Foundation Celebration Details

Foundation Celebration Support!

District‑Wide Food Drive: Help Nourish Up Feed Families This Thanksgiving

As we prepare for our upcoming Hunger2Hope Service Project and the District 7680 Foundation Celebration, we invite all Rotary clubs to join a district‑wide effort to support Nourish Up’s Thanksgiving food distribution.

Nourish Up has requested canned meat and canned fruit to help fill their 7‑Day food boxes for families experiencing food insecurity. Your club’s participation will make a meaningful difference.

How Clubs Can Participate

• Host a Food Drive within your club or community
• Collect canned meat (tuna, chicken, beef, etc.)
• Collect canned fruit (in juice or light syrup preferred)
• Encourage members to bring donations to your next meeting
• Spread the word and invite community partners to join in

Where to Bring Donations

You may drop off all collected items at either of the following:

• Hunger2Hope Service Project
• District 7680 Foundation Celebration

Every can helps Nourish Up provide stability, nourishment, and hope to families across our region.

Let’s come together as People of Action to ensure no family goes without this holiday season. Serve today. Change lives. Spread hope.

The Need Is Now: Help Nourish Up Restock Its Shelves

As summer comes to a close, Nourish Up’s pantry shelves are running low — and District 7680 Rotarians can help.

Financial donations allow Nourish Up to purchase staple foods in bulk, but donated food provides something equally important: variety and choice. A well-stocked pantry gives neighbors the opportunity to select foods that work best for their families, an important part of serving our community with dignity and compassion.

As District 7680 continues our Hunger2Hope focus on food insecurity, this is another simple way Rotarians and Rotary clubs can make an immediate difference.

Here’s How You Can Help

Donate Food
Nourish Up is accepting non-perishable food donations at its Hunger Hub:

901 Carrier Drive, Charlotte, NC 28216
Monday–Friday | 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Clubs can also consider hosting a food drive at an upcoming meeting or inviting members, businesses, and community partners to participate.

Shop the Amazon Wishlist
Looking for an easy way to help? Nourish Up’s Amazon Wishlist allows you to purchase needed grocery items online and have them shipped directly to Nourish Up.

Make a Financial Gift
Financial contributions help Nourish Up purchase fresh meat, dairy, produce, and other needed foods. And those dollars go a long way — $1 can provide four pounds of food.

Every can, every grocery item and every dollar helps Nourish Up provide more food — and more choices — for our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.

Together, District 7680 Rotarians can help keep the shelves stocked and turn hunger into hope.

Learn more about food donations, current priority needs, the Amazon Wishlist and other ways to help at NourishUp.org.

Food In The News

Submitted by Kevin Kendrick

DG Jerry has shared that food security is a priority for the District during this year, especially as we see resources on a federal and state level become increasingly smaller. We want to provide you with tools that can be used to improve conditions in many areas as well as service opportunities.

The Mecklenburg County Criminal Justice Services has been working with UNCC’s Urban Institute in rolling out what is being called a “SNAP Map”. The idea is to provide those who are food insecure with a listing of food banks or other resources proximate to their location.  Here are a few slides which describe the program and two QR codes which contain the actual mapping tools.

1. SNAP MAPS

2. FOOD SERVICE OPPORTUNITY FOR 9/11

3. PINEVILLE POTATO DROP

Pineville Neighbors Place hosts a potato drop every year in which roughly 50,000 pounds of potatoes are donated by St. Andrews for repackaging into ten-pound bags and distributed to 25-35 food banks and pantries. The event does require registration, and we want as many hands as possible to participate!

The Art of Peace

The District Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee is thrilled to announce that we have extended the eligibility period for the Art of Peace Youth Art Competition!  Please note that submissions are open to youth in all 14 of our counties, specifically those in Middle School and High School!  Please contact Kevin Kendrick with any questions!

