Did you know that our District 7090 is a part of a larger “Zone” (Zones 28 and 32)?
Zone Director Chris Etienne will be hosting a 2026 Beyond Borders dinner during the Rotary International Convention in Taipei!
Join Rotary International Director Chris Etienne for our special dinner event open to all Rotary members from clubs in Zones 28 & 32 - Beyond Borders Taipei! Sunday, June 14, 2026 from 6:30 to 9:00pm at G House restaurant and banquet hall in Taipei City.
Board members of District 7090’s Gift of Life Project wish to share the passing of our founder, John D. Rydzik, Ed.D. on March 8, 2026.
John attended a Rotary International Conference in 1994 at which he heard a speaker for the Gift of Life program.
He was very affected by the thought that the lives of so many children from underdeveloped countries were cut short because of a lack of cardiac care available even at that time.
Upon his return to District 7090, he suggested that our district adopt Gift of Life as a project.
This was approved and the Rotary District 7090 Gift of Life was formed and implemented.
It is now in its 30th year as a district project and is regarded as a successful project that has achieved sustainability for long-term survival.
A report for the last 13 years of district giving indicates that District 7090 has donated a total of $112,454.00 to GOL life-saving projects.
A total of 848 lives has been saved by District 7090 thus far. Lives that would have been lost without the support of generous Rotarians in our district.
Earl Knauss, the founder of the Rotary Club of Hamburg’s dynamic Farm to Family food distribution program, will be recognized by Rotary International in ceremonies April 15 at the Wanakah Country Club in Hamburg.
DG Aaron Carlson of District 7090 will bestow Rotary International’s illustrious Service Above Self Award upon Knauss.
The significant honor “celebrates people of action who are committed to service.”
Knauss will be among only 150 individuals (globally) chosen each year to receive the honor.
Wednesday, April 15th; 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Wanakah Country Club, 5161 Lakeshore Road, Hamburg NY
As the ’25-’26 Rotary year approaches its conclusion, if you have not contributed to The Rotary Foundation, now is the time.
Here are a few things to consider as you plan your giving.
Does your club strive for EREY (Every Rotarian Every Year) recognition?
Do you want to boost the money that our district has to contribute to grants, various programs, and PolioPlus?
Is Paul Harris Fellow recognition important to you, either as a step toward your own PHF pin or as a means to honor someone other than yourself with a PHF? See "Read more..." for detailed information.
We are currently one U.S. host club short for an inbound Youth Exchange student for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year—and without a U.S.-based club, we will unfortunately have to turn this student away!
Due to a recent change with an outbound student on the Canadian side of our district, we are unable to place the inbound student there.
However, U.S. schools do not carry the same one-to-one restriction, which leaves us needing just one club on the U.S. side to step forward.
This is more than a request—it is an opportunity.
Hosting an inbound student is one of the most impactful ways a club can live out Rotary’s mission.
It brings energy, global perspective, and meaningful connection not only to your meetings, but to your entire club culture.
For those who have not participated before, our experienced Youth Exchange team will guide you every step of the way. You will not be doing this alone.
Additionally, the Canadian sponsoring club has generously offered to cover the district fees for this student!
Questions? Please reach out to me directly at 716-867-8388 or to Youth Exchange Chair Justin Bester at 905-541-9696.
Hey Best of Friends: This is a call for interest for a club who would like to host the Foundation Celebration and District 7090 Awards this coming November.
Ideally, you can work with the Saturday, November 14th, 2026, date, but there is some wiggle room.
People Against Trafficking Humans of WNY (Path of WNY) trainers and Rotary invite you to a training session:
Saturday, May 23rd; Batavia Downs, 1st floor (Park Place meeting space), 3315 Park Road, Batavia, NY
Doors open at 11:00 AM
Free lunch starting at 11:30 AM
The session will wind up no later than 2:00 PM.
Register HERE so that an accurate count can be given the caterer by May 15th!
Skilled in group engagement, trainers Grace Parr and Kamyia Jacobs will define HT - including sex and labor, give indicators of HT, talk about vulnerability of youth to sexploitation (occurs in the best of communities), effects of social media and other topics.
Rotarians! We have funding from 15 Rotary clubs, matched with 2 district’s DDF and Rotary Foundation Global Grant support.
We can't achieve success alone. We need your attendance and suggestions of organization and institution representatives to invite.
We need to also mention that Hilbert College staff will be involved in assessment, and input from the Western District NY Human Trafficking Task Force is expected.
Future sessions will involve another skilled training organization, Project Mona's House from Buffalo.
Please register now and add the names of non-Rotarians you can persuade to accompany you.
