Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo (Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy) District Governor Jeff Ferweda, (Rotary Club of Genesee Valley, MI)
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: https://www.rotarysarnia.com/ Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofsarniaontario
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2025-26 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES
Month
July
August
Theme
Maternal and Child Health
Membership and New Club Development
September Basic Education and Literacy
October Community Economic 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
Right click > Open Link on each flag below to listen to the respective national anthems.
LEARN ABOUT ROTARY CLUB OF SARNIA
Take the time to view a short video on Rotary’s Areas of Focus – Click here!
Right click > Open hyperlink here to view a short and fun video of our RI President
ROTARY FELLOWSHIPS
Rotary Focus Month of June
UNITE FOR GOOD (2025-26)
CREATE LASTING IMPACT (2026-27)
RI PRESIDENT-ELECT OLAYINKA HAKEEM BABALOLA
DGE LORNA TAKES OFFICE JULY 1
LORNA GUNNING FRATSCHKO
MOTHER & CHILD HEALTH
Rotary Focus Month of July
Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem!
Rotary Anthem
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
JUNE MESSAGE 2026
Let’s carry the momentum
As my year as president of Rotary International comes to a close, I offer my heartfelt thanks to each member of our global Rotary family. Your kindness, warmth, and dedication have changed my life.
During this year, I had the privilege of traveling across our world, from San Francisco, birthplace of the United Nations, to the innovative Rotary clubs of Nigeria. In every place, I saw Rotary members and our partners working side by side to create lasting, positive change, reminding me that our strength lies in shared purpose.
That spirit leads naturally to a simple truth: Rotary is not something we attend, but something we do. We are not spectators. We act, and through that action, we transform our communities and ourselves.
As we continue this work, we must keep our focus on building conditions for peace. Rotary is, at its core, a peace machine. But maintaining that machine requires intention, commitment, and steady effort.
That same resolve is needed now as we push toward polio eradication. The final mile is often the hardest, but we cannot falter in our promise to the children of the world.
You have shown that when we Unite for Good, there is no challenge we cannot meet if we stand together. Let us carry this momentum forward with courage, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to the safety and prosperity of all.
FRANCESCO AREZZO President, Rotary International
At right, RI President Arezzo cuts the ribbon on a maternal and child health project in Uganda.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
JUNE MESSAGE 2026
For the common good
Nearly a year ago, I wrote my first message to you as Rotary Foundation trustee chair, encouraging you and all our members to take a fresh look at the Foundation and its unique way of making the world better.
In the months that followed, I invited Rotary members from around the world to share their own stories about projects they have led with Foundation support. They described the impact they witnessed firsthand and how thousands of lives have been transformed.
Now that you have heard about so many successful projects and the wonderful members and dedicated staff who make them happen, I ask that you, too, become part of this success story.
Your donation to The Rotary Foundation already makes a difference. However, I would like to take it a step further and encourage you to think bigger: Consider making a targeted investment in the area most important to you.
Each of us has a particular passion. Yet we all share something in common: We want people around the world to be better off. In Rotary, your dreams of a better world can become reality with the help of The Rotary Foundation. Because Rotarians don’t just dream – they put their dreams into action. And these actions make a real and lasting difference in so many lives.
With your investment in polio vaccinations, you work to ensure that no child will ever contract polio again. With your investment in Rotary Peace Centers, you contribute to world peace. By investing in our Annual Fund, you ensure that effective projects will continue to be sustainably funded.
Not every contribution to the Foundation needs to be large. Every gift helps us achieve the lasting impact you have read about this year. The world needs Rotary more than ever. It needs our courage, optimism, and commitment to the common good. This is why we need you.
We have a variety of areas of focus in Rotary. Whether you choose to support maternal health in Nigeria, literacy programs in Belize, economic empowerment in communities recovering from hardship, or freshwater protection projects, your investment will create a lasting, measurable impact. Giving to the Foundation is about so much more than funding projects. It’s a way to show compassion and empathy for others. As I have said many times before – and I believe more now than ever – everything we do opens an opportunity for someone, somewhere.
I am grateful for this opportunity to serve.
