Welcome to the Rotary Club of Meridian

Curious about Rotary? Everyone is welcome to participate in and share their passion for community service and friendship. Rotary provides service to others, promotes integrity, and advances world understanding, goodwill and peace.

MEET YINKA, NEW R.I. PRESIDENT

Born in the city of Ibadan, Nigeria, Olayinka H. Babalola received his engineering degree in 1988. He worked for 25 years in the oil and gas industry, holding senior positions at Shell PLC. He is the founder of two companies: an oil and gas infrastructure delivery company and an executive coaching and organizational performance advisory group.

Yinka started his Rotary career by starting a Rotaract Club in Bauchi. He's a long-time member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi. His goal for us is to "Create Lasting Impact".

See this month's Rotarian Magazine for full details.

On the Calendar in July 2026

Upcoming Meetings and Events to Attend:

Join us on June 3rd at Noon at Smoky Mnt Pizza in Meridian, Idaho for a great meeting that includes lunch, a great speaker, fellowship, and Rotary fun! June 17th and another meeting not to miss! The club will be joined by Interact Club leaders from Idaho Fine Arts Academy. Shannon McNall and some newly elected student leaders will share updates and ways we can support them in their efforts. Yet another great speaker organized by Chad Larson. Join us!

July 15th - Ben Nelson from The Rotary Club of Burly Idaho will join us to celebrate The Rotary Foundation and recognize the Meridian Club and our members for our successful donor year.
The next club service event will be Friday, July 31st to host the annual RYLA BBQ at Storey Park, from 11:00am to 1:30pm. Rotary club members and family members, as well as the Interact Club members are invited and welcome to come enjoy the BBQ. This is a great service and social event! We have plenty of volunteers signed up to help set-up and clean-up, we are still looking for 2 BBQs and one more griller. Thanks!

Club News!

Meridian Rotary is part of the Greater Boise Rotary Foundation and has 2 seats on the foundation board. Reed Hanson fills one seat, and the other is awaiting another club volunteer. Will that be you? The meetings are all hosted virtually and board members determine which grant applications will be funded.
Bob Rannells is being inducted in Idaho High School Activities Association’s Hall of Fame! IHSAA annually honors individuals who have given many years of exemplary service to Idaho’s youth. Bob will join two others being inducted as the Hall of Fame Class of 2026.
David Bishop, now a member of the Rotary Club of Boise Centennial is a CWI trustee and would like to bring CWI updates to the club in a future meeting.

Summer Reading Program Kick-Off Success!

There is SO much to celebrate at the Meridian Library, including the annual Summer Reading Program kick-off party. Club members put book plates in over 1,500 books, helped the Meridian Library at the book give-away, and one of the activities was face painting. The club’s face painting experts decorated more than 300 faces at the kick-off party! It was so much fun we will do it again next year!

Cross-Club Events

One of the many benefits of being a Rotarian is the opportunity to join other club events across the globe. This includes across the greater Treasure Valley, too. There are 40 clubs in District 5400 and a dozen between Caldwell and Mountain Home. Each club hosts service and socials that everyone is invited to attend. They include kick-ball tournaments, pickleball, beer fests, ice cream socials, luaus, and other fun events. These are also great events to join as well as to showcase the power of Rotary in the community. Of note, the Rotary Wetland Peace Park build-out is underway. This is a multi-club community project that offers opportunities to join others in service today and will offer a fabulous park experience within the year.

Pictured: Kickball Tournament Players - October 2025

JOIN A PROJECT

Change your community with us by volunteering on a local project.

PARTNER WITH US

We work with groups and organizations of all sizes to accomplish even more.

DISCOVER NEW CULTURES

Discover and celebrate diverse perspectives with a global organization.

Everyone is Welcome!

Service Above Self

We meet In Person

Wednesdays at 12:00 PM

Smoky Mountain Pizza

980 E Fairview Ave.
Meridian, ID 83642
United States

The Meridian Rotary Club meets at noon on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at Smoky Mountain Pizza, 980 E Fairview, Meridian. ID.

District Site

Bulletins

Venue Map

‘One simple word’

Leaders highlight the power of gratitude at The Rotary Foundation Donor Summit

Talking reading and Rotary with Dolly Parton

The entertainer and philanthropist Dolly Parton died 25 August 2026. This Q&A was originally published in the March 2010 issue of The Rotarian (now Rotary) magazine. Later that year, she spoke at the Rotary International Convention in Montreal, Canada.