Rotarians and friends from across District 5400 gathered together on May 29-30 for our 2026 Rotary District 5400 annual conference, embracing this year’s train theme as we celebrated service, leadership, fellowship, and the many ways Rotary continues to make a difference in our communities.
One of the greatest highlights of the conference was the spirit of fellowship that filled every event whether sharing ideas between and during sessions or doing one of our incredible service projects at the local, district or international levels. We enjoyed inspiring speakers, meaningful discussions within our Same Size Club groupings and reconnecting with friends across the District. The energy in every session reminded me that Rotary’s strength comes from people who are willing to climb aboard, work together and help move our District forward.
Friday evening began with an impactful presentation by Wyn Spiller, Rotary International Director for Zones 26 & 27. Wyn challenged and encouraged attendees to think deeply about Rotary’s future and the role each of us plays in strengthening our clubs, supporting our communities and expanding Rotary’s reach. Her message resonated throughout the conference and left attendees energized and inspired.
At the Treasure Valley YMCA’s 135th Annual Meeting, several familiar names stood out—not just as community leaders, but as proud Rotarians living out Service Above Self every day.
At the heart of it all was Jerry (Gerald) Bauman, a remarkable example of what it means to be a Rotarian. According to ClubRunner, Jerry has been a Rotarian since 1968—nearly six decades of service, leadership, and quiet dedication to his community.
The May 17, 2026 Epic Day of Service was truly EPIC across D5400, and the globe! This year D5400 clubs all across Idaho and Oregon participated in service on the EPIC Day, and throughout the month of May. The EPIC day promotes and delivers on service across 7 countries, 21 Districts,10+ states, and grows each year. The projects start getting posted in January each year and slowly build over April and May, with double the participation in 2026 over 2025. D5400 showed up on the EPIC Day with 10 projects officially logged on the Epic Day of Service website; several more projects were hosted across the District on dates surrounding the Epic Day where Hope House, Sleep in Heavenly Peace and other organizations benefited from Rotary Service, because every day is an epic day of service in Rotary.
Rotarians understand that donations to The Rotary Foundation (Foundation) are used to fund projects locally and around the world (more than $4 billion in Rotary good funded to date). Rotarians seeking project funding understand that money raised by clubs for projects is often doubled or even tripled through the leverage available by involving the Foundation. When we as Rotarians make a contribution to the Foundation, we have the ability to allocate those contributions among several available pools or “buckets” (e.g., Annual Fund SHARE, Polio Plus, Endowment, and more).
The Blue Lakes Rotary Club invites the community to one of the Magic Valley’s favorite summer traditions—the 15th Annual Magic Valley Beer Fest. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, August 1, from 1–6 p.m. at Twin Falls City Park.
Tickets go on sale Monday, June 1, offering an early opportunity to save. Advance tickets are $30—$10 off the gate price—and can be purchased at Magic Valley Beer Festival. Day-of tickets will be available for $40, and designated driver tickets are $20. This is a 21+ event.
What turns an environmental event into a lasting catalyst for change? At the Environmental Xperience in Dallas, the answer lies in connection, collaboration, and community-driven action.
Introduction
In a world filled with conferences and climate conversations, only a few experiences truly stay with people—shaping how they think, act, and collaborate. The Environmental Xperience in Dallas, held April 19–22, is one of those rare gatherings.
The Burley Rotary Club held its first ever SHARK POND EVENT on May 5, 2026. Two impoverished entrepreneurs from Zambia, Africa pitched their business ideas to Rotarians Stephanie Curtis, Brock Butters, Mikaila Mastrofini, and Chester Bradshaw while other club members looked on in anxious anticipation. The well-prepared team of sharks was appointed by their club to be the ‘judges’ for the service project. The event was held virtually during a regular club meeting of the Burley Rotary Club.
One of the most enjoyable features of this year's Get On Board and Stay on Track Conference was the Wooden Train Competition. Earlier in the year, approximately 40 wooden trains were distributed to clubs throughout District 5400 and members were invited to transform them into unique creations that reflected their club's personality, creativity, and imagination. The results did not disappoint!
I would be remiss by not thanking all those who started this "ride" with me as we visited clubs, attended trainings, conducted meetings and generally were privileged to meet so many of our Rotary District 5400 family! What a ride with stops at 43 "stations" (yes, we did visit the Teton Valley club)! These are really the BEST of TIMES!
How can one thank the backbone of our District - Our clubs! I had the honor and privilege to visit each one and learned so much. They are all unique yet still spread the same Rotary mission of Service Above Self - it is done differently but it is done. I am proud to serve as your leader this year as we watched our e-clubs form; our membership grow (a bit - but we are on the right track) and friendships form and deepen!
Every Rotary club has stories worth sharing - moments of service, impact in our communities, connections that matter, and people who inspire us to do more good in the world. Our District 5400 Bulletin is one of the most important ways we bring those stories together. And right now, we’re looking for someone who would enjoy helping tell that story.
We are inviting a Rotarian to serve as our next District Bulletin Editor.
This is more than just a role—it’s an opportunity to:
