gysonehttps://issuu.com/ladykitt/docs/march_newsletter_2021
Rotary Year 2026-2027
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
September 2026
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ROTARY CALENDAR AND THEMES COMING EVENTS IMPORTANT ROTARY INFORMATION RI President’s September message – Olayinka Babalola TRF Trustee Chair’s September message – Jennifer Jones Grow Rotary Together RI President Nominee – Bharat Pandya (2028-29) D6330 INFORMATION – Governance SEPTEMBER – Basic Education & Literacy IMAGINATION LIBRARY – Dolly Parton OBJECT OF ROTARY + 5 AVENUES OF SERVICE CANADIANA POWER OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION POLIO – August 19 Polio Eradication around the world DESIGN YOUR ROTARY EXPERIENCE End Polio Now Committee, District 6330 DONATIONS TO TRF
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CLUB NEWS Do you need a make-up? + our 2026-27 Club President ACTIVITIES KINDNESS AT HOME HAPPY CHATS ROTARY MINUTE – Be the friend you would like to have ROTARY STORY – Leah Holt, Global Grant Scholar BEYOND THE EXCHANGE OFFICERS and MEMBERS Object of Rotary & Code of Conduct
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BACK PAGES EREY – Every Rotarian Every Year and Small Actions FOUR-WAY TEST HUMOUR Just the beginning…
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Club websites 6330passport.org https://www.facebook.com/rotary6330passport
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The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2026-2027 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR AND THEMES Month July August September October November December January February March April May June
Theme Maternal and Child Health Membership and New Club Development Basic Education and Literacy Economic and Community Development The Rotary Foundation Disease Prevention and Treatment Vocational Service Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Environment Youth Service Rotary Fellowships
Click the flags below to listen to the respective national anthems.
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MONTH OF SEPTEMBER Basic Education & Literacy REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING Wednesday, September 2 at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time MONTH OF OCTOBER Focus on Economic and Community Development Saturday, October 24 – World Polio Day
Rotary Anthem Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem! Click here for We are the World.
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THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT SEPTEMBER MESSAGE 2026 1.25 million is more than a number Rotary has always been about people. Not projects. Not numbers. People. Our goal of reaching 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotaractors by our 125th anniversary in 2030 is also about people. I bring up this goal again not because I expect the number itself to move you. Numbers rarely do. I bring it up because I worry that a goal this large can begin to feel abstract, distant from the everyday work of our clubs. I do not want that to happen. So let us talk, once more, about what is truly behind it. I want to offer your club a simple exercise. Look back over the last five to seven years and find your best year. Maybe it was a year when new members arrived and, more meaningfully, stayed. Maybe it was a year your meetings became something members looked forward to, rather than another obligation on a crowded calendar. Find that year. Then I ask you to do better than your best. This is not a call to outpace the club across town or the district next door. It is never meant to be a competition between Rotary members. It is, instead, an invitation to hold ourselves to our highest standard, and to rise to meet it again. Why does this 2030 membership goal matter enough to me that I keep returning to it? Because behind every one of those numbers is a person whose life could be changed by this organization, just as mine and yours have been changed by it. Rotary has given me friendships that have lasted decades, a sense of purpose I did not know I was searching for, and something that, in time, came to feel like an extension of my family. I suspect many of you understand this in your own lives, in your own way. That life-changing experience is what we offer when we invite someone to join us. There are people in your communities right now who would find real meaning here if only someone thought to ask them. So, tell them your story. Tell them honestly how Rotary changed you, not just about the projects you led or the funds you raised but about the person you became along the way. Those stories have a way of reaching people when little else does. If we hope to Create Lasting Impact, the kind that resounds for generations, we will need more people standing beside us to help carry our work forward. Let us come together, not only this month but every month of every year, to make Rotary stronger, more joyful, and more like the family it has always been to me. Find your best year. Then let us be better than our best, together.