HOLGER KNAACK Foundation Trustee Chair, 2025-26
CREATE LASTING IMPACT
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) – DG Jeff Ferweda (2025-2026) – DGE Lorna Gunning Fratschko (2026-2027)
Above left - DGN Dawn Kennedy (2027-2028) Above right – DGND Peter Maranger (2028-2029)
A NEW ROTARY YEAR
JULY 1 - A NEW DISTRICT GOVERNOR
Lorna Gunning Fratschko (DG 2026-2027)
Lorna is a “seasoned” and long-term member of Rotary, having joined the Rotary Club of London South on April 1, 1996. Lorna now resides at the Rotary Club of London-Hyde Park, having transferred in August of 2020.
She lives her life according to the 4-Way Test, is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, and has attended the Rotary Institute Levels 1 & 2.
Lorna was born in Belleville and grew up on a dairy farm just outside of Tweed with her parents, two brothers and two sisters. As any farmer knows, it was a lot of hard work AND service. Lorna’s family was devoted to Community Service which she has carried on into her life as a Rotarian. Lorna is a lifelong learner and absolutely appreciates the learning and training opportunities offered by Rotary.
Recently she has participated in the Visioning Facilitation workshop in Stratford, ON as well as the Learning to Lead Conference in Toronto from September 27 – October 1, 2023. She is committed to the notion of having more club members serving on District committees so as to have access to District news, service/fellowship opportunities to bring to the attention of their clubs.
Lorna has recently taken on the role of Membership Chair, District 6330 and is grateful for Rotary’s focus on membership. She believes that “every club member is on the membership committee!” Also, the membership committee is her favourite!
Lorna served as President for the Rotary Club of London South for the year 2017-2018 and is happy that the RCLS received their Club Citation for that year. She has served on numerous committees (all but Club Service!) during her Rotary tenure as well as many, many fund raisers. As Chair of the Community Services Committee at the Rotary Club of London-Hyde Park, their current focus is on food security in the NW London communities. This focus has resulted in a Hot Breakfast Program at a local public school, support of the food bank & food program at a local community resource centre, support of our May Court Club’s food program and a successful district grant, supporting the completion of a certified teaching kitchen at another local community resource centre.
Lorna & her husband, Erich Fratschko, member of the Rotary Club of London-Hyde Park, recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary. Their family of 3 daughters, 1 grandson and Junior, the British Bulldog Puppy, means that there are very few dull moments in this family.
Lorna is a committed Rotarian who lives by the Rotary Motto of SERVICE ABOVE SELF. She considers the position of District Governor to be an honour and privilege – the next step in her Rotary Career and Lorna is looking forward to serving District 6330 in this capacity.
Please join Lorna’s LinkedIn community at linkedin.com/in/lornagunningfratschko Lorna is looking forward to meeting and working with Rotarians from across District 6330.
ROTARY’S JUNE FOCUS – FELLOWSHIPS
Click HERE to explore the large list of FELLOWSHIPS available through Rotary.
Rotary Fellowships are a wonderful extension of Rotary’s spirit of connection bringing together Rotarians, family members, and even program participants from around the world who share common interests, hobbies, or professions. Whether it’s sailing, photography, cycling, wine appreciation, or servicefocused causes, Fellowships create opportunities for friendship that go beyond regular club meetings. They remind us that Rotary is not only about what we do in our communities, but also about the meaningful relationships we build along the way—often across cultures, countries, and continents.
One particularly fitting example for Canadians is the Rotary Fellowship of Curling, which celebrates both sport and camaraderie. Curling, with its emphasis on teamwork, strategy, and good sportsmanship, reflects many of the same values that define Rotary itself. Members of this Fellowship enjoy connecting through bonspiels, friendly competition, and shared experiences on and off the ice—proving that fellowship, in its truest sense, is about warmth, laughter, and lasting friendship, even in the coldest of settings.
In a world where meaningful connection is more important than ever, Rotary Fellowships offer a simple invitation: find something you love and share it with others who feel the same. Whether joining an existing group or helping to start a new one, Fellowships enrich the Rotary experience—adding joy, purpose, and a deeper sense of belonging to our global community.
For example, Curling –
This Fellowship plans a World Championship every two years! In 2024, the event was held in Peterborough, Ontario! And a Canadian team won!
This Canadian team was also represented at the 2025 District 6330 Conference in Stratford – and shared personal stories and memories about this Rotary Fellowship!
The 2026 Rotary World Curling Championships (28th Rotary World Championship) were held in Stranraer, Scotland, from Thursday, April 2 to Saturday, April 11, 2026.
