Two words come up for me this month with regard to Rotary in our district – celebration and fun.
Celebration
Celebration is for Steve Werner of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast who received the prestigious Rotary International Service Above Self Award. It was my great pleasure and honor to surprise him and his club members with this award at the club’s regular meeting on February 26.
Celebration is also forT.J. Sullivanof theDenver Cherry Creek Rotary Clubwho won the 2026 Parker Impact Award for his commitment and service to the quality of life in the Parker area. Presented during the Parker Rotary Club’s 17th annual Talk of the Town event, it was a wonderful opportunity to see Rotary connecting with the community.
Fun
The Parker Rotary Club brought the fun during football season by creating an MFL (Membership Football League) for 6 weeks. Members were divided into football teams (Broncos, Raiders, etc.) and worked as a team to recruit new members to the club. There was a great deal of friendly rivalry and fun at each meeting as the teams competed with each other.
Andrés Briceño, a Rotaractor from the Houston area, was visiting our district and brought the district mascot, a stuffed parrot called Polly. Polly started at a club selected by the District Governor. When another club wants to have Polly, it has to arrange with the first club for a fun shared activity or other occasion to mark the passing of Polly. The tradition continues from club to club and creates more camaraderie and fun between clubs.
What are some fun things your club is doing or could be doing? How do we bring even more fun into Rotary? Happy hours; dinners in members’ homes; outings to plays, concerts, or sporting events are common club activities. I challenge you to add one fun activity this month to your club’s roster of events. It could be as simple as changing up a meeting to make it more fun and out of the ordinary. Let’s bring the FUN to Rotary.
DG Cindy Rold
THE DISTRICT IS HERE FOR YOU
ROTARY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO HUMANITY - Rotary International gives an annual award to non-Rotarians who have demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service through Rotary. Candidates for the Rotary Award for Excellence in Service to Humanity will be considered based on the humanitarian service they have performed through Rotary, with an emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others. Personal financial contributions to Rotary, its Foundation, or any individual project are not considered for this award.
As District Governor, I can nominate one person from our district. If you would like to submit a candidate for consideration, pleasereach out to meno later than March 15 to let me know about the person.
MELLY KINNARD MENTAL HEALTH GRANTS | Melly Kinnard from the Rotary club of Denver has again generously donated $5,000 to encourage and support District 5450 club mental health projects. These matching funds have supported over 25 club projects since inception in 2020. Clubs will submit an application per the guidelines to Bill Farrow, as well as a final report, with a fund request up to $1,000 per club project. CLICK HEREfor the application form and contact information.
ROTARY INTERNATIONAL SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD |Steve Werner of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast is a recipient of the Rotary International Service Above Self Award.This prestigious award is given to a maximum of 150 people worldwide each year, and District 5450 is extremely proud of Steve for achieving this recognition.
Steve is particularly passionate about making people’s lives better through Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) projects. He is also a former Peace Corps volunteer (twice!), a foster parent for 14 years, and a connector who knows people around the globe. Click here for a full write up of Steve and his many achievements.
ROTARY ROSE FLOAT VIRTUAL AUCTION | MARCH 1-15 - Get ready to bid, win and make a difference. The Rotary Rose Float Committee is excited to announce our Virtual Auction on March 1 through March 15, and you do not want to miss it! When you place a bid, you are doing more than competing for an unforgettable experience. You are investing in a platform that shares Rotary’s mission with millions of viewers worldwide. Your participation helps ensure that Rotary’s message of Service Above Self continues to bloom on one of the most visible stages in the world.
Invite your friends, and get ready to browse, bid, and support a tradition that showcases the very best of Rotary. For more information about the auction, featured experiences, and how to participate, visit www.RotaryFloat.org
CLUB MEMBERSHIP ATTRACTION SEMINAR | Tuesday, March 24 | 6:00 to 8:00 pm MT via Zoom - membership chairs are encouraged to attend this Zoom seminar presented by Zone 26/27. Topics will include understanding membership numbers and challenges, member attraction strategies, and onboarding new members for attraction and retention.
RYLA ROADSHOW - Rotary Clubs in District 5450 generously support the Rocky Mountain Rotary Youth Leadership Awards but many Club members don't have an understanding of how the programs actually work. We are looking for an opportunity to present to Rotary Clubs and to lead an informal overview/discussion of the RYLA programs. Click here to read more and for contact information.
LEADERSHIP LAB - SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, May 2, 2026 - 8:30 am to Noon at Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO | A Rotary Experience - A hands-on, idea-driven morning where Rotarians test ideas, sharpen skills, and take-home tools that actually work in real clubs.
Service Attracts Hands; Purpose Keeps Hearts.In March, as clubs prepare spring projects, pause and reflect on your purpose and how this project builds connection with others and serves your community. When people feel the meaning behind the work, they are far more likely to return because intentional service builds lasting belonging.
WOMEN POWERING CHANGE| Thursday, May 7, 2026 – 4:00 to 7:00 pm at University Memorial Center, Boulder, CO | The Women Powering Change event is an annual expo showcasing the work and stories of women making a difference for a more just and sustainable world. You will meet amazing community members, activists, philanthropists and women led non-profits and women owned B-corps organizations who are making a difference locally and globally. Rotary District 5450 Membership Committee will host a booth at the expo! General Admission is Free or on Donation.