YINKA Olayinka “Yinka” Hakeem Babalola President, Rotary International (2026-27)
September 2026
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THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR SEPTEMBER MESSAGE 2026 Make polio history This month, I want to have some fun and do a little preplanning exercise for World Polio Day on 24 October. Are you with me? Each year, World Polio Day gives us a moment to pause, reflect, and recommit to the promise Rotary made to the world that no child, anywhere, will ever again suffer the devastating effects of polio. This year that moment feels especially powerful. President Yinka has challenged all of us to “better our best,” and I want to echo that call with a challenge of my own. Look honestly at what your club has done to support polio eradication. If your efforts have been strong, stretch further. If your club has not yet engaged in our No. 1 corporate priority, begin now by making a gift of at least $1,500 USD at endpolio.org/donate. That single act of generosity will do much more than you may realize. Thanks to the Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match, every dollar becomes three. Together, we can reach our annual goal of $50 million and finish the job Rotary began. Each step brings us closer to a world where polio exists only in history books. But numbers alone do not tell the whole story. Above all, polio eradication is a human endeavour – built on courage, compassion, and the belief that service can reshape the future. On World Polio Day, I will be spending time in a place that symbolizes exactly that. It is a location unlike any I have ever visited, and I look forward to revealing it in real time on social media. I will be having a creative (and fun) time while using this as an opportunity to shine light on those whose work embodies Rotary’s highest ideals – health workers, volunteers, and community leaders who stand on the front lines of disease prevention. Later this year, President Yinka and I will be traveling to Pakistan to meet with many of these leaders to express our personal gratitude. They are the reason we have come so far and must finish what we started. As you prepare for World Polio Day, I ask you to join me in spirit and in action. Host an event. Tell the story of Rotary’s leadership. Invite your community to participate. Make your club’s gift. And above all, help us build momentum that carries into the months ahead. And for all my puzzle-loving friends, here is a clue to my personal location on 24 October. “Polio with the _ E _ _ U _ _ S.”
JENNIFER JONES Foundation Trustee Chair, 2026-27
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Let's grow Rotary together. The current RI President, Olayinka (Yinka) Babalola, and the RI President-elect, Larry Lunsford, got together to create a short video message about membership. Though we’re already in September, the message about growing Rotary membership is one that does not resonate only in the month of August. If you wish to view the actual short video, click here. My dear friends and family of Rotary, as Rotary members, we are people of action. And we have proven time and time again that when we commit to something bold and audacious, we achieve it. And if Rotary is to continue creating lasting impact, we must grow. To reach the level of growth our world needs, we've set an ambitious goal. 1.25 million Rotarians and more than 125,000 Rotaractors by 2030 when we celebrate Rotary's 125th anniversary. That goal is more than numbers. It's our ability to expand service, deepen our impact, reach more communities around the world, and change the lives of those who will join us, just as our lives have been changed. Each region has a membership target that serves as a roadmap to help us get there. And those regional membership targets are based on individual club and district goals. Each club that increases its membership contributes, and every district that charters a new club plays a role. Growing Rotary is our shared responsibility. You can help turn those targets into reality by guiding conversations, supporting clubs, and keeping the focus on what matters most. You can help us spread our message with other members of Rotary and Rotaract. Then members can share their Rotary stories with the world. When Rotary tells its story clearly and consistently, people understand why our work matters. When they understand, they are more likely to join. And when they feel like they belong, they stay. They grow, and they bring others with them. That is how sustainable membership growth happens. And that is how we'll meet our regional targets together. September 2026 Page 7
This is our challenge to you. Do better than your best. Look at what your club or district has achieved in the last five to seven years. Find your best year for membership growth and retention, then set out to surpass it. Not to compete with others, but to become the best version of yourselves. This is not about one strong year. It's about building momentum that continues. When we align our efforts and collaborate, progress doesn't reset each year. It builds and strengthens. That continuity allows Rotary to grow with purpose and to sustain that growth over time. So, my dear friends, whatever your role is in Rotary, be intentional and strategic because growing Rotary is how we create lasting impact. Membership is not about numbers. It is about people. People who will carry Rotary forward, expand our reach, and strengthen our ability to serve long after our time as leaders is over. By meeting and exceeding these goals, we will be a Rotary that is stronger, more connected, and better prepared for the future. That's what this work is about. My dear friends, the future of Rotary is in your hands. Thank you for your commitment. And for the leadership you bring to help achieve our latest audacious goal.
Now let's grow Rotary together.
Literacy Is Hope When we teach someone to read, we do far more than help them recognize words. We give them the confidence to
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• complete an application • understand a prescription read a bedtime story to their children • start a business, or simply • enjoy a novel.
Literacy is freedom Education creates choices. As Rotarians, we believe every person deserves the opportunity to learn.
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India’s Bharat Pandya selected to be 2028-29 Rotary International President Pandya, a surgeon from Mumbai and past Rotary International director and Foundation trustee, has been chosen to lead Rotary in 2028-29. by Etelka Lehoczky 3 Aug 2026 Bharat Pandya, a member of the Rotary Club of Borivli, Mumbai, India, is the selection of the nominating committee for Rotary International president for 2028-29. He will officially become the president-nominee on 15 September if there are no other challenging candidates.