The event took place at the Stranraer Ice Rink at the North West Castle Hotel.
While the Rotary Club of Peterborough Curling Team won a spot to compete in the 2026 Worlds, and the 2024 event was held in Peterborough, the 2026 Championships were hosted in Scotland by the Ayr and Stranraer Rotary Clubs.
• Location: North West Castle Hotel/Stranraer Ice Rink, Scotland
• Dates: April 2–11, 2026
• Participants: Teams from Canada, USA, and Scotland
The winning Canadian Team hailed from Grand Prairie Sunrise Rotary Club in Alberta!
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (TRF) INFORMATION
WHAT ARE PROGRAMS OF SCALE GRANTS?
The Programs of Scale grants are a special type of grant that processes awards funding to successful memberled programs so they can implement larger, higher-impact initiatives in our areas of focus – one of our Action Plan priorities.
Each year, The Rotary Foundation grants one Programs of Scale award of US$2 million to a club- or districtsponsored program that has proven its effectiveness and is ready to expand. The programs need to use sustainable, evidence-based methods and have outcomes that can be measured.
WHAT IS THE ROTARY FOUNDATION CADRE OF TECHNICAL ADVISORS?
The Cadre of Technical Advisers is a group of Rotary members who offer their expertise and advice to clubs and districts that are planning and carrying out grant projects around the world.
They also strengthen the impact of Rotary’s grants by safeguarding Foundation funds.
Cadre members provide guidance about conducting community assessments, incorporating sustainability, setting up monitoring or evaluation plans, and properly managing the financial aspects of a project.
More than 550 Cadre members who speak more than 80 languages come from 75 countries. You can connect with Cadre members who have expertise in a specific area of focus or in a particular language, country, or district.
WHAT ARE DISTRICT AND GLOBAL GRANTS?
The Rotary Foundation has spent more than US$4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects around the world. Rotary members can work with communities through Foundation grants:
• District grants fund small-scale, short-term activities that address needs in your community and communities abroad.
• Global grants fund large, international activities with sustainable and measurable results in Rotary’s areas of focus.
Global Grants
Support large international projects, scholarships, and vocational training teams that have sustainable and measurable results in one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus. They range from $30,000 to $400,000.
District Grants
Fund smaller-scale, short-term projects that address immediate needs in your community or abroad.
HOW DO DISTRICT GRANTS HELP AT HOME?
A Rotary club in the United States used a US$3,000 district grant to purchase food and personal care items for a local food bank that saw a 50% increase in need.
A Rotary club in India is using a district grant to provide hygiene kits and training to girls who might otherwise miss school when they are menstruating. The project aims to help 40,000 girls.
WHAT ARE DISASTER RESPONSE GRANTS?
When communities are affected by catastrophes, The Rotary Foundation supports relief and recovery efforts through grants from the Rotary Disaster Response Fund, which grants of up to US$25,000.
WHAT ARE THE BEST FINANCIAL PRACTICES FOR GRANT FUNDS?
Because grant funds come from donor contributions, it’s important for sponsors to manage these funds prudently, transparently, and in accordance with Rotary Foundation policies. Some good ways to do that are to:
• Follow your spending plan to distribute and use grant funds for their stated purpose and in a timely manner.
• Make project-related payments by check or other traceable method.
• If payments are made electronically by one person, maintain a paper record showing that the payment was approved by both signatories.
• Maintain detailed receipts and record each transaction. Your ledger should list each transaction and note the date, the amount, and the reason for it.
• Share information so you can manage grant payments smoothly and keep funds secure.
WHAT MAKES A GLOBAL GRANT APPLICATION SUCCESSFUL?
Consult with local experts early in the planning process to build a strong project plan and global grant application. Your application needs to clearly describe how your project, scholarship, or vocational training team:
• responds to real community needs
• aligns with one of Rotary’s areas of focus
• actively involves Rotary members and community members
• meets the eligibility requirements in the grant terms and
• conditions
• includes measurable goals, and
• will be sustainable and successful long after the global grant funds have been spent
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION (TRF) INFORMATION
WHAT IS A GLOBAL GRANT FOR VOCATIONAL TRAINING?
Vocational training teams are groups of professionals who travel to another country, either to learn more about their profession or to teach local professionals more about it.
The Rotary Foundation funds vocational training teams in our areas of focus through global grants. This training is often carried out in conjunction with a humanitarian project.
