December has been an awesome month to experience this year’s message of Unite for Good! Clubs across the district engaged in so many meaningful projects helping others that it was hard to keep up. Rotarians fed the hungry, provided gifts to those who might otherwise have gone without, gave warm clothes to those in need, brightened people’s days with fellowship, and so much more! You exemplified Service Above Self in ways big and small and made hundreds of people’s lives better as a result.
At the end of the month, I had the pleasure of going with a group of Rotarians from our district and decorating the Rotary float for the Tournament of Roses Parade. On January 1, we watched the parade from grandstand seats and cheered extra loud as the Rotary float went by. It was a remarkable experience.
Earlier in December, I went to San Francisco for the 80th anniversary of the signing of the United Nations charter. The celebration was attended by Rotarians from around the world, including RI President Francesco Arrezo and five Rotarians from our district. We met in the same room where the UN charter was signed. Rotary has been involved with the UN from the beginning; with some signers of the charter were Rotarians, and 11 Rotarians served as consultants to the US delegation.
As we enter 2026, I invite you to consider where you want to focus your time, talent, and treasure in Rotary in the coming year.What lights you up? What are you most passionate about? Rotary is a bottom-up organization, so if you can conceive it, Rotary can help make it happen.
If you have an idea for a project, small or large, and aren’t quite sure how to go about it, talk to your club president, other club members, to me, or to any other district leader. We can help you figure it out.
DG Cindy Rold
ROTARY NIGHT AT THE STOCK SHOW
Rotary Night at the Stock Show is Wednesday, January 21. The reception (cash bar) and dinner are from 5:00-7:00 p.m., and the rodeo starts at 7:00 p.m.
All Rotarians are seated in the same section for the rodeo in excellent seats. We will be joined by a special guest of RI Director Wyn Spiller at the dinner and the rodeo. The hand carved beef sirloin dinner is served in the NW Club and tastes delicious! The Stock Show gives us an excellent discounted price for the night. You have 3 options for tickets - read more here.
THE ROSE PARADE
The Tournament of Roses Parade was a spectacular event. In its 137th year, the 2026 theme was The Magic in Teamwork. Rotary has had a float in the parade every year since 1980. Decorated by Rotarian volunteers and funded entirely by donations (no money comes from Rotary International), the float promotes Rotary to millions of viewers worldwide. Rotary’s 2026 float theme is the same as the president’s message this year – Unite for Good.
This year, District Governor Cindy Rold brought a group of D5450 Rotarians to Pasadena to decorate the float and watch the parade. Special thanks to Karlyn McCrumb, member of the Littleton Rotary Club, for being the point person in making the arrangements. 25 Rotarians, spouses, and friends went to experience the magic. From cutting banana leaves to be the scales on the snake to putting roses into the float, we made our mark.
The Rotary Rose Parade Float Committee hosts an annual Service Club Presidential Summit in the days leading up to the Tournament of Roses Parade. The Summit brings together the Presidents of the world’s four largest service organizations—Rotary International, Lions Clubs International, Kiwanis International, and Optimist International—for a roundtable discussion on global service. This unique gathering provides a rare opportunity for the leaders of these organizations to meet face-to-face, strengthen relationships, and explore ways to collaborate on projects that address humanitarian needs worldwide. For more information about the float, or to donate to support the float, go to: https://www.rotaryfloat.org/Click here to see more photos!
THE DISTRICT IS HERE FOR YOU
INTRODUCING 2028-2029 DISTRICT GOVERNOR MINDY HANSON
Mindy has been a member of the Rotary Club of Evergreen since 2019 and served as Club President from 2024 to 2025. Rotary is a multigenerational part of her life. Her grandfather was a Rotarian in Michigan and Englewood, and her father, Tom Bieging, is a current member of the Rotary Club of Denver Southeast. She currently serves as Chair of the Area 8 District Project, Imagination Library, and is passionate about expanding access to books and promoting early childhood literacy. She is also proud to have served as the 2025 District Conference Chair and the District Scholarship Chair. Click here to read Mindy's full bio.
January invites us to look forward and widen our circles by asking who isn’t at our table yet. A future-focused Rotary club listens, adapts, and intentionally invites others to help shape what Rotary becomes next — invite one new voice to join you for coffee, a service project, or a meeting this month.
District 5450 is #3 in Zone 26 for Membership! Congratulations to all in our district who have worked hard to increase membership, especially our District Membership Chairs, Debbie Setlock and Jolene McKenna.
We have a net increase of 64 members; Existing Member Retention is at 95.8%; and New Member Retention is at 95.9%
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.
2026 MLK Marade | Opening ceremony for the MLK Marade is at 10:00 AM Monday January 19th at the Martin Luther King statue in City Park. The actual march will begin at 11:45 and we will be marching behind a Rotary District 5450 banner. Due to construction at Civic Center Park, the Marade will end at Lincoln Memorial Park, which is just west of Civic Center. Please make arrangements for transportation back to the start where there is a parking lot adjacent to East High School. Call Bill Donahue (303-589-0154) with any questions you may have.
Remember CIA from DG Cindy's club visits.Continue to Check In, Invite, and Appreciate. Check In to find out how others are really doing; Invite Rotarians and non-Rotarians to participate in service projects, fundraisers, or social activities; Appreciate people for their contributions. If you have a story to share about your experience with this, please drop her an email. She always loves to hear from members.