Members of the Steering Committee: Paul Lehman, Chair, Paul Saskowski, Tommy Gerbasi, John Boronkay, Timothy Priano and Lezlie Murch
The District 7090 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup is just around the corner!
During the week of Earth Day, April 22nd, Rotary Clubs throughout the District, along with a small army of volunteers, will be cleaning up along lakes, rivers, creeks, and tributaries.
Jr. RYLA promotes, honors, celebrates and fosters youth leadership for high school student leaders 15 to 18 years old.
May 01, 4:00 p.m. – May 03, 2:00 p.m.
Canterbury Hills Camp, 509 Lions Club Road, Dundas, ON
Fee: $340
Register participants by April 22 for the 2026 Jr. RYLA program.
Participants can expect engaging sessions with skilled facilitators where they will develop heightened self-awareness, problem-solving skills and a leadership mindset to create meaningful change in their schools and communities.
This year, you have the unique opportunity to join our neighboring Rotary D7120 at their District Conference in Ellicottville, NY from May 1st-3rd.
Here is an opportunity to meet up with our fellow Rotarians in a celebration of Rotary, engaging in fellowship, learning and inspiration, gathering ideas and sharing ideas to make your clubs more impactful and relevant.
And the location and activities planned will make for a memorable weekend of Rotary.
We are delighted to introduce one of our newest and most unique members: Herbert the Hummingbird, joining us from sunny Laguna Beach!
Herbert brings incredible energy, spirit, and a reminder that even the smallest among us can make a powerful impact in the fight to end polio.
If there was ever a disease that explains exactly why vaccines matter, it is polio.
Multiple safe and effective vaccines have made it possible to carry out massive vaccination campaigns, reaching millions of children in just days.
Cold storage systems and cold‑chain distribution keep those vaccines potent all the way to the most remote communities, and dedicated volunteers put themselves in harm’s way to go door‑to‑door so that no child is missed.
Mass vaccination campaigns reach millions of children in just days.
This is a moment for all Rotarians to be proud of what we have accomplished—and a call to stay the course until the world is declared polio free
Come on out on April 8th at 6:00 and join the Amherst South Rotary Club at it’s First Ever Jazz Night Fundraiser.
The event will take place at the very cool PAUSA Art House, in the historic Allentown neighborhood in Buffalo, NY.
There will be food, drinks, raffles, drawings, great Rotary Fellowship, and of course, great Jazz Music for your listening pleasure from the Jim Beishline Trio.
Tickets are $50.00 per person, and you can reserve your seat by e-mailing Scott Marcin at sdmarcin@gmail.com.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the local and international service projects of the Amherst South Rotary Club.
On March 27th, the UP Guys, Rotarians Nels Ross and Richie Derwald, supported by the Amherst South Rotary Club, the Kenmore Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise, held a night of music, juggling, dancing, laughter, fellowship and good old-fashioned fun, all in the name of raising funds for the Rise of WNY Community Coffee House in Buffalo.
The UP Guys brought their usual energy and antics, entertaining a full house at Rise of WNY, leaving everyone with smiles on their face.
The night was made even more special with the awarding of a Paul Harris Fellow to Rise founder Mike Reid, whose work serves the refugee community and learning challenged with work and interview skills training.
His work is truly an example of Service Above Self.
Membership growth is a goal shared by every Rotary club—but meaningful, sustainable growth requires more than recruitment alone.
Over the past year, our club has taken a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to both attracting new members and, just as importantly, retaining them.
Our club has a highly active membership committee.
We meet monthly to discuss ways to not only grow our membership but also retain the members we have.
Over the past five years, we have removed thirty-four members from our roster.
While that may seem like a staggering number, we currently sit at 73 members - two members higher than our previous five-year average.
Attrition is natural and many of the reasons are unavoidable – Rotarians move out of the area, resign for health reasons, and some pass away. Of the thirty-four former Rotarians, thirteen left due to job or family obligations.
More than forty years after her own Rotary Youth Exchange experience, Dr. Kristine Tenebruso recently returned to the Batavia Rotary Club to share the profound impact the program had on her life.
Kristine was a student at Batavia High School in 1983 when she first learned about the opportunity to spend a year abroad as a Rotary exchange student. Although she was involved in many activities, she recalled not always feeling that she fully fit in. The chance to live in another country intrigued her, and she eagerly applied.
That decision would change the course of her life.
Kristine spent her senior year of high school in Denmark, where she was immersed in a new culture, formed lifelong friendships, and discovered a deep appreciation for global community and connection.
During her presentation to the club, she shared stories of the experiences she had while living abroad and the many ways the year shaped her perspective.
Some Rotarians exemplify Service Above Self. District 7090’s Dr. David Johnson is one of those Rotarians.
