a way that leads to greater knowledge and helps individuals, business and civil society make better decisions. This leads to better outcomes and more rational responses in times of crisis.This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Freedom of the Press, Quality of Information and Telecom Infrastructure Index.
High Levels of Human Capital
A skilled human capital base reflects the extent to which societies educate citizens and promote the development of knowledge, thereby improving economic productivity, care for the young, political participation and social capital. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Share of youth not in employment, education of training (NEET), Researchers in R&D and Healthy life expectancy (HALE).
Low Levels of Corruption
In societies with high levels of corruption, resources are inefficiently allocated, often leading to a lack of funding for essential services, which in turn can lead to dissatisfaction and civil unrest. Low corruption can enhance confidence and trust in institutions as well as improve the efficiency of business and the competitiveness of the country. This pillar is measured using the following indicators: Control of corruption, Factionalised Elites and Public Sector Theft.
MORE ROTARY FOUNDATION INFORMATION
THE OBJECT OF ROTARY
The Object of Rotary is to encourage and foster the ideal of service as a basis of worthy enterprise and, in particular, to encourage and foster:
FIRST – The development of acquaintance as an opportunity for service;
SECOND – High ethical standards in business and professions; the recognition of the worthiness of all useful occupations; and the dignifying of each Rotarian’s occupation as an opportunity to serve society;
THIRD – The application of the ideal of service in each Rotarian’s personal, business, and community life;
FOURTH – The advancement of international understanding, goodwill, and peace through a world fellowship of business and professional persons united in the ideal of service.
Right-click this image (and open link) to listen to The Object of Rotary
5 AVENUES OF SERVICE
We channel our commitment to service at home and abroad through five Avenues of Service, which are the foundation of club activity.
CLUB SERVICE – focuses on making clubs strong. A thriving club is anchored by strong relationships and an active membership development plan.
VOCATIONAL SERVICE – calls on every Rotarian to work with integrity and contribute their expertise to the problems and needs of society. Learn more in An Introduction to Vocational Service and the Code of Conduct.
COMMUNITY SERVICE – encourages every Rotarian to find ways to improve the quality of life for people in their communities and to serve the public interest. Learn more in Communities in Action: A Guide to Effective Projects.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE – exemplifies our global reach in promoting peace and understanding. We support this service avenue by sponsoring or volunteering on international projects, seeking partners abroad, and more.
YOUTH SERVICE – recognizes the importance of empowering youth and young professionals through leadership development programs such as Interact, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Rotary Youth Exchange.
A Community Comes Together
An update on Sarnia’s Race to Erase
…Our own Rich Bouchard (Member Rotary Club of D6330 Passport)
There were smiles. There was laughter. There was friendly competition. Most importantly, there was an entire community coming together to help others.
Costumes. Challenges. Community. Making a Difference One Team at a Time.
Creativity was on full display as teams arrived in colourful costumes for this year's Race to Erase. The outfits brought plenty of smiles, but they also reflected the fun, teamwork and community spirit that have made this event a Sarnia-Lambton favourite for 20 years.
20 Years!!!
These photographs capture the spirit of this year's Race to Erase, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in Sarnia-Lambton. While teams raced from one challenge to another in pursuit of the fastest time, the real winners were the nine local charities that benefited from the event.
Every Team Makes a Difference. Laugh Together. Compete Together. Give Together.
Thirty-seven teams, representing approximately 150 participants, accepted the challenge, supported by more than 50 volunteers and 10 community organizations that hosted activity stations throughout the day. Together, they raised an outstanding $39,791, with every dollar going directly to the charities chosen by the participating teams.
Rotary Club of Sarnia was proud to be part of the action, hosting the popular "Time Flies" challenge. Kiwanis volunteers also lent a hand by serving lunch at the finish line, demonstrating how service clubs can work side by side in support of their community.
What began in 2006 has now raised nearly $1 million for charitable organizations in Sarnia, London and Cambridge. Even more exciting, the Race to Erase model is now poised to grow.
Changing Lives One Challenge at a Time. When Fun Becomes Fundraising.
