Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo (Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy) District 6330 Governor Jeff Ferweda, (Rotary Club of Genessee Valley, MI) Club Newsletter Editor, Kitty Bucsko
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: http://www.6330passport.org
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2025-26 monthly themes.
Month
ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES
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 APRIL
Our Environment
EARTH DAY
Wednesday, April 22
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday,April1at 7:00p.m. Eastern Time
HAPPY CHATS ONLINE – JOIN US!
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time
UNITE FOR GOOD
MONTH OF MAY
Focus on Youth
DISTRICT 6330 CONFERENCE 2026 May 29 --- 31
4 Points Sheraton, Sarnia/Point Edward, ON (1498 Venetian Blvd.)
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
APRIL MESSAGE 2026
Count on preparation, not luck
Not long ago, in a small health centre in the village of Aaye in southwest Nigeria, a woman arrived in labour carrying twins. The facility was short-staffed. The nurse midwife in charge was not present.
A community health worker stepped forward. She had participated in Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria, a Rotary Foundation Programs of Scale initiative. And though she was not formally trained as a midwife, she was equipped with essential emergency obstetric skills.
Hours later, both babies had been delivered, one at the health centre and the other at a general hospital, where the mother had been referred after complications were quickly identified. The newborns and their mother were alive and safe.
Women around the world face similar circumstances every day – moments when the difference between life and loss depends on well-trained medical staff and reliable systems and procedures.
Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria exists to increase the chances that those moments end in hope. By strengthening health systems and training frontline workers, this programme helps communities protect mothers and children even when circumstances are difficult.
This work reflects the very heart of Rotary service. Service is not only what we do when conditions are ideal. It is what we do when systems are strained, resources are limited, and the need is urgent. It is the commitment to prepare people before a crisis arrives and to stand with communities when it does
Maternal and child health is not an abstract goal. It is deeply personal. It is a mother who survives childbirth. It is a newborn who takes a first breath. It is a family that remains whole because someone was trained, ready, and cared enough to act. Rotary understands that service means investing in people and systems long before they are tested.
Programmes like Together for Healthy Families in Nigeria show what is possible when Rotary brings together local knowledge, global partnerships, and sustainable solutions. By working alongside health professionals and local leaders, Rotary helps ensure that lifesaving care does not depend on luck or location.
The story of the mother and her twins is at its core a story of service. It is a reminder that Rotary’s impact is measured in human moments when people step forward to help others in their most vulnerable hours.
When we Unite for Good, service becomes more than an ideal. It becomes a lifeline for families, a source of strength for communities, and a promise that Rotary will continue to go wherever help is needed most.
FRANCESCO AREZZO President, Rotary International
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
APRIL MESSAGE 2026
Your impact matters
Rotary’s environment area of focus offers clubs and districts the chance to make a truly lasting impact in their communities. One possibility is through the Community Action for Fresh Water partnership between Rotary and the United Nations Environment Programme, which launched the initiative in 2024 to protect, restore, and better manage freshwater resources worldwide.
Through the programme, Rotary and Rotaract clubs identify a local water body — a river, a lake, wetlands, or groundwater — and commit to its long-term protection and restoration. Members can draw on UNEP’s technical expertise.
Salvador Rico, a member of the Rotary Club of South Ukiah, California, and a technical adviser to the partnership, tells us more:
The partnership is deeply personal to me. My passion for clean rivers comes from a painful family experience during my childhood in Mexico: We believe my older sister died of polio she contracted from swimming in a polluted river there. Unsafe water is not an abstract environmental issue; it is a matter of life, health, and dignity for families and communities.
This experience drives my work as a member of The Rotary Foundation Cadre of Technical Advisers, where I ensure Rotary members have access to proven technical knowledge so their global grant-supported projects deliver lasting impact through permanent, scalable solutions.
Today, Community Action for Fresh Water supports Rotary clubs globally by providing a shared platform to upload projects, learn from other clubs, and access technical and financial support through global grants and club-to-club collaboration.