David is a family physician and certified geriatrician winding down a long-standing practice in the Buffalo area. He is also the President of Himalayan Healthcare(HHC), a small nonprofit started in 1992 that focuses on providing medical care, education, and income-generating projects in impoverished and remote mountain villages of Nepal. (Check out this video.)
David was asked for his views about vaccinations, nonprofits, and collaboration with Rotary International for grants.
Now 76, he remembers being vaccinated at age five, and he had classmates who had suffered from polio. He had patients who had contracted polio before the vaccines became available, who developed post-polio syndrome.
As an international traveler, to Jamaica, Nepal, India, Peru, Ethiopia and Bangladesh, he has seen itinerant young physicians searching in the mountains for polio cases. And he saw countless people on the street with polio sequelae.
He saw leprosy, tetanus, and rabies. He has seen people drinking from a stream with someone butchering an animal just upstream.
However, he never saw a case of measles in the United States, since the vaccine has been so effective.
David is convinced that polio (and other disease) prevention through vaccination is essential. Through numerous grants he has helped Rotarians in distant places build outdoor toilets and institute vaccination programs, saving countless lives (especially among newborns and infants).
He would be happy to visit your club and discuss opportunities for international programs, made possible with the help of The Rotary Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Brantford invites Rotarians from across District 7090 to join us for the 42nd Brantford Rotary Classic Run on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
After several challenging years following the COVID shutdown and a decline in sponsorship, this is a pivotal rebuilding year for our event.
The Classic Run has lost more than $60,000 in fundraising and sponsorship, and we are working 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).
The Classic Run is a timed race, but it remains first and foremost a community event—welcoming runners, walkers, families, and supporters of all ages and abilities.
Rotarians also saw the fruits of their investment in completing some essential automotive work on the Organized Kaos truck.
Assisted by a $2,000.00 grant from the Rotary Foundation, the Club provided $5,800.00 in funding to restore the OK truck. Shawn Stuart of Organized Kaos shared the following testimonial on Facebook:
"Sometimes it’s not about something new, it’s about keeping something important going. Thanks to Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise, Organized Kaos was able to complete essential automotive work on our OK truck, keeping it on the road and continuing to reach thousands of students through hands-on woodworking workshops with our mobile trades unit and supporting our summer construction crew.
They also made it possible for us to wrap the truck, helping us share our mission everywhere it goes.
This is what community support looks like. 💛 Thank you Rotary Club of Brantford Sunrise ".
Brantford Sunrise Rotarians gained a clearer understanding of the challenges facing Six Nations in getting clean water to its residents. Director of Public Works, Michael Montour, explained there is a high percentage of well contamination on the reserve, making the water unfit for use. To avoid cross-contamination, those wells must be decommissioned before the residents can be connected to a water service. The primary barrier is financial. Six Nations does not have the funds to install water mains to serve all of the residents at once, so it is being done a section at a time. Even when the mains are in place, many cannot afford the cost of connection to their home. Rotary Sunrise, through its Global Grants Committee, is preparing a Global Grant Application to the Rotary Foundation to assist residents with the cost of connecting their home to the main line. The goal is to support those individuals who cannot afford the cost of the installation. Approval and funding is expected in early 2027. Our partner club, in Sun Lakes, Arizona, U.S.A. has also agreed to donate $2,500 US to the project. The update on the Six Nations Water Project was presented as part of the Rotary International March theme of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Also, Club President, Susan Brown was pleased to present a cheque for $25,000 to Laurie Macintyre, Executive Director of Jaycee Homes, Brantford. The cheque was the first installment of a $50,000.00 pledge to the Community Kitchen at their new 32 Bridge Street complex, which will provide affordable housing to women and women-led families. The kitchen, to be named the Rotary Sunrise Kitchen, will be part of a Community Hub.
Brantford Sunrise members saw, firsthand, in March, how the funds the Club raises support our community.
The Executive Director of Why Not City Missions, Karen Stewart, told Club members Why Not is assisting young people in any way needed, so they are given the tools they require to move onto the next step in their life, and change their future pathway. She said they provide a stabilizing environment, working in a supportive manner with education, mental health support, and food security.
Hygiene is an important component. Karen explained there are many factors that impact upon youth hygiene, which includes more than personal cleanliness. Physical hygiene, such as handwashing, dental maintenance, a healthy diet, environmental hygiene can all have an impact on a person's overall physical health. Mental hygiene, which includes routine building, goal setting and emotional regulation, and sleep hygiene, which focuses on establishing healthy sleep habits, are also critical components. She said changing habits, which are sometimes generational, can be a long process, and requires a lot of grace.
