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
March
Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution
Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
April Environment
May
June
Youth Service
Rotary Fellowships
Click the flags below to listen to the respective national anthems.
INSPIRATIONAL THOUGHTS FOR SEPTEMBER
ROTARY’S FOCUS FOR SEPTEMBER BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY
“Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope.”
– Kofi Annan
“Education is the most powerful weapon with which you can change the world.”
– Nelson Mandela
“One book, one pen, one child, and one teacher can change the world.”
– Malala Yousafzai
Malala Yousafzai - a true champion for EDUCATION AND LITERACY
Why Malala is Important
Malala Yousafzai is a global symbol of courage, resilience, and the power of education. At just 11 years old, she began speaking out publicly against the Taliban's efforts to ban girls from attending school in her home region of Pakistan. Despite threats to her life, she refused to be silenced believing deeply that education is a fundamental right for every child, regardless of gender.
In 2012, Malala was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman while riding the school bus. Most thought that would be the end of her story—but it was just the beginning. She survived, and instead of retreating in fear, she became an even more powerful voice on the world stage. She continues to fight for education for girls worldwide through the Malala Fund, and in 2014, she became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.
Malala's unwavering commitment in the face of violence reminds us that one voice—however young—can ignite change across the globe. Click here to view her video.
Click here to view a video by Malala’s father – to understand how Malala has become who she is.
“In many patriarchal societies and tribal societies, fathers are usually known by their sons. But I’m one of the few fathers who is known by his daughter, and I’m proud of it.”
Click here to view Malala’s Nobel Prize acceptance speech
MONTH OF SEPTEMBER
Basic Education and Literacy
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
Wednesday,September 3 at 7:00p.m. Eastern Time
HAPPY CHATS ONLINE – JOIN US!
Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time
UNITE FOR GOOD
ECONOMIC & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Month of October
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.
IMPORTANT ROTARY INFORMATION
2025-26 RI PRESIDENT
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
PRESIDENT
2025-26
FRANCESCO ARAZZO
ITALY
THE ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT
SEPTEMBER MESSAGE
2025
Peace through Education
When I stepped into the role of Rotary International president, the moment came swiftly and unexpectedly. It got me thinking how the world can change in an instant, and how Rotary has the power to be a steady force for good in that change. This month, Rotary’s Basic Education and Literacy Month, we have a clear call to action: to strengthen the foundation of learning in every community we serve.
Millions of people worldwide remain unable to read. Millions of children lack access to basic education. And yet, we know the solution: sustainable, inclusive, and equitable education, especially for girls and marginalized youths. Literacy is more than the ability to read and write. It is the key to human dignity, economic mobility, and peace. Every book opened, every classroom supported, and every teacher trained becomes a building block of peace.
This year, our message is Unite for Good. “Unite” speaks to the strength we find in each other. When we unite our talents and resources – not only among our clubs but across partners, organizations, and communities – we expand our reach. And when we do so consistently over time, we create lasting change. Rotary service cannot be measured only in annual goals. Our work in education must extend beyond a single year. Literacy projects take time to take root, grow, and bear fruit.
Now is the time to think boldly and creatively. New types of clubs can help us engage educators, students, and advocates in new ways. Let us use this month to welcome new members with a passion for education and empower existing ones to lead service projects that reflect local needs. Whether you’re building libraries, distributing textbooks, or mentoring students, your actions matter.
Education is also peacebuilding. Every scholarship we provide, every early childhood program we support, every adult literacy class we fund is an act of peace. And Rotary has been building peace in this way for more than a century.
Let us not forget that the fight for literacy is not only about access, it’s about equity. It is about ensuring every learner, regardless of background, has the opportunity to reach their potential. And it is about standing together – across borders, languages, and generations – to say that education is a right, not a privilege.
Let’s Unite for Good by committing to literacy that lasts. Let’s dream of a world where every child learns to read. And then, as people of action, let’s work together to make that dream a reality.
Together, we can change lives, starting with the power of education. Together, we Unite for Good.
