From District Governor Russ-

Welcome to the start of summer and the last month of the Rotary year!

June is weddings, graduations, and Rotary changeover ceremonies. Mark your calendars for the Annual Meet the Governor Night on June 25, hosted by the Rotary Club of Harrow. Details are available in this newsletter. The club and district leadership, trained at PETS and District Assembly, have put their plans in place and are ready to take the reins. Kudos to DGE Nick and Trainer Elvira for getting everyone fired up and ready to use the Magic of Rotary to create hope and make lasting change in our communities and world.

A few things to think about for the coming year. How will you be consciously implementing the concepts of the Rotary Action Plan; Engagement, Action, Impact and Reach? Now is also the time to think ahead about what projects you might have for 2025-26. Think about what grant projects your club might be able to launch. The deadline for 2025-26 District Grants is May 31, 2025. It will come quicker than you think.

DGE Nick is offering an early bird discount for the 2025 District Conference. Sign up before June 25!

In June, Rotary celebrates fellowship. We all join for the service. It is usually the fellowship and friendships that we develop that keeps us in Rotary. Make sure to take advantage of meeting new friends at other Rotary clubs in your area and in our district. One of the great events is our annual District Conference. My biggest Rotary regret is not attending a district conference until 2016, 13 years after joining! I had many impediments to attending, especially family obligations and expense. There is a saying in the insurance business, “Cost only matters in the absence of value.” If you attend a district conference, you will discover – as I did – that the District 6400 conference always delivers incredible value. I also urge you to attend a Rotary International Convention, Calgary in 2025 is especially convenient. It is there you will feel the reach of Rotary. The general sessions have impactful speakers, and the breakout sessions offer insights and ideas on both personal and club levels. It is an amazing time with opportunities to meet fellow Rotarians from over 200 countries and territories!

Rotary International also offers member-led “Rotary Fellowship” groups. These are self-governing groups of Rotarians and friends with shared interests. There are more than I can count. Quick quiz: Which of these isn’t a Rotary Fellowship? - Swimming, whiskey, vegan, Esperanto. The answer is at the end of my message. Find out more about the fellowships at https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships.

This is my last newsletter but not goodbye. I look forward to seeing all of you in the next year; I plan to do my best to visit all the clubs, either a meeting, a project or fundraiser. This has been a personally fulfilling adventure for both Barb and me. I have been supported by great leadership in our clubs, our AG’s, the district committee leaders, as well as the past and future Governors. I especially appreciate and thank all our most important leaders, the Club Presidents. They work hard to help their clubs and members succeed!” I hope those of you that came to the Conference had a great experience. Thank you for your support and love. You have answered the call to “Be the One.”

Did you make your bed? Remember, It’s the little things that you do that can change the world.

The answer to my mini quiz is swimming. No fellowship for swimmers, maybe someone will start one.

Yours In Rotary Service,

Russ

A look back at District Conference 2024

Congratulations to DG Russ Jones and Conference Chair PDG Rick Caron for a great District Conference! Many people and clubs were recognized for their outstanding service! 

Trenton Rotary Club wins the Hedke Award

Jennifer Jones Inclusion Award recipient Windsor WIDE Rotary Club

Hedke Avenues of Service Awards:

Club Administration – Harrow

Membership – Livonia A.M.

Public Image – Dearborn Heights

Projects – Windsor-St. Clair

Rotary Foundation – Windsor-Roseland

Hugh Archer Award goes to the Wayne Rotary Club!

William Ives Lifetime Achievement Award winner,

PDG Sue Goldsen (above);

COG winners Debra Harshaw and Mander Matharu (below)

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THESE GREAT ROTARIANS!

See more great memories of the conference by Clicking HERE!

And from our Rotary International President's Representative during the conference, Past R.I. President Ian Riseley:



"Just about my favourite task in Rotary is representing the President at a District conference, so Juliet and I were delighted to have the opportunity to represent Gordon and Heather at the District 6400 conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan recently. DG Russ Jones had the environment as one of his emphases, which is an issue very important to me. Therefore I was thrilled that, to recognise our visit, Russ and Barb arranged for the planting of an American Beech tree (Fagus Grandifolia) at Rotary Park in their home town of Plymouth. Thanks for that wonderful gesture. I am thrilled, and promise to visit some time to see how this beauty is going..."

Join your fellow Rotarians from across District 6400 as we thank 2023-2024 Governor Russ Jones for a great year and welcome 2024-2025 Governor Nick Krayacich as our newest District Governor! See your club president or club secretary to register!

As the end of the Rotary year draws to a close on June 30th - please consider making your gift to The Rotary Foundation. Achieving our annual fund goal ensures that we have the resources necessary to participate in critical projects and fund programs like Global Scholars and Peace Fellows. To make your donation, please CLICK HERE and thank you!

(Right) Official visits were great! But services projects even better - DG Russ packed snack packs with the Adrian Rotary Clubs.

