District 5495 Rotarians gathered at the Wekopa Resort in Fountain Hills May 2-3 for the 2025 Conference of Clubs. District Governor Michelle Holcomb led the celebration and thanked clubs for their service and accomplishments during the year. This year's conference included great speakers, fun activities, educational opportunities and the chance for Rotarians to renew friendships and meet new friends!
Are you a passionate Rotarian looking to make a meaningful impact? Rotary District 5495 is seeking a dedicated Chief of Staff to support the District Governor for 2 ½ years, starting April 15, 2025.
This volunteer role (8-10 hours per week) involves coordinating calendars for 61 clubs, managing communications, and overseeing committee leaders.
Ideal candidates have strong leadership, organizational, and computer skills, experience with ClubRunner, Chat GPT (or similar AI platforms) and Zoom, and have served as a Rotary Club President or above.
You’ll gain valuable networking and leadership development opportunities while making a difference in Rotary.
To apply, contact District Governor Nominee Joe Sweeney at Rotaryjoe5495@gmail.com or call or text at (928) 642-4252 / (602) 935-6910. Please provide a resume and Rotary references.
Save the Date: Mexico-USA
Friendship Conference planned
This conference, now in its 25th year, is the ideal way for your club to get involved in a Rotary Foundation global grant. Open to all Rotary clubs and districts, you’ll have the chance to experience fellowship at its finest with clubs from Mexico and Arizona, plus we will work on getting global grants funded in this unique project-focused event.
This year’s friendship conference will be held October 31 thru November 3 in Yuma, Arizona. Additional information -- registration, cost and accommodations -- will be released at a later date. Stay tuned to this page for additional information.
ClubRunner's annual Changeover Webinar Series is back - running from May 20 to June 3, and it's designed to help you start the new Rotary year strong with ClubRunner.
Whether you're part of a club or district, these sessions are tailored to your role, so you get the most relevant tips, tools, and updates to succeed in the year ahead.
Discover what's new in ClubRunner
Brush up on key features and best practices
Set your leadership team up for success
Ask your questions during the live Q&A with our Product Specialists.
Dale Gray elected to WASH Rotary Action Group board
It is with great pleasure that we announce that Dale Gray of the Scottsdale Sunrise Rotary Club has been elected to join the Board of Directors of Rotary International Action Group WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) for a three-year term beginning July 1, 2025.
Dale will serve Rotary worldwide in advancing the critical mission of improving access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene. As a member of the Board, Dale will play a vital role in shaping the strategic direction of Rotary's WASH initiatives, collaborating with Rotarians and partners globally to create sustainable solutions for communities in need.
We congratulate Dale on this remarkable achievement and look forward to his contributions to the Rotary community. His dedication to service and passion for making a difference will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals and families around the world.
Please join us in extending warm congratulations to Dale Gray on his election to the Rotary International Action Group WASH Board of Directors!
RC of Sedona Village supports Prescott VA Hospital
At a special Veterans Picnic hosted by the Rotary Club of Sedona Village at the V A Hospital in Prescott, Arizona, Village Rotarians presented a check for $15,000 to Shana Shatzer, Chief of the Center for Development & Civic Engagement.
The donation supports the veteran patient's discretionary fund. The donation was raised by three raffles held in front of Clark's Market, donations from Clark's Market, and generous donations from Villagers during 2024.
The picnic, made possible by a generous gift from Village residents Paul and Mara Majane, welcomed over 100 veteran hospital residents to an outdoor pavilion on the hospital grounds. Twenty Village Rotary Club members, and friends of the Club, volunteered to grill hamburgers and hot dogs, served plates of potato salad, potato chips and cookies, creating a warm and festive event.
"Service to our community, local, national, and international, is what Rotary is all about," observed Village Club President, Chuck Marr. "The camaraderie created, by working together doing good for others, energizes our members and makes the Club incredibly active."
