We are honored to be serving as the organizers for Director Chris Etienne's 2026 Beyond Borders dinner during the Rotary International Convention in Taipei! Please help us promote the dinner in your district. At the top of this email and further below are graphics that you can use in your district newsletter and other communications to your members to promote the convention. As you know most of our Rotary members don't really know that they are part of a "Zone," so there is some education we use to make sure they are aware that their presence is welcomed and needed in order for the dinner to be a success. Along with the graphics, we would ask you and your district leaders to provide the dinner ticket sales link: https://portal.clubrunner.ca/50077/Events/beyond-borders-taipei-2026 We rely on you to help us communicate with the Rotary members in your district to help us get a great turnout at the dinner. Thank you in advance for your assistance, and please let us know if you have any questions. PDG Sue & Bruce Goldsen Beyond Borders Taipei chairs

Katie and Kyle Smith presented to our club in Sept about the week-end
backpack food program for students at Alpine Lakes Elementary School.
Every Friday, packets of snacks and easy-to-prepare foods are
available in the office for students to pick up and put in their own
backpacks.  Last year 29 students were served, and so far this year 25 are signed
up. 
48 percent of Alpine Lakes students qualify for the program. School
counselors refer parents to the program for their children who receive
free and reduced-cost lunches. 
Rotary and the Leavenworth Church of the Nazarene sponsors the
program at a cost of $4,000 per year. Each packet of food is
assembled at a cost of $4.50. 
Other local churches sponsor a similar program for middle and high school
students in the district. 

Left to right. Shelly Durfey, Bill Flower, Bill Lange, Ann & Fred Whitney, Pamela Durfey and Ted Durfey.

On October 1st, Sunnyside Daybreak Rotary members; Shelly Durfey, Bill Flower, Bill Lange, and Ted Durfey presented the club’s Philanthropist Award to Ann and Fred Whitney in their home. Fred and Ann grew up in the Lower Yakima Valley and now live in Kent, Washington. Distance has not separated their heritage. The couple and their family have continued to generously support our community, particularly with Daybreak Rotary’s construction of one and re-purposed another skateboard park for the youth of Sunnyside.

Ann’s father was a member of Sunnyside’s Rotary and her grandfather, Wren Farrell (photo in background) was cattle baron Ben Snipes’ foreman, and eventually a farmer southwest of Sunnyside. Fred was an accountant for Boeing.

Kelowna Ogopogo Rotary Celebrates Global Impact: A Culture of Reading in Honduras

The Rotary Club of Kelowna Ogopogo is proud to celebrate the success of our involvement in an international project supported by a district grant along with the "Wine Country Cluster" to establish a vibrant new library at Ivan Betancourth Elementary School in Comayagua, Honduras. This initiative, carried out in partnership with the Chispa Project, has created a transformative culture of reading for 616 students. The project, inaugurated in June 2025, included a donation of 1250 books. The project also provides two years of training and support for teachers to inspire a love of reading.

With 1,250 books donated, the transformation at Ivan Betancourth Elementary is clear. Students are devouring books, teachers are creatively integrating the new resources into their lessons, and a love for reading is blooming across all grade levels.

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A district grant is being applied for to build a health clinic for moms and babies in Liberia Africa.  We have funded the basis of the building and will apply for the district grant to get the remaining we need.

We would like to add some computer work and labour to get a system up and running to allow the staff to be able to connect to the internet and medical offices.  We need another $500 and would add this to our district grant.

Are there any other clubs that would like to be a part of this worth while district grant?

Some clubs in Ellensburg and Yakima, Quincy, Osoyoos, Kamloops West and The Rivers and Lake Country Interact and areas are all involved.  Can we add you to the list?
Email me asap: sherry@adobie.com

At a recent FAO–Rotary seminar in Cairo, senior leadership from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) strengthened collaboration on nutrition and food security. And they specifically highlighted the work of Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group (FPSRAG). Recognition at that level matters. It signals that FPSRAG’s approach is seen as credible, relevant, and aligned with global priorities including: nutrition-sensitive agriculture diversified and healthy diets resilient, locally adapted food systems practical education that empowers communities For Rotary, this is something to be proud of. FPSRAG represents a ready-made way for Rotary’s volunteer network to turn global policy into knowledge, that communities can use long after a project ends. Global food security depends on many efforts working together. FAO’s acknowledgement reinforces that Rotary, and Food Plant Solutions Rotary Action Group, have an important role to play. Here’s the full FAO article: https://www.fao.org/neareast/news/details/fao-strengthens-collaboration-with-rotary-at-cairo-event-on-nutrition-and-food-security/en If you’re involved in Rotary projects where nutrition, food security, or community resilience matter, please reach out to explore how we might work together. info@foodplantsolutions.org

Are you ready for a meaningful challenge?