The Executive Director expressed her gratitude to Sunrise Rotarians for their long history of support for Why Not City Missions. Club President-Elect Nominee, Laurie Macintyre, thanked Karen for her presentation. In addition to the March Pod presenting Why Not with a $1,000.00 cheque in support of their programs, Club members donated enough personal care and hygiene products to fill 2 totes.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo is proud to contribute to the WNY community by distributing nearly $25,000 in grant money to organizations in need.
Here is where the Fall cycle, totaling $24,924 went:
Haircuts for Those in Need $10,000
· Award of $10,000 to purchase a mobile trailer for hair cutting. Trailer will have a shower and ergonomic equipment. Owner, Charlene Thomas, was our 8/14/25 speaker.
Buffalo Dream Center $2,150
· Award of $2,150 to purchase pallet jack, (2) refrigerators, and dolly. Organization provides meals and groceries to food deserts across the city of Buffalo, reaching 200,000+ people annually.
Friends of the Night People $5,674
· Award of $5,674 to purchase hot food holding unit. The unit will dramatically increase the amount of prepared hot food to be stored prior to distribution.
Buffalo Maritime Center $3,000
· Award of $3,000 to purchase vacuum systems for (6) workbenches, which will improve the health of the environment for the students and volunteers.
Buffalo Strings $4,100
· Award of $4,100 to replace the carpet in Niagara Street location. Organization provides musical instruction to marginalized youth and refugees.
After many years of running the Victoria Day Fireworks for the City of Hamilton the club is handing it off to the Dundas Lions Club.
We are helping the Lions during this transition year. The club is working to partner more often with the Lions.
Routes Youth Centre in Dundas will receive a $10,000 donation from the club this year. Have a look at the great things it does.https://www.routesyouthcentre.ca
Thanks to Assistant Governor Russ Powers the Area 3 clubs, Dundas Valley Sunrise, Dundas, Waterdown and Flambrough AM are doing a stream clean up on April 22 in Waterdown.
Afterwards it’s off to the Rotary Garden Court in Waterdown for fellowship and dinner.
Afterwards, it’s off to the Rotary Garden Court in Waterdown for fellowship and dinner.
Planning is underway with the Rotary Club of Dundas to offer a drive through Lobster Ribfest on June 6.
The two clubs have been working together for over 20 years on this community event and fundraiser.
And once again the club will hold its spring Shredding Day in May.
The community looks forward to this semi-annual service project that also is a club fundraiser.
When it came time to consider a project with international implications, E.L. Crossley Secondary School’s Interact Club decided to focus on a little-known life-saving item: period products.
Working in collaboration with the Rotary Club of Fonthill, the Interact Club focused their global initiative on supporting communities in Ukraine by fundraising for menstrual products—items that are urgently needed but often overlooked.
Menstrual products are essential not only for daily hygiene but also for emergency medical use.
In crisis situations, items such as tampons and pads are used as improvised medical supplies – tampons to help manage bullet wounds, pads as bandages, and even frozen pads as makeshift ice packs.
Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future: 50 Years of Rotary in Grimsby
On June 4, the Rotary Club of Grimsby (RCOG) will celebrate 50 years of service to Grimsby and the world. The club wants you to celebrate with them.
In 1976, the Rotary Club of Grimsby was officially chartered. The club's charter signified the realization of a vision held by professional men who shared core values of service.
Since that first meeting 50 years ago, the RCOG has grown and changed. In 1989, Rotary International amended its constitution to include women, adding more talent and leadership to the club. Over the years, there have been shifts in membership and meeting locations, but the club has always stayed true to its core principles of making a difference in the community and globally.
The RCOG has completed many projects and supported numerous charities. The Fantasy of Trees and the Grimsby Glows Pumpkin Parades have become yearly traditions for many residents of the Grimsby community. The new RCOG Repair Cafe seems poised to become a valued community event. The club is eager to see what the future brings.
Like everything else, change is always present. Likewise, the Rotary Club of Grimsby remains committed to the founder’s vision of making a difference in the Town of Grimsby and around the world.
Join us on June 4 at Commisso Estate Winery to celebrate the first 50 years and welcome in the next. Tickets available HERE.
Ashley Franz, community relations and outreach manager for NAMI of Buffalo and Western New York presented information on the organization and answered questions.
NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization providing advocacy, education, support and public awareness to assist individuals and families affected by mental illness.
The agency offers family support groups, advocacy and training in Erie, Niagara, Orleans, Wyoming, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties.
The Buffalo and WNY branch is located at 217 E. Delavan Ave., Buffalo.
PHOTO: Hamburg Rotary President John Nowak and Ms. Franz.
The Rotary of Hamburg meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. at Uncle Joe’s Diner, Hamburg.