The impact became tangible in 2024, when the environmental chair of District 4170 in Mexico shared a critical challenge: Small, family-owned textile factories were polluting the upper Lerma River watershed. Rotarians lacked clear solutions. Through the freshwater partnership, I connected them with UNEP experts who provided guidance on bioremediation strategies. That collaboration led to a global grant application and, we hope, cleaner water for this community.
The partnership among Rotary clubs, family-owned textile companies, and government authorities ensures shared responsibility and long-term stewardship. Every Rotary club can amplify this impact by registering freshwater projects at https://www.communityactionforfreshwater.org/
Look around your community — I bet you’ll find a water body in need of protection. The Rotary Foundation can support your project through Community Action for Fresh Water and a global grant.
HOLGER KNAACK
Foundation Trustee Chair,
2025-26
ROTARY’S APRIL FOCUS –OUR ENVIRONMENT
The screenshot below comes from Flightradar24 on Thursday, January 19, capturing the real-time location of commercial aircraft in the sky at that moment.
Each yellow icon represents a plane already in the air.
It’s a striking reminder of the scale of global air travel — thousands of flights criss-crossing our planet simultaneously — and the environmental footprint that activity creates.
The sky is crowded – North America and Europe are just swarming with planes — thousands of them at once. Even mid-ocean routes look like highways.
This is every hour of every day – This isn’t a special moment. It’s normal traffic, happening 24/7, 365 days a year.
Each one of those planes burns fuel – A single long-haul flight can produce as much CO₂ as an entire year of driving. Multiply that by the sheer volume. It becomes impossible to pretend it doesn’t matter.
As Rotary International places increasing focus on protecting our environment, images like this encourage us to reflect on the choices we make, the impact of our daily habits, and the responsibilities we share as stewards of the Earth.
Is it true that Canada’s Overshoot Day is March 8?
According to the Global Footprint Network (the organization that calculates Overshoot Days worldwide), Canada’s Overshoot Day in recent years has indeed fallen in early March — March 2, March 5, or March 8 depending on the year’s data updates.
For 2024, Canada’s Overshoot Day was March 8.
This means:
• By March 8, Canadians had consumed a year’s worth of Earth’s renewable resources.
• Everything used after that date represents ecological debt — drawing down forests, soils, oceans, and emitting carbon faster than nature can regenerate or absorb.
It’s not a moral judgment — it’s a math equation of consumption vs. regeneration.
Unified List: A single, province-wide list of accepted materials replaces varying municipal rules.
Newly Accepted Items: Black plastic containers, plastic film, foam packaging, hot/cold beverage cups (with lids), toothpaste tubes, deodorant sticks, and frozen juice containers.
What to Exclude: Do not include alcohol containers (return to The Beer Store), diapers, toys, ceramics, or hazardous waste.
Preparation: Items must be empty and free from food residue.
Producer Responsibility: The system is now 100% funded and operated by producers, not municipalities.
Circular Materials
Note: While some municipalities have already transitioned, the full, province-wide rollout of this new system is officially in effect as of 2026
https://magazine.rotarygbi.org/impact-petworth-and-midhurst-january-2026 story by Dave King
When the sun rose over Mrima Wandege in Kilifi County on October 10, 2025, it illuminated more than the reddish dust of the local chief’s compound. It revealed a community waiting patiently, some after walking miles in the heat, for something that would reshape their daily lives.
By the end of the day, more than 700 households would receive durable water barrels and staple food packages, thanks to a collaboration between Rotary clubs in Kenya and the UK, led by the Rotary Club of Petworth and Midhurst in West Sussex.
What took place that day was far more than a distribution exercise. It was the culmination of a two-year humanitarian project driven by persistence, partnership, and Rotary’s unwavering commitment to service.
A simple Idea with transformational potential
The Roll Out the Barrel initiative began with an urgent, practical challenge: in many rural Kenyan and Tanzanian communities, families, often children, must walk long distances to fetch water, carrying heavy containers that take a toll on health, safety, and education.
