District Office: +517-604-6360

District Foundation Raffle - Sell Every Ticket Challenge

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 6TH

Golden Trowel Award - Nominations now being accepted

Golden Trowel Award - Nominations now being accepted


Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution to your club’s project and is NOT a Rotarian?
How about thanking them by nominating that person(s) for the Rotary District 6360 Foundation Golden Trowel Award?
Rotary District 6360 Foundation (RD6360F) annually awards up to four (4) Golden Trowel Awards to non-Rotarian individuals or groups who have made a major contribution to a Rotary project.

The award will be presented at an event of the Rotary Club that made the nomination.

REMEMBER:
*The nominee must be a Non-Rotarian
*The nominee may be a person, non-profit organization, business, church, group of individuals, or government agency.
*The nominee must have made a significant contribution to a specific Rotary-sponsored project/event

Click here to download and fill-in form
The nomination application is a writable form; the file can be saved to your computer. Just fill out the form and send or email the completed form to Gene Svebakken District 6360 Foundation Trustee (contact information is listed at the top of the form.)

The deadline for nomination submissions is November 30, 2026. Nominations are accepted from October 1- November 30th
No late submissions are accepted.


 

TRF Matching Grants Campaign - Double your Impact

World Diabetes Day - November 14, 2026

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Polio Plus Power Couple honored in Charlotte County Journal


 
Writen by:
Joanne Williams
Editor
County Journal


Those of a certain age know the trepidation the word "polio" used to have. The "used to" is thanks to the efforts of so many around the world who have worked to eradicate this disease, now confined to areas in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Rotary International made the eradication of polio its charge in 1985. As World Polio Day is recognized this Oct. 24, 99.9 percent of the disease has been eliminated.
Ed Foster is a polio survivor, Rotary member and retired veterinarian. He is working to see polio eradicated in his lifetime. If you know Foster, when he puts his mind to something, it gets done and done right.
He is a Rotarian with 64 years of perfect meeting attendance (Rotarians meet every week). He has gone out of his way, literally, when on vacation, to do so.
A graduate of East Lansing High School, he wooed his wife, Linda, there. They had known each other since they were youngsters.
"He was shy," she said. They were crafting rings out of one dollar bills at a church youth group meeting one day. Ed did not have a dollar. Linda gave him hers, and he made the ring for her. "Two weeks later, he asked me out on a date," said Linda. They have been married for 67 years.
"It's been an amazing

Congratulations D6360 - Excellence Awards for 100% of our clubs



HUGE CONGRATS AND THANK YOU: Congratulations to District 6360! We were one of the 116 Districts of 530 Districts Worldwide to receive the 2025-26 District Excellence Award. Please see below the message sent to the high achieving Districts from Rotary International President Francesco Arezzo. Keep up the great work!
- PDG Jackie Huie ??

 

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Social Media Learning Sessions - register now


Your club is doing amazing things in your community—but are your social media posts helping others see that impact? How do you know which posts are reaching people, what content is generating interest, and whether your social media efforts are helping your club connect with the community?

Rotary District 6360’s Public Image Committee invites you to join us for a two-part Social Media Metrics learning series with Dawn Renshaw of Stoney Creek Social Media. Whether you manage your club’s social media, serve on a public image committee, or simply want to help your club tell its story more effectively, these sessions will give you practical tools and insights you can put to use right away.

Session 1: Social Media Metrics 101 — Understanding the Numbers Behind Your Club’s Impact 
November 5 | 7:00–8:00 PM

Learn the basics of social media metrics, including reach, engagement, impressions, and follower growth. Discover what these numbers mean, how to interpret them, and how to use them to make smarter decisions about your club’s content and online presence.

Register for Session 1

Session 2: Social Media Metrics 201 — Turning Insights into Action
November 19 | 7:00–8:00 PM

Ready to go beyond the basics? Building on the first session, we’ll explore how to dig deeper into your social media data, identify trends, understand what resonates with your audience, and use those insights to strengthen your club’s social media strategy and public image.

Register for Session 2

Why attend both? The first session will help you understand the numbers; the second will help you turn those numbers into action. Together, they’ll help you make more intentional social media decisions, showcase your club’s service, reach new audiences, and demonstrate the difference Rotary makes in our communities.

You don't need to be a social media expert to participate—just bring your curiosity and a desire to help your club make a greater impact!

Register today for one or both sessions, and let's help the world see Rotary in action!

We look forward to learning with you!

For more information, contact DGE Chris Lewis
 

Young Leaders' Corner - Youth Exchange

Young Leaders' Corner - RYLA update

 



Story submitted by Luke Froncheck

The 2026 District 6360 RYLA Camp — Rotary Youth Leadership Awards — is in the books.

This summer, nearly 40 students from all corners of District 6360 joined together at Clear Lake Camp in Dowling, MI for a weekend centered on forming new friendships and engaging in meaningful leadership building activities.

Our district’s young people had the opportunity to identify their own leadership style, explore those styles and others through group activities, and hash out what really makes a good or bad leader through group discussion.

Later in the weekend, students grew their leadership abilities through group activities focused on topics like ethics and integrity, community service, and mental wellbeing. Students also had the opportunity to grow their leadership ability through outdoor activities like the Team Course — leadership-based group activities that encourage students to find new ways to lead, and the High Ropes Course, which encourages students to test themselves and encourage others to embrace challenges and push themselves.

 

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Welcome Mason Interact Charter



The Mason Rotary Club celebrated the chartering of their Interact Club on Thursday, October 29.  Interactors presented information on how their club was formed, their by-laws, officers, and projects.  Their international project was to Panama.  Each of the students spoke eloquently about why they wanted to be in the Interact club.
 

Mental Health Committee Update


Club collaboration Fundraiser: Give Back Night at Silver Beach Pizza

 Rotary Clubs of St. Joe/Benton Harbor, Benton Harbor Sunrise and Lakeshore present:
Give Back Night at Silver Beach Pizza


Dear Rotarians,

Let’s come together for a fun night out that makes a difference!

Join the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor, Lakeshore, and Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary Clubs on Tuesday, October 20th, for our joint Give Back Night at Silver Beach Pizza!

Here’s how you can help:

* 20% of sales will be donated to support Rotary’s efforts to eradicate polio.

* Dine in or order carry out!

* Share the flyer with friends and family, and bring a copy or show a picture of the flyer when you order, so our clubs receive credit for the 20% donation.

* Want to make an evening of it? Make a reservation upstairs (21 and older), or simply stop in and enjoy a great meal.

Every pizza, every meal, and every person who joins us helps move us closer to a polio-free world. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to participate!

Let’s show what three Rotary clubs can accomplish when we work together. Thank you for supporting Rotary’s mission to End Polio Now!

See you at Silver Beach Pizza on October 20th!

In Rotary Service,
Renee Borah, Charles Jespersen 

Texas Township - Discover Rotary Event

Many of you have showed interest in the possibility of a new Rotary International club in Texas Township, so I am posting this communication in the District Newsletter. We have a “meeting” scheduled for  10/21 at the fire station. (See attached flyer) There will be a regular meeting format to share how a club operates in a community, as well as how the Rotary motto – “Service Above Self”, is lived out.   - - - AND - - - We are going to have our first service project for the community. The Portage Rotary club has offered a $500 grant to get the momentum started on this project. We are asking you to bring a smoke detector to the meeting to help the Texas Township fire department distribute them to local households in need. In an email, we will provide more information on the specific type the fire chief may be recommending, as well as partnering with our local Ace Hardware store. We had about 40 people at our last “open house”  and I am excited to see everyone next week. Besides the meeting, we will provide light refreshments as well as a tour of the fire station. Let me know if you have any questions. Click on this link to contact me. Paul D. Carlson, Rotary Club of Portage
 

 

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Young Leaders Corner - Youth Exchange Programs

 

Young Leaders Corner - Short-Term Host Family Program

                        

Want to be a short-term host family with Rotary?

What is Rotary?

  • World’s largest service organization
  • Founded in 1905 in Chicago, IL
  • Over 1.2MM members in over 45,000 clubs in 200+ countries
  • Donates $350MM+ per year to service initiatives, including: Polio Plus, Shelter Box, global and community level service projects,        scholarships, and peace initiatives, including youth programs.

What is Rotary Youth Exchange?
  • Established in 1929 in Denmark (87 years ago)
  • Our Rotary district 6360 covers all of southwest Michigan and includes 54 Rotary clubs; many of these clubs participate in long-term and/or short-term youth exchange programs
  • Worldwide about 9,000 students (age 15 to 18.5) participate in Rotary youth exchange programs in 80+ countries annually

What is STEP?
  • STEP stands for “Short-Term Exchange Program”
  • Rotary offers these STEP programs to young leaders all over the world to promote multicultural understanding, good will and peace.
  • There are two types of STEP programs: Family to Family (F2F) and Multicultural Camps
 
What is a Family-to-Family (F2F) exchange?
  • 1-1 summer exchanges between a US high school student and overseas student
  • Our US student’s family hosts their exchange student in their US home with their own high schooler, typically for one month, and vice versa; the international host family hosts your high schooler in their home abroad with their own high schooler, for about a month
  • This F2F exchange is matched by Rotary, and each host family, along with local Rotary club support, provides the cultural experience in their home
  • High school students are matched of same gender and similar age
  • It is a cultural exchange between families – NOT a vacation – and it WILL be a life-changing experience for both your high schooler and your family

Why consider a family-to-family short-term exchange through Rotary?
  • Global Support Network - Over 1.2MM members in over 45,000 clubs.
  • Personal Support - Your son or daughter is sponsored by a SW MI club here and a club in another country, with multiple contacts in both countries at club and district levels.
  • Low Cost -Rotary is a volunteer organization, therefore the cost of the program is very affordable.
  • Local Immersion -Your son or daughter will be living with a native host family, immersed in their language and culture. They gain multicultural understanding, making them seasoned world citizens and providing resume experience.
  • High Standards – Students are ambassadors for the US and Rotary, held to high standards. Training, rules and codes of conduct are in place to ensure successful exchanges.
  • Safety – Every Rotarian and host family participating in exchange programs are fully vetted, background checked and trained to ensure student safety throughout his/her exchange.

Who can be a STEP F2F host family?
  • YOU can, or someone you know, who has a high school student age 15-18.5 wanting to do a F2F exchange
  • You are NOT required to be a Rotarian
  • Host Families will be fully vetted by Rotary Youth Program members, including a background check, pictures of home, interviews and home visits
  • Host families receive significant support from the local Rotary club contact and STEP Coordinator 
  • Rotary Club members may assist with transportation, visits to community events, and/or visits to area events (e.g., college/professional sports games, Michigan tourist attractions).

What are a host family’s requirements?
  • Central States Host Family application and F2F Student application
    • Pictures of Home
    • References – 2 (non-family)
    • Background Check – InCheck – everyone in home > 18 years
    • Complete Youth Protection Awareness module – everyone in home >  18
    • STEP Coordinator visits home – files report in Rotary’s YEAH database
    • All Above Completed = APPROVAL! 
    • Now the family may start to communicate with the student!
  • Host Family will receive Host Family manual, and participate in an Orientation with other Host Families prior to student arriving

How to be a good host family?
  • Work with your student on the native language. Most international students arrive very fluent, but want to learn the local lingo.
  • Do some traveling, even if close to home.
  • Show them your favorite customs, foods, stores, places – a trip to the grocery store is a cultural experience!
  • Treat them like family, not a guest. Have them help with chores and family responsibilities.

How does Rotary vet volunteers?
  • Application with 2 personal references
  • Criminal Background Check
  • Youth Protection Awareness
  • US Volunteer Training
  • US Department of State Training on Rules & Regulations
  • Process is through Central States Rotary Youth Exchange

How much does a F2F exchange cost?
  • Round-trip flight
  • $250 STEP fee (includes travel insurance, orientation and DB fees) per student
  • Spending money for your child while in his/her exchange country abroad
  • Each host family (in the outbound country and your family in Michigan) covers the cost of food and lodging and transportation while on exchange, and each Rotary club (host and sponsor) contributes to the multicultural experiences while in country.

STEP Application Process for F2F
Oct – Dec: Applications reviewed for completeness and eligibility.
Jan – Mar: Student and parent interviews conducted. For each applicant accepted, Rotary volunteers assign the sponsoring local Rotary Club.
Jan – Apr: Rotary volunteers work on matching each applicant for their international F2F exchange or available Rotary country camp.
Mar – Jul: Pre-exchange orientation and guiding each applicant through the pre-exchange preparation steps.
Apr – Sep: Sponsoring Rotary clubs schedule required pre and post-exchange visits with their sponsored student and parents whereby each STEP student is welcomed by their sponsoring club and sent off with Rotary swag, and each STEP students returns to give a presentation to their sponsor club about their multicultural experience.

How do we apply?
Still questions? Contact us

STEP D6360 Coordinator            STEP School Liaison
Cathy Jo Mattson                      Danielle Plichta
cathyjomattson@gmail.com        djplichta@lpslancer.net
Cell: 901-218-0192                    Cell: 269-491-0800

Please consider becoming a F2F host family
  • Opening Your Home
  • Opening Your Heart
  • Facilitating the change
  • Facilitating peace and understanding

 

Young Leaders Corner - STEP Program

Mental Health & Communication Committees



 

DG Tim's Monthly Message - November

 
 
 
Dear Rotarians in D6360,
November is a month of gratitude, reflection, and renewed purpose - a time when we not only look back at what we’ve accomplished, but also look forward with renewed determination to what lies ahead. Change is in the air, it is both beautiful and inevitable, we are called to embrace transformation - not only in our communities but within ourselves. This is Rotary Foundation Month, our foundation where we have the extraordinary power of service to ignite hope, create opportunity, build peace, and to save lives.
It is also the time we implement the District 6360 Matching Points Campaign.
Our Rotary Foundation is more than a fund - it is a dream maker. It transforms generosity into action, turning contributions into local scholarships for future leaders, polio vaccines in Pakistan and Afghanistan, medical supplies for underserved communities, and sustainable solutions for communities by providing basic infrastructure. Every dollar entrusted to our Foundation carries the promise of a brighter future, and every project we support is proof that when we unite, we can move mountains. 

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The Rotary Mirror - Progress for the Parks

Main article image for story titled 'The Rotary Mirror - Progress for the Parks'

Stephanie gave updates on many exciting projects that are in the works for the city. A major one being a community splash-pad that is being considered for Bennett Park. It would be an interactive pad with a variety of different activities and zones that kids could enjoy. It is projected to cost over $350,000 and annual maintenance would likely range from $20-30,000. With that financial commitment they are looking into funding options and this could be a project for our Club to look into.
Stephanie also discussed,                                                               
  1. a potential dog park that could fit nicely at Dean Park
  2. the possibility of converting the old ice-rink into Pickleball courts by the sledding hill
  3. Oak Park will have its grand reopening ceremony on Friday August 28th.
  4. Grant opportunities for
  • Tree Nursery
  • Recycling building renovation

Young Leaders: Interact Advisors Needed

 

Attention High School Interact Advisors!
The District 6360 Interact advisory council is seeking new members for next year’s council.  Please send your nominees to Kim Lewis. We’d like to you to join us for another awesome year with lots of fun for the youth!
 

Public Image Committee seeking members

Submitted by DGE Chris Lewis
 

 

Are you passionate about storytelling, marketing, or helping organizations shine in their communities? The Rotary District 6360 Public Image Committee is looking for engaged and creative individuals to join our team. We meet monthly to collaborate on strategies that strengthen the public image of our clubs and the district as a whole, while also supporting individual clubs in building and elevating their own visibility and impact. If you have ideas, energy, and a desire to help Rotary grow its presence and tell its story more effectively, we’d love to have you involved. To express your interest or learn more, please email chrislewis.rotary@gmail.com.  

 

DisCon2027 at Crystal Mountain



Click on the image above to launch the video.

DACdb registration will open soon.

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District 6360 Seeking new District Treasurer



Contact DG Tim Lee for additional information.

A special learning session discussing the District Treasurer's role was  held virtually on Sept. 14th- featuring District Treasurer Gregg Guetschow.
Click here to launch the video.
Interested in finances, organization, or helping Rotary operate effectively? Learn what it takes to serve as a District Treasurer and the skills you can bring to this important role, contact DG Tim Lee.

Read about the District Treasurer's duties and responsibilities below.

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SJBH Rotarian Dr. Prudy Nelson receives Peace Award

 

Comboni High School Students with Dr. Nelson 
 
 
Dr. Prudy Barrett Nelson, a retired Southwest Michigan pediatrician and member of the Rotary Club of St. Joseph–Benton Harbor, has been selected to receive the 2026 Rotary Zone 28–32 Donald MacRae Peace Award in recognition of her decades of humanitarian and public-health service.
But the award is only part of Prudy’s story.
Since 2012, Prudy has been working with communities in southwestern Uganda to expand educational opportunities for vulnerable children. What began by helping individual students has grown into an effort that currently supports 34 students from primary school through university.
Now, Prudy and her partners have an even bigger goal: building a primary school capable of serving approximately 400 students in an area where access to quality education is extremely limited. The land has been purchased, plans are complete, and significant funds have already been raised and pledged. The project is approximately $110,000 away from reaching the funding needed to begin construction.

Prudy is available for interviews, and we would be happy to coordinate an opportunity to speak with her about receiving the award, her experiences in Uganda, and the effort to build the school.

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DG Tim's Monthly Message - September

 
 
 
Greetings Fellow Rotarians,

As September unfolds, we are reminded that each new month brings an opportunity to
serve, to reflect, and to inspire. This month, dedicated to Basic Education and Literacy, 
invites us to champion the power of learning and its transformative impact on individuals 
and communities alike. From distributing resources like dictionaries to supporting local
libraries, mentorship programs, and scholarships, every action we take fosters growth, 
understanding, and opportunity.

September also reminds us of the importance of connection and belonging.  Every Rotary Club has its own personality, strengths, and culture. By listening, sharing 
ideas and experimenting with new initiatives, we create environments where members 
feel valued, engaged, and empowered to invite others to join our mission
of service above self. As we envision the year ahead, consider how your club can ignite  learning and literacy in your community — for children, adults, families, and those facing
barriers to opportunity. 

Ask yourself:

* Could you mentor someone or share your knowledge?
* Could you donate supplies or resources to nurture education?
* Could you partner with schools, libraries, or literacy-focused nonprofits?
* Could you tell your story in a way that motivates action and service?

The path to impactful service often begins with a small, deliberate step. Every act of
kindness, guidance, and support contributes to a larger cycle of community empowerment 
and hope. As we commit to these acts, we honor the essence of Rotary: Service Above Self, with learning and fellowship as guiding lights.

Let this September be a month to celebrate our collective efforts, to inspire each other, and to unite for good — strengthening our clubs, enriching our communities, and lifting the
spirit of service in every heart we touch.