After receiving undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from Seth G. S. Medical College and King Edward Memorial Hospital in Mumbai, Pandya practiced as a general and laparoscopic surgeon for 38 years. Among other professional recognitions, he was awarded fellowships by the Association of Surgeons of India and the International College of Surgeons and earned the Borivli Medical Brotherhood’s Outstanding Performance Award. He is a founding member of the Association of Minimal Access Surgeons of India and was a board member and vice chair of Jan Shikshan Sansthan, a government-sponsored vocational training and skill development institute. He received the Mumbai Gaurav (Pride of Mumbai) Award from Sanskriti Yuva Sanstha and the Indian Global Foundation.
Bharat Pandya – RI President Nominee
Pandya has served as an RI director and treasurer and on numerous committees, among them the Finance Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee. He has served in multiple positions for The Rotary Foundation: trustee, vice chair, Executive Committee chair, and vice chair of the Finance and
Stewardship committees. He is currently chair of the RI Programs Committee and vice chair of The Rotary Foundation Programs Committee. He served on the India PolioPlus Committee in 2011-15, during which time India was certified polio-free. Pandya and his wife, Madhavi, a past district chair of Inner Wheel District 314, are Major Donors and Benefactors. They have two daughters and one granddaughter.
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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)
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ROTARY’S SEPTEMBER FOCUS – BASIC EDUCATION & LITERACY Rotary’s impact on education The Rotary Foundation supports education through scholarships, donations, and service projects around the world. Rotary members make amazing things happen, like: Opening schools: In Afghanistan, Rotary members opened a girls’ school to break the cycle of poverty and social imbalance. Teaching adults to read: Rotary members in the United States partnered with ProLiteracy Detroit to recruit and train tutors after a study showed that more than half of the local adult population was functionally illiterate. New teaching methods: The SOUNS program in South Africa, Puerto Rico and the United States teaches educators how to improve literacy by teaching children to recognize letters by sounds instead of names. Making schools healthy: Rotarians are providing clean, fresh water to every public school in Lebanon so students can be healthier and get a better education. Enhancing educational systems: In Kenya, Rotary clubs are working with the Global Partnership for Education and local and national governments to advance life-long learning opportunities for poor and marginalized children.
Rotary scholarships are funded by Rotary International clubs, districts, and the Rotary Foundation. They support local high school, undergraduate, and graduate students, as well as international graduate studies and peace fellowships. Awards range from local club grants to major international funding. [1, 2] Types of Rotary Scholarships •
Local and District Grants: Offered by local clubs and districts for secondary, undergraduate, or local post-secondary studies. Amounts and deadlines vary heavily by region.
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Global Grant Scholarships: Funded at roughly $30,000 to $40,000 USD for full-time graduate students studying abroad in one of Rotary's seven areas of focus (such as peace, clean water, or education). [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
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Rotary Peace Fellowships: Fully funded master's degrees or certificate programs focused on peace and conflict resolution at partner universities globally. [1, 2]
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Dolly Parton, Rotary, and the Gift of a Book The world knew Dolly Parton as a singer, songwriter, actress, entertainer, and unmistakable personality. But among the many things she accomplished during her extraordinary life, one of the things of which she was most proud had nothing to do with music. It began with her father. A very personal reason to care about literacy Dolly grew up as one of 12 children in a poor family in the mountains of Tennessee. Her father, Robert Lee Parton, was a hardworking farmer and businessman whom Dolly described as one of the smartest people she had ever known. But he could not read or write. Dolly understood the limitations that illiteracy had placed upon a man she greatly admired, and years later, her father's experience inspired an idea that would eventually put hundreds of millions of books into the hands of children around the world. In 1995, through the Dollywood Foundation, she launched Dolly Parton's Imagination Library in her home county of Sevier County, Tennessee. The idea was wonderfully simple. Every child enrolled in the programme would receive a carefully selected, ageappropriate book in the mail every month from birth until the age of five — completely free to the family. A child enrolled from birth could therefore begin school with a personal library of as many as 60 books. And there was something else important about Dolly's idea. The programme was not intended only for children from families in financial need. Every child in a participating community could enrol. Dolly did not want children to believe they were receiving books because someone had decided they were poor or disadvantaged. She wanted them to believe they were receiving them simply because they were children — and because their community cared about them. And then Rotary joined the story For Rotarians, the connection seems almost inevitable. Literacy and education have long been priorities for Rotary, and in 2009, Rotary International and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library began working together to promote early childhood reading. Local Rotary clubs could help establish and support Imagination Library programmes in their own communities — raising funds, finding additional sponsors, promoting the programme, and helping families register their children. September 2026
