Rotary District 5750 As we enter November, we are reminded of the incredible impact we can make when we come together in service.
This month, Rotary recognizes The Rotary Foundation, which has helped turn generosity into meaningful, lasting change in communities around the world. Thank you to everyone who participated and did an event for World Polio Day.
Across District 5750, our clubs continue to demonstrate what Service Above Self truly means. Whether through local service projects, supporting youth programs, strengthening membership, or building new partnerships, every effort contributes to something greater than ourselves.
November is also a season of gratitude. I want to personally thank our club presidents, officers, committee chairs, and every Rotarian who gives their time, talents, and resources to make a difference. Your dedication is what keeps Rotary moving forward.
As we approach the end of the calendar year, I encourage each club to reflect on its accomplishments, celebrate its members, and look for new opportunities to grow its impact. Consider how your club can support The Rotary Foundation and continue creating lasting change.
Together, we are not just members of Rotary. We are people of action, building stronger clubs, stronger communities, and a brighter future. Thank you for all that you do, and I wish you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving season.
November: Rotary Foundation Month
November is when we celebrate The Rotary Foundation and the good it makes possible around the world and right here in District 5750. Gifts to the Foundation support PolioPlus, global grants, and district grants. They also help fund projects like the Del City Rotary Park workday featured in this issue.
When you give to the Annual Fund, the money comes back to our district three years later as District Designated Funds, which pay for local grants and service projects. Every dollar helps us bring Rotary's areas of focus to life, from clean water and education to disease prevention and peace.
This month, please consider:
Making a gift to the Annual Fund or PolioPlus
Becoming a Paul Harris Fellow, or adding to your recognition level
Setting up Rotary Direct for easy recurring giving
Inviting a Foundation speaker to your club meeting
Yours in Rotary,
Del City Rotary Park Service Project
On October 3, about 15 people - some club members and some recruited community volunteers - made great progress on this project partially funded with a Rotary District Grant.
The group had fun:-
1) painting the park pavilion
2) installing short 4x4 painted posts and chains along the garden
3) making a play structure wheelchair accessible, as done with another earlier-
4) painting “distance-walked” numbers on paved walkways-
5) and more
There is still work to do (planting trees, replacing the park sign, adding a small soccer goal, and more) but the effort is off to a great start! Many 2026 “First Saturday” community health walks have started at Rotary Park, led by the Club.
A Partnership That Hits Home
Some of the best Rotary partnerships are the ones that give us an opportunity to do more
than simply support a great organization. They give us the chance to show up, get involved, and experience the impact firsthand.
For the Rotary Club of Edmond, our partnership with the YMCA’s Miracle League is one of
those relationships.
This October, members of our club had the opportunity to spend two evenings volunteering
with Miracle League, supporting the games, cheering on the athletes, and simply being part of an incredibly special program in our community.
Miracle League provides children with special needs the opportunity to experience the joy
of being part of a team and playing the game of baseball. But spend an evening at the field
and you quickly realize it is about much more than baseball. It is about encouragement,
inclusion, friendships, families, and creating a place where every athlete gets their
opportunity to shine.
The Rotary Club of Edmond is proud to be an ongoing partner of Miracle League. Our club’s
support can even be seen through Rotary signage at the field, but the most meaningful part of that partnership happens beyond the sign. It happens when our members have the
chance to step onto the field, interact with the athletes and families, and see firsthand
what this program means to our community.
Those evenings were also a great reminder that community partnerships are at their best
when they go beyond financial support. Giving matters, but so does showing up. There is
something special about getting out from behind our weekly meeting tables and serving
alongside the organizations doing meaningful work right here in Edmond.
We are grateful for the YMCA, the volunteers, families, and everyone who makes Miracle
League possible. Most of all, we are grateful to the athletes who welcomed our Rotarians
onto the field and reminded us just how much joy can come from simply showing up for
one another.
For the Rotary Club of Edmond, this is a partnership that truly hits home.
Rotarians Roll Out a Classic Morning
The Rotary Club of Edmond and the Rotary Club of Northwest Oklahoma City teamed up for a memorable morning of classic cars, trucks, pancakes, music, and community fellowship on Saturday, October 10, at the south end of The Shoppes at Northpark parking lot. Organized by Jere Lee Jones and Russ Rainwater, the joint car show brought families, friends, and automotive enthusiasts together for a fun start to the day while supporting Rotary service projects across Oklahoma.