In Rotary Service and Gratitude,
Timothy A. Lee
Rotary District 6360 
District Governor 2026-27
317.502.9634 
FaceBook: amyandtimlee
 

Gull Lake Italian Dinner Fundraiser

Lansing Club invites members to Broad Museum of Art

Release submitted by Catherine Andrews, Lansing Club Administrator

The Lansing Rotary and the MSU Broad Art Museum invite you to an evening of art, networking, and civic conversation.

Thursday, September 24, 4:30 - 7pm 
Broad Art Museum @ Michigan State University
547 E Circle Dr., East Lansing, MI 
(Paid parking available in MSU Ramp 6 or street/ramp parking is available in downtown East Lansing across Grand River from the museum.)

The evening includes with a reception, networking, and an opportunity to explore the MSU Broad Art Museum, including the exhibition We Art This Land: Meditations on the Great American Experiment, which fills the entire museum. Tours will be offered periodically throughout the evening if you wish to dive deeper.

 

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Giving to Eradicate Polio


District 6360 Polio Eradication Chair, PDG Ed Foster and "Foster" the Polio Bear


 
Dear Rotarians,
First, I want to thank all the 351 members of District 6360 who have made a commitment to eradicate Polio.   Please know that your gift of $100/year is greatly appreciated.
Recently, I heard that a club president made the comment that we no longer need to continue to give to Polio as it is almost gone.  While it is true that is almost gone. We still need to continue to give and support the mission of Rotary to eradicate Polio completely. As of February 25, 2026, there have been no diagnosed cases of Polio since January 1, 2026.  At this same time last year, there were a total of 7 cases confirmed in the world.  There were 6 cases in Pakistan and 1 in Afghanistan.
We must continue supporting contributions to Polio.   What most people don’t under is that these two countries will have to go three years without a single case of Polio before it is considered no longer endemic.  It is estimated that Rotary will have to continue to immunize 420,000,000 children per year for three years.  Right now, it costs $3 to completely immunize one child.
For those members who have not made the commitment to give $100 per year until Polio is declared eradicated, please consider doing so.  All it takes is to fill out the form and you can put it on your credit card to have an amount taken out automatically monthly, quarterly or annually.
Please remember that this contribution does count towards the $1000 needed to become a Paul Harris Fellow.
Our District Governor Jackie’s goal is to have half the members in the District make that commitment.  Right now, we are at 36% of her goal.  If we reach her goal, which would basically be 1000 members, that will mean $10,000 and with the Gates Foundation match that becomes $30,000, which would save 10,000 lives.
Please consider making that commitment by filling out the form that Gwen has attached to the newsletter.  Then contact me at ed@fosterdvm.com or 517-230-7998 and I will make sure you get a certificate and a PolioPlus label pin.
 

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Yours in Rotary,
District 6360 Polio Eradication Chair. PDG Ed Foster
 

Young Leaders' Corner - Young Leader Programs

A message from DGN Mike Huie


 

Hey District 6360 Membership Enthusiast,  We are looking for someone willing to take over my role next year as district membership chair as I will be DGE then.  I would like to spend time this year getting someone up to speed prior.  If you are interested in service in this way let me know and we can have a call to discuss.  If you know someone in your club that would like to know more have them reach out as well.   Thanks!!

District Leaders: Register now for our 2026 One Rotary/15 Nations Cancun Summit

 


Click here to register for the institute. Click here to reserve your room.

Marshall Rotary - Strategic Planning Journey

Story submitted by Club President Shannon Aikins



Don Sovey and Maria Davis


Marshall Rotarians during Strategic Planning
 

On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, Rotarians of the Marshall Rotary Club began the challenging work of developing a three-year strategic plan to ensure longevity. According to club president Shannon Aikins, “by establishing effective short and long-term goals, clear and concise outcomes, and developing a vibrant and diverse membership growth program through this plan, we are laying the groundwork for being actively engaged in our community for another century.” The Marshall Rotary Club is currently in its 102nd year of service in Marshall.
The club is working under the guidance of District 6360 Vision Facilitation Committee member Maria Davis, and Chair Don Sovey, who stated, “when a Rotary club embarks on the District 6360 Strategic Planning process, it opens up many new doors for member engagement and satisfaction with Rotary work. The District Vision Team has observed this many times as we have facilitated club strategic planning. 
“Rotary International's research shows that clubs that develop and follow strategic plans are stronger than clubs that don't, with members who are more satisfied and who view their clubs and Rotary more positively overall.”
The Marshall club will meet again on Tuesday, March 3rd  to finalize the plan, which includes new mission and vision statements, and will immediately begin its implementation once complete.
“Rotarians are recognized as People of Action, with Rotarians seeing opportunities for improvement, taking action to address challenges, and fostering collaboration, and our club intends to continue that call in Marshall for many years to come, “ said Aikins.
Rotary’s District 6360 Vision Team has completed ten written strategic plans since starting work two years ago.  Please visit with your club's Assistant Governor to see how your club can unlock the magic of the strategic planning process and a new vision. You may also contact Donald Sovey at donsovey@gmail.com for more information. 
 

 

DACdb Learning Sessions



If you haven't already, please register for the upcoming virtual meetings for the DACdb Learning Sessions. These sessions will be tailored to your needs and questions and help you understand how to use the DACdb system to manage your club. All sessions start at 7:00PM and are on the Zoom platform. The Zoom links are available on each registration page.
 

 Register NOW for DACdb Learning Sessions: Together We Learn - VIRTUAL for Nov 24th - Topic 'Club Leadership set up, RI Integration and Committee set up'

 Register NOW for DACdb Learning Sessions: Together We Learn - VIRTUAL for Jan 26, 2027 - Topic 'DACdb Ignite, Financial'

The session recordings are now available on YouTube in the Rotary District 6360 Channel. Click here. If you have any questions, please contact DAA Gwen

Mental Health Awareness April


 
The Mental Health Committee fully endorses and is grateful for D6360’s establishment of funds to aid our friends and neighbors in Union City, Three Rivers, Edwardsburg and surrounding areas. Thank you, RI Foundation Chair D6360/PDG Kathy Gallagher for your fast response to this emergency, and D6360 Foundation President Stephen Harsh and committee. Many Rotarians throughout the district are helping coordinate services and volunteering their professional expertise, time, and money. Thank you.
Speaking of volunteering …

April is Volunteer Month

Here are six, evidence-based reasons, plus one, why volunteering is good for body and soul:

It builds friendships and creates social connections. This is a pillar of longevity.
It gives purpose.  This is another pillar of longevity.
It improves self-esteem and confidence because of a sense of accomplishment.
It is both physically and mentally stimulating. This leads to improved overall health.
Volunteers receive as they give. They increase their own abundance!
Get this … research shows that reduced inflammation results from all of the above.
And of course,
7.  Rotarians love to help!

The Mental Health Committee sends healing prayers to those who may be feeling hopeless and devastated. We are with you.

Thank you, Rotarians, for all you do to serve others.   

 

Leadership Learning Sessions

One of the great things about Rotary is that there is always another way to get involved.

Your Rotary club is where the work begins, but there are also opportunities to take what you’ve learned, share your talents, and make an impact across our entire district.

If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to get involved beyond your club, now is a great time to explore what’s possible. You don’t have to know exactly what role you want to take on—you just need to be curious and willing to learn.

We have one upcoming webinar  designed to give you a behind-the-scenes look at some of the ways you can serve at the district level (more learning opportunities will be announced soon):

These webinars aren't a commitment to serve in one of these roles. They are an opportunity to learn.


Below click on the "position title" links to view the YouTube video recording of the sessions we held for the position of Treasurer and, for the position of an Assistant Governor.
 

You may discover a role that is a perfect fit for you. You may discover something completely different. Or you may simply come away with a better understanding of how Rotary works beyond your own club.

Either way, I encourage you to take a chance, sign up for a session, and see where your Rotary journey might take you next.

Your club needs you. Our district needs you. And Rotary needs people who are willing to step forward, learn something new, and make a difference.

I hope you'll consider joining us!

Yours in Rotary,

Chris Lewis, DGE

Rotary Action Groups (RAG)

 
To learn more about the WASH Program click here.


 

Rotary Action Groups (RAGs) bring together Rotarians from around the world who share expertise and passion in specific areas—from water and sanitation to peacebuilding, addiction prevention, environmental sustainability, and more. These groups act as powerful knowledge hubs, offering guidance, best practices, and technical support that can elevate a club’s service projects from good to truly transformative. Whether your club is exploring a new initiative or strengthening an existing one, RAGs can connect you with seasoned professionals and proven solutions that save time, reduce costs, and increase impact.
Joining a Rotary Action Group is also a great way to deepen your own Rotary experience. It opens the door to global collaboration, hands?on learning, and meaningful friendships with people who care about the same causes you do. If there’s an issue you’re passionate about, chances are there’s a RAG dedicated to it—and they’d love to welcome your energy and ideas. Getting involved is simple, and the benefits ripple back to your club, your community, and your personal growth as a Rotarian.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Mike Alverson
Wash Committee Chair and RAG District Coordinator

DisCon 2027 Sponsorship opportunities

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards | July 17–19 registration extended




 

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) | July 17–19, 2026

Registration is OPEN   | RYLA 2026 Brochure

NEW: Deadline is extended to June 19, 2026. The cost is $300. per camper additional details, including registration packet are available here

   


Dear Rotary Club President, President-Elect, Secretary, Young Leaders Committee and Interact Leaders:

Registration is open for RYLA

District 6360 RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a Rotary-sponsored camp for high school students providing experiential activities led by Rotarians and young professionals designed around leadership skills development through team challenges, interpersonal development and community service. If you are new to RYLA download What Is RYLA? (PDF)

RYLA = Leadership Skill Development
LEADERSHIP SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND TEAM BUILDING CURRICULUM IN A FUN SOCIAL SETTING.
 
RYLA MISSION STATEMENT:
Participants of the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp will learn leadership skills, meet leaders of all ages and be inspired and empowered to expand their leadership roles in service to their schools, communities, and to the world, utilizing the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”

WHERE: Battle Creek Outdoor Education Center, Clear Lake Camp
              10160 M-37
              Dowling, MI 49050
              Clear Lake Camp Website
 
WHEN: July 17-19 2026

TIMES: Friday, July 17, 10:00am (attendee check-in) to Sunday, July 19, 4:00pm.

COST Per Camper: $300 

Register students by June 19 using instructions found on the RYLA webpage

Rotary Clubs may use their Rotary District 6360 Foundation Youth Service Credits (each club earns from purchase of RD6360F raffle tickets) to offset the cost of the camper fee. To find out about your club District Foundation Youth Credits (DFYC) please use RYLA webpage to register.
Yours in Rotary,

Don Deibler
RYLA Camp Director
 

Union City Governor Recognition

Governor Whitmer Recognizes Union City Rotary for Tornado Disaster Relief
Following the March 2026 tornadoes that devastated south-west Michigan, including the EF?3 storm in Union City, Branch County, Governor Gretchen Whitmer publicly acknowledged the Union City Rotary Club for its vital role in disaster relief efforts.
The tornadoes, which killed four people — three adults in Union City and a 12?year?old in Cass County — caused widespread destruction to homes, businesses, and infrastructure. In the aftermath, local and state officials, including Whitmer, worked alongside community groups to coordinate response and recovery.
Whitmer’s office highlighted the importance of grassroots organizations like the Union City Rotary in mobilizing resources, providing immediate aid, and supporting long?term rebuilding. This recognition is part of the governor’s broader acknowledgment of community resilience and volunteerism in the recovery process.

Source: State of Michigan

Click here to see the Union City Disaster Response YouTube Video created by Portage Rotary Public Image Chair Sarah Gertsner.

 

Fun With Ducks!

District 6360 has embraced the "Fun with Ducks" theme!


Marshall Rotary Club members waddle at their annual event.


DG Jackie always travels with a  flock!


Portage Rotary Club President Jose Santamaria turns "ducky"


More ducks on display in Portage!

How are you having fun with ducks?

Bikes For Malawi Update



Williamston Rotary Launches “Bikes for Malawi: Pedaling Toward Opportunity” 
Robert F. Kennedy, Sr. articulated a philosophy of “ripples of hope,” whereby small individual acts have the potential to build a cascade of positive change in the world. As members of the Williamston Rotary Club, we keep this idea in mind when embracing new projects. 
Recently, our club organized an international service initiative designed to expand access to education in Malawi. Located in southeastern Africa, Malawi is home to communities where mobility poverty — particularly for girls — remains a significant challenge. Only 15% of children and 7% of girls complete secondary school in the country. For students, the challenge of distance to school is a major contributing factor. The Williamston Rotary initiative, based upon a similar program pioneered by the Traverse City Sunrise Rotary Club, is simple and practical. The idea is to assist children in getting to school and thereby create an opportunity for learning. The most effective way to do that in Malawi is to give a student a bicycle.  Bicycles can make the difference between whether or not a child receives an education. Education offers the promise of a better life for children across sub-Saharan Africa, and it starts by attending school.  
To put bikes in the hands of students, the Williamston Rotary partnered with a non-profit working on the ground in Malawi, the Warm Hearts Foundation, and World Bicycle Relief, a non-profit dedicated to mobilizing people and empowering communities through The Power of Bicycles. World Bicycle Relief designed a specific bicycle, the rugged “Buffalo Bicycle,” that is built to handle challenging rural conditions across sub-Saharan Africa.
The bikes are assembled within Malawi, creating jobs for local workers and strengthening the local economy. The Rotary project was designed to provide bikes to a sponsored school, which in turn would create a local bike committee to determine which students would most benefit from receiving a bicycle.
The bikes would be retained by the school and upon graduation, could be passed on to another student; thus expanding the impact of the program well into the future. World Bicycle Relief, for its part, would distribute the bikes, and would provide training and access to bicycle mechanics to ensure the bike program’s success. The club is also working closely with World Bicycle Relief’s Technical Advisory team to help ensure the long-term success of the program.
The Williamston Rotary began its project by committing $2,500 from its foundation and beginning a fundraising effort to see if it could entice members to join the project by donating a bike (actually, the cost of providing a bike). Members of the club enthusiastically jumped on board. The club quickly raised more than $2,500 in additional contributions. With this money in hand, the club applied for and received a
Rotary District Sandelin matching grant of $5,000. At the same time, the Williamston
Rotary put the word out to its regional district and with support from the District International Service Committee excitement for the project expanded and donations followed. In all, 28 Rotary Clubs from Rotary District 6360 contributed at least one bike to the cause.  
Working with the Warm Hearts Foundation and World Bicycle Relief, it was determined that the ideal contribution to a strong bike program was to sponsor a school with 100 student bikes and 15 teacher bikes. (Many teachers have the same difficulty in getting to school as the students, and bikes for teachers are recommended by the Warm Hearts Foundation as an opportunity to both improve education at the school and to provide support for the student bike program.) When World Bicycle Relief was notified of the Williamston Rotary’s intent to sponsor a school, it responded with a remarkable offer. World Bicycle Relief agreed to match the club’s 100 student bikes, allowing the club to sponsor two schools. Williamston Rotary added 15 bikes for teachers to fully support the second sponsored school. In addition, the Rotary fundraiser exceeded its goal and another 17 student bikes were donated to the two sponsored schools. The teacher bike program created one more opportunity; teachers opting to receive a bike agree to pay 50% of the cost of the bike over a 2-year payback schedule. Money received from the teachers would be used to reimburse the Warm Hearts Foundation for its role in facilitating and overseeing the project, and to create a bike repair fund for repairs, maintenance and spare parts at the sponsored schools.
All told, Rotary raised over $50,000 toward the purchase of student and teacher bikes at the two schools in Malawi (including the value of the World Bicycle Relief donation), along with an additional $1,500 in repayments dedicated to a bicycle repair fund. To observe the effectiveness of the program, The Williamston Rotary also plans to send a delegation to Malawi in October to visit the sponsored schools and, while there, to bring additional school supplies. Finally, The Williamston Rotary is also contributing to World
Bicycle Relief’s pilot program of investing 100 Buffalo Bicycles into every Community Day Secondary School in Mangochi. This pilot aims to demonstrate the impact of bicycles at scale, with the view that further investment could replicate this across all Districts. 
 
Of course, the underlying goal of the “Bikes for Malawi” initiative is what is most significant: to offer a “ripple of hope” that 217 children will be afforded an opportunity for a better education and potentially a better life, and that 30 teachers will be able to provide a more impactful difference in the lives of students. Rotary also hopes that this project will help inform others that the barrier of distance remains a daily reality for students around the world — and that through our collective efforts, we can create lasting change.
 
John Bollman, 
Project Leader 
Raj Wiener,  
Williamston Rotary International Service Chair and Rotary District Board Member 
Laska Creagh,  
Williamston Rotary Secretary and Rotary District Foundation Board Member
 

Albion Rotary Announces Speaker, and Award

ROTARY CLUB OF ALBION – AUGUST 6, 2026
 
 
President Sam Porter introduced Representative Steve Frisbie (right in the photo) as the speaker for the day at the Rotary Club of Albion on August 6.
Rep. Frisbie represents the people of Michigan’s 44th State House District. This encompasses Albion, Battle Creek, Springfield, Bedford Township, Convis Township, Lee Township, Clarence Township and Sheridan Township.
He is the Vice Chair of the House Finance Committee and serves as a member of the committee on Transportation & Infrastructure, Energy and Health Policy.
He brought us up to date on various bills being presented to the House, and especially keyed in on education.  He stressed how important education is as Michigan does not rank among the top states in reading and writing skills.  The new budget does include more money this year per student.
 

Also, during the week, Mike Stout, Michigan Waterways Stewards, was awarded The Excellence in Service to Humanity award by Rotary International at an event at Gilmore Museum on August 6. Mike was instrumental in the river cleanup here in Albion along with Jim Seidl of our Rotary Club and was very deserving of the award. The photo shows him with the award he received.
If you are interested in hearing more about the Rotary Club of Albion or are interested in joining, the meetings are the first and third Thursday of each month. During August the meetings will be held at The Ludington Center at 303 S. Superor Street.  Drop-ins are welcome so please join us.  Call President Sam Porter (517-494-0772) if you’d like more information.

Rotary International Convention - Join us in Taipei

Click the image above to launch the video.

Breakout sessions are your one-stop shop for in-depth learning, inspiration, and networking at the Rotary International Convention 13-17 June in Taipei, Taiwan. Robin Hollingsworth, of the Rotary Club of Franklin, Kentucky, said last year at her first convention that the sessions hook people and make them convention regulars. “You’ll have to keep coming for the number of workshops alone and their quality and magnitude.”

To learn more about Breakout Sessions, click here

Do it! Make Taipei your first Rotary International Convention.

Unite for good with us at the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan, 13-17 June 2026.