FRANCESCO AREZZO President, Rotary International
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION TRUSTEE CHAIR
MESSAGE FOR SEPTEMBER 2025
Literacy as a human right
Education is the most powerful tool we have for changing the world, and during Basic Education and Literacy Month, I want to remind everyone why our work matters.
Education breaks the cycle of poverty, opens doors to opportunity, and empowers individuals to transform their communities. But education doesn’t exist in a vacuum. We must also address peace, health, clean water, economic opportunity, maternal and child health, and the environment.
This is why Rotary has these areas of focus. Lasting change requires a comprehensive approach. When we collaborate across these areas through The Rotary Foundation, we raise up communities sustainably and with dignity.
Today, I have asked Lynne Paradis from the Rotary Club of Red Deer, Alberta, to share her passion for literacy:
“I believe that literacy is a human right. When I joined forces with the Rotary Club of San Ignacio, Belize, over a decade ago, we set out to improve reading instructions, but we had no idea how far this journey would take us.
Literacy Alive! has been supported by eight Rotary Foundation global grants since 2011. Using a straightforward approach based on phonics and science, we updated how teachers teach and focused on how students really learn. We collected data on reading skills improvement over six months.
After demonstrating that teachers had integrated new practices into daily instructions, the project snowballed. The Belize Ministry of Education took notice.
Today, over 1,300 teachers have been trained, and more than 20,000 students have benefited. We’ve achieved over 90 percent success rates, with many students making more than a year’s worth of improvement in just five months.
The program is now compulsory in Belize primary schools. What moves me most is hearing teachers say how confident they are that they can change students’ lives. Our greatest success is working ourselves out of a job. When local educators take the lead, we know lasting change is underway.”
Lynne’s story exemplifies the power of Foundation grants. Through partnerships spanning six Rotary clubs and three countries, Literacy Alive! reminds us how good Rotary is at creating systemic change.
When our members’ passion meets Foundation support, we don’t just improve individual lives, we change entire communities. By supporting the Foundation, you can put your passion to work this month and every month
HOLGER KNAACK Foundation Trustee Chair, 2025-26
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT-NOMINEE (RI President for 2027-28)
By Etelka Lehoczky
Larry A. Lunsford, a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, Missouri, USA, is the selection of the nominating committee to become Rotary International’s president for 2027-28.
Larry A. Lunsford, a member of the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza, Missouri, USA, is the selection of the nominating committee to become Rotary International’s president for 2027-28. He will officially become the president-nominee on 15 September if no other candidates challenge him.
Lunsford attended Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri, on an academic scholarship, earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees in accounting. He first encountered Rotary when he received a Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship to spend the 1981-82 academic year at the University of Newcastle in Australia.
A certified public accountant, Lunsford spent seven years working for Ernst & Young before joining a family-owned business, Bernstein-Rein Advertising, in 1990. He is currently executive vice president and chief financial officer for the Bernstein group of companies.
He has held positions on the boards of the Kansas City Spirit Festival and the Variety Club as well as serving as director of a local bank and treasurer of the Epilepsy Foundation for the Heart of America. He has also served on Truman State University’s alumni and foundation boards and received the university’s Distinguished Service Award.
Lunsford joined the Rotary Club of Kansas City-Plaza in 1991 and has since served as -
• District governor (2001-02)
• RI director (2013-15), and
• Trustee of The Rotary Foundation (2021-25, vice chair 2024-25).
He has been a member of RI committees, including the Executive Committee (chair 2014-15), Membership Growth Committee (chair 2016-18), and Nominating Committee for President of RI (chair 2023-24).
He also has served on The Rotary Foundation’s Executive Committee (chair 2023-24), Finance Committee (chair 2022-23 and 2024-25), and Participant Experience Committee (chair 2023-24).
Lunsford has been awarded The Rotary Foundation Distinguished Service Award, The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, and the RI Service Above Self Award.
He and his wife, Jill Lunsford, have two children and one grandchild.
They are Major Donors, Bequest Society members, multiple Paul Harris Fellows, Benefactors of The Rotary Foundation, and Sustaining Members.