“Thank you for all of the support and encouragement the Canton Rotary Club received from you and Barb in 2023-24. You both are incredible!” Barry Burnham

One sunny afternoon Russ and a few others came to my house and I had cooked a meal. He throughly enjoyed it and I learned he loved to cook and never let anyone use his kitchen knives. So at his club visit Roseland put a basket together of Indian spices, vegetarian recepies, wine from Essex county, maple syrup and cookies. It was a very memorable visit.    Aruna Koushik, Rotary Club of Windsor-Roseland

"Being President for our club this year made me anxious but DG Russ Jones made it less daunting with his constant support and reassurance. Thank you sir!" - Cyndy Silvius, Rotary Club of Kingsville Southshore

'The key to our success rests in people like you. Thank you Russ for all your support and everything you do!' Crystal Heinrich, Rotary Club of Cottam

Governor Russ & Barb-What a beautiful year you made if for us all. "The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the greatest things. He is the one that gets the people to do the greatest things." – Ronald Reagan. Kim Mott, Rotary Club of Trenton

"I've been fortunate enough to have known DG Russ & Barb since I grew up playing sports with his kids in our neighborhood. It has been an honor to be our Club President at the same time he has served as District Governor." Chris Porman Plymouth Rotary Club

Thank you for sharing your time by serving as 2023-2024 Rotary District 6400 Governor. David Anderson, Dearborn Rotary Club

Russ is a true leader who helps motivate those around him by leading by example!  Cheers!

Jon Wennstrom - President Rotary Club of Livonia

To a great year! Thank you for everything you and Barb do! --Lynda Walker, Rotary Club of Leamington!

Thanks for the fun and your leadership! Dale Cook, Rotary Club of Allen Park

Rotary Fellowships are international groups that share a common passion. Being part of a fellowship is a fun way to make friends around the world, explore a hobby or profession, and enhance your Rotary experience.

How do I join a fellowship?

Membership in a fellowship is open to any interested individual.

Explore our fellowships

Interested in a particular subject?



There are fellowships for wine lovers, beer drinkers, pilots, bird watchers, bowlers, coffee lovers and dozens more. CLICK HERE to learn more about Rotary Fellowships, and to join!

Join your fellow Rotarians from around the world in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, for the 2025 Rotary International Convention!

Share the news with your Clubs and fellow Rotarians!

District 5360 is excited to welcome the world to the Rotary International Convention!

Prepare to be captivated by Calgary’s vibrant culture, embraced by warm hospitality, and inspired by the spirit of Rotary as we gather in this iconic destination.

• Calgary is Canada's third most diverse city – over 240 ethnic origins and 165 languages spoken.
• It is home of the famous Calgary Stampede, founded in 1912.
• You will be only one one-hour drive from the iconic Canadian Rockies (but you can see them from Calgary!).
• The countdown is on!

Explore the Calgary Convention Host website:

• Registration and Hotel
• Signature Events
• Host Hospitality
• Pre and Post-tours!

Register today!

https://convention.rotary.org/en-us/2025-rotary-convention-calgary

Harrow

Amherstburg

Detroit

Windsor (1918)

Grosse Pointe

Grosse Ile

Congratulations to Bruce Milkins, who was presented with the club's 2024 Citizen of the Year.

Leamington

The club sponsored its Walk, Wine & Dine event May 2nd, a fundraiser supporting migrant worker mental health initiatives.

Garden City

During a meeting last month, Trenton Rotarian Bill Jasman shared his experiences from the recent Rotary mission to Ghana. Garden City proudly supported that project, and sees first-hand the impact Rotary has on the world is truly remarkable. 

(Below) The club recognized the heroic efforts of its community's firefighters during another May meeting.

Monroe

The club held it's 100th anniversary "Centennial Celebration Gala" May 10th, where the guests included District Governor-Elect Nick Krayacich and his wife, Past R.I. President and current Rotary Foundation Trustee Jennifer Jones.

Trenton

The club has a long-standing partnership with Walmart to help distribute damaged and overstock goods. This is one pickup plus all the items that await for distribution day for ALL the charities!

Westland

Club members helped serve food and beverages at the Family Resource Jamboree in Westland, MI. This event was open to the public and all members had a great time! 

Plymouth

Plymouth-Canton Public Schools radio station 88.1 "The Park" (WSDP) announced a $517,000 capital campaign which will more than double the station’s studio space to develop on-air content, record news/programming, and edit news podcasts.

In recognition of its centennial anniversary in 2024, the Rotary Club of Plymouth, through the Plymouth Rotary Foundation, established a grant of $200,000 for the capital campaign. Planned capital improvements include converting a classroom into a series of editing, recording, and interview studios as well as a staff room and storage space.

Hines Park P.M.

The club held it's "Big Island Luau" fundraiser May 18th at the Henry Ford College Pavilion.

Dearborn

The club continued its annual commitment of awarding scholarships to help area students further their education. Notably, the first scholarship was awarded in 1924, only a year after the club was chartered by Rotary International in 1923.

Displaying their Past Presidents scholarship awards are, below from left, Asma Saleh, Ava Steinhebel, Nour Alzerjawi, and Aya Moughni with Dearborn Rotarians Colleen Nieman and Eric Rader, chair of the Dearborn Rotary Foundation.

Belleville

The club would like to congratulate the students and parents honored with this year's $5,000 scholarship awards. Special thanks to the Charles B. Cozaad Rotary Foundation for funding the awards.

Northville

Club members participated in a Spring Well Clean-up a week ago.

Windsor (1918)

The club held its Community Service Grants Cheque Presentation at the Caboto Club May 27th, contributing a total of $30,000 to nine organizations dedicated to addressing food insecurity in the community. The funds allocated to this year’s projects were raised through the club’s major fundraising events.

We need your club news!

Please make sure you email your club's news and upcoming events by the 20th of the prior month to sue@goldsen.com.

Join your fellow District 6400 Rotarians in easy-to-get-to Calgary for the 2025 Rotary International Convention!! June 21-25, 2025 - Calgary, Canada CLICK HERE to register!