All RI events take place at Farglory Dome (Taipei Dome) and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (TaiNEX) unless otherwise indicated.

Learn about the Beyond Borders dinner in READ MORE

 
 



 

Read More

Cheryl Metiva, Rotary Club of Alaska, named RI President's Representative

 
We are excited to announce that Cheryl Metiva (Alaska Rotary) has been named as Rotary International President’s Representative. Cheryl was the 2021-2022 Governor of District 5010, and is currently the Zone 28 Public Image Coordinator. Cheryl will also be joining us at DisCon '26 at the Carousel.
 

To learn more about the role and responsibilities of the President's Representative, click here.
 


 

Marshall Rotary - Youth Exchange Host


 

Marshall Rotary Club has renewed its commitment to serving as a Rotary Youth Exchange host club. Rotarians Jay Larson and Liz Steele stepped forward to serve as the Club's Youth Exchange Officer and Youth Exchange Counselor, respectively.  In August, the Club welcomed its first inbound exchange student in several years, Eléonore Kupisz from Mérignac, France. Mérignac is located near the city of Bordeaux in southwestern France. Eléonore's exchange experience is her first visit to the U.S.

Eléonore will attend Marshall High School as a Senior during the 2026-27 school year. Pictured above. She is being hosted by Marshall Rotarian Tom Kendall, his wife Linnae, and their two daughters. In addition to school and related activities, she hopes to enjoy our Michigan traditions and holidays during her stay. Before returning home next summer, she also hopes to travel to the western U.S. and New York City. Eléonore will be the Club's guest presenter during the September 29th meeting, when she will share information about herself and her home city and country.

Dowagiac Club Hosts Family & Friends Night


Mental Health & Communication Committees - Peace Pole Invitation

Dear D6360 Rotarian - and family

You are invited!

to join Rotary D6400 at their Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony on the Gordie Howe International Bridge.   
 

Saturday September 26th     10am

For carpool/overnight information contact:
Jacquie Blackwell jacquie@pdispirit.com  or Nancy Peterson nancylynnpeterson@att.net    … or … just meet us there!

Click here to view a fun video:            (1) Facebook

Click here to order a blue T-shirt:       Blue Bridge Shirt - USA - Rotary District 6400

Click here to order a Red T-shirt:        GH Bridge Red Shirt - Rotary Club of LaSalle Centennial

This Rotary D6360 activity is organized by:
D6360 Communication Committee and D6360 Mental Health Committee.
 

How to grow your Facebook Page

Click on the image above to launch the YouTube video
Submitted by Public Image Chair, DGE Chris Lewis
 

Annual Fund Progress Report


This JUST IN! According to Rotary International, District 6360 has achieved a 9.3% increase in donors to the Annual Fund over the same time last year and +1.1% for Annual Fund contributions!!! That is JUST phenomenal! Great job everyone! As a reminder, our goals this year have been; 1) Have Fun, 2) Grow Membership and 3) Do More Good In The World! You are 109.3% Doing More Good In the World!!! A big huge HUG and shout out to Past Governor/District Rotary International Foundation Chair, Kathy Gallagher, who has done an outstanding job inspiring us.

Delton hosts 911 survivor Joe Ditmar at fundraising event

Delton Kellogg Education Foundation (DKEF) and Delton Area Rotary Club (DARC) have joined forces to create a very special fundraising event to be held at the Gilmore Car Museum on Thursday, April 16, 2026.  This is an event you will not want to miss.  Our guest speaker is Mr. Joe Dittmar who evacuated from the 105th floor of tower two on 911.   If you were unable to attend the 2025 District Conference in South Haven here's your chance to hear Joe recount an incredible story that will hold you spellbound.  You will never forget his story. Register today. Space is limited. RSVP now through the One Cause app:  onecau.se/dkef-rotary2026 or scan the QR code located on the invitation.  Please reference the attached invitation for more details.      


Joe Dittmar
(to learn more about Joe click here)
 

Read More

Rota-Kiwan Celebration | Sep 24


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

SAVE the DATE to Join the Rota-Kiwan Celebration! 
When: Thursday, September 24, 2026 | 4:00pm

We are so grateful for the generous support for the Rota-Kiwan Picnic Pavilion project and want to show our appreciation by inviting you to celebrate meeting our fundraising goal!
The celebration will be held at the Pine Lodge at Woollam Preserve (6278 Texas Dr, Kalamazoo, MI 49009) on Thursday, September 24 at 4:00pm. We will have light refreshments and an unveiling of the Rota-Kiwan Interpretive Sign that tells a little bit about the Boy Scout Camp history and will be displayed near the picnic pavilion. There will also be golf cart rides available to see the picnic pavilion location and experience some of the natural beauty of Woollam Preserve. The daily park entry fee will be waived for those attending the event.
Please RSVP using the link below. Thank you for your support and we hope you can come out to celebrate!

RSVP HERE

Questions? Please call  (269) 547-7499 | Email: Sandy Bliesener

Development of the Rota-Kiwan Picnic Pavilion is ongoing. We invite the public to celebrate by touring the site and learn more about the history of the former Boy Scout Camp:  WEBSITE

Location:     Arthur E. & Mildred H. Woollam Nature Preserve
6278 Texas Dr,
Kalamazoo, MI 49009

LOCATION MAP
 


 

Michigan Waterways CEO Mike Stout Recieves Award


Pictured: RI Director Marty Helman, DG Tim Lee, PDG Mark Odland, and Mike Stout.


Mike Stout, founder and president of Michigan Waterways Stewards, received Rotary International’s Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity, an honor presented to fewer than 150 individuals worldwide each year.
Since 2022, Stout and Michigan Waterways Stewards have mobilized more than 4,200 volunteers across 20 Michigan communities, completing 333 stewardship projects and removing nearly 250,000 pounds of litter, trash and debris from Michigan waterways.
The award was presented by Rotary District 6360 at the Capstone Legacy Event on August 6th at the Gilmore Car Museum in Hickory Corners.
Read more about Mike and Michigan Waterways Stewards being featured in the Gun Lake Area Living Magazine below.

Read More

Literacy Club - We need passionate Rotarians

 


Are you passionate about literacy, reading, and helping others discover the power of books? District 6360 is exploring the creation of a new Rotary Club centered on literacy and a shared love of reading. We are seeking Rotarians who would like to help shape and develop this innovative club model. This is not a request for anyone to leave their current club; rather, it is an opportunity to collaborate in creating a new way to engage people both within and beyond our region around one of Rotary's key areas of focus. If you are interested in being part of the planning and the formation process, please complete this interest form: https://forms.gle/PshvhWDwQQNrh3G59.

Membership Growth for August

Submitted by Mike Gallagher, District Membership Committee






 
 

Read More

District Grant Management Seminars - register now

Mark Your Calendars! District 6360 Offers 2026-2027 Grant Management Seminars!

If your Club plans to apply for a 2026-2027 District 6360 local community or global grant, two members of your club must participate in one of these training sessions.

The application deadline for local grants is May 31, 2026. There is no set deadline for Global Grants. Global Grants are reviewed by the Rotary Foundation upon submission.

Tuesday, April 28 – 7 PM to 8:30 PM – via ZOOM - click here for zoom link


Saturday, April 25 – 10 AM to 11:30 AM – IN PERSON
Portage District Library – Austin Lake Room
300 Library Ln
Portage, MI 49002
Click here to register

Remember grant opportunities through the Rotary Foundation are funded by the Annual Fund Share program which distributes district designated funds for Rotarians to do sustainable projects which positively impact our communities and those abroad.

Please register for the session in which you wish to participate in the link provided below the Date and Time. In the days before the meeting, you will receive an email reminder of your registration that contains the zoom link (if joining via zoom) to use at the time of the seminar.

We hope that these opportunities will fully prepare you to plan your project, apply for a grant, inform you about the reporting requirements, timelines and fulfill The Rotary Foundation's and District 6360's requirements for club qualification!

If you have questions in advance, please either call me at 269-209-5949 or email kgallagher@bcacs.org.

Yours in Rotary Service
Kathy Gallagher, Chair
The Rotary Foundation Committee, District 6360
 

Rotary Student Program Seeks Volunteers


The Rotary Student Program (RSP) needs YOU! We are looking for a few interested Rotarians to help us take the program District-wide.
What would be required of me? Lend your time and abilities to reach all clubs in our district. Help clubs see the incredible reward of a student being excited about their dream career. And, best of all, it is a fairly simple process.
To join the RSP team to help us expand the program, text/call Becky Foster 

 

St. Joe Benton Harbor Rotary Donates Hats

Submitted by Club President Renee Borah
 
Our Rotary Crochet/Knitting group, with the help with friends, knitted, and bought, a total of 108 hats for the Salvation Army.
 


Public Image Learning Series - April 2nd & April 23rd

Unlock the power of your personal story at our upcoming event on April 2, 2026 at 7 PM, where we’ll explore why storytelling is critical for expanding our club’s reach and growing our membership. We’re thrilled to welcome Louisa Horne, a dynamic leader and inspiring communicator, who will guide us in understanding how to craft and share our stories in ways that genuinely connect and inspire others. Whether you're a longtime member or new to our community, this conversation will equip you with practical insights to elevate your impact and help our clubs thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Louisa and strengthen your voice—register today and join us for a powerful evening of connection and growth!

 Register here for April's Public Image Zoom Meeting.

Learn more about Louisa Horne and her leadership — click here



 

Read More

Capstone Legacy Event Highlights

 

Pictured above: Gilmore Car Museum dining venue
 
On August 6, 2026, District 6360 came together to celebrate the Capstone Celebration to The Launch Your Legacy Campaign.  Over 160 dedicated Rotarians and guests attended the gala-esque event, culminating with a Champagne toast, at the Gilmore Car Museum. The Launch Your Legacy event for The Rotary Foundation (TRF) was an overwhelming success, and the campaign generated $6.8 Million for TRF.  The donors included outright major gifts, Bequests of more than $10,000, Legacy gifts of $1,000,000+, numerous Major Donors, and six new Arch Klumph Society memberships of $250,000.  The campaign started as a Million Dollar Dinner inspired by Past Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick, and a personal challenge by 2024-25 District Governor Mark Odland.  The Million Dollar Dinner was too small for our top performing District, and a new target of $3.5 Million was agreed upon with the promise that Mark Odland would get a Rotary-themed tattoo should the $3.5 Million goal be reached by June 30, 2025.  When D6360 finished just shy of the $3.5 Million goal by June, 30, 2025, saving PDG Mark from a visit to the tattoo parlor, the campaign was extended until August 6, 2026 and a new $5 Million goal was established. 
    
                                        Co hosts DG Tim and Amy Lee      DG Tim, PDG Mark Odland, Mike Stout, RI                                                                                              Director Marty Helman - award presentation.
 
The $6.8 Million raised during the Launch Your Legacy Campaign will provide funds for generations of Global Grants, funds held in Trusts that will generate perpetual earnings to fund District and Global Grants, and current funds to support our work to eradicate Polio.   

A special thank you to the donors who stepped forward to accomplish this amazing feat, $6.8 Million.  The Capstone Event was made possible by Title/Host Sponsors: PDG Mark and LaRae Odland and DG Timothy and Amy Lee; Event Sponsors: PDG Jackie and DGN Mike Huie,  AG Jon and Beth Lundy, President Ginny and David Dell, and PDG Rick and Penny Briscoe; and Table Sponsors: DGE Chris Lewis, PDG Margie and Gene Haas, and Gull Lake Area Rotary Club.


 


Pictured above: Young Leader Coordinator Margie Haas, Youth Exchange Counselor, Marvinetta Woodley-Pen, Outbound Exchange student, Kylie Ruiz, Youth Exchange Officer, Rick Briscoe, and DG Tim Lee.
 
Also featured during the Capstone Legacy event was a presentation to our Young Leader's Outbound Student, Kylie Ruiz, who travels to Argentina on Monday, Sept. 7th.
Kylie is sponsored by the Kalamazoo Rotary Club.  She was presented with a Rotary Youth Exchange Blue Blazer and District 6360 lapel pins, as an Official District 6360 RYE Outbound Student.  She has completed all of her orientation requirements to prepare for her year in Argentina.  

Please click here to open a Google drive share folder to see more pictures from the Legacy Event.

Read More

DG Jackie's February Message



Click on the image above to launch the video message.

RI Convention in Spain

Experience global connection in Barcelona -Registration opens on 17 September.

Connect with people of action from around the world at the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain.

Share innovative projects, exchange ideas, and form connections that open new perspectives. Through interactive breakout sessions, influential speakers, and meaningful exchanges with fellow changemakers, you’ll explore fresh ways to Create Lasting Impact in your community and beyond.

In Barcelona, Rotary’s global family will come together for an exceptional experience focused on learning, collaboration, and discovery. From the energy of the convention floor to the Host Organization Committee’s Signature Events, the city itself becomes a convention feature, offering iconic architecture, rich artistic culture, and the relaxed charm of the Mediterranean coast.

Join us in Barcelona, Spain, 26-30 June, and be part of a shared experience that drives lasting change – in the world and within yourself! Click here for more info.

Read More

New Public Image Team


Do people outside of Rotary know about it?
Public Image is more than social media posts, newsletters, websites, or press releases. It is how we tell the story of Rotary. It is how we help our communities understand who we are, what we do, and why Rotary continues to matter. And when we tell that story well, we don't just increase awareness—we create opportunities for people to connect with Rotary, support Rotary, and ultimately become part of Rotary.
That is why we are building a new District 6360 Public Image Team, and I would love for you to consider being part of it.
We are looking for Rotarians with a variety of interests, experiences, and skills to help us strengthen how we communicate across the district. You don't need to be a marketing professional or communications expert. If you enjoy telling stories, creating content, working with technology, taking photos or videos, writing, or connecting with people, there is a place for you on this team.
Some of the areas where we are looking for team members include:
  • Videography – Helping capture Rotary in action and tell our stories through video
  • Public Relations – Building relationships with media and helping clubs share news with their communities
  • Communications Team – Developing messages and resources that connect Rotarians across our district
  • Website & DACdb – Keeping our digital presence informative, engaging, and useful
  • Newsletter – Sharing club successes, district news, resources, and opportunities
  • Social Media – Developing platform-specific teams to strengthen our presence on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and other channels
Most importantly, I want this to be a team where we can experiment, collaborate, learn from one another, and have some fun along the way. You don't have to do everything. In fact, you don't even have to know exactly where you fit yet. Bring your interests, your ideas, and your enthusiasm for Rotary, and we'll find ways for you to contribute.
The projects happening throughout District 6360 deserve to be seen. The Rotarians making them happen deserve to have their stories told. And the people in our communities who are looking for a way to connect, serve, and make a difference deserve the opportunity to discover Rotary.
Help us tell that story.
If you are interested in joining the District 6360 Public Image Team—or simply want to learn more about where you might fit—We would love to hear from you. Come to a District 6360 Public Image Committee meeting on August 27, from 7-8 PM. At this meeting we will talk more about things that we can do together to support all of the clubs in our district even better than we ever have before! REGISTER HERE: https://umich.zoom.us/j/93183805957?pwd=1Rn8kIjLsrQab3CPu6365NbIyIO00a.1
Together, we can help more people not only see Rotary, but understand the impact Rotary makes every day.
Yours in Rotary,
Chris Lewis
Public Image Co-Chair
Rotary District 6360
 

Marty Helman, RI Director, continues Impact Tour

District Conference Highlights - February



Click on the image to launch the video.

Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan 

?? May 15-16, 2026

Click here to register

To learn about hotel options go to READ MORE below.

For more information about the conference GO HERE


District Conference Highlights

Keynote Speakers | Friday, May 15

 

Louisa Horne

Louisa Horne | Rotary Zone 28 Membership Lead

A member of Rotary Club of Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada, Lousia served as the Louisa Horne is a past District Governor in Rotary District 7820 and is now Innovative Club Advocate and Membership Lead for Rotary Zone 28.  

   

Alan Mallory

Alan Mallory | Rotary Club of Barrie, ON, Canada (current club director)

Author of two books The Family That Conquered Everest and Summits of Self, Alan is an international speaker, college professor, musician, and professional development trainer who is passionate about leadership and human performance.

Read More

Haslett Okemos Club Hero Luncheon

Public Image Learning Series - February


 
This month, Rotary District 6360 is focusing on a topic that directly impacts how our communities see and understand who we are: branding consistency. While each Rotary club has its own personality and local flavor, aligning our communications, visuals, and messaging with the Rotary brand strengthens recognition, credibility, and overall impact. We’re excited to welcome Lizzy Martin, President of CNY Rotary, who will share practical, easy-to-apply strategies to help clubs stay consistent while still highlighting what makes them unique. Whether you manage social media, create flyers, write newsletters, or simply want your club to present a more unified and professional image, this session will offer tools you can use right away. Be sure to register and join the conversation!  


This Public Image Session will meet virtually on Thursday, February 26th, at 7PM.

Register here
 

 

Membership Growth & Club Experience - NEW TOOL

Prepared by Brian King
Director of Membership Growth & Club Experience
Rotary International
 

    Membership Growth & Club Experience



To: 2026-27 Rotary and Rotaract Club Presidents and Membership Chairs
cc: 2026-27 District Governors, Assistant Governors, District Membership Chairs, District Membership Engagement Subcommittee Chairs, District Rotaract Representatives, RI Directors and Directors-elect, Rotary Membership Coordinators, District Rotary Public Image chairs, Rotary Club Public Image Chairs

As the new Rotary year gets underway, we know that attracting, engaging, and retaining members remains a top priority. To support these efforts, we encourage you to take advantage of a tool designed specifically to help with these important membership goals.
The Club Experience Concierge is a quick and interactive guide you can use to explore ways to improve members’ satisfaction by understanding their expectations and reflecting them in your club culture. Start by choosing one element of the club experience to prioritize, and then select from a variety of recommendations and resources that can help make your club irresistible. 

I hope this guide helps you implement practical solutions to attract, engage, and retain more members. Write to us at membership@rotary.org if you have any questions. 

Thank you for prioritizing a meaningful club experience.

 

Membership Growth for January 2026

Submitted by Michael Gallagher

Rotary PSAs

Submitted by DGE Chris Lewis



Rotary International has invested in powerful Public Service Announcements (PSAs) that showcase our members as People of Action and highlight the lasting impact Rotary is making around the world. Since the campaign launched in 2020, Rotary PSAs have reached millions of people through television, radio, and print, generating tens of millions of dollars in donated media value. Now it's your turn to help bring these stories to your community. Join Ben Miller from Rotary International for an inside look at Rotary's PSA program. You'll learn how local television, radio, and print outlets can access Rotary's professionally produced public service announcements, where to find campaign assets, and how district and club leaders can work with local media to expand Rotary's visibility. Whether you're a Public Image Chair, club leader, or simply passionate about telling Rotary's story, you'll leave with practical ideas and resources to help your community see Rotary in action. For more information, click here.
 