On March 25 for a club social, Hamilton AM club members experienced the new Iron Cow Public House at TD Coliseum, with a separate entrance at 101 York Blvd, Hamilton,
This is quite an elegant setting, almost hidden away at the far east end in Hamilton’s renovated coliseum. A great place to go before an event, with direct access to the show you plan to see.
After some excellent appetizers, the group of 15 must have hit every item on the menu. Some of the delicious fare included a roast beef dinner, “Toad in a Hole”, fish & chips and some excellent chicken wings. The portions are large so only a few ventured with dessert and even that was shared.
The club has 3 in-person morning meetings a month and one evening social – and this proved to be a great choice. Non-members are always welcome and this evening we welcomed Julie, Sherry, Dave and Pedro.
Our Club participated in the National fundraiser for unhoused and vulnerable members of our community, “Coldest Night of the Year”.
Community Service Committee member, Sarah Brunt, planned our Club event with 12 participants walking and many others sponsoring. The walk started at The Stoney Creek Battlefield Park to the Rotary Clock Parkette and back on Saturday, February 28th, 2026.
All funds raised were directed to Neighbor 2 Neighbor!
Members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown participated in the Coldest Night of the Year event in downtown Jamestown on Saturday, February 28. The family-friendly winter walk is held each year to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness and is also intended to raise vital funds for local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship.
This year's event in Jamestown benefited the YWCA of Jamestown's Empower Her Housing initiative, which is designed to meet women and families where they are. Through Legacy House and First House, women and children who are homeless or at risk of homelessness are provided safe, stable, and affordable transitional housing. Participants are also supported in identifying their capabilities, building essential life skills, and moving toward healthy, independent living. The local Jamestown Rotary club had over 30 people supporting the team of walkers, with over $1,250 raised for the YWCA program - which reportedly saw an estimated $25,000 total raised for the event.
PHOTO: the Rotary Club of Jamestown team, including club treasurer and event organizer Ruth Lundin; members Sharon Hamilton and Joni Blackman; and member Brandon O'Dell and club vice president Zach Agett, along with their families.
The Rotary Club of Kenmore will hold its semi-annual “Shred-It” event:
9:00am to 1:00pm (NEW TIME)
Saturday, April 18, 2026
In the rear parking lot of The Ken-Ton Elmwood Commons (formerly Phillip Sheridan School) located at 3200 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore 14217.
We will have volunteers on hand to guide you through the parking lot and unload your boxes. The $10 per file box or bag donation can be made by cash or check.
If paying by cash, please be sure to have exact change.
Once again, this year the Lincoln Rotary participated in the Coldest Night of the Year - West Niagara on February 28.
The Coldest Night of the Year is a family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities serving people experiencing hurt, hunger and homelessness.
The walk was a great success raising over $91,000 in West Niagara. Lincoln Rotary’s team raised $4970.
We were joined by the Grimsby Rotary club who volunteered at registration and along the walk route.
These walks take place across Canada. There were a total of 96 Rotary teams participating across Canada with 650 walkers and raising a total of $260,637.
Our Lincoln Rotary team ranked 13th of the 96 teams in total amount of monies raised by Rotary Clubs across Canada. Go team!
The Rotary Club of Lockport’s Literacy Committee applied for and received a $5,000 United Way of Greater Niagara Beeman Foundation Grant titled “Celebrate Reading at the Erie Canal” to provide programs and gift bags (books, flyers and crafts) to students attending the Lockport City School District/YWCA Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) and Kindergarten Readiness programs on the topic of the Erie Canal. The project also supplied small book collections to six Little Free Libraries in Lockport on the same topic.
Programs for the Kindergarten Readiness classes at Roy B. Kelly School were conducted on Monday, August 4th, featuring author and fellow Rotarian Cyndy Cotten, craft making using packages from Oriental Trading, coloring sheets, and a picture book giveaway. Rotarian volunteers conducted a program rotation of three classes to serve the 48 four and five-year-old students. Gift bags with Erie Canal themed books, crafts, activity booklets, and plastic boats were distributed.
Programs for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten classes at John Pound School were held on Thursday, November 6th. A total of eight story and song programs were conducted and paired with gift bags of books, activities, and crafts for approximately 132 three and four-year-old students.
Niagara Noir – Sins and Scandals from Saints to Sinners
Mind the Macabre. Join us where passion met peril and hear about the lust, lies, and legends; Niagara’s Naughty tales revealed, because every paradise has its past.
This event is Niagara’s perfect mix of history, mystery and cheeky fun that will keep you sitting on the edge of your seats while the whispers and wickedness of scandal beneath the mist fill your ears with titillating tales in this never before heard, once in a lifetime experience.
Created by Niagara Falls great historians, tour guides, Daredevil descendants, and drug dealers for this event ONLY, never before and never again…
Don’t miss out on this prestigious event brought to you by the Rotary Club of Niagara Falls and sponsored by the Niagara Parks Commission and the Willoughby Hall Volunteer Firefighters.
