We've shared this opportunity in previous newsletters — and now time is running out to apply. District 6600 is offering three scholarships for Rotarians to attend the Zone 30 & 31 Emerging Leader Program at the 2026 Rotary Zone Institute, August 25–30 in New Orleans — but applications close April 30th.

The Emerging Leader Program is designed for Rotarians who want to deepen their leadership skills, broaden their perspective, and build connections across clubs and districts. Whether you're newer to Rotary or already serving in a leadership role, this program is worth your time.

District scholarships cover conference registration and hotel accommodations. Recipients are responsible for travel and incidental expenses.

⏰ Deadline: April 30, 2026 📬 Recipients notified: May 15, 2026

Don't let this one slip by — if you've been thinking about it, now is the time to apply. And even if you're not selected for a scholarship, all Rotarians are welcome to attend the Zone Institute independently.

May 16 is coming up fast! The EPIC Day of Service is a global day of action uniting Rotary clubs around the world to demonstrate the power of Service Above Self — and we want District 6600 to show up strong.

Right now, Port Clinton Rotary Club is the only club in District 6600 with a registered project — and what a project it is. They'll be helping the Ottawa County Historical Society restore the Lighthouse Keeper's House, tackling window washing, yard work, and general cleanup to help get the historic site ready for public tours beginning June 6th. It's a perfect example of Rotary connecting service with community heritage.

That's the spirit of EPIC Day of Service. What's your club's version of that?

Whether your club plants trees, stocks a food pantry, cleans up a park, or supports a local organization — any project counts. Registering puts your club on the global project map alongside thousands of Rotarians worldwide.

This is also a natural opportunity for local media outreach. A global day of service is a compelling story — invite a reporter or photographer to your project and show your community what Rotary is made of.

Port Clinton has set the example. Who's next?

We've been sharing updates on the Rotary Tour for MESA for a few months now, and with June approaching fast, it's time to decide how you're going to be part of it. The good news? There's truly something for everyone.

Option 1: Rotary Tour for MESA — June 19–24. The full multi-day experience. This five-day supported tour loops through the heart of District 6600, starting and ending in Findlay with stops in Ada, Lima, St. Marys, New Bremen/New Knoxville, Celina/Grand Lake, Van Wert, Delphos, and Ottawa-Glandorf. Tour Riders can do a portion of the circuit or the full circuit.  

Option 2: MESA 50 — Single Day Ride on June 20.  Prefer a one-day adventure? The MESA 50 offers a 25 or 50 mile route starting from the same location as the Tour. Open to Rotarians and the community alike, it's a great entry point for newer cyclists or those who can't commit to the full week.

Option 3: Sponsor a Rider or the Event.  Not a cyclist? No problem. You can support MESA's mission by sponsoring a rider directly or contributing as an event sponsor. Every dollar helps deliver life-saving medical equipment to communities around the world — and the biking event generates approximately half of MESA's annual operating budget.

Option 4: Host Along the Route. Is your club located along the tour route? One of the most meaningful ways to participate is by helping host riders as they pass through your community. Clubs at overnight stops assist with lodging and meals, while clubs along the way can provide lunch, snacks, or a rest stop welcome. It's a fantastic opportunity for fellowship and a chance to show riders some good old District 6600 hospitality.

The clock is ticking. Whether you ride, volunteer, sponsor, or host — get in touch with Tour Coordinator Kurt Anderson at kanderson@cruglaw.com or visit the Rotary Tour for MESA website to learn more and sign up.

Let's make June an epic month for MESA and District 6600!

The transition to the new Rotary year culminates at District Installation, where we will officially welcome District Governor Katherine Eboch and celebrate incoming district and club leaders. Installation is both a celebration and a commitment — a moment to honor the work of the past year while stepping confidently into the next.

This year's event is themed "Create Lasting Impact" and takes place at the Toledo Zoo Malawi Center — and yes, the evening kicks off with a giraffe feeding included with your registration!