Young Leaders Corner - Rotary Student Program

Interact Conference - registration open

If you are interested in volunteering to help with this event, please contact Kim Lewis at  269.419.1606.



 

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Young Leaders' Corner - RYLA Task Force

Coldwater Township Sunrise Winterfest


 

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Young Leaders' Corner - Rotary Youth Exchange News

Young Leaders' Corner - Short Term Exchange Program

District 6360 Paul Harris Fellow Matching Recognition Points Program a Success!

District 6360 Paul Harris Fellow Matching Recognition Points Program a Success!

Over 190 Rotarians representing 31 Rotary clubs took advantage of District 6360’s Matching Recognition Points Program. Rotarians who donated $100 to $500 to the Annual Fund earned recognition points equal to their donation. Many are being recognized as Paul Harris Fellows as a result. Many other Rotarians are “closer” to being honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.
Thank you all for your support for the Rotary Foundation! Contributions to the Annual Fund make “sustainable projects possible so that together, we can make people’s lives better – close to home and around the globe.” Your gift is what makes TRF District grants a reality in District 6360 each year!
We also gratefully acknowledge the generosity of the following Rotarians who contributed their recognition points to make this program a success:, John Godfrey, Ed Guzzo, Erik Smith and Wilhelm Sturhan (Battle Creek), Kathy and Rick Merrill - (Coldwater Township Sunrise), PDG Sharon and Dan Wherry (Gull Lake), PDG Margie Haas and Gene Haas - (Hastings), PDG Rick Briscoe - (Kalamazoo), PDG Nathan Triplett (Lansing) and DG Jackie and DGND Mike Huie (St. Joseph & Benton Harbor).

Gun Lake Area Living, Mike Stout Award Story

DG Tim's Monthly Message - August


 

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It takes a village


“It Takes a Village Tree” Project Partners with Rotary Club of Vicksburg

 


By Kathy Oswalt-Forsythe and Kristina Powers-Aubry, Rotary Club of Vicksburg Rotarians
When the Village of Vicksburg residents noticed a decline in mature trees, they formed the “It Takes a Village Tree” committee to address the issue. Historical research showed hundreds of trees had been lost since the 19th century. The committee's mission is to create a sustainable urban tree environment through community cooperation. They prioritize native and non-invasive species and plan plantings around local infrastructure.
With the Rotary Club of Vicksburg managing fundraising and pursuing donations and grants, the Prudential Nursery and agencies like the Arbor Day Foundation provide native trees and care instructions. Trees are offered free to residents, who commit to watering them regularly.
Benefits of the project include improved air, water quality, energy savings, reduced noise pollution, increased property values, and stronger community ties. In 2024 and 2025, volunteers planted dozens of trees, carefully selecting species for each location. For details or participation, contact vicksburgtreeproject@gmail.com.
 

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Launching Your Legacy Event


AUGUST 6, 2026 5:30-8:00pm
6865 W. Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, MI
Contact DG Tim Lee for any questions.
 
The Capstone and Celebration Event of "The Launch Your Legacy" Campaign for The Rotary Foundation - where over $4,000,000 has been raised.
Honored Guest:   Mrs. Marty Helman    (Rotary International Director and Past Trustee of The Rotary Foundation).

Limited FREE Tickets Available:
Sponsors have provided additional free tickets for first-come members. Includes meals/drinks/dessert at an upscale celebration event. Don't miss out!

Title Sponsors:
PDG Mark & LaRae Odland
DGE/PDG Timothy & Amy Lee
Event Sponsors:
DG Jackie and DGND Mike Huie
PDG Rick and Penny Briscoe


Table Sponsorships Available, $500 ea.
Bar Sponsorship Available, $1000 ea.
Event Sponsorships Available, $1500 ea.
Host Sponsorships Available, $10,000 ea.

*** Contact Gwen Chirico-Brandon or Tim Lee (317) 502-9634  For Sponsorship Information  ***


Capstone Event: Launch Your Legacy Campaign
Hosted by PDG Mark & LaRae Odland, and DG Timothy & Amy Lee


 

District Grant Management Seminars

Mark Your Calendars! District 6360 Offers 2026-2027 Grant Management Seminars!

If your Club plans to apply for a 2026-2027 District 6360 local community or global grant, two members of your club must participate in one of these training sessions.

The application deadline for local grants is May 31, 2026. There is no set deadline for Global Grants. Global Grants are reviewed by the Rotary Foundation upon submission.

Wednesday, March 11 – 7 PM to 8:30 PM – via ZOOM - click here for zoom link


Tuesday, April 28 – 7 PM to 8:30 PM – via ZOOM - click here for zoom link


Saturday, April 25 – 10 AM to 11:30 AM – IN PERSON
Portage District Library – Austin Lake Room
300 Library Ln
Portage, MI 49002
Click here to register

Remember grant opportunities through the Rotary Foundation are funded by the Annual Fund Share program which distributes district designated funds for Rotarians to do sustainable projects which positively impact our communities and those abroad.

Please register for the session in which you wish to participate in the link provided below the Date and Time. In the days before the meeting, you will receive an email reminder of your registration that contains the zoom link (if joining via zoom) to use at the time of the seminar.

We hope that these opportunities will fully prepare you to plan your project, apply for a grant, inform you about the reporting requirements, timelines and fulfill The Rotary Foundation's and District 6360's requirements for club qualification!

If you have questions in advance, please either call me at 269-209-5949 or email kgallagher@bcacs.org.

Yours in Rotary Service
Kathy Gallagher, Chair
The Rotary Foundation Committee, District 6360
 

Portage Rotary Club presents The Presidential Challange Golf Outing - Last Call to sign up

Lakeshore Rotary Wine and Cheese Fundraiser

Lakeshore Rotary Announces "Sip & Service" Wine & Cheese Fundraiser to Support Stevensville Community Gathering Place

Submitted by Katie White, Public Relations Chair

STEVENSVILLE, Mich. – The Lakeshore Rotary Club, proudly serving the communities of Stevensville, Baroda and Bridgman, is pleased to announce its first annual fundraiser, "Sip & Service Wine & Cheese Fundraiser." The event will take place on Thursday, Feb. 26 from 5:30-8:30 PM at the Weko Beach House in Bridgman, Mich.

Ticket Information:

Tickets are available now at http://bit.ly/4jLHWHo or by searching “Sip & Service Wine & Cheese” on Eventbrite for $50 per person, which includes wine tasting, expert cheese selections, and light appetizers. 

This tasty evening will showcase the best of the Lake Michigan Shore Wine Trail, featuring tastings from premier local wineries paired with artisan cheeses and charcuterie by The Cheese Lady. Beyond the tasting experience, guests will have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction and a "Wine Pull" raffle, with all proceeds directly benefiting the Stevensville Community Gathering Place.

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Benton Harbor Sunrise Exceeds Fundraiser Goal

Story submitted by Benton Harbor Sunrise Club member Alice Ford

Thank you to all who came out to the Benton Harbor Sunrise Rotary Garage Sale and made purchases, donations or just chatted.

We are so appreciative of your support and helping us not only reach but exceed our goal of $1500.00=500 vaccinations!

A special shout-out to Alice, Anna, and Julie, who put in a tremendous amount of work both before and during the event, as well as to all the Rotarians who helped gather, sort, sell, and tear down after the event. And Marcy, for this great thermometer!

Thank you all for your hard work and dedication!

 

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Rotarians Make An Impact

Rotarians Make an Impact
Story by Vivian Davis, AG

Over the past three months, the Albion, Jackson Noon, Marshall, and Albion College Rotaract Clubs have passionately engaged in impactful community projects, significantly enhancing the lives of many individuals. Their dedication to service has fostered positive change and inspired others to join in making a difference.
Each of the following clubs offers unique services to meet the needs of its community:
Rotary Club of Marshall received a Salvation Army Golden Kettle Award. 
Golden Kettle Awardees
 
On Monday, January 26, 2026, it was announced that the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary, together with the Rotary Club of Albion, Michigan, Marshall Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Battle Creek, Delton Area Rotary, and Hastings Rotary Club, won the 2025 Golden Kettle award, raising $13,921 for the  Salvation Army of Battle Creek, MI. We are proud to have been a part of this fundraising for our community! The Salvation Army of Battle Creek, MI, surpassed its $300,000 goal, raising a total of $331,110!
The Golden Kettle Award is a prestigious honor presented to organizations, businesses, or service clubs that raise the highest funds or demonstrate exceptional volunteerism during the annual Red Kettle Campaign. It encourages competition among groups to increase community donations.
On January 23rd, 2026, the Marshall Rotary Club achieved thirteen goals, the required number to qualify for the Club Excellence Award. Through hard work, determination, and a strong sense of purpose in advancing the People of Action charge through meaningful community service projects, the MCR is proud of its achievements. Work continues to increase the number of completed goals for the remainder of 2025-2026.

13 Goal Accomplishment

 

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Dowagiac Rotary Club's Uganda Project Update

Story submitted by Dowagiac Club President Stephen Zebell
 

The Rotary club Dowagiac has been in the process of completing the fourth annual project in relationship with the farmers organization of Kassanda and the Mubende, Metro Rotary club Uganda.

Point chairperson of the farmers' organization, Rotarian, Julius ZIMBE received funds via the newly installed president of the Mubende Club in July 2026.  A community utility vehicle was funded by donations and grants from the Dowagiac Rotary club, Charity Foundation, HS Interact Club, and Sandlin Grant. 

Over the past four years, Julius, along with his farming community organization and partnership with the Rotary Clubs listed have become self-sustaining commercial farming enterprises. The first project involves seeds and training to create commercial gardens. The second project involved transportation vehicle and the third project was a water system. We are grateful for the opportunity to partner in a service- above- self project!

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Sturgis Rotary Presents WMU Speaker

Youth Exchange Newsletter

Story submitted by District Youth Exchange Chair Margie Haas

Delton Area Rotary Club Receives Golden Kettle Award

 

Delton Area Rotary Club Members
(L-R, Wy Smith, Dave Ross, and Cathy Ross)
 
On January 26, 2026, the Salvation Army of Battle Creek, Michigan, awarded the Barry and Calhoun Counties Rotary Clubs with the 2025 Golden Kettle Award for the most monetary contributions received. Captain Mika Rionila notes that the amount raised by Rotary Clubs this year was the highest overall achieved for a joint service club effort, and they intend to use the example of the Rotary Clubs to ignite competition in other service clubs for future campaigns. Although this was not a collaborative Rotary effort, six Rotary Clubs in Barry and Calhoun Counties independently participated in the 2025 Red Kettle Campaign, garnering an overall donation amount of $13,921.25. The Delton Area Rotary Club led the way with $4,735.60 in contributions toward the effort. The Rock Stars of the Delton Area Rotary Club find great joy in their participation and are diligently working to participate in the 2026 Red Kettle Campaign.
 

          

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Great Lakes President Elect Leaning Seminar (PELS) - REGISTRATION OPEN!


 
Registration Information:
Early registration is over. Please register today to avoid increased fees.
Registration – $350 - January 1, 2026 to February 28, 2026   
Late Registration - $375 - March 1, 2026 to March 12, 2026

Note: RI's by-laws requires mandatory PELS attendance for all presidents-elect. You cannot serve if you have not attended PELS. If you are unable to attend Great Lakes Rotary PELS, immediately contact your district governor-elect to make arrangements to attend another PELS in a different region. It may be a single district PELS or another multi-district PELS in another state. It will be up to you to make those arrangements to meet the requires of RI. Be aware, however, opting not to attend one's own PELS but instead attending a PELS elsewhere is a joint decision which must be made in concert with your governor-elect. All PELS, world-wide, generally take place during a six-week window that runs from mid-February through the end of March.


If you have a conflict and can't register for the GLRPELS event date click here to learn more about alternative dates

Learn more at www.glrpels.org

 


 

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Club Growth June 2026

Submitted by Membership Committee Lead Mike Gallagher




 
 
 

Membership Growth for February

Club Membership Growth

Submitted by Mike Gallagher


 

Berrien County philanthropist Carolyn Hanson receives RI Excellance in Service Award

PolioPlus Monthly Challenge - February results

 

Coldwater Township Exchange Student

Story submitted by Coldwater Township Rotary President Elect Kerri Jakubczak
 


Pictured: Simon, standing center first row, with the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Club

The Rhythm of a Memorable Year: Simon Jakusik’s American Journey
When Simon Jakusik first arrived in Coldwater, Michigan, from his home in Bratislava,
Slovakia, he brought with him a suitcase, an open mind, and a natural rhythm for adventure. Sponsored by the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program & the Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary, Simon was stepping into a completely new culture. Ten months later, he leaves behind a lasting impression as a cherished member of the community, an accomplished student-athlete, and a true extension of his host family.
 

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D6360 InterAct Clubs' Service Project - requests your help!

Attention: there is still time to donate grooming items to the Interact Clubs service project.


This coming spring, the District InterAct Clubs will be participating in a service project that supports veterans. The clubs will be gathering at the InterAct District Conference on March 14, 2026, and the conference theme is "Together We Serve."

The students would like to pack Veteran bags for one of their projects at their conference. Please help them help the Battle Creek Veteran Hospital by saving the following:
  • Men’s Body Wash/Deodorant          
  • Men’s Razors
  • Dental Floss/Sticks
  • Small packets of tissues
  • Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
  • Non-alcohol Mouth Wash only
  • Ink Pens

Please give the items to your club’s InterAct Chair, who will bring your donations to the conference, or if you don’t have an InterAct Club and would like to donate, please contact Kim Lewis at Kim's email
 

 

Mental Health Committee joins RAGMI





Congratulations, Mental Health Committee,
on your RAGMI Membership

D6360 Mental Health Committee has been accepted as a chapter of the Rotary Action Group on Mental Health Initiatives (RAGMHI).

RAGMHI is made up of Rotarians and non-Rotarians committed to reshaping the landscape of mental health across the globe. Becoming a member of RAGMHI, enables our district to connect with individuals who share best practices and develop innovative treatment programs. Our clubs now have access to project ideas and training opportunities with top mental health professionals, and Rotary leaders around the world.

RAGMHI has been promoting mental health and wellness since 2015 through resources that remain available to any individual regardless of age, membership with Rotary, language, or professional status. Click here: ragonmentalhealth.org and scroll to check out all the toolkits!

Or explore the vast array of peer-reviewed articles, here:  
Document Library - Mental Health Initiatives Rotary Action Group

You can also view the newly created D6360 webpage and our really cool logo here:
Zone 30 District 6360 - Mental Health Initiatives Rotary Action Group

Thank you, D6360, for your commitment to addressing Mental Health as one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities today. 

Thank you, Leslie Behm, for your commitment to Rotary, and for being a woman of action to make this happen!




Mason Rotary Club Secy, Leslie Behm

Kalamazoo Rotary Student Exchange announcement




Pictured: Outbound exchange student Kylie Ruiz and her mother, Rosemarie.

KALAMAZOO ROTARY SUPPORTS OUTBOUND STUDENT TO ARGENTINA   

The Kalamazoo Rotary Club presented Kylie Ruiz with a check of $4,200 to support her Rotary Youth Exchange Outbound assignment to Argentina for the 2026-27 school year.  Kylie, a recent graduate of Loy Norrix High School, will study during her “gap” year in Argentina before going to Michigan State University to study Veterinary Medicine.  Many thanks to PDG Rick Briscoe and Marvinetta Woodley-Penn for working with Kylie! 

Kylie also received a $2,260.00 Scholarship from Central States Rotary Youth Exchange which was presented by District Chair, Margie Haas.  The combined total of $6,460.00 will go towards her RYE program expenses.   Program expenses are estimated at $8,000.00.  Rotary Youth Exchange program is the most affordable exchange program in the world!

Our best to Kylie as she represents Kalamazoo, Rotary and the USA in Argentina!

 

Gull Lake Rotary recognizes STEP Students

District Conference 2026 - Event registration is open


Click on the image to launch the video

SAVE THE DATE for DisCon 2026

At the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan 
May 15-16, 2026.
EVENT REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Click here to register.



HOTEL REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
The District has reserved a block for our Rotarians.
PLEASE CONTACT THE HOTEL DIRECTLY TO RESERVE ROOMS:
The Boulevard Inn and Bistro
521 Lake Blvd, St Joseph, MI 49085
(269) 983-6600
Click here to view their website. 


 

Membershp Minute



Click on the image above to launch the video message.

Save the date for District Conference 2026

SAVE THE DATE for District Conference 2026

At the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan 
May 15-16, 2026
Registration will open soon in DACdb.

Click on the image to launch a video

A message from DGE Tim Lee

Image.jpeg

The new, more exciting, updated, revamped, more fun, big dog friendly, with greater interaction, and perfect for newer Rotarians and those a little more seasoned - One Summit will take place on July 25th in Portage.  PDG Mark Odland and Rotarians worldwide have worked together to create this latest installment. 

“Come and see for yourself, the revamped One Summit will not disappoint,” PDG Mark Odland. 

Okay challenge accepted, I will be there, and so should you. 2026-27 DG Timothy Lee. 

Register now at DACdb. 

Click here to register.
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DG Jackie's January Message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN9jUU2jW6Q&t=125s
Click on the image above to launch the video.

 
Click on the image above to launch the Bloopers video.
 

 

Margie Haas receives Red Rose Award

CONGRATULATIONS MARGIE HAAS
 HASTINGS ROTARY CLUB
2025 RED ROSE AWARD RECIPIENT


Margie Haas pictured with husband Gene Haas


The Red Rose Award identifies and honors people who demonstrate Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self" by volunteering.
their time and talents to help others. 
Recipients are individuals who personify Rotary's ideals through their actions, serving as community heroes who work to improve their local areas. 
 
Margorie (Margie) Haas began her "Service Above Self" volunteering in 2005 when she became a Rotarian. She is a retired Elementary Education Administrator and married to her husband, Gene (also a member of the Hastings Rotary Club.)

It would be easier to list the leadership positions and committees of which Margie hasn't been a member, but over the past 21 years Margie has been a Club President, District Assistant Governor, and District Governor. She is currently a District Advisor servicing as PDG membership chair; District Board At-Large Member; Chair of the District Youth Exchange Committee; Chair of the District Youth Leaders' Team; Chair of the District Zone Committee; and Chair of Hastings Rotary Club's World Service Committee.

It's possible that there is no one more deserving of the Red Rose Award than Margie Haas!
Well done, Margie!
 

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Rotary International Convention - destination Taipei

Build connection in Taipei

Make new connections and create unforgettable memories at the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei City, where traditional and contemporary culture intertwine beautifully.  