Big West ESRAG Chair, Steve Bender, is no stranger to global challenges. His life’s work has been solving environmental and community problems by fostering partnerships for lasting change. After experiencing firsthand the health benefits of eating more plant-rich foods, Steve is now inviting Rotarians everywhere to do the same -  because what’s good for our health is also good for our planet.

In fact, Project Drawdown, an official ESRAG partner, identifies plant-rich diets as one of the most effective solutions for addressing climate change. It’s affordable, accessible, and delicious — making it a powerful, achievable action Rotarians can take to create real impact on biodiversity loss and pollution as well.Steve is challenging fellow Rotarians and friends to join him in the free ESRAG 15-Day Plant-Rich Challenge, starting February 15. It’s perfect for beginners and experts alike - YOU choose your goal. Participants receive a daily email for two weeks filled with practical, inspiring resources — including recipes, cooking demonstrations, shopping tips, and videos from nutritionists, physicians, chefs, and world-class athletes. 

To date, over 1,000 Rotarians worldwide have already taken part.

This Valentine’s Day, add the Earth to your list of loved ones. Sign up by February 14 for the 15-Day Plant-Rich Challenge here:
?? https://forms.gle/PPDBmbnRDo6yF9cg6

Plant-rich eating will also be a major theme at the upcoming EarthX Conference in Dallas, Texas (April 20–22), where Steve serves as Global Head of Strategic Partnerships & Revenue Growth,  and as the Chair of the U.S. Green Chamber of Commerce.

Call to Action! Join us. Take the challenge. Share it with your club, your family, and your community. Together, United for Good through Rotary, we can turn a simple daily choice into meaningful global impact — one meal at a time.

Three years ago, I was placed into a small cohort of leaders who were on the same path I was. At the time, I was unsure if I fit in. I wondered how this group could truly support me, and whether I belonged in a room of people preparing for such significant responsibility.

Fast forward to last week at International Assembly, and I can say without hesitation: these are my people.

International Assembly is part of the formal journey to becoming a District Governor. It is where District Governor Elects from around the world come together to learn, prepare, and connect before stepping into this important leadership role. It is structured, intentional, and deeply rooted in Rotary’s values. But what surprised me most was not the training. It was the relationships.

Over 520 District Governor Elects and their partners gathered from across the globe. Being in the same space with leaders from so many countries felt like an international trip without leaving the room. Each conversation offered a window into how Rotary International works in different cultures, communities, and circumstances. Despite our differences, we all shared the same mission and the same commitment to service.

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Rotary is strongest when members step forward to lead, share ideas, and help guide our collective impact. As we look ahead, our District has several leadership opportunities for Rotarians who want to make a difference beyond their own club. These roles are meaningful, manageable, and supported by a strong team. You do not need to have “all the answers,” just a willingness to learn and lead.

Our top priority: Membership Growing and strengthening membership is essential to Rotary’s future. In response, Rotary International has expanded the Membership structure to include three sub-leadership roles focused on engagement, growth, and retention. These positions offer a great entry point into District leadership and a chance to directly influence how we welcome, support, and inspire Rotarians across our clubs.

Additional leadership opportunities We are also seeking Rotarians interested in:

· Community Service Chair – helping clubs share ideas, collaborate, and increase the impact of service projects across the District.

· Public Image Committee Members – supporting storytelling, communications, and visibility so our communities better understand who we are and why Rotary matters.

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The Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise recognized it's 36th anniversary on January 10th, 1990. The club was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Penticton. Bob Winter, a Penticton Rotarian, was instrumental in starting the third club in Penticton. Carl Tymm was the District Governor in 1990-1991 and was brought into Rotary by Bob, who wanted to start the new club during Carl's year as the DG. The club was chartered on January 10th, 1990, on the same date that the Rotary Club of Penticton was chartered in 1931, 59 years earlier. The first president was Elwood Major and thirty people joined the new club. In 1988, women were allowed to join Rotary and while there were women in Rotary clubs throughout District 5060, the Penticton-Okanagan Club was the first club in Penticton to invite women to join Rotary. Ten women joined with two women on the seven-member board. The club’s first community service project was volunteering at the BC Winter Games in Penticton in February 1990. Over the years, the club has been involved in many local and international projects and sponsored 33 outbound students and hosted 31 inbound students. In 2017 the club changed its name to Penticton Sunrise Rotary to reflect it’s morning meeting time. Today the club has twenty-four members, with thirteen women and eleven men.

Congratulations on 36 years Penticton Sunrise Rotary!

 The Rotary Club of Penticton Sunrise has been working on a project to purchase and aid in the installation of a climbing wall, slide and benches for the revitalized Kinder Bear Accessible Playground at the Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society (OSNS) Kinder Kids Daycare for 3 to 5 year old children. The new playground will provide children with delayed physical, social and emotional development with a safe and stimulating play environment and will serve children throughout the South Okanagan - Similkameen Valley.