With Club Past President Kurtis Lush recently becoming involved, plans are underway to introduce this proven fundraising event to additional communities.
Congratulations to Rotarian Rich Bouchard and the many volunteers, sponsors, businesses and participants who have built Race to Erase into one of Sarnia-Lambton's most successful community fundraising events.
Twenty years is an achievement worth celebrating and judging by these photographs, the next chapter is already off to a wonderful start.
Making a Difference—One Team at a Time.
THE POWER OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Supporting The Rotary Foundation: Turning Good Intentions into Lasting Change
And why the Paul Harris Society is important in Multiplying the Good We Do
One of the remarkable features of Rotary is that when Rotarians identify a need and decide to take action, The Rotary Foundation helps turn that vision into meaningful results.
A contribution from a single club may seem modest on its own, but Rotary’s funding model multiplies its impact. A club donation of $1,000, for example, can be combined with district funds, contributions from partner clubs, and support from The Rotary Foundation to create a project worth $30,000 or more.
This collaborative approach allows Rotary clubs around the world to work together on projects that improve lives. Whether the goal is providing safe drinking water, supporting education, improving health care, preventing disease, or strengthening communities, Rotary partnerships make larger-scale projects possible.
The Rotary Foundation demonstrates what can be achieved when Rotarians combine their resources, expertise, and commitment to service. Together, clubs can accomplish far more than they could independently.
Just as importantly, international projects create opportunities for friendship and understanding among Rotarians from different countries, often leading to connections that last a lifetime.
By supporting The Rotary Foundation, Rotarians help ensure that whenever a need is identified, the resources, partnerships, and funding are available to transform good intentions into lasting change.
By pooling resources and working cooperatively, Rotarians can accomplish far more together than any one club could do alone.
And in working on an international project, Rotarians will make lifelong friendships along the way.
Supporting The Rotary Foundation ensures that when Rotarians see a need and choose to act, they have the resources and partnerships needed to make a lasting difference.
This is the power of The Rotary Foundation!
Summary of new polioviruses this week:
• Afghanistan : four WPV1 cases and 7 WPV1-positive environmental samples
• Central African Republic (CAR): one cVDPV2 case
• Nigeria: two cVDPV2 cases and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• South Sudan: one cVDPV1-positive environmental sample
We’re at the brink of eradicating polio. Click here to view the short video.
“…with continued political commitment, sufficient resources and support for frontline health workers, a polio-free world remains fully achievable.” †
Administering the Polio Vaccine Improving Vaccination Methods
While the familiar “two drops” remain the cornerstone of many PolioPlus campaigns, researchers continue to improve vaccination methods.
In some situations, health workers now use a needle-free device to deliver a tiny fraction of the injectable vaccine through the skin.
This approach stretches limited vaccine supplies, avoids the use of traditional needles, and can make vaccination less intimidating for children.
It is one more example of the innovation helping to bring the world closer to ending polio.
The main driver was dose-sparing: if you can protect five children with the amount of IPV that would normally vaccinate one, that's a tremendous advantage when global supplies are limited.
The fact that the device is needle-free and less intimidating is an important secondary benefit rather than the primary reason it was developed.
Click here to view a video of the device.
And from this site below –
Innovation Series: How a New Method of Delivering the Inactivated Polio Vaccine Could Help Overcome Global Supply Challenges
With SAGE ‡ recommending the use of fractional doses of the inactivated polio vaccine, a solution has been found to address global supply constraints
As the GPEI moves closer to eradication, the original vaccine against polio – the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) – is playing a central role in immunizing children against polioviruses. By finding innovative methods of delivering the vaccine in a fractional dose, the GPEI is exploring new ways to overcome global supply constraints and could help to bring the benefits of IPV to children everywhere.
The role of IPV in the Polio Endgame
Thanks to major steps forward including the declaration of wild poliovirus type 2 as eradicated in September 2015, the phased removal of oral polio vaccines began in April 2016 with the withdrawal of the type 2 component.
As an essential part of this, all countries agreed to introduce one dose of IPV into their routine immunization systems to boost immunity against poliovirus types 1 and 3 and provide a baseline of immunity against type 2 in case of an outbreak of type 2 vaccine derived polioviruses.
