For the year ending June 30, 2025 Zones 26 and 27 were once again at the very top of the Rotary world in Total Giving (Zone 26 – Number 3, Zone 27 – Number 4).

 

With Polio being our number one humanitarian priority, Zones 26 and 27, again were the top contributors in the world to this worthy cause (Zone 27 – Number 1 and Zone 26 – Number 4).

 

As most of you know, The Rotary Foundation had a goal of having a combined total of net assets and commitments totaling 2.025 billion by the year 2025.  We should all be more than proud that we exceeded this goal by 25 million.  This accomplishment could once again could not have happened without the very dedicated Rotarians from Zone 26 (Number 1 in the world) and Zone 27 (Number 4 in the world).

 

I get asked constantly "Why are Zones 26 and 27 always at the top in giving to Our Rotary Foundation".  The answer is very simple ......it is CULTURE.

 

Culture is the shared beliefs, values, customs, of a particular group of people that are passed down through generations.  This culture has allowed Zones 26 and 27 to consistently lead the world in supporting Our Rotary Foundation.

 

This culture was developed and maintained by the outstanding leadership that has always existed in Zones 26 and 27.  Rotarians in these two zones truly understand the value and the impact that Our Foundation has made in the world. They have a shared identity and a true sense of place in the world, helping them connect with others who have similar values and traditions.

 

As 2025 was wrapping up, I headed out on a road trip to Fort Stewart, Georgia. I loaded a rented minivan with our son’s remaining belongings from home and a very special custom crib built by Ed Koeneman. I downloaded some road‑trip playlists and—having listened to only one episode of the District5495Express podcast—added several more episodes for the drive. With 30 hours of road time ahead of me, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to catch up. I also discovered that listening to too many hours of music gave me a headache.

 

For those of you who haven’t checked out Larry Horton’s District5495Express podcast, I highly recommend it. After day one of travel, I downloaded even more episodes for day two. By day three, having run out, I tried out a true‑crime podcast to mix things up.

In each episode of District5495Express, Larry interviews various District 5495 Rotarians and explores different Rotary topics. I won’t give you any spoilers, but I do want to highlight one part of the podcast that really got me thinking. Each episode ends with Larry saying, “Every act of service is an act of peace,” a phrase made famous by a Past District Governor of our district (you’ll have to listen to find out who). It’s a phrase worth reflecting on

Mesa West club members do a tremendous amount of service. We recently completed over 500 hours of bell ringing for the Salvation Army—an annual tradition for our club. That means we are all already peacebuilders. Peacebuilding is an active, holistic process that goes far beyond simply stopping violence. It’s about creating positive peace.

Positive peace grows incrementally with every service project we take on. The impact we have on others—whether improving education, supporting health, strengthening life skills, boosting local commerce, or simply setting an example that inspires others to help their fellow humans—are all pieces of the great puzzle we call PEACE.