Young brigade takes charge

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A Rotaract member in Pune watches polio drops being administered to a young child during a national immunization day.

By Jigneshh Karria, president, Rotary Club of Pune Baner, India

Seeing a twinkle in the eye of a baby you have helped gives you a happy feeling. When you see someone with a disability run or dance, you get inspired. My conviction in community service was strengthened when I realized how Rotary enables us to touch lives in a million different ways. During my presidency, I vowed to participate in as many Rotary signature projects as possible. One of those involved Rotary’s top priority, the eradication of polio. Rotary members are a huge reason India is polio-free.

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The Power of Connection: A Beacon of Hope for Ukraine

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Women in Dubno, Ukraine, show off the thermal winter clothing they received from a Rotary relief effort.

By Janet Kolepp, past governor of District 7430 and assistant Rotary public image coordinator in Zone 32

A beacon of hope arose from an unexpected collaboration between Rotary districts interested in responding to the crisis in Ukraine. Two years ago, as I sat with three of my district governor classmates at the Zone 28/32 Conference in Toronto, we began a dialogue that would set the stage for a remarkable journey.

Aware of the opportunity provided by The Rotary Foundation’s Disaster Response Fund, we began to form the idea of pooling resources to maximize our impact. With the enthusiastic support of the district governors and Rotary Foundation chairs from Districts 6310, 6290, 7430, and 7980 we secured a grant of $100,000. 

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Rotary: a gateway to living long and well

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Haresh Ramchandani in front of a rice field during a trip to Bali.

By Haresh L. Ramchandani, past district governor, member of the Rotary Club of L.I.F.E., Jamaica, and a member of the RI Membership Growth Committee

Blue Zones are thriving communities with a high concentration of people between the ages of 90 and 100. The concept of Blue Zones has been popularized recently in Dan Buettner’s series of books and a Netflix special based on his research into the secrets of living longer.

When I became aware of Buettner’s research and began studying it, I was struck by how several of the commonalities of these Blue Zones overlapped with Rotary’s core values. It got me thinking that perhaps Rotary membership is a gateway to living a long and fulfilling life. Let me share a few of the similarities I see.

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Celebrate Earth Day with resources from the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group

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Wildfires, heatwaves, droughts, and floods leave many people wondering what they can do to address the environmental challenges facing our world. In Rotary, the Environmental Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) has provided a platform for environmentally-minded Rotary and Rotaract members to come together to seek solutions that have a sustainable impact. For Earth Day, 22 April, check out some of the many resources the action group makes available to members to carry out effective environmental actions. 

District-wide online clubs offer easy entry into Rotary

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Members of Activate Victoria, which uses a club model that attracts members through community service projects.

By Amanda Wendt, past governor of District 9800

During my year as district governor, we wanted to charter a club that would be different and offer a pathway for new Rotarians to pursue their passion for community service and enjoy the benefits of membership without some of the conventional obligations. The club, which adopts a district-wide online model, provides flexibility for members to pursue their own interests and creates a supportive experience for each member.

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