‡ SAGE stands for the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization. It is the World Health Organization's highest advisory body on vaccines and immunization policy.
Despite the importance of this step towards the Endgame, there are challenges facing IPV introduction.
• Shortfalls in IPV supply globally have left more than 40 countries without sufficient IPV supply to vaccinate all children through their routine immunization systems.
• Fractional dose IPV is an innovation that could help address this challenge.
Fractional dose IPV
Full dose IPV is delivered through an intramuscular injection. But IPV can also be given intradermally, into the skin.
When delivered in this way, only 1/5 of a dose is needed to generate almost as much immunity as one full dose delivered into the muscle; and two fractional doses generate higher immunity than one full dose.
This innovation is making financial savings by reducing the cost of IPV and enabling the limited supply to go much further.
The Iron Lung - Two stories of interest in
the 21st
Century.
Paul Alexander died in March 2024, aged 78. He contracted polio in 1952 when he was just six years old and spent more than 70 years in an iron lung believed to be the longest time anyone had ever lived in one.
Despite being paralysed from the neck down, Paul
• earned a university degree
• became a practising lawyer for decades
• wrote a memoir, and
• inspired millions with his determination.
When Paul died, many headlines described him as "the last man in an iron lung." That wording caused some confusion because Martha Ann Lillard was still alive.
Now, with Martha Lillard's death on June 26, 2026, it appears that there are no known Americans still relying on an iron lung.
Martha contracted polio in 1953 at age five and, unlike most survivors who later transitioned to modern positivepressure ventilators, she continued using her iron lung because she found it worked better for her.
She was intensely creative.
• She wrote poetry.
• Composed songs.
• Painted.
• Loved old Hollywood films.
• Devoted herself to rescuing Beagles and volunteering with the Humane Society.
In her later years, post-polio syndrome and long COVID reduced her lung function so severely that she required the machine almost continuously.
It's remarkable to think about the timeline:
• 1952: Paul Alexander contracts polio.
• 1953: Martha Lillard contracts polio.
• 1955: The Jonas Salk vaccine is declared safe and effective, and mass vaccination begins.
• 2024: Paul Alexander dies.
• 2026: Martha Lillard dies, marking the apparent end of the iron lung era in the United States.
Paul Alexander showed the world what determination could accomplish despite polio.
Martha Lillard showed the world that kindness, creativity, and love could flourish despite it.
Together, they became living reminders of why no child should ever again have to depend on an iron lung.
DISTRICT 6330 END-POLIO-NOW COMMITTEE
We are proud to introduce the members of our District End Polio Now Committee Rotarians from across District 6330 who are committed to making a difference:
Rotarian
Rotary Club
Katherine Hahn Stratford
Sonja Glass Meaford
Mike Hurry Sarnia
Hala Jawad Global Passport
Kirk Riehl Stratford
Tom Robitaille Sarnia Bluewaterland
Tony Sheard Southampton
Bob Thomas Lapeer
Al Tucker Genesee Valley
Bert Vorstenbosch Mitchell
Sue Wakelin Stratford
What in the past was a one-person effort has grown into a full team, with dedicated members working across four key areas:
• Fundraising & Donor Relations supporting clubs with fundraising plans and connecting with donors
• Communications & Public Image keeping End Polio Now visible and top of mind across the district
• Member Education & Stewardship building a speaker roster and presentation resources for clubs, while making sure our supporters know how much they matter
• Club Engagement reaching out to clubs, especially those new to End Polio Now fundraising.
August is Rotary's focus on Membership Retaining members begins
by helping them feel they belong
When we hear the word membership, it's easy to think only about recruiting new members.
Of course, welcoming new people into Rotary is important, but membership is about much more than numbers.
The Family of Rotary. Rotary has often been described as a family and that sense of belonging is one of the greatest reasons people remain active. When members are engaged and enthusiastic, they naturally become Rotary's best ambassadors.
The real challenge is making sure every person who joins Rotary discovers why so many of us have remained involved for years even decades.
