Before looking to the year ahead, I want to express my deepest personal and professional gratitude to Todd Restel. His leadership has been a gift to our district, and his friendship and guidance over the past few years have been greatly appreciated!
As we look to the coming year, our guide will be new RI President, Francesco Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy. This is a recent change, and I was fortunate to speak with President Arezzo at the Calgary convention. While he had not selected this presidential theme he readily embraced it and is deeply committed to "Unite for Good," a message he believes is more relevant than ever.
"Unite for Good" is the very essence of Rotary and speaks to the power of our unity—how we combine our resources and expertise to bridge cultures and solve problems no single club could tackle alone. It speaks to our commitment to action, channeling our motto of "Service Above Self" into tangible projects that promote peace, fight disease, and build better communities.
Ultimately, being "United for Good" is the modern expression of being "People of Action." It's about seeing a need, whether in Altoona, Janesville, or across the globe, and working together to create lasting change.
As most of you know, our new Rotary International President, Francesco Arezzo, was appointed in the 11th hour, but don't let that fool you! He is impressive!
Follow this link for Francesco Arezzo's speech at Rotary International as he states, "we can unite to change lives, including our own. We can unite to change communities, right around the corner and half a world away. We can unite to change our world for the better, not just for us, but for generations to come. Together, we "Unite for Good." Isn't that what being a Rotarian is all about?
Posted by Karen Hebert - Global Grant Committee Chair
Think of the last time a project or plan came off as you’d hoped. It can be a “small” thing. What a feeling - that sense that you played your part well, that your team did too, and the stars aligned. The outcome is deeply satisfying at the moment, and the memory provides hope for the future.
We want to repeat this kind of success as often as possible. The Rotary Foundation can help. When it comes to global granting, our Foundation asks us to conduct a community assessment. We know that this important first step makes satisfying success more likely.
Posted by Michelle Skemp - District Public Image Chair
As we dive into another exciting Rotary year, it’s time for your club to take a fresh look in the mirror — or in this case, a fresh scroll through your website and social media.
Because whether someone is searching for a service opportunity or just curious about who you are, your online presence is often their very first impression. Let’s make sure it’s a great one!
Posted by Marc Augsburger - District Membership Chair
Happy New Rotary Year, District 6250! The Membership Olympics are back! This year’s games kick off in August and run through December!
Closely following instructions is critical to your club’s success! Each club member is on the team and can help your Club President and Membership Chair succeed. How? The best way to succeed and win is to collect your data each month and document your progress. Take the lead and get a head start a month before the official beginning!
Game One - Club Membership Chair: Appoint/Name a Membership Chair for your club and report to Marc Augsburger, Membership Chair at maugs13@gmail.com no later than August 31st!
Posted by Mariia Prytula, RYE from Janesville Rotary
My name is Mariia Prytula, but my friends and family call me Masha. I’m from Ukraine, born in the city of Zaporizhzhia in the southeast – a place known as the capital of the Cossacks and a symbol of strength. I was living a good life with my family—until everything changed on February 24th, the day terrorist-state Russia attacked my homeland and has been trying to destroy it ever since.
That morning, I woke up at 5 a.m. to my mother saying, “Sweetie, wake up. The war has started.” We heard the rockets flying. I was in complete shock and had no idea what to do next. It was my niece’s birthday and I had just learned my brother’s family was expecting their second child. I was overwhelmed and stressed for their safety. My brother and his family came to stay with us, thinking this might pass in a couple of weeks but those “two weeks” have now lasted more than three years. That first night, I couldn’t sleep —I kept reading the news.
The next day, I tried to rest, but the air raid siren sounded, and we went to our garage to stay safe. The day after, my mom and I went to the hospital to deliver supplies for wounded soldiers. Another siren went off, and everyone rushed to the basement. It was filled with patients—after all, it was a hospital. We moved to the first floor, and that’s when I got a call from my brother saying: “Masha, we’re leaving the city right now. Get home fast. Tell Mom.” We ran to the car and rushed home.
Madison South Rotary hit an impressive milestone on June 30, awarding a record 18 Paul Harris Fellows at its weekly meeting. The Club has 65 members, growing by 7 this year.
Never before in the Club’s58-year-history have so many members earned Paul Harris recognition at a single meeting, with 6 of 18 getting the award for the first time, and two reaching plus-8 status.
Outgoing President Steve Fine made it a goal to increase the number of Paul Harris Awards, and the membership responded in spectacular fashion. These 18 latest awardees join several other fellow members who earned the honor earlier in the year.
"This is the power of community. When people come together with care and intention, real change happens."
KANDU Industries is always looking for ways to make life fuller, easier, and more joyful for the people they serve. Individuals with disabilities and aging adults with memory loss come to KANDU for more than care. They come to connect. To move. To laugh. To feel like themselves. And thanks to a remarkable collaboration between four local Rotary clubs, they’ll soon have a brand-new way to do all of that—outside.
Together, the District 6250 Rotary Clubs of Janesville Noon, Janesville Morning, Beloit, and Edgerton helped KANDU build an outdoor pavilion at their new Milton, WI, location, where they relocated in 2023. It’s a simple structure: open-air, covered, fully accessible, but for its clients, it will open a world of possibility.
It’ll be a spot for outdoor meals and art projects, a place for music and movement classes, or an indoor retreat for some quiet moments away from the hustle and bustle; a place where clients can be active and social in a way that feels safe and supported; a space built for them—not retrofitted, not halfway there, rather fully designed from the ground up to meet their needs.
District 6250 just completed the outbound part of an exchange with District 2440 in Southwest Turkey. New friends were made as we lived with Turkish Rotarians and learned about their cuisine, history, nature and Rotary activities.
It's a beautiful part of the world, with Biblical and other ancient stories to be experienced. Our hosts graciously fed us, drove us around and shared their culture with us. We expect to host as many as twelve visitors from September 2-12. If you are interested in hosting, let one of our group members know. We can guarantee that the experience will enrich your life.