April 26, 2026
Meet at 1:00pm at Willoughby Fire Hall, 11208 Sodom Road Niagara Falls (Hall opens at NOON, if you need to arrive early, or are travelling a long distance)
Bus will leave PROMPTLY at 1:30pm
Price: $150 per person
Wear Comfortable walking shoes, there is minimal walking, and well, you don’t have to run the fastest, but if the ghost is chasing you, you want to outrun at least one person.
The Stamford Collegiate Interact Club is putting its best foot forward by bringing back a meaningful initiative that hasn’t been seen in nearly a decade.
In partnership with Soles4Souls, the club has officially relaunched its community-wide shoe drive—reviving a project last held in 2016.
This initiative invites students, families, and community members to donate new or gently used shoes, helping provide essential footwear to individuals in need around the world.
From supporting children’s access to education to helping adults secure employment, a simple pair of shoes can make a powerful difference.
To add a fun and competitive twist, students at Stamford Collegiate will also have the chance to win gift card prizes for bringing in the most shoes.
The friendly competition is designed to boost participation while recognizing the efforts of students who go above and beyond to support the cause.
A new wave of youth leadership and community service is taking shape in Niagara Falls with the launch of the Interact Club at Saint Michael Catholic High School.
This exciting new club was sparked by the initiative of student Aaima Hussain, who was inspired after hearing about other Interact Clubs making a difference in schools across the region.
Wanting to learn more about Rotary International and get involved in meaningful community work, Aaima took the lead to bring an Interact Club to her own school.
Her efforts quickly gained momentum, with fellow students eager to join a group focused on leadership, service, and giving back—both locally and globally. Interact Clubs, which are youth service clubs sponsored by local Rotary clubs, empower students to develop leadership skills while organizing volunteer initiatives and community projects.
In the spring of 1996, a new Rotary Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Simcoe, appeared on the Norfolk scene.
The aim was to expand opportunities for Norfolk residents wanting to serve locally & internationally by participating in Rotary programs and activities.
On May 16, 1996, the Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise (RCNS) received its Charter from Rotary International (RI) and began its own record of “Service above Self”.
Go to the ‘Read more …’ tab to see our Charter members!
And over the course of the year, our plan is to celebrate in style; to celebrate our community presence and to celebrate the way in which we have worked in our community to make things better. Stay tuned to our media sites for more information on this anniversary!
Without the right tools, becoming a strong writer, active reader, and critical thinker can be difficult. The Olean Rotary Club’s annual Dictionary Project is helping change that.
This year, 324 third-grade students across six area schools received their own personal dictionaries, giving them resources to develop comprehension and communication skills that will last a lifetime.
The dictionaries include maps, weights and measures, the United States Constitution, a list of U.S. presidents, and other educational tools.
Now in its 16th year locally, the program has distributed a total of 4,899 dictionaries.
Rotarians visited Washington West, East View, Portville, Southern Tier Catholic, Allegany-Limestone, and Hinsdale elementary schools to present the dictionaries in person.
“We are reaching out in our community with a very positive program targeting literacy at the third-grade level,” said Paula Bernstein, Rotary Assistant Governor.
Get ready for a night of chuckles, belly laughs and maybe even some snort-worthy moments - all for an amazing cause! The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South, in collaboration with the May Court Club of St. Catharines, proudly presents the Because We Care Comedy Fundraiser, part of the 8th annual Garden City Comedy Festival this May.
Why laugh? Because it feels good - and because your laughter will help support the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Marotta Family Hospital, a cozy haven where families with sick or injured kids can grab a bite, take a breather, and maybe even plot their next pun.
Show details
May 23, 2026, 8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Spotlight Comedy Club, 92 St Paul St, St. Catharines, ON
Tickets: $25 per person
Win Prizes, Do Good, Laugh Hard
On top of the comedy, there will be raffle prizes up for grabs. Every dollar raised goes straight to supporting families at the RMH Family Room. Think of it as your chance to laugh loudly while giving generously!
So come out for a night of fun and laughter that really counts.
The Rotary Club of Waterdown is supporting youth in the community, with a recent donation to Healthy Youth Network.
Executive Director Penny Deathe (left) and HEART Program coordinator Mackenzie Boers stopped by the club in early March to talk about their work and their upcoming Bakers Challenge fundraiser and thank Youth Service committee chair Darryl Kirkland for the donation.
What? The Rotary Club of Welland’s 6th Annual Purse Bingo is ready to go on Thursday, May 21, 2026. It’s another great night out with friends and family, with some great purses as prizes. And a special extra Bingo Game to win a luxury purse!