Rotary National Immunization Days Coming

Restoring Vision, Restoring Hope

Submitted by Kevin Kendrick

Dr. Anshu Chandra is doing life-changing work in Haiti as a part of the Global Eye Project. She has worked there for the last 15 years building and advancing eye care for the poor. She is working to end disparities in eye care globally by bringing this service to remote areas and giving them health equity. She’s leading  efforts in Haiti to build a permanent eye clinic in Fond-des-Blancs after being told by the hospital where the clinic was located that they have run out of space. The clinic provides client care and training for local residents as well, providing them with hopes for a brighter future. She’s also collaborating with other institutions in Haiti providing care via mobile clinics to address the immediate need as well as working on more permanent solutions by helping to further develop the Haitian ophthalmology residency program in Port-au-Prince. This would provide advanced training and access to equipment and supplies, so ALL Haitians can have high-quality eye care.

Dr. Anshu is focused on building a permanent facility for continued eye care needs in Haiti. In order to support this effort, a very generous donor within our District has offered to match every dollar donated on a 1:1 basis until September 20th. Our very own Dr. Ann Evans, who serves as the Major Gifts Initiative Advisor for Health in Zone 33, is that donor. Now Ann made this commitment without any fanfare. She consented to me using her name because this matching offer is incredibly generous, and she deserves recognition for supporting it.

Time is limited for this amazing offer, but it’s even more limited for the people of Haiti. Please consider making a donation to Dr. Anshu and help to restore hope in Haiti.

Walk for Water: Every Step Makes a Difference

District 7680 Rotarians are invited to lace up their walking shoes and help make a difference at the 2026 Charlotte Walk for Water on Saturday, September 26, at McAlpine Creek Park in Charlotte. The event opens at 9:00 a.m., with the walk beginning at 10:00 a.m.

Around the world, 2.1 billion people lack access to safe water, and millions of women and children walk more than three miles each day to collect water for their families—water that is often unsafe to drink. The Walk for Water gives participants a glimpse of that daily journey while raising awareness and funds to help address the global water crisis.

Proceeds benefit Water Mission, a nonprofit organization working to provide sustainable safe-water solutions to communities around the world. This year, the Charlotte Walk has a goal of raising enough to bring safe water to 1,000 people in need.

For Rotarians, the mission should sound especially familiar. Providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene is one of Rotary’s areas of focus, and the Charlotte Walk for Water offers another opportunity to put that commitment into action right here in our District.

Come as an individual, gather your fellow club members and create a team, volunteer, or support a walker. Bring your family and friends, too!

Saturday, September 26, 2026
McAlpine Creek Park | Charlotte
Event opens: 9:00 a.m. | Walk: 10:00 a.m.

Register, donate or learn more about the 2026 Charlotte Walk for Water

We walk so others don’t have to.

Turn Learning Into Action at the Food Sustainability Summit

District 7680 Rotarians and their families are invited to roll up their sleeves for the 3rd Annual Food Sustainability Summit, Saturday, September 26, from 1:00–4:00 p.m. at Elevation Church University Campus in Charlotte. (Food Sustainability Summit)

The family-friendly event brings together community leaders, nonprofits, businesses and volunteers to tackle two issues that go hand in hand: food insecurity and food sustainability.

The afternoon begins with an interactive panel featuring leaders working on the front lines of food insecurity, along with representatives from the restaurant and business communities. Then participants move from conversation to action through a large-scale volunteer experience coordinated with nonprofit partners. (Food Sustainability Summit)

And there will be plenty of action: organizers expect more than 400 participants who will work together to assemble more than 50,000 meals for local communities. (BetterUnite)

For Rotarians, the Summit is another opportunity to build on the work already happening across our District to address hunger. Bring your fellow club members—and bring the family, too. The event is designed for all ages, making it a wonderful way to introduce children and grandchildren to service while making a tangible difference in our community.

Saturday, September 26, 2026
1:00–4:00 p.m. (Registration begins at 12:30 p.m.)
Elevation Church University Campus
8105 IBM Drive, Charlotte

Learn more about the Food Sustainability Summit

Learn. Serve. Fight hunger. And help build a more sustainable food future.

Local Rotary Clubs Convene in Boiling Springs for Membership!

Submitted by Gail Daves, Past President, Boiling Springs

Gail recently reported that PDG Mark Markanda, Membership Chair, recently visited their area, and Rotarians from all of the area clubs were present to welcome him! Gail also provided a copy of a newspaper article which covered Mark’s meeting and reflects all the good that can happen when we choose to collaborate!

