On Saturday May 23rd the first of the Human Trafficking Awareness, Education and Prevention Training Presentations was held at Batavia Downs.
These trainings are supported by a Global Grant from Rotary International that is hosted by Lockport Rotary with St Catherines Rotary as the International Host, along with support by Rotary District 7090 and District 4690 Designated Funds and 15 other Rotary Clubs (including Lewiston/NOTL). Human Trafficking is a horror show in our own backyard!! Another training is coming soon to an area near YOU! Plan to attend
From Kim Walden, EPNC Zone 34 for Social Media and Worldwide PolioPlus Society, and Worldwide PPS Facebook Group Admin:
“Has your Club met the annual polio goal?
Easy to do by joining the PolioPlus Society and every individual donation counts toward the Club goal of $1500!
Join the PolioPlus Society with your annual donation and help us reach the $50 Million Rotary goal and trigger the Gates Foundation match of $100 Million!”
As the Rotary year draws to a close, there is still time for every club and every Rotarian in District 7090 to strengthen our commitment to Rotary’s top humanitarian priority — ending polio forever.
One of the easiest and most meaningful ways to help is by joining District 7090’s new PolioPlus Society.
Membership is simple: commit to a minimum gift of $100 USD annually to the PolioPlus Fund until polio is eradicated.
And thanks to the Gates Foundation match, your contribution has an even greater impact.
To make your donation, visit:
EndPolio.Org/Donate or My Rotary – PolioPlus Fund HERE
Each year, Rotary and its partners help vaccinate more than 370 million children against polio. This massive global effort costs roughly US$750–850 million annually — funding vaccinations, frontline health workers, transportation, surveillance, laboratory testing, and rapid outbreak response.
Until eradication is achieved, children everywhere remain at risk.
Every gift matters. Every member strengthens our fight. Every club can help finish the job.
Join our PolioPlus Society today — help District 7090 build a strong founding membership in our inaugural year
Joining is easy! Simply complete the application/pledge form HERE.
Please send your completed form to: Elaine Richard, District 7090 PolioPlus Society Coordinator, 📧 emmrichard55@gmail.com
We are inviting each club in the United States from District 7090 to take advantage of a unique opportunity. One Summit is an interactive session where you work together as a club and with other clubs to identify opportunities and start to develop plans to achieve your club’s objectives. There is no cost to attend.
Are you ready to take your club’s impact to the next level?
Whether you are a brand-new member, a seasoned past president, a future leader, or just plain curious, you are invited to the People of Action One Summit. This dynamic event is designed for a diverse cross-section of our Rotary community to connect, collaborate, and share fresh ideas.
Together, we will dive into real-world scenarios, spark those "ah-ha!" moments, and discover how a customized Club Action Plan can increase your impact, expand your reach, boost member engagement, and make your club more adaptable.
Explore Being People of Action at District 7090’s One Summit for our US based clubs. The session will be held on Saturday June 13, 2026 from 9:30 to 12:30 at the Catholic Health Corporate Offices (144 Genesee St, Buffalo, NY 14203). This is an interactive session where club members work together with each other and share with other clubs in their area. If you want to learn more, here is link to a short explanatory video:
Each club is encouraged to send a small group of their members as the session is designed for a cross section of your club’s membership – new, experienced, future leaders, past leaders and the curious – to come together and share ideas, gain insights from scenarios to learn how to increase impact, extend reach, enhance engagement of members, and increase your club’s ability to adapt.
Our next Membership webinar will focus on member engagement and reviewing some of the tools that are available to assist with measuring member engagement and satisfaction to make sure our members are feeling valued and that they are making worthwhile contributions. Learn the reasons why people join and leave Rotary and what we can do to identify members who are considering leaving and strategies to keep them engaged. Please join us on Monday June 15, at 7:00 to join in the discussion. You can register on the District web site or by using this link: https://rotary7090.org/event/member-engagement/
RI Prospective Member Management System is Now Active
Every day, people around the world discover Rotary and look for meaningful ways to connect with us. Clubs have a powerful opportunity to meet that interest, whether by hosting welcoming events for prospective members or by following up with individuals who reach out to Rotary to find a club.
To support this important work, RI recently launched a new prospective member management system that connects interested individuals directly with clubs. Through this system, membership candidates can express their interest in joining and our club leaders should be prepared to respond and follow up with these prospective Rotarians.
If you are aware of potential members that are outside your area you can now refer them to the RI website where they can review clubs in their area and contact them directly.
District Gift of Life committee members are continuing their efforts to raise money for this year until the end of June 2026, Rotary’s closing date for 2025-2026. On the U.S. side, our efforts have increased and we have been fortunate to have a number of clubs donating. Some of these clubs are annual donors and others are becoming involved. Thus far, 19 clubs were visited in the U.S.