Where? Amici’s Banquet and Conference Centre. Doors open at 5:00 p.m. Includes unlimited Pasta buffet (Penne Marinara and Penne Alfredo), meatballs, salad, vegetable tray with dips, dessert and coffee station, starting at 5:30. Cash Bar. Water at table. Snacks. Bingo starts at 7:00 p.m.
Details Tickets are available online at $65 per person. Includes buffet dinner, door prize ticket, Bingo cards for the 10 regular games and Bingo dauber.
Cost for additional Bingo Cards; 50/50 tickets ($5 each, 5 for $20) and Special 11th Bingo Game for luxury purse ($20)
Registration If you have any questions or would like to sponsor this event, please e-mail info@wellandrotaryclub.com.
The Rotary Club of Welland hosted its inaugural Majority Rules Trivia event on Thursday, March 26th. The event welcomed fifty-eight participants, who contributed enthusiasm and camaraderie to the atmosphere. This new initiative was made possible through sponsorship from several local businesses: Seaway Financial Solutions Group as the dinner sponsor, along with round sponsors such as Welland Zehrs, MNP, City of Welland, Turf Net Sports Supplies, and Hair Alive.
The event was co-chaired by Vivian Tisi, Wendy Timms, and Debbie Thorpe, who presented 30 rounds of bizarre and intriguing questions. The top table featured three Fonthill Rotarians—Hugh Graham, Collins Acheampong, and Paul Snack—alongside Welland Rotarian Sandy Graham and guests Ted and Cindy Ellis. Vanessa Grande won the 50/50 draw. Additionally, a Penny Sale highlighted 14 gift cards and items sponsored by local businesses, all seeking new owners.
The Rotary Club of Welland held the event to raise funds to support Rotary initiatives for food security and youth leadership. Community support is essential for the Club to assist those in need.
We appreciate everyone who joined us for what we hope becomes an annual event. We extend special thanks to our sponsors and to those who generously contributed items for the Penny Sale.
Visit Welland Rotary’s website and Facebook page for more information and pictures.
Far from the vaccination front lines, the fight to end the disease begins in everyday spaces, from a neighborhood pub to a commuter train to a tulip field. At the center of it all, no surprise, are enterprising Rotary members just like you
Welcome to the MAY 2026 
= 
= 
Experience Taipei • June 10–13, 2026
Going to Taipei?
Board members of District 7090’s Gift of Life Project wish to share the passing of our founder, John D. Rydzik, Ed.D. on March 8, 2026. 
d Presentation: 6:45 PM
The Rotary year is three-quarters over.
As the ’25-’26 Rotary year approaches its conclusion, if you have not contributed to The Rotary Foundation, now is the time.
We are currently one U.S. host club short for an inbound Youth Exchange student for the upcoming 2026–2027 school year—and without a U.S.-based club, we will unfortunately have to turn this student away!
Hey Best of Friends: This is a call for interest for a club who would like to host the Foundation Celebration and District 7090 Awards this coming November.
People Against Trafficking Humans of WNY (
The District 7090 Great Lakes Watershed Cleanup is just around the corner!
Registration for Jr. RYLA is now open!
This year, you have the unique opportunity to join our neighboring Rotary D7120 at their District Conference in Ellicottville, NY from May 1st-3rd. 
We are delighted to introduce one of our newest and most unique members: Herbert the Hummingbird, joining us from sunny Laguna Beach! 
Come on out on April 8th at 6:00 and join the Amherst South Rotary Club at it’s First Ever Jazz Night Fundraiser. 
On March 27th, the UP Guys, Rotarians Nels Ross and Richie Derwald, supported by the Amherst South Rotary Club, the Kenmore Rotary Club and Rotary Club of Buffalo Sunrise, held a night of music, juggling, dancing, laughter, fellowship and good old-fashioned fun, all in the name of raising funds for the 
Membership growth is a goal shared by every Rotary club—but meaningful, sustainable growth requires more than recruitment alone.
More than forty years after her own Rotary Youth Exchange experience, Dr. Kristine Tenebruso recently returned to the Batavia Rotary Club to share the profound impact the program had on her life.
Join us for the Rotary Club of Batavia’s Meat Raffle on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at Notre Dame High School, 73 Union Street, Batavia, NY.
Some Rotarians exemplify Service Above Self. District 7090’s Dr. David Johnson is one of those Rotarians. 
The Rotary Club of Brantford invites Rotarians from across District 7090 to join us for the 42nd Brantford Rotary Classic Run on Sunday, June 7, 2026.
Brantford Sunrise is gearing up for its 6th Annual Online Auction, with bidding April 18th to the 26th. 
Rotarians also saw the fruits of their investment in completing some essential automotive work on the Organized Kaos truck.
