Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo (Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy) District 6330 Governor Jeff Ferweda, (Rotary Club of Genessee Valley, MI) Club Newsletter Editor, Kitty Bucsko
District website: https://rotary6330.org/ Club website: http://www.6330passport.org
The Calendar below shows Rotary’s 2025-26 monthly themes.
ROTARY CALENDAR and THEMES
Month
Theme
July Maternal and Child Health
August
Membership and New Club Development
September Basic Education and Literacy
October Economic and Community Development
November The Rotary Foundation
December Disease Prevention and Treatment
January Vocational Service
February Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
March Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
April Environment
May
June
Youth Service
Rotary Fellowships Click
MONTH
OF NOVEMBER
The Rotary Foundation
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday, November 5at 7:00p.m. Eastern Time
HAPPY CHATS ONLINE – JOIN US!
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time
UNITE FOR GOOD
DISEASE
PREVENTION & TREATMENT
Month of December
DISTRICT GOVERNOR’S VISIT
Wednesday, December 3
Rotary Anthem
Right click here to open the link and listen to the Rotary Anthem!
Click here for We are the World.
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
NOVEMBER MESSAGE 2025
Let us give with gratitude
This November, as we celebrate The Rotary Foundation, I invite you to consider not only what we give but why we give. The Foundation is more than a fund for projects. It is the beating heart of our promise that service, rooted in trust and friendship, can create lasting change.
Our Action Plan calls us to increase our impact, and the Foundation is how we make this vision real. Since 1988, Rotary and our partners have immunized nearly 3 billion children against polio. We have committed more than $2.6 billion to this cause, and last year alone we directed $146 million toward the final push for eradication. These numbers are significant, but the true impact is not in statistics – it is in the lives of children who will never again fear polio. It is in the hope restored to families and the peace built in communities once defined by disease.
But polio is only one story among many. Each year, Rotary Peace Centers train new generations of leaders who will transform conflict into dialogue and division into understanding. In 2023-24, nearly 100 new fellows began their studies, continuing a legacy of more than 1,800 peacebuilders from over 140 countries. When we invest in them, we are planting seeds of peace that will bear fruit for decades to come.
The Foundation also touches lives through district and global grants, supporting projects large and small. A clean water well for a rural community, scholarships for young professionals, medical care in the wake of disaster – these are not temporary gestures, but steps toward dignity, resilience, and opportunity. This is how Rotary service becomes lasting impact. And when natural disasters strike, our Foundation allows Rotary to act quickly with disaster response grants.
Our Foundation is not about what we can do alone but what we can do together. Each contribution, no matter its size, joins with others to create a collective act of faith in humanity and in the future.
The last mile of any great journey is always the hardest. We see this in our final steps toward ending polio, in our work for peace, and in every project that seeks to lift people out of despair. Yet every time we give, we declare that our work will continue regardless of the challenge.
This November, let us give with gratitude, with joy, and with hope. Through our Foundation, we Unite for Good, and in doing so, we leave behind not only projects but a legacy of peace, trust, and Service Above Self.
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
Undeniable impact
MESSAGE NOVEMBER 2025
Many of you will remember the theme I chose as RI president in 202021. Rotary Opens Opportunities. I remain passionate about these opportunities, and I know you do too.
As we celebrate Rotary Foundation Month, let’s reflect on the many ways the Foundation makes the world better. Rotary is extraordinary, and the Foundation amplifies that impact.
I encourage all of you – in Rotary and Rotaract clubs – to discover this for yourselves. Go beyond the local level and engage with The Rotary Foundation globally. You can partner with clubs to boost literacy in Guatemala or fight malaria in Zambia. You can make a difference with clean water initiatives reaching millions or maternal health programs saving lives across continents.
It doesn’t stop there. Through major impact projects like Programs of Scale, we’re pursuing bold initiatives that push Rotary’s potential to create lasting change further. Greater impact and greater visibility: this is our path forward.