ROTARY’S SEPTEMBER FOCUS –BASIC EDUCATION AND LITERACY
Why my passion is for basic education and literacy
Tim and Sally Schilds explain their passion for Rotary's Basic Education and Literacy area of focus.
Sally and I have established a Named Endowed Fund supporting Basic Education & Literacy. The fund is used to support Global Grant initiatives through The Rotary Foundation Canada. We believe this will help provide the tools for people to gain the confidence to recognize and take the opportunities that improve not only their lives but the livelihood of their families. Education brings peace and prosperity through the creation of communities where no one is left behind.
My personal passion for Rotary’s work in this area has expanded with my role on the International Committee for Basic Education and Literacy’s (BEL’s) Major Gifts Initiative. This group works to increase member’s understanding of our program objectives and the sustainable impact of our efforts.
Fundraising to build a dedicated BEL endowment to support the growth of Rotary’s work in this area continues, through the generous major gift and bequest/planned gift support of individual Rotarians.
Rotary's goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
Should you wish to learn more about how an endowed gift enables our work with BEL and establishes a lasting personal legacy of service through Rotary, please contact me at timschilds@telus.net
The Rotary Foundation named endowments are established with a gift of US $25,000 or more.
Rotarians or friends of Rotary may create a permanent legacy in their own name or in honor of a friend or family member. Rotary pools these gifts for investment purposes, but maintains a separate accounting for each named endowed fund. Donors receive a personalized endowed fund certificate suitable for framing when their fund is established, as well as annual financial updates.
Rotary Named Endowments – www.Rotary.org/rotary-endowment
PDG Tim Schilds
Rotary Club of Northwest Spirit, District 5370
Member - The Rotary Foundation Basic Education and Literacy - Major Gifts Initiative Committee
More than 775 million people over the age of 15 are illiterate. That’s 17 percent of the world’s adult population.
Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to
• support basic education and literacy
• reduce gender disparity in education
• increase adult literacy.
We support education for all children, and literacy for children and adults.
By Nikki Kallio
While many people would like to think that slavery was a tragedy of the past, the truth is that it still exists today, with up to 46 million people enslaved worldwide.
The Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery (RAGAS) has a strategy for fighting this horrible problem, working at the local level.
“It’s this Rotarian attitude – you give them a problem and instead of throwing their hands up in dismay, they start chipping away at it piece by piece,” says Carol Hart Metzker, a member of the action group. “Maybe slavery won’t be solved in my lifetime, but in two more years, we’re going to have a whole hamlet free.”
The students learn to use a computer, which is also used to document the project.
In a village in northeastern India, the action group is tackling the problem of debt bondage. With the help of 13 clubs, a district grant through the Rotary Club of Binghamton, New York, USA, and other sources, the action group is providing $36,000 toward the work of Schools4Freedom, a project of the organization Voices4Freedom.
Schools4Freedom works with local partner organization Manav Sansadhan Evam Mahila Vikas Sansthan (MSEMVS) to battle debt bondage.
The RAGAS project will support the efforts in one of those villages for three years. The name of the village, which is in the Uttar Pradesh state, is kept secret to protect the villagers and aid workers.
Poverty, illiteracy, innumeracy, and natural disasters that destroy crops or homes can leave villagers vulnerable to debt bondage in rural villages.
“When people don’t have enough to eat, and they barely have the ability to keep a roof over their head and their family quite literally alive, they will often turn to whatever means are possible for survival,” Metzker says.
“THE SLAVEHOLDER CREATES A SCHEME SUCH THAT THE INTEREST IS MORE THAN THE FAMILY EVER MAKES – THAT CONTRACT IS NEVER PAID OFF.”
Families may seek an arrangement with a business owner, who asks them to sign a contract that they can’t read and therefore can’t understand, and they inadvertently trade their freedom for survival, she says.
Of the village’s 400 residents, 132 are living in debt bondage, enslaved in the slaveholder’s brick kilns, farm, or construction projects, she says. “The others are at risk because they, too, are in abject poverty.”