A team should include at least three people. The team leader needs to be a Rotary member, while the other participants can be members or non-members who have experience in the area of focus.
Rotary previously had a program called Group Study Exchange, which was phased out when we updated our grant model and placed this activity within global grants. Think about whether you could join a vocational training team or know a non-member who could participate.
Support Rotary member-led, evidence-based, programs that have already demonstrated success.
WORDS FROM A VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM PARTICIPANT
“With a [vocational training team], you also develop professional relationships between skilled individuals on both sides. The level of interpersonal engagement can’t be duplicated in another type of activity; the team members are not just colleagues but friends.”
— Ron Smith, PDG of District 7430 (Pennsylvania)
WHAT ARE THE ROTARY HEALTHY COMMUNITY CHALLENGE GRANTS
These grants provide longer-term resources to implement large-scale, high-impact programs to reduce severe disease and death from malaria, lower respiratory infections, and diarrhea — the top killers of children under 5 years, in target countries.
WHAT ARE THE ROTARY PEACE FELLOWSHIPS?
Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders to study at Rotary Peace Centers at universities around the world. Since 2002, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,500 fellows who work in over 115 countries in education, in government roles, and at international organizations.
1. DRAFT
Rotary members plan a project or scholarship and build their grant application online
2. AUTHORIZATION
Club and district leaders review the application and authorize funding.
3. SUBMITTED
The grant’s planners submit the application to The Rotary Foundation
4. APPROVED
If the grant is approved, the Foundation issues payment.
5. COMPLETION
Members carry out the project, reporting to the Foundation annually until the work or studies are finished and the grant is closed.
WHAT ARE THE ARCH KLUMPH SOCIETY AND THE LEGACY SOCIETY?
Donors whose cumulative gifts total US$250,000 or more are recognized as members of the Arch Klumph Society. Since 2004, more than 2,400 people have joined the Arch Klumph Society. Donors who promise a gift of US$1 million or more to the Endowment are invited to join the Legacy Society.
WHAT ARE MAJOR DONORS?
Major Donors are people who have contributed at least US$10,000 to The Rotary Foundation. More than 56,000 people have become Major Donors since the program began.
Questions about the grant process? We're here to help, from getting you started to final steps.
Click here to get answers to questions about grants.
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.
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
What's the Paul Harris Society?
The Paul Harris Society is the name given to those Rotarians who pledge a $1000 gift annually – every year. You may know these committed individuals they wear a flag below their Rotary pin that reads PHS.
One easy way to give at the $1000 level is through Rotary Direct sign up and an amount of money you designate is automatically deducted from your account each month. Learn more at www.rotary.org.
Members of the Paul Harris Society know that the need never ends -- and neither should the giving.
D6330 Long-time Paul Harris Society Chair is Rotarian Jamie Pole.
What your giving supports
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali
• Clean water and sanitation which assists in preventing disease
• Life-saving health care to mothers and children
• Peace and peace building
• Education and literacy
• Economic and community development
In District 6330 we are proud of the generous members in our Paul Harris Society.
We have over 32 of our clubs that now have members in the Paul Harris Society.
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Paul Harris Society Coordinator, District 6330 – Jamie Pole!
Rotarian Jamie Pole RC of Sarnia
THE POWER OF ROTARY FOUNDATION
Supporting The Rotary Foundation: Turning Good Intentions into Lasting Change
Multiplying the Good We Do
One of Rotary’s greatest strengths is that when individual Rotarians care enough to act, The Rotary Foundation allows those efforts to grow into projects that can change entire communities.
Each year, Rotarians contribute to The Rotary Foundation, and those contributions do something quite remarkable. They do not simply sit in an account or disappear into administration.
Instead, these monies return to districts and are combined with funds from other clubs, districts, and Rotary’s World Fund to support projects that address real needs around the world.
Through this unique model, even a modest contribution from a Rotary club can become part of a much larger initiative.
An individual club might contribute $1,000, but when that amount is combined with district support, partner clubs, and matching funds from The Rotary Foundation, the total project budget can grow to $30,000 or more.
What begins as one club’s idea can become a partnership between Rotary clubs in different countries—working together to provide clean water, education, disease prevention, maternal and child health, and community development.
This is the power of The Rotary Foundation!
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.
