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Rochester Grants Committee Update: $3,000 of your dues are slated for grant activities ($9,000 total from all three Rochester Clubs). The Rochester Grants Committee meets monthly and has been busy ensuring your money is spent on projects that will help others. To date, The Rotary Club of Rochester has participated in the following grants:
$500 partnered with White Bear Lake Rotary on a Malaria Project in Sierra Leone
$750 partnered with Woodbury Rotary on a renovation of their Miracle Field
$250 partnered with Red Wing Rotary to help with an Early Childhood Learning Center in Sierra Leone
$250 partnered with Hudson Daybreak Rotary on a Cooking Stove effort in Guatemala
$250 partnered with Rice Lake Rotary with a Sleeping in Heavenly Peace project building and distributing beds to those in need in the area
The District 5960 Grants committee reviewed Global Grant Submissions on May 29 and District Grant Submissions will be reviewed on June 19. The remaining $1,000 from the TRCR grant budget will be spent to support one or more of the grants presented at these meetings. All Rotarians are welcome to attend the District meetings with registration information available on the District website. Club members are also welcome to attend the monthly Rochester Grants Committee meeting on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 a.m.
Eva, the Rotary Clubs of Rochester's 2025-26 inbound Youth Exchange Student from Sardinia, recapped her year in Rochester at the June 11 TRCR weekly meeting. She attended Mayo High School this past year and will return to Sardinia to complete her senior year. Eva informed us that high school is completed in five years in Italy. She will be leaving Rochester soon after venturing to the East Coast with other Rotary Youth Exchange Students from the area where she'll have an opportunity to learn more about the history of the United States. Pictured with Eva exchanging their respective Rotary club banners is Mel Trimble who leads the Rotary Youth Exchange efforts with members of the Risers and Greater Rochester. Thanks to all who hosted Eva and/or assisted in making her year successful!
The Rotary Club of Rochester held its annual leadership transition on June 4.
Congratulations and many thanks to 2025-26 President Steve Sperling on a successful Rotary year. Club members are excited for the upcoming Rotary year 2026-27 with President Frank Allen. The dedication of both Steve and Frank is very much appreciated.
In recognition of The Rotary Club of Rochester's 100th anniversary, club members raised more than $10,000 to purchase four benches that now surround the new splash pad area at Silver Lake Park. A permanent plaque recognizing the gift from The Rotary Club of Rochester is located in front of each bench. Club members joined city leaders, city council members, community partners, donors, and other stakeholders to celebrate the important investment our community has made in Silver Lake Park. Mayor Kim Norton recognized our club and its members during a ceremony held at the new Silver Lake Pool on June 3. Take a moment to listen to her remarks and feel the pride that every Rotarian should feel as they serve their community in some capacity each day.
Thank you again to everyone who donated to make this gift to our community possible. And, special thanks to the donor who offered the Challenge Grant to boost the fundraising. This gift is a visible, long-term asset for our community.
Rotarians across District 5960 once again demonstrated the power of service and collaboration through the 2026 Crutches 4 Africa collection effort. Throughout the past year, 23 Rotary clubs collected nearly 3,000 gently used mobility devices from communities across our district.
While the Rotary Clubs of Rochester held their collection drive in April, the District project culminated on June 6 and 7, when Rotarians and volunteers gathered to sort, organize, and load a 53-foot semi-trailer. By the end of the weekend, the trailer was filled with 2,680 mobility devices and related equipment bound for Mexico, where the items will provide life-changing assistance to thousands of individuals and families.
The Rotary Clubs of Rochester are recruiting host families for next year's Rotary Youth Exchange students. Our clubs will be hosting two inbound students for the 2026-2027 school year and are in need of another two host families. Learn about our inbound students from France and Denmark and more about the youth exchange program by clicking here. If you have any questions, please reach out to Rotarian Melody Trimble at thetrimbleotherhalf@gmail.com
Why do club members and family and friends of The Rotary Club of Rochester clean-up White Oaks Park every month? The answer is simple, the club adopted the park several years ago, and a small but mighty group of dedicated volunteers have kept the clean-up tradition going.
Add Wednesday, July 15th, to your calendar to volunteer for the next White Oaks Park clean-up. Meet at the park at 6:00 p.m. It'll take about an hour to make sure the park is clean and safe for families to enjoy. Be sure to bring work gloves and plastic bags or a bucket for trash.
If you can't make it this month, mark your calendar for 6:00 pm. the third Wednesday of the month - August 19, September 16, and/or October 21 (5:00 p.m. start). White Oaks Park is located at 4597 55th St NW in Rochester.
Pictured is June's clean-up crew: John Woodruff, Josef Chlachula, and Frank Allen.
June is designated as Rotary Fellowships Month - a time dedicated to recognizing international friendships, global networking, and bring members together to share common hobbies, recreational activities, and vocations.
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Rochester Grants Committee Update: $3,000 of your dues are slated for grant activities ($9,000 total from all three Rochester Clubs). The Rochester Grants Committee meets monthly and has been busy ensuring your money is spent on projects that will help others. To date, The Rotary Club of Rochester has participated in the following grants: 
Why do club members and family and friends of The Rotary Club of Rochester clean-up White Oaks Park every month? The answer is simple, the club adopted the park several years ago, and a small but mighty group of dedicated volunteers have kept the clean-up tradition going.
