"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." — Nelson Mandela
As the seasons begin to shift- bringing vibrant colors, falling leaves, and the return of students to classrooms- let us pause to appreciate the incredible work our Rotary clubs are doing to create opportunities for education, literacy and peace.
Many of you are deeply involved in providing books, dictionaries, and literacy programs that open doors and change lives. Your dedication is not only fostering knowledge but also planting seeds of hope and opportunity. I thank you for your unwavering commitment.
This month, we celebrate and welcome our exchange students who are embracing the chance to learn about new cultures, build lifelong friendships, and expand their understanding of the world. Your courage and curiosity inspire us all.
To the clubs who are hosting—and those who have hosted in the past—thank you. Your generosity and commitment unite us for good, one student, one experience, and one connection at a time.
Together, we are planting seeds of understanding that will grow into a more compassionate and educated world.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Kimberly
Join our causes as we group together to make a difference in our District with all clubs participating in our (5) Focus Projects: Environment, Membership, Peacebuilder District at 100%, Rotary Leadership Institute, and the Rotary Foundation.
SEPTEMBER is: Basic Education & Literacy Month
Our goal is to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, reduce gender disparity in education, and increase adult literacy. We support education for all children and literacy for children and adults.
ROTARY DISTRICT 6650 - STOCK THE BOX 2025 | ShelterBox USA
Rotary International Needs Our Support in Times of Disaster
We are challenging all clubs in District 6650 to:
Challenge clubs to sponsor at least 1 box ($1,000 each)
Share their story - Use ShelterBox videos and survivor stories to inspire giving
Celebrate the Impact - Recognize clubs and donors who step up - make it visible and meaningful.
For Rotarians and clubs, the focus for August is Membership. These monthly themes guide
clubs in their activities and initiatives throughout the year.
For the 2025-2026 Rotary year, the monthly themes are:
July - Maternal and Child Health Month
August - Membership and New Club Development Month
September - Basic Education and Literacy Month
October - Community Economic Development Month
November - Rotary Foundation Month
December - Disease Prevention and Treatment Month
January - Vocational Service Month
February - Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Month
March - Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Month
April - Environmental Month
May - Youth Service Month
June - Rotary Fellowships Month
When I’m invited to speak about membership in the clubs across District 6650, the most
common questions I hear are: How do we attract new members? How do we retain the ones we have? And how do we keep everyone meaningfully engaged?
I wish there were a one-size-fits-all solution—but the truth is, there isn’t a magic answer that works for every club. The good news? You already have the answers within your own club.
Here are a few tips to help strengthen your approach to building an active, engaged membership:
✅ 1. Modernize the Message
Why: Many people don’t understand what Rotary is or how it’s relevant today. How:
Reframe Rotary’s image around impact, community leadership, and networking.
Highlight local and global success stories using social media and short videos.
Update branding to be more visually appealing and inclusive.
✅ 2. Embrace Flexible Models
Why: Traditional weekly meetings may not suit modern lifestyles. How:
Offer alternative meeting formats (e.g., virtual, hybrid, after-hours, monthly).
Create special-interest satellite clubs (e.g., young professionals, veterans, tech).
Allow trial memberships or short-term commitments.
✅ 3. Engage Younger Members
Why: Growth depends on attracting younger generations. How:
Partner with local universities, Rotaract, or leadership programs.
Offer mentorships, leadership training, or service scholarships.
Focus on hands-on, impactful projects that matter to younger adults (e.g., climate action, food insecurity).
✅ 4. Strengthen Community Ties
Why: Visibility and relevance increase when the community sees Rotary in action. How:
Collaborate with schools, nonprofits, and small businesses on public service initiatives.
Host community forums, job fairs, or health screenings.
Invite non-members to participate in service events before joining.
✅ 5. Enhance Member Experience
Why: Members stay and invite others when they feel valued and engaged. How:
Personalize the onboarding experience with mentorship and a welcome plan.
Regularly ask for feedback and rotate leadership roles to keep energy high.
Celebrate milestones, achievements, and member contributions.
✅ 6. Use Data and Stories
Why: People are inspired by outcomes and real-world impact. How:
Collect and share impact metrics (e.g., meals served, books donated).
Share member stories—why they joined, what they’ve gained, what they’veaccomplished.
✅ 7. Referral and Incentive Programs
Why: Word-of-mouth is powerful. How:
Offer recognition for member referrals (e.g., awards, badges).