Many of you have asked about the status of Rotary’s biggest impact project in history – our long-term commitment to polio eradication. Recently, RI President Francesco Arezzo, International PolioPlus Committee Chair Michael McGovern, and I met with Prime Minister Shehbar Sharif and the army leadership of Pakistan. Everyone is fully committed to eradicating polio once and for all. We were absolutely convinced by the work of Pakistan’s emergency operations centers, where experts plan and coordinate vaccination.
While some governments scale back support for polio eradication, Rotary remains committed to its pledge to raise $50 million again this year. This meeting reaffirmed our unwavering commitment to finishing this historic mission.
What excites me most is seeing how each of us can make a real difference through our Foundation. I urge everyone – especially newcomers to Rotary – to explore these opportunities. Find your passion among our areas of focus and discover projects to support, especially through global grants.
We members fund, sustain, and deliver these projects. That’s why the Foundation consistently earns top ratings from Charity Navigator. If you don’t want to lead a project, you can still be part of the Foundation through annual support.
Our fundraising goal for 2025-26 is an ambitious $500 million. Your gift this month will create countless opportunities.
We have incredible opportunities before us, and the impact we achieve together through The Rotary Foundation is exponential. The proof is undeniable.
HOLGER KNAACK Foundation Trustee Chair, 2025-26
ROTARY’S NOVEMBER FOCUS –THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International, created in 1917 with a simple but powerful idea: to "do good in the world." Over the years, it has grown into one of the world’s most respected humanitarian foundations, funding projects that bring lasting change to communities in need. Its mission is to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, supporting education, and alleviating poverty.
What makes the Foundation extraordinary is its global reach—Rotarians in every corner of the world contribute to and benefit from its programs, making it a truly international force for good.
One of the Foundation’s greatest hallmarks is its stewardship of resources. Rotary has consistently received top ratings from independent charity evaluators because of its low administrative costs and high impact. Donors know their gifts are put to work in meaningful, measurable ways—from providing clean water and sanitation in remote villages, to establishing literacy programs for children, to funding scholarships for future leaders. And, of course, the Foundation is most famous for leading the decades-long global campaign to eradicate polio.
Together with partners like the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Rotary has helped reduce polio cases by more than 99% worldwide.
What truly makes the Rotary Foundation phenomenal is the way it empowers ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Through district and global grants, clubs are able to transform local ideas into impactful projects, often multiplying their efforts through matching funds. Every dollar given creates ripples that travel across borders and generations.
At its heart, the Foundation is not just about money—it’s about trust, collaboration, and hope. It represents the best of what humanity can achieve when service is placed above self-interest.
ROTARY INSPIRATION
On The Rotary Foundation
• “The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.”
— Rotary International
• “Doing good in the world is not only our mission, it is our legacy.” — Rotary Foundation motto
• Click here to access The Rotary Foundation Canada website.
On Service & Giving
• “What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal.”
— Albert Pike (often cited by Rotarians)
• “Every Rotarian is a link in the chain of Rotary service, and every link is essential.”
— Paul Harris, Rotary’s founder
• “The measure of Rotary’s greatness is not in its number of members, but in the impact of its service.” — adapted from Arch Klumph, founder of The Rotary Foundation
On Inspiration & Hope
• “Rotary changes us and those we serve. I believe we can change the world one life at a time.”
— Past RI President Wilfrid Wilkinson (Canadian - President of Rotary International 2007-08)
• “Rotary is not just a club you join—it is an invitation to endless opportunities to serve.”
— Rotary International
NEWS & INFORMATION IMPORTANT TO ROTARIANS
In District 6330, Rotary leadership – past, present, future
Above (left to right) PDG Mike Chaffee (2022-2023 - PDG Sonja Glass (2023-2024) –PDG Katherine Hahn (2024-2025) – DG Jeff Ferweda (2025-2026 – DGE Lorna Gunning Fratschko (2026-2027)
Above – DGN Dawn Kennedy (2027-2028)
ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE
Click here to see more photos and read more about Rotary Youth Exchange in D6330.
BUILDING
PEACE, ONE YOUNG PERSON AT A TIME!
Exchanges for students ages 15-18 are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries!
District 6330 is proud to participate in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program, which builds peace, one young person at a time.
