Dinner Speaker:

Sylvia Whitlock, Ph.D. is an educator, therapist, and trailblazing Rotary leader best known as the first woman to serve as president of a Rotary club following the landmark 1987 U.S. Supreme Court decision allowing women into Rotary. Born in New York City and educated in Jamaica and California, she holds advanced degrees in education and marriage and family therapy and has dedicated her career to education, counseling, and community service.

A longtime Rotarian, Dr. Whitlock has served in numerous club and district leadership roles and has spoken at Rotary events around the world. Her humanitarian work has supported projects including water wells in Nigeria, an AIDS center in Jamaica, orphanage support in Mexico, and education initiatives for girls in India. Rotary International named its annual Sylvia Whitlock Leadership Award in her honor. The award recognizes a Rotary member each year who has actively worked to advance women in Rotary, and Dr. Whitlock herself was the inaugural recipient. She is also a multiple Paul Harris Fellow and recipient of numerous honors, including the NAACP Woman of the Year Award, and remains a passionate advocate for service above self.

When we hear "next generation," it's easy to think first about our youth programs, and they certainly play an important role. But investing in the next generation is much broader than that. It happens every time we welcome a new member, mentor an emerging leader, encourage someone to take on a committee role, support a first-time club president, or share our Rotary story with someone who has yet to discover what Rotary can offer.

Our greatest impact isn't measured only by the projects we complete. It's measured by the people we inspire, encourage, and develop along the way.

Throughout the coming months, I look forward to visiting clubs across District 5060, hearing your stories, celebrating your successes, and learning from the incredible work taking place in communities throughout British Columbia and Washington. Every club has unique strengths, traditions, and ideas worth sharing, and together we can learn from one another.

As a district, our priorities remain clear:

• Promoting Rotary
• Engaging our members
• Growing future leaders

These priorities are not additional work. They are ways of strengthening what our clubs are already doing so that Rotary continues to thrive for generations to come.

Thank you for your commitment to your clubs, your communities, and one another. I am excited for the journey ahead and look forward to meeting many of you in the months ahead.

Here's to a year of meaningful connections, shared learning, and lasting impact as we continue to Fuel the Future together.

Marty's visit is part of her Impact Tour: From Barrow to Bermuda. Over two years, she will travel to all 40 districts in Rotary Zones 28 and 32 to experience Rotary where it matters most: in our communities, at our service projects, and alongside the volunteers who make a difference every day.

Her goal is to see Rotary in action, hear our stories, celebrate the work of our clubs, and gain a deeper understanding of Rotary’s impact—both locally and around the world.

The Wenatchee Valley is one of her first stops. Let’s give Marty a warm District 5060 welcome and show her what Rotary service looks like in our communities.

Leavenworth

Monday, July 20

3:30–5:00 p.m. — Explore Rotary’s Impact in Leavenworth
Stroll through downtown Leavenworth with Marty, meet local Rotarian business owners, and see Rotary-supported projects in the community.

5:00–7:00 p.m. — Dinner with Marty
Icicle Village Resort
Cost: $33 per person
Contact Karen Haire for tickets.

Wenatchee, Cashmere and Chelan

Tuesday, July 21

7:00 a.m. — Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary Club Meeting

9:00 - 10:30 am. Cashmere Highlights

12:00 p.m. — Lake Chelan Rotary Club Meeting

1:30–3:00 p.m. — Chelan Community Tour
Visit local Rotary projects and learn more about Rotary’s impact in the Lake Chelan community.

5:00–6:00 p.m. — Community Reception for Marty
Music and Art Center, Wenatchee Valley College
There is no charge to attend. Reserve your place here

6:35 p.m. — Rotary Night at the AppleSox
Paul Thomas Sr. Stadium
Bring your family and friends for an evening of baseball and Rotary fellowship. Purchase tickets here

Wenatchee

Wednesday, July 22

9:00–10:00 a.m. — Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council Visit
Learn about the organization’s work and the projects supported through Rotary grants.

10:00–11:00 a.m. — Wenatchee Rotary Project Tour
Visit Rotary Park and other Rotary-supported projects in the Wenatchee area.

12:00 p.m. — Wenatchee Confluence Rotary Club Meeting
Town Toyota Center

Join the Celebration

Attend one event or make it a three-day Rotary experience. This is a special opportunity to meet an incoming Rotary International Director, connect with fellow Rotarians, and showcase the service and fellowship that make District 5060 exceptional.

Impact Tour shirts and other merchandise are available through the Impact Tour website.

Questions? Contact Kathleen at kmcnalty5060@gmail.com.

Born and raised in Montana, Jill Leonard grew up with a love for wide open spaces, strong communities, and the kind of practical, roll-up-your-sleeves spirit that stays with you. She graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and eventually made her way to Wenatchee, Washington in 2000. What began as a move to a new community became home, and Wenatchee has been an important part of Jill’s family, career, and Rotary story ever since.