Attendees browsed a lineup of well-cared-for and built vehicles (registration $25 day of show), enjoyed live music and prizes, and fueled up on a $5 pancake breakfast. The event ran from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., giving visitors plenty of time to admire the cars before exploring the shops and restaurants at The Shoppes at Northpark.
A huge thank-you goes to Focus Federal Credit Union, the generous Pancake Sponsor. The clubs are also grateful for the support of Shoppes at NorthPark, Sani Sheen Rug Spa LLC, Prosperity Bank, the Oklahoma City Police Department, The Pellow House, Instant Signs Inc., and INSURICA. Special recognition goes to the pancake and sausage cooks, volunteers, car owners, and everyone who showed up to make the morning a success.
Proceeds from the car show and breakfast support Rotary projects throughout Oklahoma. The collaboration between the two clubs, building on NW OKC Rotary’s long-standing partnership with The Shoppes at Northpark, once again demonstrated that Service Above Self can be both enjoyable and impactful.
Great cars. Great people. Great community.
World polio day was October 24 check out how Rotary helps save lives!
South OKC Rotary Turns Whipped Cream Chaos into Support for a Polio-Free World
The Rotary Club of South Oklahoma City wrapped up its 2nd Annual Pies for Polio fundraiser with a spirited grand finale on Friday, October 23—just ahead of World Polio Day on October 24. The event transformed good-natured competition and a little whipped-cream chaos into real support for Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign, raising $2,875.
Throughout the month, club members and supporters raised funds through friendly rivalry. The top “money-magnet” Rotarians earned the sweet (and messy) honor of being pied in the face by the club president. What began as a fun way to engage members and the community—complete with sponsor ads, shirt orders, and donations from local groups such as the Gujarati Samaj—culminated in a memorable day of fellowship that advanced a serious global cause.
Every dollar raised for PolioPlus is matched 2-to-1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling the impact for vaccines, surveillance, and outreach. Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative have already driven a more than 99.9% drop in wild polio cases worldwide since the 1980s, with the virus now remaining endemic only in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Events like Pies for Polio help keep that progress moving until the disease is gone for good.
The South OKC club, which meets Fridays at noon at Hidden Trails Country Club and has served the community for more than 76 years, thanks its sponsors, members, and friends who made this year’s effort possible. The spirit of Service Above Self—and a few well-aimed cream pies—once again showed how local fun can power lasting global change.
The club continues its other service work, including an upcoming pancake breakfast and Salvation Army bell ringing, while remaining focused on finishing the job of eradicating polio.
Ponca City Trailblazers Raise a Glass for a Polio-Free World
The Rotary Club of Ponca City Trailblazers marked World Polio Day with a festive Pours for Polio Bourbon & Wine Tasting on Saturday, October 24, at The Alley in downtown Ponca City. The evening lived up to its slogan—“Great pours. Greater purpose.”—as members and community guests enjoyed allocated bourbon, local wine, and fellowship while supporting Rotary’s End Polio Now campaign.
Attendees sampled premium pours and participated in a Wine Sip & Stamp activity, collecting stamps at stations for a chance at door prizes. Tickets were priced at $50 per person or $75 per couple, with additional donations welcomed. The club expressed special thanks to Twisted & Tangled Winery for donating the wine, along with other community supporters including Kevin Florer of Edward Jones, Oscar & Essies, Old West Liquors, 5150 Liquor, and Redlands Office Solutions.
The event raised nearly $2,000 for PolioPlus. Thanks to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s 2-to-1 match on Rotary contributions, the impact is tripled, helping fund vaccinations, surveillance, and outreach in the remaining endemic areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan. Rotary and its partners have already reduced wild polio cases by more than 99.9% since the 1980s.
The Trailblazers, a relatively new club with strong community energy, continue to demonstrate Service Above Self through both local projects and this global cause. Their World Polio Day effort showed once again how enjoyable local gatherings can advance the long-term goal of a world free from polio.
Midtown OKC Rotary Combines Art and Awareness at Walkabout
OKC Midtown Rotary joined the Midtown Walkabout on a beautiful day that coincided with World Polio Day. The club, known for its support of the arts, invited visitors to add their purple pinkie to a community art piece while raising awareness of Rotary International’s work to #EndPolioNow.
