One remarkable aspect of The Rotary Foundation is that opportunities for significant projects exist wherever there's a need - in large countries and small ones, in metropolitan areas and rural ones.
Global grant projects are built on international partnerships, and those collaborations can take many forms. A district in Canada may be the international sponsor, with a US district as the host sponsor. A club in France could sponsor a global grant project in Germany. The need, not the location, determines the project.
Here's another example: Rotary clubs in Honduras and the US worked together on a global grant project to provide eye care to people in Honduras. Members from both clubs provided vision services through local clinics. They evaluated more than 1,200 people and gave prescription eyeglasses to 600. A local nongovernmental organization will continue to provide glasses and medications to people who need them.
What does this mean for the community? Better eyesight can lead to better educational or occupational opportunities, which can mean a better quality of life for people.
Clubs around the world use these grants from the Foundation to make long-term, sustainable change. Every club has the opportunity to do this, one project at a time.
Registration is now open for Club Leadership Academy (CLA) 2026, our district’s hands-on leadership experience designed to strengthen clubs and support current and future leaders.
At our best, Rotary isn’t a meeting—it’s a mission. Power of Purpose is the idea that the strongest clubs aren’t the ones that work hardest to recruit; they’re the ones that work hardest to matter.
CLA 2026 Dates & Locations
CLA–Phoenix: Saturday, March 7, 2026 — Paradise Valley Community College
CLA Zoom Online option, Saturday, March 7, 2026
CLA–Prescott: Saturday, March 28, 2026 — Yavapai College
RLI- Session 1 at both Phoenix and Prescott events
Peacebuilding is more than a global ideal—it’s a daily practice woven into the fabric of Rotary’s mission. Rotary International reminds us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict but the presence of conditions that allow individuals and communities to flourish. Through education, economic opportunity, health initiatives, and the protection of human rights, Rotary members work to address the root causes of conflict and create environments where people can thrive.
Here in Arizona, Rotary District 5495 brings that vision to life through hands‑on service and community partnerships. The district highlights peacebuilding as a core area of focus, encouraging clubs to engage in projects that strengthen neighborhoods, support vulnerable populations, and promote understanding across cultures. Whether through youth leadership programs, humanitarian outreach, or local service initiatives, Rotarians in District 5495 demonstrate how peace grows when people come together with compassion and purpose.
Rotary’s approach to peace is intentionally broad and deeply inclusive. Programs such as Rotary Youth Exchange help young people “truly become global citizens” by immersing them in new cultures and building lifelong friendships across borders. These experiences foster empathy, reduce barriers, and nurture the next generation of peacebuilders. At the same time, Rotary’s global initiatives—ranging from conflict‑resolution training to community development projects—reinforce the belief that peace is built through sustained, thoughtful action.
Every service project, no matter the size, contributes to what Rotary calls “positive peace”: the presence of justice, opportunity, and well‑being. District 5495’s ongoing efforts—from the Arizona Rotary Week of Service to countless club‑level projects—showcase how Rotarians create lasting change in our communities and around the world. Together, we advance peace not through grand gestures, but through consistent acts of service that uplift others and strengthen the bonds that hold communities together.
Grab your Rotary friends and head to the ballpark for an unforgettable day of baseball, camaraderie, and pure fun! Enjoy VIP access to the 1st Base Party Deck, where you’ll take in the game from prime seating with a festive, social atmosphere for D5495 Rotarians.
Your ticket includes:
Game admission in the exclusive 1st Base Party Deck
A delicious ballpark lunch
Soft drinks throughout the game
A lively Rotary-only experience filled with laughs, photos, and memories
Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just there for the hot dogs and high-fives, this is the perfect blend of fellowship and fun. Wear your Rotary swag, bring your cheering voice, and let’s turn the stadium into a sea of Service Above Self!
It’s not just a game—it’s a grand slam day with Rotary. REGISTER HERE
Questions? Contact:
Teresa Haire @ D5495admin@rotary5495.org or 602-663-3333
As Rotarians, we are regularly exposed to opportunities to support various causes with our time, talent and treasure. Sometimes it is hard to sift through all the information and decide where we are going to use our available financial resources.
It would be wonderful if every Mesa West Rotarian would make the following BIG FOUR their Rotary charities of choice and support every one of them every year, we could make a bigger difference than we are making today.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85900479873
Doubletree, 1011 W Holmes
Mesa, AZ 85210 United States of America
Our hybrid meetings are held weekly on the 1st thru 4th Thursdays of each month. The meetings are broadcast via Zoom to include all, whether attending virtually or in person. NOTE: The meeting location is accessible.
