We’ve turned the page to September — a new month, a new season, and a great moment to reflect on the power of learning.

 

In Rotary, September is Basic Education and Literacy Month — and whether you’ve handed out dictionaries, built a Little Free Library, supported a backpack drive, or helped a student access a scholarship… you’ve been part of it. Our district is doing incredible things to promote literacy and educational opportunity, both locally and globally.

 

As a new school year begins in our communities, I invite you to think about how your club can support learning — not just for kids, but for adults, families, and those who face barriers to opportunity.

- Could you mentor?
- Could you donate supplies?

 

 

Dear Rotarians,

 

As the school year begins, I’m pleased to share key Youth Services milestones for the year ahead. We will mirror Rotary’s theme—Unite for Good. This is about connecting our Youth Services programs, empowering young leaders, and amplifying Rotary’s impact together. We’re thrilled for what’s ahead, and we invite you to be part of it at every step. Here’s what to look forward to: IMPACT Projects, Youth Services Conference, RYLA 2026, and much more.

 

 

Over 40 Rotarians from across our District—and around the globe—gathered virtually on August 9th for the latest International Café, a vibrant showcase of global service, cultural exchange, and inspiring partnerships.

 

🌏 Philippines Outreach Highlights

District Rotarians Carol Madsen and Joanne Landry kicked things off with stories from their recent outreach trip to the Philippines. After a 38-hour journey, they were warmly welcomed by hosts in District 3790 and treated to generous hospitality and fellowship. Their presentation covered local Rotary projects, including school library initiatives, vocational training, and support for leisure industries—plus opportunities for future collaboration.

 

 

Flight To End Polio (https://www.flighttoendpolio.com/)  has announced a second, world record-setting flight, departing in late August and landing in Portsmouth NH on or around October 5^th at Pease, the last stop of their circling the Atlantic trip as they return to NJ. This flight is titled “Circle the Atlantic: Flight To End Polio.” The two Rotarian pilots from Iowa, Peter Teahen and Ed Galkin, are flying into our District to raise awareness and raise funds for polio eradication. 100% of the funds raised are donated to The Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Campaign and matched 2:1 by the Gates Foundation.

 

You have probably heard it said many times that a unique advantage of contributing to The Rotary Foundation is that part of the money we donate comes back to our district and we get to decide how it’s used! Well for the current Rotary year, just under half of the clubs in our district took up that offer and applied for a district grant. A full third of the applications were from clubs who had never applied for a district grant before, or it had been many years since they had submitted an application. District Grant Coordinator Michele Varuolo-Cole is pleased to announce that all 18 grants were deemed to fulfill all of the grant criteria and were worthy of grant awards. A total of $66,514 was awarded to clubs, a record for our district! And that’s not all!