Although Rotary designates April as Maternal and Child Health Month, I find myself reflecting on its significance now as I travel to Ohio to meet my newborn great-nephew for the first time. Watching him drift to sleep in his father’s arms and witnessing the unbreakable bond between mother and child fills me with awe at the depth of love, tenderness, and devotion that families give their children—regardless of where they are born or the circumstances they face.
I am proud that Rotary has made saving mothers and children a global priority. Through our efforts, we are expanding access to high-quality health care for vulnerable mothers and children, empowering them to live longer, healthier lives. This initiative has created lasting change, ensuring that families have the support they need to thrive.
Yet, there is still so much to be done. Mothers and their children can be some of the most vulnerable in our society. Every year, an estimated 5.9 million children under the age of five die from preventable causes such as malnutrition, inadequate health care, and poor sanitation. Together, we can work to change this. Every child deserves access to care, nourishment, and the opportunity to grow into a bright future.
As we look ahead to Maternal and Child Health Month, let us reaffirm our commitment to making a difference—because when we invest in mothers and children, we invest in a healthier, stronger world for all.
Tamie
THE DISTRICT IS HERE FOR YOU
We are excited to announce that District 5450 now has an official connection with The Alzheimer’s/Dementia Rotarian Action Group (ADRAG) https://adrag.org/. Introducing Tracey Pidgeon of the Rotary Club of Aurora and District Ambassador for District 5450 as our liaison with the Alzheimer’s Dementia Rotary Action Group! Tracey will begin efforts to build a network of Club Champions and interested members to engage in efforts to support the mission of ADRAG. Tracey will be reaching out to the Clubs within our District to make presentations and potentially recruit Club Champions. Contact Tracey if you would like her to make a presentation for your Club. Additionally, her name will be on the District’s Speaker List. Click Here to read more.
AT THE TABLE WITH DR. KING: a one-hour dramatic presentation using live music, spoken word and multi-media to bring life to Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Knock at Midnight" and portions of America's Civil Rights Movement. Free to attend on April 4 at the Center for Urban Education in Denver. Showtime at 6:00 pm. Click Here to Reserve Your Seat. Brought to you by the District's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. Click here to view the brochure.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO CHANGE ROTARY? You can. Here's how...Rotary may have one of the most democratic legislative system of any organization. It is a little clumsy and expensive, but very effective. Any Rotarian in the world can make a change in how Rotary International operates and change any part of the constitution or bylaws. The legislative body is called the Council on Legislation (COL). It meets every three years and is made up of one representative from all 500+ districts in the world. Click Here to Learn More.
ROTARY'S PROGRAMS OF SCALE - learn more about the 2026 Programs of Scale Award and how to apply during the March 19 webinar. The $2 million grant may be awarded each year to a member-led, evidence-based program that is ready to expand over three to five years to increase its impact in one or more of Rotary’s areas of focus. CLICK HERE FOR INFORMATION.
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!
RWANDA/KENYA TRIP: Join District Governor Elect Cindy Rold and a small group of Rotarians from District 5450 for a trip to Rwanda and Kenya where we will visit Rotary clubs, meet local Rotarians, see service projects, and enjoy some wildlife activities. This is a unique opportunity to participate in a trip designed just for us and to learn about the needs in those two countries. The trip is fast approaching – April 19-May 3, 2025. If interested, please contact DG Cindy Rold at dgcindy2025.26@rotary5450.org right away.
ROSE BOWL PARADE 2026 - Registration is open (https://www.ebsports.com/rotary2026/) to attend the 2026 Rose Bowl Parade with other members of District 5450 for an unforgettable experience. Seeing the floats being decorated prior to the parade, attending the parade from Grandstand seats, and then viewing the floats up close after the parade are magical. There are two options - 4 nights and 5 nights and activity options to choose from on different days. Everyone will attend the parade, the highlight of the trip! If you choose to work on the Rotary International float, please note that the organizers require an 8-hour shift, and it is in a warehouse on hard concrete floors where it may be cold or hot depending on the weather outside. It is fun but requires stamina. If you have any questions, call or text Karlyn McCrumb, Littleton Rotary Club, at (303) 250-3620.
JOIN THE YOUTH EXCHANGE COMMITTEE & MAKE A GLOBAL IMPACT!The Rocky Mountain Rotary Youth Exchange (RMRYE) program is looking for passionate and organized individuals to join our committee as Country Contacts (particularly Austria, Finland, Germany and Taiwan) and support the incredible work of Rotary Youth Exchange. Help make a direct impact on students' lives and build lasting relationships. CLICK HERE to learn more about the responsibilities of being a Country Contact.