New members should quickly learn that Rotary is much more than a weekly meeting. It is an opportunity to join an outstanding group of community individuals -
• to serve
• to build friendships
• to learn
• to grow as leaders, and
• to become part of a worldwide network of people who are making a difference in their own communities and around the globe.
Membership growth is not simply measured by how many people join. It is measured by how many people continue to find purpose, satisfaction and friendship in Rotary year after year.
They share their experiences with friends, neighbours and colleagues, and that's how Rotary continues to grow.
The strongest clubs are not necessarily the largest. They are the clubs where people are proud to belong, eager to serve, and excited to invite others to experience Rotary for themselves.
taking care of the people who are already part of it.
Growing Rotary begins by
Hand Up Project Committee
The Rotary Project That Never Walked Away Rotary Hand Up – District 6330
Most Rotary clubs launch an international project, celebrate its success, and move on to the next challenge. Rotary Hand Up, a volunteer committee in District 6330, chose a different path – a very different path. Nearly thirty years later, it is still there.
Most Rotary projects end when the grant closes. This one became a 30-year partnership.
What would it take for a Rotary Project to Last 30 Years?
Thirty years of commitment. Hand Up has quietly sustained a long-term commitment to international humanitarian service, first in Cameroon, and then after civil war forced a difficult transition to Guatemala and the Indigenous communities surrounding Lake Atitlán and HueHuetenango as well, on the outskirts of Guatemala City, Guatemala. Hand Up earned something even more valuable than grant funding the trust of local communities, built through consistency, partnership, and a commitment to stay.
This approach offers a practical model that other Rotary clubs and districts could adapt to their own international partnerships.
Rotary’s 2026-27 theme – Create Lasting Impact – describes exactly what Hand Up has been doing for 30 years!
Three decades of trusted partnership have produced measurable results:
• In communities where as many as 76% of residents experience chronic malnutrition, an agro-ecological program is providing families an opportunity to grow nutrient-rich food, receive both technical and business training, and create marketing opportunities to develop sustainable businesses.
• Children make measurable reading gains in after-school literacy programs.
• Indigenous women are building businesses through Rotary-supported entrepreneurship training.
• Thousands of trees have been planted to help protect Lake Atitlán.
• Household water filters improve access to safe drinking water.
• Rainwater harvesting systems provide dependable water for schools.
The model. With the mentorship, encouragement, ongoing support, and practical experience of the Hand Up Committee, even modest-sized Rotary clubs can confidently take on ambitious international projects. Currently, four global grants (one just closed) are operating simultaneously in Guatemala something that has become the norm with two or three more already being planned for 2027.
This is more than the story of successful projects. It is the story of how Rotary Hand Up has been Creating Lasting Impact.
Behind the projects and the long-term successes are remarkable people:
• Two Canadian Rotarians whose vision began the journey.
• A succession of dedicated volunteers who quietly carried it forward for nearly three decades.
• Rotary club partners - Lake Atitlan, Guatemala La Reforma, plus local Guatemalan partners who have shaped each initiative from within their own communities.
• Mayan women whose lives continue to change because Rotary never walked away
Each generation of Rotarians has inspired the next to carry the work forward.
As Rotary embraces its 2026–27 presidential message, Create Lasting Impact, Hand Up poses a compelling question for every Rotary club:
What would it take for your project to still be changing lives 30 years from now?
View a recent Hand Up video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h931xO5Sd4
View a longer version of the Hand Up History – Click here.
Rotary Global Grants
Rotary Global Grants fund large-scale international activities with a minimum budget of $30,000 USD, supporting humanitarian projects, graduate scholarships, and vocational training teams.
Key Requirements
• Areas of Focus: Must target peace promotion, disease fighting, clean water/sanitation, maternal/child health, education, local economies, or the environment.
• Partnership: Requires a host sponsor club/district where the project occurs and an international sponsor club/district from another country.
• Sustainability: Must produce measurable, long-term results led by the local community.
Funding and Matching
• Minimum Budget: $30,000 USD total project cost.
• World Fund Match: Matches 80% of District Designated Funds (DDF) contributed.
