Welcome to another issue of our bulletin! Visit our Club's September Zoom meeting, view updated news on Polio, learn about the C.A.R.T. drive, welcome our new Club member, and see what is going on in the Rotary world.
Rotary September Theme
September is designated as Basic Education and Literacy Month by Rotary International. This theme emphasizes the importance of education and literacy as critical components for personal and community development. Rotary encourages clubs worldwide to engage in initiatives that support literacy and education, addressing the needs of millions who lack access to basic education and reading skills.
Key Focus Areas:
Community Engagement: Clubs are urged to strengthen local educational foundations.
Global Literacy: Over 775 million adults are illiterate, highlighting the need for ongoing efforts.
Inclusivity in Education: The theme also aims to reduce gender disparities in education and promote adult literacy.
The theme for September in Rotary is Basic Education and Literacy.
This month emphasizes the importance of education and literacy as fundamental rights and aims to empower communities to support these initiatives.
One of the vibrant speakers for our Club's September Zoom meeting was Melissa Wilson.
Melissa has been teaching in Georgia for 15 years and currently teaches accelerated & AP math courses. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering from Georgia Tech and a Master's Degree in Education from UGA. Over the years she has been on committees for many school and district initiatives, previously served as department chair, and leads professional development. She is also an AP Calculus grader for College Board.
Club member and Past President Melona Sossah talked about her involvement in education and the SFK program.
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Sherri Crouse, co-chairperson for the D6950 C.A.R.T. - Coins for Alzheimer's Research Trust talked briefly about the upcoming golf tournament for the organization.
The CART Fund is a Rotary charity (four-stars from Charity Navigator) dedicated to finding a cure, treatment or prevention of Alzheimer's Disease, and also provide additional information on our upcoming CART Golf Tournament. This year, the golf tournament will be held on Friday, September 25th at Dunedin Golf Club and will also include a GOLF BALL DROP!
GOLF TOURNAMENT at Dunedin Golf Club to benefit CART:
We invite every Rotarian to join us on Friday, September 25th at the historic Dunedin Golf Club with registration beginning at 12:00 Noon. Players, volunteers, sponsors and spectators welcome!
- Single-player fee: $300; team of 4 players: $1,000 (registration form attached)
- Hole-in-One Prize sponsored by Dimmitt Cadillac
- Prizes for Closest to the Pin; Longest Drive and Putting Contest
To make this event even more fun and exciting, we will have a helicopter drop 1,000 individually numbered golf balls on hole #13 to raise additional money for CART. Each golf ball is $10, and the first ball that lands in the hole wins $1,000 (flyer attached).
Help us sell all 1,000 golf balls to make this tournament extra-extra special! To purchase golf balls for the Drop, you can go through the "Donation" Portal on our Club webpage.
For more information about the golf tournament and the Golf Ball Drop, please contact Sherri Crouse, Rotary Club of Tierra Verde at 304-416-2097.
THANK YOU always for your support of CART and Rotary~
Remember, theorange colour is allocated forPolio Awareness month and represents people affected by polio, while the purple colour is allocated for World Polio Day and polio eradication.
Therefore, we recommend NOT requesting 24-October as a date to light up orange, so that World Polio Day can be honoured with purple.
Heather Ton is a seasoned executive and Founder of Gulf of America Services in Houston, Texas. She is an experienced Vice President of Business Development with a strong track record in the oil & energy industry, particularly in the Gulf region.
Heather excels in negotiation, petroleum, gas, offshore services, and strategic business growth. She leverages deep industry knowledge and a family legacy of success in Gulf industries to deliver results, build partnerships, and drive expansion for clients in marine, offshore, and energy sectors.
Through Gulf of America Services, she provides experienced advisors, experts, and support services to help businesses optimize operations, reduce costs, and maximize opportunities in the dynamic energy landscape. Her work includes marine equipment, offshore services, branding, and specialized contracting solutions.
Highlights:
• Recognized Leader — Honored Listee in Marquis Who’s Who (2023–2029).
• Community Advocate — Former President of the New Orleans Chapter of Oilfield Connections International; active volunteer supporting local charities and philanthropies.
• Proven Professional — Colleagues describe her as a dynamic “go-getter,” exceptional leader, and results-driven businesswoman who consistently exceeds expectations.
Heather combines hands-on industry expertise, strong interpersonal skills, and a commitment to hard work (rooted in her family’s multi-generational legacy) to help organizations achieve sustainable growth in the energy sector. She is based in Houston and remains deeply connected to Gulf Coast opportunities.
Learn how Rotary clubs are taking action in Mexico, the United States, Spain, Uganda, and Taiwan.
by Brad Webber
1 Sept 2026
Mexico
A chili cookoff organized by the Rotary Club of Mérida English in March raised more than $6,600 for youth services in the club’s Yucatán state community. Fourteen chefs vied for bragging rights, as determined by votes from more than 200 diners. The contest was held at the Casa de Amistad, the historic clubhouse of the Rotary Club of Mérida, of which Mérida English is a satellite club. The site was chosen “to bridge the gap between expat and Yucatán communities,” says club member David Keelan. The cookoff was held in collaboration with the Mérida English Library and the International Women’s Club. “When local clubs and libraries join forces, the result is more than just a meal,” Keelan says. “It is a sustainable investment in the city’s youth.”
United States
Each year, the Rotary clubs of Kissimmee and Bartow team up and host a popular clay shooting tournament to support outdoor recreational opportunities for wounded military veterans in Florida. The clubs, which have raised $417,000 since 2018, welcomed 250 attendees to their October 2025 event, says Kissimmee Club President Jean Cunningham. In March, the Rotarians donated $80,000 to Operation Outdoor Freedom, a Florida Forest Service program that serves about 6,500 veterans by organizing outings for them to go fishing, camping, and hunting for alligators, pythons, wild hogs, and turkeys. Eric Lee, a veteran who took part in the event, told the club that “some of the toughest moments” occur after returning home from deployment. “When the structure, the team, and the mission are suddenly gone,” said Lee, “Operation Outdoor Freedom steps in.”
1967
International Chili Society founded
6,000
Annual tournaments held by the Amateur Trapshooting Association
Spain
Even on a bustling Mediterranean island like Ibiza, making human connections can be a challenge. Denise Klischan formed the Rotary E-Club of Ibiza International to supercharge inclusivity, networking, and philanthropy — often in tandem. “Most of our members live in Ibiza,” says Klischan. “Those who live abroad have a special link to Ibiza, usually because they have a holiday home here.” At the suggestion of member Deborah Sass, the club this year began hosting business networking events for Rotarians and nonmembers alike. And they keep striving for inclusivity. “We are an expressly LGBTQ+ open club and have single mothers who bring their children to meetings,” Klischan says. “We charge the lowest monthly fee possible to make Rotary affordable for everyone — and we have a lot of fun.”
Uganda
Health initiatives are a hallmark of the Rotary Club of Lake Bunyonyi. In April the club conducted a daylong medical clinic that served 772 people, most of them from rural outposts. “The outreach was aimed at improving access to healthcare, including general medical consultations, screening and testing, health education, counseling, and the treatment of common illnesses,” says Jean Tukamushaba, the club’s immediate past president. “Limited medical resources, financial constraints, and long distances to health facilities often prevent community members from seeking timely medical attention.” At the clinic, Rotarians, doctors, and other health workers teamed up with local leaders and Red Cross representatives. Tukamushaba says that demand was stronger than expected and future health initiatives will include more dental professionals and other specialists.
1976
First cited use of ‘networking’ in an interpersonal context
To purchase golf balls for the Drop, you can go through the "Donation" Portal on our Club webpage.