Perspectives on Homelessness – and Hope
Talking Rotary Zones 28 & 32 is a podcast that highlights the work of Rotary International—sharing stories of impact from clubs across districts, zones, and around the world.
Here’s an episode – Supporting Unhoused People
Martine is a member of Rotary Club of Atlantic International Passport.
Click here to listen to the podcast –
Rotary Work on the Ground –
https://rotaryaip.com/page/the-josh-project - The Josh Project website
https://www.facebook.com/JoshProjectCanada/ - The Josh Project Facebook page
As of 2025, the Greater Moncton Area (CMA) population is approximately 196,143. It is experiencing rapid growth, driven primarily by international migration, and is considered one of Canada's fastest-growing metropolitan areas (Wikipedia)
These broader conversations are reflected in meaningful ways at the local level. Rotary Club of Atlantic International Passport (AIP) supports the Humanity Project.
Highlights -
• Weekly meal service since 2022
• Ongoing in-kind and financial contributions
• May 2025: Completed our first Rotary District Grant of $5,000 to purchase fitness, art, and music therapy equipment for residents in recovery
• Preparing a Rotary Global Grant to expand services and sustainability
Polio left Isiaku Musa Maaji disabled, with few ways to make a living. At age 24, he learned to build hand-operated tricycles designed to provide mobility for disabled adults and children, and later started his own business assembling them.
His first break came, he says, when a local government placed a trial order. It was impressed with his product, and the orders continued.
Rotary’s Nigeria PolioPlus Committee recently ordered 150 tricycles from Maaji to distribute to polio survivors and others with mobility problems. The relationship he has built with local Rotarians has motivated him to take part in door-to-door polio vaccination campaigns.
“It is not easy to be physically challenged,” he says. “I go out to educate other people on the importance of polio vaccine because I don’t want any other person to fall victim to polio.”
Aliyu Issah feels lucky; he’s able to support himself running a small convenience store.
He knows other polio survivors who have attended skills training programs but lack the money to start a business and are forced to beg on the street.
However, the GPEI provides a job that’s uniquely suited to polio survivors: educating others about the effects of the disease
“Some of my friends who used to be street beggars now run their own small business with money they earn from working on the door-to-door immunization campaign,” Issah says.
Eighteen million people around the world who would have died or been paralyzed are alive and walking because of the polio eradication campaign. Health workers and volunteers supported by PolioPlus grants have built an infrastructure for delivering health care and collecting data that, in many parts of the world, didn’t exist before.
It’s already being used to improve overall health care and to fight other diseases, proving that the legacy of PolioPlus is more than eradicating a deadly disease from the planet — it’s also building a stronger health system that provides better access to lifesaving interventions for the world’s most vulnerable children.
Click here to read the rest of this article which first appeared in the October 2019 issue of The Rotarian magazine.
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE (plus links)
June Rotary’s Focus – Fellowships
Monday, June 1
Global Day of Parents
Wednesday, June 3
World Bicycle Day
Thursday, June 4
International Day of Innocent Children of Aggression
Friday, June 5
World Environment Day
Sunday, June 7
World Food Safety Day
Monday, June 8
World Oceans Day
Friday, June 12
World Day Against Child Labour
Sunday, June 14
World Blood Donor Day
Monday, June 15
World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
By 2050, it is estimated that 1 in every 6 people will be aged 65 or over, increasing the vulnerability experienced by older persons to violence. During the past year, around 1 in 6 people 60 years and older experienced some form of abuse in community settings. Elder abuse can lead to serious physical injuries and long-term psychological consequences. Elder abuse is predicted to increase as many countries are experiencing rapidly ageing populations. Globally, 82% of the estimated deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic occurred in people aged 60 years or older.
Thursday, June 18
International Day for Countering Hate Speech
Sunday, June 21
International Day of the Celebration of the Solstice
International Day of Yoga
Learn about other Rotary clubs! Consider joining some of the online meetings available –
All Rotarians 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 – Interactive Rotary On Demand 24/7, 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!
There’s also a Thursday morning Coffee Chat at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Please join our Coffee Chat from your computer, tablet or smartphone. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/709771987
Club President for 2025-26 – Kurtis Lush
The hat is ready for our 100th President. The Rotary Club of Sarnia will celebrate 100 years in 2028. The club already has a hat ready for that special President who will lead the club during the celebrations of our 100th year of service to the community of Sarnia. Shown displaying the 100th Presidential Hat are past president, Mark Taylor (#96), immediate past president, Jamie Pole (#97), current president Kurtis Lush (#98) and current vice-president Joe Cebulski (#99), who also is the designated caretaker of the prized (#100) hat until that person is chosen later by the members. Special celebrations and projects will take place during 2028.
