Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo (Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy) District Governor Jeff Ferweda, (Rotary Club of Genessee Valley, MI) Club President, Kurtis Lush
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: https://www.rotarysarnia.com/ Club Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/rotaryclubofsarniaontario
Rotary Ride for Kids – Mike Hurry
Pathways turns 50
BILL HOAD – Member Highlight
Rotary quotes
The Rotary Foundation (TRF)
Paul Harris Society (Jamie Pole)
Rotarian Minute – Interact/Rotaract
Object
Rotary & Rotary’s Code of Conduct
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2025-26 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES
Month
July
August
Theme
Maternal and Child Health
Membership and New Club Development
September Basic Education and Literacy
October 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
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS FOR AUGUST
"Each Rotarian is a connecting link between the idealism of Rotary and their community."
— Paul Harris, Rotary Founder
"The foundation upon which Rotary is built is friendship; on no less firm foundation could it have stood."
— Paul Harris, Rotary Founder
"Rotary is not just a club that you join; it is an invitation to endless opportunities."
— Shekhar Mehta, 2021-22 Rotary International President
"A Rotary club is the place where ordinary people come together to do extraordinary things."
— Attributed to multiple past district governors
"If Rotary is to realize its proper destiny, it must be evolutionary at all times, revolutionary on occasions."
— Arch C. Klumph, father of The Rotary Foundation
"Service is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on earth."
— Fred Westbrook, Past Rotary International Director
"Rotary changes us and those we serve. I believe we can change the world one life at a time."
— Debbie Vance, Past District Governor (Canada)
When you ask someone to join Rotary, you’re not simply filling a seat—you’re opening a door.
And as we enter August, let’s
UNITE FOR GOOD!
Encourage members this month to share how Rotary has changed their life. Personal stories are powerful magnets for new members.
From John Hewko, General Secretary and CEO at Rotary
My path to Rotary International started with a letter from my father and a question I believe many purpose-driven people ask themselves: What’s next, and how can I make it count?
At the NEXUS Global * Summit, I shared why deep community trust is essential to solving global challenges.
Rotary doesn't parachute in with solutions. We listen to communities, amplify their priorities, and commit for the long haul. With 1.2 million members in more than 46,000 clubs, Rotary builds sustainable change from the ground up.
Because when solutions come from within, the impact lasts.
* NEXUS GLOBAL - The leading global network of next-gen philanthropists, impact investors, and exceptional social entrepreneurs.
International
A NEW ROTARY YEAR BEGINS!
Month of August – Membership & New Club Development
REGULAR MEETINGS
Tuesdaysatnoon – DanteClubupstairs
ROTARY THEME 2025-26
UNITE FOR GOOD
CLUB SOUP KITCHEN MEAL AT THE INN
Friday,August1
APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR ACTION GRANTS
Friday,August15
IMPORTANT ROTARY INFORMATION
2025-26 RI PRESIDENT
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
2025-26
FRANCESCO ARAZZO
ITALY
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
AUGUST MESSAGE
2025
This month and every month
August is Membership Month, but our commitment to growth and connection is year-round. When we focus on growing Rotary, we grow our ability to sere, to lead, and to bring lasting change.
Membership growth isn’t just about numbers. It’s about opening doors. It’s about inviting more people who are ready to give their time, talents, and hearts to a cause greater than themselves. When we welcome new members, we bring in fresh ideas and new energy. We expand our impact, strengthen our clubs, and ensure that Rotary continues to evolve with the world around us.
Remember, there is now great flexibility in fashioning nontraditional club models. I’m inspired when I see these innovative clubs thrive by offering new and prospective members more ways to connect and serve.
In Korea, the growth of satellite clubs has created opportunities for nearly 1,000 new members to find their place in Rotary. IN Romania, the close collaboration between Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors has built a pipeline of future leaders. In India, some Rotarians gather around a shared interest – whether it’s professional development or a passion for service – and those connections deepen their commitment and their joy in being part of Rotary. And we’ve seen cause-based clubs thrive in regions as divers as Southeast Asia, Africa, and Europe.
There’s a common thread: Where clubs are growing, membership is a priority and there is a willingness to try something new. Rotary is not limited to one structure or tradition. We are a global network of people of action, and that means there Is room for many kinds of clubs, many ways to serve, and many paths into our organization.
This spirit of innovation is also guiding our efforts to reach new communities In places where there has never been a Rotary club – or where a club once existed and faded – Rotarians are finding ways to grow Rotary. They are identifying areas of potential and building clubs that reflect the character and needs of their communities.
Every member plays a part in this journey. Whether you introduce a friend to your club, support a new meeting format, reconnect with program alumni, or simply share your Rotary story, you are helping our organization grow stronger and more vibrant.
No one owns a Rotary club. It is a gift we pass on to the next generations. When we nurture that gift, when we invite others to share in it, we ensure that Rotary continues to be a force for good
Let’s prioritize membership growth – not just in August but every month of the year. Together, through friendship, creativity, and shared purpose, we will grow Rotary and Unite for Good.
FRANCESCO AREZZO President, Rotary International
Get to know us
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
MESSAGE FOR AUGUST 2025
When most people join Rotary, they know little if anything, about The Rotary Foundation.\\Membership Month is a great time to highlight the powerful connection between membership and our Foundation
People who are drawn to Rotary care deeply about their communities and want to make a substantive difference. They’re looking for meaningful, hands-on ways to serve – and the Foundation helps make those opportunities possible.