At a meeting of the RC of Lancaster-Depew on 5/28, the club doubled its usual donation in order to take advantage of the challenge made by the RC of Clarence. Pictured in the attached photo is the presentation of their generous gift by President Robert Leary and Treasurer, Diane Terranova, to Pat Castiglia, GOL presenter. The RC of Clarence’s challenge is good until the end of June. They will match donations made by other clubs from the end of April to the end of June in the amount of $1500. To date we are only half-way to meeting the entire challenge.
Over the first weekend in May, District 7090’s next generation of leaders converged at Canterbury Hills in Ancaster, ON, for an intensive, high-energy weekend of growth, grit, and "Big Thinking."
Our Jr. RYLArians didn't just participate; they immersed themselves in a leadership laboratory designed to reveal their unique strengths.
From Saturday's high ropes challenges to Sunday morning's "BIG Think" presentations, the energy remained at an all-time high.
Our participants explored the "Social Cheat Codes" of Dale Carnegie, practiced high-stakes communication, reflected through an Indigenous-led teaching and built a camp "lore" that will last a lifetime.
While every student demonstrated incredible growth, we were honoured to recognize four individuals who truly embodied the spirit of the weekend through the Kevin "Crouster" Award and the inaugural Fred Farnham Memorial Award.
These leaders didn't just lead from the front; they led with heart, humour, and a solution-first mindset.
Past Rotary District 7090 Governor Charlotte Herlong and her son, Michael, were honored with the Great Futures Award at the Annual Dinner of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County. Located in Dunkirk, the Club proudly serves children and families throughout Northern Chautauqua County through its impactful After-School and Summer Programs.
The Boys & Girls Club Board of Directors extended heartfelt appreciation to Charlotte and Michael for their extraordinary generosity, steadfast support, and longtime commitment to the youth of their community. Through countless sponsorships, donations, floral arrangements, and ongoing acts of kindness provided by their business, Fresh & Fancy Floral Design Studio,they have helped ensure Club members continue to enjoy a safe, welcoming, and engaging environment where Great Futures are truly built.
Charlotte became a Rotarian in February 1993 and has faithfully served in numerous leadership roles, including as Rotary District 7090 Centennial Governor during the 2004–2005 Rotary year. Her dedication to “Service Above Self” continues to inspire others, as she tirelessly impacts her community and leaves a lasting mark on throughout the Dunkirk-Fredonia community.
PHOTO:
Front Row, L to R: Ellen Luczkowiak, Michele Starwalt-Woods, Treasurer Magdalena Dye, President Leslie Willie, PDG Charlotte Herlong, and Jody Falkner
Back Row, L to R: Nathaniel Clark, Linda Blodgett, Kari Doino, President-Elect Dave Dengler, and Steven Woods
Village of Hamburg Mayor Thomas Tallman presented a plaque to Hamburg Rotarian Earl Knauss recognizing his longstanding efforts to benefit the community through his 51 year-membership of the Rotary Club of Hamburg. The award was in the form of a proclamation congratulating Knauss on his recent selection by Rotary International as one of 150 Rotarians worldwide to receive the Service Above Self Award for establishing the Rotary Club’s Farm to Family Program. The production provided 197,000 pounds of fresh produce last year to economically challenged families through the support of five Eden farms. Farm to Family volunteers, under the direction of Knauss, deliver the produce six days a week during the growing season to food distribution centers and pantries throughout Western New York, including the Southtowns. Knauss founded the program in 2007 after receiving a farmer’s donation of vegetables that were deemed to be too ugly to be marketable, and he began sharing them with food pantries. The distribution continued to grow and became a Rotary project under Knauss’ direction in 2018. Pictured are Knauss and Tallman at the May 5 Rotary meeting at Uncle Joe’s Diner where Tallman was the featured speaker. Rotary meets at Uncle Joe’s on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
The Batavia Rotary Club invites you to our beloved Father’s Day Fly-In Breakfast on Sunday, June 21, 2026, from 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM at the Genesee County Airport.
Enjoy a delicious breakfast while checking out visiting aircraft and celebrating Father’s Day with family and friends.
Cost (for breakfast):
Adults $12
Children $8
Under 4 years old free.
This annual community tradition is fun for all ages and supports Batavia Rotary’s ongoing service projects throughout the community.
Spring has been a busy and rewarding season for the Batavia Rotary Club as members continued their commitment to “Service Above Self” through community projects, youth athletics, fundraising, and partnerships across Genesee County.
One of the highlights this spring was participating in the United Way Day of Caring alongside members of the Le Roy Rotary Club at Purple Pony Therapeutic Horsemanship.