• Cash Contributions: Club cash is permitted but does not receive a match from the Foundation.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (TRF)
Donations Are Important!
Clubs must qualify every year! The Rotary Foundation requires Clubs that want to participate in the District Grants program to qualify. To qualify, the club must:
• Be in good standing
• May not have any grant reporting that is overdue
• Have at least 2 members complete the District’s Qualification Training course and quiz
The Certification is valid for One Rotary Year only! Clubs must be re-certified for each Rotary Year.
Rotary Foundation Grants – There are two kinds of grants.
- Global Grants and District Grants:
Global Grants
• Must be in (at least) one of Rotary's Areas Of Focus
• Must be International projects involving at least 2 clubs in 2 different countries. One of these clubs is the host club - the club where the project will take place. The other is the international partner - the club that provides funding and possibly some expertise to help implement the project.
• Must have a minimum budget of USD $30,000
• Club funds are supplemented by the District Designated Funds as, and if, available
• Funds donated to the project from District Designated Funds are supplemented by The Rotary Foundation (World Fund) to fund these grants.
District Grants
• May be local or international in scope.
• Are usually smaller in scale. There is no minimum budget requirement.
• Will usually involve active participation by Rotarians.
• District 6330 clubs may apply for more than one District Grant in a single Rotary year but are limited to a maximum of USD $3,000 per year in District Grant funding.
• Projects must be started and completed within one Rotary year - July 1 to June 30 of the next year.
Ready to Apply for A Grant? Will it be a District or a Global Grant?
3 simple questions to help you decide:
• Is the project in one of the areas of focus? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
• Is the project between Clubs/Districts in separate countries? – No? Consider a District Grant.
• Is the total budget for the project more than USD $30,000? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant
• If you answer YES to all the above, consider applying for a Global Grant
Learn about other Rotary clubs! Make an effort to attend some of the online meetings available -
The Passport Club members are encouraged to join local (and other) clubs to learn more about Rotary, get to know other Rotarians, gain a new perspective and appreciation for Rotary and Rotarians. Here is a list of online clubs where you can earn a make-up along with learning a whole lot more about Rotary! Why not visit them all?
• Rotary E-Club of Canada One – Rotary On Demand, Where you want, When you want!
• Rotary Club of One World
• Rotary E-Club of World Peace
Click here to attend this week’s posted meeting of E-Club of Canada One.
These meetings are posted online and available 24/7!
Timmers
Club President 2026 -27 – Mariann
NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
Discover how the Rotary-Toastmasters Alliance can strengthen your leadership, communication, and ability to inspire others through service.
Incoming Rotary International President, Olayinka H. Babalola, urges Rotarians to Create Lasting Impact in 2026-27.
We are people of action, creating lasting change through service
• Are we effective in sharing our message?
• Do we have communication skills to promote and enhance our business and volunteer actions?
In 2019, Rotary International and Toastmasters International formed an alliance to encourage members of each organization to interact.
• Rotarians could visit Toastmasters clubs to gain speaking and leadership skills.
• Toastmasters could visit Rotary clubs to learn about community events and ways to enrich their lives through service.
As we enter the new Rotary year, how will you and your club create lasting impact?
Many Rotarians in D6330 have already benefited from Toastmasters training and exhibit the proficiency and confidence that the Toastmasters program promotes.
Stay tuned for upcoming information about how to use the Rotary/Toastmasters Alliance to help you Create Lasting Impact.
About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit organization that helps people build confidence through public speaking and leadership. Members learn through a supportive club environment, developing communication and leadership skills that benefit their careers, communities, and organization like Rotary.
For more information – Contact Sue Storie, Rotary Club of D6330 Passport
Remember our Happy Chats – get to know our club members!
Join the Happy Chats – get to know our club members!
Happy Chats are online every Wednesday. Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. -ish – Join us!
Join your Rotary friends for an informal 30-minute get together.
Plan to join our Zoom Meetings! Click here.
And our Monthly Online Meeting!! Plan to join us!