Unsure what awaits you at a Rotary International Convention? Explore articles, videos, and photos from past conventions for a sense of their inspirational power. In Taipei, you’ll join fellow changemakers from around the world to share innovative projects, exchange best practices, and form enduring friendships. The convention is packed with exciting breakout sessions, speakers, and more.  

Discover Taipei’s many charms and find more opportunities to connect by registering for the Host Organization Committee's Signature Events.   

Unite for good with us at the 2026 Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan, 13-17 June 2026.

All RI events take place at Farglory Dome (Taipei Dome) and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (TaiNEX) unless otherwise indicated.

Learn about the Beyond Borders dinner in READ MORE

 
 



 

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Bikes for Malawi: Pedaling from Poverty to Prosperity Updates

Submitted by District International Service Committee Chair Michael Mason



Michael Mason presents Malawi Bike Project updates in St. Joe at the DisCon26 with help from committee member Raj Weiner.



 
The Rotary Club of Williamston has been awarded a Sandelin Grant, and we now have commitments for more than 100 bikes.
World Bicycle Relief has committed to match 100 of our bikes with a donation of 100 bikes.
With this match we'll be able to provide bikes for two schools.
Twenty of our fifty-one clubs have committed to buying at least one bike.
Starting this week, DISC members will contact the thirty-two clubs that have not yet signed up.
For more information, contact Michael Mason 
 



 

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Young Leaders' Corner


YOUNG LEADERS CORNER - WHAT’S UP WITH YOUNG LEADERS?
 
DOES YOUR CLUB HAVE A YOUNG LEADER CHAIR?

At each club visit this year, District Governor Jackie Huie asked each club to designate one person to be the Young Leader Chair (formerly known as Youth Services.) Please make sure your club has a Young Leader chair by September 5, and list that person in DACdb as well.
RYLA CAMP HELD July 11-13-2025!
 
This year's RYLA camp was another huge success. We expanded the Camp by nearly
a full day, added an excellent leadership curriculum, a dance party, and a talent show which
increased the camper’s experience! Also, our Short-Term Exchange Students Ana and Lili attended this year!
Thanks to the following 27 clubs that sponsored students:
Albion, Battle Creek, Cereal City Sunrise, Charlotte, Climax, Coldwater
Township Sunrise, Delton Area, Dowagiac, Eaton Rapids,
Fennville/Pullman/Lakeshore, Grand Ledge, Greater Niles, Gull Lake Area,
Harbor Country, Kalamazoo, Lakeshore, Marshall, Mason, Otsego, Paw Paw
Area, Portage, South Haven, St. Joseph/Benton Harbor, Sturgis, Union City,
Vicksburg, Williamston.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW: Next year RYLA Camp will be Friday, July 17-
Sunday, July 19, 2026.
 
 

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Great Lakes President Elect Leaning Seminar (PELS) - REGISTRATION OPEN!


 
Registration Information:
Early registration is over. Please register today to avoid increased fees.
Registration – $350 - January 1, 2026 to February 28, 2026   
Late Registration - $375 - March 1, 2026 to March 12, 2026

Note: RI's by-laws requires mandatory PELS attendance for all presidents-elect. You cannot serve if you have not attended PELS. If you are unable to attend Great Lakes Rotary PELS, immediately contact your district governor-elect to make arrangements to attend another PELS in a different region. It may be a single district PELS or another multi-district PELS in another state. It will be up to you to make those arrangements to meet the requires of RI. Be aware, however, opting not to attend one's own PELS but instead attending a PELS elsewhere is a joint decision which must be made in concert with your governor-elect. All PELS, world-wide, generally take place during a six-week window that runs from mid-February through the end of March.


If you have a conflict and can't register for the GLRPELS event date click here to learn more about alternative dates

Learn more at www.glrpels.org

 


 

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Welcome Marty Helman, new RI Director

Welcome Marty Peak Helman as our new Rotary International Director. Marty is from Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and she has spent her career as a writer for business executives and as a magazine editor at McGraw-Hill and the American Management Association. Later, she served as president of the Otto and Fran Walter Foundation, a nonprofit that has helped build schools in developing nations, provided scholarships for at-risk youth, and supplied humanitarian aid to Holocaust survivors, among other initiatives. The Walter Foundation partnered with The Rotary Foundation to fund the Rotary Peace Center at Bahçe?ehir University in Istanbul, which opened in 2025.

Marty and her late husband, Frank, joined the Rotary Club of Boothbay Harbor in 2003. She has served as Rotary Foundation Trustee, as chair of the Fund Development Committee, and Peace-Major Gifts Initiative. She chaired a working group designed to increase corporate gifts to The Rotary Foundation, and she served on another task force with a goal to better align our Foundation grant policies with 21st century needs. She was a member of the teams that selected the sites for the Rotary Peace Centers at Bahçe?ehir and Symbiosis Universities, and she has earned The Rotary Foundation’s Distinguished Service Award.
 
Marty is an Arch Klumph Society member, and she chooses to support Rotary as a member of the Paul Harris Society and PolioPlus Society. She and Frank were charter members of the Legacy Society of The Rotary Foundation.

Please watch for Marty's Impact Tour which begins July 1.  
She is scheduled to be keynote speaker at the Rotary Club of Lansing at noon on August 7th, and will be an honored guest at the "Launch Your Legacy" event at the Gilmore Car Museum on August 6th. Click here to learn more about Marty's tour schedule.
 

Introducing the Jericho Foundation

Article submitted by Rotary Club of Portage President José Santamaria

The Rotary Club of Portage would like to introduce you to an amazing West Michigan, USA-based organization performing incredible work in Bosnia and Herzegovina for over twenty years - The Jericho Foundation (https://www.jerichofoundation.org/), a Rotary Grant recipient in 2025 – 2026. What started as an effort to assist a beautiful girl met on chance encounter in a Bosnian refugee camp, then an academically talented orphan boy, and blossomed to successfully supporting over 64 students in 2024, providing them with essential resources, including scholarships, mentorship programs, therapy, and professional development workshops.

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Public Image Learning Series - January


Want to showcase your Rotary club as vibrant and action-oriented? On January 29 from 7–8 pm, the Rotary District 6360 Public Image Committee is hosting a practical webinar on Taking Compelling Photos and Videos. This session will help you and your club capture stronger visuals that tell your club’s story, highlight your impact, and engage your community. Whether you’re using your phone or a camera, you’ll walk away with tips that make your club’s posts and promotions more powerful. Click here to register now and start telling your Rotary story in pictures!
 


 

Eaton Rapids Rotary - Urban Air Festival/Rotary Dinner



The Urban Air Festival is returning to Eaton Rapids October 2nd through the 4th.  During the festival, the Eaton Rapids Rotary Club will hold a fundraising dinner on Saturday, October 4th, 5:30pm in the Urban Air event tent. Tickets are available for $15. Due to preparation capacity limitations, we only have 300 tickets for sale — so purchase yours now! Tickets will be available online (see the QR code on the flyer pictured above.) Net proceeds from the dinner will go to support local food pantries, so please take this opportunity to invite your friends and family to join you to support a great cause, and enjoy a popular Chicago delicacy — a juicy Italian Beef sandwich plus sides!

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The Impact of Rotary, a message from DGE Chris Lewis



Click on the image above to launch the video message.



 

Membership Growth for December 2025

Submitted by Mike Huie

We are up 44 Net which is down from last month but Dec. is a typical down month with members resigning before the new year.  24 of our 51 clubs are net positive for the year and 14 having a net decline so far this year.

Congratulations to the following 4 clubs which exceeded 20% net growth for the year so far with Sturgis leading with a 40% increase!
 
 
Sturgis 15 21 6 40%
Allegan 14 18 4 29%
Paw Paw Area 11 14 3 27%
St. Joseph & Benton Harbor 80 96 16 20%



 

PolioPlus Monthly Challenge - December results


 

Together We Learn 

 

Did you know the District has recorded most of the Learning Sessions presented throughout the year? After the learning event, the recording and select materials for download are available on the Learning Resources webpage.

Also search the Rotary District 6360 YouTube channel for other learning topics such as how to use DACdb HERE, resources for your club president-elect, membership promotion, public image and much more.
 

Click on the image above to open the District Learning Resources Webpage.
 

 

A message from DG Ramesh Ferris, Polio Survivor

                                                               Register here for the End Polio event


A message from Yukon District Governor Ramesh Ferris, polio survivor, global advocate and keynote speaker at our World Polio Event on October 18:
 
  
                                               DG Ramesh Ferris with Bill Nye

Hello everyone, I was able to connect our end polio message with the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Bill Nye the Science Guy, and I spoke to 60,000 people alongside Adam lambert at the Global citizen festival in Central Park in New York City. Just wanted to share the excitement from others for a polio free world!
 
 

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Berrien Springs-Eau Clare Rotary Club Golf Outing

Climax Four Corners at Christmas

The Village of Climax Michigan
Four Corners Christmas Lights Tradition
The Climax Rotary Club has supported the Village of Climax with community service projects since 1947. Since the early 1950s, the club members have traditionally adorned the town center's four corners with Christmas lights and decorations. Each year, the club installs these festive lights and decorations after Thanksgiving, enriching the holiday spirit throughout the community. With the support from local residents and businesses, the club has helped foster a sense of belonging during the holiday season. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
 

 

Berrien County Rotary Clubs: Learning to Adapt

     Berrien County Rotary Clubs were recently featured in The Herald-Palladium News on the topic of attracting new members to area service clubs.
The following excerpt was published 9-13-25. 

"Berrien County service clubs work to boost numbers,
attract younger demographic."  
By LAUREN RICE HP Staff Writer
Click here to read the full article
 

Renee Borah, president of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club, said Rotary Clubs as a whole are also working on their numbers.

“There’s been a big push in Rotary Clubs to focus more on membership,” she said. “We’ve been trying really hard to do that, and part of the way we’re doing that is trying to be more visible out in the community so people know more about it. But a lot of – younger people especially – don’t know a lot about Rotary or what we’re about.”
Borah said in order for clubs like hers to continue, they have to adapt.




Pictured at right: President Renee Borah leads a meeting
of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club at the
Campus for Creative Aging in St. Joseph.
Photo credit: Don Campbell / HP staff
 

 

 

                                                                                                         

 
 


Pictured at right: Al Pscholka, vice president, enrollment, marketing and governmental relations at Lake Michigan College, leads a presentation about LMC on Monday during a meeting of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club at the Campus for Creative Aging in St. Joseph. Photo Credit: Don Campbell / HP staff
 

                                                                                



 

East Lansing Rotary River Clean Up

Submitted by Club President, MariBeth Fletcher
 
Dear BoD, Advisory Council, and Valued Partners,

I am pleased to share that early volunteer support for our upcoming June 6 event is coming in very strong. Ten organizations, with an estimated 122 volunteers, have already pledged their support to volunteer for the few days prior to and the day of our flagship event.

With three weeks remaining, I am confident we will well surpass the 200-volunteer threshold again, as most volunteers don’t pledge their support until the week prior. Keep in mind, this is in addition to the 275 volunteers who have already made a remarkable impact this year in our Capital City. Weather permitting, we will likely break the 500-volunteer mark by then.

However, we would like to see stronger numbers on the water prior to or on the same day. Please help spread the word.

Remember, this event is more than stewardship; it's a celebration of community. And we have much to boast about and celebrate! This event includes stewardship, hospitality, special exhibitors and activities, and we are discussing how we can even better engage the Potter Park Zoo's same-day guests to help spread Hannah the Heron's important message: "Love Our Waterways. It's A Shared Responsibility.”

This June 6 event represents a milestone achievement, the culmination of three and a half years and the herculean efforts of thousands of volunteers. On this date, we aim to declare our Capital City’s Grand and Red Cedar Rivers, Sycamore Creek, all riverside parks, and adjacent stretches of the LRT as cleaned and cleared for the first time. We will then shift our focus to sustain and build upon the remarkable efforts of the thousands of volunteers to further establish our Capital City as Michigan's most scenic, varied, and enjoyable urban waterways destination.

Additionally, at this event, we hope to share exciting news about our Love Our Waterways EcoZone and Michigan 100% Beautiful campaigns, and more!

Help us spread the word about this event, Michigan's premier waterways stewardship event of the year. Everything needed will be provided, including; equipment, bottled water, and snacks. And in appreciation of our volunteers' efforts:
• There will be a FREE Picnic in the Park as we'll be serving hotdogs, brats, snacks, and more.
• Lansing Lugnuts is gifting each with a FREE 2026 flex-pass.
• Potter Park Zoo will be gifting each with a FREE 2026 admission pass.

Each volunteer will also receive FREE “Love Our Waterways,” “I’m A Waterways Hero,” “Michigan 100% Beautiful” stickers, and “Potter Park Zoo” themed bookmarks to promote their efforts in making Michigan’s waterways cleaner and healthier.

For more news about the event, as greater details emerge, please click here. If you have any questions, suggestions to make this event even more remarkable and of greater volunteer interest, I'd love to connect with you. 

If you're able to volunteer at headquarters to help greet and meet guests and to just celebrate this remarkable milestone, please let me know.

Thank you.


Mike Stout
President and Founder, Michigan Waterways Stewards
Creating A Community Culture of Care
Join Us • Create A Lasting Impact • This Is Our Legacy  
 

Mason Rotary Sweaters and Ramps

Story submitted by AG Leslie Behm
 
The Rotary Club of Mason’s last meeting of the year held an Ugly Sweater Contest and a Wine Tasting, which actually was a discussion about growing membership cleverly disguised as a wine tasting event as there was a concern that the agenda stating "Membership" would impact attendance. Each sample was built around a theme of membership and then each table reported after we were done sampling the 3 wines. We also had a non-alcoholic option. Congratulations to Terry Besey, our president-elect, winner of the Ugly Sweater Contest (shown in the photo below as second from the left standing in second row.) 





 
 

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One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio Event Highlights


One Day. One Focus: Ending Polio event held on October 18th at the Gull Lake View Golf Course and Resort, proved to be a well-attended and successful event with approximately $14,000 gross received from sponsorship, donations, and the live and silent auctions. Featured speaker, DG Ramesh Ferris told his story about surviving Polio, and his personal fight to bring awareness to the eradication of Polio. Ramesh has traveled the word spreading his message, and we are grateful that he could join us to celebrate World Polio Day. His presentation at the Polio event was both moving and impactful.

Here are some photos from the evening.


Ramesh entering the hall.


Ramesh with "Foster" the Polio Plus bear, Mike and DG Jackie Huie


Dann Sytsma provided comic relief as the auctioneer.
.


Event Rotarians and guests.






To learn how to be a Polio Plus Society Member,
contact PolioPlus Chair Ed Foster.

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Coldwater Township Sunrise welcomes new exchange student

 
Welcome Simon Jakusik, New Rotary Youth Exchange Student
The Coldwater Township Sunrise Rotary Club is thrilled to welcome Simon Jakusik, their new Rotary Youth Exchange student from Bratislava, Slovakia.  Simon's home city of Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia, a vibrant, landlocked country nestled in the heart of Central Europe.

Simon Jakusik
 
For decades, Slovakia was part of Czechoslovakia, but it peacefully became its own nation in 1993.  This rich history of self-determination and national identity adds to the unique background that Simon brings with him.  His time here is a testament to the power of the Rotary Youth Exchange program, which opens up a world of possibilities for young people and fosters international understanding.

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PolioPlus Challenge Update

Submitted by PolioPlus Subcommittee Chair and PDG Ed Foster



Polio Eradication Report: As of May 31, 2026, there have been 7 reported cases of wild polio worldwide for the year—3 in Pakistan and 4 in Afghanistan. The hope is that the last case of Polio will be identified in 2027.  What we all need to understand is that once the last case is identified, we must go three years before it can be declared eradicated and those two countries will be declared to be free of Polio and no longer be endemic.  It is estimated that we will have to vaccinate 420M children in those two countries for three years.  Therefore, we need to continue to support the PolioPlus Society (PPS).
 
Right now, we are at 365 members and still lead the challenge with the Zone.  We need to get more members to commit to PPS this month to stay ahead of the other Districts.  That puts us at 18.4% and the next closest District is 16%.


 
Please just contact Ed Foster at ed@fosterdvm.com or call me at 517-230-7998 if you are willing to give $100/year to the Polio Fund until Polio is declared ERADICATED.
 
Yours In Rotary,
 
Ed
 
PDG Ed Foster

Congratulations to Club Heroes

The 2025-26 Club Heroes were honored at DisCon26 on May 15th. 
 

Union City Rotary Hero Stacy Guertler receives her award certificate from DG Jackie and RI President's Rep Cheryl Metiva
 
Click here to view DisCon26 pictures including the Hero Awards. 
 
 
 
Club Name Hero Name
Albion Gareld Boehlke
Allegan  
Battle Creek Thomas Ebeling
Benton Harbor-Sunrise Jim Smith
Benton Harbor-Sunrise Eddie Marshall
Berrien Springs-Eau Claire Karen Klug
Cereal City Sunrise (Battle Creek) Conrado Campos
Charlotte John Dykstra III
Charlotte Evening  
Climax Patrick Butler
Coldwater Township Sunrise Dr. Bruce Young
Constantine  
Delta Township (Lansing-Waverly) Melissa Nay
Delton Area Steve Beroza
Dowagiac Steve Zebell
East Lansing Bill Armstrong
Eaton Rapids  
Fennville Pullman Lakeshore  
Grand Ledge Linda Mulder
Greater Niles  
Gull Lake Area Sharon Wherry
Gull Lake Area Donna Tellam
Harbor Country (Southwest Berrien County) Mark Baltes
Haslett-Okemos Kristen Campbell
Hastings Bill Mattson
Hillsdale  
Ionia  
Jackson  
Jackson-Breakfast  
Jonesville  
Kalamazoo Julia Sanders
Kalamazoo Jeremy Heavey
Lakeshore (Baroda-Stevensville-Bridgman) Chelsea Brandt
Lansing Todd Gute
Litchfield  
Marshall Jennifer Conley Darling
Mason Jared Browers
Middleville  
Oshtemo  
Otsego  
Paw Paw Area  
Paw Paw Lake (Coloma Hartford Watervliet) Ron Clark
Paw Paw Lake (Coloma Hartford Watervliet) Ryan Krenek
Plainwell Mike VanDenBerg
Portage Dick Hewitt
Saugatuck-Douglas  
South Haven Jerry Gruber
South Lansing- Holt  
St. Johns  
St. Joseph & Benton Harbor J.C. Anderson
Sturgis Maria Matson
Three Rivers  
Union City Stacy Guertler
Vicksburg William Gray
Williamston Laska Creagh
 
Click here to view the Hero Brochure.