Volunteers spent the day helping improve the facility by building a new run-in shed for the horses, cleaning and refreshing the sensory trail, and installing a new gate to improve safety and accessibility.
Purple Pony’s mission of enhancing the lives of individuals with diverse needs through therapeutic horsemanship made the project especially meaningful for everyone involved.
Batavia Rotarians also joined forces with the Friends of the Ellicott Trail and community volunteers for the annual Ellicott Trail Clean-Up Day.
After a long winter, volunteers worked together to clean and beautify the trail, helping maintain one of Batavia’s treasured community assets.
Thanks to the hard work of many dedicated hands, the trail is once again safe, welcoming, and ready for residents and visitors to enjoy throughout the summer months.
Despite less-than-ideal weather, twelve dedicated Rotary Club members and their friends and family rolled up their sleeves this past weekend to make a visible difference along the West Side Greenway Trail.
The group focused their efforts on the section of the trail maintained by our club, near the West Side Rowing Club. Armed with gloves, tools, and plenty of determination, volunteers cleared away large weeds, removed intrusive organic overgrowth, and collected scattered trash that had accumulated over time. Their hard work helped restore the natural beauty of the area and made the pathway safer and more enjoyable for walkers, runners, and cyclists alike.
This cleanup effort is part of our club’s ongoing commitment to community service and environmental stewardship. By maintaining this stretch of the Greenway Trail, we aim to create a welcoming outdoor space that residents and visitors can take pride in.
We are grateful to the twelve hearty volunteers who braved the elements and gave their time and energy to this project. Their efforts are a reminder that even small acts of service can have a lasting impact on our community.
If you’re interested in joining future service projects, we’d love to have you, many hands make light work, and there’s always more to do!
Members of the Rotary Club of Brantford and Rotary Brantford-Sunrise continue to make a meaningful impact in our community through their ongoing support of Why Not Youth Mission in Brantford. Each month, the two clubs' alternate responsibility for preparing and serving a nutritious meal to youth accessing the mission’s programs and supports.
Why Not Youth Mission provides a safe and welcoming environment for vulnerable and at-risk youth in our community, offering mentorship, life skills, educational support, meals, and a place where young people know they are valued and cared for. For many youths, these meals are more than just food — they are an opportunity to experience kindness, connection, and community.
Rotarians from both clubs look forward to this hands-on service opportunity each month. Volunteers work together to prepare (sometimes cater) and serve healthy meals while building relationships and demonstrating Rotary’s commitment to “Service Above Self.”
The partnership reflects the shared dedication of both clubs to supporting local youth and strengthening our community through compassion and service.
The Rotary Club of Brantford and Rotary Brantford-Sunrise are proud to support the important work being done at Why Not Youth Mission and thank all volunteers who continue to make this initiative possible.
PHOTO (L to R): Vaseem Baig and Alison Huzul - Brantford Rotary
The Rotary Club of Brantford still invites Rotarians from across District 7090 to join us for the 42nd Brantford Rotary Classic Run on Sunday, June 7, 2026, or they can donate link below to make sure we receive or exceed our goal of $180,000 raised.
This has been a foundational year for us and broadening our experience on fundraising and sponsorship.
We appealed to our community about the need to grow the run and build on our recent success especially after a large decline in participation following a two-year Covid shut down which has taken years to recover from. We continue to grow the run and build on our recent success.
We have been working so hard to restore this long-standing Rotary tradition that supports children’s charities in our community.
Proceeds from the Classic Run support local organizations dedicated to helping young people, notably the Lansdowne Children’s Centre and the BGC Brantford (formerly known as Boys & Girls Club of Brantford).
PHOTO: Alison Huzul, Rotary Brantford Classic Run Chair
Seven Sunrise Rotarians have become members of the newly-launched District 7090 Polio Plus Society.
PHOTO (L-R): Jason Cherry, Justin Bester, Glen Christensen, Reg Madison, Phil Race and Richard Boyington, all Sunrise Past Presidents, received their Polio Plus Society Pin from Assistant District Governor/Past President, Ken Tota, a fellow PP Society member.
Rotary District 7090 - Southern Ontario & Western New York launched the initiative as a way to unite members in funding polio eradication until Afghanistan and Pakistan are certified polio-free. Membership requires a pledge of at least $100.00 US per year to the PolioPlus Program until the goal is achieved and polio has been eradicated.
It’s that time of the year again. Buffalo Sunrise is holding a cash raffle. Ticket pull will be held June 16, 2026 at our morning meeting. The cost per ticket is just $20 US. We hope Rotarians from other clubs will support this event so we can continue our essential service work, locally and internationally.
Buffalo Sunrisers had a busy end of May as the weather warmed up for a cleanup of our Pollinator Garden at Towpath Park. Talented hands pulled weeds and picked up trash to beautiful our Adopt-A Trail section of the Greenway too.