The purple pinkie is a familiar Rotary symbol—representing the dye used to mark children’s fingers after they receive the polio vaccine. By combining a hands-on art project with polio awareness, the club engaged the community in a creative way during the annual neighborhood event.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by, contributed to the art piece, and learned more about Rotary’s global effort to eradicate polio. The Midtown club continues to show how local creativity and Service Above Self can shine a light on a worldwide cause.
Midwest City Rotary Sponsors Petting Zoo at Spooktacular
The Rotary Club of Midwest City had a great time sponsoring the petting zoo (and pony rides) for local kids at the 4th Annual Altitude 1291 Spooktacular on Saturday, October 24. Held from 3 to 6 p.m. at Altitude 1291 (6235 SE 15th Street), the free community event offered carnival rides, bounce houses, trunk-or-treat, live music, and more for families in Midwest City.
Club members also staffed a table, handed out candy, and shared the Rotary story with attendees. By supporting the petting zoo, Midwest City Rotary helped make the afternoon memorable for the kiddos while living out Service Above Self in a fun, hands-on way.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered and to Altitude 1291 for organizing another successful Spooktacular!
Club 29 Rotarians Support ReadOKC Book Bus
Rotary Club of Oklahoma City (Club 29) members spent a fun and impactful week partnering with the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation to support the ReadOKC book bus. Over four days at two schools, 27 Club 29 volunteers contributed more than 70 hours helping students choose and take home a brand-new book of their own.
In all, more than 750 books went home with students, giving them fresh reading material to build their personal libraries and fuel a love of reading. The ReadOKC On the Go! Book Buses (named Stella and Percy) regularly visit OKCPS schools so every student can select a book to keep.
Thank you to the Club 29 Rotarians who stepped up this week and to the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation for the opportunity to serve. Access to books makes a difference—and so does Service Above Self
EOC Rotary Puts Books in Young Hands
This week, Eastern Oklahoma County Rotarians got together to put labels in the October PreK books and in the dictionaries that go to every third grader. Each PreK label has a spot where the student can write their name. The dictionary labels also include the Four-Way Test, so every third grader takes home Rotary's guiding principles along with a book of their own.
Next, club members will head out to deliver the dictionaries, and they'll read to the PreK students when they drop off the books.
Education projects are a big part of how EOC Rotary serves its communities. The books are going to schools in Choctaw/Nicoma Park, Harrah, Jones, and Luther.
Rotary at Cookout with a Cop
Rotarians joined neighbors and local law enforcement at Cookout with a Cop, a community event built around food, fellowship, and getting to know the officers who serve our communities. Rotary set up an information tent to visit with families, share what Rotary does, and invite people to get involved in service close to home.
Events like this are a great reminder that Rotary is about connection. Thank you to the officers who joined us, the volunteers who staffed the tent, and everyone who stopped by to say hello!
Dolly's Imagination Library Encourages a Love of Reading
The Perry Rotary Club held its regular luncheon on Monday, October 26, at Perry Golf & Country Club. Rotarian Laura Vollmer opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance, and Rotarian Reverend Dr. Joshua Bell gave the prayer. Then everyone sang the first verse of "America" together.
The club welcomed its October Junior Rotarians and their families. Essie Boschee came with her mom, Shea, and Rylan Rodgers came with her parents, Ryan and Jennifer. Perry Public Schools has a full week of academics, athletics and student activities ahead:
The sixth-grade girls' basketball tournament at Ripley runs through Thursday.
On Tuesday, the PHS Student Council hosts a movie night under the stars at Daniels Field at 7 p.m.
The Academic Team competes against Pawhuska, and the junior high football team travels to Chisholm.
Senior Leadership students will visit the OSU ropes course.
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the high school girls' basketball team scrimmages at Meeker.
On Friday, Oct. 30, the Perry High School football team hosts the Cascia Hall Commandos at Daniels Field.
Jessica Dvorak introduced guest speaker Erin Bell, director of Early Literacy for the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. Bell talked about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program that mails a free, age-appropriate book every month to each registered child from birth to age five.
