From District Governor Russ-

Spring has sprung!

The Rotary International theme for May is Youth Services. This encompasses Rotaract, Interact, RYLA, Youth Exchange as well as experiments in starting Interact type groups for students in upper elementary and middle schools. We put this effort into our youth to build future leaders and future citizens of action. These efforts are also important to Rotary’s long-term membership. By raising awareness of the Rotary brand, we reach parents as potential members and the youth as future members. If you or your club is interested in getting more involvement in Youth Services, contact Christina Guido (christinaguido1728@gmail.com) for Interact and Wendy Parsons (wpsh5@hotmail.com) for information on Youth Exchange.

Our month starts with the 2024 District Conference in Grand Rapids this weekend, May 3-5. I’m excited to see all of you that have registered. The committee, led by PDG Rick Caron, has done an excellent job lining up outstanding keynote speakers and we have club representatives presenting projects in our district addressing each of the 7 areas of focus. Our registration for the 2024 conference is closed. Check out the district website for information on registering for the2025 district conference so you don’t miss out 2 years in a row.

We only have 2 months left in this Rotary year. Most of our projects for the year are wrapping up and preparations are being made for the coming year. Don’t overlook the upcoming deadline for applying for 2024-25 district grants, May 30, 2024. The deadline for reporting your 2023-24 grants is also May 30, 2024. More information is available at https://rotary6400.org/?page_id=1701.

This is the time for club leadership to finalize their plans for the coming year. Our District Assembly was a great success with breakout sessions covering training for the 2025-26 club presidents, club operations, membership engagement, club action planning, public image, and The Rotary Foundation.

Mark your calendars for the 71^st annual “Meet the Governor Night” sponsored by Harrow Rotary. This great tradition will be on June 25, 2024. At this event, 2024-25 District Governor Nick Krayacich will share his plans to help our clubs and district leverage the Rotary Action Plan to grow and create lasting change. Best of all, you will see old friends from around the district and meet new friends.

Your district leaders look forward to attending your club leadership induction events, often known as “passing of the gavel” or “changing of the guard.” If your club would like one of us to induct your officers, board members and/or new members, please reach out to us as soon as possible. June is a busy time, and calendars fill up quickly.

Most of you know I am a fan of Adm. William McRaven’s book “Make Your Bed,” little things that might change you life and maybe the world. The last chapter’s advice is “if you want to change the world … don’t ever, ever ring the bell!” Never lose sight of your goals.

Don’t ever, ever quit!

DG Russ

Thanks to everyone who will be gathering this weekend at District Conference 2024 in Grand Rapids!

Club leaders from across District 6400 gathered April 27th at St. Clair College in Windsor.

Special Shout out to DGE Nick Krayacich, Immediate Past Rotary International President Jennifer Jones and District Trainer Elvira DiGesu for creating great learning event and fun for all!

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!

Submitted by PDG Traci Sincock, Youth Services Coordinator

Rotary International celebrates May as Youth Service Month when Rotary clubs, around the world, focus on youth services: Interact, RYLA, Youth Exchange. Here’s a refresher about Rotary’s Youth Services:

INTERACT

Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club comprised of 14-18 year olds. Interact gives young people the opportunity to take part in fun, meaningful service projects. Along the way, Interactors develop their leadership skills and initiative while meeting new friends. Members exchange ideas, opinions, and plans with other talented, energetic people, in an atmosphere free from negative pressures and distraction. Interact strives to promote student leadership, local volunteer service, and to make members aware of the many global and world issues that affect people every day. Many communities in District 6400 have active Interact clubs connected to their local schools and as community based clubs.

If you have questions about Interact or would like to know how to start a club in your community, contact District 6400 Interact Committee Co-Chairs

Penny Joy (Plymouth) pennyjoy663@gmail.com

Christina Guido (Lasalle Centennial) christinaguido1728@gmail.com

ROTARY YOUTH EXCHANGE

Rotary Youth Exchange is an excellent and inexpensive way for high school age students to travel and study in a foreign country.  Youth exchange gives the participant the opportunity to improve their language skills and school and family experiences will teach them the culture of their host country. They also act as ambassadors for their home country. Each year the Rotary Districts that are part of Central States Rotary Youth Exchange send approximately 300 young people to other countries and accept 300 young people from other countries in return.

Accepting a youth exchange student into your club, community and household can be a very rewarding experience. It’s an opportunity for you, your family and your fellow Rotarians to learn about a different culture and also help a young person understand your culture. As an official program of the U.S. Department of State, the goal of Rotary Youth Exchange is to promote the advancement of international understanding, goodwill and peace at the personal level.

It's not too late if your club would like to host an inbound student for the 2024-25 school year. Applications for students seeking outbound opportunities for the 2025-26 school year will apply in the fall 2024.