Midhurst and Petworth Rotarian Rangesh Nallan was determined to change that. He championed a design created by Isle of Wight Rotarian, Adrian Brewer, who set up the Roll Out the Barrel Trust in 2006: specially engineered Rotary barrels which enable villagers to transport water more safely, efficiently, and in larger quantities.
The vision was straightforward: a tool that reduces physical strain, saves time, and frees children to attend school. But making it happen required fundraising, international coordination, and months of testing on the ground.
“THE TEST WAS SO SUCCESSFUL THE WORD SPREAD FROM VILLAGE TO VILLAGE ABOUT JUST HOW MUCH THIS HELPED SAVING TIME AND FREED UP THEIR CHILDREN TO ATTEND SCHOOL”
Testing the concept in East Africa
In 2024, Rangesh and fellow past President John Maguire travelled at their own expense to Tanzania to trial an initial batch of barrels among remote Maasai communities. The reception exceeded expectations. Villagers embraced the design immediately, and neighbouring communities soon heard of its impact.
Rangesh explained: “The test was so successful the word spread from village to village about just how much this helped saving time and freed up their children to attend school.” With demand growing, the question became not whether to scale up - but how.
A district-wide effort across the south-east
In early 2025, Rangesh and John embarked on a months-long roadshow across Rotary District 1145, presenting the project to 13 clubs. The goal is to deploy 1,000 barrels over the coming year and maintaining the barrels in villages around Kilifi, in collaboration with five local Kenyan Rotary clubs.
Their message resonated widely. Every club approached offered financial support. “They worked their socks off on this project!” said Michael Balmforth, Past President of Petworth and Midhurst Rotary.
Additional support came from Rotary clubs in Kenya, eager to join the implementation phase. With funding in place - and topped up through a Rotary International grant – the team moved into full production. By October 2025, 1,000 barrels were ready for distribution.
The large-scale handover in Mrima Wandege, supported by Rotary clubs in Kilifi, Mombasa, and elsewheredrew significant local attention. Television and radio outlets covered the event, underscoring the project’s scale and importance.
Isle of Wight Rotarian, Adrian Brewer (right), who set up the Roll Out the Barrel Trust in 2006, being awarded with a Certificate of Appreciation from Rotary International presented by past President and Rotarian, Mac Purcell from the Rotary Great Britain and Ireland Hub.
Click here to read the rest of the article. https://magazine.rotarygbi.org/impact-petworth-and-midhurst-january-2026
SEMINAR FOR TOMORROW’S LEADERS
What is the Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders?
The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership program organized and facilitated by Rotary Clubs around the globe.
Each year, thousands of youth, who are invited to participate based on their leadership potential and are sponsored by Rotary Clubs, participate in this amazing program.
Rotary Clubs and the Rotary District cover all expenses for the participants.
The format of the event varies from district to district, but commonly takes the form of a seminar, workshop, or camp where the participants learn, discuss, and practice leadership skills.
In District 6330, our RYLA program is known as the Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders It is a weekend seminar usually held at Western University in London, Ontario.
Our seminar is devoted to enhancing and expanding the leadership skills and abilities of Grade 10 and 11 students—the next generation of leaders in communities throughout the District!
Students are provided with a range of new experiences, tools, and perspectives through icebreakers, group discussions, amazing guest speakers, and other interactive activities that engage and nurture their inner leader!
RYLA aims to:
• Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth;
• Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders;
• Encourage leadership of youth by youth;
• Recognize young people who are rendering service to their communities.
Most RYLA programs cover the following topics:
o Fundamentals of leadership
o Ethics of positive leadership
o Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
o Problem-solving and conflict management
o Rotary's purpose and service to the community
o Building self-confidence and self-esteem
o Elements of community and global citizenship
Each year, students create lifelong friends from across District 6330.