Students learn a new language, discover another culture, and truly become global citizens.
Exchange students unlock their true potential to:
• Develop lifelong leadership skills
• Learn a new language and culture
• Build lasting friendships with young people from around the world
• Become a global citizen
Click here for the application.
We are currently recruiting students for exchanges that will take place in the 2026-2027 school year.
The Rotarian Minute is a creation of District 1700. Please send any comments or suggestons to laminute1700@gmail.com.
Summary of new polioviruses this week, cases and positive environmental isolates:
• Algeria: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Angola: one cVDPV2 case
• Lao PDR: one cVDPV1 case
• Nigeria: two cVDPV2 cases and two cVDPV2-positive environmental samples
•
For details on the 2024 estimates and what they tell us about immunization globally, read the WHO-UNICEF press release and explore the WHO Immunization Data Portal
The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) published its Action Plan – a comprehensive roadmap to streamline operations and sustain momentum toward a polio-free world in light of ongoing global reductions in development assistance.
The Action Plan, developed through extensive consultation and grounded in the latest data, sets out how GPEI will focus activities where they will have the greatest impact, making deliberate, sometimes challenging choices to minimize risk, safeguard hard-won gains, and maintain progress toward a polio-free world.
Click here to read the full article More
TIME magazine includes hexavalent vaccines as part of its ‘Best Inventions of 2025’ list
Earlier this year, Senegal and Mauritania became the first two low-income countries to distribute lifesaving hexavalent vaccines. The six-in-one vaccine combines two vaccines currently supplied to low-income countries: a pentavalent vaccine that targets diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, hepatitis B, and meningitis, as well as a separate polio vaccine.
Because the hexavalent vaccine simplifies dosing schedules—it involves three injections rather than five spread across two vaccines—more young children will gain protection against polio in particular, according to Gavi, the global health organization that covered the majority of the vaccine’s costs in the two countries.
Hexavalent vaccines have been in use in Europe and the U.S. for 25 and 13 years, respectively. It wasn’t fair that “lower-income countries have had to wait,” says Katy Clark, Gavi senior programme manager. Click here.
From polio survivor to vaccinator in Pakistan
Meet Masood Khan, and his inspiring story, of having polio himself to protecting others from this lifelong disease as a polio vaccinator, in Peshawar.
Rotary End Polio Now ambassador Anne W Strike raises awareness of polio and empower survivors through sport
Read the inspiring story of Anne Wafula Strike, Rotary End Polio Now ambassador, Paralympian and author, who is raising awareness, tackling stigma and empowering survivors through sport, in her native Kenya.
An extensive, visually-driven story in Devex on Madagascar’s
Please take the time to view this remarkable story – so many photos and videos to tell the story. The chapters include
• A complex virus
• A fusillade of campaigns
• Making it routine
• The long trek
• Falling from the sky
• America’s withdrawal
The poliovirus is complicated. There’s wild polio — still endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan. But variant poliovirus is the most prevalent form globally. It happens when children vaccinated with oral vaccines shed a weakened strain of the virus in their feces, which can sometimes circulate among under-immunized and unimmunized people until it slowly mutates into a form causing paralysis. Click here to read more.
To quell the outbreak, the Malagasy government and its partners launched four polio campaigns in 2023 and three last year — the last in October. About 63% of the population was vaccinated, including adults, as some were paralyzed during the outbreak. Click here to read more
successful polio outbreak response.
While the campaigns were successful, they didn’t reach everyone.
“We don’t trust the campaigns because the vaccinators are coming from our own community and they aren’t trained health professionals,” she said. Click here to read more.
The winding roads of Ifanadiana district in the eastern region of Madagascar — about a day's drive from Antranolahatra village — cut through rolling mountains dappled with eucalyptus trees and terraced rice fields. Mothers tend to walk with babies in one arm and baskets on their heads. Vendors will sell black strips of vanilla and deep-fried bananas. Small herds of zebu — or humped, horned cattle — are shepherded amid bustling markets. Click here to read more
For over 30 years, the U.S. Agency for International Development has been a leading health donor in Madagascar. But that was brought to a halt under the Trump administration.
