At the Rotary District 6380 Annual Conference in early June, the Rochester Rotary Club was honored with the Living the Action Plan Award, recognizing its exceptional commitment to Rotary International’s strategic priorities. Founded in 1905 as the world’s first service club, Rotary International guides its global network through an Action Plan centered on seven key areas: Peacebuilding and conflict prevention, Disease prevention and treatment, Water, sanitation, and hygiene, Maternal and child health, education and literacy, Community economic development, and Support of the environment.Clubs around the world are encouraged to design and implement service projects that make a measurable impact in these critical areas, and Rochester Rotary’s efforts stood out among its peers for their dedication and effectiveness.
“We were surprised and honored to receive this award,” said Rochester Rotary Club President Christine Hage. The Rochester Rotary Club, composed of 85 members, was recognized for its impactful service in several of Rotary International’s areas of focus, including disease prevention and treatment, maternal and child health, basic literacy, and environmental Support.
Club members contributed both time and financial resources to these efforts. In some cases, members participated directly in hands-on projects; in others, the Club provided funding to support initiatives led by partner organizations. One recent example is the Club’s recent donation of more than $5,000 to the Clinton River Watershed Council to purchase water testing supplies, enabling Rochester-area students to help monitor the health of the Clinton River. Each year, the Club raises and distributes nearly $100,000 in Support of local and international service projects.
Several Rochester Rotary members were also recognized for individual contributions. Dr. Jay and Linda Eastman received the Terry Youlton Award for International Humanitarian Service in honor of their work at Casa Colibri, a medical center they established in Guatemala. “Our mission is to help the Mayan people of northwest Guatemala improve the quality of their lives through programs in health, education, and related infrastructure,” said Linda Eastman. The clinic provides medical, dental, and vision care, as well as midwifery and literacy training in remote rural areas.
Club President Christine Hage was also honored with the Virginia Nordby Women in Rotary Award, recognizing her leadership and advocacy. Earlier this year, she led an Open World library development delegation from Kazakhstan. The one-week visit, funded by the U.S. Congressional Office for International Leadership, brought six librarians to the United States to explore public library development. Hage organized visits to 13 public libraries across southeast Michigan to showcase how American libraries serve their communities.
District Governor Sharna Hatcher attended a recent Club meeting to celebrate the awards alongside Rochester Rotary members.