Eaton Rapids - Focused on healing

ROTARY HELPS BRING THE WORLD INTO FOCUS


Dr. Dan Wrubel congratulates Julian on his improved vision after cataract surgery

Julian wasn’t one to look to stand out in a crowd. He was too reserved to draw attention
to himself. But he had always had vision problems. It had progressed to the point that
if he was asked to shake hands, he had to reach out to find an arm before he could
locate the hand to shake. At 62, Julian’s first eye exam this past March determined that
he needed cataract surgery.
When the Volunteer Optometric Services to Humanity (VOSH) team went to the small
Caribbean island of Dominica this past May, it was time for Julian’s surgery. The next
day, when he went for his post-op vision check, his calm demeanor melted away into an
excited outburst and caused heads to turn in the crowded clinic. “I can see, Dr. Dan, I
can really see,” he shouted.

 

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East Lansing Rotary Award

Submitted by East Lansing Rotary Club Rotary Foundation Chair Joe Osypczuk

Our East Lansing Rotary Club has received this framed award from the Rotary Club Dnipro City for our help with the humanitarian efforts that Ody Norkin has been working on for the past couple of years.  I thought this should be shared with all of you, many who have supported the efforts of Ody Norkin. To read more about this project click here.
 

The Rotary Foundation News


 
Each year, Rotary International highlights November as Rotary Foundation Month to emphasize the importance of and need for Rotarian support of The Rotary Foundation. 
The Rotary Foundation is a non-profit corporation that supports the efforts of Rotary International to achieve world understanding and peace through international humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs. It is supported solely by voluntary contributions. To learn more about the Rotary Foundation, click here.
 

If you are interested in learning about Rotary Foundation Grants, please join us for the annual Grants “Refresher” Course on Wednesday, November 12th from 7 to 8 PM via Zoom. 
In addition to reviewing key grant management and reporting requirements, there will be ample opportunity for questions from clubs regarding the current status of their grant projects and any challenges which may have arisen. A live DACdb demonstration utilizing the website to file reports will be provided during the session. District 6360 Grants Subcommittee Chair Betty Mercer and District 6360 Stewardship Chair Mark Christensen will be leading the main discussion. District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair Kathy Gallagher will be available to answer questions. Contact Kathy Gallagher to receive session notes or a session video.
 
Please RSVP here by November 11, 2025

Remember: Our District 6360 Addendum requires clubs to submit an interim progress report on the use of grant monies by December 15. Your final report is due within 30 days of project completion or by May 31, 2026, whichever comes first. Clubs with projects completed prior to December 31, 2025, may opt to submit only a final report.

Zoom Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82761258923?pwd=7bKAQCs7Ns6BaWb99asz5sQ2ljPPef.1

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Public Image Drop In Open Office Hour


Join PDE and Public Image Chair Chris Lewis for a one-on-one drop-in session to discuss your Rotary Public Image needs. These are virtual events.

May 14, 2026 12:00PM-1:00PM click here
June 11, 2026 12:00PM-1:00PM click here

Bring any questions that you have about how to improve/enhance public image in your club!

 

Young Leaders' Corner November News

 
 

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Marshall Rotary Club - Legacy Service Projects

 

MARSHALL ROTARY CLUB CONTINUES COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS
Submitted by Marshall Rotary Club President Shannon Aikens
 
The Marshall Rotary Club continues its legacy of community service projects and
support with two recent events.
On Sunday, September 21, 2025, the International Day of Peace, the club celebrated
with the community in a dedication of a Rotary Peace Pole, planted at the end of the
Ketchum Park Trail, site of its 2024 Waterways Project, in conjunction with Michigan
Water Stewards and other environmental partners and individuals, that helped clear
overgrowth from the trail and nearby waterways. The Rotary Peace Pole project,
established by Rotary International in the 1980s, celebrates bringing people together,
regardless of culture and faith, and is inclusive for all to embrace. The pole shares the
sentiment of May Peace Prevail on Earth, a message that is scripted in the four most
prevalent languages spoken in our community; English, Spanish, German, and
Pottawatomi. The Marshall Rotary Peace Pole is one of 250,000 planted worldwide. The
Marshall Rotary Club’s commitment to providing peace in all projects is clearly
demonstrated by having its name visible and prominent on the pole. Marshall Mayor
Scott Wolfersberger attended the event and thanked the Marshall Rotary Club for their
commitment to working with the City of Marshall and the entire community to provide
impactful service projects such as the Waterways project and Rotary Peace Pole.
 
Pictured above: Mayor Scott Wolfersberger at the Marshall Rotary Club
Peace Pole Dedication

 

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Kalamazoo Rotary Club Sponsors Veterans Day Celebration



All are invited to attend the Kalamazoo County Veterans Day Celebration,
sponsored and organized by the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo.
Join us at the Michigan Army National Guard,
5353 Parkview Avenue, Kalamazoo


More information here

Delton Rotary Gala - Hollywood and Horsepower

Submitted by Club Public Image Chair Wyoma Smith


Speaker Joe Dittmar held everyone spellbound with his story of survival.
 
On April 16, 2026, the Delton Kellogg Education Foundation and Delton Area Rotary Club co-sponsored the annual Spring Gala, Hollywood and Horsepower.  The event was held at the Gilmore Car Museum located in Hickory Corners.  Leading into the event we faced many uncertainties due to the tornado that went through Hickory Corners causing massive power outages, The Gilmore was impacted.  The day of the event started off with more rain and high winds causing additional power restoration delays.  However, we never lost hope and all of us kept executing our plans to make sure every last detail was correct and all attendees could enjoy a beautiful event.
Our guest speaker, Joe Dittmar, delivered a powerful and moving speech about his evacuation from the South Tower on September 11.  All attendees (more than 160) were held spellbound as he recounted how he made it out of the building to safety.  To quote Joe, "Stick to the Plan!" 

 

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Jackson Rotary receives a donation in honor of Alan Herman


The Rotary Club of Jackson received a generous donation in memory of their Past President, the late Alan Herman. On October 24, 2025, Mrs. Herman presented $10,000 to the Club in honor of her husband's service, and to recognize the continuing work Rotary offers to the community.

Alan joined the Rotary Club of Jackson in 1984 and was a member for 41 years. He was president of Rotary from 1991 to 1992 and received the Rotarian of the Year Award in 1995.

Beyond the titles and the long list of achievements, what truly defined Alan was a heart for service. He approached every project, every meeting, and every person with genuine warmth and a desire to make a difference. He didn't just talk about Rotary ideals; he lived them every single day.

 

District Governor Nominations Now Open

This is a call for nominations to serve as District Governor in 2028-29. Your club is invited to submit nominations to serve as District Governor during Rotary Year 2028-29. The person selected will become District Governor on July 1, 2028. The nomination must be in the form of a resolution adopted at a regular meeting of your club and certified by your club secretary.  
To request your copy of the Nomination Form,
contact PDG Margie Haas, Chair of Nominating Committee
Email: haasmargie@gmail.com
Clubs can only nominate active members of their own club.
 
Qualifications for Nomination

The person selected as a governor-nominee shall at the time of selection:

(a) be a member in good standing of a functioning club in District 6360
(b) have served as club president for a full term or as charter president for at least six months and been a Rotarian for at least seven years at the time
becoming Governor
(c) demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of a governor in section 16.030 of the Rotary International
bylaws
(d) demonstrate knowledge of the qualifications, duties, and responsibilities of governor as prescribed in the bylaws
(e) submit to RI a statement that the Rotarian understands those qualifications, duties, and responsibilities, is qualified for the office of governor, and is willing and able to assume and faithfully perform those duties and responsibilities
(f) Agree to attend any training required prior to taking office as Governor
(g) At the time of taking office as District Governor, continue to possess the qualifications required at the time of nomination

As a reminder, Rotary International ByLaws prohibit any effort by any Rotarian to influence the selection process in a positive or negative manner.
 

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Battle Creek Club - 25 Projects within reach

Submitted by Club President Charles Asher

Polio Plus Society Certificates Presented



 
PDG Ed Foster presented four members of the Jackson Breakfast clubs with certificates and pins for their pledge to donate $100 per year, until Polio is eradicated, to the Polio Fund at the Rotary Foundation.
Any Rotarian can become a member of the PPS by just contacting Ed Foster at ed@fosterdvm.com or 517-230-7998, and he will send you the form to make the commitment and enter your membership in the PPS committee.  Thus far, 286 Rotarians in the District have made the commitment.  The goal is to reach 1000 members by the end of this Rotary year on June 30, 2026.  Please contact Ed if you have any questions or are interested in making this commitment.
 


The four new members inducted into the PolioPlus Society (PPS) are Barbara Southwell, Brent Southwell, Al Mellinger, and Rick Watson.

Rotary Club of Gull Lake continues training

Submitted by Club Mental Health and Wellness Committee Chair Cathy Knauf




 
14 Gull Lake Area Rotary club members recently took part in a CPR training at the Richland Fire Station. 

Our club continues to prioritize mental health and has actively participated in 4 training sessions over the past 4 years, which have included: Mental Health First Aid, 
Suicide Prevention,
Naloxone (Narcan)/ overdose training & this year, CPR. 

A special thanks to Fire Chief Luedecking, & Don, Zack & Josiah of the Richland Township fire department for updating us on proper procedure and providing this important & useful training. We are better prepared to help in emergency situations if the need ever arises.
 
 

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Union City Rotary Sweeps the Neighborhood


Story Submitted by Club President Paula DeJonge
 
        
Pictured left to right: Elizabeth DiDonato and her daughter, Elaina; William & Paula DeJonge working together; Steve Batterson in the wheelchair (Honorary Rotarian) and his son Ray.

Union City Rotary Club has been busy with their Sidewalk Cleaning Project. They are participating in cleaning the sidewalks from Union City High School & Middle School to the downtown area.  "We're starting week two and this project is making such a difference to all the homeowners, school walkers and to our Honorary Rotarian, Steve Batterson, who is in a wheelchair and regularly attends all the High School Sporting Events," said Club President Paula DeJonge.

Paul Harris Rotary Rap - a must see!



Drop the mic Rotary roots run deep, Paul Harris on the beat—founder vibes, legacy strong. Hit play, history’s got heat!  Props to @MarshallButler for all this awesomeness! Thanks to Jennifer Jones

 


Click on the image to start the video.

"A revolution led by serving hands!"

TRF Annual Fund Giving Report


Submitted by Teresa Brandell PDG

 

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Tornado Relief Grant Awarded

Submitted by Rotary District 6360 Foundation Treasurer Rick Merrill
 


Rotary District 6360 Foundation Treasurer Rick Merrill presents Rotary District 6360 Foundation's first Tornado Relief Grant check for $15,000 to Union City Rotary President, Paula DeJongh and Union City Rotary Disaster Coordinator. Joni Manchester.

To date, contributions totaling $55,468 have been given to the Foundation's Tornado Relief Fund to benefit Edswardburg, Three Rivers and Union City in their clean up and recovery efforts. 
To learn more about the Rotary District 6360 Foundation click here.
 

 

Marshall Rotary Dream Dollars Winners Announced


Marshall Rotary Announces Prize Winners for their Dream Dollars Fundraiser
 
On Monday, October 6th, 2025, the excitement built in The Wagner Ballroom at Eastend in Marshall as more than one hundred attendees waited for the prize announcement. The 2025 Dream Dollars ticket buyers gathered for the Dream Dollars Grand Prize Drawing event with $32,000 in prize money at stake. 

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Rotary International Names New President

Italian Rotarian selected as the
next Rotary International President.  
Francesco Arezzo will become the third Italian to lead the global membership service organization.
 

Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, has been selected to serve as president of Rotary International for 2025-2026 - taking office on 1 July 2025.
Arezzo, a Rotary member for more than 30 years, will be the third Italian and the first from southern Italy to lead the global membership organization. He follows Gian Paolo Lang of the Rotary Club of Livorno, Tuscany (1956–57), and Carlo Ravizza of the Rotary Club of Milano Sud Ovest, Lombardy (1999–2000).


“Rotary’s greatest strength lies in its ability to unite people
of all cultures and generations through a shared commitment
to doing good,” said Arezzo. “As we look ahead,
I am committed to building on this legacy – working together
to advance peace, understanding,
and opportunity around the world.”

 
Throughout his Rotary journey, Arezzo has supported initiatives that strengthen Rotary’s impact and expand opportunities for engagement across generations. He currently serves as President of Fondazione Rotary Italia, a national initiative that makes it easier for Italian citizens to support Rotary’s humanitarian projects around the world.
As head of Rotary’s global network of 45,000 clubs, Arezzo will also oversee Rotary’s top goal of eradicating polio. Alongside its Global Polio Eradication Initiative partners, Rotary has achieved a 99.9 percent reduction in polio cases and contributed more than US$2.9 billion and countless volunteer hours to protect more than 3 billion children from this paralyzing disease.
 
To read more about Arezzo, visit 
https://www.rotary.org/en/italian-selected-next-rotary-international-president

 

Congratulations Williamston Sunrise Rotary Satellite Volunteer Services Committee

Submitted by District 6360 Environmental Action Team Member John Bollman,
and Club Member Alexandria Fulton


Photo courtesy of redcedarriver.org

State Designation of the Red Cedar River Water Trail


We did it! The Red Cedar River Water Trail has been designated a state trail. This was our ultimate goal when we first decided to develop the Red Cedar River Water Trail and bring a recreational resource to our region. 

Thanks to the Satellite Committee for originally spearheading this project and to the Williamston Rotary for supporting it. Thanks also to the many partners we brought together including the City of Williamston, Williamstown Township, Meridian Township, Michigan State University, Lansing Parks and Recreation, the Tri-County Planning Commission, the Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds, the Lansing Oar and Paddle Club, the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club, and the Scouts. Thanks also to our area elected officials who supported the project. It was a collective effort that made it happen. One of the things that Rotary does best is uniting individuals and organizations behind projects that support the community. This is a great example of what Rotary can accomplish.


Submitted by John Bollman and Alexandria Fulton

We did it! The Red Cedar River Water Trail has been designated a state trail. This was our ultimate goal when we first decided to develop the Red Cedar River Water Trail and bring a recreational resource to our region. 

Thanks to the Satellite Committee for originally spearheading this project and to the Williamston Rotary for supporting it. Thanks also to the many partners we brought together, including the City of Williamston, Williamstown Township, Meridian Township, Michigan State University, Lansing Parks and Recreation, the Tri-County Planning Commission, the Middle Grand River Organization of Watersheds, the Lansing Oar and Paddle Club, the Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club, and the Scouts.
Thanks also to our area elected officials who supported the project. It was a collective effort that made it happen. One of the things that Rotary does best is uniting individuals and organizations behind projects that support the community. This is a great example of what Rotary can accomplish.

Congratulations Satellite Volunteer Services Committee!
 

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TRF Matching Grants Campaign Returns

 
 
Rotary Foundation Matching Gifts Campaign Returns
Now through December 31!
 
District Governor Jackie Huie and Mike Huie are celebrating Rotary Foundation Month by making an irresistible offer. They (along with other generous Rotarians) will match your individual donation to the Annual Fund-SHARE of The Rotary Foundation with Foundation Recognition Points.
This helps you earn, or get closer to, a Paul Harris Fellow Recognition Award.
The campaign is from November 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025.
We will match donations between $100 and $500 OR until our pool of donated matching points is exhausted. So, donate today!!  
Here is how this matching program works:
Make your contribution to Annual Fund-SHARE of The Rotary Foundation. Your donation may be made here — be sure you log in as a Rotarian,
sign up for Rotary Direct, or send your gift via a check to The Rotary Foundation.
We do the rest! Once your contribution has been received in TRF records, we will process the matching points transfer. It’s that easy!
Why are we doing this?
Because we believe in The Rotary Foundation! Contributions to the Annual Fund-SHARE support projects right here in our District, as well as projects around the world.
Thank you in advance for supporting The Rotary Foundation!
Questions? Please connect with
Teresa Brandell
Rotary Foundation Fundraising Subcommittee Chair
District 6360
Teresa.m.brandell@gmail.com
517-242-0125
323 Elmshaven Drive
Lansing, MI 48917

St. Joe/Benton Harbor Club - Human Slot Machine

St. Joe Benton Harbor Rotary is not only a leader in membership growth but seems to be leading in fun social activities as well. One of their most recent activities was definitely a "jackpot!" Check out this slot machine! Club President Renee Borah was inspired by an internet post featuring human slot machines; she and her husband built the "one-handed bandit" for the Club!
 
Click on the image below to link to a short video.

Pictured from left to right: Jeri Randall, and Club members Mike Hanley and Stephanie Deegan.
Photo credit to Renee Borah

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D6360 InterAct Clubs' Service Project - requests your help!


This coming spring, the District InterAct Clubs will be participating in a service project that supports veterans. The clubs will be gathering at the InterAct District Conference on March 14, 2026, and the conference theme is "Together We Serve."

The students would like to pack Veteran bags for one of their projects at their conference. Please help them help the Battle Creek Veteran Hospital by saving the following:
  • Men’s Body Wash/Deodorant          
  • Men’s Razors
  • Dental Floss/Sticks
  • Small packets of tissues
  • Toothpaste and Toothbrushes
  • Non-alcohol Mouth Wash only
  • Ink Pens

Please give the items to your club’s InterAct Chair, who will bring your donations to the conference, or if you don’t have an InterAct Club and would like to donate, please contact Kim Lewis at Kim's email
 

District 6360 hits $35,000 to eradicate polio

Click here to download the form.

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Sweet Taste of Success - Union City Rotary's 75 years of syrup production

A Look Back (Just for Fun)

East Lansing Rotary Spring Activities

Submitted by Club President Mari Beth Fletcher
 


Rotarians Bob Page, Maribeth Fletcher, and Jim Little admired East Lansing Rotary Club’s $5,000 donation for the pickleball courts, which are well-used and noisy.


 

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Student Exchange Program Applications now accepted


District 6360 is accepting student applications for the summer 2026 Short Term Exchange Programs (STEP) from December 1, 2025, through February 28, 2026, with an application last chance deadline of March 31, 2026, pending program availability.
 
WHAT IS STEP?
A low-cost, competitive, multicultural exchange program where eligible students 13 to 18 years old attend a life-changing, peace-building cultural program in one of more than 50 countries. We vet and approve SW MI high school students, and match them to a camp or family-to-family exchange in their geographical and cultural area of interest.
 
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
If you are interested in learning about another country's culture, gaining self-confidence, and making life-long friends around the world, applying to one of next summer's many STEP programs may be the fun, growth experience you're looking for.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, click here.
 

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Marshall Rotary Duck Pluck a Duck-tastic Success!

Duck Pluck Fundraiser a Duck-tastic Success!



Club President Shannon Aikins presented checks to First Prize winner Courtney Brown (on left), Second Prize winner
Didik Soekarmoen (on right), and Third Prize winner Jeannine Thurn, (not pictured.) 