Our last meeting of the month featured a lively and interesting presentation from RYE Alix Hougardy. She enjoyed her experience both in the US and Canada and treasure her new friends. Alix had the opportunity to visit Florida, Hawaii, and NY, as well as the unforgettable Algonquin experience. She will be missed!
Also, at the meeting, President Jill Norton presented, BS Rotarian Louise Sano with a surprise and well-deserved Paul Harris Fellowship award, for her service and commitment to our club.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo members took a turn at volunteering at Grace Guest House for Service Above Self this month.
The guest house offers comfort and housing for those needing long distance medical needs for themselves or a loved one. The guest house recently housed a mother and daughter from Mumbai, India following a fatal bus crash on the NYS Thruway this past year.
The Rotarians rolled up their sleeves making blueberry bread and taking inventory of the stock in the guest home's pantries.
Thanks to Laurie Albertsson, Rachael Small, Althea Luerhsen, Nick Bend, Mike Sendor, Nancy Sanders and Paul Marzello.
On Thursday June 25 - Sunday June 28 the Rotary Clubs of Flamborough AM and Waterdown are hosting the Oh Canada Rotary Ribfest. There will be 6 Ribbers along with multiple other food vendors, a marketplace, midway and beverages from Labatt Brewing Co, Nickle Brook Brewing Co, West Avenue Cider and PepsiCo. All are welcome to come kick-off summer with live music, ribs, rides and cold beverages, there will be a fireworks display on Friday night.
On May 7, 2026, the Rotary Club of Flamborough AM was pleased to host Ashley McTavish from the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.
Ashley presented to the club about current initiatives at Hamilton Health Sciences multiple campuses and how our giving is making an impact.
She also informed us that our cumulative giving has surpassed $12,000 and we have been added to the $10,000 area of the donor wall at McMaster Children's Hospital.
Pictured Left to Right Remy Pravato, President; Christine Pearson, Past President; Connie Bird, Treasurer; Paul Giannotti, Youth Committee; Ashley McTavish, Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation; Jeff Cripps, Secretary.
Come celebrate our Honourees and our 35th Anniversary on June 4!
The Rotary Club of Fonthill will host its Annual Paul Harris Service Above Self Awards Dinner on Thursday, June 4th, 2026, recognizing five individuals whose long-standing service has made a lasting impact on the Pelham community. This year’s honourees are Lt. Adam J. D. Carter, Leon Evans, Collins Acheampong, Judy Adamson, and Tina Schulz.
The event will be held in the Accursi Room of the Meridian Community Centre in Fonthill, from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. Opening with a reception with a cash bar, a buffet dinner will be served followed by the award presentation.
Together, these individuals represent decades of service addressing the needs of the communities of Pelham, Niagara and beyond. Tickets for the Dinner are $50 per person. All information can be found on the Rotary Club of Fonthill website. Registration is required at the following link: Paul Harris Dinner Tickets can be purchased through e transfer to accounts@rotarycluboffonthill.ca. Please indicate your dietary requirements.
Past recipients who have earned this honour include teachers who have run after-school programs; volunteers from Pelham Cares; neighborhood builders such as the principals behind the myPelham online community; business owners who give of their time and financial resources to make life better for those in need; and many others whose passion is to serve the community.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill is a service organization of professionals dedicated to improving quality of life locally and internationally. In addition to our awards we will be celebrating our 35th anniversary of community service.
We hope you can join us in celebrating these individuals and the ongoing work of our club.
The dedication of The Richard Earne Memorial Reading Garden on May 13th was well attended by close family, friends, Rotarians, Library trustees, and members of the Cinderella Garden Club.
They celebrated the life of Richard "Dick" Earne - former Grand Island Memorial Library Trustee, ACT president, library advocate and dedicated Rotarian.
Be sure to enjoy the Reading Garden this summer as a place to stop and enjoy a good read, and the sounds and scents of nature.
PHOTOS:
L (L to R): Bridgette Heintz, Director Grand Island Memorial Library, Matthew Earne, Family, Sherry Miller, GI Rotarian, Faye Teluk, GI President R: Robert Ratajczak, liaison to Assemblyman Angelo Morinello's office delivers citation to Bridgette Heintz
It was all-hands-on-deck when the Rotary Club of Hamburg held its annual secure shredding event on May 2 with Lincoln Archives at Northwest Bank, 5751 South Park Ave., Hamburg.