They are introduced to other Rotary youth programs, including Interact, Rotaract, and Rotary Youth Exchange.
They learn how they can stay involved with Rotary in their community after the seminar.
They expand their horizons both inside and outside the organization!
Questions?
If you have questions about Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow's Leaders, please email d6330ryla@gmail.com
Click here or the graphic below to view a short video on Rotary Seminar for Tomorrow’s Leaders.
D6330 INTERNATIONAL SERVICE COMMITTEE
Message from Chair – Pat Cavan
Here is what is happening with International Service in D6330. We are a busy district!
To date, for the 25/26 Rotary Year:
• SIX Global Grant Projects have been approved by TRF where D6330 Clubs are the International Partners, in countries such as Colombia, India, and Guatemala.
• THREE additional Global Grant Projects are in the Draft stages.
• SEVEN Clubs are using District Grant funds to sponsor International Projects in countries such as Ukraine, Tanzania and South Africa.
• Numerous other clubs are sponsoring International Projects without using grant funds in countries such as Nicaragua and Kenya.
International Cafes
The DISC is now organizing International Cafes on a regular basis. This is a great opportunity to learn from other clubs how they organize international projects. We hear not only about the amazing successes but also about the obstacles and learn from one another.
Upcoming cafes are:
• Wednesday, May 20, 7:30pm Supporting Ukraine using District Grants
• Monday, September 28, 7:30pm Hand Up....a District 6330 Committee with FIVE current Global Grant Projects in Guatemala
• Wednesday, November 18, 7:30pm Using Grants (District and Global) to Support International Work
Have you always wanted to participate in an International Rotary Trip? The ISC is looking to connect clubs planning trips with Rotarians wishing to participate in a trip.
If you have an interest either way, please contact Joan Fisher, sinkpolio@rogers.com
District Conference
Members of the ISC will be speaking at the District Conference in Sarnia, May 29-31. We hope to see you there!
FOR INTERACTORS & ROTARACTORS - SOUTH AMERICAN TRAVEL
Amazing opportunity for young people 16 – 20 years old to spend June 29 – July 14/26 in Cali (and the Cauca Valley), Colombia with Rotarian chaperones.
• All-inclusive trip costs $1,550.00 U.S. plus airfare.
• Accepting applications for up to 25 students until April 30.
• Contact Rotarian Joan Fisher (sinkpolio@rogers.com) for more information.
District International Service Chair 519-373-1087 patriciacavan@gmail.com
Powerful and Poignant
Past RI President Shekhar Mehta’s presentation on Girls’ Education as a Tool of Community Empowerment and Economic Development
The Basic Education and Literacy Rotary Action Group (BELRAG) Board of Directors had the honour of hosting a webinar on a vital subject on February 13, 2026. The presenter was none other than Past Rotary International President (2021-22) Shekhar Mehta, a pioneer of the Girls’ Empowerment movement in Rotary.
Mr. Mehta’s presentation began with a universal truth that when we educate a girl, we do not just change her life, we change the trajectory of her family, her community, and her nation. In the view of Mr. Mehta, Girls’ Education can be a “force multiplier for dignity, development, and economic growth.”
Mr. Mehta cited a UNESCO data to point out that 133 million girls around the world are illiterate, which means that there are that many “dreams deferred” and “future leaders delayed.” Mr. Mehta made a call for Rotarians to not quit hope and to keep building o the progress made with 50 million girls having entered schools worldwide since 2016.
Mr. Mehta emphasized the need to build awareness on the socio-cultural and economic factors that impede our girls finding access to basic and higher education, like poverty, child marriage, safety concerns, and lack of clean bathrooms, etc.
Source - Basic Education & Literacy Rotarian Action Group <info.belrag.org@membernova.email> The BELRAG March 2026 Newsletter
Click here to read the full article
Powerful and Poignant
A look back – https://www.facebook.com/rotary Rotary International March 6 at 9:01 AM ·
Sylvia Whitlock is an educator, humanitarian, longtime advocate for women and under-represented groups in Rotary, and the first female president of a Rotary club.