Cause-based Rotary clubs are one exciting way new members are finding purpose in Rotary, and these clubs also brig fresh energy and activity to our Foundation. I invited Marisol Chisnello, president of one such club, to share her perspective
“As a nonprofit attorney, I long believed I didn’t have the time to be part of Rotary. But when I heard about a new cause-based e-club – the Rotary Club of Mental Health and Wellness District 5280 – I felt I had to be part of it.
In just three years, our club has done a lot to support mental health needs in Southern California an awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships to graduate students in the field, including one this year to a student in Uganda.
Just a few months ago, we were approved for our first global grant to provide a mix of ikn-person and digital mental wellness support to survivors of the 2023 earthquakes in southeastern Turkey.
Through our service, we’ve attracted new members from across the United States, including women and younger members who might not have otherwise joined Rotary. Cause-based clubs like ours offer a meaningful entry point for people committed to a specific cause – backed by the global reach and Foundational support of Rotary.”
Marisol’s story reminds us what’s possible when Rotary service meets Foundation support. I wonder how many cause-based club members knew the full extent of Foundation resources when they began. How many existing clubs could partner with these groups on grants?
As we build new Rotary and Rotaract clubs and welcome new members, let’s keep The Rotary Foundation at the forefront. The Foundation enriches the membership experience, supports club growth, and deepens our impact.
The Rotary Foundation is more than just a source of funding; it is an invitation to endless opportunities. It’s a living expression of who we are as Rotary.
The Foundation, too, can be a vital part of every member’s experience when they join us or start a new club.
HOLGER KNAACK
Foundation Trustee Chair,
2025-26
ROTARY’S AUGUST FOCUS – MEMBERSHIP AND NEW CLUB DEVELOPMENT
What is your club’s plan for
• bringing in New Members?
• continuing to Engage All Members?
MEMBERSHIP - ROTARY’S AUGUST FOCUS
7 Steps to Strengthen and Grow Your Rotary Club
Engage the heart. Enrich the club. Expand the impact. †
Welcome with Warmth — Not Just a Handshake
First impressions matter. Create a welcoming culture where every guest and new member feels genuinely valued. A personal follow-up call, a handwritten note, or a mentor match can go a long way.
Inspiration: People come to Rotary for service, but they stay for the friendships.
Involve Early and Often
Give new members a purpose right away. Invite them to take part in a service project, speak at a meeting, or help plan an event. Engagement builds belonging.
Tip: Create a “60-Day Rotary Passport” — a checklist of easy, meaningful club activities to try in their first two months.
Celebrate the Why — Not Just the What
Remind members regularly why their work matters. Share stories of lives changed, water flowing, books opened, and hope restored.
Inspiration: “When we serve with love, every act becomes extraordinary.”
Be Flexible — Rotary Is Evolving
Meet people where they are. Offer hybrid meetings, flexible attendance, and varied projects. Today’s professionals want to serve — but need options that work with their lives.
Spotlight Strengths and Passions
Help each member shine. Ask: “What are you good at? What are you passionate about?” Then build opportunities around those answers.
Idea: Host a “Rotary DNA” night — where members share stories of what drew them to Rotary and what keeps them here.
Be Bold in Invitation
Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Invite someone to an event, project, or social. Let them experience the magic of Rotary.
Inspiration: “You’re not asking them to join a club. You’re inviting them to change the world — and be changed by it.”
Nurture Joy and Fellowship
Fun matters. Laughter builds loyalty. Make space for social connection — potlucks, game nights, storytelling circles. People return where they feel joy.
†Inspired by Rotary values and shared ideas for strengthening our clubs Adapted from Rotary-inspired content created in collaboration with ChatGPT, using Rotary International themes and best practices
AND WHY JOIN ROTARY?
� � “Please Bring Me a Rotarian”
A Story of Global Fellowship and My Unexpected Connection to It
Some Rotary stories you read. Others, you live. This is one of those stories that I was fortunate to both write and, in part, become part of.
PDG Dick Drew, from Maple Ridge near Vancouver, BC, was enjoying a family cruise aboard Voyager of the Seas with 12 family members when the unexpected happened. His son Mitch—father of young children—took a hard fall while ice skating on the ship’s rink. He struck his head and briefly lost consciousness.
Though the ship’s doctor provided care, he advised a CT scan at the next port: Montego Bay, Jamaica. But with the ship due to depart within the hour, both father and son were forced to disembark, unsure what came next.
When the cruise line’s port agent offered his assistance, PDG Drew pointed to the Rotary pin on his shirt and asked if he would locate a Rotarian. He disappeared and returned quickly with Keith Azzan, a local port business owner (Pirates’ Market) and then-president of the Rotary Club of Montego Bay East. When asked how he knew that Keith was a Rotarian? “He always wears the same pin you wear.”
What followed was the kind of response only Rotary can provide.
Keith coordinated hospital support, provided reassurance, and called Govind Chulani, then Assistant Governor, who joined them at the private hospital to ensure everything went smoothly.
They stayed with the family, arranged an emergency hotel room—thanks to a local Rotarian manager—and helped Mitch get the care he needed. By the next day, Mitch was cleared to fly, and the family rejoined the cruise in Texas. All because of Rotary.
Here’s where my own story intertwines:
I was the editor of the District 7020 newsletter at the time and had the privilege of sharing this incredible story. But it didn’t stop at writing — I later had the pleasure of meeting both Govind and Keith in person because they and I were part of Rotary District 7020 in the Caribbean. That connection became part of my own Rotary journey, reinforcing what I already knew: Rotary is not just an organization. It’s a global family.
Why share this story?
Because it’s real. Because it shows that no matter where you are in the world, you are never far from a Rotarian who will step in, help, and walk beside you.
