Rotarian Doug Fread was presented with a Paul Harris +2 pin in recognition of his continued support of Paul Harris Foundation.  His pin was presented byDG Jeff Ferwada and pinned by President Ed.  Congratulations Doug.

“Unite for Good” — A Message of Connection, Purpose, and Legacy

The Rotary Club of St. Marys was pleased to welcome District Governor Jeff Ferwada of District 6330 as guest speaker at this week’s meeting. Jeff, a long-time Rotarian from Michigan and an architect by profession, spoke passionately about Rotary’s power to amplify individual purpose into collective good.

Jeff congratulated the club on its 100th Anniversary, expressing admiration for the community spirit reflected in the recent centennial celebrations. He shared that his theme for the Rotary year — “Unite for Good” — reflects both Rotary International’s vision and his own commitment to strengthening bonds between Canadian and American clubs in our bi-national district.

Drawing on his own Rotary journey — from first attending a lunch meeting in 2001 to serving now as District Governor — Jeff illustrated how Rotary offers ordinary people the opportunity to accomplish extraordinary things. He emphasized that true engagement begins when Rotary moves from “our heads to our hearts.”

Key points from Jeff’s address included:

• Membership, Polio, and Peace remain Rotary International’s global priorities.
• Clubs are encouraged to focus on member experience — ensuring every Rotarian finds meaningful purpose and connection.
• Innovative club models, such as interest-based or profession-based satellite clubs, can help attract new members and serve diverse communities.
• Rotary thrives when we help each member discover their personal “why” — the reason they choose to serve.

To close, Jeff invited members to take a few minutes to write down their own “why” — the motivation that brings meaning to their Rotary journey. The exercise inspired thoughtful reflection and renewed appreciation for how Rotary unites people to create lasting change.

Past Rotary International President Jennifer Jones, with the assistance of Samir Zogbi, inbound exchange student from Argentina, unveiled the new Rotary Peace Pole on October 14th.  The peace pole is located in the Horticultural Society's Peace Garden.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT 
by Diane O'Shea

In our community, we live, learn, and work on the homelands of the Haudenosaunee (HOH-din-oh-SHOH-nee) and the Anishinaabeg (uh-NISH-ih-NAH-bay) First Nations peoples. We honour their continued presence and deep traditional knowledge. We recognize especially the stewardship of the land by the First Peoples.

Our ancestors made special promises or treaties to share this land and to be good neighbours. May we all live with respect for the land in peace and friendship.

A look back at 50 years of Rotary Youth Exchange

Although we’re celebrating 50 years of Rotary Youth Exchange as an official program of Rotary International, you may also know that Rotary members facilitated exchanges dating back to the 1920s. We recently published a historical overview of the program from inception to formal recognition as an activity of Rotary International. It’s an enjoyable look back at the origins of the program. Share it with your friends and peers interested in Rotary Youth Exchange.

Watch the video

The Rotary Club of St. Marys is proudly celebrating its 100th Anniversary — a century of Service Above Self! From community projects and international partnerships to youth programs and environmental initiatives, this milestone recognizes the impact of generations of Rotarians working together to improve lives locally and globally.

Over the past year, our club has supported projects such as the Cadzow Park Splash Pad, Rotary All Wheels Skate Park, Meals on Wheels, Nourish Equal Access Food Market, the Rotary Hospice Stratford Perth, youth scholarships, and the G.O.A.L.S. Breakfast Program. We continue our international efforts in Kenya, Uganda, and in Rotary’s global campaign to eradicate polio.

Fundraising events like the Rotary Heritage Calendar, Rural Urban Night, Golf Tournaments, Brews and Food Festival, The Stitch Market, and our Fall Drive make this work possible. Each event brings our community together to raise vital funds that allow us to respond to local needs, support youth, protect the environment, and extend goodwill across borders.

As part of our centennial celebrations, we’ve launched the 100 Acts of Service campaign and partnered with Broken Rail Brewing to create a Centennial Hazy IPA — with proceeds supporting Rotary projects right here in St. Marys. These initiatives remind us that even small acts of service can have a lasting impact.

We invite you to join us in continuing this legacy of service. Your support ensures that we can respond to community needs today while investing in a brighter future tomorrow.

👉 Click “Donations” at the top of the page to support Rotary. Every contribution, big or small, helps us transform lives at home and around the world.

Together, we can improve lives and make a difference — in St. Marys, and beyond.

Janet and Mark Oliver enjoyed showing Maida Mora around St. Marys on September 19th. Maida is a Rotary Exchange student from Chile. She is currently hosted in Stirling, Ontario. Janet and Mark were host parents here in St. Marys for Maida’s mother, Marcela Salgado in 1994.