REGISTER NOW FOR THE 2025 RI CONVENTION
Calgary, Alberta, Canada | June 21-25, 2025
There's still time to register the Rotary International Convention in Calgary, Canada! Share ideas and inspire people at the 2025 Rotary International Convention! Breakout sessions at the Rotary International Convention can inspire participants, help them polish their leadership skills, and give them new ideas for projects, fundraising, strengthening membership, and more.
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
CASTLE ROCK HIGH NOON member Bill Gernert was celebratedfor his achievement in the Town of Castle Rock and beyond with February 4, 2025 designated as “Bill Gernert Day”. Many of Bill’s projects stem from his work with the Rotary club including his support of the Afghan refugee family the Club has adopted, his work in getting sets of ViewMasters with historic images of the Town to the Museum and Chamber, his work for decades with Ducky Derby and his many other examples of “Service Above Self!”
SUMMIT COUNTY invites you join their members October 12-18, 2025 in Panama to help local young adults learn English and practice their customer service skills in this Vocational Training program service trip. Click here for the trip flyer and here for the trip FAQ.
MOUNTAIN FOOTHILLS announced today that their international project, Crutches 4 Africa, had a stellar February having shipped two containers. One was loaded in the state of Maine and the other in Florida. These two shipments contained nearly 5,000 mobility devices raising the total to 220,000 units sent to developing nations. When founder and Rotarian David Talbot was asked "what's next?" he replied, WE NEED MORE EQUIPMENT! Helps us collect:www.crutches4africa.org
CASTLE ROCK HIGH NOON had a vision of producing ViewMasters with images featuring key town landmarks from the turn of the 20th Century to celebrate the 150th year of the founding of Castle Rock, Colorado. The Town of Castle Rock provided funding through a grant, the Phillip and Jerry Miller Library provided images and our Young Rotarians (Interact) of Colorado Early Colleges Castle Rock selected the images. These ViewMasters are now available at the Castle Rock Museum and the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce for guests and visitors to see what Downtown Castle Rock looked like, in 3D!
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.
Dear Rotarians,
As we move into March, you and your clubs are doing an incredible job leveraging your District grant funds! So far, you've completed over 36 grants, making a significant impact in your communities—well done! 🎉
We still have $12,600 available for grants, so if your club is planning a project, get your application in soon before the remaining funds are allocated.
We're also looking for three additional members to join the Grants Committee. If you've ever wanted to get involved at the District level—especially in grants—this is a great opportunity! The workload is manageable, and you'll be working directly with the grants team members to make a difference.
Global Grants (GG) Update
Bob Kemp, our District 5450 International Service Chair, has been instrumental in guiding our clubs and members through the Global Grant submission process.
This year, our District has approved 15 Global Grants, with funding contributions from multiple sources:
$175,000 from district designated funds
$185,000 raised in cash by our clubs
$129,000 provided by Rotary International
In total, these efforts have generated $489,000 in impact— and there’s still over $100,000 available in district designated funds for future projects! Let’s continue making a difference together! 🌍💙
📅 Upcoming Grants Qualification Training:
Mark your calendars for May 31st at Front Range Community College! As a reminder, at least two club members must attend to be eligible for grants in the 2025-2026 Rotary year.
🚀 Polio Plus Giving Progress
Rotary’s commitment to eradicating polio remains critical. One new case of wild poliovirus has been confirmed in Pakistan for 2025, along with one additional case from 2024, bringing the 2024 total to 99 cases.
Additionally, 13 children have been confirmed paralyzed by variant poliovirus type 2 in three countries:
Chad (6 cases)
Ethiopia (5 cases)
Yemen (2 cases)
Environmental monitoring continues to detect the virus:
10 positive samples of WPV1 were reported this week, all from Pakistan.
10 positive samples of cVDPV2 were reported across six countries, including three in Europe.
With four months left in the Rotary year, your continued support can help us reach and exceed our Annual Giving and Polio Plus goals!
🎤 Need a Foundation Speaker for Your Club?
We have a fantastic team of speakers available to present on The Rotary Foundation. If your club is interested, email me, and I’ll help connect you with the perfect speaker.
Thank you for all you do to serve your communities and make Rotary proud!
Warm regards, Mike Klingbiel
Foundation Chair, District 5450
CASTLE ROCK HIGH NOON member Bill Gernert 
CASTLE ROCK HIGH NOON
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