And because stories like this remind us why Rotary matters — and why it’s worth inviting others to join
I wasn’t the only one to write the story, though it did appear in the D7020 newsletter. It also appeared online in District 5050. And by the magic of the internet, I was able to find it again! Have a read because it is a fascinating story written by PDG Dick Drew from Maple Ridge, BC!
…contributed by Rotarian Kitty (RC of D6330 Passport)
ROTARY CHANGED MY PATH—NOW WE’RE CHANGING OUR COMMUNITY
Posted on July 17, 2025by rotaryservice
By Carlos Jonathan Zelaya, member
of the Rotary Club of La Paz, District 4250, Honduras
Carlos offers a glass of clean water to Juan José, a local child in La Paz, Honduras, using one of the ceramic filters installed in his community through a Rotary global grant.
In February 2016, a group of Rotarians from the United States arrived in Honduras for a one-week humanitarian trip. At the time, I was 26 years old and working as a team leader for a nonprofit organization in Comayagua, Honduras.
I thought it would be just another ordinary workweek—but that week changed my life.
During the trip, I met Ed Odom, a Past District Governor from District 6890 and a member of the Fishhawk Riverview Rotary Club. I spent countless hours talking with him about Rotary—what it is and the incredible work it does around the world. I was truly amazed. Until then, I had only heard bits and pieces about Rotary and didn’t fully understand it. But Ed helped me see that anyone—even me could become a Rotarian.
In 2018, I moved to a new town called La Paz and started a humanitarian nonprofit called Honduras Compassion Partners. One of the first things I did when I arrived was ask if there was a Rotary club in the city. The answer was no.
Right then, I told myself: This city needs Rotary. This city needs a space where leaders can come together to serve, change their community, and do good in the world.
In February 2018, I called Ed to share my idea and begin recruiting members. Thanks to him, I had already made connections with Ana Alvarez from the Merendón Rotary Club in the San Pedro Sula region of the country. They were very helpful but since La Paz was far, they introduced Wendy Ayestas from the Villa Real Rotary Club of Tegucigalpa, closer to my location. That was the best suggestion.
After I shared my vision with the Villa Real Club de Tegucigalpa, they supported us wholeheartedly—from beginning to end. For a full year, we met weekly with about 30 people from La Paz. We planned community service projects, learned about Rotary, and prepared to become an official club. That year was full of growth, learning, and doing.
Even before becoming an official club, we started carried out impactful projects and partnerships that helped us form the foundation for a strong new club. Then, in December 2018, we received an email confirming that our dream was about to come true.
I immediately called Ed to share the incredible news—we were about to charter a Rotary club! In January 2019, we hosted a large event with more than 120 people in attendance, including our District 4250 Governor. That day, the Rotary Club of La Paz was born with 30 new Rotary members.
The most incredible part? None of us had previous Rotary experience—yet we came together to make this dream a reality, and we’re still carrying it forward today.
Six years later, our club has received six global grants and multiple district grants!!!
These have helped us install water and sanitation systems, build schools, renovate local hospitals, provide vocational training, and transform lives in our community. We’ve led many life-changing projects, and in the upcoming Rotary year, our club will have three assistant governors.
Every year, we’re honored to welcome five Rotary clubs and more than 60 visiting Rotarians from the United States. These visits strengthen our partnerships and deepen our collective impact.
Rotarians, Rotaractors, and Interactors from across the U.S. join local Rotary members in La Paz to help a family build their new home
As for me, I’ve had the privilege of serving as club president, assistant governor, a member of the district membership committee, and a member of the Cadre of Technical Advisers for The Rotary Foundation.
Soon, I’ll begin a new role as district international service chair for District 4250.
All of this happened in just six years.
Rotary has also given me the opportunity to speak at around 20 clubs in the U.S., attend two Rotary International Conventions, and much more.
It only took one Rotarian and one week to introduce me to the heart of Rotary—and that spark has now multiplied into something so much greater.
This is the Magic of Rotary. Go and share Rotary—everywhere, every time, and with everyone.
Editor’s Note:
This story is a powerful reminder of how one moment, one connection, or one Rotarian can spark a lasting impact. If you’ve felt the magic of Rotary in your own journey, consider how you might take that next step—whether it’s mentoring a fellow member, leading a project, or stepping into a new role.
For those who were unable to attend the D6330 Conference last May, you missed some excellent speakers. There is so much good work being done in Rotary District 6330.
But you don’t have to miss these speakers –Here are links below that will allow you to view the presentations at your leisure. Please take the time to review the videos and learn about all some worthwhile projects Rotary is accomplishing!
Videos from 2025 District Conference
The Environment Presentation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E70sHKcUsS0
The RI President’s Representative – Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E70sHKcUsS0
Harvest Hands, Jim Collins, St. Thomas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TP8HDMM4VZQ
RI President’s Closing Remarks – May 2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePWKVvegRTU
Kurt Harnett – Buffalo Bicycle
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyogy39s4ME
Summary of new polioviruses this week, cases and positive environmental isolates:
• Afghanistan: four WPV1-positive environmental samples
• Angola: one cVDPV2 case
• Cameroon: one cVDPV3 case
• Chad: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Papua New Guinea: ten cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
• Somalia: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Yemen: 22 cVDPV2 cases and 17 cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
Here’s a short video by Polio Survivor/Rotary D5370 Governor for 2025-26, Ramesh Ferris. The speech was recorded at the Calgary Convention 2025. Click here.
SUPPORT THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
THE POLIOPLUS SOCIETY
Join the PolioPlus Society in District 6330.
