Sunrise Rotary Club of Columbus, Indiana

04/21/2026

Congratulations to the Excel Center in Columbus for being the first recipient of our club's 2026 Raffle distributions!

03/08/2026

Congratulations to Rotarian Jean Ozols for reaching the sapphire level of her giving to the Rotary Foundation!

03/08/2026

Our club welcomed new member Doug Basile at a recent meeting! Doug is retired from Cummins and is ready to roll up his sleeves to join Rotarians in service to his community!!

01/13/2026

We are proud to share that The Arc of Bartholomew County board member Whitney Gaines will be a keynote speaker at the Columbus 29th Annual MLK Day Breakfast.

The event will take place on January 19, 2026 at 8:00 am at The Commons in downtown Columbus. This year’s theme is “I Am My Brother’s Keeper.” The breakfast is free and open to the public, catered by Stunna's

Whitney Gaines serves as a BCSC teacher, BHMC chair, and Paths to Success leader, and brings a strong commitment to education, equity, and community leadership.

Thank you to the African American Pastors Alliance for organizing this important community event.

01/12/2026

Save the date!!!

The first Friends of the Foundation event of the year is coming up next month!

We are heading to Columbus Helen Haddad Hall!

Link in the comments!!

01/12/2026

What an inspiring Theme for our next year of Rotary!

IT’S HERE!

The Rotary International Presidential messsge for 26-27!

Announced just moments ago at International Assembly in Florida!

01/09/2026

It’s time to kick off 2026!!

Here’s a New Year’s message from District Governor Kari Schneider Akin!

We’ve made it to 2026! While the calendar year is just beginning, we’re already halfway through the Rotary New Year. This is the perfect time to reflect on what went well in the past year and what we can improve.

Here are some ideas to think about:
• Health and Well-being: Is it time to get healthier? What does that look like for you? More movement? Eating whole foods? Smaller portions? Training for a 5K or even a marathon?

• Generosity and Giving Back: What if this year, you became more intentional with your generosity? Maybe it’s regular donations to the Rotary Foundation, or contributing to a different cause each quarter. Could you dedicate more time volunteering for specific projects or roles?

• Learning and Self-Improvement: Is there something you've always wanted to learn? Whether it’s a new hobby like mahjong, a formal class at Purdue Extension, or an online module from myRotary, now is the time to dive in. You could also join a local meet-up or club, or even plan a trip to explore a new place or write that book you've been thinking about.

• Better Relationships: Is it time to strengthen the bonds you have with others? Could you schedule regular dinners with family, game nights with friends, or make an effort to limit screen time and be more present? Setting aside time to connect with people who inspire you can help you grow.

I hope you’re proud of how far you’ve come. Remember, we are always growing and evolving.
Here’s to another year of progress and possibility—Cheers to the New Year

01/08/2026

It’s time to apply!!!

Who doesn’t need 💰💰for college!

Franklin Rotary Club is here to help!!

Details below!

Mark your calendar with these important application deadlines:
- February 24, 2026 – Application deadline online by 4:00 p.m.
- May 31, 2026 – Renewal scholarships application deadline.

01/08/2026

Last year, Columbus Sunrise Rotarians raised nearly $5,000 through raffle ticket sales to be shared with agencies across Bartholomew County. $25 Tickets were sold to individuals hoping to win a $100 prize with drawings held monthly throughout 2025. With only 500 tickets sold each year, the odds of winning are attractive, especially with any winning ticket being placed back in the ticket hopper for another chance of winning through future draws.

Charity Distributions for 2025 were:
Advocates for Children $500
ARC of Bartholomew County $250
BCSC - Backpack Distributions $500
BCSC - GirlUp! event $500
Columbus Fire Department – school fire safety education $150
Hope Community Center – food pantry $500
Indiana Youth Group $500
Ivy Tech Student Food Hub $1,000
Salvation Army $500
United Way Food Drive $500

Our club was chartered in 2000 and has supported a number of agencies over many years. Our charity raffle event is in its fourth year and has raised $25,000 during that timeframe including over $8,000 that will be distributed in 2026. There are under 100 raffle tickets remaining and drawings began January 2, 2026. Come join in on the fun!!

12/11/2025

Another great Holiday Party with club members and guests. And we raised $100 to give to the Salvation Army while we together!