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By 2012, Rotary clubs had helped bring the Imagination Library to children in more than 300 communities in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Dolly herself was enthusiastic about the relationship. She described Rotary as a "wonderful partner," explaining that Rotarians helped spread the word, fund the programme, find other supporters, and register children. And she clearly enjoyed the Rotarians she met. Asked for her impression of them, Dolly replied that everyone she had encountered had been warm, loving, caring — and, characteristically, she added, "pretty darn funny!" Dolly comes to Rotary — in Canada There is a particularly lovely Canadian connection to this story. In June 2010, Dolly Parton was a keynote speaker at the Rotary International Convention in Montréal. She walked onto the convention stage singing 9 to 5, thanked Rotarians for partnering with the Imagination Library, and spoke about the importance of children's literacy. She ended her appearance with a song she had written for the Imagination Library, Try. The partnership was still relatively new at the time, but Dolly already understood its possibilities. Her hope, she said, was simple: No child should ever have to grow up without books. From Tennessee to Canada — and around the world What began in one Tennessee county became something Dolly could scarcely have imagined when she started. Canada became the first country outside the United States to introduce the Imagination Library in 2006. In May 2026, the programme celebrated 20 years in Canada and five million books gifted to Canadian children, supported by more than 475 local programme partners and thousands of volunteers, donors, educators, libraries, Indigenous organizations, municipalities, service clubs, and other community champions. And Rotary remains part of that story. Today, Rotary International is identified by the Imagination Library as a Growth Partner and Collaborating Organization, with the shared goal of encouraging more local Rotary clubs to help bring the programme to children in their communities. The model is a natural fit for Rotary. Local partners determine the geographical area they can serve, raise the money needed to support the programme, enrol children, and help ensure that another book arrives in another child's mailbox every month.
A remarkable legacy September 2026
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Dolly Parton died on August 25, 2026, at the age of 80. The music she left behind is extraordinary. So are the films, performances, awards, costumes, laughter, and memories. But there is another legacy arriving quietly in mailboxes. A book. Then another one the next month. And another. A book addressed to a child, belonging to that child, to be opened, held, read together, and eventually placed on a shelf beside all the others.
treasured,
More than 300 million books have now been distributed through Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Perhaps the most remarkable thing about the programme is that such an enormous achievement began with something intensely personal: a little girl who loved and admired her father and grew up understanding what he had missed because he had never learned to read. She decided to do something about it. And Rotary decided to help. For Rotarians committed to Basic Education and Literacy, there could hardly be a better example of how one simple idea, supported by people and communities willing to act, can create lasting impact. One child. One book. One month at a time. Sources • Rotary International: "Talking Reading and Rotary with Dolly Parton" https://imaginationlibrary.com/about-us/?utm • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library – Partners Page https://blog.rotary.org/2012/03/02/dolly-and-rotary-help-spread-literacy/?utm • Rotary International Blog: "Dolly's Imagination Library and Rotary Work Together to Promote Literacy" https://www.rotary.org/en/articles/2026/08/talking-reading-and-rotary-with-dolly-parton?utm • Rotary International Fact Sheet: Rotary and The Dollywood Foundation's Dolly Parton Imagination Library https://imaginationlibrary.com/ca/partners/?utm • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library – About Us https://imaginationlibrary.com/about-us/?utm
One additional detail that might interest you as Rotary readers: Dolly Parton was the keynote speaker at the 2010 Rotary International Convention in Montréal, where she spoke about literacy and the Imagination Library. And one more part of Dolly's remarkable legacy… I Will Always Love You — written and first recorded by Dolly Parton, and later made world-famous by Whitney Houston. And Click here to hear Dolly’s reaction to hearing Whitney’s version for the first time.
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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.
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CANADIANA Who Knew? His name was Gordon Lightfoot. He was born in 1938 in Orillia, Ontario. He sang in his church choir as a boy, learned to play the guitar as a teenager, and became one of Canada's greatest singer-songwriters. By the 1970s, his distinctive voice and remarkable storytelling had earned him fans around the world. On November 10, 1975, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald, an iron ore freighter, was caught in a fierce storm on Lake Superior. She was the largest ship on the Great Lakes at the time. She was 222 metres (729 feet) long. She carried a crew of 29. That night, she disappeared beneath the cold waters of Lake Superior. There were no survivors.