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
Click here to view a short video by current D5370 Governor Ramesh Ferris – a polio survivor. DG Ramesh has been an activist against Polio for many years.
Visit the PolioPlus Society Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/polioplussociety
New national immunization coverage data released by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF. 15/07/2025
The newly released WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) for 2024 offer a snapshot of global progress in childhood vaccination but also a reminder of the work still ahead to end polio for good.
Global coverage for the third dose of polio vaccine (POL3) in 2024 is reported at 84%, consistent with 2023 levels, but still below pre-pandemic coverage of 86% in both 2018 and 2019. This lingering gap poses a challenge for eradication efforts, which rely on consistently high routine immunization to build and sustain population immunity and prevent outbreaks.
The WUENIC data show encouraging signs of recovery in many countries, especially those implementing catchup campaigns. However, gaps persist ─ particularly in fragile and conflict-affected settings, where zero-dose prevalence remains high and routine services are hardest to sustain.
Polio eradication hinges on robust routine immunization systems that can reach every child, everywhere. Supplementary campaigns play a critical role, but they are designed to reinforce, not replace, essential services.
As countries work to restore and strengthen routine coverage, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative continues to support efforts to reach every child with polio vaccines, and to close immunity gaps that leave communities vulnerable.
“Polio eradication isn’t a standalone effort; it’s intricately tied to our wider immunization goals,” stated Dr Jamal Ahmed, WHO Director of Polio Eradication. “To truly protect children and finish the job, we must keep investing in routine immunization systems, especially in the most challenging areas to reach.” said Dr Jamal Ahmed, Director of Polio Eradication at WHO. “The world must continue to invest in routine systems, especially in the hardest-to-reach areas, to protect children and finish the job.”
For more details on the WUENIC 2024 estimates and what they mean for immunization globally, read the joint WHO/UNICEF press release and explore the WHO Immunization Data Portal
Click here to read the full article and learn more.
Click here to view a short, animated video about responding to a polio outbreak.
August - Rotary’s Focus Membership & New Club Development
The Week of Friday, August 1 to Thursday, August 7 World Breastfeeding Week
Saturday, August 9
International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Tuesday, August 12
International Youth Day
Tuesday, August 19
World Humanitarian Day
Thursday, August 21
International Day of Remembrance and Tribute to the Victims of Terrorism
Friday, August 22
International Day of Commemorating the Victims of the Acts of Violence based on Religion or Belief
Saturday, August 23
International Day for Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition (UNESCO)
Wednesday, August 27
World Lake Day
Do you need a make-up? missed meetings? To learn about other Rotary clubs?
All Rotarians are encouraged to join local (and other) clubs to learn more about Rotary, get to know other Rotarians, gain a new perspective and appreciation for Rotary and Rotarians. Here is a list of online clubs where you can earn a make-up along with learning a whole lot more about Rotary! Why not visit them all?
• Rotary E-Club of Canada One – 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 for 2025-26 – Kurtis Lush
The club’s Board of Directors 2025-26
The
Brian
20250-26 Board of Directors, left to right:
Davidson, Joe Cebulski, Rajni Saraf, Myles Vanni, Pres. Kurtis Lush, Carolyn Leaver-Luciani, New Foundation Pres. Jamie Pole, Johnna Johansen. What a handsome group!
A little background from 2018 – Club President, Kurtis
My name is Kurtis Lush and for the past several years I have dedicated myself, through my work, academic and travel experiences, to understanding the realities of poverty worldwide.
There is no country in this world that has intrigued me more than Haiti. From hearing about it for the first time in a Rayjon elementary school presentation to spending my university days researching and writing papers about the past and current struggles of the Haitian people, there was no other country I wanted to visit more than Haiti.
As much as I wanted to go there, life took me on a different path. I worked in Africa on a start-up project, traveled through regions of Europe and Asia and came home to continue the work I am currently doing in combating local poverty and homelessness at The Inn of the Good Shepherd.
In March, thanks to the awareness experiences offered through Rayjon, I was finally able to live my dream and visit Haiti.
As we landed in Port-au-Prince and loaded our bus to St. Marc, I kept my eyes glued to the action of life in Haiti and looked for aspects to compare the country to other developing nations I have visited. I was seeing a lively hustle economy where basic public infrastructure, such as a transit system or shopping centers, did not exist; instead, people informally made a society based off what they had and what they could do. Tap-taps (trucks turned into buses) filled the streets and were jammed with people transiting across the city. Clothing items for sale were hanging on random property walls for display and people were running from car to car trying to sell their items to potential customers.
While I continued to compare things I was currently seeing to past experiences, it quickly became clear that Haiti was not like any other developing country I had previously visited.
Two seemingly contradicting themes emerged as the week unfolded. Haiti has many one-of-a-kind traits that are not well-known off the island and yet, due to numerous well-known events which have devastated Haiti’s development, the country is considered the poorest in the Western hemisphere. Our group, which comprised of families and people with differing backgrounds, including teachers, nurses, social workers and high school students, all came on this awareness experience to try and begin to understand both sides of Haiti. We were able to do just that thanks to great planning by the Rayjon group leaders, who led excursions that led to meaningful discussions and debates, and thanks to the incredible hospitality and openness of the Haitians we came to meet, especially the local Rayjon staff.
