RI President's Message

Presidential Message

Francesco Arezzo
President, Rotary International, 2025-26

July 2025


Cari amici,

Two weeks ago, I was in my living room playing with my grandchildren. A few days later, I was on a plane to Calgary, suddenly carrying the responsibility of leading this incredible organization. Life comes fast, but so often, it brings us exactly where we’re meant to be.

We begin this year with a clear message: Unite for Good. It is a simple phrase, but a powerful one. Because behind every successful Rotary effort, every act of service, every new member welcomed, every global challenge met – there are two things that matter most: friendship and trust.

This is how we build strong clubs. It’s how we create meaningful partnerships and transform global problems into local solutions. It’s also how we lead—not through titles or applause, but with humility, humanity, and heart. But let me be honest with you—this kind of leadership is not always easy. We’re human and yes, we make mistakes. We sometimes disagree, but in Rotary, we are called to something greater. Let us reflect on the full vision of Rotary:

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

That last part is essential, because transformation doesn’t start with strategy. It starts with character and the way we treat one another. It starts with how we listen, how we support, and how we serve.

This year, I ask you to lead with that spirit. To grow Rotary through relationships. To make your clubs more welcoming, more flexible, more open to new ideas. To think big—but also to think beyond one year. Our term is short, but our impact can be lasting if we plan and act with continuity and vision.

Let us remember our key priorities: membership, polio, and peace. We are closer than ever to ending polio. We cannot stop now. We must keep the promise we made to the children of the world. And as for peace—Rotary has been building it for over a century. Every clean water system, every youth exchange, every maternal health project is a step toward peace.

I joined Rotary as a young professional, eager to help but terrified of public speaking. My fellow Rotarians believed in me and encouraged me to take on new roles, and in doing so, Rotary changed my life. It gave me courage and purpose, but above all, it gave me you: my friends, my team, my family around the world.

So now, my friends…  take out your dreams tucked away in a drawer, especially those you thought were too big or bold to achieve. Let’s bring them into the light. Let’s Unite for Good—for our clubs, our communities, and our world. And let’s make this a year not only of service, but of joy, of connection, and of love.

With gratitude and affection,

 

RI President's Message 2025-07-01 05:00:00Z 0

Literacy

As the current school year draws to a close we reflect on the efforts of Service Clubs in our community.
Recently, the Noon Lions Club asked the community to help create a "Cereal Box Dominos" event at the Middle School.  Over 3,100 boxes of cereal were donated to the effort, along with $1,800 in cash donations.
All of the cereal and cash donations were delivered to Warren County Helping Hand where over 400 families receive groceries each month.
 
Last Fall, Rotary Club of Indianola distributed almost 300 paperback dictionaries to local 3rd Grade Students. In the past 20 years, Rotary Club of Indianola has distributed over 5,500 dictionaries, through The Dictionary Project, to local 3rd grade students who have utilized them in the classroom to learn spelling, reading, historic events, planets and so much more.
 
These are only two examples of local service organizations working with and for our youth to develop the leaders of tomorrow.
 
If you are interested in learning more about Rotary, reach out to a local Rotarian and research Rotary online at Rotary.org.
 
   
Literacy 2025-04-09 05:00:00Z 0

What is Rotary

Celebrating 120 Years of Service to the World

Rotary  
  • We are People of Action
  • Growing Leaders 
  • Local and Global Impact
  • Service Above Self
Rotary Club of Indianola Community Impacts
  • Balloon Parking
  • Annette Nature Center Deck
  • Buxton Park Gazebo
  • McCord Park RC18 Disc Golf Course (Centennial Project)
  • All-inclusive Playground at Pickard Park
  • Dictionaries to 3rd Grade Students  (– over 5,500 to-date)
  • Warren County Helping Hand Food Drives
  • Interact / Rotaract
  • RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)
  • Rotary Youth Exchange (inbound and outbound)
  • Summerset Recreational Trailhead Shelter (Rotary International Centennial 2005)
  • Rotary Bike Ride
International Projects:
  • Firetruck to Mexico
  • Safe Drinking Water in Central America
  • Polio Vaccinations in Africa
  • Water Wells in Tanzania 
What is Rotary 2025-01-18 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Youth Leadership Award

RYLA 2025
July 27 - August 1
Grinnell College
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership conference designed to assist future leaders in methods of responsible and effective leadership.
Iowa RYLA focuses on developing leadership through the lenses of team, community, and emotional leadership with an emphasis on Rotary's motto: Service Above Self. 
To learn more about Rotary and it's global impact, visit Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
 
 
 
WHO IS RYLA FOR?
EVERYONE!

 
RYLA brings together students from across the state who have a desire to develop their leadership skills. At any given moment, you may find athletes, musicians, authors, and scholars coming together with the common interest of gaining a better understanding of their leadership strengths and building skills to help them  make a positive impact on their communities and future endeavors. 
 