View the video of our monthly meeting of Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Click here to view July’s meeting video
A Rotary Story — A.C. Alrey
ROTARY CLUB OF DISTRICT 6330 PASSPORT
A.C. Alrey's Rotary story starts with a note left on his office door in Abilene, Texas, and a club president he'd never met arriving in a wheelchair to recruit him. Since then, it has carried him through seven clubs in four states, a raffle jackpot over $500 before he'd even paid his first dues, split-verse sing-alongs, two hundred business cards collected in two months, and a role as a founding member of our own Rotary Club of District 6330 Passport. Here is A.C.'s story.
Written from a conversation with, and written responses from, Rotarian A.C. Alrey.
A Note on the Door
I first heard of Rotary back in Michigan, where I spoke to a club once or twice, but I was never invited to join. Later I moved to Abilene, Texas, to do economic development for the city's Economic Development Corporation. Before that I had been a Kiwanis member I was even a Past President of the Kiwanis Club of Fairfax, Ohio, a suburb of Cleveland. But I realized that Rotary, at the time, was more business-oriented, and that was exactly what I was looking for: an organization focused on business people.
One day I left my office for lunch, and when I came back there was a note on my door from the president of the Abilene Rotary Club, saying he wanted to talk to me about membership. I called him and apologized for missing him, and he said he'd stop back by. I had never met the man in person. When he came to my office, he was in a wheelchair he was the president, and he invited me to join Rotary in Abilene. That was around 2007, right when I first moved to town.
“He came back to my office, and he was in a wheelchair he was the president, and he invited me to join Rotary in Abilene, Texas.”
A Bonus of over $500
I went to my first Rotary meeting before I had even paid my dues. It was, hands down, the liveliest club I've ever belonged to and I've belonged to seven. There were fifty to seventy-five people at every meeting, and they ran a two-part 50/50 raffle: you had to draw a spade in the first round, then the queen of hearts in the second. I made it through the first round on my very first day there, right as they were introducing me as a new member and I won the raffle, over $500.
Some people were a little annoyed, since the jackpot carries over when nobody wins, and I'd only just walked in the door. But I said, well, first things first let me go pay my dues. My introduction to my first Rotary club was a bonus over $500.
“My introduction to my first Rotary club was a bonus of over $500.”
Singing, Costumes, and Splitting the Room
That Abilene club had hired a woman to play piano at every single session, and we sang every week. They'd pick three members each meeting one to lead the Four-Way Test, one to lead the pledge, and one to lead the song. We even had our own club song. At Halloween, everybody came in costume.
One meeting they called on me to lead the song and handed me the microphone. I could tell everyone was thinking, oh boy, what's the new guy going to do? So, I said we're going to try something different I want the men to sing one verse, and I want the women to sing another. Everybody loved it. It worked out perfectly, and we had some great times because of it.
“We're going to try something different I want the men to do one verse, and I want the women to do another.”
That same club had a running bit where the president needled a different member every meeting, and he loved picking on me. At one Halloween meeting he was wearing something that looked exactly like a woman's hat, and when it was my turn to speak, I looked at him in front of the whole club and asked whether he was planning to give his wife her hat back when he got home. The room absolutely cracked up best comedy show I've ever seen. We were that close with each other; everybody was always cracking on somebody.
Two Hundred Business Cards
What I miss most about the Rotary of those days is the business classifications. That was the whole reason I left Kiwanis for Rotary in the first place I wanted to meet people from every different kind of business, and classifications made sure a club had real variety instead of ten people doing the same job.
When I later moved to Alabama and transferred into a club there, the rule was that before you could join, you had to collect two hundred business cards. For me, that was easy in my line of work, people were handing me their cards constantly. I had two hundred in about two months, and it meant I got to know exactly who was in what industry all over the city. These days, a lot of people join Rotary without a classification at all, and honestly, it's become a lot more like Kiwanis than it used to be.
“Every day I'd walk in and people would throw their business cards at me I had two hundred in about two months.”
Meeting an Auburn President Over Lunch
Even when I couldn't afford to join the Birmingham club downtown, I'd go as a guest for their lunches and their speakers. One week the speaker was the president of Auburn University, and I made a point of meeting him it
turned out I was about to take a two-week course at Auburn in economic development, and he had earned his PhD from Michigan State, where I happened to sit on the International Alumni Board.