Our awareness experience allowed us to experience and learn firsthand some of the incredible things about Haiti, including its unique culture, landscape and history. We were able to learn about the resiliency of the Haitian people, both in the past and present, as they became the world’s first black colony to abolish slavery and to become independent from colonial rule. We were able to enjoy the beautifully unique blend of African and Caribbean culture in things such as the country’s food, religion, art and music while learning about Haitian opposition to colonial cultural influences, especially language. We rode through varying climates and landscapes
comprising of ocean views, forests, deserts, rice fields, and mountains. We were able to ask Haitians, through local translators, questions to further our understanding of the daily lives and traditions of these people.
Understanding Haiti’s culture and its people gave us the opportunity to further understand the harsher realities of Haiti; however, it was hard, even with all the things we learned, to fully grasp what we were seeing. Our bus trips and hikes through rural mountainside villages, where there is limited access to basic necessities such as education, water, healthcare and shelter, highlighted the struggles of rural poverty.
An unexpected overnight rainstorm, during our Cap Haitian visit, led to an unforgettable morning drive where we witnessed flooding in the slums and panic from locals as they worked to bail water out of their homes and protect themselves from the dangers lurking in the water. Destruction from the 2010 earthquake, including neighbourhoods with buildings in ruins and the tent homes outside them, were still evident in the city of Port-auPrince; however, the severe poverty that plagues the city, including pollution, homelessness, hunger and child malnutrition, was there prior to the disaster and has since intensified. At one point or another, every member of our group was left teary eyed and speechless… How can so much misfortune continue to plague this country?
While deeply moved by the images we will never be able to erase from our memories, we left Haiti feeling that is there is hope and, while happening slowly, there is progress.
You see it in the eyes of a 55-year-old lady who, for the first time in her life, is learning how to write her name.
You experience it in visiting nurseries and schools where staff members are tirelessly working to make sure that children get the nutrients and education they need to become the leaders of tomorrow’s Haiti.
You can hear it from local Haitians, who have the option and means to live abroad but are proud to call Haiti home and aim to put their time and money into the country.
You can feel it in the rebuilt parts of Port-au-Prince. Through programs that enable and empower locals to lead societal change, such as Rayjon, there is hope that tomorrow’s Haiti can develop into a country that all citizens can enjoy and succeed in.
In all my time in poverty studies I have never had a week quite like this and I know that a return to Haiti is not a question of if but when.
Click here to keep up to date with Rotarian Mike’s daily blog.
At right – Rotarian Mike Hurry is shown at the start of the Rotary Ride For Kids at Victoria in 2022 in this photo via therotaryrideforkids.com. (Handout) Handout
From the Observer, June 1 –
Mike Hurry is back on the road to complete his cross-Canada cycling trip raising funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton.
Hurry, with his wife Deb driving an accompanying RV, completed the first leg of the trip in 2022 and returned to Northern Ontario in mid-May to start the second leg scheduled to end sometime in June in Halifax where he plans to dip his front bike tire in the Atlantic Ocean.
“The weather has been atrocious,” Hurry said during a stop at Deep River. “I’ve had sleet and snow, and our waterlines froze one night.”
The initial leg in 2022 began when Hurry dipped a bicycle wheel in the water in Victoria and then paused at Marathon. Forest fires in 2023 and a friend’s illness in 2024 delay the second leg until this year.
Click here to read the rest of the Observer article.
And by the end of June, Rotarian Mike had completed his ride – Mike’s words below -
Today we are back to cycling and it will be our last day on the bikes. We drive back close to where we departed the ferry from PEI and last cycled. From Stellarton we take highway 374 towards Steel Harbour. The road is for the most part relatively new pavement. There is only a 14 km section toward the end that is in need of resurfacing and it certainly isn’t as bad as some roads we have been on. The road is virtually empty - in fact at most a couple of dozen vehicles pass us in both directions. Other than a couple of significant hills, the road is low rolling hills sweeping from left to right and back again for the entire day.
From Steel Harbour we cycle along highway 7 which hugs the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia through small communities that dot the shore. Each community is at the end of a bay where the road dips down to meet the ocean and then meanders up and out of town around the end of the bay. Finally, we arrive at Murphy’s on the Ocean where we’ll camp tonight.
A relatively uneventful conclusion to the cross Canada trek. As I have mentioned I didn’t end up cycling every inch. There were large sections on this year’s adventure that I cut out for a variety of reasons. Overall, I’m happy with what I cycled and feel that I had an opportunity to experience Canada from coast to coast.
Left - Highway 7 South shore
We have a beautiful country and cycling allowed me to get to see many parts of the country that I would never have seen. Cycling get you off the four lane divided highways and into the small towns and villages. We are really blessed to live in Canada. Over the course of the two years that Deb, Maggie and I spent on this adventure we talked to a lot of different people across the country. We know that we have far more in common, far more which unites us than divides us.
I’d like to thank Paul, Curtis and Terry who joined us for part of year one and my cousin David who flew in this year from England to spend three weeks cycling with me from Montreal to the East Coast. I’d also like to thank the many donors and other supporters that helped me along the road for supporting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Sarnia-Lambton.
Most of all I’d like to thank my wife Deb for supporting me every day of this two years adventure crossing Canada. I couldn’t have done this trip without her and I wouldn’t have want to. I’m the luckiest guy.
The ride today ended with me dipping the front wheel of my bike, actually it is Dave Hill’s bike, (thanks Dave) into the Atlantic Ocean. Well to be perfectly honest I actually dipped it into Murphy’s Cove but that does eventually flow into the Atlantic, so close enough. Thanks for following along.
ROTARIANS – PEOPLE OF ACTION! Click here to read the full blog.
Pathways Health Centre for Children – 50 years!
The Rotary Club of Sarnia gratefully acknowledges this post by Pathways Health Centre for Children.
