Rotary District 5400 showed what “people of action” looks like on a global stage. At the recent Environmental Xperience—part of one of the world’s largest environmental gatherings—leaders from our district helped design, lead, and deliver the experience. Liz Alexander (Nampa Rotary President) and Taesun Conners (Earth Network Rotary Club) hosted the district’s newest E-Club presence. Anysa and JC Santini led sessions connecting fashion, waste, and economic development, while also operating the Re|Root exhibit. Laurie Zuckerman served as main stage co-manager along with Wade Nomura, TRF Global Coordinator for WASH, and emcee Barry Rassin, past Rotary International President and Chair for TRF. For a district of our size, the impact was significant.
So why does this matter?
The Environmental Xperience is not a typical conference. It brings together leaders from more than 100 countries—business, science, education, and community sectors—to move ideas into action. Over three days, more than 150 speakers on eight stages and countless participants collaborated on real-world solutions related to climate, waste, energy, and resilience.
What stood out most was not just the scale, but the purpose. This event was intentionally designed to turn conversations into outcomes—partnerships formed, projects advanced, and ideas tested in real time. As one participant shared, “Real progress happens when ideas turn into action.”
For Rotary, this aligns directly with our Action Plan: increasing impact, expanding reach, and creating meaningful engagement. It also reflects the mission of the Earth Network Rotary Club—one of our district’s new online clubs—connecting people, purpose, and planet through accessible, global participation.
Even if environmental issues are not your primary focus, this matters. These global challenges affect our communities, economies, and future generations. More importantly, they create opportunities for Rotary to lead.
Liz Alexandar and Taesun Conners enjoy dinner with Karen Kendrick-Hands and Larry Hands, ESRAG Co-Founders
Anysa and JC Santini award Steve Bender, event founder and CEO, one of their bags from their NGO, Re|Root, based in Uganda
Ukraine Delegation on the links between war and the environment