Hundreds of thousands of people in Uttar Pradesh and the neighboring state of Bihar are working in forced labor in industries including agriculture, domestic servitude, commercial sex, stone quarries, or brick kilns, says Bhanuja Sharan Lal, director of MSEMVS.
The problem is exacerbated by inaction on anti-slavery laws, caste discrimination, discrimination and violence against women, lack of effective protection for children, lack of training of front-line officials, and corruption, Lal says.
Click here to read and learn more.
Rotary Club pairs students with celebrity and CEO mentors
Written
Snow is falling in St. Joseph, Michigan. On this December day, the overcast sky, swirling flakes, and twinkling bulbs of holiday decorations have created a festive, almost Capraesque atmosphere along the brick-paved streets of this community, which sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Michigan.
Across the street from the Boulevard Inn, stairs lead down to Silver Beach, a 1,600-footlong expanse of sand that is the town’s main attraction in warmer months. Inside the inn’s restaurant, Jackie Huie sits at a corner table explaining the student mentoring program
by Arnold R. Grahl Photos by Monika Lozinska Chalk art by Nancy Pochis Bank Art Studio
Jackie Huie: Find your passion and turn it into something that helps others
that the Rotary Club of St. Joseph & Benton Harbor started a decade ago – a program that has helped more than 400 local high school students learn more about their dream careers by connecting them with professionals in those fields.
The exposure to community service that the program provides has led students to start Interact clubs at six local schools, including one at St. Joseph High School that has about 150 members. As the Rotarians work their connections to find mentors for students, they have strengthened the bonds between the 140-member Rotary club and its community.
And in small ways, the program is even building bridges between St. Joseph and its “twin city” across the St. Joseph River – Benton Harbor, a once-affluent manufacturing town fallen on hard times.
I grew up in an entrepreneur family where my father did something I found interesting, and he allowed me to see behind the scenes,” says Huie, CEO of JohnsonRauhoff, an ad agency her father built. “I felt very fortunate to be able to do that, and I want that opportunity for others.”
Her wavy brown hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and her words come out in a rush: Everything about Huie attests to an intensity that gets results. In 2006, she met with fellow Rotarian Maria Kibler and a few others at Phoenix Rising, a café in the nascent arts district of Benton Harbor, to map out a plan. Kibler was a chaperone in the club’s student guest program, which brought two high school students to the club’s lunch meeting each week.
“The students were so great,” says Kibler, a senior vice president at St. Joseph-based Edgewater Bank. “We all started thinking there was more we could do.”
The new program they came up with asks students to describe their dream career in an essay, then matches each participant with a Rotarian who accompanies them on a “reverse interview” with a professional in that career. The students ask the mentors about their typical workday, what they like best about their job, and advice on how to achieve their goals.
Ten students chosen by counselors at St. Joseph and Lake Michigan Catholic high schools took part in the pilot phase of the program in 2007.
Rachael Kuehn, who was leaning toward studying medicine, was a senior when she participated in 2009.
“When I talked to her to see what kind of doctor she was interested in becoming,” Kibler says, “she said she was interested in business as well.” So, the Rotarians set up Kuehn with two mentors – a local physician and Huie’s husband, Mike, a Rotarian who was then the global director for Whirlpool’s KitchenAid division. “She loved the business interview,” Kibler recalls.
Kuehn was a freshman at the University of Wisconsin when she realized she preferred her economics classes over science. She says that having shadowed both a doctor and a business executive a year earlier helped her decide to shift gears.
“In high school, it’s hard to picture what a day-to-day job looks like,” she says. “This program lets you sit with professionals in different fields and say, ‘Oh, this is what you do every day, these are the kinds of problems you deal with.’”
Click here to read and learn more.
A SUCCESSFUL INTERNATIONAL LITERACY PROJECT – The Butterfly Storybook
Project Overview
The Butterfly StoryBook Contest is an annual story-writing competition open to children ages 7–11 across District 7020, which encompasses the Caribbean region. Clubs in the district host local contests and submit up to three winning stories each, with the top ten entries selected to be published in The Butterfly StoryBook. Those ten young authors are also awarded USD $50 each by the E Club as recognition and encouragement for their creative efforts.
