Dear Rotarians of District 5495,
Today marks the beginning of a new Rotary year — and with it, a powerful opportunity to lead with renewed energy, deeper unity, and bold purpose.
As your District Governor for 2025–2026, I am both humbled and energized by the chance to serve alongside you.
This year’s Rotary International theme, Unite for Good, resonates deeply with our District’s theme — Together We Thrive — which invites us to see with shared vision, serve with unity, and grow stronger together through three guiding pillars:
- Together We See – With shared vision and a united direction, we elevate the impact of our clubs and our service.
- Together We Do – Through collaboration and meaningful projects, we transform lives and build lasting partnerships.
- Together We Thrive – As we innovate, grow, and strengthen our clubs, we inspire a new generation of Rotarians for life and deepen our own joy in service.
Our goal is to help every club grow stronger, more innovative, and more connected. Whether you’ve been a Rotarian for decades or are just starting out, your voice matters. Your service matters. And when we move together with shared purpose — we all thrive.
As part of this journey, we are embracing a 3-Year Rolling Goals initiative to ensure leadership continuity, innovation, and meaningful progress in every club. This year, we are also rallying around a bold goal: completing 250 service projects across our District to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States. It’s a powerful way to show who we are and what we stand for.
To our club presidents, assistant governors, committee chairs, and every single Rotarian: thank you. You are the heart of Rotary. You are the reason we can take on ambitious goals and see them through. Your leadership, passion, and kindness are what will carry us forward — together.
Let’s make this year unforgettable. Let’s lift others, grow ourselves, have fun, and build Rotary clubs our communities love. Let’s unite for good — and together, we thrive.
With gratitude and excitement,
Jim Schmidt
District Governor, Rotary District 5495
2025–2026