I introduced myself, mentioned the alumni board, and told him I'd be back at Auburn the next month for a longer course. He told me to call his secretary and set up a visit. When I did, I got there early thinking I'd tell him about myself instead, he spent a good hour telling me about him. It was a great opportunity, and it's exactly how I've met so many people over the years: by showing up in new environments and new communities and putting myself out there.
“That's how I met a lot of people being in new environments, new communities.”
A Founding Member of the Passport Club
Since Abilene, Rotary has followed me through Metro Houston's After-Six club, a suburb club near Birmingham, and Grand Blanc, Michigan, and now here, as one of the founding members of our Rotary Club of District 6330 Passport. I don't want to just walk away from something I helped start, so I've stayed involved even when I can't always make the meetings.
You can't legally hold membership in two clubs at once, but as a Rotarian, you can walk into any club, anywhere, and be welcomed as a guest that's one of my favourite things about this organization. I especially like that our club draws members from across the border; it's part of why I've stayed, even after I moved.
“I'm one of the founders I don't want to just leave. I want the club to survive, so I'm going to stay involved.”
What Rotary Has Contributed to Me
More than anything, it's been a network and a relationship with all kinds of people. I've always wanted to be one of those Rotarians who takes off for a week or two on an international project I still haven't managed it, between work and timing, but I want to.
“It's been a network and a relationship of different kinds of people.”
Advice for Today's Rotarians
Don't wait for the club to hand you an assignment. Whatever matters to you, bring it up most organizations today need members to take the lead, because there simply aren't as many hands for every committee. It's on each of us, as individuals, to get to know one another instead of waiting for someone to say hello. You have to be the one who's proactive.
“Don't wait for the club to give you an assignment whatever's important to you, bring it up.”
For my own part, I still need to finish my leadership course I've completed part of it, and the timing just hasn't worked out for the rest yet and I owe it to myself to finally pay off my Paul Harris Fellowship. Hang in there and make things happen. It really does come down to what you put in.
Looking Ahead
Rotary has changed me by putting me in a room with so many interesting people from every walk of life, in an international club where it was never really about making money just about being positive and doing something positive. One thing I'd love to see is a Rotary that's more ethnically diverse, Americans involved whose African ancestors built the Americas to this current civilization. More recognition needs to be given to America’s “foundational Black Americans.” It matters to me. And of course, I’m also hoping to finally take that international trip!
“I want to make Rotary more ethnically diverse.”
In closing A.C.'s Rotary story runs from a note on an office door in Abilene, Texas, in 2007, to a $500 jackpot before he'd paid a single dues payment, from split-verse sing-alongs and two hundred business cards to founding membership in our own Rotary Club of District 6330 Passport. Through seven clubs and four states, his advice has stayed the same: hang in there and make things happen it's based on what you put in.
One of the wonderful advantages of 21st-century technology is that we can conduct an interview in real time, even when separated by hundreds of miles.
The interviewer can be sitting comfortably in her office while the interviewee, using hands-free technology, is driving from one destination to another.
And finally –
Every Rotarian has a story. Some are dramatic, some are quiet, but each one reflects a life of service, friendship, and community.
By sharing these stories, we preserve our club's history, inspire future members, and remind ourselves that the greatest impact of Rotary is often found in the lives of the people behind the projects.
RECOGNIZING THE PRESIDENT’S POSITION
A.C. passes along two certificates earned from the Kiwanis club in roughly 2007 congratulating him on becoming the President of the club.
I include the wording here below only because I believe it’s worthwhile reading and it is important to see the formality of the club and the importance of the leadership position at the time.
PRESIDENT
You have been elected to the highest office that can be bestowed upon you by your club. Your club really believes in you. That is exciting.
You are the visionary, so dream big dreams.
You are the motivator, so inspire great service.
You are the person who sets the tone for the club, so make it a success. Don’t ever forget that this club will not rise above your leadership.
Keep the meetings fun. Make your Board meetings productive. Lead your club to great heights. Involve members, delegate tasks, appreciate your people, surround yourself with successful people and keep people focused on the objects of Kiwanis.
