Margarita in the 'Ville  is featuring a 50:50 raffle! 

Tickets are $5 each, 3 for $10, or 10 for $25!  All proceeds will go to support local projects. 

The 50:50 raffle is open now, and will continue through the event on February 7.  Winner will be announced at the event, but you do NOT need to be present to win.  The winner will be notified by email or text if they are not present. 

You can buy your tickets here:  50:50 Raffle

We are approaching the deadline for buying tickets to Margarita in the 'Ville!

Deadline to buy tickets is January 28, which is when we have to inform Otterbein of our final numbers. 

PLEASE don't wait until the last minute to get your tickets or sponsorhips- click the link now: Margarita in the 'Ville!

 

PETS Service Project: Ohio Imagination Library

Our PETS service project this year is Ohio Imagination Library. With Ohio’s recent change automatically enrolling every newborn in the program, local program partners are experiencing increased demand—some already facing waiting lists.

This project is especially impactful because of how donations are distributed. Contributions made to District 6690 are split evenly among all local program partners across the district. However, when a donation is made in our club’s name, 100% of that gift stays in our local community with the program partner that serves our club.

The impact of your support is tangible and affordable. It costs $31 to sponsor one child for an entire year, or $155 to sponsor a child for all five years of eligibility, delivering high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to their home each month.  

This effort is part of a per capita challenge among Ohio’s five Rotary districts, which means we'll need to do twice as well as the other districts. District 6690 has won the trophy all but two years since the challenge began. Members are also encouraged to reach out to other community organizations—such as Eagles, Moose, Elks, VFWs, and other groups you support—to invite them to join us in supporting this project.

Donations can be made by check payable to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Ohio, or by visiting:

CLUB https://givebutter.com/OhioRotary/district6690/westervillesunrise
DISTRICT https://givebutter.com/OhioRotary/district6690
 

Join us for the Satellite Club's January Service Event!

In January, the Satellite Club will be assembling care packages with food, warm weather supplies, recreational items like books, and resource guides for local unhoused folks. Packages will then be delivered to HEER2SERVE, local nonprofit that has weekly “serves”, where they go out into local encampment areas and deliver needed items and food. Our care packages will be a part of that.

This project is being done in partnership between Westerville Queer Collective and Neurospicy Columbus, a local meetup centered on community and service for Autistics and ADHDers.

Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
Time: 10 am - noon
Location: 30 E College Ave, Westerville, OH

If you are able to volunteer, please sign up here: Satellite Club: Sunrise Rotary: Care Packages for Unhoused Folks


 

Some of our members will be in Florida, or other warm climates when Margarita in the 'Ville rolls around, while  others have pre-existing commitments that prevent them from attending. 

Never Fear, you can still participate!  

From now until the event, you can donate via the Zeffy site, or bid on silent auction items when the auction opens: Margarita in the Ville

OR, if you are feeling lucky, buy some chances for the 50:50 raffle here: 50:50 Raffle

We have reserved a table for the MLK Breakfast on Monday, January 19 at the Renaissance Hotel. Doors open at 8:30 and the event ends at 10:30. We have a table for 8 people.

If you would like to be part of the Rotary table, a seat is $50. The table seats 8. 

To reserve your seat, text or email John Kellogg. Checks should be made out to the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club. 

Email Jrk847@gmail.com
Cell (614) 323-2136
First come first serve!
 

We had a very informative presentation by our own Dennis Blair on the Shinto Shrine on Wednesday. It was a symbol of peace considering its construction was just a few years after the end of World War 2. It makes you hope that someday that shrine will be erected and visited again.

As I mentioned Wednesday, we made a very substantial contribution to the Zone Competition between Zones 30 and 31 to combat Food Insecurity. The result of Westerville Sunrise Rotary effort towards Operation Full Plate was a total of 17,689 Points! I truly appreciate being a part of a very generous and service-oriented club.
Special thanks to Jamie Maze because her WARM Christmas Party resulted in 5,700 points. Also, thanks to Angela Sillus for gathering all the information to submit for the competition.

This coming week an old friend of mine, Gary Houtz from the Westerville Historical
Society will be discussing the history of Hoover Reservoir.

Stay warm and see you on Wednesday.  ???????

Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club and Westerville Noon Rotary Club members have been serving family dinners for homeless youth at Star House each month. We recently learned that due to funding cuts, they are closed from 2:30 to 10:30 pm until further notice. As such, we will be serving our monthly meals at lunch time.

Star House is no longer requiring background checks or trauma training in order to serve lunch! If you are able serve lunch, we will set up at 11:30 am and be done around 1 pm. 

We also need assistance with purchasing items and/or cooking. Food can be dropped off to Chris Herbert the Sunday before if it’s non-perishable, or Monday before 10:30 am if it’s hot food.

Our next lunch will be held on January 26. Please use the following sign-up link if you are able to participate: January 26.

The remaining 2026 dates are:

• Feb 23
• Mar 23
• Apr 27
• May 18 
• Jun 22
• Jul 27
• Aug 24
• Sept 28
• Oct 26
• Nov 23
• Dec 28

Your support is greatly appreciated.

• February 21
• May 9
• August 8
• November 14

January 19: MLK Breakfast
January 26: Star House Lunch
February 7: Margarita in the Ville
February 21: WARM volunteer opportunity
February 23: Star House Lunch
February 28: Winter Assembly
April 24-25: District 6690 Conference
May 9: WARM volunteer opportunity

 

Enlighten your fellow Rotarians.  Suggest a speaker to brighten our day! No reasonable suggestion refused.

BUT, your guest must be willing to attend in person.

Email  AJ Fox  at ajfox@me.com or Jackie Washburn at  jackiegardner1@hotmail.com