Registration & Pricing:

• Adults: $65 | Children: $20

• Meal choice: Beef & Chicken OR Vegetable Napoleon (cash bar available)

• Option to buy discounted Saturday Zoo tickets for just $21 

•  Registration deadline: June 10

Staying Over? A hotel block is available at the Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel, 444 North Summit Street, Toledo — $149/night plus taxes and fees. (Booking link coming soon!)

What to Wear: Animal prints and denim are highly encouraged — have a little fun with it!

We hope to see Rotarians from across District 6600 there for this special evening on Friday, June 26.

Mark your calendars for a great night of baseball and a great cause. On Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Rotary Districts 6630, 6650, and 6600 will come together at Progressive Field as the Cleveland Guardians take on the San Francisco Giants — all in support of the End Polio Now campaign.

Last year's event raised over $7,000 and drew more than 300 Rotarians from across our three districts. Let's make 2026 even bigger!

Ticket options:

• Private Pennant District Event — $70/ticket (dinner 5:30–7:30 PM, unlimited snacks through the 7th inning, exclusive raffles & auctions, Upper Box Outfield seating)

• Ticket Only — View Box, Section 454 — $46/ticket

Every ticket includes a contribution to the End Polio Now Campaign. Gates open at 5:30 PM, first pitch at 6:40 PM. If we hit 150 participants, we'll get to walk the field in a pre-game parade!

⚾ Ticket deadline: Friday, July 31st

For tickets or more information, contact Stewart Buchanan at stewb1898@aol.com or 330-607-1442, or visit rotarydistrict6630.org at the link below.

Great news — the District 6600 Rotary Newsletter is no longer just for district members! We've opened up a free subscription service for anyone who wants to follow along with our clubs, service projects, and community stories.

Whether you're a Rotarian from another district, a community partner, or a friend or family member of one of our members — you're welcome here!

And hey — current District 6600 members, this one's for you too! If your inbox is already overflowing with PMAIL from your district and club, you can use our subscription form to have the newsletter delivered to a personal or alternate email address instead. Same great newsletter, right where you'll actually see it! 

Subscribing takes less than a minute. Just click the link below, enter your name and email, and you'll receive each new issue right in your inbox.

Already subscribed? Help us grow by sharing this newsletter with someone who'd enjoy it!

Summer may feel far away, but Rotary Zones 30 & 31's Summer Leadership Seminars are worth putting on your calendar now — registration is already open!

A long-standing tradition, the Summer Leadership Seminars bring Rotarians together at all levels to connect, exchange ideas, and plan for the new Rotary year. This year, every attendee will have access to three sessions covering membership recruiting and retention, public image, and the Rotary Foundation.

The seminars are offered at five locations this summer, so there's likely one near you:

• July 11 — Springfield, Illinois

• July 18 — West Chester/Liberty Township, Ohio ⬅️ Right here in Ohio, just north of Cincinnati!

• July 25 — Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

• August 1 — Franklin, Tennessee

• August 8 — New Orleans, Louisiana

And it's not all business — each seminar location also features an optional Friday evening social event the night before, ranging from a minor league baseball game in Springfield to axe throwing in New Orleans. Yes, really.  

For Ohio Rotarians looking for a convenient option close to home, the July 18th seminar in West Chester is a great opportunity to attend without the hassle of a long trip.  

Talk to your club president or district officers about attending — and spread the word!

For many, polio feels like a disease of the past — something confined to history books and black-and-white photographs. But for survivors like David Kukelhan, the story is very much alive.

In a recent Rotary District 6600 interview conducted by District Governor Pam Brumbaugh, Polio Plus Chair Melanie Fredrickson, and Oberlin Rotarian Heidi Freas, David shared a deeply personal account of living with polio for more than seven decades. Diagnosed as an infant in the summer of 1950, he has no memory of the initial illness — but its impact has shaped every chapter of his life.