Purpose & Impact
The intention of the project is twofold:
• Promoting Basic Education & Literacy by encouraging storytelling skills in young children.
• Empowering children to see themselves as authors and contributors to a wider audience.
After publication via Amazon (globally available in English and French, and earlier editions also offered in Spanish and Haitian Creole), the books are shared widely. Partners such as the Jamaica Reading Association have replicated and distributed printed copies to schools and communities in need.
Notable Editions & Stats
• The first editions date back to the 2012-13, and new volumes have appeared annually.
• By 2023, the E Club celebrated a “Butterfly Double Launch” and published a 10th Anniversary Edition.
Organization & Committee
The project is organized and published by the Butterfly StoryBook Committee within the Rotary E Club of the Caribbean, District 7020.
Why It Matters
This initiative neatly embodies Rotary’s Basic Education & Literacy focus:
• It nurtures young writers, fostering confidence and literacy skills.
• It connects Rotary clubs across the district, reinforcing local collaboration.
• It creates storytelling tools that are accessible to children throughout the Caribbean and beyond, often in multiple languages.
• It channels book proceeds back into Rotary’s humanitarian programs.
Note of interest - The first Butterfly Storybook was a huge success in the spring of 2013 – even before the club was chartered!
A repeat notice for your consideration – 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
ROTARY INSPIRATION
On the morning of 11 February our lives changed forever. I was at home in Gunnison, Colorado, getting ready for work when my phone buzzed with an alert: “Hard Fall SOS.”
My mom, Grace’s, smartwatch had detected a hard fall and notified emergency services – and me, since I was listed as an emergency contact.
With the alert was a surprisingly accurate map of the “hard fall” location, an on-ramp to Interstate Highway 95 near Florence, South Carolina, USA.
Grace and my dad, Phil, were traveling in their RV when they had an accident with another vehicle. Both vehicles burned.
Rotary Inspiration Source – Rotary 360
By Chad Wellman
Grace was lost instantly. Miraculously, Phil and the two family dogs were unharmed. But my dad, left with nothing, was stranded in South Carolina, far from his home in Virginia Beach, Virginia, in a place where none of us had any connections.
Our entire family – all seven of us – began making our way from five separate towns across Colorado. Our main concern was getting to Dad and making sure he wasn’t alone. He had always been there for us in our times of need. Now it was our turn.
Knowing Dad was a longtime Rotarian (a member of the Rotary Club of Hampton Roads, Norfolk, Virginia), a family friend contacted the Rotary Club of Florence West and asked if anyone could stay with him until we arrived at the hotel where he had been transported after the accident.
Over the years, I’ve attended Rotary meetings with Dad in various parts of the country. Rotary aligned closely with his values and it matched his deep sense of service and generosity. It was such a relief to hear from David Boulware, who along with several other local Rotary members dropped everything to be by Phil’s side. We had never met them, yet the bond was immediate, and their acts of kindness were heartfelt and generous.
The Rotarians brought Dad a new phone charger, medications, clothes, a toothbrush, and food for the dogs. But just having someone there with him was more important than a change of clothes, a shower, or any material needs. I’m sure stories were shared that day, and I imagine the camaraderie in that little roadside hotel room was tangible.
Summary of new polioviruses this week, cases and positive environmental isolates:
• Pakistan: two WPV1 cases and 42 WPV1-positive environmental samples
• Angola: one cVDPV2 case
• Central African Republic: one cVDPV2 case
• DR Congo: one cVDPV1 case
• Tanzania: one cVDPV2-positive environmental sample
• Yemen: 26 cVDPV2 cases
(15 of these cases are from 2024 and eleven from Q1 2025. This brings the number of cases for 2024 to 164 and 27 for 2025. No cVDPV2-positive environmental samples were reported this week. The recent increase in reported cases and environmental sample isolates from 2024 and 2025 is not particularly linked to an increase in poliovirus transmission, but rather to retrospective testing associated with recent release of previouslycollected specimens from the country.)