Although the Club now has many areas of focus, beginning with its formation in 1928, the care of the children of Sarnia-Lambton has been the Club’s primary mission.
We are proud to join in the celebration of Pathway’s 50th Anniversary!
Click here to learn more about the Pathways Health Centre for Children.
WHY JOIN ROTARY? WHO NEEDS
ROTARY?
Here is a lovely story from our dedicated Rotarian, Bill Hoad – and he was so very kind to give us all a little insight into his Rotary history and why someone should become a member of Rotary
How did you get involved with Rotary? Were you invited? by whom? When?
When I got promoted to Plant Manager at Ethyl, I got membership in the Sarnia Golf and Curling Club, membership in the Rotary Club of Sarnia and a company car. Membership in the SG&CC allowed me to become a curler and get together with fellow curlers at least one evening a week and occasionally for bonspiels on the weekends (and drink lots of beer too).
I was invited to join Rotary by my next door neighbour Norm Millington who had 3 Rotarians across the street, and then we had 2 more within a block. A Rotary ghetto!
What was Rotary like when you first joined, and has it changed much?
When I joined Rotary it was a men-only club of about 140 members. We met in the Guildwood Inn which now has another name. There was only one club in Sarnia; and as I remember it, most were working, not retirees as at present. The Sarnia Fire Chief and Sarnia Police Chief sat together, and no doubt discussed matters of mutual interest.
What have you contributed to Rotary - and what has Rotary contributed to you?
In general, a lot of volunteer time. Auction. The Breakfast. Property Manager. Part of the team that built the Rotary office. Liaison with Pathways, CCMF (Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile), and the March of Dimes.
What is your best memory/feeling/story about Rotary that you are willing to share with the readers? If you have a story, that would be super!
The biggest reward was about 1989 when I was Rotarian of the Year. The reward included a visit to the Rotary International Convention in Edinburgh. My wife came too. Naturally Rotarians from all over the world were there.
After 35 years, I don't have many specific memories but one of the most enjoyable events was a bus trip to Glasgow, and along the way checking a lake to see if the Loch Ness monster could be seen that day. The bus driver was an outgoing personality and was everyone's friend.
Why have you maintained your membership - and how long have you been in Rotary?
I have a small family. Daughter, son-in-law in London, 2 grandsons. Son and daughter-in-law in Missouri, no kids. 3 sisters-in-law in the Ottawa area. One niece in Sarnia and one in Wallaceburg who are here because we moved here in 1957.
So the members of the Rotary club are like family.
Rotarian Bill Hoad
We get together for weekly meetings and work on fundraisers and other events. Other Rotary-related events are working with Pathways, CCMF, and March of Dimes.
Other "families" are our amateur radio club and group who used to be involved with Emergency Preparedness Day and now meet at Tim’s weekly to solve worldly problems and have a coffee.
I believe I joined Rotary in 1980.
Do you have any advice for today's Rotarians?
Get involved! Enjoy Rotary! Enjoy the Rotarians! With all the action, there has to be an activity you would enjoy.
Bill Hoad, July 2025
ROTARY QUOTES
Cliff Dochterman (Past RI President, 1992-93), known for inspiring everyday Rotarians!
“Real happiness is helping others. And if you want to feel good about yourself, do something for someone else.”
A beloved Rotarian, Cliff often reminded members that Rotary wasn’t just about big projects it was about personal commitment and service with heart.
Sylvia Whitlock (First woman Rotary Club president, Duarte, California, 1987)
“Rotary is a vehicle through which we can do good, guided not by self-interest but by shared humanity.”
Sylvia’s leadership broke barriers, but she always emphasized the why behind service— our shared responsibility to uplift others.
Sam Owori (RI President-elect, Uganda, passed away before taking office in 2017)
“Rotary has become a way of life for me—one that I will never abandon. It has brought out the best in me. I am grateful to belong to an organization that is making a difference.”
Sam was deeply respected for his humility and his remarkable Rotary work in Africa, where he helped charter over 80 clubs. His quiet leadership continues to inspire.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
What's the Paul Harris Society?
Not to be confused with a Paul Harris Fellow (which means a life-time gift of $1000 to The Rotary Foundation's annual fund), the Paul Harris Society is the name given to those Rotarians who pledge a $1000 gift annually –every year
You may know these committed individuals they wear a "flag" below their Rotary pin that reads "PHS."
One easy way to give at the $1000 level is through Rotary Direct sign up and an amount of money you designate is automatically deducted from your account each month. Learn more at www.rotary.org.
Members of the Paul Harris Society know that the need never ends -- and neither should the giving.
D6330 Long-time Paul Harris Society Chair is Rotarian Jamie Pole.
What your giving supports
Paul Harris Society gifts have helped provide:
• Vocational training for teachers establishing an early childhood education center in South Africa
• Water filters, toilets, and hygiene training to prevent fluorosis, diarrhea, and other diseases in India
• A scholarship for a medical professional in Italy to research treatments that minimize mortality rates among premature babies
• Peace-building seminars for 200 teachers and 1,300 students in Uganda
• Treated mosquito nets and medical services that prevent malaria in Mali
In District 6330 we are proud of the generous members in our Paul Harris Society.
We have over 32 of our clubs that now have members in the Paul Harris Society.
Rotarian Jamie Pole
PAUL HARRIS SOCIETY
You are invited to join!
Dear Fellow Rotarians!
How recently have you thought about positive outcomes with money you invested with The Rotary Foundation?
A special group - You are invited to join a special group of Rotarians dedicated to making a significant impact on our communities and the world.