Source - Wikipedia
The tragedy stunned Canada and the United States alike. A few days later, Gordon Lightfoot read a Newsweek magazine article about the disaster. The photographs, the names of the crew, and the stories of the families stayed with him. He later said he simply could not let the story go. So he wrote a song. "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Released in August 1976, the song ran nearly six minutes—an unusually long recording for commercial radio. Yet listeners embraced it. Its haunting melody, vivid imagery, and respectful storytelling transformed it into one of the most enduring songs ever written by a Canadian. It climbed to number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and remains one of Gordon Lightfoot's signature works. For nearly fifty years, he performed the song in concert, introducing new generations to the story of the Edmund Fitzgerald and ensuring that the names and sacrifice of the 29 crew members would never be forgotten. His respect for those men never faded. In 2010, after new forensic evidence suggested the ship's loss may have occurred differently than earlier investigations had concluded, Lightfoot quietly changed one line of the song during live performances. He no longer wanted the lyrics to suggest that the crew had made a mistake if the evidence no longer supported that conclusion. It was a small change, but an important one. To Gordon Lightfoot, historical accuracy mattered. So did honouring the memory of the men who never came home. September 2026
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When Gordon Lightfoot died in May 2023 at the age of 84, Canadians mourned the loss of a remarkable musician and storyteller. Radio stations across the country filled the airwaves with his music, fellow artists paid tribute, and people reflected on the songs that had become part of Canada's cultural identity. Few songs have preserved a moment in history as powerfully as The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Nearly fifty years after it was written, the song still reminds us of the storm, the ship, and the twenty-nine men who lost their lives on Lake Superior. That is part of Gordon Lightfoot's legacy. A man from Orillia. A gifted songwriter. A storyteller whose music ensured that a tragedy—and the people at its heart—would never be forgotten. That is who Gordon Lightfoot was. And that is one more reason Canadians continue to be proud of him. Click here to hear this classic song by Gordon Lightfoot.
And from Rotary Magazine – August 2026 issue The annual used book sale of the Rotary Club of SarniaBluewaterland in Ontario has been a fixture for more than 25 years. “We all realized we were in this because we loved books, we wanted to encourage others in the community to access great books at a reasonable price, and yes, it was a wonderful way to generate funds to support local nonprofits,” says coordinator Dale Wilcox. In January, the sale raised more than US$42,000 with leftover books being distributed to several organizations and groups, including a Canadian Armed Forces unit stationed in Latvia. “Troops are already digging into the massive collection and finding a good book to keep at their bedside or take into the field,” Lt. Col. Colleen Grebstad reported in a letter to the club.
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THE POWER OF THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
This is the power of The Rotary Foundation!
Why Rotary Supports Education Education is not simply another Rotary project.
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It strengthens health.
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It reduces poverty.
It creates economic opportunity. • •
It promotes peace.
It improves communities.
Every lesson learned today helps build a stronger tomorrow.
That's why Basic Education and Literacy remains one of Rotary's seven Areas of Focus.
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Summary of new polioviruses this week: • • • • • •
Afghanistan: four WPV1 cases Central African Republic: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample Democratic Republic of the Congo: five cVDPV2 cases Niger: one cVDPV3 case Nigeria: one cVDPV2 case, one cVDPV3 case and one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample Sudan: three cVDPV2 cases
We’re at the brink of eradicating polio. Click here to view the short video.
Five African countries end polio outbreaks Burundi, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, the Republic of the Congo and Uganda have successfully stopped their polio outbreaks, following rigorous independent assessments that confirmed the interruption of virus transmission. The milestone reflects years of sustained government leadership, strong surveillance, high-quality immunization campaigns and community engagement, supported by partners and donors. Continued vigilance to ensure strong surveillance and high population immunity is required to prevent future outbreaks and guard against the risk of poliovirus reintroduction.
GPEI 3-2-1 Interview: UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell In our latest quick-fire interview, UNICEF ED Catherine Russell makes the case that every investment in polio is an investment in stronger health systems. Drawing on her experiences in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Somalia, she speaks about building community trust and innovating at the final mile – including why working with local partners to deliver essential health services alongside the polio vaccine is a key strategy to reach zerodose children.