The Rotary fundraiser was located in the parking lot at the corner of Maelou Drive, making it convenient for patrons to drive through after Rotarians removed the bankers boxes or bags of papers to be destroyed. Rotary funds annual college scholarships for Hamburg graduating high school seniors For more information, please contact the Rotary Club of Hamburg at HamburgRotaryClub.org. Funds raised Rotary funds support college scholarships for rising seniors graduating from Hamburg, Frontier and St. Francis High Schools. The Rotary Club of Hamburg was founded in 1942 as a part of Rotary International with a motto of “Service Above Self.” The Rotary Club coordinates Warm the Children and the Farm to Family Program and has supported hundreds of civic and charitable causes locally and internationally since its inception. In photo one, Rotarians from left, Diana Straube, Michele Hanley, Pat Castiglia and Tim Hoelscher collected the charges of $10 per box or bag fees and directed drivers to the shredding line, where in photo two, they were assisted by Rotarians, from left, Colleen Gibbons, Tim Straube and Jeff Kusche, along with Lincoln Archives representatives. For more information, please contact the Rotary Club of Hamburg at HamburgRotaryClub.org.
It was a rainy weekend but the next Monday, May 25 the sun came out, along with about 70 golfers for the Hamilton AM Rotary annual 9 and Dine Golf Tournament. It was a glorious day!
All was not rosy though as the course was wet from the rain and pull carts were required for all golfers. For the athletes in the crowd this was not a big deal but some of the “senior golfers” thought an ambulance should have been on “stand by”?
Most of the holes had a challenging game attached – closest to the Keg (free beer!) or closest to the gas can (for a Petro Canada gas card) and a number of others. Some teams posted excellent scores but the lawyers from Ross and McBride took the top prize – a custom 40th Anniversary Hamilton AM Rotary hat, and their names will be inscribed on the tournament trophy. Golf was followed by an excellent dinner, and a number of items were raffled off. Mark Ewer gave a brief but heartfelt tribute to Paul Lakin, for whom the tournament has been renamed. Paul’s family -- wife Pamela and daughters Kathryn and Courtney and their families -- were present and appreciative of the club’s recognition of one it its favorite sons. Paul’s memory will live on for many reasons, but he loved golf and was good at it, so the tournament is now aptly named.
PHOTO: Nick Papageorge, Alexandra Petermann, Ted Paul and Taran Hoogsteen
His name is TJ, and he is the latest person to say yes to something Hamilton has been doing since 1913. Fifty is a number worth pausing on. I
t is not a record. It is not a ceiling. It is a marker, the kind that tells us something is working, and that more people are starting to notice.
Why 50 Matters
The Rotary Club of Hamilton was chartered on August 1, 1913. Third in Canada. Eighty-second in the world.
We have been part of this city for 113 years. For a long time, service clubs across North America have been shrinking. Membership trends have been heading the wrong way for decades.
So, when a club like ours grows, it is not an accident. It means people in Hamilton are still showing up for their community, and they want to do it alongside other people who feel the same way.
TJ is one of those people. And he is the 50th sign that Rotary in Hamilton is heading in the right direction.
This Rotary year we have welcomed 19 new members to the Rotary Club of Hamilton!!!!
Jan Steinmann, the Rotary Club of Jamestown exchange student from Switzerland, was the featured speaker for the club’s May 4 luncheon and meeting. Jan was introduced by Cáitlín O'Reilly, club President-Elect and who also has been hosting Jan for the past several months. Jan is from Lucerne and is a student at Southwestern Central School, where he participates in Cross Country. Cáitlín noted that since he's been in the United States, Jan has become more understanding of American humor and loves American food.
Jan provided an excellent presentation, sharing details about his life in Switzerland, as well as what he's been up to since coming to the U.S. and Jamestown. He shared details about his home country, noting that it is relatively small (about the size of Connecticut) with a population of $9.1 million. The main language spoken there is German, along with French, Italian, and Romansh. It is known for being located in the Alps. When it comes to food, its mostly known for its cheese (including Fondue) and chocolate. His hometown of Lucerne is known for the Chapel Bridge, built in 1333 and renowned as Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge and the world's oldest surviving truss bridge.
PHOTO: Jamestown Rotary Club exchange student Jan Steinman, club President-Elect Cáitlín O’Reilly, and club President Michelle Jones.
In the Month of May, the Rotary Club of Kenmore kept our annual tradition alive by honoring local Middle and High School students.
On May 4th the Rotary Club of Kenmore honored six incredible high school students at our annual “Service Above Self” Awards. We are so proud to support these future leaders with scholarships to help them on their next journey!
These young leaders were recognized for their incredible commitment to community service and for putting others before themselves. We are so proud of the impact you’re making in Kenmore!
You're Invited to the 2026-2027 Kenmore Rotary Installation Dinner & Awards Celebration!
Join us on Monday, June 29, 2026 at Webster's Bistro & Bar at 5:30pm as we induct our 2026-2027 Club Officers and Award some of our dedicated Club Members!