JUNE + PLANS
Date
June 2
June 9
June 16
June 23
Presentation
Katherine Albion, Exec. Director, Western SarniaLambton Research Park
Bob Bailey, MPP Sarnia-Lambton
Tony Doblin, The Walk Foundation
Rob Kardas, President/CEO, Lambton College
July 17 Setup for Pancake Breakfast
July 18
Annual Pancake Breakfast under the bridge
Again, a HUGE thank you to Rotarian Alison Mahon who makes these speaker meetings genuinely worthwhile and educational!
Presentation – Tuesday, May 5
PRESENTATION ON LAMBTON PUBLIC HEALTH
Speakers –
• Dr. Karolyn Dueck, Medical Officer of Health at Lambton Public Health and
• Kevin Churchill, County of Lambton General Manager, Public Health Service Division including EMS
Introduced by Rotarian Alison –
The Presentation focused on the following topics –
• An Overview of local public health in our community
• Ontario Public Health Standards (OPHS)
• Lambton Public Health Strategic Plan
• Local Public Health Governance
• Public Health professionals
• Programs and Services
Assorted Photos from Saturday May 9 at
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS DAY
For information about BASES, click here. https://www.lambtonbases.ca/
For information about BASES, click here. https://www.lambtonbases.ca/
Speaker – Tuesday, May 12
Spring Economic Update
Canada Strong for all
Click here.
MP Marilyn Gladu (via Zoom) Sarnia-Lambton-Bkejwanong
ROTARY DISTRICT 6330 – HAND-UP PROJECTS
Rotary District 6330 has been involved in service projects around Lake Atitlán, Guatemala, because the area faces a combination of serious environmental, health, education, and poverty challenges — and Rotary clubs there already have trusted partnerships on the ground.
The work is being coordinated largely through District 6330’s “Hand Up” committee, which has shifted much of its international service focus from Cameroon to Guatemala in recent years.
The specific reasons Rotary is involved include:
• protecting the lake itself, which is a vital drinking water source for many communities,
• and restoring damaged watershed areas through tree planting and environmental education.
The Lake Atitlán region is beautiful, but many of the surrounding Indigenous communities live in deep poverty and are geographically isolated. Some villages are accessible mainly by boat or difficult mountain roads.
District 6330 notes that in some upper communities around Santa Cruz la Laguna, as much as 76% of the population experiences chronic malnutrition.
One major current project is “Protecting the Watershed of Lake Atitlán,” led by the Rotary Club of Wiarton as part of the Hand Up Committee. The project includes:
• decentralized wastewater treatment systems,
• household water filters,
• sanitation education,
• and planting 8,000 trees to reduce erosion and runoff into the lake.
Other District 6330 projects in the area include:
• rainwater harvesting systems for schools,
• women’s entrepreneurship programs, Click here to view the video.
• agricultural training,
• tutoring and literacy programs,
• and solar-powered educational supports.
A large part of why Rotary is involved there specifically is because strong Rotary partnerships already exist locally, including collaboration with the Rotary Club of Lake Atitlán and NGOs such as Amigos de Santa Cruz. Those relationships make it possible for District 6330 clubs to carry out sustainable projects rather than onetime donations.
In many ways, the projects align very closely with Rotary’s Areas of Focus:
• Water, Sanitation and Hygiene
• Basic Education and Literacy
• Economic and Community Development
• Environment
• Maternal and Child Health
And, it also fits the kind of project many Rotarians are drawn to – practical, measurable, relationship-based work where clubs can actually visit the communities, meet the people involved, and see the impact directly. District 6330 members have already made several trips to Guatemala to monitor and support the projects firsthand.
A New Rotary Year Fast Approaches
As we approach the end of a Rotary year and look ahead to July 1st, we also mark the beginning of a new Rotary year—a time of renewal, fresh ideas, and continued commitment to service above self.
Rotary is more than meetings and projects.
Through Rotary International, we are part of a worldwide network of people who believe in taking action— whether it’s supporting our local communities, promoting peace, improving health, or advancing education.