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POLIO ERADICATION AROUND THE WORLD Updates from Valarie Wafer, the incoming co-chair of the International PolioPlus Committee (Rotary Canada, July) WILD POLIO Pakistan: We’re seeing increased accessibility in certain communities and more vaccine acceptance. We’re seeing better microplanning and readiness for campaign. Recently, a lot of environmental (wastewater) samples are testing negative for poliovirus. There is definite hope. We know we can get this job done. Afghanistan: There’s a ban on house-to-house immunizations and an inability of women frontline workers to participate especially in the south. And there is ongoing conflict on the border of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Ensuring stool and environmental samples are shipped to a laboratory in a timely manner is a priority due to recent delays. But I think that as long as we can get the job done in Pakistan, there are really positive indicators that Afghanistan will follow. Instead of doing house-to-house immunizations they’re doing site to site. By getting the word out about the campaigns, they’re having a lot of success in drawing people to the sites to get children vaccinated. They’re being very inventive. They’re using some traditional leaders and grandmothers, who are very respected in communities and have more flexibility, to approach people. VARIANT POLIOVIRUS It’s decreasing as well. In 2025, we saw half the cases we saw in 2024. This year, cases are concentrated in Nigeria. GLOBALLY We’re seeing positive environmental samples pop up around the world. We’ve always said polio is a plane ride away. We certainly learned that concept during the COVID-19 pandemic. But finding these positive samples and being able to take steps to prevent outbreaks is positive. It means we haven’t dropped the ball. We are keeping our eye out, even in countries that haven’t seen polio for many years. ***** Alongside Rotary, Canada is a proud top contributor to the fight against polio. Valarie Wafer is stepping up to champion that work and shares the latest developments. Valarie is a past Rotary International Director, former district governor, and incoming Co-Chair of Rotary International's International PolioPlus Committee, serving alongside Michael K. McGovern. Outside Rotary, she and her husband built one of Canada's best-known Tim Hortons franchise operations, which became a Canadian model for inclusive hiring, demonstrating how employing people with disabilities can strengthen both a business and a community. Valarie was District Governor of RI district 7070 covering the Greater Toronto Area in 2013/14. Now residing in Collingwood, her home club is the Rotary Club of Collingwood South Georgian Bay, RI district 7010. September 2026
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Designing your Rotary experience Attend club meetings and events Introduce yourself to members in your club to get to know them better. Being genuinely interested in others shows people you value them, and these small interactions can lead to lasting friendship. Create a My Rotary account When you register for a My Rotary account and create a profile, you can access Rotary’s online tools and locate and connect with members near and far using the Find a Member tool. Attend District Meetings and Events Clubs are grouped into more than 500 districts worldwide. By connecting with other clubs and leaders in your district, you can learn how to get involved in Rotary beyond your club and make a greater impact. Get involved with Club Initiatives Volunteering to take part in a project, attend a meeting, or serve in a club role such as being on a committee, will let you work with others in meaningful ways and contribute to your club’s impact. You can also suggest speakers from service and project partners or from other organizations that share Rotary’s values. Ask your club how you can help. Visit another club You can locate Rotary and Rotaract club meetings to attend using the Find a Club tool. You might think of ways to collaborate on club activities or hear of an idea you want to try with your club. Visiting other clubs fosters new connections and inspiration. Join a Rotary Fellowship Meet others with similar interests by joining a Rotary Fellowship, an international group of people with a common hobby, identity, culture, or vocation. This is a fun way to make friends and explore a pastime or profession. Join a Rotary Action Group These include people around the world who have expertise and passion in a particular area, such as economic development, education, the environment, or safe water. Join a Rotary Action Group to share your knowledge, develop your skills, and make professional and personal connections. Participate in a Rotary Friendship Exchange Experience different cultures and build international understanding and friendships. This program for Rotary members and friends prioritizes cultural immersion, international service, or vocational exchanges. Friendship Exchange participants take turns hosting one another in their homes and clubs. Attend a Project Fair Meet people with whom you can collaborate on international projects. Project fairs typically last two or three days and can include visits to project sites as well as opportunities to experience the local culture. These activities let visitors learn about the community and build long-lasting relationships with their hosts. Attend the Convention The Rotary International Convention is held in a different international city each year. You’ll meet members from around the world, learn how to expand our impact, and enjoy inspiring talks from global leaders, celebrities, and activists. September 2026
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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 Katherine Hahn Sonja Glass Mike Hurry Hala Jawad Kirk Riehl Tom Robitaille Tony Sheard Bob Thomas Al Tucker Bert Vorstenbosch Sue Wakelin
Rotary Club Stratford Meaford Sarnia Global Passport Stratford Sarnia Bluewaterland Southampton Lapeer Genesee Valley Mitchell 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
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Communications & Public Image — keeping End Polio Now visible and top of mind across the district
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Member Education & Stewardship — building a speaker roster and presentation resources for clubs, while making sure our supporters know how much they matter
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Club Engagement — reaching out to clubs, especially those new to End Polio Now fundraising.