In 1982, she joined a club whose membership had been previously revoked for admitting women. Five years later, thanks to her and many others' determination, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Rotary could no longer exclude women. In 1987, Sylvia was elected president of the Rotary Club of Duarte, California.
Since then, she's dedicated her life to service — founding an AIDS clinic in her home country of Jamaica, raising more than $90,000 for girls’ education in India, and paving the way for countless women leaders.
Today, the Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award honors Rotary members who follow in her trailblazing footsteps. Here’s to those who make history and empower others to do the same!
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SALUTES MARKS
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
There are many reasons to celebrate various months, and names are often attached to the month for a particular celebration. Rotary’s March theme is Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene. However, it also is celebrated as Women's History Month, and March 8 was International Women's Day. In honour of that, Rotary International created a Facebook post taking a closer look at a founding Mother of Rotary, Sylvia Whitlock.
When Rotary was created, it was an explicitly male-only organization. In 1978, the Duarte, CA Rotary Club challenged that by inviting three women to become members- including Sylvia Whitlock, who officially joined in 1982. In response, RI revoked the club's charter. The Duarte club sued and won in the California state courts, and the case was appealed to the US Supreme Court. The highest court in the land ruled in 1987 that women could not be barred from joining Rotary Clubs.
Sylvia Whitlock went on to become the first woman president of a Rotary Club, serving as president in 1987.
Today, Rotary International honors her by bestowing the Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award on one Rotary member each year. The award celebrates someone who has actively worked to advance women in Rotary.
Meet Mayan Raslan, the 2026 recipient of our Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award. Whether she’s helping design a Rotary project or consulting with another organization, Mayan believes social service must have a long-term impact.
“As you are rising as a leader, give opportunities to others. Leaders create leaders,” Mayan says. “Success is collective. It’s never just individual.”
As a member of the Rotary Club of Cairo Royal Egypt, Mayan believes success is best achieved with others and is committed to elevating other women to leadership roles.
To read and learn more, click these links –https://www.facebook.com/rotary https://www.rotary.org/en/egyptian-rotary-member-honored-for-advancing-womens-leadership-and-communitydevelopment
UPCOMING ROTARY INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION SITES
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 (20262027)
Above left – DGN Dawn Kennedy (2027-2028) Above right – DGND Peter Maranger
Summary of new polioviruses this week:
• Afghanistan: one WPV1 case and 20 WPV1-positive environmental samples
• Somalia: one cVDPV2 case and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
Almost Gone!
Polio is a highly infectious disease that once paralyzed hundreds of thousands of children each year.
Thanks in large part to Rotary’s global efforts since 1985, cases have been reduced by more than 99.9%
Today, polio remains endemic in only a small number of areas, but until it is eradicated everywhere, children everywhere remain at risk. Rotary’s promise is simple: we will finish the job.
DOES POLIO STILL EXIST?
IS IT CURABLE?
From – https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/poliomyelitis
Does polio still exist? Is it curable?
Polio does still exist, although polio cases have decreased by over 99% since 1988, from an estimated more than 350 000 cases in more than 125 endemic countries, to two endemic countries (as of 2025). This reduction is the result of the global effort to eradicate the disease, thanks to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, a global public-private partnership.
Despite the progress achieved since 1988, as long as a single child remains infected with poliovirus, children in all countries are at risk of contracting the disease. The poliovirus can easily be imported into a polio-free country and can spread rapidly amongst unimmunized populations. Failure to eradicate polio would result in global resurgence of the disease.
There is no cure for polio, it can only be prevented. Polio vaccine, given multiple times, can protect a child for life.
For more on the global effort to eradicate polio, please visit the Global Polio Eradication Initiative website at www.polioeradication.org.
What
is wild poliovirus?
Wild polioviruses are the naturally occurring strains of poliovirus that circulate in the environment.
• There are three serotypes of wild poliovirus: type 1, type 2, and type 3.
