July 1 marks the beginning of a new Rotary year, and I couldn't be more excited to begin this journey with you.
Over the coming months, I'll have the privilege of visiting clubs across District 5400, listening to your stories, celebrating your service, and learning from the incredible people who make Rotary such a special organization. My role as District Governor isn't to tell clubs what to do. It's to support you, encourage you, and help you succeed.
As I've prepared for this year, I've found myself coming back to one line from the Rotary Vision Statement:
One of my goals this year is to make it easier for Rotarians across District 5400 to stay connected, learn from one another, and share ideas—no matter where they live.
That's why I'm excited to launch Rotary Town Hall Conversations, a monthly Zoom gathering that's part conversation, part interview, and part open forum. Each month we'll spend about 20 minutes visiting with someone, followed by time for questions, discussion, and sharing ideas from around the district.
Rotary International will take a bit more time to publish accurate club numbers so it is difficult to award Plus 1 clubs until they complete their work. Clubs are adding and deleting members right up to midnight on June 30. It shouldn't take long now so watch for more information.
Personally, I want to thank each club who attempted this membership challenge and worked toward it. I'm aware that life happens and we don't have much control over that but WE CAN do our BEST...that's really all anyone can ask of us.
I appreciate those "club contests" that you set up and loved the idea of making it fun....life is really too short for any other way to go.
More than 40 Rotarians and Rotaractors proudly represented Rotary in Boise's 250th Independence Day Parade on July 4. Participants came together from the Boise-area Rotary clubs, the Nampa Rotary Club, and Rotaract, demonstrating the power of Rotary across our communities.
With Rotary banners, signs, classic cars, a Jeep and trailer, and plenty of smiles, our group walked the 1.7-mile parade route, handing out candy, blowing bubbles and greeting thousands of spectators. The parade featured 99 entries and was televised live on CBS2, giving Rotary excellent visibility throughout the Treasure Valley.
Dr. Bryan Stone, and Emmett Club Rotarian, has been selected as the 2026 Emmett Cherry Festival Grand Marshal, an honor that reflects a lifetime of service to others. The recognition highlights the many ways Dr. Stone has strengthened his community through medicine, volunteerism, and Rotary service.
Throughout his life, Dr. Stone has been guided by a commitment to helping people. Following a distinguished medical career and years of humanitarian service, he continued giving back after retirement through Rotary and numerous community service efforts in the Emmett area. His dedication to Rotary's fight against polio has been especially meaningful, stemming from experiences that deepened his understanding of the disease's impact around the world.
Rotarians already know how to turn concern into service. Sophia and Kathleen D’Angelo show how the 4-7-8-17 framework—and responsible AI—can help clubs design stronger, more ethical, more sustainable projects.
Introduction
You joined Rotary to make a difference. But in a world of climate disruption, ecosystem loss, social inequality, and rapid technological change, the question is no longer only What can we do? It is also How can we make our action more thoughtful, connected, and lasting?
This year's district conference ended with a bang when the winning raffle tickets were drawn. This year's winner of the grand prize was Ian Turner with the Idaho Falls Rotary Club who won an $8,000 VISA gift card plus $2,000 of paid IRS withholding tax! The second prize of a $2,000 VISA gift card went to Kim Scheffer of the Boise East Rotary Club. Lauren Murdoch of the Blackfoot Rotary Club won the third prize $1,000 VISA gift card.
Rotary clubs do amazing work every day. From scholarships and youth programs to community service projects and fundraisers, there is no shortage of stories worth sharing. The challenge is making sure people hear those stories.
Facebook and Instagram are two of the most effective tools available to help clubs increase visibility, attract prospective members, strengthen community relationships, and support fundraising efforts. District 5400 leadership has also emphasized utilizing Facebook, Instagram, district resources, and club storytelling to better showcase the impact Rotary is making across our communities.
Every Rotary club has stories worth sharing - moments of service, impact in our communities, connections that matter, and people who inspire us to do more good in the world. Our District 5400 Bulletin is one of the most important ways we bring those stories together. And right now, we’re looking for someone who would enjoy helping tell that story.
We are inviting a Rotarian to serve as our next District Bulletin Editor.
This is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to:
July 1 marks the beginning of a new Rotary year, and I couldn't be more excited to begin this journey with you.