Raised in modest circumstances in Indiana by a young, determined family, David's early years included significant physical challenges, multiple surgeries, and long recoveries. A spinal fusion in eighth grade kept him flat in bed for eight months, with a telephone company intercom rigged so he could attend school from home. (He spent much of that time reading Tom Sawyer instead, a fact he recounts with zero remorse.) Despite it all, his story is not one of limitation — but of adaptation.

"I've always been the way I am," David said. "Living is coping."

Rather than defining himself by disability, David described his approach to life as simply figuring out how to get by — and often, pushing well beyond what others expected. As a young child, he and his brother used to climb rusted combines behind his grandfather's farm equipment lot and pretend they were battleships. Polio didn't stop him then, and that spirit hasn't left him.

Today, at 76, David lives independently in a walkable Cleveland neighborhood, navigating daily life by power wheelchair. He attends Guardians games, manages his own household, and is preparing for his next adventure: moving to Naples, Italy, to live with his daughter, a U.S. Navy lieutenant. He describes himself not as disabled, but as "hampered" — a subtle distinction that speaks volumes about a lifetime of determination.

His message on vaccinations is equally direct. When asked what he'd say to a hesitant parent, he didn't hesitate: "Take a look at me. Do you want your child to go through what I went through?"

David's story is a powerful reminder of why Rotary's commitment to polio eradication matters. While new cases are now rare, the lifelong effects on survivors — and the real risk of resurgence without continued vaccination — make it clear: the work is not finished.

It's been a busy and rewarding season for Rotary Youth Exchange in District 6600 — from panel discussions and hockey games to once-in-a-lifetime trips and scholarship opportunities. Here's a look at what's been happening and how you can get involved.

Students Take the Stage at District Learning Assembly

At the recent District Learning Assembly in Findlay, hosted by District Governor-Elect Katherine Eboch, our youth exchange students had the opportunity to participate in a panel discussion, sharing their perspectives with district leaders. It was a powerful reminder of why this program matters — these young people aren't just travelers, they're ambassadors for peace, understanding, and Rotary's future.

Hockey Night with the Toledo Walleye 

On March 20th, the Maumee Rotary Club hosted a Rotary Youth Exchange Hockey Night at a Toledo Walleye game. Students enjoyed dinner and a great night on the ice — exactly the kind of fellowship and fun that makes the inbound experience so memorable.

Eastern US Trip: Memories That Last a Lifetime 

Several District 6600 students recently returned from the optional Rotary Eastern Trip, exploring New York, Philadelphia, and Washington DC together. Perhaps the most bittersweet part of experiences like this is that students who have bonded deeply over a shared week may never all be in the same place again — but they carry that memory forever. That's the magic of Youth Exchange.

Scholarship Opportunity for Returning Outbounds — Deadline May 1! 

If you completed a Rotary Youth Exchange outbound experience between 2022 and the present, you may be eligible for a returning outbound scholarship — a $1,000 award, with a $500 renewable scholarship available to one outstanding recipient for continued academic pursuits. Applications are due May 1st. 

 [View the Scholarship Application Here]

Applications Now Open for 2027 Departure 

Know a young person who would make an outstanding Rotary Youth Ambassador? You don't have to wait — applications for 2027 departure are open now! The earlier the conversation starts, the better. Reach out to the RYE Chair anytime to begin the process.

Get Involved — Sponsor an Event or Step Into a District Role 

The Youth Exchange program is always looking for clubs and Rotarians to sponsor events and activities. One current need: a club to sponsor a Halloweekend day pass for students in September 2026. If your club is interested, please reach out!

And if you're currently serving as a Club Youth Exchange Officer or Club Counselor, consider this your personal invitation to explore a district-level role — as an Inbound Coordinator, Outbound Coordinator, or Step Coordinator. Detailed job descriptions and a full Rotary year calendar are available on the RYE website, with support from our OE Lakes to Oceans and It's Your World Travel team members every step of the way.

Don't Miss the Photo Carousel! 

We have photos from the Learning Assembly, Hockey Night, the Eastern Trip, and more — check out the photo carousel alongside this story for a look at all the great moments our youth exchange students have been making this season!