BOILING SPRINGS — Rotary clubs from across the area gathered in Boiling Springs last week for a special presentation. The event was to honor Mark Markanda, a half-century Rotary member and public speaker who encourages Rotary members around the world to continue their good work.

Markanda, who has held multiple leadership positions, is currently District 7680 Membership Chair. He spoke to a combination of the Shelby Rotary, Shelby Breakfast Rotary, Cherryville, and Boiling Springs Area Rotary Clubs during a luncheon at Boiling Springs Town Hall last week. (Note: King’s Mountain was also in attendance!)

Gail Daves, who recently served two consecutive terms as the Boiling Springs president, introduced Makanda before he spoke to the club members on Monday. She noted there is an award named after him for all that he has done for Rotary. Boiling Springs won the prestigious award last year.

“Coming up in March 2027, Mark will have had fifty years of perfect attendance,” Daves said. “Now that is a Rotarian.” Members in attendance clapped at his achievement.

“He has dedicated his life.” she continued. “He’s dedicated is mind, his hands, his heart to serving other people, to service and that’s why he’s here today. Mark believes in people.. he believes we can do great things…”

In his motivational speech to local Rotary members, he noted how he had visited Rotary clubs in 32 countries over the past fifty years and noticed one important factor – that being welcome in any Rotary Club is important. When he’s invited to a different Rotary Club he never says no to anyone.

Markanda spoke on perfect attendance and how that is achievable whether it involves attending the same club or not; attending other Rotarian clubs and expecting to be welcome at any of the clubs, if one is a member elsewhere, one should always feel welcomed.

He said he joined Rotary in 1977 and became his club’s 55th member and first held office as a Rotarian president in 1981.

He spoke on keeping members active and wanting to know why people might leave the club and what can be done to keep member participation active – which is by being welcomed by all.

He also noted that everyone he has met in Rotary clubs across the world have all been kind and he was very proud of that, as he stated it should be. Markanda also said to surround one’s self with bright people willing to help make a difference.

“Surround yourself with people that are smarter than you and learn from them and lead them…”

He also emphasized membership and bringing in new members. “Just reach out to people, look at your neighbors and coworkers or when out shopping, invite them to be a part of something special.”

“Goals unset are goals unreached,” he added. “My goals are high.”

Rotary’s mission is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

The Boiling Springs Area Rotary was formed in 1967 when a group of citizens in Boiling Springs began a discussion about forming a Rotary Club.  On April 6, 1967, the group met and discussed having a joint meeting with the members of The Shelby Rotary Club.  This meeting was subsequently held on April 10, 1967.

On June 29, 1967, a request to Rotary International was confirmed for a club charter to be established and named Boiling Springs Area. The Charter was presented at a banquet at Gardner Webb University at the Charles I. Dover Campus Center on October 10, 1967. Zachary Parker serves as the current president of the Boiling Springs Area Rotary.

Above article was written by Chuck Thompson, The Shelby Independent

YOUR CLUB. YOUR VISION. YOUR FUTURE.

Where will your Rotary club be in three years?

Will you see…

• Growing membership?
• Members excited to participate?
• New leaders ready to step forward?
• Meaningful projects creating lasting community impact?

STRONG CLUBS DON’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT.

They thrive because members share a sense of where they’re going—and are invested in getting there together.

That’s where CLUB VISIONING comes in.

Imagine what could happen if your entire club was moving toward the same future.

Club Visioning is a facilitated, member-driven experience that brings members together to imagine what their club can become, identify what matters most, and create a shared direction for the next three years.

WHAT DO THRIVING CLUBS HAVE IN COMMON?

➜ SHARED DIRECTION

Members understand where the club is headed and why it matters.

➜ ENGAGED MEMBERS

People have a voice in shaping the future—and a reason to stay involved.

➜ CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP

Each Rotary year builds on the progress of the year before instead of starting over.

➜ MEANINGFUL IMPACT

Projects reflect what members care about and what communities need.

WHEN MEMBERS HELP CREATE THE VISION, THEY HELP MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Club Visioning moves your club beyond simply planning the next meeting, project, or Rotary year.