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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 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 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.
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Is the project between Clubs/Districts in separate countries? – No? Consider a District Grant.
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Is the total budget for the project more than USD $30,000? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
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If you answer YES to all the above, consider applying for a Global Grant.
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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 2026 -27 – Mariann Timmers
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NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
Get involved! Join us!
THE MAGIC OF ROTARY IS OFTEN FOUND IN THE LITTLE THINGS A phone call. A visit. A helping hand.
A reminder that someone cares.
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KINDNESS BEGINS AT HOME Below are photos of Rick and Sue’s recent visit to Chatham. As you know, Mariann is not yet home, but continuing her recovery at Riverview Gardens in Chatham. Rick and Sue very thoughtfully made the trip this past weekend (August 22) to spend some time with Mariann and deliver the lovely, hand-crafted wooden bowl that Rotarian Jerry had made especially for her. Pictured are Sue and Mariann at left below and Rick and Mariann at the right below. Mariann is holding the bowl which she was delighted to receive! Thank you, Jerry!
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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, August 5, 2026 Click here to view August’s meeting video.
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ROTARY MINUTE Be the Friend You Would Like to Have Most of us hope for a friend who listens. •
Who notices when we're missing.
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Who encourages rather than criticizes.
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Who celebrates our successes and quietly stands beside us during life's difficult moments.
Perhaps the best way to find that friend is to become that friend. •
A welcoming smile to a new member.
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A phone call to someone who hasn't attended for a while.
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An offer to help without being asked.
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A simple "How are you doing?" asked with genuine interest.
Friendship doesn't happen by accident. It grows through small acts of kindness repeated over time. And isn't that what Rotary is all about? •
Not just changing communities…Changing one another!
If each of us leaves today's meeting determined to be the friend we would like to have, our clubs—and our lives—will be richer because of it.
Click here to listen to this delightful song.
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Click here to read the full story online of Leah’s Global Grant Scholarship journey. NOTE - Be sure to use the Zoom feature to adjust the text size to your liking for easy reading!
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ROTARY FELLOWSHIP BEYOND THE EXCHANGE A Global Grant Scholarship provides financial support for study—but the Rotary connection can become so much more. Throughout Leah Holt’s year at Western University, Sue and Rick have been our club’s Rotary presence in London. While most members of our club have been too far away to spend time with Leah in person, Sue and Rick have welcomed her, kept in touch, and helped ensure that our American Global Grant Scholar has had some very special Canadian experiences along the way. During Leah’s final weekend in London, August 22–23, they were together again—this time for a visit to St. Thomas to see the famous Jumbo statue and walk the elevated rail park, followed by dinner at Tuscano’s. It was the same restaurant they visited when Leah first arrived a year ago, when she tasted her first butter tart. How appropriate that her final dinner there ended with another! And the friendship has extended well beyond London. Rotarian Jerry, from much farther north, contributed his own time and talent by creating a beautiful handmade bowl for Leah—a very personal Canadian keepsake that she was delighted to receive. Leah returns to the United States on August 24 but plans to join us by Zoom for our September meeting. She will be back in London for graduation in October, when we hope there will be another opportunity to see her. The scholarship may have brought Leah to Canada, but Sue, Rick, and Jerry have helped give her something that cannot be measured in scholarship dollars: friendship, welcome, and memories of Rotary caring in very personal ways.
