A Fantastic December – and an Exciting January
I hope you are enjoying the Christmas and New Year’s holidays and have been able to spend meaningful time with family and friends filled with warmth and good cheer.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, many of you and your clubs served generously across our communities—Uniting for Good with organizations such as the Johnson County Christmas Bureau, the Salvation Army, Manhattan Community Cares Chest, rescuing Santa in Lawrence, and many others. I am deeply grateful to the dedicated Rotarians of District 5710 who stepped up for those in need. Your compassion and commitment made December truly special.
As January 1st approaches, we reach the midpoint of a remarkable 2025–2026 Rotary year. The past six months have been amazing – welcoming a new club to our district, hosting a sold-out District Conference, making strong progress in Rotary Foundation giving, and most importantly, delivering meaningful service in your communities.
On behalf of our district leadership team, thank you for all you do.
Here’s where we stand and what’s ahead as we enter January—Rotary Vocational Service Month.
Requests for Our Members
- Gathering for Good – April 11, 2026 - Mark your calendars! Our annual fundraiser for The Rotary Foundation Annual Fund returns to the DoubleTree Hotel - Lawrence. Please begin thinking about silent auction items, wine and liquor pull donations. There will be some fantastic experiences to bid.
- Promote “Proud Rotarian” - Foundation Month may have ended, but keep the momentum going. Please keep sharing your “I’m a Proud Rotary Foundation Donor” message and your club’s Foundation success stories with Roger Aeschliman, (RAeschliman@corefirstbank.com), District Foundation Chair, Stephanie Gassen (Stephaniegassen538@gmail.com), District PI Co-Chair, or Mandy Sheldon (rotary5710exec@gmail.com), District Executive
- Recruit RYLA Participants! Now is the time to invite past RYLA participants to reach out to their local high school students encouraging them to apply for 2026. Clubs sponsoring Interact Clubs, please ensure that Interactors are aware.
- Winter Quick Takes Launching - Our new district YouTube short-video series debuts in January. One of our first episodes features Global Grant Scholar Anna McCartan sharing her experience in Ireland, along with Scholarship Chair Steven Graham explaining how students can apply for the 2026 scholarship.
District Progress: July–December 2025
- Membership: 1,846 strong—net increase of 17 since July 1 & 94% retention 70% of clubs have set membership goals
- Engagement: 70% of clubs have set service participation goals. To date 191 member participation has been reported. I know actual engagement is higher Please update this goal in your Rotary Club Central.
- Annual Fund: $105,834 —up from $100,926 same period last year 26 clubs have set this goal
- PolioPlus: $52,195 – up from $49,086 same period last year 24 clubs have set this goal
- New Benefactors: 12 YTD — 120% of our goal. Congrats and thank you for achieving.
- Club Action Planning:15 clubs set goals - 8 completed.
Plus two Public Image Related:
- Media Stories About Club Projects: 22 clubs set goals - 3 clubs reported YTD
- Update Website & Social Media: 26 clubs set goal - 5 clubs reported YTD
Overall, our district is on track—with one exception: engagement or service participation reporting. From my club visits, I know participation is higher than what has been reported.
Please set and track your service participation goal in Rotary Club Central. Clubs that consistently do so tend to attract and retain members more effectively and expand their service impact.
As a 2026 resolution, please review and update your goals in My Rotary. If goals aren’t entered yet—or need adjustment—it’s not too late. Need help? Mandy Sheldon or I are happy to assist.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
May 31 – June 4, 2026 | University of Kansas
RYLA will again be held at KU, with delegates housed in Hashinger Hall. Applications and brochures are available on the district website under the Youth Tab (www.rotary5710.org).
Applications and payments are due February 28, 2026. - details regarding getting this turned in, etc., are also on the application (see page 4).
⚠️ Important note: KU requires 60 delegates to host RYLA in 2026. If we do not meet this number, KU will not hold RYLA in 2026. —please prioritize recruiting participants.
The District 5710 Governor's Cup Returns
The Governor’s Cup Returns
The District 5710 Governor’s Cup is back, recognizing clubs based on objective criteria: net membership growth, engagement, Foundation giving, club action plan development, and media coverage. Clubs must earn the RI Club Excellence Award to qualify. A winner, runner-up, and second runner-up will be recognized. Details are included elsewhere in this newsletter.
January is Rotary Vocational Service Month!
Rotary’s commitment to Vocational Service has been central since 1905. Consider these ideas to celebrate using our professional skills to serve others and uphold high ethical standards.
- Do classification talks at your club meetings
- Meeting at members’ workplaces followed by a social event - Clubs in our District that have done this have commented their members enjoy these
- Promoting the Four-Way Test in schools and businesses and advance Rotary’s commitment to high ethical standards
- Mentoring youth - help them investigate career options.
- Applying professional skills to club or district service projects
- Hosting networking events—our new Rotary Means Business Chapter can help introduce local professionals and to Rotary as well as help our members expand their network. Please contact chapter chair, Craig Novorr at cnovorr@paragoncap.com or 913-451-6330 for more info.
Looking Ahead
February is Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention Service Month. Be on the lookout as Roberta Gould and her World Peace Programs Team begin recruiting for our next District endorsed Peace Fellow Candidates
Final Thoughts for January
I am continually inspired by your energy, creativity, and compassion. Thank you for creating sustainable change across northeast Kansas and around the world. Together, we are living our Rotary International president’s call to Unite for Good.
Ester and I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy New Year. May 2026 be healthy, prosperous, and filled with service to others and fellowship.