Host “Bring a Friend” nights or open houses.
Give new members a “welcome buddy” and something tangible to show pride (e.g.,branded items).
Bonus Tips:
Audit why people leave—use that to improve retention and recruitment.
Engage alumni—former Interact or Rotaract members are low-hanging fruit.
Celebrate diversity—expand beyond traditional demographics.
When I’m invited to speak about membership in the clubs across District 6650, the most
common questions I hear are: How do we attract new members? How do we retain the ones we have? And how do we keep everyone meaningfully engaged?
I wish there were a one-size-fits-all solution—but the truth is, there isn’t a magic answer that works for every club. The good news? You already have the answers within your own club.
On June 16th, volunteers from Ohio and Pennsylvania traveled to Guatemala City to complete a Rotary International Global Grant for $61,814 awarded to Ohio Rotary District 6650 and Guatemala Rotary District 4250 with host clubs of Boardman and Guatemala Vista Hermosa. Generous donors from both the United States and Guatemala raised funds which were supplemented by Rotary International to support the gift of hearing for up to 180 children with hearing impairment.
Our team from the United States, in collaboration with dedicated social workers, teachers, and audiology technicians from the Committee for the Deaf and Blind in Guatemala, began the mission with a full day of intensive training and a small group of 12 children that needed hearing aids. This preparation set the stage for two full days of mission work, during which each child was evaluated and fitted with brand-new, custom hearing aids tailored to their needs.
Each morning, the team was transported to the mission site by bus, courtesy of the Committee for the Deaf and Blind. Departures began promptly at 7:00 a.m., and the team worked tirelessly to ensure that every child who had made the journey to Guatemala City was seen. Many of these children had traveled more than 12 hours by bus, often leaving the day before.
During the mission, each child had their ears examined for wax (ears were cleaned if necessary) or infections (children were seen by the staff Ear, Nose and Throat doctor if necessary) received custom earmolds, and was fitted with hearing aids calibrated specifically for them. Families were given thorough instructions on how to care for and maintain the devices and were provided with an initial supply of batteries. These children attend schools supported by the Committee, where teachers and social workers will continue to supply batteries as needed.
The host Rotary Club in Guatemala, was present throughout the mission, offering translation support and providing nutritious snacks to all children and their families—an essential gesture of care and hospitality.
Some children presented with birth defects and had no external ears, making them ineligible for traditional hearing aids. For these special cases, the Starkey Hearing Foundation in Minneapolis generously donated bone-conduction hearing aids, allowing us to serve children who would otherwise have been left out. Although not part of the original Rotary grant, these devices played a critical role in meeting the needs of every child we possibly could.
Heartbreakingly, a small number of children had hearing loss so profound that we were unable to help them. These moments are deeply emotional for everyone involved. Imagine spending one or two days traveling by bus, filled with hope, only to learn that your child cannot be helped. On the first full mission day alone, 4 out of 72 children fell into this category. While we celebrate a 94% success rate, it is the 6% we couldn’t help that weighs most heavily on our hearts.
The mission doesn’t end here. In the coming weeks, we will distribute follow-up surveys to teachers, social workers, and parents. We aim to ensure that the hearing aids are being used, are functioning properly, and are improving the children’s lives—both academically and socially.
We have already begun planning for next year’s mission and are eager to expand our efforts. We invite additional Rotary Clubs to join us—whether in continuing support for children with hearing loss or by launching new initiatives for those with visual impairments.
If your club is interested in becoming part of this life-changing project, please reach out. I would be happy to share ideas and explore how your club can launch an international project within our mission. We are actively collecting any club donations in hopes of acquiring another matching grant.
Contact: Dr. Sheryl Figliano drfigliano@centersforhearingcare.com
Here is a Dropbox link to photos of the mission - https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/wyb4cy2p9lmojrz2i0xfk/AB3y5_SQk75mPU6qxlut9o0?rlkey=3gwdjverj4z8d28nqa3qst5e7&st= 1vmflmuf&dl=0
Rotarians and friends of District 5830,
Our neighbors in District 5840 have been devastated by catastrophic flooding in the Texas Hill Country. The Guadalupe River surged over 30 feet, tragically taking dozens of lives and leaving widespread destruction in Kerrville and surrounding communities.