 
 
The Marshall Rotary Club hosted their 2nd Annual Duck Pluck fundraiser on July 19th and three "lucky ducks" received a cash prize.  Prizes were $500, $250, and $100.

The Duck Pluck Fundraiser tradition included a "waddle" around the fountain, with a parade of children and adults "quacking like crazy!" "This is honestly one of the most fun aspects of the event for me," Aikins said.







Marshall Rotary Club "ducks" waddled around Marshall's Brooks Memorial Fountain with kids in attendance. "This quacked us up!" 
 
 
 
 
 

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Cereal City Rotary's Children's Book Published

Submitted by Club Public Image Chair, Cassie Scramlin
 
 
Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Publishes Children’s Book to Promote Diabetes Awareness and Healthy Living
Battle Creek, MI — In response to growing concerns about Diabetes in the community, the Cereal City Sunrise Rotary has published a new children’s book titled Ben’s Diabetes Journey to help educate young readers about health, wellness, and prevention.
The initiative is designed to create a lasting and positive impact by reaching students early with important, age-appropriate information. The book is presented in both English and Spanish, making it accessible to a broader range of families in the community.
As part of the program, members of Cereal City Sunrise Rotary plan to read the book to every third-grade student in Calhoun County, Michigan and provide each child with a personal copy to take home. Through this effort, club members hope to build understanding, spark meaningful family conversations about healthy habits, and empower children with knowledge in a way that is both engaging and memorable.
 

 

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DG Jackie's November's Message



Click on the image above to launch the video message.
 
Watch the BLOOPER version 
 

Welcome new Interact Club of Battle Creek Rotary



The Rotary Club of Battle Creek has been working to help create a new Interact Club. They recently received an approval notice from RI and the Interact Club has organized.
This Interact Club will be made of three smaller groups: 
1) Freshmen/Sophmore at Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center (who meet the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday mornings of the month)
2) Junior/Senior at Battle Creek Area Math and Science Center (who meet the 2nd and 3rd Wednesday afternoons of the month)
3) Battle Creek Central Students who meet at a TBA time

Each of the three groups will plan activities and events, then join in to work on those together.

To learn more about the Battle Creek Interact Club click here


Please join us in welcoming the newest Interact Club to our District 6360 family! We look forward to hearing about your activities and adventures!
 

DG Jackie Monthly Message | August

Karl Sandelin Grant Extended

Karl Sandelin Grant Application - EXTENDED!

The Rotary District 6360 Foundation awards Karl Sandelin grants every June to Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 6360. Rotary Clubs must complete and submit the attached Karl Sandelin grant application by April 30th each year. HOWEVER, due to area-wide power outages and other circumstances, we are extending the deadline until MAY 11 at 5pm. See the application for eligibility and required criteria for award approval. Please contact any RD6360 Foundation board member with questions or concerns.

Please click this link to download the Application and Criteria (PDF)

 

 

Speak up, Lead Boldly - Introducing Public Speaking for Rotarians


Click on the image above to view the video message.

Great service deserves a great voice and few understand that better than Marvinetta Penn. A former English, Speech, and Theatre educator for 19 years, Marvinetta is also a seasoned voice-over artist, former newscaster, and frequently featured keynote speaker. She currently hosts the weekly podcast All Stories Matter, https://publicmedianet.org/videos/all-stories-matter/episodes-all-stories-matter/, and brings decades of public speaking expertise to her work as a presentation coach.
Now, she’s offering a dynamic four-session Public Speaking Training designed specifically for Rotary leaders. Whether you're running a meeting, sharing your Rotary story, or inspiring your community, this engaging and practical program, offered online or in person, will help you speak with clarity, confidence, and heart. You’ll learn to overcome nerves, craft memorable messages, and move people to action.
Let your voice shine—and help Rotary’s mission shine with it.
Inquire now on DACdb or email Marvinetta at marvinettapenn@gmail.com.
 

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PolioPlus Monthly Challenge | August

PolioPlus

How To Join the PolioPlus Society CHALLENGE:

How are we doing with the CHALLENGE so far in July? 

Read More

Memorial Day 2026 | Kalamazoo

 


The Rotary Club of Kalamazoo invites you to the Memorial Day Celebration on May 25, 2026, at 11:00 am. Let’s come together as a community in giving special recognition, remembrance and to honor those who have served to preserve and protect our freedom.

Location: Riverside Cemetery, 1015 Gull Road, Kalamazoo, MI 49048

Time: 11:00 am


We are proud to welcome U.S. Army Major General (Ret) Dennis Lutz (a Rotarian) as our special guest speaker. 

Sponsored and organized by the Rotary Club of Kalamazoo, Veterans Committee.


(The Kalamazoo Memorial Day Parade precedes the ceremony. Charlie's PLACE is the host of that event, which kicks off at 10 AM at the Kalamazoo County Building, 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave.)
 

 

 

Young Leaders' Corner




GET READY FOR RYLA CAMP 2026 
July 17–19, 2026!
 
Planning and preparations are underway for the 2026 edition of D-6360 RYLA Camp!
Once again, the RYLA team aims to provide a powerful leadership experience for the
young leaders throughout our district!
We invite and encourage anyone with a passion to impact youth to get involved! Our
first staff meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 15, at 6:30pm, via Zoom.
If you are interested in learning more, contact camp director, Don Deibler,
at donalddeibler@yahoo.com, or by calling 269-599-1341
 

 


 
Pictured right: Lilly Anderson, 2025-26 Rotary Youth Exchange
student from Switzerland, with her mom and sister. 
Sponsored by Ionia Rotary Club!







NOW IS THE TIME! WHO DO YOU KNOW?
Although the school year 2025-26 just started, we are looking for students who want to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student for the 2026-27 school year! Please reach out to young people and ask them to consider being a Rotary Youth Exchange student! 
Now is the time to reach out to find a high-school student who wants to:
~ learn a new language,
~ become submersed in a different culture,
~ have a deeper understanding of themselves,
~ obtain a broader view of the world,
~ develop leadership and communication skills
~ advance international understanding and world peace

Valued at over $24,000: Provided are room, board, tuition, and monthly stipend for a
high school year abroad. Estimated parental costs, including airfare and VISA,
$8,000.00. This is the MOST economical youth exchange program in the world!!
 
For More Information Contact: Marsha Bassett – bassett@msu.edu 269-998-2829 Or
Margie Haas – haasmargie@gmail.com 269-838-3392
District website: https://www.district6360.com/rotary-youth-exchange

Proud Pups for Polio Eradication




These sweet pups are proudly sporting 
"End Polio Now" bandannas.
Owner TJ Reed said they were a bit excited during the photo shoot
but we love the energy and the message!

Thank you to the Rotary Club of Three Rivers for submitting the photos.


 

DG Jackie's June Message

   


Click on the picture to launch the video.



D6360 Members,

DisCon at the Carousel was SUPER FUN and an EPIC, I mean EPIC success! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

Thank you to the 250 that attended, the brave that joined me in the Crazy Costume Plunge in Lake Michigan, the St Joseph River Peace Pole Ceremony led by our Host Rotary Club of St. Joseph-Benton Harbor President Renee Borah, our many Generous Sponsors, our Incredible Speakers, our Dynamic MC Troy Thrash and an outstanding DisCon Committee led by Rockstar DisCon Co-Chairs, Past Governor Kathy Gallagher and Past Club President Taylor Huie. Well done!

What a EPIC way to celebrate an amazingly EPIC year! 

For videos and pics, visit:

Dance Lesson

Dance Monkey Dance

DisCon Photos/Videos

Keep smiling, keep dancing and keep remembering to have fun through Rotary!!!


DG Jackie Huie:) 

Jackie Huie
Rotary District 6360 
Governor 2025-26



Click on the image to launch the bloopers video.
 

 
 
 



 

PolioPlus Monthly Challenge - November results

PolioPlus

How To Join the PolioPlus Society CHALLENGE:

How are we doing with the CHALLENGE so far in November? 
See the thermometer below or click here to check for updates.

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Delton Rotary Raffle by all

(Photo by Wes Knollenberg)
 
 COW PLOP FUNDRAISING RAFFLE: AN-UDDERLY AMAZING EVENT
Story submitted by Assistant Governor Ed Schaadt

The Delton Area Rotary Club held their 13th Annual Cow Plop Raffle during the community’s Founder’s Day Festival on Saturday, August 9, 2025. Rotarians described it as
a very moo-ving experience."
Everyone was encouraged to buy as many tickets as they wanted to support many community and Rotary projects.  The club was confident that they could ‘milk’ this fundraiser to support even more good projects.
 

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Rotary Night at the Growlers | Join in the Fun

A fundraiser in the stands will go to the Parks Foundation of Kalamazoo County to support a commemorative Rota-Kiwan Picnic Pavilion Project at the Arthur and Mildred Woollam Nature Preserve, home of the former "Rota-Kiwan" Scout Camp established in 1919 jointly (see history of camp) with the Rotary and Kiwanis clubs of Kalamazoo.  

Mention ROTARY6/11 for group tickets

What's Included?
  • SEATING IN THE MILLER LITE TRAP!
  • ALL-INCLUSIVE BALLPARK BUFFET
  • PRIVATE GROUP SEATING AREA FOR ROTARY AND FRIENDS
 
The Kalamazoo Growlers are affiliated with the Northwoods League, the largest organized baseball league in the world with 26 teams.
 
 

World Polio Day


Now is the time for Rotary members, public health advocates, and
all of us who want a world free from polio to come together and recognize
our progress in the fight to end polio.

SAVE THE DATE of October 18 for our District 6360 World Polio Day celebration.
More information available soon!




Pictured on right: World Polio Day event presenter DG Ramesh Ferris
(District 5370) 
 and DG Jackie at the International Convention 2025.

Polio survivor DG Ferris has hand-biked the entire length of
Canada to raise awareness of polio and has traveled the world sharing the importance of eradicating the disease.

View his special message in the "Read more" section below.
 

 

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Learn how one Rotarian is fighting the Diabetes Crisis


 
Did you know that Calhoun County has one of the highest death rates due to diabetes in Michigan?
Learn how one District Rotarian is making a difference.
 
T.R. Shaw, a member of the Cereal City Rotary Club, was featured in an interview on WMUK, the PBS Station at Western Michigan University, on July 30th. Shaw is also a trustee of Rotary's National Action Group for Diabetes.
 

Shaw said Rotary has also been hard at work getting people access to care and education.

 
"We've worked with a couple of the hospitals here, and their endocrinology staff went out and we get maybe 15 to 20 people that get screened and we'll find a few and help them get on the track to being diagnosed," Shaw said. 

"We're trying to do education and awareness because a lot of people are just unaware or they're afraid that they might have it. And so we're trying to normalize the fear and trying to help people to get over the fear of it and how to be able to start dealing with it."

 
 

To hear the interview, click here.
 
 
 

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District Leadership Transition Event Highlights

Thank you to the Huies for providing an enchanting place to celebrate DG Mark's successful Rotary year!
Approximately 70 Rotarians and guests honored Mark and his wife, LaRae, and welcomed  new District Governor, Jackie Huie.

Here are some highlights of the event, which took place June 28th in St. Joseph.
Click on this link if you want to see more photos.
 

 
DGs share a moment.
 
    
    24-25 DG Line - Chris Lewis, Jackie Huie, Mark Odland, Timothy Lee, and LaRae Odland (center)
                                                                                 
 
    Mark receives a special gift.     

    
                                                      DG Jackie speaks of her Rotary plans.


  





 

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District Conference 2026 | Updates


Click on the image above to launch the video.

Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan






 Click here to register

If you have already registered and can volunteer time during the conference, please contact Gwen: rotarydistrict6360@gmail.com. Or show up at the registration desk and ask how you can help!

To learn about hotel options go to READ MORE below. Note: Rooms are still available at the Boulevard Inn.

For more information about the conference GO HERE

  

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South Haven Rotary Recognizes Peace Pole Day

Main article image for story titled 'South Haven Rotary Recognizes Peace Pole Day'



South Haven Rotarians gathered to observe the internationally recognized Peace Pole Day on Saturday, Nov. 22nd. The day honored the birthday of Masahisa Goi, the founder of the "May Peace Prevail on Earth" movement. The Peace Poles are a global symbol, displaying the message "May Peace Prevail On Earth" in various languages. There are over 250,000 peace poles in nearly 200 countries around the world. South Haven's peace pole, appearing in English and Spanish, is located in Stanley Johnston Park and was installed in 2024 by the Rotary Club of South Haven. Pictured are Rotarians John Merlein, Todd Heinrich and Amy Nichols. "The pole's presence is a beacon of positivity and a constant reminder to not only imagine what could be, but to work towards a common goal of a more harmonious future," said Merlein who headed the South Haven initiative.





 

14th Annual Hero Luncheon hosted by the Haslett-Okemos Club


FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT ASSISTANT GOVERNOR
JON LUNDY AT  lundyjd@comcast.net.

South Haven Scholarship Award Announced

South Haven Rotary Scholarship Announced


Congratulations Rotary Scholarship recipient Evani Flores; one of six South Haven High School seniors who were presented Rotary Scholarships, a Club record! Evani will be attending Michigan State University. 

The remaining Scholarship recipients will be awarded at future Club events.
 

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Accessing The Rotary Website | Video Tutorial

Learn how to register and access the My Rotary website in this simple video produced by DGND Christopher Lewis.
The step-by-step video tutorial takes you from setting up an account at My Rotary, to how to make a TRF donation, where to find the Learning Center and more.
Discover more about The Rotary Foundation Resources on the district website.

Interact Conference Highlights

Story submitted by District Young Leaders Chair Margie Haas
 

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Welcome D6360 2000th Rotarian

Main article image for story titled 'Welcome D6360 2000th Rotarian'


Troy Gilleylen just became the Rotary Club of Battle Creek's newest Rotarian and District 6360's 2000th Rotarian!  He is the manager of safety and security at Bronson Hospital
in Battle Creek.

Congratulations Troy! Welcome to the Rotary family.

How can we help? Check out District Resource Guide

Are you frustrated about trying to find the information you need to get your projects done?
Let us help with this resource guide!
 
Did you know that District 6360 has a YouTube channel?
The channel has a growing selection of training videos, event videos, messages from Leadership, interviews with District Rotarians, and even DG Jackie's video bloopers!
Click here to open the YouTube channel.
 
 

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PolioPlus Monthly Challenge

PolioPlus

How To Join the PolioPlus Society CHALLENGE:

How are we doing with the CHALLENGE so far through August? 

Read More

Youth Exchange

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

LET’S GET READY TO WELCOME OUR NEW YOUTH EXCHANGE STUDENTS!

Our new youth exchange students for 2024-25 will be arriving by mid-August!  They are:

Lulu from Belgium – living in Eaton Rapids, hosted by Eaton Rapids Rotary Club
Stefan from Poland – living in East Lansing, hosted by Haslett-Okemos Rotary Club
Ondrej from Czech Republic – living in Centreville, hosted by Sturgis Rotary Club
Alston from Twain – living in Jackson, hosted by Jackson-Breakfast Rotary Club

Please wish Natalia from Portage, sponsored by the Portage Rotary Club best wishes as she will be leaving for Germany in early August for her year-long exchange!

LET’S GO!  NOW IS THE TIME TO Connect with your high school to seek applicants for Outbound students for 2025-26 school year.  Connect with:

  • Foreign language and/or English teachers 
  • 4-H groups
  • Interact clubs
  • Faith based youth groups
  • Your RYLA Camp attendees
The student application process will be available on the District Website.  It starts with students completing an application to your Rotary Club.  Your Rotary club then interviews the student and their parents to see if they are a good fit for the exchange program.  This application and interview must be completed by September 30!! 
After the Rotary Club interview and approval, the student and parents are referred to the District Rotary Outbound Coordinator, Marsha Bassett for the formal Central States Rotary Youth Exchange Application.  We will interview all students and their parents that have been referred to the District Outbound Coordinator on Saturday, November 9. 
 

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Run, Run, Santa

Main article image for story titled 'Run, Run, Santa'


Please join the Paw Paw Area Rotary Club for their annual 5K Santa Run. Club President Sue Danielson says, "We encourage our guests to don a Santa suit, get their faces painted, enjoy coffee/hot chocolate and healthy snacks, then run with 200 of their favorite Santas through the streets of Paw Paw. It's great fun."  All Santa runners receive a medal. 
For more information, open the QR code in the flyer below.
 

 

An Authentic Rotarian Moment


“Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.” - Dr. Seuss

This year, DG Jackie has placed importance not only on District 6360 Areas of Focus, and Action Plan, but also on the belief that Rotarians can have fun in all aspects of the Rotarian experience. In this section of the newsletter, we ask that Rotarians submit an authentic, spontaneous, fun moment they have enjoyed as Rotarians. Submit a picture, video, or story that highlights your moment!  Capture your fun and we will share the story!


This month an authentic moment was submitted by PDG and PolioPlus Society Chair, Ed Foster. Ed said, "We had our fifth Wednesday meeting at the Courthouse Square museum, and this bear was in the store window of one of our former members' hardware store here in Charlotte.  It was owned by Bob Munger, a former president of our club, and he has been gone for a long time, but the family donated the bear to the museum and one of our members has just been appointed as the director of the museum!" Ed and the bear had a spontaneous photo together! As many of you may know, the PolioPlus Society mascot this year is a large bear which the District named "Foster" in honor of Ed.
With all this attention, it seems like Ed will just have to "grin and bear it!"
 








 

 

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Gwen's Pen - Safety First!

                                       


This month in "Gwen's Pen" - Let's talk internet safety.
 
In case you are not aware, whether we are born in the age of video games and high-tech communication or struggle with learning to keep up in the fast-paced world of applications and networks - we all fall victim to scams, spoofs, phishing and fraud. It is easy to be misguided or believe messages that you personally receive. For example, last winter, I was shopping on Chico's clothes website but somehow was redirected to a look-a-like site. I selected my items and went through with the transaction. A couple of days later, I discovered my error. Fortunately, I was able to register the fraud and the bank credited my account for the items I had "purchased." Upon reflection, I hadn't noticed the slight difference in the website address and the "Chico's" logo. But once I did, I went online and did a little sleuthing to discover that this was an internet scam. Buyer beware!
 
What are we dealing with?
 Google AI defines the following:
*A scam is a trick used to access information or money.
*Spoofing is a deceptive practice where an attacker disguises their identity by falsifying information, such as phone numbers, or email addresses, to appear as a trusted source. 
*Phishing is an attack that attempts to steal your money, or your identity, by getting you to reveal personal information such as credit card numbers, bank information, or passwords on websites that pretend to be legitimate.
*Internet Fraud is the use of the internet and electronic communication to commit deception and trickery for personal gain, typically involving financial loss or identity theft.

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East Lansing Rotary

Membership

Membership Growth in D6360

A Message from D6360 Membership Chair Mike Huie 

Congratulations D6360! Our District grew by 16 members in July!