• Immunity to one serotype does not confer immunity to the other two.
Outbreaks were largely unknown prior to the 20th century. However, with improved sanitation in the 20th century, the average age at which individuals were exposed to the virus increased.
With progressively declining protection from maternal antibodies, infection increasingly resulted in paralysis.
• Type 2 wild poliovirus was declared eradicated in September 2015, with the last virus detected in India in 1999.
• Type 3 wild poliovirus was declared eradicated in October 2019. It was last detected in November 2012.
• Only Type 1 wild poliovirus remains.
What is variant (vaccine-derived) poliovirus
Circulating variant (vaccine-derived) poliovirus, are rare, but such strains have been increasing in recent years due to low immunization rates within communities. cVDPV type 2 (cVDPV2) are the most prevalent.
The oral polio vaccine (OPV) that has brought the wild poliovirus to the brink of eradication has many benefits: the live attenuated (weakened) vaccine virus provides better immunity in the gut, which is where polio replicates.
The vaccine virus is also excreted in the stool, and in communities with low-quality sanitation, this means that it can be spread from person to person and actually help protect the community.
However, in communities with low immunization rates, as the virus is spread from one unvaccinated child to another over a long period of time (often over the course of about 12–18 months), it can mutate and take on a form that can cause paralysis just like the wild poliovirus. This mutated poliovirus can then spread in communities, leading to cVDPVs.
The small risk of cVDPVs pales in significance to the tremendous public health benefits associated with OPV.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of cases due to wild polio virus are prevented. Well over 20 million cases have been averted since large-scale administration of OPV began when the Global Polio Eradication Initiative was launched.
Circulating VDPVs in the past have been rapidly stopped with 2–3 rounds of high-quality immunization campaigns.
The solution is the same for all polio outbreaks:
• Immunize every child several times with the oral vaccine to stop polio transmission, regardless of the origin of the virus.
D5370 Governor Ramesh Ferris is a polio survivor. Click here for his story.
THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY
JOIN THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY IN D6330
Donations are matched annually 2-to-1 by the Gates Foundation up to US$50 million, generating a potential total of US$150 million toward polio eradication.
Raise awareness in your community by planning events or projects that support the fight against polio.
Visit endpolio.org to find the latest information and tools to help you share the story of our fight against polio and raise support.
Ending this disease forever remains our top humanitarian priority and needs our full commitment.
How can you take action? Donate to End Polio
SUPPORT THE 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, they 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.
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE (plus
Rotary’s April Focus – Our Environment
Thursday, April 2
World Autism Awareness Day
Monday, April 6
International Day of Sport for Development and Peace
Tuesday, April 7
World Health Day (WHO)
Sunday, April 19
Paul Harris’ birthday Born April 19, 1868 - Racine, Wisconsin Died January 27, 1947 - Chicago, Illinois
Tuesday, April 21
World Creativity and Innovation Day
Wednesday, April 22
International Mother Earth Day
Thursday, April 23
International Girls in ICT * Day
Week of April 24 to 30
World Immunization Week (WHO)
Tuesday, April 28
World Day for Safety and Health at Work
* Information and Communications
Paul Harris
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!
Club President 2025-26 – Mariann Timmers
NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
Get involved! Join us!
OUR CLUB PROJECTS
HELPING MIGRANT WORKERS
The Passport Club of District 6330 is happy to announce that our backpack project has come to an end this year. Backpacks for Migrant Workers have been delivered to North Lambton Community Health Centre in Forest.
…continued on the next page
Above – Bev, Rick and Sue with the 7 backpacks first year.
Below - Marilyn, Nancy, Lynn Coates, Sue, and Rick With 25 backpacks last year
All the toiletries this year were put into plastic bags – as bags are always useful – and we took advantage of that.
Left - The photo that was in our newsletter last year from the 2025 project.
