April brings a renewed sense of energy and possibility, and our club is already embracing that spirit. With the snow hopefully behind us, we’re stepping confidently into one of our busiest and most rewarding seasons.
March Recap
March was a month of connection and growth. Our preparations for the annual Golf Tournament are well underway, and the excitement is building. This event is one of our most important fundraisers of the year, and it thrives because of the generosity of our sponsors, golfers, and prize donors. The tournament will take place onJune 4 at the Shelburne Golf and Country Club, and we welcome anyone interested in sponsoring, attending, or contributing a prize. More details are available at shelburnerotaryclub.com.
We were also honoured to welcome the Southgate Rotary Club, our newest neighbours to the north. Their enthusiasm and commitment to service are inspiring, and we look forward to collaborating with them to strengthen our communities together.
Looking Ahead to April
April is Rotary’s Maternal and Child Health Month, a reminder of the profound impact Rotary has on families around the world. This theme encourages us to reflect on how our local projects—whether supporting youth, improving community resources, or partnering with service organizations—contribute to healthier, stronger futures.
In Closing
Thank you for your continued dedication, enthusiasm, and heart for service. March showed us once again that when we build partnerships, empower youth, and invest in our community, we embody the very best of Rotary. I’m grateful for each of you and excited for what we will accomplish together this spring.
Stay tuned for exciting news towards the end of the month. 🍪
Yours in Rotary,
Karen Webster
youth exchange - highlights from natalie
This month was filled with excitement, sunshine, lots of ice cream, and great weather—at least for me.
My host family took me on vacation to Florida during March Break. When they first told me that we were going to drive there, I was a little skeptical, but in the end, I think it was the best decision ever. We started our trip at 3 a.m. and drove for about 20 hours. The American border was very strictly monitored and controlled, unlike the borders I was used to. Whenever we drive to Germany, we simply cross a bridge. I have never been stopped to show my passport—in fact, I usually don’t even bring it with me.
I got to see a lot of the eastern American countryside, and it was really beautiful. We spent the week at a resort in Kissimmee, where we played pickleball, went shopping, ate ice cream, relaxed, and enjoyed the good weather. On our way back, we stayed in South Carolina for a day.
All in all, it was such a great experience and definitely one of the highlights of my exchange.
Now I'm really looking forward to next month where I'm going to change host families. It will be a day filled with excitement and sadness, as I have to leave my current family that I created such a strong bond with. But I'm also looking forward to new experiences and changes.
On March 21 I participated in a Soiree Exotic, where all the exchange students in district 1520 France from all over the world prepared their own traditional dish. In the first event I made poutine but this time around they asked that we make something different because every year the Canadians always make poutine. So I made pumpkin pie. I think it was a hit but not sure if they were just being nice. There were 230 attendees and we had 28 exchange students from South America, North America, Africa and Oceania. These dinners help the district finance all the outings with the exchange students.
At the Soiree Exotic, I met a lady from a local school and she asked me if I would go to her school and talk about the exchange program with another student from Brazil. It went very well and I think that we found some possible exchange students. I told them where I am living, what my day to day looks like. My Youth Exchange Officer also came along and talked about the best avenue to get involved.
If you want to stay updated on me and my fellow youth exchange students in France, you can follow the district's youth exchange Instagram @rye.1520.
Neil Orford, retired history teacher, fixture at Shelburne Remembrance Day ceremonies, and past speaker at Shelburne Rotary, is organizing a two week tour in November, 2026 of World War I and World War II sites in France and Belgium, including Remembrance Day at Juno Beach.
This tour is planned in conjunction with Orangeville Highlands Rotary for Rotarians and friends.