Club members raised funds through their 24 Days of Christmas Raffle in the fall of 2024. Funds from our 2025 Used Booksale also were used for the project. A district grant of $10,000 was applied for and received. The total project including the grant was $26,804.00 along with 60 direct service hours by club members. Members worked to removed old playground equipment and artificial turf in July 2025 and assembled the components of the wall, slide and benches in the fall of 2025. The project will be completed in the spring of 2026.  

With the leadership of Project Director Bob Coombs, Penticton Sunrise Rotary Club members have partnered with OSNS for over a decade, renovating and upgrading equipment for their Family Resource Room, building a garden shed, volunteering at their fundraising events and providing volunteer hours for spring and fall cleanups on the property. 

The Penticton Sunrise Rotary Club has a newer member whose connection with Rotary goes back to her childhood. Mason Schnell is the grand-daughter of the late Ron Mason, one of the Penticton Okanagan Rotary Club’s founding members. Ron is pictured in the front row, second from the left during the Club’s Charter Installation Ceremony. The Club has since changed its name to Penticton Sunrise Rotary Club. 

For several years, Ron and other members served at one of the aid stations during the Ironman Penticton Race. On several occasions, Mason assisted her grandfather at the aid stations. The photo taken when she was approximately five or six years old is with her grandfather Ron, mother Rhonda and an unknown triathelete.

Ron’s legacy continues as Mason actively works on Sunrise Club’s other fundraising events and projects. This includes the most recent playground renewal project at the Okanagan Similkameen Neurological Society’s Child Development Centre in Penticton.

Mason is pictured loading her truck with recyclable material along with fellow Rotarians, Tom Johnson, Joyce Ericson and Mike Watkins.

Our district is filled with remarkable Rotarians—people who give generously, lead boldly, and inspire the rest of us to aim higher. Now is the time to shine a light on those outstanding individuals by submitting nominations for the 2026 Cadman and Henderson Awards.

These two annual honors are open to nominations from any member, and the 2026 recipients will be celebrated at the District Conference, April 16–19 in Kamloops, BC.

1. Ed Cadman “You Are the Key” Award

This award recognizes a Rotarian who has played a pivotal role in advancing Rotary’s mission of service. Their impact may come through a club or district project, a community initiative, or an independent act of service that embodies Rotary values. The nominating Rotarian should describe clearly how the nominee’s actions made a meaningful difference.

Last year’s honoree was William (Bill) Redmond of Kelowna Rotary.

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Part of my role as your District Governor Nominee is to help champion and coordinate Youth Services across our district—one of the most energizing and hopeful parts of Rotary. And let me tell you… we have a lot to be proud of. If you ever need a reminder that the future is bright, just spend a little time with our youth programs! (The link at the bottom of this article is your ticket to that adventure, so please read on.)

Most of you know and love Rotary Youth Exchange, our flagship adventure in global citizenship. It’s the program that sends students out into the world—and brings the world back to us—one host family, one culture, and one life-changing year at a time.

But our Youth Services family is much bigger than that. We also support:

• RYLA — Rotary Youth Leadership Awards: A powerhouse leadership camp where young people discover their voice, step into confidence, and learn what it means to lead with heart.
• Interact Clubs: High-energy, service-minded high school clubs that take on real community projects with real impact. (If you want hope for the world, just watch an Interactor present their next project idea.)

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Although the Rotary International Council on Legislation met back in April 2025, its decisions are only now starting to shape the year ahead—so January 2026 is the perfect time to catch up on the “new rules of the road.”

Rotary representatives from around the world met in Chicago, 13–17 April, for the 2025 Council on Legislation, the triennial gathering where members debate and vote on changes that shape Rotary’s future. The most significant decisions centered on a dues increase, membership flexibility, and the role of district conferences.


 

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Who doesn’t love free money? Especially when it helps your club turn great ideas into real-world impact. That’s exactly what’s available through our District Grants program—a matching grant opportunity where your district partners with your club to double your efforts. Your club contributes, the district grant amplifies, and together, we make good things happen.

There’s still time to get in on the 2026–2027 cycle. The second intake opened January 15 and runs through February 28, 2026. Grant reviews happen in March, with final district decisions followed by Rotary Foundation approval and funding disbursement between May and July 2026. Project work and reporting will run from July 2026 through June 30, 2027.

To get started, download and complete the Pre-Application Form and email it to District Grants Chair Kathy Butler at kathy.rotary5060@gmail.com. Kathy is traveling for the next few weeks, but she’ll still be responding—just a bit more slowly than usual. You must log in to DACdb to access the form link. 

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