Below is the article as it appeared in the Bridge last June
Above left, the 18 backpacks this year. On March 24, Rick and Sue delivered the 18 backpacks to North Lambton Community Health Centre at 19 Ann Street in Forest.
Volunteers are listed below – re donations of labour, cash, or various items.
Arbor Memorial, Marilyn Buttery, Lynne Ternosky, Nancy & George Ottewell, Mariann Timmers, Bev Andersen, Kitty Bucsko, Nancy Powers, and Lynn Coates.
A HUGE thank you to Sue who took charge of this project and made it happen!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
CONTINUING SUCCESS – CUP OF KINDNESS
To some this is just a cup.
To members of the Rotary Club of District 6330 Passport this is A CUP OF KINDNESS.
…as we support local food banks in our local communities
We are reminded to continue to support the local food banks in our area.
London Food Bank - Strathroy - Sarnia – Inn of the Good Shepherd - Stratford
SHARING
OUR KINDNESS
Rotarians from our club have made a difference in these past years!
Altogether, our efforts reflect the quiet generosity, creativity, and community spirit of our members—making a meaningful difference in many ways, both seen and unseen.
Thanks to all who have contributed to helping our communities!
Click here to view a short video on the Inn of the Good Shepherd, Sarnia.
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, March 4, 2026
Click here to view March’s meeting video.
ROTARIAN RICH’S RACE TO ERASE IS SET TO GO MAY 30 !
The 20th Anniversary Race to Erase Sarnia-Lambton is scheduled for Saturday, May 30, 2026, featuring a "not-a-running race" format where teams of four complete local, untimed challenges to raise funds for area charities. This community-focused, "savvy and smarts" event celebrates two decades of supporting local nonprofits.
From the Sarnia Journal -
Key Details for Race to Erase Sarnia (May 30, 2026):
• Format: Teams of four participate in unique puzzles and challenges at various locations, testing creativity rather than athletic speed.
• Goal: The 2026 event aims for higher participation, looking for 40 teams to surpass the 29 teams that raised over $25,000 in 2024.
• Charity Focus: Participants choose from eight local charities, including the Inn of the Good Shepherd and Literacy Lambton, with all money raised staying in the region.
• Registration: Teams are encouraged to form early, with no entry fee, but a fundraising requirement for charity.
To read and learn more, click here.
The Race to Erase was founded by Scott McKay and Rich Bouchard. They had two connected goals in mind: they wanted to create a fun and creative event for people to take part in, and they wanted it to positively enhance the community. First discussed over a game of golf, both agreed that it would be fun to send teams of four on a road rally fundraiser throughout the community, competing in timed challenges along the way.
Due to safety concerns (and a high Insurance price tag), the driving would not be timed, only the actual challenges.
The first Race to Erase was held in October 2006. The Race committee partnered with Sarnia's Inn of the Good Shepherd for the Race to Erase Hunger. The event was an immediate success with 30 teams participating and more than $38,000 raised.
In the second year, the Race to Erase again raised funds for the Inn of the Good Shepherd, but this time the Race was called the Race to Erase Homelessness as the funds went to building the Good Shepherd's Lodge, a homeless shelter in Sarnia.
More recently, the Race has evolved to allow more charities to participate and receive a portion of the funds raised. The Race has also expanded its scope. While the first Race Days were held in Sarnia and London, the Race expanded to Cambridge in 2014, and will soon appear in a number of other communities across Ontario. To date, the event has raised $766,544.
Click here to read more about how the race got started!
MARCH 8 was International Women’s Day
On Sunday, March 8 – International Women’s Day – I attended a webinar where our District Governor-elect - Lorna – spoke briefly as one of several presenters. Topics presented included information about projects being carried out in various parts of the globe - India, as an example - to help women and girls. Topics included the challenges that girls face in carrying water and their inability to attend school while on their periods. There are many projects globally that address these challenges.
One question asked was How can we empower a young girl?
I did some research and here are some thoughts that may be quite relevant.
