Rotary International Director Marty Helman kicked off a whirlwind visit to District 6400 with a luncheon hosted by the Rotary Club of Plymouth at the Plymouth Cultural Center. Eighty-five Rotarians packed the room, including many visitors from clubs across the district, eager to hear from an RI Director.
Past Rotary International Director Michael McCullough introduced Helman, whose remarks left a lasting impression. She reminded Rotarians of The Rotary Foundation's extraordinary reach and challenged everyone in the room to put it to work. Ordinary people, she said, accomplish extraordinary things when they work together — and every one of Rotary';s landmark achievements, including PolioPlus, began with a single Rotarian who had an idea and
rallied others behind it. District Governor Kim Spirou welcomed Helman on behalf of District 6400, and from Plymouth, the visit crossed the border into Windsor, Ontario, where DG Kim and DGE Therese Maggioncalda, had organized a Rotary Peace Pole Dedication event at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.
rallied others behind it. District Governor Kim Spirou welcomed Helman on behalf of District 6400, and from Plymouth, the visit crossed the border into Windsor, Ontario, where DG Kim and DGE Therese Maggioncalda, had organized a Rotary Peace Pole Dedication event at St. Clair College Centre for the Arts.
The new Peace Pole, inscribed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four languages, now stands on a campus that welcomes students from dozens of countries. St. Clair College President Michael Silvaggi called the installation a reflection of the college's commitment to an inclusive, welcoming environment. DG Kim noted that peace isn't threatened by differences — it's built on them, and that every language and tradition carried through the college's doors is proof that diversity is peace's foundation, not an obstacle to it.
Helman, whose Windsor stop was a featured event on her official Impact Tour, called the pole a visible reminder that words matter as much as actions, and said she was honored to help mark a moment meant to draw people together across their differences. The day closed on a warmer, more personal note: an intimate dinner with a dozen Rotarians at a local Italian eatery in Windsor, filled with fellowship, laughter, and the kind of lively Rotary talk that keeps ideas — and friendships — alive. From a packed luncheon in Plymouth to a peace pole in Windsor to a table for twelve, Marty Helman's visit to District 6400 was a reminder that Rotary's impact starts small and travels far
— one relationship, one act of service, one Rotarian at a time.
— one relationship, one act of service, one Rotarian at a time.