The cost is $50 per person, and payment can be brought to a meeting or mailed to PO Box 54, Kenmore, NY 14217.
Please RSVP to Steve Blass by 6/22/2026 at 716-868-8085 or Sblass61@gmail.com.
NOTL honoured 4 people with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.
Two community members; Dorothy Soo Weins and Lise Andreana, flanked by two Rotarians; Tim Lutton, in memoriam, received by Dana Lutton and Carol Lipsett.
NOTL volunteers collected a lot of garbage as part of our participation in the regional Adopt a Road program. From hubcaps to laundry baskets, take away containers to teabags.
Talented members of the Yellow Door Theatre Project performed for the third time at our Paul Harris Awards dinner. What a delight to watch these young talented people evolve. We presented a cheque for $4100 toward their latest musical, Hades Town, Teen Edition. Performance dates are August 28-30.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) Sunrise Trail, ever-popular as it is with the locals, is always in need of constant attention to keep it as appealing/useful as needed; all part of the Rotary image we wish to be connected with.
In recent years, we have busied ourselves planting ornamental trees and daffodil beds along the Trail.
Yes, it’s always fun to be planting and adding value to something that is so-well appreciated by the local community.
The downside is that successful plantings always lead to growth and not always as anticipated.
As a result, there’s a continual need for upkeep and maintenance; a never-ending task we manage with the advice and assistance of the local municipality.
It's hard work but it’s a most worthy task, and it’s very ably coordinated by our environmental chair Steve Malo and his hard-working environmental group.
So, every spring turns out to be the perfect time to tend to these works and if you go to the ‘Read more …’ tab, you can read/see more about our 2026 two-part scheme to enhance our Sunrise Trail.
The Olean Rotary Club hosted its 8th Annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner on Monday, May 11, recognizing three organizations whose long-standing service has made a meaningful impact on the greater Olean community.
The event took place at Woodside Tavern on the Range, located at 3319 W. River Road, from 5 to 7 p.m.
This year’s honorees are Harvest Field Ministries, the Olean Food Pantry, and The Warming House. Collectively, these organizations represent decades of dedicated service addressing food insecurity and other critical needs throughout the region.
Among the honorees, the Olean Food Pantry has served as a cornerstone of compassion and community care for local individuals and families facing food insecurity. For many residents, the pantry represents more than a place to receive groceries — it is a dependable source of support during difficult times. Through the tireless dedication of volunteers, partnerships with local agencies, and generous community donations, the pantry distributes nutritious food to hundreds of households each year.
The organization works to ensure that no neighbor goes hungry, offering consistent access to healthy food options while reducing the stress and uncertainty that often accompany financial hardship. Beyond meeting immediate needs, the Olean Food Pantry helps foster dignity, hope, and connection by welcoming every individual with respect and understanding. Its ongoing efforts strengthen families, support seniors and children, and reinforce the spirit of neighbors helping neighbors that defines the greater Olean community.
The Rotary Clubs of St. Catharines; St. Catharines South and St. Catharines Lakeshore were pleased to recognize seven local community leaders at their Third Annual Paul Harris Celebration Evening held at Amici’s Banquet and Conference Centre. Six (Marion Markarian; George Soilis; Scott Hill; Stephen Cooper; Mike Burtnik; and Justin Preston) were recognized as Community Paul Harris Fellows (for individuals) and one (Cat’s Caboose) was recognized with a Community Certificate of Appreciation (for organizations) for their meritorious service.
"Each of these individuals and organizations exemplify Service Above Self and Doing Good in the World, two of the key tenets of the Rotary motto", said Lakeshore Club Public Relations Chair.
"While the number of recipients may change each year, they are always from St. Catharines/Niagara, quietly working to make lives better for everyone who lives here and often around the world.
This recognition is just one small way we can thank them for their efforts."
PHOTO:
Back Row (L to R): Mike Burtnik, Scott Hill, Stephen Cooper, George Soilis
Front Row (L to R): Ashley Rendall, Justin Preston, Marion Markarian
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore is pleased to announce it has been able to provide a $50,000 donation to Happy in my Home. The funding will support the purchase of a new transportation vehicle to help provide safe, affordable, and reliable rides for older adults and adults with disabilities across the Niagara Region.
This donation highlights the growing demand for accessible transportation services and demonstrated how replacing the organization’s current leased vehicle would reduce operating costs and allow additional resources to be redirected toward expanded driver hours and increased ride availability. From January 1 to October 31, 2025, Happy in my Home delivered 10,211 rides across the Niagara Region, including 3,324 rides for residents living in St. Catharines. The new vehicle is expected to help provide an additional 48 to 60 rides each month for community members who rely on the service.