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
A question to contemplate -
Q - What is the difference between the following?
• cVDPV2 cases
• WPV-1 cases, and
• WPV1-positive environmental samples?
cVDPV2 cases (circulating Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus type 2)
• These are actual human cases of paralysis caused by a mutated form of the polio vaccine virus (oral polio vaccine, OPV).
• When OPV type 2 strains spread in under-immunized communities, they can mutate back into a dangerous form that can cause polio outbreaks.
• A cVDPV2 case means that a child (or person) developed acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), and lab testing confirmed it was caused by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2.
WPV1 cases (Wild Poliovirus type 1)
• These are human cases of paralysis caused by the naturally occurring (wild) poliovirus, type 1.
• WPV1 is the last remaining wild form of polio still circulating in the world (mainly in Pakistan and Afghanistan).
• A WPV1 case means that the virus was isolated from a paralyzed patient and confirmed by laboratory testing.
WPV1-positive environmental samples
• These are not human cases, but detections of the virus in the environment, usually in sewage or wastewater samples.
• Surveillance teams test sewage to find silent circulation of WPV1 in communities where no paralysis cases have been reported.
• A positive sample shows that the virus is present and spreading but hasn’t (yet) been linked to a paralytic case.
�
� Still circulating
• Wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1)
o The only wild poliovirus strain still circulating in the world.
o Endemic in Afghanistan and Pakistan, with occasional detection through international spread.
� Eradicated strains
• Wild poliovirus type 2 (WPV2)
o Declared eradicated in 2015 (last detected in India, 1999).
• Wild poliovirus type 3 (WPV3)
o Declared eradicated in 2019 (last detected in Nigeria, 2012).
� Related but different: vaccine-derived strains (cVDPVs)
• These are not “wild” strains, but mutated forms of the oral polio vaccine virus.
• The main concern is cVDPV2, which continues to cause outbreaks in under-immunized areas.
• cVDPV1 and cVDPV3 exist but are far rarer.
�
� In short:
• Only WPV1 remains in circulation.
• WPV2 was eradicated in 2015.
• WPV3 was eradicated in 2019.
Update from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative on programmatic challenges and accountability 07/08/2025
The final phase of the polio eradication effort has proven to be the toughest! The number of children paralyzed by polio has been reduced by 99% over the last four decades, but the virus continues to spread in some of the most difficult places on the planet to deliver healthcare— places that face persistent insecurity, political instability and weak health infrastructure. This context limits families’ access to formal health services and hinders health workers’ tireless efforts to reach every child with life-saving vaccines, including for polio.
To drive progress toward eradication in these settings, the polio program works to support national and local teams to develop tailored solutions and make ongoing adjustments to better meet community needs. In some places, the program co-designs operational improvements with frontline health workers, which has led to expanded trainings, enhanced safety measures and improved outbreak response protocols.
At the same time, the program regularly consults expert groups on its strategic decisions, including the Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE), and the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (IHR).
Ultimately, we answer to countries around the world through the World Health Assembly Few other global health programs incorporate this level of independent evaluation into their structure.
Click here to read the full article.
The Enormity of the Global Response to Polio
It is almost impossible to grasp the sheer scale of the world’s fight against polio. For more than three decades, governments, health agencies, and millions of volunteers—led by Rotary—have poured energy, resources, and heart into one of the most ambitious health campaigns in human history. Since 1988, more than 2.5 billion children have been immunized in 200 countries, at a cost of over US$20 billion. The effort has reduced polio cases by more than 99%, sparing an estimated 20 million people from paralysis.
And yet, what’s most striking is not only the numbers, but the determination: Rotarians going village to village, health workers carrying vaccine coolers on foot, planes and motorcycles used to reach remote communities, and countless hours of service given freely.
It is a response so vast that no single person can truly see it all—but together, it represents humanity at its best, united to end a disease forever.