Each new Rotary year offers us a simple but powerful opportunity: to recommit. To show up. To connect. And to find even small ways to make a difference.
As we prepare to turn the page, let’s carry forward the good we’ve done—and look ahead with purpose, energy, and optimism.
Because in Rotary, every new year - and every day - is another chance to do good in the world.
A very interesting and powerful speech from Harrison Ford – Dr. Harrison Ford. Take the time to listen.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT THIS JUNE
“The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention.”
— Oscar Wilde
June is a reminder that growth is often quiet.
Gardens do not bloom because someone stood over them demanding results — they flourish because they were consistently tended.
We often underestimate the effect of encouragement.
A kind word, genuine interest, or a moment of patience may stay with someone far longer than we realize.
Midway through the year is a good time to ask:
Are we spending our time on things that truly matter — or simply on things that keep us busy?
Strong communities are rarely built by dramatic moments.
More often, they are built slowly — by ordinary people who continue showing up, caring, helping, and listening.
Service does not always change the whole world at once.
Sometimes it simply changes one person’s world — and that is where lasting change begins.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
CANADIANA
Some Canadiana to consider and enjoy! A True Thalidomide Hero!
Frances Oldham – Thalidomide hero – learn about her. Click this link.
Click here to view the CBC news report link from 10 years ago.
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.
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 TRAVEL / SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES
I was sitting behind an enthusiastic mom at my son's Little League game. Her boy was pitching for the opposing team, and she cheered as he threw wild pitch after wild pitch. The poor kid walked every batter. It was only the first inning and the score was 14-0. Then one batter finally smacked the ball.
"Oh no," the mom wailed. "There goes his no-hitter." ***
When my wife and I showed up at a very popular restaurant, it was crowded. She went up to the hostess and asked, "Will it be long?"
The hostess, ignoring her, kept writing in her book. My wife again asked, "How much of a wait?"
The woman looked up. "About ten minutes."
A short time later we heard an announcement over the loud-speaker: "Willette B. Long, your table is ready." ***
One day, my housework-challenged husband decided to wash his sweatshirt. Seconds after he stepped into the laundry room, he shouted, "What setting do I use on the washing machine?"
"It depends," I replied. "What does it say on your shirt?"
"University of Western Ontario," he yelled back.
***
Although I am of Chinese descent, I never really learned to speak Chinese. One evening, I came home boasting about a wonderful meal I'd had in Chinatown. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember the name of the restaurant but was able to write the Chinese character that was on the door and show it to my mother.
"Do you know what it says?" Mom asked with a smile. "It says 'Pull.'"
***
I called my local utility for help with a minor malfunction in my outdoor gas grill. Their automated phone system put me on hold for over 20 minutes.
As I waited, I was grateful my problem wasn't worse - especially when I heard a pre-recorded message repeatedly advise, "If you smell gas, stay on the line."
***
While sitting in the emergency room of our local hospital, I watched as a panicked father-to-be rushed in and told a nurse that his wife had called him at work about 15 minutes earlier. She was going into labour prematurely, he said, and would be arriving at the hospital any minute now.
"How far along is your wife?" the nurse asked calmly.
Glancing down nervously at his watch, the man replied, "Right about now, she should be on Queen Street."
TO VIEW PREVIOUS NEWSLETTERS online in magazine format, click the links below -
Left – Planting a tree in Nigeria. Right – RI President Francesco Arezzo and his wife, Anna Maria Arezzo-/Criscione, are welcomed by Rotarians in Nigeria during a tour of Africa.
COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH THE YEARS
Pathways Health Centre for Children (Founder)
Bluewater Health – Maternal & Child Health Wing
YMCA – Swimming Pool
Inn of the Good Shepherd
Lambton College
St. Joseph’s Hospice
Huron House Boys’ Home
Community Living, Sarnia Lambton
Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile (Standing Oaks Home)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RLYA)
DOW Centre for Children and Youth
Big Brothers – Big Sisters
Canada Food Grains
Scouts Canada – Camp Attawandaron
Goodwill Industries
Rayjon Haiti Project
YMCA Youth Scholarship
Lambton County Music Festival Awards
Family Counselling Centre
Access Open Minds
Habitat for Humanity
Point Edward Minor Hockey Association
Junior Achievement
Numerous Schools – LKDSB and SCCDSB
…and much, much more
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. †