It creates a shared three-year direction that can energize members, strengthen leadership continuity, guide decision-making, and provide a roadmap for turning ideas into action.

WHAT COULD YOUR CLUB BECOME?

More vibrant.
More connected.
More resilient.
More attractive to new members.
More impactful in your community.

And, most importantly…

A club whose members know where they’re going—and are excited to get there together.

SO… IS YOUR CLUB READY?

Don’t leave your club’s future to chance.

Bring your members together.
Dream bigger. Find your direction. Create your vision. Turn it into action.

YOUR CLUB. YOUR MEMBERS. YOUR FUTURE.

START CREATING IT TODAY.

Schedule a Club Visioning experience.

Contact Marcia Scheideman
District Learning Facilitator & Club Visioning Coordinator

LEADERSHIP IN ACTION – Part 2

Submitted by Marcia Scheideman, District Leadership Facilitator

Leadership in Action is off to a great start!

Part 1 launched August 29—and every spot is filled! We’re thrilled by the enthusiastic response and excited about what’s ahead.

Now it’s time to look toward Part 2 on September 19, featuring two more practical leadership topics—Conflict Management and Team Building—led by two additional teams of talented facilitators.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of Leadership in Action. Register now for Part 2!

Polio Plus Update

Submitted by PDG Tom Smith, Polio Plus Chair

The new Rotary year is now in full swing, and I hope officers are now settling into their roles for the year. The Rotary year and people may change, but our concerted efforts to eradicate polio continue uninterrupted. Continued support of Rotarians across the world to raise $50 million dollars is a critical portion of the funding required to support the eradication program. Rotary’s $50 million, along with the 2-1 match from the Gates Foundation, provides $150 million of the $1 billion required to fund the efforts.

Donations from club members and their clubs to the Rotary Foundation Polio Plus Fund make Rotary’s commitment to the children of the world to eliminate polio possible.

Club Presidents and Foundation Chairs, please ensure your club is supporting the effort by:

1. Setting a goal of $1500/ $45 per capita in My Rotary
2. Encourage all members to support the Polio Plus Fund at some level.
3. Ask members to join the Polio Plus Society and contribute $100 or more per year until the job is done.
4. Ask members to sponsor a pet in the District Kennel Club and receive an End Polio Now bandana to place on their pet and submit a picture for our Facebook page.
5. Plan an End Polio event in October around October 24; go to www.endpolio.org for ideas.
6. Club officers lead by example in leading the way with your club’s giving.

Top giving club’s as of the end of July are:

Charlotte $5,000
Top of the Lake Mooresville $1,000
District Total $8,581
District Goal $109,400

Below is a summarized version of the latest edition of Polio Today:

This newsletter from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) (July 2026) covers key updates, progress, and donor contributions in the global effort to end Polio: This newsletter from the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) (July 2026) covers key updates, progress, and donor contributions in the global effort to end polio:

Global Immunization and Case Numbers

• Child Immunization Progress: In 2025, 750,000 fewer children were unprotected against vaccine-preventable diseases than in prior years, bringing global coverage close to pre-COVID-19 levels. However, 13.5 million children remain “zero-dose”.

• 2026 Case Totals (as of July 29, 2026):

○ Wild Poliovirus: 18 cases globally (down from 19 at the same point in 2025).

○ Circulating Variant (Vaccine-Derived) Poliovirus: 95 cases globally (down from 96 at the same point in 2025).

Key Initiatives and Updates

• Political Engagement in Endemic Areas: Members of the Polio Oversight Board (POB) met with leadership in Afghanistan and Pakistan to reinforce domestic support and ensure proper resources to halt wild polio transmission.

• Updated Outbreak Response Guidelines: The GPEI published revised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) featuring clearer, time-bound outbreak definitions and a risk-based approach tailored to local immunity gaps and surveillance quality.

• Grassroots Outreach in Nigeria: In Edo State, where up to 76% of children in some communities were unimmunized, door-to-door teams vaccinated nearly 4,600 children under two during African Vaccination Week.