Rotary and the Gates Foundation extend partnership to end polio –Joint commitment will add US$450 million to global polio eradication efforts over three years - 23/06/2025
CALGARY (22 June 2025) – Rotary and the Gates Foundation are renewing their longstanding partnership to end polio, announcing a joint commitment of up to US$450 million to support the global polio eradication effort at the annual Rotary International Convention.
“While historic progress has been made toward defeating polio— 90 percent of the world’s population is free from the wild poliovirus—we’re facing significant challenges from competing financial priorities to fragile health systems.
Furthermore, the detection of polio in places like Papua New Guinea that were previously polio free demonstrates that polio anywhere is a threat everywhere,” said Rotary International PolioPlus Committee Chair Mike McGovern. “The extension of our fundraising partnership with the Gates Foundation allows us to reach children around the world with lifesaving vaccines, keeping every child and community safe from this preventable disease.”
Rotary will continue to raise $50 million per year, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation. This renewed agreement will translate into up to a total of $450 million to support the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI).
“Rotary was the first to envision a world without polio—and today, we have the tools and knowledge to make that vision a reality,” said Bill Gates, Chair of the Gates Foundation. “If we all maintain our commitment and keep funding the solutions we know work, then soon, no family will have to live in fear of this horrific disease ever again.” Click here to read the full 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
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 Facebook Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/polioplussociety .
Click here to view a short, animated video about responding to a polio outbreak. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k-0xoYYzU-k&t=216s
INTERNATIONAL DATES TO NOTE
September - Rotary’s Focus – Basic Education & Literacy
Friday, September 5
International Day of Charity
Monday, September 8
International Literacy Day
Monday, September 15
International Day of Democracy
Saturday, September 20
World Cleanup Day
Sunday, September 21
International Day of Peace
Thursday, September 25
World Maritime Day
Friday, September 26
International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons
Monday, September 29
International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste *
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!
President for 2025-26 – Mariann Timmers
Club
NEWS
INFORMATION
Click below to hear a message from Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo A beautiful speech and a beautiful backdrop! An invitation to dream – and to dream big!
Dear fellow member
In an increasingly divided world, Rotary remains a beacon for unity. As we move Rotary forward, our core values and mission remain constant, keeping us focused on membership, peace, and polio.
We begin this year with a clear message: Unite for Good. It is an extraordinary phrase for its simplicity, brevity, and impact. Because behind every act of service, every new member, and every global challenge, two things matter most: friendship and trust.
Not so long ago, I was playing with my grandchildren in our living room, with no thought of becoming Rotary’s president for 2025-26. Life really does come at you fast. I appreciate the support and affection so many of you have offered, and I am eager to discover what we will achieve together.
The connections that we make transforms lives and make the world brighter and more hopeful. Everything is possible when we Unite for Good.
Sincerely,
Francesco Arezzo 2025-26 President
Rotary International
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.
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.
Our Cup of Kindness
Some useful links – to local area Food Banks
London Food Bank
Strathroy
Sarnia – Inn of the Good Shepherd Stratford
PASSPORT CLUB HAS BECOME A HOST SPONSOR
ROTARY GLOBAL GRANT SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Leah Holt, shown below, is the recipient of a Rotary Global Grant sponsored by Rotary District 6080.
Leah is pursuing a Master of Public Health program offered by the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at the University of Western Ontario. She graduated with honors from the University of Central Missouri with a Bachelor of Science in Health Studies and a minor in Nutrition.
During her time at UCM, Leah served on various executive boards, including the Health Studies Student Leadership Committee. She was also selected for the prestigious Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, through which she selected research mentors and completed her first independent research project, focusing on understanding the lived experiences of teen mothers.
Leah is passionate about minimizing barriers to health and improving health for all.
Jackie Jackson from District 6080 serves as her sponsor counselor, and The Rotary Club of D6330 Passport, with members in London and vicinity, is her host sponsor.
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 6, 2025
Click here to view last month’s meeting video.
