We’re excited to kick off a new Westerville Sunrise Rotary tradition!

Whenever there’s a Fifth Wednesday on the calendar, we’ll gather for a casual Rotary Happy Hour—a fun opportunity to unwind, enjoy great conversation, and spend time together outside of our regular meetings.

 Wednesday, July 29

5:00–7:00 PM

P.O. Box 21 Speakeasy
(Located in the basement of High Bank Distillery)

We’ll have a reserved group table for 12 people, so if you’d like to be part of the reservation, please RSVP as soon as possible. Seating at the group table will be first come, first served based on RSVPs.

To RSVP, please contact Axl Pons:

•  Call or Text: (843) 340-0075
•  Email: apons575@gmail.com

• July 29, 2026
• September 30, 2026
• December 30, 2026
• March 31, 2027
• June 30, 2027

Register using the QR code or use this link: Register for golf or sponsorship

When it asks for a contribution, go to other and enter 0.
They do not charge us a fee but ask for a contribution to help keep it free. We do not get any of the fee.

 

Currently, the Maasai living in the Village of Embolioi, Mashuuru community in remote Kenya, walk 5 kilometers each way to the neighboring Oletepsi community to purchase water. Our project will drill a borehole to an aquifer 250 meters below the surface and construct a well and water storage for the residents of the community, the existing Dukers Community Learning Centre, and livestock.

While the entire community will benefit from this project, the women and girls in the Embolioi village will benefit the most, as they are responsible for obtaining water and spend much of their days doing so.  With local access to water, the girls will have more time for their education, and women more time to develop important life skills and find employment.

Our Club became involved in the project after a WCSD Future City Team presented their project to our club in the fall of 2023. This middle school student team decided to solve for a real problem and after interacting with the Mashuuru community, designed their competition problem based on an actual need for a reliable local water supply. Following the competition, the middle school team committed to raising funds to move their project forward. After hearing their presentation, then-President John Kellogg motivated the entire club to get involved and support their fundraising efforts.

Our club’s goals became two-fold: to provide fresh water to the Mashuuru community and to support our Westerville students in creating meaningful change. Westerville Sunrise Rotary contributed over $22,500 to the project and leveraged over $29,000 from District 6690 (these are funds returned locally from your contributions to the Rotary
International Foundation). The project budget of $83,500 was achieved with additional financial assistance from the Rotary Clubs of Granville, Marietta and Wellston, the Rotary Action Group WASH and the Rotary International grant.

On behalf of our Mashuuru water project team—both home and in Kenya—thank you for your contribution enabling our club to make a real difference. Groundbreaking is scheduled for this coming week, so stay tuned for future updates!
Here is a picture of members of the Westerville Future City Team, the Rotaract Club of Nairobi Parklands (our project partner), and the Mashuuru community. 

Thank you to the Alzheimer’s Association for joining us last week. I loved their reminder to keep our brains sharp by staying active and doing brain games. It’s a great reminder that my morning Wordle and evening coaching runs are worth it!

This week we’re switching gears to talk about Club Committees. This is a great chance to find where your passion fits, whether it’s service, youth, fellowship, or fundraising. Rotary is at its best when everyone has a role.

Fun Fact: July 27th is National Chili Dog Day!  Not exactly brain food, but a tasty way to close out July.

And I’m really looking forward to seeing folks at our first Fifth Wednesday social this week. What a great way to wrap up the month together - no agenda, just fellowship. Hope to see you there!

Westerville Sunrise Rotary Club and Westerville Noon Rotary Club serve family lunches for homeless youth at Star House each month. You can help by cooking, donating items that do not need cooking and/or serving lunch at Star House.

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. Chris can be contacted via phone or text at: (614) 448-8703.

Our next lunch will be held on July 27. Please use the sign-up genius to indicate if you are able to provide food and/or help with serving the lunch.

The remaining 2026 dates are:

• Aug 24
• Sept 28
• Oct 26
• Nov 23
• Dec 28

Your support is greatly appreciated.

• August 8
• November 14

July 27: Star House family lunch volunteer opportunity
July 29: Fifth Wednesday Happy Hour
July 30: Christmas in July @ WARM
August 1: Rotary Women at CAPA Summer Movies
August 8: WARM volunteer opportunity
August 12: Satellite Meeting at Mimi's Cafe
August 17: Golf Outing
August 19:  NO MEETING

 

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