Accept as your goal the task of making your club better, more meaningful to its members, and more valuable in its service to the community. Make this club the “best” that it can be.
Thank you for assuming this position of leadership. I wish you the best, and it is my pleasure to install you as President of the club.
CONGRATULATIONS! I am delighted to share this wonderful occasion with you.
Governor Sharon O’Neal
CLUB OFFICERS 2026-2027
President Mariann Timmers
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Chair
Project Chair
Directors
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Communications
Sue Storie
Jessica Herbert
Deb Beaupré
Sue Storie
Rick Storie
Kitty Bucsko
MEMBERSHIP LIST BELOW –CLUB MEMBERS’ LIST WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES
A.C. Alrey
acalrey@gmail.com
Deb Beaupré debmarjean@gmail.com
Rich Bouchard rbouchard@racetoerase.com
Kitty Bucsko ladykitt@gmail.com
Lynn Coates lynn.coates.1@outlook.com
Sue Elliott susan@sutherlandelliott.ca
Gerald (Gerry) Greig captaingeraldgreig@gmail.com
Heather Macdonald heathermac@BMTS.com
Jessica Morrow jessicaherbert2023@gmail.com
George Ottewell george.ottewell@gmail.com
Nancy Ottewell nottewell@gmail.com
Rick Storie rick.storie@sympatico.ca
Sue Storie sue.storie@sympatico.ca
Lynne Ternosky lynneternosky@gmail.com
Mariann Timmers gtimmers@aol.com
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
EREY – Every Rotarian Every Year
Click here for a short video
Our Every Rotarian, Every Year (EREY) initiative encourages all Rotary club members to contribute something each year to The Rotary Foundation. We hope that you can consider at least $100 USD every year to help us reach our goal to support the Rotary Foundation financially each year.
Sustaining member. One who contributes $100 USD every year is a Sustaining Member. With EREY, we encourage you to contribute an amount you can afford every year.
Click here to listen to We are the World.
Seeing a Need, Making a Difference
A LITTLE HUMOUR
The road by my house was in bad condition after a rough inter. Every day I dodged potholes on the way to work. So I was relieved to see a construction crew working on the road one morning.
Later, on my way home, I noticed no improvement. But where the construction crew had been working stood a new, bright-yellow sign with the words “Rough Road.”
Over the years, my husband and I have usually managed to decode the cute but confusing gender signs they sometimes put on restroom doors in restaurants (Buoys & Gulls, Laddies & Lassies, etc.), but every so often we get stumped. Recently my husband wandered off in search of the men’s room and found himself confronted by two marked doors. One was labelled “Bronco” and the other was designated “Cactus.”
Completely baffled, he stopped a restaurant employee passing by. “Excuse me, I need to use the restroom,” he said. Gesturing toward the doors, he asked, “Which one should I use?”
“Actually, we would prefer you to go there,” the employee said, pointing to a door down the hall marked “Men.” “Bronco and Cactus are private dining rooms.”
An author was coming to my local bookstore to discuss her novel set in the Prairies. The main character was “a strong-willed heroine fighting to survive the hardships of the times.”
When I went to the reading, I was disappointed to learn the writer had cancelled her appearance. The reason? She didn’t want to drive in the rain.
After a recent move, I made up a list of companies, agencies, and services that needed to know my new address and phoned each to ask them to make the change. Everything went smoothly until I made a call to one of my frequent-flyer accounts. After I explained to her what I wanted to do, the woman I reached in customer service told me, “I’m sorry we can’t do that over the phone. You will have to fill out our change-of-address form.”
“How do I get one of those?” I asked.
“We’d be happy to provide you with one,” she said pleasantly. “Can I have your new address so that I can mail it to you?”
I played for a semipro baseball team. At every game, we sold raffle tickets. Half the money paid the team’s expenses ad the other half went to the winning ticket holder. One day they held the drawing just as I was stepping up to bat.
The home plate umpire pulled the winning ticket and then turned to me. “Could you read the number?” he asked. “My vision’s not too good.”
But no -
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. §