The program remains intentionally affordable, charging only 65 cents per kilometre for out-of-town trips and $13 for local round-trip rides with up to two stops. These rates are made possible through the dedication of paid drivers and carefully screened volunteers who provide more than transportation — they provide trust, companionship, safety, and support.
The vehicle will be formally unveiled during the Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore’s 40th Anniversary Celebration on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Queenston Mile Vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
This year the Welland Rotary Club sent 4 students to Jr. RYLA, on the weekend of May 1-3.
The students that attended this year were Ellie Barbour, Amirah Olooto, Hannah Leone, and Logan Neufeld, all of the Welland Centennial Secondary School
The students worked in groups to prepare presentations on topics that were important to them and presented on Sunday morning.
Topic presentations included: Taking AI out of the schools; student stress; grades being more important than the students and silencing social media.
The presentations were all very informative and thought provoking.
There were several Rotary members, from various clubs, including Welland Rotary member, Brenda Dennis, that attended the Sunday morning festivities and had lunch with the campers.
Our own Logan Neufeld was selected by his group of peers for the Fred Farnham Award. The criteria for this award included:
Radiated Main Character Energy and brought a sunny disposition to every session
The Ultimate Glue. Used humour to de-escalate stress or make a difficult task feel like a win
Protecting the Vibe. Made people smile and ensured that the “lore” of their cabin was inclusive and kind
Resilient Optimism. Stayed positive when things got messy.
The reward was a Balloon Animal Kit so that Logan can carry on Fred’s legacy of making the world a little lighter.
The 4 students that attended Jr. RYLA, on behalf of the Welland Rotary Club, will be attending a Rotary meeting On June 2nd to share their experiences with our club members.
PHOTO (L to R): Ellie Barbour, Amirah Olooto, Hannah Leone and Logan Neufeld
Members of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club recently gathered at the two Barcelona beaches (near Westfield, NY) for its part in cleaning up the debris along Lake Erie.
For a number of years, the club has done this as part of Earth Day/Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup.
PHOTO: Rotarians Beth Hocking, Jan Berkhouse, Adele Harrington, Patty Benton & Mike Harrington on the job! (Doc Hamels, cameraman)
Welcome to the AUGUST 2026 
= 
= Learning
On Saturday May 23rd the first of the Human Trafficking Awareness, Education and Prevention Training Presentations was held at Batavia Downs.
From Kim Walden, EPNC Zone 34 for Social Media and Worldwide PolioPlus Society, and Worldwide PPS Facebook Group Admin:
We are inviting each club in the United States from District 7090 to take advantage of a unique opportunity. One Summit is an interactive session where you work together as a club and with other clubs to identify opportunities and start to develop plans to achieve your club’s objectives. There is no cost to attend.
District Gift of Life committee members are continuing their efforts to raise money for this year until the end of June 2026, Rotary’s closing date for 2025-2026. On the U.S. side, our efforts have increased and we have been fortunate to have a number of clubs donating. Some of these clubs are annual donors and others are becoming involved. Thus far, 19 clubs were visited in the U.S.
Over the first weekend in May, District 7090’s next generation of leaders converged at Canterbury Hills in Ancaster, ON, for an intensive, high-energy weekend of growth, grit, and "Big Thinking."
Past Rotary District 7090 Governor Charlotte Herlong and her son, Michael, were honored with the Great Futures Award at the Annual Dinner of the Boys & Girls Club of Northern Chautauqua County. Located in Dunkirk, the Club proudly serves children and families throughout Northern Chautauqua County through its impactful After-School and Summer Programs.
Village of Hamburg Mayor Thomas Tallman presented a plaque to Hamburg Rotarian Earl Knauss recognizing his longstanding efforts to benefit the community through his 51 year-membership of the Rotary Club of Hamburg. The award was in the form of a proclamation congratulating Knauss on his recent selection by Rotary International as one of 150 Rotarians worldwide to receive the Service Above Self Award for establishing the Rotary Club’s Farm to Family Program. The production provided 197,000 pounds of fresh produce last year to economically challenged families through the support of five Eden farms. Farm to Family volunteers, under the direction of Knauss, deliver the produce six days a week during the growing season to food distribution centers and pantries throughout Western New York, including the Southtowns. Knauss founded the program in 2007 after receiving a farmer’s donation of vegetables that were deemed to be too ugly to be marketable, and he began sharing them with food pantries. The distribution continued to grow and became a Rotary project under Knauss’ direction in 2018. Pictured are Knauss and Tallman at the May 5 Rotary meeting at Uncle Joe’s Diner where Tallman was the featured speaker. Rotary meets at Uncle Joe’s on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m.
Mark your calendars and bring your appetite!
Spring has been a busy and rewarding season for the Batavia Rotary Club as members continued their commitment to “Service Above Self” through community projects, youth athletics, fundraising, and partnerships across Genesee County.