The Paul Harris Society recognizes members who contribute $1,000 or more each year to any combination of the following:
• Annual Fund-SHARE
• Annual Fund-World Fund
• Annual Fund-Areas of focus
• PolioPlus Fund
• Disaster Response Fund
• Disasters of Magnitude
• Approved global grants
For under $3 a day you can join the Paul Harris Society.
• You can fulfill your Paul Harris Society commitment gradually during the Rotary year.
• An immediate $1,000 contribution is NOT required at the time of enrollment.
It is your donations that allow our clubs, your club, and Rotarians around the world to -
• provide clean water
• prevent disease
• save mothers and children
• promote peace
• fund projects
• support education, and
• stimulate economic development
We as Rotarians are in the business of changing lives!
I encourage you to consider becoming a member of the Paul Harris Society.
Will you be joining the PHS members of our District 6330?
If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to reach out to your Paul Harris Society Coordinator, District 6330 – Jamie Pole!
Rotarian Jamie Pole.
The Rotarian Minute is a creation of District 1700. Please send any comments or suggestons to laminute1700@gmail.com.
The Environment – Rotary’s 7th Area of Focus
King Charles III
What Carbon Is — and What It Isn’t
Carbon often gets framed as the villain in climate change — but in truth, it’s the element that makes life possible. It’s in your DNA, the food on your plate, and the air you exhale. Carbon atoms are the building blocks of organic molecules, capable of forming chains and structures that drive nearly every biological process.
Scientifically, carbon is element number 6 on the periodic table. It is small but incredibly versatile, able to form strong bonds with other elements like hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. That versatility is why it appears in everything from proteins and fossil fuels to wood and plastic.
But when people talk about “cutting carbon,” what they usually mean is cutting carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is a heat-trapping gas that’s released when carbon bonds with oxygen during combustion, respiration, and decay. Conflating carbon with carbon dioxide oversimplifies the problem. The issue isn’t carbon itself, but rather where it’s accumulating.
Click here to read the rest of this article – from earthday.org.
Positive environmental emotions – such as awe, gratitude, and connectedness with nature – are not only protective for our mental health, but they also foster care, responsibility, and pro-environmental behaviors. In times of ecological crisis, they remind us of what is worth protecting.
Dr. Matteo Innocenti, Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist, European Climate Pact Ambassador, President Italian Climate Change Anxiety Association, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore
Click here to read another interesting article from earthday.org – 3 Words you Need to Know about Mental Health and Climate Change.
Stronger Together: Join ESRAG in Expanding Our Impact
Friday, July 4, 2025
By Ludwig Kalthoff, Chair, Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group
Have you ever felt the spark of being part of a truly great team—united by purpose, energized by shared goals, and committed to a collective mission? That’s the spirit fueling ESRAG this year. As your new Chair, I warmly invite you to bring your voice, energy, and leadership into this shared journey. Our theme for 2025-26 is clear and bold:
Stronger Together: Building Foundations, Expanding Impact.
Imagine ESRAG as a global team. Our field is the Earth. Our mission: to protect and restore it.
Rotary provides the values and structure. The Board sets strategy and ensures sustainability. But you—our members, volunteers, and leaders—are the changemakers on the ground. From grassroots projects to global advocacy, every action you take is a vital part of our impact.
What We’re Doing Together
This year, we’re raising the bar. ESRAG’s Divisions—including Communications, IT, Membership, Projects, and Task Forces—have set ambitious operational goals to expand our reach and deepen our effectiveness.
• Expanding Our Reach
We aim to elevate ESRAG’s visibility to 75,000 impressions per month. With 96 published articles, 48 weekly seminars, engaging podcasts, videos, and global campaigns, we’re inviting new members, donors, and partners to join us.
• Documenting Our Impact
By tracking 95 activities and uploading at least 18 projects to iRotree and the Rotary Project Center, we’re making your work visible—and inspiring others to act.
• Growing Our Capacity
We’re improving how we onboard and empower volunteers through clear processes, helpful Division Handbooks, and easy access to tools that help you lead confidently and collaborate effectively.
• Fostering Connection
Through ESRAG Connect, we’re nurturing five key practices—welcoming new members, aligning work with purpose, fostering belonging, celebrating contributions, and listening deeply. These are the roots of a vibrant, engaged community.
Our Divisions are tackling issues from climate to circular economy, sustainable living to biodiversity. This isn’t just organizational growth—it’s a movement for environmental action, powered by people like you.
Your Call to Action
Goals alone don’t change the world—you do.
Whether you’re launching a green project, engaging your community, or leading a task force, ESRAG is here to amplify your impact and increase your environmental handprint. You provide the networks, tools, and support to turn our ideas into action—and our action into lasting change.
If you’re already involved, step deeper into leadership. If you’re new, welcome! There’s a place for you here.
Visit www.esrag.org to explore, connect, and get started. Together, we are responding to today’s challenges while building a hopeful, sustainable future.
Let’s play our part. Let’s be Stronger Together.
Please share: Stronger Together
See our club Facebook page for more up-to-the-minute club news!
Charlotte Eleanor Englehart Hospital redevelopment
President Kurtis Lush - Club Assembly
‡ Thanks to Rotarian Alison Mahon who prepares the speakers’ list for the club!
What is KIVA.org? Microfinance made easy…
...for your information and interest – and International Service
Empower Dreams with Kiva.org: Microloans that Make a World of Difference
Have you ever wished you could help someone start a business, support their education, or improve their community — even from across the world?
Kiva.org makes that possible.
