Dear friends,

Rotary has changed my life, and I’m willing to bet that it has changed yours too. It expands our world, enriches our understanding of service, creates international friendships, and grounds us. It teaches us to see, to look beyond ourselves.

Think about our Vision Statement: Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change—across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Those final words of our Vision Statement are at the heart of what it means to Create Lasting Impact. We often share how Rotary inspires lasting change in others, but we rarely discuss how it transforms us. We must consider how Rotary has changed our lives and share our stories widely. If we can do that, we will engage current members, expand our reach, and forge exciting connections with like-minded  partners.

We must embrace Rotary’s global diversity and build a welcoming culture, one where fresh perspectives are embraced, new ideas are celebrated, and differences are met with curiosity and kindness instead of judgement. If we can do that, we will meet our membership goals and continue to grow.

And finally, we must reaffirm our commitment to service. We must think bigger, understanding our struggles as interconnected and leveraging our connections to make global progress. If we can do that, we will be one step closer to a world free of polio, a world where everyone has access to clean water and a quality education—a world at peace.

Let us continue to inspire one another and seek innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. I look forward to working alongside you in service.

Warm regards,

Olayinka H. Babalola
President, Rotary International 2026-27