But the ghosts of the U.S.’ imprint still linger. Plastered on the walls of health clinics across the country are posters for USAID’s ACCESS program, and community health volunteers still wear clothes with the program’s logo. Click here to read the rest of the story.
Antananarivo – Madagascar has successfully halted the transmission of variant poliovirus type 1, following recommendations from a rigorous, independent Outbreak Response Assessment (OBRA) to declare the outbreak closed. This achievement marks a major milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts towards polio eradication.
The outbreak, which started in 2020, posed a serious public health threat, particularly to under 5 children but also to unvaccinated adults.
In response, the government – through the Emergencies Operations Centre – in collaboration with the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), swiftly launched a series of emergency vaccination campaigns. This effort, backed by strong political commitment from the highest levels, including the President and First Lady of Madagascar, successfully reached over 19 million people with life-saving polio vaccines.
As a result, no new detections have been reported since September 2023!
Meeting the criteria for outbreak closure is a major achievement.
For the certification to be met, a country must ensure high population immunity, strong surveillance performance (evidence that no transmission was missed), and at least 12 consecutive months without poliovirus detection (either in humans or environmental – sewage/wastewater).
“The progress made in recent years in the immunization and eradication of polio is a hopeful sign. Today, polio is finally eradicated. Together, we have proved that it is possible to overcome limits and build lasting change. Let’s continue to act, raise awareness and join forces to give every child a healthy future,” said H.E. Mrs. Mialy Rajoelina, The First Lady of Madagascar and immunization ambassador.
At the outbreak’s peak in September 2023, a total of 287 cases had been confirmed, including 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis and 44 community cases, 198 positive environmental surveillance detections in wastewater.
Key to halting the polio transmission
Key to halting polio transmission in Madagascar was the country’s intensified surveillance system, which enabled swift detection of poliovirus in both human cases and environmental samples. Enhanced case investigation, community engagement, and innovative vaccination strategies, including house-to-house and cross-border immunization efforts, were instrumental in stopping the spread.
Cases were spread across 30 districts in the country’s 13 regions and two paralytic cases were reported in adults in January 2023, which placed the country in a unique position that required innovative responses.
Four large-scale vaccination campaigns were carried out in 2023, enabling Madagascar to reach 95% vaccination coverage – which was pivotal in stopping the transmission and closing the polio outbreak.
“This success demonstrates that with political will, strong partnerships, and community involvement, polio outbreaks can be swiftly controlled. We must now sustain these efforts to prevent any future resurgence,” said Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, Acting WHO Regional Director for Africa.
Health authorities, supported by GAVI, Rotary, UNICEF, WHO and the Gates Foundation, continue to strengthen routine immunization, enhance surveillance, and maintain high-quality outbreak preparedness measures to mitigate the risk of future polio re-emergence, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
Click here to read the rest of the article.
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.
Visit the PolioPlus Society Facebook Page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/polioplussociety
Click here to view a short video and learn more about GAVI – The Vaccine Alliance. One of the greatest achievements in the history of mankind
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE
November Rotary’s Focus – The Rotary Foundation
Wednesday, November 5
World Tsunami Awareness Day
Thursday, November 6
International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment
Sunday, November 9 to Saturday, November 15
International Week of Science and Peace
Monday, November 10
World Science Day for Peace and Development
Friday, November 14
World Diabetes Day
Sunday, November 16
International Day for Tolerance (UNESCO)
Tuesday, November 18
World Day for Prevention of and Healing from Child Sexual Exploitation, Abuse, and Violence
Wednesday, November 19
World Toilet Day
*Thursday, November 20
World Children’s Day
Tuesday, November 25
International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women
Click here to learn about World Toilet Day’s projects around the world.
* Statistics from https://worlddiabetesday.org/
Do you need a make-up? missed meetings? To learn about other Rotary clubs?
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 for 2025-26 – Mariann Timmers
OUR CLUB PROJECTS
HELPING MIGRANT
WORKERS
The Passport Club of District 6330 is happy to be continuing – at least for this final year - our successful service project, Backpacks for Migrant Workers for one more year.