Brantford Sunrise Rotarians gained a clearer understanding of the challenges facing Six Nations in getting clean water to its residents. Director of Public Works, Michael Montour, explained there is a high percentage of well contamination on the reserve, making the water unfit for use. To avoid cross-contamination, those wells must be decommissioned before the residents can be connected to a water service. The primary barrier is financial. Six Nations does not have the funds to install water mains to serve all of the residents at once, so it is being done a section at a time. Even when the mains are in place, many cannot afford the cost of connection to their home. Rotary Sunrise, through its Global Grants Committee, is preparing a Global Grant Application to the Rotary Foundation to assist residents with the cost of connecting their home to the main line. The goal is to support those individuals who cannot afford the cost of the installation. Approval and funding is expected in early 2027. Our partner club, in Sun Lakes, Arizona, U.S.A. has also agreed to donate $2,500 US to the project. The update on the Six Nations Water Project was presented as part of the Rotary International March theme of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
Brantford Sunrise members saw, firsthand, in March, how the funds the Club raises support our community.
The Rotary Club of Buffalo is proud to contribute to the WNY community by distributing nearly $25,000 in grant money to organizations in need.
For Buffalo Sunrisers, if February was about service, March 2026 was about fun.
After many years of running the Victoria Day Fireworks for the City of Hamilton the club is handing it off to the Dundas Lions Club.
When it came time to consider a project with international implications, E.L. Crossley Secondary School’s Interact Club decided to focus on a little-known life-saving item: period products.
Grand Island, partnered with the Tonawanda Salvation Army, is addressing food insecurity in our community with a monthly food pantry.
Honouring the Past, Inspiring the Future: 50 Years of Rotary in Grimsby
The Rotary Club of Hamburg hosted a guest speaker at its March 4 meeting from the 
On March 25 for a club social, Hamilton AM club members experienced the new Iron Cow Public House at TD Coliseum, with a separate entrance at 101 York Blvd, Hamilton,
Members of the Rotary Club of Jamestown participated in the Coldest Night of the Year event in downtown Jamestown on Saturday, February 28. The family-friendly winter walk is held each year to raise awareness around the issue of homelessness and is also intended to raise vital funds for local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness, hunger, and hardship.
The Rotary Club of Kenmore will hold its semi-annual “Shred-It” event:
On Tuesday March 24 we had representatives from the 1st Beamsville Scouts join us at our morning meeting.
Once again, this year the Lincoln Rotary participated in the Coldest Night of the Year - West Niagara on February 28.
The Rotary Club of Lockport’s Literacy Committee applied for and received a $5,000 United Way of Greater Niagara Beeman Foundation Grant titled “Celebrate Reading at the Erie Canal” to provide programs and gift bags (books, flyers and crafts) to students attending the Lockport City School District/YWCA Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) and Kindergarten Readiness programs on the topic of the Erie Canal. The project also supplied small book collections to six Little Free Libraries in Lockport on the same topic. 
Niagara Noir – Sins and Scandals from Saints to Sinners
The Stamford Collegiate Interact Club is putting its best foot forward by bringing back a meaningful initiative that hasn’t been seen in nearly a decade.
A new wave of youth leadership and community service is taking shape in Niagara Falls with the launch of the Interact Club at Saint Michael Catholic High School.
In the spring of 1996, a new Rotary Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Simcoe, appeared on the Norfolk scene.
Without the right tools, becoming a strong writer, active reader, and critical thinker can be difficult. The Olean Rotary Club’s annual Dictionary Project is helping change that.
The Club’s Food4Kids Committee held a Food Drive March 9 -15 to collect much needed canned chili for Food4Kids.
Get ready for a night of chuckles, belly laughs and maybe even some snort-worthy moments - all for an amazing cause! The Rotary Club of St. Catharines South, in collaboration with the May Court Club of St. Catharines, proudly presents the Because We Care Comedy Fundraiser, part of the 8th annual Garden City Comedy Festival this May.
The Rotary Club of Waterdown is supporting youth in the community, with a recent donation to 
Save The Date!
The Rotary Club of Welland hosted its inaugural Majority Rules Trivia event on Thursday, March 26th. The event welcomed fifty-eight participants, who contributed enthusiasm and camaraderie to the atmosphere. This new initiative was made possible through sponsorship from several local businesses: Seaway Financial Solutions Group as the dinner sponsor, along with round sponsors such as Welland Zehrs, MNP, City of Welland, Turf Net Sports Supplies, and Hair Alive.
What a great time Rotarian Dan Smith had reading to all 3 of the 2nd grade classes at Bemus Point elementary school this week.
This week the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club held its annual Rural-Urban Day.
Zoom - Link Sent Upon Registration