The annual Veterans Raffles, started nearly 20 years ago by WWII veteran Army First Lieutenant John Cornelius, has now raised over $350,000 in support of the veterans hospital. Launched to provide daily essentials and activities not covered by the V A, the fundraiser was brought under the Rotary umbrella in 2020. Since then, the Sedona Village Rotary Club has proudly continued the tradition, now led by retired Air Force Colonel Rob Schaefer, and Lt. Cornelius's daughter, Cathleen Banister Marx.
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes was honored to present its 2025 Educator of the Year Awards to Chandler Unified School District teachers and scholarships to CUSD High School students.
At a recent morning RCSL breakfast meeting Peter Meade, RCSL President and Becky Kerr, RCSL Education Committee presented award checks to: Angelica Abbey—6th Grade Teacher at CUSD Frye Elementary—RCSL’s Educator of the Year—$2,000 award; Monica Garcia-Larson—English Language Development Teacher at CUSD Hamilton High School—Runner-up—$500 award; and Kim Meyer—Pre-AP Biology Teacher—CUSD Arizona College Preparatory Middle School—Runner-up—$500 award. Thank you to Earnhardt Automotive for RCSL‘s Educator of Year sponsorship and TrustBank for RCSL’s runner-up sponsorships.
Additionally in May 2025, Leo Schlueter, RCSL Rotarian/CUSD Executive Director of Elementary Education presented scholarship awards to: Courtney Hartle—graduating from CUSD Perry High School—attending Arizona State University—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00; Deborah He—graduating from CUSD Hamilton High School—attending Vanderbilt University—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00; Tessa Chadwick—graduating from Casteel High School—attending University of Utah—Service Above Self Scholarship of $2000.00; Tecate Phair—Incoming Junior at CUSD Hamilton High School—attending EVIT Cosmetology Program for two years—Vocational Scholarship of $2000.00. RCSL Scholarship Awards are sponsored by proceeds of RCSL’s Annual Golf Tournament—thank you to all its supporters.
Rotary clubs join forces to beautify MCC Rose Garden
In a shining example of community collaboration, the Tempe South and the Mesa West Rotary Club, in partnership with the Westwood High School Rotary Interact Club, completed an extensive beautification project at the Mesa Community College Rose Garden — the largest public rose garden in the Desert Southwest.
Over the course of several months, more than 30 dedicated volunteers rolled up their sleeves to restore and enhance key features of the garden. The project was supported by a $5,000 grant written together by Mesa West Rotary and the Tempe South Rotary Clubs, which funded much-needed improvements to preserve and uplift the garden’s aesthetic and structural integrity.
A dedication ceremony was held May 30, and a plaque was unveiled to recognize Rotary's efforts in the project.
As we come to another Rotary year, Zone 26/27 Rotary International Director Dan Himelspach reminds Rotarians of Rotary's core values -- Service, Fellowship, Diversity, Integrity and Leadership -- and how they remain our guiding light as we continue in our efforts to bring positive change to our world, our community and to ourselves!
Rotary Club of Sedona Village awards $1,100
in summer scholarships to local families
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is proud to announce that it has awarded a total of $1,100 in summer camp scholarships to select local families, benefiting children from pre-kindergarten to high school age. This follows the club's previous initiative in April, where six students from SRRHs were awarded summer camp scholarships totaling $4,800.
The Rotary Club has once again stepped up to support the community by awarding scholarships to seven children for summer camp programs offered through Sedona Parks and Recreation. The awardees: Naftali Romanoff , Inde Kehoe, Jake Gonzalez, Mila Soni, Sage Soni, Jemma Jackson, Jaelynn Jackson.
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village is committed to serving the community through various initiatives that support education, health, and community development. By providing scholarships and other forms of support, the club aims to make a positive impact on the lives of local families and children.
Rotary Club of Sedona Village assists
disabled veteran with yard cleanup
Twelve members of the Rotary Club of Sedona Village recently teamed up with local firefighters to weed and clean up the yard of a retired firefighter and disabled veteran Village neighbor. The two-hour project, filled with camaraderie and community spirit, was made light work thanks to many helping hands. Will Trezise, project chair, stated, “Our Club’s mission is to ‘improve people’s lives, locally and globally, through service’; we’re pleased to work with our local firefighters to help Craig improve his yard.”