North Lambton Community Health Care created the Migrant Worker Project to support the 700 migrant workers working in Sarnia and Lambton County. Our club has been working with the Project Coordinator, Andrea Jones-Peper, by providing backpacks for newly arriving workers.
We will continue through the 2025-26 year to fill the backpacks with items requested by workers, such as toiletries. The date of delivery is hoping to be the start of the season in the spring. We will continue to support these workers. Stay tuned! Consider what items you can individually add to these backpacks!
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.
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.
Kiva turns compassion into action — one microloan at a time.
Visit www.kiva.org to learn more or to start lending today.
Are you interested in becoming a Kiva Ambassador? Click here.
CONTINUING SUCCESS – CUP OF KINDNESS
To some this is just a cup.
To members of the Rotary Club of District 6330 Passport this is A CUP OF KINDNESS.
…as we support local food banks in our local communities
We will donate to another Food Bank this year and try for another district grant.
London Food Bank
Strathroy
Sarnia – Inn of the Good Shepherd
Stratford
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 - October 1, 2025
Click here to view October’s meeting video.
Grant Management in D6330 - Your Donations Are
Clubs must qualify first! The Rotary Foundation requires Clubs that want to participate in the District Grants program to qualify. To qualify, the club must:
• Be in good standing
• May not have any grant reporting that is overdue
• Have at least 2 members complete the District’s Qualification Training course and quiz
The Certification is valid for One Rotary Year only! Clubs must be re-certified for each Rotary Year.
Rotary Foundation Grants – There are two kinds of grants. -Global Grants and District Grants:
Global Grants
• Must be in (at least) one of Rotary's Areas Of Focus
• Must be International projects involving at least 2 clubs in 2 different countries. One of these clubs is the "host" club - the club where the project will take place. The other is the "international partner" - the club that provides funding and possibly some expertise to help implement the project.
• Must have a minimum budget of USD $30,000
• Club funds are supplemented by the District Designated Funds as, and if, available
• Funds donated to the project from District Designated Funds are supplemented by The Rotary Foundation (World Fund) to fund these grants.
District Grants
• May be local or international in scope.
• Are usually smaller in scale. There is no minimum budget requirement.
• Will usually involve active participation by Rotarians.
• District 6330 clubs may apply for more than one District Grant in a single Rotary year but are limited to a maximum of USD $3,000 per year in District Grant funding.
• Projects must be started and completed within one Rotary year - July 1 to June 30 of the next year.
Ready to Apply for A Grant? Will it be a District or a Global Grant?
3 simple questions to help you decide:
• Is the project in one of the areas of focus? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
• Is the project between Clubs/Districts in separate countries? – No? Consider a District Grant.
• Is the total budget for the project less than USD $30,000? – No? Consider applying for a District Grant.
• If you answer YES to all the above, consider applying for a Global Grant.
CLUB OFFICERS 2025-26
President Mariann Timmers
Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Chair
Project Chair
Directors
The Rotary Foundation (TRF) Communications
Sue Storie
Jessica Herbert
Deb Beaupré
Sue Storie
Rick Storie
Kitty Bucsko
MEMBERSHIP LIST BELOW –
CLUB MEMBERS’ LIST WITH EMAIL ADDRESSES
A.C. Alrey
acalrey@gmail.com
Deb Beaupré debmarjean@gmail.com
Rich Bouchard rbouchard@racetoerase.com
Kitty Bucsko ladykitt@gmail.com
Lynn Coates lynn.coates.1@outlook.com
Sue Elliott susan@sutherlandelliott.ca
Gerald (Gerry) Greig captaingeraldgreig@gmail.com
Heather Macdonald heathermac@BMTS.com
Jessica Morrow jessicaherbert2023@gmail.com
George Ottewell george.ottewell@gmail.com
Nancy Ottewell nottewell@gmail.com
Rick Storie rick.storie@sympatico.ca
Sue Storie sue.storie@sympatico.ca
Lynne Ternosky lynneternosky@gmail.com
Mariann Timmers gtimmers@aol.com
Make healthy meals with Canada’s food guide plate
Step 1. Make half your plate vegetables and fruits. Vegetables and fruits should always make up the largest proportion of the foods you eat throughout the day.