For more information, contact Youth Exchange Committee Chair Wendy Parsons at wpsh5@hotmail.com

RYLA     

Each year thousands of young people take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) programs worldwide. Young people are chosen for their leadership potential to attend a seminar, camp or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. Our District recently collaborated with nearby District 6380 on a weekend camp experience for over 140 students. Next year’s RYLA camp will be held in April 2025.

The RYLA program enables young people to discuss issues of professional responsibility and human relations, help improve leadership and communication skills, learn about businesses, and meet Rotarians, while having fun and making friends. RYLA can help lead to the strengthening and formation of Interact and Rotaract clubs and can be used as a recruiting tool for youth exchange.

For more information about RYLA, contact District Committee Co-chairs:

Bruce Diven (Monroe) bdiven50@comcast.net

Jennifer Ribby (Hines Park PM) jennifersiemiesz@gmail.com

Think about what Rotary youth program your club can become involved in. It’s often said that young people are Rotary’s future and we hope your club will consider involvement in Interact, Youth Exchange and RYLA.

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)

140 students from across D6400 and D6380 attended the first ever duel RYLA conference at camp Copneconic in Fenton, Michigan! Volunteer organizer Kyle Walligara thanks the entire leadership team from both 6400 and 6380 and all of the volunteers who made this event possible.

Plymouth

Governor Russ visited his home club of Plymouth in early April to induct new Corporate Members Kirk Sivic & Debbie Sivic. from Steri Clean, and new member Alexandra Kamer.

Windsor (1918)

Thank you to all who joined us at our Middle Eastern Night in support of Syrian Refugees.

From delicious cuisine to captivating belly dancing and exciting prizes, every moment was filled with warmth and generosity.



Below, the club completed its latest World Community Service project in Ghana. Thanks to the generous donation from Ted and Arlene Ure, raised by Ron Arkell, the Rotary Club of Windsor (1918) has successfully funded a vital WASH initiative at a local Health Center. With a cost of GHc75,054.00 ($8,839.33), the people of Ghana are now empowered with proper sanitation and personal hygiene to combat communicable diseases.

Adrian Noon

The Adrian Noon Rotary Club recently hosted another social event for its members at the Sandbar Cafe in Addison. Three members competed in a Chili Cookoff enjoyed by about 20 members and their spouses. All were delicious! Taking home prizes were Cindy Moore, Bob Gardner and Doug Williams. Thanks to the hard work by Grace Garno and Michele Gardner from the Social Committee and to Bree, one of the owners of the Sandbar Cafe for allowing the club to use her facility.

Westland

The club hosted its 3rd Annual Trivia Night March 22nd. Over 150 people attended this event, which supports the club's yearly community giving.

Below, the Club partnered with the Westland Police Department and brainstormed ideas on how to help the community and ultimately decided that a therapy dog was the perfect addition.

"Rotor," named after the Westland Rotary Club, is an eight month old Golden Retriever mixed with Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Rotor is a rescue dog that although having a rough start to his life is excited and ready to serve his community.

The Westland Rotary Club is proud to donate the funding required to start up this program. Rotor will begin his therapy dog training next month.  Below left is Westland Police Officer Kelly, Rotor, Westland Rotary Club co-president Gretchen Still and Westland Police Chief Kyle Dawley.

Kingsville Southshore

120 volunteers collected over 1/2 a ton of garbage during the club's clean-up. Everyone celebrated back at Pelee Island Winery with a bbq and great music by James Staley!

Dearborn Heights

Several members gathered at Bedford Elementary School last month to help spread the joy of reading. Club volunteers also built bookcases to present to third graders at Daly Elementary School. Both projects are part of an annual commitment to combat illiteracy in the community.

Huron Township

The club has been chartering Outdoor Challenge for many years and deeply values the contributions they make to the community. Outdoor Challenge is a co-ed outdoor adventure group that caters to high school students. The group aims to develop leadership skills, promote independence, care for the environment, and nurture a love for the outdoors. They also play a significant role in supporting the fundraising events of Huron Township Rotary and contribute greatly to its success.

Adrian Morning

The 2024 Kids First All Ways Event, held April 13th, was a great night and raised funds for kids projects in Lenawee County.

Garden City

The club held a joint meeting April 11th with the Kiwanis Club of Garden City. The speaker was Wm. Chuck Jackson, Ph.D from Wayne County Senior Services. Attendees learned about the Meals on Wheels program.

The club also collected food donations for the Garden City Cougar Cafe food pantry. Pictured below are Rotary members Derek Fisher and Dave Courtney.

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 exotic Singapore for the 2024 Rotary International Convention! CLICK HERE to register!