Rotary Youth Leadership Award 2024-12-19 06:00:00Z 0

Service Above Self

Julie Masters was a friend who served our Rotary Club board meetings at Crouse Cafe for many years. We were sad to hear that health conditions took her so early in life.  In recognition of her "Service Above Self", Rotary Club of Indianola, along with Indianola Parks and Rec, planted a Kentucky Coffee Tree at Pickard Park, next to the All-Inclusive Playground, on May 31st, 2024.
 
 
Service Above Self 2024-06-06 05:00:00Z 0

Brews For Stews

Rotary Club of Indianola assisted The Groggy Dog Restaurant again this season to create meals for those who may not have other options.  The Groggy Dog, West Hill Brewery, Rotary Club of Indianola and donations from other businesses and individuals raise funds to make the Guinness Stew.   

Rotary Club members meet at The Groggy Dog on the appointed days to package the stew. 

Each batch created 25-35 meals which, when reheated, provides a nutritious meal on cold winter days.  Once the stew is packaged, it is frozen and delivered to Warren County Helping Hand and Heal House of Iowa for distribution. 

If you are interested in helping us purchase ingredients for additional batches of stew click here to fund the project.  Click the Read More to see additional pictures.

Brews For Stews 2023-11-24 06:00:00Z 0

Rotary Centennial Disc Golf Course

RC18 Update
7/3/2023
T-Boxes were completed on May 2nd so players can now utilize them as they play. The next step is to install benches, trash bins and Signage. 
 
Work began on the new Disc Golf course in 2022 and continues on the Front 9 with final seeding, installation of benches and T-Boxes in May 2023. Even though the Front 9 holes are not complete, in 2022 UDisc scored 196 rounds of golf, players logged 131 hours of play, and visited the site from 7 different states. 
 
Work has begun on the "back 9", however progress is slow due to the terrain and number of trees that have to be removed to create the 'fairways'. Sponsors will be needed to help fund the addition of at least three bridges, necessary to help players progress from one hole to the next.  Click on read more to learn about sponsorships.
 
__________________________________________________________
McCord Park is located at South 'P' Street / West 5th Ave
Rotary Centennial Disc Golf Course 2023-07-03 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Club of Indianola Celebrates Centennial Year

 

Rotary Club of Indianola was chartered on September 26, 1922. 

In September 2022 our club celebrated its Centennial as a member of the Indianola Community.

The Four Pillars of Rotary

  Of the things we think, say or do:

  •      Is It the TRUTH?

  •      Is it FAIR to all concerned?

  •      Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

  •      Will it BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

The Rotary Motto:   

  Service Above Self  

Rotary Club of Indianola Celebrates Centennial Year 2022-11-05 05:00:00Z 0

Rotary Peace Garden

Rotary Club of Indianola Established a Peace Garden at McCord Park

World Peace is one the pillars of Rotary International.

By carrying out service projects and supporting peace fellowships and scholarships, our members take action to address the underlying causes of conflict, including poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.

As a humanitarian organization, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global effect.

To honor that legacy, Rotary Club of Indianola has established a Peace Garden at McCord Park.  The Peace Garden is a place where individuals may visit to reflect on how they can become part of the solution in our own community.

Click this link to learn more and follow the progress of our Peace Garden
Rotary Peace Garden 2022-06-06 05:00:00Z 0

The Question is

"What is Rotary?"

As a Rotarian, one of the hardest questions to answer is 'What is Rotary?'  You would think that after 20+ years as a member it would be an easy question to answer.  But it is not.

Rotary has so many moving parts, in so many parts of the World, in so many different ways, well to be honest, it boils down to the people.  It becomes the question of "Who is a Rotarian?"

With the motto "Service Above Self", a Rotarian is one individual who wants to help those around them, whether it be individuals, communities or countries.    

As a whole, Rotary is made up of three parts: our clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation. Together, we work to make lasting change in our communities and around the world.

And yet, it boils down to individuals. 

  • Individuals willing to travel around the world to deliver a dose of polio vaccine to a child. Rotarians have been doing this since 1987 and the wild polio virus has been eliminated from all but one Country - in the World. Think of the millions of lives that have been changed because individuals were willing to help others.

  • Individuals willing to walk a local parade and collect food items for the local Food Pantry - The Helping Hand.

  • Individuals, taking time out of their daily work schedule, to visit five different elementary schools and hand out personal dictionaries.

  • Individuals who raised the funds and furnished the labor to build a shelter at the local recreational trailhead.

  • Individuals who spend nine evenings, in a row, selling tickets and parking cars at the National Balloon Classic, so the Club can afford to purchase dictionaries and sponsor other projects in our community.

  • Individuals who teach leadership skills to High School Youth.

  • A Foundation, supported by individuals, that funds water projects around the world, providing clean water, which in turn decreases diseases among the people who live there.

  • The Rotary Foundation helps Rotary members to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.

So, to answer the question, What is Rotary? Rotary provides a fulfilling system that allows me to help people in my community, in my District and in the World, making this a better place for all.   

Terry Pauling,

Rotary Club of Indianola.

 
 
 
The Question is 2022-01-01 06:00:00Z 0