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For Leah You came to Canada to learn and grow, We hope you leave with more than you know— New friendships, memories, paths explored, And one very well-earned Master’s award! As October brings your graduation day, We send our warmest wishes your way. Wherever your next adventure may be, Take a little bit of Canada—and Rotary! 🇨🇨🇦🇦
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CLUB OFFICERS 2026-2027 President Secretary Treasurer Membership Chair Project Chair Directors The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Communications
Mariann Timmers Sue Storie Jessica Herbert Deb Beaupré Sue Storie Rick Storie Kitty Bucsko
MEMBERSHIP LIST BELOW – CLUB MEMBERS’ LIST WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES A.C. Alrey Deb Beaupré Rich Bouchard Kitty Bucsko Lynn Coates Sue Elliott Gerald (Gerry) Greig Heather Macdonald Jessica Morrow George Ottewell Nancy Ottewell Rick Storie Sue Storie Lynne Ternosky Mariann Timmers
September 2026
acalrey@gmail.com debmarjean@gmail.com rbouchard@racetoerase.com ladykitt@gmail.com lynn.coates.1@outlook.com susan@sutherlandelliott.ca captaingeraldgreig@gmail.com heathermac@BMTS.com jessicaherbert2023@gmail.com george.ottewell@gmail.com nottewell@gmail.com rick.storie@sympatico.ca sue.storie@sympatico.ca lynneternosky@gmail.com gtimmers@aol.com
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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 Rotary often begins with something very simple: someone notices. Someone sees a child who needs an opportunity, a family struggling to put food on the table, a community without clean water, a neighbour who is lonely, or a local organization trying to do more with too little. And instead of thinking, Someone should do something about that, a Rotarian asks, What can we do? That is how change begins. Making a difference does not always require a major project or a large donation. Sometimes it is introducing the right people to one another. Sometimes it is giving an hour of our time, sharing our knowledge, offering encouragement, or recognizing a need that others have overlooked. Small acts of service have a remarkable way of growing. And perhaps that is one of the greatest strengths of Rotary. We are people with different professions, experiences, abilities, and connections, but we share a willingness to look beyond ourselves. When one person sees a need, Rotary can bring together the people and resources to help meet it. The opportunity to make a difference is not limited to our Rotary meetings or projects. It is around us every day — in our workplaces, our neighbourhoods, our families, and our communities. See the need. Ask what you can do. Then take the first step. Because sometimes changing a life — or even changing a community — begins simply because someone noticed and cared enough to act.
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The Four-Way Test is remarkably simple. Four questions. Twenty-four words. Yet within those few words is a guide for how we speak, how we act, how we make decisions, and how we treat one another. Perhaps its greatest strength is that it does not tell us what to think. Instead, it asks us to stop and think. Is it the truth? That asks for honesty—not only with others, but with ourselves. Is it fair to all concerned? That asks us to look beyond what benefits me and consider how our decisions affect others. Will it build goodwill and better friendships? That reminds us that being right is not always enough. How we speak, listen, disagree, and respond matters, too. Will it be beneficial to all concerned? That challenges us to look beyond the immediate moment and consider the lasting consequences of what we do. The Four-Way Test was never intended simply to be recited at Rotary meetings. Its real value comes when we carry those questions with us—into our workplaces, our communities, our families, and our everyday conversations. In a world where words can be spoken instantly, opinions shared publicly, and divisions created quickly, four thoughtful questions can provide a valuable moment of reflection. We may not always agree. We may not always make the same choices. But if we genuinely seek truth, fairness, goodwill, and benefit to others, we have a strong foundation from which to begin.
Four questions. A few moments of thought. And, perhaps, a better way to live.
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A LITTLE HUMOUR My sister had been ill, so I called to see how she was doing. My ten-year-old niece answered the phone. “Hello,” she whispered. “Hi honey. How’s your mother?” I asked. “She’s sleeping,” she answered, again in a whisper. “Did she go to the doctor?” “Yes. She got some medicine,” my niece said softly. “Well, don’t wake her up. Just tell her I called. What are you doing, by the way?” Again, in a soft whisper, she answered, “Practising my trumpet.” ******* I’m a first-grade teacher and a new empty nester. One night, I was trying out an art project: making a person with simple materials. I took a coat hanger, attached a paper-plate face, put a shirt on the hanger, and stuffed it. Then I set it on the couch to see how it looked. Later that evening, my son walked in the door, home for a surprise visit. Taking one look at my coat-hanger friend sitting on the couch, he said “Mom, it’s not that bad, is it?” ******* I was getting into my car when I noticed a dent. On the windshield was a note and a phone number from the driver. “I feel terrible,” the woman apologized when I called. “I hit your car as I was pulling into the next parking spot.” “Please, don’t worry,” I said to her. “I’m sure our insurance companies will take care of everything.” “Thank you for your understanding,” she said. “You’re so much nicer than the man I hit on the way out.” *******
My mother had just finished taking a CPR class at a local college when she and I were in the mall and saw a big crowd gathered around a still body. Suddenly my mother took off running at a speed I didn’t know she could muster: “Everyone back!” she yelled. “I know CPR!” Just as she threw herself next to the body and was about to begin the procedure, a pair of strong hands pulled her to her feet. “Ma’am,” barked a police officer standing beside her, “We are trying to arrest this man.”
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Source – Reader’s Digest, Laughter is the Best Medicine. Page 43
What’s the best present you can give? A broken drum. Nobody can beat that! ****** Got me an emotional support pet. It’s a chicken. It’s crispy. It also came with a biscuit.
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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. *
*
Author unknown
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