ACTION PLAN TO GROW ROTARY | Do your clubs have the problem of having just too many members? Do your clubs contribute too much to Polio Plus and the Annual Fund? Do you have too many club members signing up for club projects? The reality is that for almost every single one of our clubs, the answer is going to be “no” to each of these questions. Membership? A problem for every club. Fundraising? A constant struggle. Staffing club projects? The same 8 to 10 members every time.
Rotary’s Action Plan and the 3-Year Goal program are designed to help clubs expand their reach through growing membership and engaging more club members. It seeks to increase giving to The Rotary Foundation by encouraging realistic goal setting for benchmarks that grow over time. And, it seeks to encourage clubs to be flexible and responsive to changing community needs! Click to Learn about Action Plan!
Registration is now open!!! The worldwide EPIC Day of Service was started by D5450 Rotarians and Rotarians in the Northeast. They had a vision and made it happen. Did you see the article in the Rotary magazine about EPIC Day? Brianna Sherman of the Denver Metro South club was quoted throughout. The 2026 EPIC Day of Service will be May 16 - planning is already underway to make this year's event even greater! Find tips and resources to get started at epicdayofservice.org
FOLLOW THE DISTRICT ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE! Follow the District's Facebook page to get up-to-date news and information about interesting things happening in our District and in Rotary around the world. Please follow us:https://www.facebook.com/District5450Rotary/
CLUB CONNECTIONS
JUST RELEASED: WIZARD BRAIN OR MONKEY MIND by PDG Jim Halderman (Golden RC) - Master the art of successful relationships and outcomes.Through a unique blend of neuroscience and communication theory, you’ll uncover how the brain drives every interaction – and learn proven tools to steer conversation where you want to go. Available now!
SLOPES TO HOPE | Founded by Drew Roberts with Breckenridge Mountain, this Summit County Lost & Found program has collected 8,254 pounds of clothing, blankets and pillows from 14 hotels and resorts and made deliveries to 18 partner non-profits, schools, churches and Colorado State programs in Summit County, Denver, Boulder and Colorado Springs. The program keeps thousands of pounds of clothes out of the landfill and gets them into the hands of the people who need them the most.
LEARN ABOUT THE FIRST ROTARY ECLUB– ECLUB ONE: a true worldwide Rotary Club,the Club accepts members from any country in the world. Our members come from over 14 countries and is open to anyone who wants to join Rotary or transfer from another Rotary club. Rotarians from any Rotary Club in the world are welcome to make-up for missed meetings at their own club by completing a make-up meeting with Rotary eClub One. To participate in online meeting make-ups, visithttps://www.rotaryeclubone.org/makeups/howtodoamakeup/
2026 PARKER IMPACT AWARD | Congratulations toT.J. Sullivanof theDenver Cherry Creek Rotary Club who won the 2026 Parker Impact Award for his commitment and service to the quality of life in the Parker area. T.J. Is the president and CEO of the Parker Chamber of Commerce.
Make sure to check out the CLUB EVENTS page and see all of the events happening around the District.
Post your story on your club's website or Facebook page and then send the link to office@rotary5450.org. Doing so will give your club more exposure - readers will see the story on your club's site, which will let them know more about your club and members.
The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
The Rotary Foundation – March 2026
As we move into the final four months of the Rotary year, this is where strong districts separate themselves — not at the start, and not in the middle — it’s in how they finish. Our PolioPlus giving has surpassed our goal — decisively. We are closer than ever to eradication, and District 5450 continues to show up.
Now let’s look at the Annual Fund — the financial engine that fuels Rotary International and returns funding back to our district and clubs. The strength of our Foundation determines the strength of our service.
The Annual Fund: This Is the Lever
Our district’s Annual Fund goal is $434,500. As of today, we have raised $376,577. That leaves $57,923 to close between now and June 30. Those dollars become District Grants, Global Grants, and fund Rotary Scholars. If you have not given this year, can you give? If you give occasionally, increase if you can. Give Now | About Annual Giving – District 5450
The Opportunity in Front of Us
Five clubs have not yet participated. When every club engages — even at a modest level — Rotary’s reach expands across our district and around the world. What would it take for every club to achieve their Foundation giving goal by June 30? If support or ideas would be helpful, I’m glad to work with you and your club. foundation@rotary5450.org
What Action Looks Like
This is where each of us decides the role we will play in sustaining Rotary’s service.
If you have never given to The Rotary Foundation: Make this your year. Your gift becomes part of the funding that makes Rotary’s service possible. If you have not yet become a Paul Harris Fellow, we still have recognition points available and will match your donation.
If you give occasionally: Consider becoming a Sustaining Member by committing $100 annually. Consistent giving sustains consistent impact.
If you are already a Paul Harris Fellow: Consider joining the Paul Harris Society with a $1,000 annual commitment.
If you are thinking long-term: The Endowment Fund and Bequest Society offer a meaningful way to strengthen Rotary’s future and expand what we can do in communities for generations.
Final Thought
We are a strong district, and we are close to our goal that helps fund the work ahead of us. Now is the moment for every club and every member to step into the impact the Foundation makes possible. What will you do between now and June 30th?