This effort was part of the Rotary Week of Service, during which Village Rotarians will also volunteer at the Manzanita Outreach Food Bank on April 26.
Rotary asks clubs to update information of officers
Dear incoming and current Rotary and Rotaract club officers,
Rotary International is collecting club and club officer information for the 2025-26 Rotary year, and we need your help. We ask your club to report incoming club officers to Rotary to help us compile resources for Rotary members around the world, including the online interactive directory and the Club search function found on My Rotary.
This will also ensure that incoming club officers receive vital information from Rotary. This is a reminder that if you have not already done so, please submit the names of your club’s incoming officers by the end of May.
Submit or verify:
The names of your 2025-26 club officers as well as their contact details, such as mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone and fax numbers.
Your club’s meeting details: place, address, day, and time.
Your club’s contact information: a permanent phone number and, if you have them, a permanent email address and mailing address where all club officers can receive mail, as well as your club website.
If your club is using a partner system connected to RI to manage membership information in My Rotary, the details of which are linked here. Please make all updates to club officers and club information in your local database.
If you are interested, you can see your membership changes reflected in Rotary International’s database by signing into My Rotary. If you see any discrepancy between My Rotary and the partner system used by your club, please contact data@rotary.org. If you have not already done so, please make sure to register for My Rotary.
Thank you for helping to keep our records current and accurate.
Sincerely,
Thomas Woods
Data Relations Manager | Data Services
The Rotary Club of Sedona Village (RCSV) is proud to announce $4,800 in summer scholarships awarded to outstanding local students for 2025.
Summer Camp Scholarships ($3,000 total):
• Sofia Wolfe, 10th Grade — $750 for Sedona Dance Academy
• Teddy Arizmendo, 8th Grade — $750 for Sedona Dance Academy
• Phoebe Jones, 8th Grade — $500 for School of Ballet in Mesa
• Lotus Flores, 11th Grade — $500 for NAU Curry Summer Music Camp (violin)
• Elizabeth Kraus, 9th Grade — $500 for NAU Curry Summer Music Camp (violin)
These scholarships support students’ participation in dance, music, and performing arts programs across Arizona. RSCV has a dedicated youth services committee with a proven track record of assisting local families with the financial burden of summer enrichment camps.
Additional Leadership Scholarship ($1,800):
• Khrystian Cordova, SRRHS Junior and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) attendee — $1,800 to attend the Sister Cities International Youth Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C.
RCSV raises funds to empower youth and support their academic, artistic, and leadership development.
Robert Wertz, District 5495 Peacebuilders chair, continues his series of 'Ripples of Peace' on the District website. Remember: Every act of service is an act of peace!
Need a speaker? Local author available for club talks
John S. Wolfe, a resident of Tempe and former Rotarian, is the Arizona author of “Around the World in Sixty Years: The Experiences and Wisdom of a Generation of Gentlemen from Argentina to Zimbabwe.”
The book comprises 101 profiles of gentlemen born around 1964 from 65 countries across the globe, touching on life, family, work and their countries’ histories.
John has a 20-minute presentation about the book that highlights fascinating anecdotes from the participants from places like Morocco, Nepal, Bali and Vietnam. The overarching theme of the book is “We have more in common than in conflict.”
His presentation can include a PowerPoint, if a screen and projector are available. You can reach him at aroundtheworldbook1964@gmail.com.
The Rotary Support Center is an easily accessible first point of contact for Rotarians, donors, staff, and others to help answer questions in English, French, and Spanish. Staff is available to answer your questions about almost anything, including Rotary's website, TRF and grants, donor contributions, point transfers, reports, invoices, and so much more. Business hours are 8 am to 5 pm Central Time, Monday through Friday. You can reach the Support Center toll-free at 1-866-976-8279 (1-866-9ROTARY) or by email at rotarysupportcenter@rotary.org .