Grant Management in D6330 -
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
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
ROTARY QUOTES and HISTORY
“Why? they ask. Because we can … and we care!” — Frank Romano, District 7430 Governor (2013–14)
Estes Snedecor, Rotary Club of Portland, Oregon (1921)
E. Leslie Pidgeon, Rotary Club of Winnipeg (1918
Harry H. Rogers, Rotary Club of San Antonio, Texas (1927)
Frank Romano, Rotary Club of Harleysville, Pennsylvania
The Environment – Rotary’s 7th Area of Focus
Another reason to save our Environment
The sociable weaver – Have you heard of this bird before? How ingenious!
The sociable weaver (Philetairus socius) is one of the most fascinating birds in the world—not just for its behaviour, but for its architectural genius.
�� � Basic Facts:
• Scientific name: Philetairus socius
• Family: Ploceidae (the weaver family)
• Size: About 14 cm (5.5 inches) long
• Range: Native to southern Africa, especially Namibia, Botswana, and parts of South Africa
• Habitat: Dry savannas and semi-arid regions
� � What Makes Them Remarkable:
�
They are best known for their massive communal nests, which are among the largest built by any bird species.
� � Nest Engineering:
�
• Structure: The nest looks like a giant haystack slung over a tree or telephone pole.
• Size: Can house up to 100+ individual birds, with dozens of separate chambers inside.
• Lifespan of Nest: Some nests are used for decades, with continuous maintenance.
• Temperature Control: The inner chambers are insulated and cooler during the day, warmer at night an ingenious response to desert climate extremes.
�
Social Life:
• True to their name, sociable weavers are extremely cooperative.
• They live in colonies and engage in cooperative breeding, where non-breeding birds help raise chicks.
• Their nests often become mini-ecosystems, used by other birds (like owls, kestrels, and lovebirds) and even small reptiles.
� � Diet:
• Primarily insectivorous, but also eat seeds and plant material
• They forage mostly on the ground.
� � � Want to See It?
Here are two short YouTube videos (~5 minutes) that beautifully showcase the sociable weaver and its unique and delightful nest-building skills:
Click here for Video one Click here for Video two
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
A LITTLE HUMOUR
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola selected to be 2026-27 Rotary International president
LATE-BREAKING NEWS!
Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, Nigeria, has been selected by the Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2026-27. His term will begin on 1 July 2026.
The Board, guided by the RI code of policies, conducted a special session to select the organization’s leader after the resignation of RI President-elect SangKoo Yun, who decided to step back from his Rotary responsibilities and focus on his recovery from recent cancer treatment.
Babalola began his Rotary journey in 1988 as a Rotaractor. He joined the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi six years later. His leadership roles include serving as district governor (2011-12), RI vice president (2019-20), and member of the RI Board (2018-20). He was also an active leader and participant in RI committees such as the End Polio Now Countdown to History Campaign Committee (2017-23) and the Nigeria National PolioPlus Committee (2013-present, adviser 2016-present).
An attorney, Babalola received a university degree in engineering in 1988. He has worked for 25 years in the oil and gas industry, holding senior positions in Shell PLC and carrying out projects on four continents. He is the founder of two companies: Riviera Services Ltd., an oil and gas infrastructure delivery company, and Lead and Change Consulting, an executive coaching and organizational performance advisory group.
Babalola’s professional affiliations include the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Safety Professionals, and the Association of Change Management Practitioners. He is a member of Jericho Business Club, an organization in his home city that provides input to governments on economic and social policy.
Babalola and his wife, Preba, live in the city of Port Harcourt. He supports The Rotary Foundation with a named endowment and as an Arch Klumph Society member. A trustee of ShelterBox UK and director of the Safe Blood Africa project, he is a recipient of the Africa Centennial Heroes Award, the Regional Service Award for a PolioFree World, the RI Service Above Self Award, and The Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service.
The president of Rotary International serves a one-year term, presiding over the Board of Directors and providing inspirational leadership for the organization. As the spokesperson for the global network, the president visits clubs around the world to promote Rotary's values and represent the organization at major events. Rotary chooses its president from members who have demonstrated extensive leadership experience within Rotary, including service as a club president, district governor, and member of the Board.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever. In its place is something that you have left behind. Let it be something good. †
