Rachele Bouchand and her family. By Rachele Bouchand, Rotary Club of Bellevue, Washington, USA When I was first introduced to Rotary as a young professional, I honestly had a very different idea of what Rotary was. I thought it was a club for mostly older people who greeted each other with a secret handshake. It…
The Midtown Cricket club within a club unites cricket lovers for friendly weekly matches, while also hosting larger events that raise money for The Rotary Foundation. By Subbarao Ravuri, foundation chair and executive secretary of the Rotary Club of Vijayawada Midtown, Andhra Pradesh, India When our Rotary Club of Vijayawada Midtown chartered in 1985, it…
Scott Learned, left, and his father, Kevin, also a Rotarian. By Scott Learned, District 5400 learning facilitator and former president of the Rotary Club of Boise, Idaho, USA. My parents, both Rotarians, brought me to my first Rotary meeting when I was 6 years old. I even assisted my dad with a presentation on how…
John Weiss, during his year as president of the Rotary Club of Morro Bay, California, USA. By Jessica Bailey Weiss, president of the Rotary Club of Morro Bay, California, USA My dad, John Weiss, was relentless about Rotary, even when he was forced to do his service work or attend club meetings virtually from his…
Teachers with their awards of excellence during a special event at Saraswati Shishu Mandir in Uttar Pradesh. By Aviral Mittal, Rotary Club of Muzaffarnagar Galaxy, Uttar Pradesh, India As I looked around the hall filled with teachers, I thought about how teachers shape the people that we become. We often remember a doctor who treated…
A ventilated pit latrine provided by the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Rotary Action Group at Makoma Primary School in Uganda. Editors Note: The following essay was provided by Jack Sim, founder of the World Toilet Organization, in advance of World Toilet Day, observed 19 November. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) is one of Rotary’s areas…
Pardeep Sisodia, left, plants a tree with Rotary friends. By Pardeep Sisodia, Rotary Club of Chandigarh Mid Town, Chandigarh, India I grew up in small towns in the state of Himachal Pradesh, moving frequently because of my father’s government postings. Those years taught me resilience, adaptability, and the value of connecting with people – qualities…
Brian King and his son, Dillon, at Uhuru Peak on Mount Kilimanjaro. Editor’s note: The following is an open letter written by Brian King, Director of Membership Development for Rotary International, nearly 20 years ago. King, membership chair of the Rotary Club of Evanston, Illinois, USA, shares it annually to thank staff and Rotary members…
EPN coordinators and Rotary staff at a dinner in Chicago that sparked an opportunity to share the importance of polio eradication. By Nikola Božić, End Polio Now Coordinator for Zone 21, and a member of the E-Club of Serbia Some of the most powerful moments in Rotary come when you least expect them. This happened…
District Governor Susanne Holmberg stands besides her colorfully decorated car, which sports a map of her district. By Susanne Holmberg, 2025-26 governor of District 5100 (Oregon, Washington, USA) This year, my Rotary car has taken me across the district as I serve as governor. From club visits to events, my days (and nights) are full,…