We started the Rotary year off on July 1 with 1,950 Rotarians and 51 Rotaractors. On July 31, our District rose to 1966 Rotarians and saw a Rotaract decline to 49 Rotaractors. It's a great start to a new year! 

Summer is an active time for many clubs attending local events, setting up Rotary tents, drawing attention with giveaway prizes and inviting people to Discover Rotary sessions. There is also growing interest in Companion Clubs. If you'd like to learn more, reach out to me at mhuie@johnsonrauhoff.com. If you think you're ready to start, there are 4 simple steps in the process - open the QR code below to learn more.

For those on our District Membership Committee, we will hold the first meeting on August 7 at 5:00 p.m. We will focus on equipping clubs and club leaders with the tools, resources, and support they need to grow their membership and launch new clubs.

  

   More to come!
 

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Coming Soon: Fashion and Trends Committee

What is the Fashion and Trends Committee?
 
Meet Maria Matson, District 6360 Assistant Governor, and
the Chair of the newly formed "Fashion and Trends Committee." 

"The Fashion and Trends Committee is a brand-new committee that RI wants to incorporate this year," Maira said, "DG Jackie asked that I spearhead the committee because I have a degree in Fashion Design and have worked in the fashion industry. I love following fashion trends. I understand the need to have people dress for success; and I want to help people learn that our appearance is part of the Rotary Brand." 

Rotary International has set standards for branding in social media posts, in printed materials, and on websites. Rotary wants clubs and members to be part of the RI brand. "We want to put our best foot forward in being well-dressed and well-groomed when we are in photos, publicly speaking, or welcoming potential members to our clubs," Maria said.
 
Dress with intention!

How you present yourself on the outside does not define your worth, but it defines yourself. Being dressed impeccably helps you stand taller, walk and speak with more confidence, and move with more certainty. It conveys that today matters. You are not lounging, you are leading!

The Committee will be formally presented by Maria (time to be determined) but is slated to meet virtually once per month. For more information, contact Maria Matson at mariamatson23@gmail.com

East Lansing Rotary Foundation Scholarships Awarded

Congratulations to East Lansing Rotary Foundation's six scholarship award recipients! 

A message from DG Mark Odland

World Polio Day Update

How will you be celebrating World Polio Day?

Read More

DG Jackie's April Message

   

Click on the picture to launch the video.




Click on the image to launch the bloopers video.
 

 
 
 



 

Public Image Learning Series - December


Public Image Series - December 2025


Rotary Clubs do many events throughout the year, and we all want to have people attend. This includes community members, media and more. How do you do it? Through promotion! On December 11 at 7PM EST, Jennifer Zerrenner, President-Elect of the St. Joseph & Benton Harbor Rotary Club will join us to provide some hints and tips about how you and your club can better promote your future events!

REGISTER HERE TODAY 

See below for upcoming Public Image Sessions


 

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Williamston Rotary Club Hosts Red Cedar River Days



Click here to contact Club President Sharon LaPointe for more information.
 

Schedule a program on The Rotary Foundation in your club





The Rotary Foundation is Rotary's most impactful -- and most confusing -- program.

Just a reminder that we have assembled some speakers on The Rotary Foundation who can present a great Rotary Foundation program at your club.

 

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Young Leaders -- Call to Lead!

Special Announcement – New Title:  YOUNG LEADERS = CALL TO LEAD!

Rotary International has rolled out a new title for club and district chairs for Youth Service or Youth Programs, now called YOUNG LEADERS.

And with that, Rotary International and your District Leadership ask each club to identify a Rotarian to be chairperson of YOUNG LEADERS’ PROGRAMS.

Further, it is recommended that each club support the chairperson with a committee of at least three (3) members.

 

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2023-24 District Governor

Main article image for story titled '2023-24 District Governor'

Sharalyn Davis, BM, MT, MBA has been a Rotarian for 16 years. Her journey started at Climax Rotary Club when she was on the school board and she soon served as Club President, Assistant Governor, and on various club and district committees. She was attracted to Rotary’s Purity of Purpose and fell in love with the theme the year she joined “Sow the Seeds of Love.” She has since been a member of Cereal City Sunrise and currently serves with Union City Rotary.

With Rotary she joined two Bio-Sand Water filter trips to Dominican Republic and in 2018 traveled to India to build a dam with The Dream Team, a Rotary International group.

She’s attended four International Conventions and encourages all Rotarians to join her for the next one in Singapore May 25-29, 2024. The incredible comradery of 30,000 Rotarians from 200 Nations is an  experience that is absolutely exhilarating! Everyone with dreams and passions for world peace through Rotary, together in one place, is life changing!

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Charlotte Evening Rotary Club Purse Bingo Fundraiser

Membership Growth November 2025

D6360 Membership Growth for November 2025
Submitted by Mike Gallagher

 

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Golden Trowel Award - Nominations now being accepted

Do you know someone who has made a significant contribution
to your club’s project and is NOT a Rotarian?
 
How about thanking them by nominating that person(s) for the Rotary District 6360 Foundation Golden Trowel Award?
Rotary District 6360 Foundation (RD6360F) annually awards up to four (4) Golden Trowel Awards to non-Rotarian individuals or groups who have made a major contribution to a Rotary project.

The award will be presented at an event of the Rotary Club that made the nomination.

REMEMBER:
*The nominee must be a Non-Rotarian
*The nominee may be a person, non-profit organization, business, church, group of individuals, or government agency.
*The nominee must have made a significant contribution to a specific Rotary-sponsored project/event

Click here to download and fill-in form
The nomination application is a writable form; the file can be saved to your computer. Just fill out the form and send or email the completed form to Gene Svebakken District 6360 Foundation Trustee (contact information is listed at the top of the form.)
 
The deadline for nomination submissions is November 30, 2025.
No late submissions are accepted. 

Free Mental Health First Aid Training

Hurry - the deadline t0 sign-up is Friday Oct 18

Once again, our District 6360 Mental Health Committee has secured free Mental Health First Aid Training for Rotarians – with lunch!

This is an exceptional opportunity to receive this training at no cost!




Training details:

Monday Oct 21
8.30am - 4.30pm
Integrated Services of Kalamazoo
418 W. Kalamazoo Ave
Kalamazoo MI

Read More

District Governor Handover Event Video: Jun 6



 

Rotary Foundation Receives Four Star Rating

Main article image for story titled 'Rotary Foundation Receives Four Star Rating'

 


A message from Eric Schmelling, Chief Philanthropy Officer,
The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International

The Rotary Foundation is proud to announce that we have recently received a four-star rating — the highest level possible — for the 17th consecutive year from Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator in the United States.

We owe this success to the unwavering support and dedication of individuals like you.  Thank you for being a crucial part of what makes our Foundation a powerful force for meaningful change and lasting impact through service.

Charity Navigator determines its ratings by examining how nonprofits use their funds, how sustainable their programs are, and how well they adhere to industry standards of transparency and accountability. You can learn more about how Rotary does that in our most recent annual report.

Your support of The Rotary Foundation inspires others and directly makes a difference with initiatives around the world as well as projects based in your local community.

We’re deeply grateful for donors like you, who are dedicated to Doing Good in the World.

 

RI Convention in Taipei


If you're interested in attending the Rotary International Convention,
Registration is at its lowest!
Just visit: https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/

Convention update:

Program Overview
• General Sessions will take place Sunday-Wednesday, 14-17 June 2026
• Breakout Sessions will take place Monday-Wednesday, 15-17 June 2026
• The House of Friendship will be open Saturday-Wednesday, 13-17 June 2026

All RI events take place at Farglory Dome (Taipei Dome) and Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center (TaiNEX) unless otherwise indicated.
This information is subject to change, so check back often for the latest updates.
Purchase tickets to Rotary-ticketed events when you register for the convention online, by mail, or fax.


 

One Summit 2025 - registration closing soon

 One Summit 2025: Being People of Action


Explore Being People of Action at this year’s District 6360 One Summit.  One session will be held on Saturday, September 13, 2025, 9:00AM to 12:00PM at the CrawlSpace Comedy Theater, 315 West Michigan Ave., Kalamazoo.
 
Register here - Registration closes Friday, September 5th, by 9:00PM

This Being People of Action One Summit is designed for a cross-section of your club’s membership – new, experienced, future leaders, past leaders and the curious – to come together and share ideas, gain insights from scenarios (including those ah-ha moments), and understand better how a Club Action Plan can increase impact, extend reach, enhance engagement of members, and increase your club’s ability to adapt.
Participants will…
  • Come away with ideas to share.
  • Gain insights about the Rotary Action Plan.
  • Have ideas to develop a Club Action Plan.
  • Understand how Membership, Public Image, and The Rotary Foundation work together.
  • Take home a “Toolkit” to share with fellow club members.
Schedule:
8:30AM coffee and donuts for early arrivals
9:00AM session begins
11:30AM boxed lunch provided

Please note that there will be a District Board and Staff meeting immediately following the session.
 

Read More

World Polio Day Kalamazoo Highlights & Videos

Read more about the event and view featured videos by Sharon Wherry
and Charles Jespersen shared on World Polio Day 24 October . . . .
 

Read More

Mark's Monthly Messages | October

Watch and listen to Governor Mark's vision for our district | October message

Let’s Get Our Ask In Gear and Grow


 

Interact

Tuesday, August 6, 2024

MEET YOUR NEW INTERACT DISTRICT CHAIR EMILY QUIGGLE!



Emily is your new 2024-25 District Interact Chair serving your clubs and Interact Clubs! 
She is second generation Rotarian, following her father, Judge Bill Doherty.  She was an Interact member at Hastings High School and attended RYLA Camp and Advanced RYLA Camp.  After receiving her Bachelor’s Degree from MSU, she returned home to Hastings and joined the Hastings Rotary Club in 2015.  .  She has served on the District RYLA Camp team for since 2018.  Emily became Hastings Rotary Club’s youngest president in 2018, serving in 2018-2019.  When living at home she was  host sister to youth exchange students.  She is the Hastings High School Interact Advisor and has attended the past two District Interact Conferences.  She has served on the District RYLA Camp team for since 2018.  She brings a wealth of ideas and experience to this position. 
 

Rotary District 6360 Conference 2024

Rotary District 6360 Conference May 3-4, 2024 create hope in the world
 

Key Event Details

  • Fruit tree planting - Edison Neighborhood Urban Garden 
  • Louisa Horne - Strategic "Doing" 
  • Jennifer Montgomery - Uganda Peace Scholar Magenta Girls
  • Frank Mumford - National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
  • Walk to Ministry with Community
  • Interact Student Conference
  • Art Hop Kalamazoo (Friday evening)
Radisson Plaza Hotel  | More hotel and registration information coming soon!
 

Consider a conference sponsorship:

We are offering a range of sponsorship
opportunities that will give your company
exposure for months prior to the District
Conference. Contact for more information
Contact information

District 6360 Conference 2023 SPONSORS



 
District Conference Highlights (2023)

 

Plainwell Rotary Spring Fundraiser

Eating in Eaton Rapids

 


Eaton Rapids Rotary Club

With SNAP benefits ending for millions of Americans, including hundreds in the Eaton Rapids area, the local mobile food pantry experienced record-setting volume on Saturday, October 25. Over 325 families took advantage of the opportunity to get some desperately needed food assistance (an increase of 30% over the normal volume).  


Eaton Rapids Rotary Club members came out in force to help. The mobile food pantry is a monthly event held at the Eaton Rapids High School parking lot and Rotary regularly supplies a large cadre of volunteers to staff the distribution effort. It's just one more way the Eaton Rapids Club strives to live up to Rotary's motto of "Service Above Self."
 

Submissions are welcome to District Newsletter

UPDATE: Effective July 2025, District newsletters will be published on the first of each month (except holidays.)

If you have an item you’d like to submit for the newsletter, please send it at least three days prior to the publication date. Submissions can be sent to:

RotaryDistrict6360@gmail.com

We welcome graphics! Please make sure that the graphics are in the PNG, or GIF format.
All word documents or PDFs need to be converted to PNG or JPG formats.
If you need to convert a document or file - visit a website like Canva to utilize free file converters.
Click here to open Canva.

Items can be news from your club, projects, events, and fun things!
Thanks for helping make our District newsletter entertaining and newsworthy!
 

District Conference | Video

SAVE THE DATE for DisCon 2026

At the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan 
May 15-16, 2026.
Registration will open July in DACdb.
More information is coming soon!


Click on the image to launch a video

Survivor Bikes Canada for Polio Awareness

                             
DG Ferris & Past President Taylor Huie                          DG Ferris at RI Convention in Calgary

Meet District 5370 Governor Ramesh Ferris, from the Yukon. He's a friend of District Governor Jackie Huie, is a Polio Survivor, hand-biked the entire length of Canada to raise awareness of Polio and has traveled the world sharing the importance of eradicating the disease. He sent District 6360 a message from Rotary International Convention Calgary to promote membership in the Polio Plus Society ($100 a year commitment). There are 18 new cases in two countries in the world, so we're that close and to help get over the finish line, Bill Gates is committing a 2 to 1 match. If you can help out, email Ed Foster at ed@fosterdvm.com
 

Registration opens soon for District Conference 2026

SAVE THE DATE for DisCon 2026

At the Silver Beach Carousel in St. Joseph, Michigan 
May 15-16, 2026.
Registration will open in August in DACdb.
More information is coming soon!


Click on the image to launch a video



Submissions welcome to District Newsletter

UPDATE: Effective July 2025, District newsletters will be published on the first of each month.

If you have an item you’d like to submit for the newsletter, please send it at least three days prior to the publication date. Submissions can be sent to:

RotaryDistrict6360@gmail.com

We welcome graphics! Please make sure that graphics are in the PNG, or GIF format.
All word documents or PDFs need to be converted to PNG or JPG formats.

Items can be news from your club, projects, events, and fun things! Thanks for helping make our District newsletter entertaining and newsworthy!
 

Council on Legislation

By

Every three years, representatives from each Rotary district across more than 200 countries and territories gather in Chicago for the Council on Legislation (“COL”)—Rotary’s parliament. The COL considers enactments—proposed changes to Rotary’s Constitution, Bylaws, and the Standard Rotary Club Constitution—submitted by clubs, districts, and the Rotary International Board of Directors. The deliberations are simultaneously interpreted in English, French, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, and Spanish. PDG Nathan Triplett from the Rotary Club of Lansing represented District 6360 at the most recent COL, which was held April 14-16.
The 2025 COL considered 86 enactments. Thirty-one enactments (36%) were adopted, forty-eight (56%) were rejected or withdrawn, four (5%) were referred to the RI Board of Directors for further consideration, and three (3%) were postponed indefinitely. 
Among the most notable enactments adopted were:
•    Decreasing the number of members needed to charter a new Rotary club from 20 to 15.
•    Approving an increase in dues paid to Rotary International in 2027-2028, 2028-2029, and 2029-2030. Dues will increase by $3.50, $3.75, and $3.75 respectively.
•    Permitting the RI Board of Directors to consider factors such as culture and language, not just the number of Rotarians, in drawing zone boundaries.
•    Eliminating the requirement of holding a district conference annually. Instead, districts will be allowed to choose for themselves whether to hold a conference.
•    Renaming the President-Elect Training Seminar (PETS) to the President-Elect Learning Seminar (PELS) and the District Training Assembly to the Club Leadership Learning Seminar.
•    Empowering the RI Board of Directors to instruct a club to terminate the membership of a Rotarian or Rotaractor.
•    Providing a uniform process for removing Rotary officers and committee members for cause. 
Among the most notable enactments rejected were:
•    Limiting the number of honorary members in a club.
•    Setting an age limit for Rotaractors.
•    Imposing a term limit on the RI General Secretary.
•    Imposing a term limit on Council on Legislation representatives. 
•    Several proposed amendments to the Object of Rotary and the Avenues of Service.
Rotarians may view the full voting results here. Enactments approved by the 2025 COL will become effective at the start of the next Rotary year (2025-2026) on July 1, 2025.
District 6360 Rotarians with questions about the 2025 COL, any of the enactments that were considered, or the COL generally should feel free to reach out to PDG Nathan. 
 

Read More

What's Up with Youth?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

WHAT’S UP WITH YOUTH??

ROTARY DISTRICT 6360

YOUTH PROGRAMS MISSION STATEMENT

Your District Youth Programs team developed the following mission statement. 
 

To empower emerging young leaders and, through the process, attract adults in their lives to become Rotarians.
 


Your District 6360 Youth Program Team is committed to assist your club to build strong youth programs.  The benefit?   The future of Rotary is our youth!  And you have a strong pool of new Rotarians!! 
 

Read More


RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) | July 12-14, 2024

Registration will begin in Spring 2024. More details to follow | Download the brochure HERE


Recap from RYLA Camp 2023

Four groups of RYLA Campers created as possible campaigns for addressing important world issues.

  • - Pop-Cans for Afghanistan - Increasing Educational Access for all youth!
  • - UGLY PRODUCE - Solutions for addressing FOOD INSECURITY!
  • - The importance of Education in the Dominican Republic!
  • - STUDENT Academic Stressors (mental health challenges) and possible solutions!
Watch the presentation video below

RYLA Camp 2023 District 6360 video

DG Jackie's December Message

DECEMBER VIDEOS

Click on the image above to launch the video message.
 
Watch the BLOOPER version 


Click on the image to launch the video.


  

DG Jackie Monthly Message for September




Click on the image to view the video message.
 

29 Club Visits in 31 Days


Click on the image to view the video

Young Leaders Chairs Annual Meeting

Rotary Young Leader Chairs in an Annual Planning meeting with Young Leader Coordinator/RYE Chair Margie Haas - Interact Chair Kim Lewis, RSP Chair Becky Foster, RYLA Chair Don Deibler and Youth Protection Officer Cathy LaValley

DG Jackie Huie's Monthly Message



WELCOME TO ROTARY YEAR 2025-26


Please click on the image to view the video message.

Mental Health Awareness

 

  M e n t a l   H e a l t h
D6360 June Newsletter

 


Photo compliments of Gull Lake Rotary Club


In keeping with DG Mark’s goal to gain 100 new members this Rotary year –
here’s all you have to know:

Volunteering is good for Mental Health!

That’s it. 
That’s your pitch. 

Research confirms over and over – if you want to improve mental and emotional well-being, social connection, brain functioning and even heart health – go volunteer!

Here’s the research to read for yourself:

Volunteering for a Healthy Mind: How Helping Others Can Improve Your Mental Wellbeing - New Milford Counseling Center

People who volunteer improve their heart and brain health, research finds. Health News: NPR

No wonder Rotarians are fit people – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.
No wonder Rotary is so irresistible!


Thank you for all you do to raise awareness, reduce stigma and improve access!
Thank you for all you do to increase membership.