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
Rocky Mountain Rotary Youth Exchange is thrilled to announce the 2026-27 Class of Outbound Exchange Students from District 5450. Sponsor clubs for the 13 Long Term Exchange students are Aurora Gateway, Boulder, Denver, Erie, Golden, Granby, Summit County and Westminster.
Don't see your club represented? Contact Tim Taravella, Chair of RMRYE to arrange a presentation about this outstanding opportunity for the youth of our district. The annual deadline for Long Term Exchange applications is November 1. Short Term Exchange (family to family and specialty tours) application deadline is January 31. More information about both programs at rmrye.org.
You became a Rotarian so you could make a positive difference in your community and the world.You can continue to have that impact by remembering The Rotary Foundation in your estate plans. Create a lasting legacy by becoming a Benefactor ($1,000 up to $10,000) or a Bequest Society member ($10,000 or more).
MARKETING IN A BOX - the District has FREE marketing materials that your club can use at your next event to educate the public about Rotary, including a pop-up tent, printed brochures, a table banner and more! CLICK HERE for more information!
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
CRUTCHES 4 AFRICA - GIFTING MOBILITY
A group of 14 Rotarians from 4 different clubs and 2 Rotary Districts (and others) worked for 6 hours on Saturday, December 27, loading 2,442 units of mobility equipment for Crutches 4 Africa. The container is now on its way to Kenya for distribution spring/summer 2026. PDG Tamie Fennell and DG Cindy Rold helped load hundreds of mobility devices along with the others. For more information on C4A contact c4a@crutches4africa.org
The AURORA ROTARY CLUB received the 2025 Community Spirit Award from the City of Aurora as a community nonprofit agency in Dec 2025. The club presents the State of the City event featuring the mayor with more than 400 people in attendance. Members have volunteered hundreds of hours on a variety of projects and have a long history of living up to the motto, “Service Above Self” Click here to read more.
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.
From Vision to Action - A Strong Start to the Year Ahead
January isn’t about grand resolutions — it’s about clarity. As District leadership, club leaders, and members across District 5450, we’ve taken time to reflect on what matters most: meaningful service, strong relationships, and impact that lasts. This year, our focus is on moving thoughtfully from ideas into action—turning vision into real work in our communities and beyond.
Rotary District 5450 Foundation support comes to life through district grants, global grants, scholarships, and service projects that reflect both local priorities and global need. These resources allow clubs to move beyond ideas and into action — funding projects that are thoughtful, collaborative, and designed for lasting impact in our communities and around the world.
District 5450 – District Grants (DDF) update: As of today, Rotary District 5450 has approximately $24,000 in District Designated Funds (DDF) remaining. To date:
28 projects have been funded
2 applications were cancelled
7 applications are currently pending and awaiting additional information or completion (DDF requests for these pending applications are included in the remaining total)
This reflects strong utilization of DDF this year and continued momentum in moving projects from vision to action. Members and clubs are doing a fantastic job to help meet the needs of their communities through the use of their DDF dollars! Great Job!
District 5450 – Global Grants (DDF) Update:To date, Rotary District 5450 has approved a total of $242,030 in Global Grant funding in support of projects sponsored by our clubs. Rotary International has advised that any Global Grant applications submitted after February 28, 2026 may be rolled into the 2026–27 Rotary year.
At this time, we are aware of at least ten new Global Grants currently in development by District 5450 clubs. These represent only the projects known to the Foundation Committee, and additional smaller grants may be submitted in the coming months.
Potential Grants Likely to Be Submitted by February 28: these projects would be funded through DDF money raised in 2022-2023, with some monies coming from previous years:
GG 2570271 – Smoky Hill RC, Uganda: $2,000 DDF
GG 2683300 – Smoky Hill RC, Rubanda Valley WASH: $1,000 DDF
GG 2682828 – Boulder Valley RC, Haiti Ultrasound Equipment $100,000 total budget; $30,000–$40,000 potential DDF request
These projects reflect the dedication, generosity, and global commitment of District 5450 clubs. Thank you for your continued leadership and partnership in improving lives and strengthening communities around the world.
District 5450 – Polio update | End Polio Now – A Milestone Moment
End Polio Now reflections from Holger Knaack, Chair of the Rotary International Foundation, and Mike McGovern, Chair of Rotary’s PolioPlus Committee.
Chair Holger announced significant news: Mike McGovern has been selected to chair the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) Polio Oversight Board (POB), the highest decision-making body guiding the global effort to eradicate polio. This role brings Rotary directly into leadership alongside partners including the Gates Foundation, WHO, CDC, UNICEF, Gavi, and others. The POB exists to:
Set the strategic direction of the partnership;
Approve the allocation of adequate resources to execute the strategy;
Provide strategic and programmatic oversight, ensuring high-level accountability across the GPEI partnership; and
Use its voice and authority to support GPEI success internally and externally.
Below is a five year look back of Polio cases:
Human Cases Confirmed
As of 12/16/2025
At the same time in
Total
Total
Total
Total
Total
2025
2024
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
WPV (Wild Poliovirus)
39
88
99
12
30
6
140
WPV-Afghanistan
9
25
6
2
4
56
WPV-Pakistan
30
74
6
20
1
84
WPV-Other Countries
0
0
0
8
1
0
Variant (cVDPV) poliovirus caused cases
200
240
463
539
878
699
1117
Wishing you a safe, healthy, and prosperous New Year. The District 5450 Foundation Committee looks forward to continuing our work together as we move through the second half of the Rotary year!
