August is Membership Month, and I'd like to suggest we think about membership a little differently.
Over the past few weeks, I've had the opportunity to visit clubs across District 5400. I've sold buffalo burgers at Miners Jubilee in Baker City, helped with concessions (cooked 22 pounds of onions) for hamburgers at the Bear Lake Car Show, hung out with Rotarians producing the Preston Pioneer Day Fireworks Show, and spent time with Rotarians who quietly make their towns stronger year after year.
What happens when you spend a year visiting Rotary clubs across District 5400? In the first installment of the new Town Hall Conversations series with Mike Markley, District Governor, Immediate Past District Governor Kathy Buck shares the lessons, surprises, and moments that shaped her year of service.
From witnessing the passion of Rotarians in communities large and small to seeing the life-changing impact of RYLA firsthand, Kathy reflects on what gives her hope for Rotary's future. Her message is simple but powerful: Rotary succeeds because of people who care, serve where they are, and work together to make a difference in their communities.
What if Rotary could help you become a better leader—not just in your club, but at work, at home, and in your community?
District 5400 is developing an exciting new leadership development experience that will launch in the winter/spring of 2027. Designed as an eight-week cohort, this program will bring together emerging and established leaders from across our district to grow in self-awareness, strengthen leadership skills, and build lasting relationships with fellow Rotarians. This won't be leadership training for the sake of Rotary titles. Our vision is to invest in people who want to lead with greater confidence, serve more effectively, and make a positive impact wherever they are called to lead.
Social media is one of the easiest and most effective ways to share your club's story. Posting regularly helps your community see the impact Rotary is making, promotes service projects and events, celebrates members, and can even attract prospective members.
Does your club have someone assigned to a Public Image role? If not, now may be a great time to identify a member who enjoys storytelling, photography, or social media.
Need help getting started? We can connect your club with a mentor from a Rotary club that is actively and successfully using social media. Learning from fellow Rotarians is a great way to build confidence, gather ideas, and strengthen your club's online presence.
Please reach out if you'd appreciate a mentor, or would be willing to be one!
District 5400 is proud to share a couple of updates from two of the current Peace Fellows from the District. A celebration dinner was organized for Emily Her, a Peace Fellow who is leaving Idaho in August to travel to Bradford University in the UK to begin her fellowship. With six clubs represented at dinner, Emily was sent off in Rotary fashion with flags, pins, and the support of the District and individual clubs. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from Emily and expand her Rotary network. She’ll be sharing quarterly updates on her studies and experience as her fellowship progresses.
Hunter Levy is currently at Bradford and already making lasting impact in Tanzania through his fellowship experience. His quarterly updates for the District have been fantastic, and this one will bring you joy. Story and photos below.
Rotary is filled with remarkable people whose leadership leaves a lasting impact on their clubs, communities, and the world. In this featured profile, Sean Spence highlights the story of Past District Governor Marie Baker of District 5400, sharing her Rotary journey, commitment to service, and the experiences that have shaped her leadership.
What does it mean to lead with purpose long after the gavel is passed? In this thoughtful profile, Past District Governor Kevin Learned shares lessons from a lifetime of Rotary service, leadership, and community involvement. His story reflects the values that connect Rotarians across District 5400: a commitment to service, meaningful relationships, and making a lasting difference.
Rotary's reach extends far beyond geography, and sometimes that reach can make a life-changing difference. During the Earth Network Rotary Club meeting on July 23, 2026, Martin Brocklebank shared an inspiring presentation, Our Global Fellowship Changes Lives, highlighting the power of Rotary connections around the world. Brocklebank is a member of the Rotary eClub of Innovation, an online club founded in 2014 that demonstrates how Rotarians can create meaningful impact regardless of location.
One of the presentation's most compelling stories recounts how Rotarians mobilized to help a 27-year-old Rotary Peace Fellow and activist escape Afghanistan just hours before the Taliban took control of the government on August 15, 2021. The story serves as a powerful reminder that Rotary is more than meetings and service projects. It is a global network of people committed to helping one another in times of need.
On July 16, 2026, the Earth Network Rotary Club welcomed Tom Gump, Rotary International Director (2026-2028), for a presentation titled "Sinking of a Battleship to Form a Coral Reef." Tom shared the remarkable story of how a retired naval vessel was intentionally sunk to create an artificial reef, transforming a symbol of military history into a thriving underwater habitat.
A member of the Edina Morningside Rotary Club in Minnesota, Tom is a former chair of Rotary International's Membership Growth Committee, former aide to the RI President, and currently chairs the Host Organization Committee for the 2028 Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis.
No new Wild Polio paralysis cases were reported this week. We are now 5 weeks since the most recent report of a child being paralyzed by the Wild Polio Virus in Afghanistan.
Let's Advocate, Donate & Educate to END POLIO NOW & FOREVER!
August is Membership Month, and I'd like to suggest we think about membership a little differently.
What happens when you spend a year visiting Rotary clubs across District 5400? In the first installment of the new Town Hall Conversations series with Mike Markley, District Governor, Immediate Past District Governor Kathy Buck shares the lessons, surprises, and moments that shaped her year of service.
What if Rotary could help you become a better leader—not just in your club, but at work, at home, and in your community?
Social media is one of the easiest and most effective ways to share your club's story. Posting regularly helps your community see the impact Rotary is making, promotes service projects and events, celebrates members, and can even attract prospective members.
District 5400 is proud to share a couple of updates from two of the current Peace Fellows from the District. A celebration dinner was organized for Emily Her, a Peace Fellow who is leaving Idaho in August to travel to Bradford University in the UK to begin her fellowship. With six clubs represented at dinner, Emily was sent off in Rotary fashion with flags, pins, and the support of the District and individual clubs. It was a fantastic opportunity to hear from Emily and expand her Rotary network. She’ll be sharing quarterly updates on her studies and experience as her fellowship progresses. 
Rotary's reach extends far beyond geography, and sometimes that reach can make a life-changing difference. During the Earth Network Rotary Club meeting on July 23, 2026, Martin Brocklebank shared an inspiring presentation, Our Global Fellowship Changes Lives, highlighting the power of Rotary connections around the world. Brocklebank is a member of the Rotary eClub of Innovation, an online club founded in 2014 that demonstrates how Rotarians can create meaningful impact regardless of location.
What do Rotary values sound like in Italian, German, and French? Thanks to the creativity of the Rotary Club of Innovation, now you can find out!
