I want to thank Jennifer Rollins and Mike Gibson for heading up the Water Initiative that is being planned. With April being Environment month it is so appropriate that we are asking not only the clubs in our District to do a project concerning water but to know that in the surrounding 5 states there will be another 259 clubs with another 8,177 members doing the same thing!!
Some of the Winner Rotary Club members recently came together to install a water drip line system at the Winner Youth Bass Pond to maintain the newly planted trees today and into the future. The pond is available for youth and adults within the community to catch and release fish.
Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, 2026, Rotary District 5610 will join Rotary districts across five states and parts of Ontario, Canada in the Unite for Water Initiative, a collaborative effort bringing together Rotary Clubs to expand access to clean water and sanitation.
Luverne Rotary Club recently celebrated a return to 100% Paul Harris status when six club members became Paul Harris Fellows - they are Eric Sage (pictured below), Eric Berning, Amanda McDonald, Jill Wolf, Ron Honken and Dana Klay. Members reached their $1000 Rotary Foundation donation level with a combination of cash donations and points donated by other club members. Find out more about how Luverne achieved this great goal and celebrated with increasing membership as well! Congratulations to Luverne!
In 2023, Rotary Districts in South Dakota and western Denmark participated in an International Friendship Exchange. My husband Brian and I hosted a pair of Danish Rotarians, Lars and Birgitte Rasmussen, in our Spearfish, South Dakota, home for a few days. We forged a quick friendship.
April is Environmental Month in Rotary, when we highlight our area of focus in protecting the environment. Here are a few of the ways you can get involved:
You too can become intimately familiar with our Rotary mission of eradicating Polio! I am from Rushmore Rotary club and just returned from a trip to India that I coordinated with the help of the International Rotary network (special thanks to Ashok Kumar for the initial introduction). The purpose of the trip was to administer Polio vaccinations to 500 children, working towards our service mission of eradicating polio from the world. Watch the video.
Colman School District's 5th Grade Class, led by ELA Instructor Jennifer Headrick, all participated in the 4-way Test Essay Writing Competition. The essays were judged by four outstanding Madison Rotarians who identified three standouts: Picture above: Rotarian Ann Belatti, 1st place Courtney Hein, 2nd place Leah Jenner, 3rd place Piper Clark, Rotarian Linda Liddell. Congratulations! See the entire class.
Rushmore Rotarians came out in force for a Rapid Creek cleanup near East Boulevard, joining a collaborative effort sponsored by the Black Hills Flyfishers and Breadroot. Volunteers from the Rushmore Rotary Club worked alongside members of the Rapid City Rotary Club, the Flyfishers, other local organizations, and community individuals to help protect and preserve one of the area’s vital waterways. Together, they removed debris and made a visible impact on the health of Rapid Creek.
Members of the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary recently came together to make a life-saving impact by donating blood and helping strengthen the community’s local blood supply. Rotarians stepped away from their busy schedules to roll up their sleeves and support an effort that directly benefits patients in their own community.
Madison Middle School participated in the 4-Way Test Essay Writing Contest this year. The three top place winners were Joanna Molascon, 1st Place; Addyson Dorwart, 2nd Place; and Brynn Wire, 3rd Place. All 94 6th graders and their teachers were present for students to receive their participation certificates as well as cheer on the winners. Cindy Dannenbring, Garet Leiseth and Linda Liddell from the Madison Rotary Club were present to share information about Rotary with the 6th graders. Joanna will represent the Madison Rotary Club in the District wide competition later this month. See more class pictures.
Mobridge Rotary Club participated in the Mobridge Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) carnival on March 26th. Two of our Rotary members, Monica Weninger-Schmaltz and Clare Schoelerman provided a game of "spin the wheel", where students were able to win a prize. Prizes included : prize filled Easter Eggs, youth stress balls, neon glow sticks and bracelets, tattoos, laffy taffy and candy. Our community youth enjoyed the game !
Each year, World Immunization Week, observed in late April, highlights the life-saving power of vaccines and the importance of protecting communities from preventable diseases. For Rotarians, this week carries special meaning as we continue our global commitment to eradicate polio and support immunization efforts around the world.
The Rapid City Rotary Club partnered with the sixth grade class at Southwest Middle School and these are the Four Way Test Essay Contest winners. First Place: Julian Ren, Second Place: Elle Doeden and tied for Third Place: Audrey Dunn and Layla Reiffenberger.
Members of the Rapid City Rotary Club recently came together for an afternoon of service and fellowship while volunteering at the Empty Bowl Rapid City event. This meaningful community gathering raises awareness about food insecurity while supporting local efforts to combat hunger.
The smiles say it all at St. Joe’s Elementary School. Students are already enjoying a brand-new bench generously provided by the Pierre–Fort Pierre Rotary Club, and it has quickly become a favorite gathering spot on campus.
Rotary’s new system for managing prospective members is now live. In the new system, prospective members complete an interest form and choose a club to connect with. Club leaders will receive a notification when someone chooses their club, prompting them to review the membership inquiry. If the club's expectations don't align with the candidate's, they can reassign the inquiry to district leaders. Clubs can learn more about their roles and how the new system works in these resources:
Hello PolioPlus Society friends—it’s Mollie! 🐶 As many of you know, I started my $30,000 Matching Challenge back in January with a big wish in my heart: a world where no child ever has to suffer from polio. I may be turning 6 this April 17, but instead of treats and toys, my birthday wish is something much bigger.
Members of the Spearfish Rotary Club spent the last two weeks of March lending a helping hand at the Spearfish Food Pantry, serving local clients and supporting neighbors in need.
Six Rotarians and friends from District 5610 recently traveled to India to take part in the Polio National Immunization Day from February 24 to March 6. It was an unforgettable, eye‑opening experience—and I’d love to share the story with your club! If you’re looking for a meaningful and inspiring program, please let me know. Shelli Masek Sioux Falls North Rotary Club - shellig@sio.midco.net
Thank you to the many Rotarian women and clubs across our District who participated in the Women in Rotary in Action campaign throughout the month of March. The campaign invited Rotarian women to share photos proudly wearing their Rotary shirts as a way to celebrate International Women’s Day and the incredible women who serve through Rotary.
the Advocates in Action and Rapid City Rotarians have participated in over 40 projects in 1 year! Want to be inspired? Ask Linda Liddell, District Administrator, for a copy of their PPT presentation sharing their first-year journey and the projects on the horizon. contact: district5610Rotary@gmail.com.
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