Bell stressed why early literacy matters so much: 90% of brain development happens before kindergarten. Children who learn to love books in those years build their vocabulary, strengthen their language skills and arrive at school ready to learn. As Bell put it, this is the time to encourage kids to devour books like goldfish crackers.
Perry families can build on that by visiting the Perry Carnegie Library, where parents and children can check out books and explore all kinds of reading materials. Monthly books from the Imagination Library combined with regular library visits give children even more chances to discover new stories and develop a lifelong love of reading.
Once the program starts serving Noble County, each child's first book will be The Little Engine That Could, which was the first book Dolly Parton chose for the Imagination Library. The last book, delivered before the child's fifth birthday, will be Kindergarten, Here We Come! Together, the two books mark the start of a child's reading journey and the next step into the classroom.
The meeting closed with the group reciting the Four-Way Test.
Applications Open for District 5750 Governor
Would you or someone you know, be a great candidate to serve at the 2029-30 District 5750 District Governor? Applications are open! Email DG Mukesh Patel at mukeshpatel215@yahoo.com.
The Rotarian must be a member in good standing of a functioning Club in the District.
The Rotarian must have full qualifications for such membership in the strict application of the provisions therefore, and the integrity of the Rotarian’s classification must be without question.
The Rotarian must have served as President of a Club for a full term or be a charter President of a Club having served the full term from the date of charter to 30 June, provided that this period is at least six months.
The Rotarian must demonstrate willingness, commitment, and ability, physically and otherwise, to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office of District Governor as provided in Duties of a Governor in the Rotary International Bylaws.
The Rotarian must demonstrate knowledge of the qualification, duties, and responsibilities of a District Governor as prescribed in the bylaws and submit to Rotary International, through its General Secretary, a signed statement that the Rotarian understands clearly such qualifications, duties, and responsibilities. Such statement shall also confirm that the Rotarian is qualified for the office of District Governor and willing and able to assume the duties and responsibilities of that office and to perform them faithfully.
Unless specifically excused by the board, a District Governor at the time of taking office must have attended the International Assembly for its full duration, been a member of one or more Rotary Clubs for at least seven years, and must continue to possess the qualifications in Qualifications of a District Governor Nominee in the Rotary International Bylaws.
Unless specifically excused by the board, a District Governor at the time of taking office must have been a member of a functioning Club in the District for four years.
Barcelona 2027: Connect, Collaborate & Celebrate with Rotary
Join District 5750 Rotarians in Barcelona, Spain, June 26–30, 2027, for the Rotary International Convention! Experience inspiring speakers, exchange service project ideas, and build friendships with Rotarians from around the world. It’s an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and celebrate our shared commitment to Service Above Self.
Beyond the convention, explore Barcelona’s extraordinary architecture, vibrant neighborhoods, Mediterranean beaches, and incredible food. Make plans early for your preferred hotels and host events, and visit convention.rotary.org for registration and details.
District 5750's James "Chili" McQuillar shares why now is the time to register, along with key deadlines, fees, and what your registration includes. Watch next month's newsletter for tips on passports, visas, and transportation.
Bring your Rotary spirit - and your appetite! Let’s meet at Bar Cañete for tapas and a couple of rounds of cava. Bon profit!
Chili — James R. McQuillar
District Governor Nominee, 2028–2029
Midwest Rotary Club Membership Chair
405-659-2116 | jmcquillar@cox.net
Our Rotary Foundation at Work: Local Action, Global Reach
During 2025–26, Rotary Clubs across District 5750 put The Rotary Foundation to work—turning Rotarian generosity into meaningful projects in Oklahoma and around the world. The District’s new Foundation Annual Report highlights the scope of that impact, from literacy and community improvements close to home to clean water, health care and disease prevention internationally.
Our District supported nine District Grant projects across Oklahoma, representing $80,160 in total project funding. These projects expanded educational opportunities, strengthened mental health services, promoted healthier communities and improved public spaces.
Our reach extended much further. Our District invested $112,600 in 12 Global Grant projects across three continents. These initiatives are improving maternal and child health, fighting malaria, expanding access to medical care, providing clean water and strengthening food and economic security. The District also contributed more than $60,000 to PolioPlus and the Disaster Response Fund.
Behind every one of these projects is the generosity of Rotarians. The annual report shows what happens when we combine that generosity with Rotary’s ability to act.