Through Kiva, individuals can lend as little as $25 to support entrepreneurs and underserved communities in over 80 countries. And
The impact for recipients is profound: they gain access to capital that traditional banks may deny them, along with a sense of dignity, agency, and the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. Whether it’s a woman opening a market stall in Kenya or a farmer in Peru investing in sustainable equipment, your small loan can create lasting change.
Lenders benefit too — not financially, but personally and globally. It’s a chance to connect with someone’s story, be part of their success, and promote values of equity and entrepreneurship.
With a 96% repayment rate, your funds can be loaned again and again, multiplying your impact.
As Rotarians, we’re often invited to support a variety of worthy causes — all meaningful and impactful. But with Kiva.org, it’s not about donating — it’s about lending.
Your loan has a very high chance of being repaid, and once it is, you can re-lend those same funds again and again, multiplying your impact.
And you’re not alone — each loan is funded by a group of caring lenders like you, and together you’ll share in the joy of repayment and impact. Your $25 becomes part of a larger loan, joined by others — and repaid to each lender as the borrower succeeds.
Best of all, your Rotary club doesn’t have to lead the charge. Individuals can get involved on their own — supporting entrepreneurs, uplifting communities, and making a real difference in people’s lives around the world.
Kiva turns compassion into action — one microloan at a time.
Visit www.kiva.org to learn more or to start lending today.
ROTARY’S FOUR-WAY TEST
A Thoughtful Start to any
day
� � � � What is the Rotary Four-Way Test?
It's a short ethical guide used by Rotarians worldwide to help evaluate decisions, both personal and professional.
It was created in 1932 by Herbert J. Taylor, who later became Rotary International President. Facing financial and moral crisis in his company, he developed this test as a litmus test for integrity and fair conduct.
The test asks four questions of the things we think, say or do:
• Is it the TRUTH?
• Is it FAIR to all concerned?
• Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
• Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
It may seem simple, but in a complex world, those questions are anything but easy — and that’s part of their power.
� � � � � Why Should We Consider It?
Because ethics matter — now more than ever.
The Four-Way Test:
• Brings clarity to grey areas.
Click the 4-way test above and open the link to hear the Four-Way Test by RC of Saskatoon Nutana
• Encourages honesty and accountability, not just in public life but in our quiet decisions.
• Fosters trust — a commodity that seems scarce in many parts of today’s society.
• Helps cultivate respectful dialogue instead of divisiveness.
• Serves as a universal framework: it’s non-religious, non-political, and applicable across cultures and professions.
In a world of misinformation, polarization, and moral shortcuts, it gently but firmly asks:
“Are we making the right choices for ourselves and for others?”
� � What Does the Four-Way Test Mean in Today’s Context?
In a global landscape marked by challenges — climate change, inequality, misinformation, and conflict — the Four-Way Test is a compass. It reminds us:
• Truth is not just about facts, but integrity.
• Fairness challenges us to consider others, not just ourselves.
• Goodwill and friendship are the foundations of peace, community, and collaboration.
• Benefit to all concerned asks us to be stewards, not just beneficiaries.
In Rotary, it’s more than words. It shapes how Rotarians lead projects, build partnerships, and serve their communities — from clean water initiatives to polio eradication. But beyond Rotary, it’s an invitation to live more ethically and courageously.
� � Closing Thought
The Four-Way Test isn't about being perfect. It's about trying to do the right thing, every day, in big ways and small.
It invites us to pause, reflect, and then act — with conscience, compassion, and courage.
Whether you’re a Rotarian or not, those four questions can light a path through some of life’s murkiest terrain.
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.
A LITTLE HUMOUR
An Irishman walks into a bar in Dublin…
He orders three pints of Guinness, then sits in the back of the room drinking a sip out of each one in turn.
After he finished all three, he returns to the bar and orders three more.
The bartender says to him, “You know, a pint goes flat after I draw it; it would taste better if you bought one at a time.”
The Irishman replies, “Well, you see, I have two brothers. One is in America, the other in Australia, and I’m here in Dublin… “
“When we all left home, we promised that we’d drink this way to remember the days we all drank together.”
The bartender admits that this is a nice custom and leaves it there.
The Irishman becomes a regular in the bar and always drinks the same way…
He orders three pints and drinks the three pints by taking drinks from each of them in turn.
One day, he comes in and orders two pints…
All the other regulars in the bar notice and fall silent.
When he comes back to the bar for the second round, the bartender says…
“I don’t want to intrude on your grief, but I wanted to offer my condolences on your great loss.”
The Irishman looks confused for a moment, then a light dawns in his eye and he laughs…
“Oh, no,” he says, “everyone is fine… “
“I’ve just quit drinking!”
Below is a short presentation from “Letters Live.” Click the link and enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnWxHmMqAQk&t=1s
COMMUNITY SERVICE THROUGH THE YEARS
Pathways Health Centre for Children (Founder)
Bluewater Health – Maternal & Child Health Wing
YMCA – Swimming Pool
Inn of the Good Shepherd
Lambton College
St. Joseph’s Hospice
Huron House Boys’ Home
Community Living, Sarnia Lambton
Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile (Standing Oaks Home)
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RLYA)
DOW Centre for Children and Youth
Big Brothers – Big Sisters
Canada Food Grains
Scouts Canada – Camp Attawandron
Goodwill Industries
Rayjon Haiti Project
YMCA Youth Scholarship
Lambton County Music Festival Awards
Family Counselling Centre
Access Open Minds
Habitat for Humanity
Point Edward Minor Hockey Association
Junior Achievement
Numerous Schools – LKDSB and SCCDSB
…and much, much more
But no -
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. §