Kerrville is home to two of our fellow Rotary Clubs, and they need our help now more than ever. As part of Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self,” we in District 5830 have an opportunity—and a responsibility—to stand with them during this unimaginable time.
Rotary District 5840 is now accepting tax-deductible donations through their 501(c)(3) Foundation to support critical disaster relief efforts.
Your support will:
Provide relief to affected families through Rotary Empower local Rotarians as they engage in cleanup and recovery Fund long-term rebuilding solutions in their communities
We’re working closely with District 5840 and the Rotary Clubs of Kerrville to ensure that aid is directed effectively and responsibly.
Our team of Rotarians are here to help you at your club level. We can publish your club news from our District newsletter that is linked back to your club's homepage. If you have news to share or need help finding information on our website, please reach out to our team for assistance. Click on Public Image for contact information!
Making Rotary's Public Image a Priority
Helping others understand who we are and how we make a difference as people of action is something all Rotary members can do - please visit link to learn more on how YOUR CLUB can improve on its public image
Be sure to Reserve your spot by emailing louisvillerotaryclub@gmail.com, visiting their website, www.louisvillerotary.com/100, or scanning the barcode below. Reservations will be taken no later than September 8th.
The Rotary Club of Struthers has been busy!!!
Each of these projects had an approximate cost of $250, and thanks to the overwhelming response from Struthers Middle School, more than 100 projects were submitted.
Rotary Club of Sugarcreek - Operation Pollination Challenge
The Rotary Club of Sugarcreek continues to grow awareness in their small communities about Operation Pollination. On June 18th and June 19th, they had a 10x10 booth at the Food Independence Summit where over 3,000 visitors came into the summit to hear great speakers, learn from workshops, and learn about Operation Pollination.
Then, on Tuesday, June 24th, 2025 - Sugarcreek's Chairperson for Operation Pollination - Librarian Laura Russell, had learning time at the library for all ages to hear about Operation Pollination and how we can help keep our pollinators doing their work to pollinate.
The Howland Rotary Club and Shepherd of the Valley are supporting Dr. Sheryl Figliano of Howland and the Hearing Missions Foundation by collecting used Hearing Aids.
It has been quite a while since our last Fireside Chat. We were thrilled to welcome our new members and to have Kim Weiss and Maureen Drummond join us.
Join us at the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center of the University of Mount Union https://www.mountunion.edu/nature-center, during National Pollinator Week as we host The Bees in Your Backyard Workshop and Public Lecture/Meet & Greet presented by Dr. Olivia Carril. Olivia has spent 25 years studying native bees and is a co-author of "The Bees in Your Backyard,” "Common Bees of Eastern North America," and "Common Bees of Western North America." Registration is currently open and limited for both events. See details below to register. Contact the Huston-Brumbaugh Nature Center for more information.
Planting a native garden has never been easier! We've partnered with Ecoplantia to bring you Roll-Out Gardens—pre-designed native plant kits tailored to your ecoregion. Ecoplantia continues to expand its coverage, and now offers nine kits, including the compact 4’x4’ Beginner’s Garden.
Pre-order your kit for an early spring shipment! A portion of the proceeds are donated to HNP.
9 Easy Native Gardens, Ready to Roll
Roll-Out Garden Kits are grouped by ecoregion.
Not sure which ecoregion you’re in? Find Your Ecoregion Here
(click images below to view more details)
What’s Included
All the Plants, Biodegradable Garden Template, Landscaping Pins, and Instructions.
Get Started with Your Roll-Out Garden!
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You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website, www.HNPark.org
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Social Media is a major part of our world today. Since nearly everyone active on Social Media platforms, this gives us a chance to share our Brand and increase awareness of all the amazing things that we, as Rotarians do everyday.
DOES YOUR CLUB VIDEO OR PODCAST THEIR CLUB'S ACTIVITIES IN YOUR COMMUNITY? SEND US YOUR FILES AND WE WILL SHARE IN OUR NEWSLETTER TO HELP SPREAD YOUR PROJECTS
(If you have any comments or questions, please contact the editor)
Have a story to tell?
Reach out to District 6650 Public Image Newsletter Editor:
**Please submit all your Club News by the 1st of each month. We truly enjoy seeing the wonderful activities and achievements of our Clubs throughout the year.
Provide relief to affected families through Rotary
Ways to Donate:
Online via Credit Card
By Check
Via Zelle
A volunteer hotline is expected later this week — stay tuned for updates.