Step 2. Make one-quarter of your plate whole grain foods.
Step 3. Make one-quarter of your plate protein foods. Choose protein foods that come from plants more often.
The PHD is a plant-forward diet developed by the EAT-Lancet commission, with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and legumes.
It was designed as a healthy diet that stays within planetary boundaries.
NOTE: Food and agriculture contribute 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions – second only to the burning of fossil fuels.
Yet, the vast majority of media coverage of the climate crisis overlooks this critical sector, according to a new data analysis from Sentient Media.
Some Environmental Inspiration - Releaf
A young inventor from Ukraine, Valentyn Frechka, found a way to turn fallen leaves into eco-friendly paper bags.
His company, Releaf Paper, collects dry leaves from city streets and processes them into natural fibers that replace wood pulp.
This method reduces deforestation and carbon emissions while creating 100 percent biodegradable packaging. The paper fully decomposes within 30 days, making it a sustainable alternative to plastic.
European cities now partner with his startup to recycle their autumn waste into shopping bags and packaging products. His invention won international recognition for combining science, sustainability, and circular economy principles.</span><br><br>
Click here to view an informative video.
Cover the right-hand column and test yourself - Can you accurately name all the acronyms?
RI Rotary International
TRF The Rotary Foundation
RIBI Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland
DG District Governor
DGE/DGN
District Governor-elect / Governor-nominee
IPP Immediate Past President
PE/PN President-elect / Nominee
RYE
RYLA
RYPEN
VTT
RCC
Rotary Youth Exchange
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment
Vocational Training Team
Rotary Community Corps
GG Global Grant
DG (context) District Grant
EREY
Every Rotary, Every Year
PHF Paul Harris Fellow
PHS Paul Harris Society
AKS Arch Klumph Society
APS Annual Program Fund (Annual Fund)
PEF Permanent Endowment Fund
COL Council on Legislation
COR Council on Resolutions
BOD Board of Directors
AG Assistant Governor
��� Tip: When in doubt, spell it out all Rotarians will thank you!
And if you’d like to learn more acronyms, click here! The Rotary Global History Fellowship has all the answers! (RGHF)
Click here to view a short Rotary video about our Areas of Focus!
OUR CLUB FACEBOOK PAGE
See our club Facebook page for more up-to-the-minute club news!
SHELTERBOX
A video from Shelterbox – Click here.
DISASTER APPEAL FOR DISTRICT 7020 – Jamaica and other islands – Click here.
National Immunization Day 2026 - Invitation
Polio Experience India 2026 is open for people who are interested in dropping those two drops in a child's mouth to save them from Polio. Contact me: nbarbee@gmail.com
25 years ago, Rotary for me was breakfast meetings and raffle tickets. Now, Rotary is the reason I've crossed 25 states and 10 countries. Let me take you back to where this started.
I became president of my local Rotary club thinking I understood what we did. As president, I attended training and met Rotarians from across North Carolina. That's when I realized this organization operates globally—but I didn't truly understand the scale until I witnessed polio eradication efforts firsthand in India.
• A global infrastructure built to eradicate a disease that has paralyzed children for generations.
Village by village, child by child. It dawned on me: Rotary wasn't just my Wednesday morning service club. It was much much bigger. A worldwide network on the verge of making history. I remember thinking: "Other Rotarians need to see this." So I brought them—not just once, but year after year.
Since 2010, I've led over 500 professionals to India for National Immunization Days. Not to observe—to participate. To understand what's possible when local action connects to global impact.
To every Rotarian who's understood that we are connected to something bigger: we're this close to changing human history. Two countries left. Let's finish what we started.
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.
• 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?”
Click the 4-way test above and open the link to hear the Four-Way Test by RC of Saskatoon Nutana
� � 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
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
A LITTLE HUMOUR
Two videos worth your time – First one – click here.
A second interesting and powerful video to view – click here or the graphic below –
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. †