1. Help Her Discover Her Voice
Encourage her to express opinions, ask questions, and speak up
Simple ways to do this:
• Ask her what she thinks about things and listen seriously.
• Encourage public speaking, debate, drama, or presentations.
• Let her explain things she has learned to others.
When girls feel heard, they begin to believe their ideas have value. A simple message to reinforce: “Your ideas matter.”
Confidence often grows from mastery of skills, not just praise.
3. Let Her Try — and Fail
Many girls are subtly taught to be “perfect.” Real empowerment comes from learning that mistakes are part of growth.
Encourage:
• Trying difficult things.
• Learning from failure rather than avoiding it.
• Resilience.
A powerful message is: “You can figure things out.”
4. Provide Strong Role Models
Girls benefit enormously from seeing women who lead, create, and solve problems.
Examples can include:
• teachers
• scientists
• artists
• entrepreneurs
• community leaders
• athletes
Even local role models someone she can actually meet can have a profound influence.
5. Encourage Leadership and Service
Leadership opportunities build self-belief.
Examples:
• leading a school project
• organizing a small event
• volunteering
• mentoring younger children
This is one reason programs like youth leadership groups, Interact clubs, or community service projects are so powerful. They send the message: “You can help shape the world.”
6. Teach Critical Thinking
An empowered young girl learns to question information, stereotypes, and unfair expectations.
Help her learn to ask:
• Is this true?
• Who benefits from this idea?
• What evidence supports it?
Critical thinking protects confidence.
7. Celebrate Effort — Not Just Achievement
Praise things she controls, such as:
• effort
• persistence
• creativity
• kindness
• courage
This builds a growth mindset, which research shows is strongly linked to long-term confidence.
8. Create a Supportive Environment
Perhaps the most important factor:
A girl who knows someone believes in her is far more likely to believe in herself.
Small signals matter:
• encouragement
• listening
• respect
• trust
9. Finally, how does dignity fall into this discussion?
Dignity actually sits at the very heart of empowering a young girl. Without dignity, confidence can become fragile; with dignity, confidence becomes deeply rooted.
You might think of it this way:
• Empowerment is what a girl learns she can do.
• Dignity is what she learns she is worth.
• Both are essential.
When a young girl understands that she has inherent dignity, she learns that her value does not depend on appearance, popularity, or approval from others.
She begins to believe:
• My voice matters.
• My thoughts matter.
• I deserve respect.
That belief becomes the foundation of empowerment.
Grant Management in D6330 - Your Donations Are Important!
Clubs must qualify first! 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 less 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.
CLUB OFFICERS 2025-26
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.
ROTARIANS ARE PEOPLE OF ACTION
Watch this short video below about a huge Rotarian Action to help Preserve the Great Lakes. Click here to view - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UZj45CE-I0&t=32s
A LITTLE HUMOUR
A widower, on his retirement, purchased a house situated near a high school. He spent the first few weeks of his retirement in peace, then the new school year began.
One afternoon early into the first semester, three young boys came down the street, beating merrily on every bin they passed. They did this the following day and the days after that, for a week, until the man decided it was time to take some action.
The next afternoon, he walked out to meet the boys as they banged their way down the street.
Stopping them, he said, "You kids are a lot of fun. In fact, I used to do the same thing when I was your age. Would you do me a favor?”
“I would give you each a dollar, if you promise to come around and do your thing."
The boys were more than happy to accept this and continued to bang the bins. After a few days, the man came out to meet them with a sad smile, and said, "This recession really is putting a dent in my income. From now on, I will pay you each 50 cents to continue."
The boys were unimpressed by this but continued to do the same afternoon activities. A few days later, the man approached them again and said, "Look, the recession has again reduced my income, so from now on, I am afraid I can only pay you 25 cents each."
The leader then exclaims angrily, "That's it? If you really think we are going to waste our time banging the bins for 25 cents each, you must be a fool. No way that's going to happen. We quit."
The man then enjoyed peace and serenity for the rest of his days. Source
