2026 April District 5450 Update (Apr 01, 2026)

DG CINDY ROLD'S MONTHLY MESSAGE

APRIL 2026

Although we haven’t had much of a winter this year, I’m still grateful for spring. It’s perhaps my favorite season of the year, even when we get our infamous snowstorms in March and April. Seeing the spring flowers and the blossoms on the trees makes my heart happy.

Given our historic drought and the most severe conditions in 131 years, according to Governor Polis, we are lucky to have seen spring blossoms this year. Rotary’s theme for April of Protecting the Environment provides the perfect reminder to us of how we must do all we can to support our environment. Among other benefits, thriving ecosystems can support people’s health, create economic opportunities, and help build peace.

The Denver Metro South Club is planning an event at the Governor’s Mansion on April 25 to promote Operation Pollination and demonstrate how Rotary is bringing different Colorado-based organizations together to provide as hospitable an environment as possible for pollinators who do such important work.

A number of our EPIC Day of Service projects on May 17 will focus on environmental issues as well. If your club hasn’t planned a project yet or hasn’t entered it on the EPIC Day website, there is still time.

Enjoy the spring flowers, and ask for rain!

DG Cindy Rold

LEADERSHIP LAB - MAY 2nd

Keeping your club strong, energized, and ready for what’s next! REGISTER NOW!

Explore leadership topics that matter right now:

building confident boards
developing future leaders through youth programs
planning succession without burnout
speaking with clarity and confidence
funding great ideas
telling your club’s story so others want to be part of it

Saturday, May 2 | 8:30 am to Noon | Front Range Community College, Westminster, CO
REGISTER NOW!

THE DISTRICT IS HERE FOR YOU

District 5450 Membership Team – AN INVITATION TO SERVE: District 5450 is seeking Rotarians ready to share their passion, ideas, and energy to strengthen membership across our district.

This role supports membership growth and engagement. Responsibilities could include helping plan and develop the monthly Membership Huddle, representing membership in district discussions, and sharing practical tools and ideas with clubs. The work is collaborative and flexible, with opportunities to plug in where your strengths are most useful.

If you’re interested or want to talk further about this idea, contact Jolene McKenna, District 5450 Membership Chair.

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

Would you like to change Rotary? Any Rotarian from anywhere in the world can propose changes to RI’s constitution or bylaws. The Council on Resolutions meets online every year to vote on proposed resolutions and urgent enactments. Ideally, a resolution should affect the Rotary world, rather than address local or administrative issues. The deadline for Resolutions submissions is June 30^th every year. The Council has one representative from all 500+ Districts in the world, and our representative for the next three-year term is PDG Bill Fine (Westminster RC). Contact Bill if you or your club has questions – the Council on Resolutions is part of the Council on Legislation (COL) that meets in-person every three years.

MEMBERSHIP MINUTE: The Power of a Single Connection: Spring reminds us that growth begins quietly, often unseen. One conversation, one invitation, one moment of welcome—these small sprouts are how Rotary grows. Treat each interaction as a seed—because what you plant today can grow into future leaders, friendships, and service. After all, it’s the Rotary way!

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.

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.

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

The Highlands Ranch Rotary Club is supporting an effort to get power banks to Ukraine through a simple "Buy1/Give1" program provided by Unite to Light. For every Chandler Charger you purchase, a Chandler Charger will be shipped to the Kyiv-Capital Rotary Club for distribution. Thus, you have your own solar-charged power bank for charging your mobile phone or tablet the next time Excel shuts down power in your area (or while traveling) while providing one to a Ukrainian in need.

Go here to order your charger: https://unitetolight.org/buy-one-give-one/ - Questions? Contact the Solar Chargers for Humanity Team Lead, Zig Berzins of the Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch.

COLORADO ROTARY ENDOWED FELLOW FOR PEDIATRIC MENTAL HEALTH is pleased to announce Dr. Carly Kawanishi as the second fellow. She is deeply committed to supporting youth and families, advancing medical education, and promoting physician and trainee well-being. During her training at Children’s Hospital Colorado, Dr. Kawanishi is expected to conduct approximately 1,500 patient visits annually bringing care, hope, and healing to children and families navigating mental health challenges. Click here to read the full story.

AURORA ROTARY BUILDS TIES WITH BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE - now in it's 25th year, the Rotary Club of Aurora once again partnered with the Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Buckley Regional Military Affairs Council for the annual State of the Base presentation. An Air Force Spokesman said the State of the Base “showcased the remarkable and diverse accomplishments from across the installation’s 117 mission partners…these achievements ranged from supporting global combat operations and earning national-level awards, to modernizing critical infrastructure and providing direct support to the nation’s space exploration goals.” Click here to read the full story.

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.

You can also search and view club projects on the new Rotary Service Project Center.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

The Rotary Foundation helps Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

This Is What Your Giving Makes Possible - every dollar given to The Rotary Foundation comes back to us in a powerful way—fueling global impact, developing leaders, and expanding what Rotary can do both here in District 5450 and around the world.
This month, we see that impact through one of our own.

Philip Postek, a Denver native, neuroscience graduate of Boston College, and current Master of Biomedical Sciences candidate at Tufts University School of Medicine, is a Rotary Global Grant Scholar supported by Rotary District 5450.

He is currently serving as a Fulbright researcher at the University of Lodz Medical Center in Poland, where his work focuses on genetic predisposition and clinical risk factors in children diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia—research that has the potential to improve outcomes for young patients around the world.

His path reflects both clinical experience and scientific rigor, including work in emergency departments at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital, and research at Harvard Medical School studying rare congenital muscular diseases.

Next, Philip will continue his journey as a Rotary Global Grant Scholar at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health, pursuing a Master’s in Global Health before returning to the United States for medical school.

This opportunity exists because Rotarians give. Every contribution to the Foundation is multiplied—returning to our district to support scholars, projects, and leaders who carry Rotary’s mission forward. When you give, you are helping make stories like this possible.

What Service Above Self Really Looks Like - there are moments when an award truly fits the person—and this is one of them.

David Willman has been recognized with the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service, one of the highest honors from The Rotary Foundation. This recognition reflects years of consistent leadership, generosity, and a deep commitment to what Rotary stands for. Dave doesn’t just support the Foundation—he lives it.

He shows what it looks like to:

Lead with purpose
Invest in others
Build something that lasts

And this is what matters for all of us:

Leaders like Dave are accessible.
The path he’s on is open to every Rotarian.

Getting involved with the Foundation is more than service—it’s an opportunity to grow as a leader, expand your perspective, and develop skills that are recognized not just in Rotary, but around the world.

Anyone Interested in learning more about District Grants and Global Grants we have training coming up on May 30, 2026. Front Range Community College, 3645 West 112th Ave. Westminster. Sign UP NOW: Rotary District 5450 Grants Training

Where This Goes From Here

The strength of Rotary District 5450 is directly tied to how we show up for the Foundation.

Support it financially
Engage beyond your club
Step into leadership

This is how we increase our impact. This is how we grow. This is how Rotary continues to matter.

If you’ve been thinking about getting more involved, this is a great time to take that step. Reach out to Mike Klingbiel or incoming District Governor Cindy Chase to explore a role that fits your time constraints, your skills, and your interests.

Mike