• Leader Spotlight: Mike McGovern (Chair of the POB and Rotary’s PolioPlus Committee) highlighted Rotary’s role, including raising $50 million annually and creative efforts like the Major Donor Contributions

• Germany: €23.2 million flexible contribution to support global eradication.
• Monaco: €100,000 for global eradication efforts.
• Rotary Foundation: $35 million in new grants for campaign operations in

Afghanistan and Pakistan, global outbreak response, and research.

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation: $33.9 million total, divided between UNICEF ($16.5 million) and WHO ($17.4 million) for technical assistance, surveillance, outbreak response,and immunization efforts.

With your help, we will succeed.

The  Polio Plus Society and Kennel Klub forms are attached for your review.

The District 7680 PolioPlus Society

Although the PolioPlus Society was rolled out on September 1st of 2020, many Rotarians are still asking…”PolioPlus Society?  What’s that?”

The PolioPlus Society is a group of individuals who are passionate about Rotary’s #1 Priority…the elimination of the poliovirus from the face of the earth.

The PolioPlus Society, or PPS, operates much like the Paul Harris Society, whereby a Rotarian or friend makes a commitment to donate $1,000 per year or more to The Rotary Foundation.  Except the PolioPlus Society requires you to donate only a minimum of $100, and to continue to do so annually until the World Health Organization declares the world free of the poliovirus.

PolioPlus Society members will receive a special pin depicting a child receiving the two precious drops, an “End Polio Now” wristband to wear until polio is eliminated from the planet (Both depicted here) and a PolioPlus Certificate proclaiming your membership in this unique Society.  Plus the knowledge that you are doing good in the world and are in this fight to the end.  Joining the District 7680 Polio Plus Society is a two-step process:

Step #1 – Please fill out the below “commitment statement” and email it to Polio Chair PDG Tom Smith at tjsdg7680@gmail.com or mail it to 1840 Tanglebriar CT, Matthews, NC 28104

I hereby commit to making an annual donation to the PolioPlus Fund of The Rotary Foundation as follows (select one):

• ✔ $100 USD per year (minimum amount to become a society member)
• ✔ A contribution of $_______ per year to PolioPlus (more than $100)

I pledge to help Rotary make history by continuing to contribute the above amount each year until the World Health Organization certifies that polio has been fully eradicated because …Until the world is polio-free, every child is at risk.

Step #2 – To make your tax-deductible donation, go to myrotary.org/donate , sign in, and click on “Polio Fund”.  You can choose a one-time donation of $100 or more, or a recurring donation in the amount and frequency of your choice (We suggest $10/month as the “easy way” to become a PolioPlus Society member.)  Of course, you can also write a check payable to “The Rotary Foundation”, with PolioPlus in the memo section, and give to your club’s Foundation Chair.

Name__________________________________________Date_______

Email_________________________________

Club name_____________________________

Walk With Us! Join Rotary on the Braille Trail

Charlotte International Rotary Club invites fellow District 7680 Rotarians, family members and friends to join them for the 4th Annual Braille Trail Walk for Independence on Saturday, October 3, 2026.

The two-mile, family-friendly walk benefits Lions Services, which provides employment opportunities, technology, wellness support and individualized services to people who are blind or visually impaired. More than 16,000 people in the Charlotte area are blind or visually impaired, and 100% of donations from the walk directly support Lions Services programs.

This year’s event is particularly special: participants will experience the newly constructed Charlotte Braille Trail, a multi-sensory pathway incorporating tactile sculptures, fragrant gardens, nature, art and technology—all designed to create an experience that is accessible and welcoming regardless of how well you see.

Rotarians throughout the District are invited to walk with the Charlotte International Rotary Club team! Bring your spouse, children, grandchildren, friends and fellow Rotarians and help build a BIG Rotary presence. Lions Services has set a $100,000 fundraising goal, with recognition for the largest teams and top fundraisers.

The walk begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by a celebration from 10:00 a.m.–noon featuring food, music, giveaways and opportunities to learn more about the Lions Services mission.

When registering, select CHARLOTTE INTERNATIONAL ROTARY CLUB as your team. If prompted for a team password, use D33znuff or Rotary7680.

Register for the Braille Trail Walk for Independence

Walk. Invite a friend. Make a difference.

Together, Rotarians can help create greater access, opportunity, independence, and inclusion for our blind and low-vision neighbors.