Professionally, Jill is a business owner with experience in marketing, communications, event planning, fundraising, and coaching. She brings a strong belief in collaboration, practical leadership, and helping people find confidence in their own abilities.

Jill is a member of the Rotary Club of Wenatchee and has been a Rotarian since 2012. She has served in a variety of club and district roles, including Club President, Fundraising Chair, Public Image Chair, Wenatchee Rotary Foundation President, District Public Image Committee member, and District Youth Exchange Communications Chair. Jill is a multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a Polio Society Member, a Bequest Society Member, and a multiple Wenatchee Rotary Foundation Paul Scea Fellow.

Jill’s passion in Rotary is rooted in Youth Services, including Rotary Youth Exchange, Interact, and RYLA. Her District Governor focus, Fuel the Future: Investing in the Next Generation, reflects her belief that Rotary’s greatest impact is not only found in the projects completed today, but in the leaders, members, students, and community partners we encourage for tomorrow. She is honored to serve as District Governor for Rotary District 5060 for the 2026-2027 Rotary year.

Rotary has also become a family affair for Jill. Her great-grandfather served as President of the Polson Rotary Club in Montana in 1936, and her grandfather served as President of the Butte Rotary Club. Her husband, Tom, joined Rotary while Jill was serving as President of the Wenatchee club, and their son Ethan participated in Rotary Youth Exchange. That family connection continues to shape Jill’s belief that Rotary is built through relationships, shared service, and the people we inspire along the way.

Jill and Tom have been married for more than 25 years and have three children, Zach, Rhiannon, and Ethan. When she is not working or volunteering with Rotary, Jill enjoys spending time with family, camping, traveling, cheering on hockey, and returning to Montana whenever possible.

“Our greatest impact isn’t measured by what we accomplish ourselves. It’s measured by the people we inspire, encourage, and develop along the way.” ~Jill Leonard

Combined with District Dedicated Funds, more than $112,000.00 in contributions helped fund PolioPlus in its efforts to wipe out the crippling disease in the last two endemic countries Pakistan and Afghanistan.

It appears north of the border, bragging rights belong to Lake Country Rotary, whose 25 members donated close to $10,000.00. To the south, Okanogan-Omak Rotary took the prize with close to $15,000.00 raised this year (along with adding four new members to the District 5060 PolioPlus Society).

Speaking of the Society, we are only seven members away from our goal of 100. Membership is easy. We just pledged to donate $100.00 annually to RI’s PolioPlus program until the dreaded disease is no more. Members get a special lapel pin and certificate of membership. Membership forms are available by emailing pete2@vanwell.net.

The number of polio cases did increase in Afghanistan in late June to six, making global cases of wild polio nine in total, which is 22 fewer cases than in 2025. Rotary and partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative remain hopeful. However, that eradication is within reach. Thanks to the efforts of District 5060 Rotarians, we will get the job done!

What an experience.  If I had to use one word to describe it, I would say “Transformational.”   For both the students and the volunteers.

Thank you to the clubs who sponsored students to attend RYLA Northwest.  What an impact it had on them.  108 students were sponsored by 54 clubs across 3 districts.  (5020, 5030, & 5060)  District 5060 sponsored eight (8) students.  Kudos to the following clubs in District 5060 for sponsoring students:  Leavenworth Rotary, Osoyoos Rotary, The Rotary Club of Yakima, Southwest Rotary of Yakima, Sunrise Rotary of Yakima, Wenatchee Rotary, and Wenatchee Sunrise Rotary. 

Different from what we’ve experienced in the past, RYLA Northwest focuses on helping 15 – 17-year-olds develop leadership skills and a better understanding of Rotary.  Skills that they can leverage and draw upon as they continue in high school, college, technical school and life.

RYLA Northwest’s Vision

“Invest in the future of our world by training its future leaders.”

They use small group (teams) sessions and activities to bring participants outside their comfort zone and into their “stretch zone” for growth and development.  Each group debriefs after each event to turn experience into learning and development. 

Day 1

They learn to be vulnerageous.  Courageous to be vulnerable to be honest with themselves and their fears.  To be okay discussing these amongst their team.

Day 2

Team development.  The motto for this was “Leaders builds teams, teams build leaders.”  They learn about Rotary and the 4 Way Test.  They learned about resources, social capital, identity capital.  They learned the value of resources.  They also learned how to break through their fears to achieve their goals.  The day ends with a challenging but rewarding exercise for each team.

Day 3

Team building to leadership development.  Each team member is empowered to lead.  A true leader builds more leaders.  They learned that together the teams are a community and can do more together.   (Similar to Rotary Clubs/Rotary Districts/Rotary International).  The day ends with the most challenging but rewarding exercise for all teams.

Day 4

Summarizing the last three days.

• Friendship
• Building confidence
• Team Buillding
• Resources
• Leadership
• Networking

My summary:  A worthwhile investment into our students and their future. 

Will I volunteer again?  Absolutely.

Let’s challenge ourselves to sponsor even more students in 2027.