As my year as president of Rotary International comes to a close, I offer my heartfelt thanks to each member of our global Rotary family. Your kindness, warmth, and dedication have changed my life.
As this Rotary year comes to a close, I want to offer my sincere thanks to every member of District 5580 for your encouragement, partnership, and support during my year as District Governor. It has been a privilege to visit clubs, hear your stories, celebrate your accomplishments, and see firsthand the heart of Rotary in action across our District. We have dynamic Clubs that are serving their communities and region!
Your commitment to service has strengthened volunteerism throughout District 5580. From local projects to district-wide initiatives, you have shown what can happen when Rotarians work together with purpose, generosity, and a shared belief in Service Above Self and Uniting for Good to provide a lasting impact. You have also helped improve the public image of your Clubs and of Rotary by telling your stories, inviting others to see the impact of your work, and demonstrating the value of service in your communities.
Just as importantly, your efforts have brought new members to strengthen existing clubs, helping Rotary grow for the future. Membership growth is more than numbers; it is about expanding our capacity to serve and ensuring that Rotary remains vibrant, relevant, and ready to meet tomorrow's needs.
Thank you for making this year meaningful and memorable! I am deeply grateful for your friendship, your leadership, and your dedication to Rotary. Together, you have made a lasting difference, and I know District 5580 will continue to serve our world in the year ahead.
Submitted by: Lisa Neitzel, Rotary District 5580 Public Image (PI) Chair and Team Leader Elect
Branding is often misunderstood as just a logo, a color palette, or a set of guidelines. While those visual elements matter, true branding goes much deeper.
As Rotarians, we must look at our identity through a larger lens.
Brand defined: the lasting emotional connection and trust an organization builds through its reputation, promises, values, and experiences.
Submitted by: John Stephenson, Environmental Committee
Clean water is one of our most precious natural resources, yet it depends on healthy lakes, rivers, wetlands, and watersheds. This month, Rotary District 5580 members are invited to participate in the 5 District Rotary Unite for Water Campaign by taking action to protect the waters that sustain our communities.
Since the beginning of this Rotary year, five local clubs including Club ‘25, Superior Rotary Club ‘40, Skyline Rotary, Harbortown Rotary and Eco Rotary have been joining forces to do even more in the Twin Ports.
Inspired by the Fargo Rotary clubs, whose alliance has created a great force for good, local leaders thought why not?
Rotary International has been the spearheading non-governmental partner in the global effort to eradicate polio for over 45 years. Since launching its PolioPlus program in 1985 and helping form the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) in 1988, global polio cases have dropped by 99.9 percent. The Dickinson Rotary Club recently donated $6,500 from its annual Pancake Karnival to the worldwide effort to eradicate polio. With the march from the Gates Foundation, the donation becomes a $19,500 impact!
Submitted by: Christi M. Stonecipher, Bismarck Rotary Club
The Bismarck Rotary Club held a fundraiser for their Arboretum at Laughing Sun Brewing Company on June 2. Rotarians and their families enjoyed dinner, drinks and fellowship, and Laughing Sun donated 20% of the cost of their meal back to the club. A raffle organized by Arboretum Chair Joan Trygg brought in additional money and guests won, among other things, bundt cakes, golf balls, and a rare coin.
Skyline Rotary is dedicated to fostering growth and opportunity in our schools. This month, we were thrilled to recognize six exceptional students with scholarships at the Proctor and Hermantown awards ceremonies. We are proud to support these scholars as they begin their next chapters. Beyond scholarships, our Youth Services Committee remains committed to empowering local students through Rotary Youth Leadership training, essay competitions, graduation party support, and holiday family assistance. We invite you to join our mission—learn more about the Skyline Rotary Club and how you can get involved in our community projects today.
As communities across Northwestern Ontario continue to face rising challenges, the need for compassion, partnership, and service has never been greater. Families are feeling the weight of food insecurity. Community organizations are being asked to do more with less. Across Thunder Bay and throughout District 5580, many people are quietly struggling, often behind closed doors and without asking for recognition or help.
In moments like these, service organizations matter deeply.
That is where Lakehead Rotary continues to step forward. While we are the smallest of the Rotary clubs within the city of Thunder Bay, our members share an outsized commitment to service. We are business owners, retirees, community leaders, professionals, volunteers, and friends united by a belief that communities grow stronger when people choose to care for one another.
WE CAN ONLY SHARE YOUR CLUB'S NEWS, IF WE KNOW ABOUT YOUR CLUB'S NEWS!
The number one thing most clubs want to know is what is happening around the District, but we can't help spread the word if we don't know what your club is up to.
Please submit a summary of your club events, news and projects to Renae Ronquist and Gloria Mink by the 10th of each month. We can include information in our Monday Minutes and in our newsletter.
Clean water is one of our most precious natural resources, yet it depends on healthy lakes, rivers, wetlands, and watersheds. This month, Rotary District 5580 members are invited to participate in the 5 District Rotary Unite for Water Campaign by taking action to protect the waters that sustain our communities.
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