Despite less-than-ideal weather, twelve dedicated Rotary Club members and their friends and family rolled up their sleeves this past weekend to make a visible difference along the West Side Greenway Trail.
Members of the Rotary Club of Brantford and Rotary Brantford-Sunrise continue to make a meaningful impact in our community through their ongoing support of Why Not Youth Mission in Brantford. Each month, the two clubs' alternate responsibility for preparing and serving a nutritious meal to youth accessing the mission’s programs and supports.
The Rotary Club of Brantford still invites Rotarians from across District 7090 to join us for the 42nd Brantford Rotary Classic Run on Sunday, June 7, 2026, or they can donate link below to make sure we receive or exceed our goal of $180,000 raised.
Seven Sunrise Rotarians have become members of the newly-launched District 7090 Polio Plus Society.
It’s that time of the year again. Buffalo Sunrise is holding a cash raffle. Ticket pull will be held June 16, 2026 at our morning meeting. The cost per ticket is just $20 US. We hope Rotarians from other clubs will support this event so we can continue our essential service work, locally and internationally.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo members took a turn at volunteering at Grace Guest House for Service Above Self this month.
On Thursday June 25 - Sunday June 28 the Rotary Clubs of Flamborough AM and Waterdown are hosting the Oh Canada Rotary Ribfest. There will be 6 Ribbers along with multiple other food vendors, a marketplace, midway and beverages from Labatt Brewing Co, Nickle Brook Brewing Co, West Avenue Cider and PepsiCo. All are welcome to come kick-off summer with live music, ribs, rides and cold beverages, there will be a fireworks display on Friday night.
On May 7, 2026, the Rotary Club of Flamborough AM was pleased to host Ashley McTavish from the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.
ome celebrate our Honourees and our 35th Anniversary on June 4!
Spring cleaning?
The dedication of The Richard Earne Memorial Reading Garden on May 13th was well attended by close family, friends, Rotarians, Library trustees, and members of the Cinderella Garden Club. 
It was all-hands-on-deck when the Rotary Club of Hamburg held its annual secure shredding event on May 2 with Lincoln Archives at Northwest Bank, 5751 South Park Ave., Hamburg. 
It was a rainy weekend but the next Monday, May 25 the sun came out, along with about 70 golfers for the Hamilton AM Rotary annual 9 and Dine Golf Tournament. It was a glorious day!
His name is TJ, and he is the latest person to say yes to something Hamilton has been doing since 1913. Fifty is a number worth pausing on. I
Jan Steinmann, the Rotary Club of Jamestown exchange student from Switzerland, was the featured speaker for the club’s May 4 luncheon and meeting. Jan was introduced by Cáitlín O'Reilly, club President-Elect and who also has been hosting Jan for the past several months. Jan is from Lucerne and is a student at Southwestern Central School, where he participates in Cross Country. Cáitlín noted that since he's been in the United States, Jan has become more understanding of American humor and loves American food.
Service Above Self in action!
You're Invited to the 2026-2027 Kenmore Rotary Installation Dinner & Awards Celebration!
NOTL honoured 4 people with a Paul Harris Fellow Award.
NOTL volunteers collected a lot of garbage as part of our participation in the regional Adopt a Road program. From hubcaps to laundry baskets, take away containers to teabags.
Talented members of the Yellow Door Theatre Project performed for the third time at our Paul Harris Awards dinner. What a delight to watch these young talented people evolve. We presented a cheque for $4100 toward their latest musical, Hades Town, Teen Edition. Performance dates are August 28-30.
The Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) Sunrise Trail, ever-popular as it is with the locals, is always in need of constant attention to keep it as appealing/useful as needed; all part of the Rotary image we wish to be connected with.
The Olean Rotary Club hosted its 8th Annual Service Above Self Awards Dinner on Monday, May 11, recognizing three organizations whose long-standing service has made a meaningful impact on the greater Olean community.
The Rotary Clubs of St. Catharines; St. Catharines South and St. Catharines Lakeshore were pleased to recognize seven local community leaders at their Third Annual Paul Harris Celebration Evening held at Amici’s Banquet and Conference Centre. Six (Marion Markarian; George Soilis; Scott Hill; Stephen Cooper; Mike Burtnik; and Justin Preston) were recognized as Community Paul Harris Fellows (for individuals) and one (Cat’s Caboose) was recognized with a Community Certificate of Appreciation (for organizations) for their meritorious service.
The Rotary Club of St. Catharines Lakeshore is pleased to announce it has been able to provide a $50,000 donation to 
Congratulations to our 2026 Jr. RYLA participants
Members of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club recently gathered at the two Barcelona beaches (near Westfield, NY) for its part in cleaning up the debris along Lake Erie.
