We're back with another exciting edition of District 6290 Connections — bringing you more stories, more inspiration, and more opportunities to connect with Rotarians across Michigan and Ontario!
From meaningful service projects and creative fundraisers to memorable district gatherings and exciting club initiatives, there's so much happening throughout our International District. And we're delighted to share it with YOU!
There's more to explore!
Remember, Connections is an interactive newsletter! Click on the links throughout this issue to discover upcoming events, register for activities, access helpful resources, and learn more about what's happening across our district.
Your Club. Your Stories. Our Connections.
The best part of this newsletter is YOU! We want to celebrate the amazing things happening in our Rotary clubs — big or small. Your stories inspire others, spark new ideas, and remind us of the incredible impact we make together.
Have a great service project, successful fundraiser, special recognition, or upcoming event? We want to hear about it!
This year’s Rotary theme is Create Lasting Impact. As Rotary International President Yinka shared at the 2026 International Assembly, Rotary changes you before you change the world. We must first create change within ourselves. Then we can Create Lasting Impact in our communities and across the globe.
Good things happen when Rotarians come together! Since September, District Governor Julie Schumaker and CAO Kathy Hegedus have been visiting with Rotarians across the district at regional Multi-Club Mixers. These events have been filled with Rotary camaraderie as Rotarians enjoy food and drinks in informal setting, build new friendships and connections with nearby clubs, and share ideas. From wineries and breweries to an outdoor pavilion and college campus, each setting has been unique. But all of the mixers have shared that spirit of Rotary as we build goodwill and better friendships across the district.
We are excited to be hosting a joint District Conference with District 6360 (Southwest Michigan) at Crystal Mountain on April 16-18, 2027. This is a rare opportunity to hear from Rotary International leaders, and inspiring speakers close to home.
We are honored that Rotary International President for 2027-28, Larry Lunsford, will be our keynote speaker. This is a unique experience to meet and interact with a future Rotary International President. We have an amazing line-up of speakers including RI Director Tom Gump, former Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet, and D6290’s Global Scholar Dr. Ariel Dempsey.
We invite individuals, clubs and businesses to become sponsors of the 2027 District Conference. Our goal is to make the conference affordable and accessible to all Rotarians. Your sponsorship will reach over 100+ Rotary clubs with 4,000+ members in West and Northwest Michigan and the Algoma region of Ontario. It will create an exceptional conference experience while placing your organization in front of Rotary members, business leaders and community partners. Sponsorship opportunities range from $500-$2,500. We request your sponsorship commitment by December 15th. See attached flyer for additional details.
Did you know that in 2027, Rotary will mark 40 years since women were admitted to Rotary? In 1987, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Rotary clubs may not exclude women from membership on the basis of gender. Rotary International then issued a policy statement that any Rotary club in the United States could admit qualified women into membership. The Rotary Club of Marin Sunrise, California was chartered on May 28, 1987 and became the first club after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling to have women as charter members.
John Snider and Logan Metcalf share something special: A passion for service, friendship, and making Muskegon a better place.
Their stories remind us that Rotary isn't defined by age or years of membership. It's defined by the connections we make and the difference we create together.
Each year on October 24, World Polio Day brings attention to the global effort to eradicate a disease that Rotary International has been fighting for decades. Here in Northern Michigan, the Grayling Rotary Club is putting its own unique spin on that mission with two events that invite our entire community to join the cause.
Roscommon Rotary members gathered for the dedication of a new peace pole, located at Hiawatha Park, Aug. 27. Pictured are (front row, left to right) President Jim Anderson, Jackie Bertsch, Barb Costello, Don Gardey, Megan Coleman, Sue Lantzsch, Jim Thorburn, (back row) Fred Walsh, Steven McMillan, Ron Alden, Village of Roscommon Manager Jason Hillier, Roy Spangler, Shawn Petri, Alice Fursentau and Tom O’Brien. Not pictured is Rotary Vice President Todd Jansen. □(Photo by Cheryl Holladay)
A small blue-and-yellow house filled with books may not look like much. But place it where children live and play, keep it stocked, and something important happens: a child discovers a story, a parent finds a book to read aloud, and neighbors begin sharing.
That idea has guided the Holland Rotary Book House project since 2018, when the first house was installed at Nuestra Casa, the Westcore neighborhood community center at 253 W. 15th Street. The project began with a suggestion from a Rotary Committee including Esther Friselski, Elizabeth Giddings, and Sara DeVries, community outreach librarian at Herrick District Library. Rotarians John Helm and John Gronberg developed the design and secured materials, and Helm built the original houses.
Rotary’s theme for 2026-27 is to “Create Lasting Impact.” To showcase Rotary’s lasting impact throughout the district, we plan to create a map of physical Rotary projects throughout District 6290 (gardens, playgrounds, gazebos, parks, peace poles, amphitheaters, etc.). This will enable Rotarians and community members to easily locate and visit Rotary projects across D6290.
To have your club’s projects included, use the link below to provide information about your projects (name, date built, 1-2 sentence description, location and a photo). It should only take 10 minutes to complete the form for each project. The deadline for submissions is November 15.
In a world increasingly connected, our challenges are increasingly global. Less and less frequently do we solve complex problems exclusively within literal or descriptive borders. As Rotarians, we are committed to developing changemakers with global perspectives so they can become capable problem-solvers in places all over the globe where their leadership is needed. This requires advanced learning, practical experience, and cultural understanding. Rotary’s Global Scholarship program provides exactly this. When we support global scholarship, we help sustain the life-changing mission of Rotary.
RI Director Marty Helman kicked off her Impact Tour in July with plans to visit all 40 districts in Zones 28 & 32 during her two-year term on the Rotary Board of Directors (2026-2028). Our district was honored to host RI Director Marty Helman in late July and early August when she visited districts in Michigan and Ontario. Her visit to D6290 highlighted Rotary's local impact with stops at two of the district's largest clubs: Muskegon (264 members) and Traverse City (159).
In Muskegon, Helman toured two Rotary micro forests — dense urban plantings that mature up to ten times faster than conventional forests, cooling cities, absorbing stormwater, and restoring wildlife — and planted a tree at one site. She also visited outdoor musical parks, a Rotary Club of Muskegon project that raised nearly $100,000 to install interactive instruments at eight locations.
As keynote speaker at the club's luncheon, she addressed 150 Rotarians, emphasizing The Rotary Foundation's impact and the principle that local clubs decide how Foundation funds are used. She met with major donors to The Rotary Foundation, enjoyed dinner with Rotarians, and took a sunset cruise on Muskegon Lake.
Take a Trip Through Rotary History – Explore Past Issues of The Rotarian!
Did you know you can travel back in time through the pages of The Rotarian magazine?
Discover decades of inspiring stories, remarkable service projects, Rotary milestones, and the people who helped shape our organization. From historic moments to timeless ideas about fellowship and service, these archived magazines offer a fascinating look at Rotary's rich history.
Whether you're researching your club's history, looking for inspiration, or simply curious about Rotary's past, there's a treasure trove of stories waiting to be discovered!
