Rotary District 6970

10/17/2026

Thank you, everyone, for attending our final Pre-PETS session in Daytona! We're gearing up for a strong and successful 2027–2028 Rotary year! 💪

10/17/2026

TASTE OF AMELIA WEEKEND

Great Food. Local Flavor. Lasting Impact.

Turn your visit to Amelia Island into a delicious weekend adventure!

From pirates and handcrafted cocktails to acclaimed Napa Valley w**es, unforgettable local cuisine and fascinating island history, the Taste of Amelia Weekend brings together the very best experiences Fernandina Beach has to offer.

🏴‍☠️ FRIDAY NIGHT — Start the Adventure
Choose your experience: set sail on a Sunset Pirate Voyage along the Amelia River, or step inside A1A Marlin & Barrel Craft Distillery to meet the Master Distiller, explore premium spirits, and enjoy a handcrafted cocktail demonstration from Paul Lore, plus sample cocktails, spirits tastings, and delicious food pairings.

🍴 SATURDAY AFTERNOON — The Sell-Out Favorite
Experience the Taste of Amelia Culinary Crawl, featuring the very best restaurants in Historic Downtown Fernandina Beach. Sample delicious signature dishes, stroll our charming historic streets, and discover why this is one of Amelia Island's most popular events — and a perennial sell-out!

🍷 SATURDAY NIGHT — An Evening of Napa Excellence
Elevate your evening with an exclusive ZD Wines Premium Tasting on a downtown rooftop. Enjoy exceptional Napa Valley w**es paired with an abundant artisan charcuterie display from Ch*****ne & Charcuterie and chef-inspired gourmet bites, thoughtfully selected to complement each w**e.

🥂 SUNDAY — Brunch, History & Stories
Savor a delicious brunch, then step into Amelia Island's fascinating past with a tour and captivating narrated stories at the Amelia Island Museum of History in the heart of historic downtown.

Make a weekend of it. Come for the food. Stay for the experience. Leave with memories — and know that your participation helps support education for Nassau County students.

ONE UNFORGETTABLE WEEKEND!

EXPERIENCE A MEMORABLE WEEKEND 5 - Events

10/16/2026

District Governor visits the Satellite Club of Southpoint Evening!

Our speaker last week was Rotary District Governor Bo Norton, who is 3 months into his 1-year term serving District 6970. He began by introducing District Governor-Elect Ed Lombard from the West Jacksonville Rotary Club and Assistant District Governor Jose Gavarrette from the Bartram Trail-Julington Creek Rotary Club.

Bo told us how our District is also being represented by Marshall Butler, who is a Rotary International Director for Zones 33 and 34, and by Cynde Covington, who is on the Board of Directors of The Rotary Foundation. He emphasized how extraordinary it is for one District to have representation at such a high level. Bo told us his primary job is to serve the clubs in District 6970. He said that the current President of Rotary International, Olayinka “Yinka” Babaloa from Nigeria, is the first President who started in Rotary as a Rotaractor. Yinka’s theme during his term as President is “Create Lasting Impact”.

He also gave us an overview of the progress Rotary has made in eliminating polio from the world and how close we are to having zero cases. Bo told us how proud he was of all of the good work we have been doing as a Satellite Club, citing examples of specific charities we have helped. He said that through these actions, we are creating lasting impact in our community.

We were happy to have Bo there for the pinning of club member Frances Fernandes by Tommy Entenza as a Paul Harris Fellow. Thank you, Bo, for being such a great cheerleader for our Satellite Club, for our District and Zone, and for Rotary International!

Read more here: https://www.southpointrotaryevening.com/rotary-international/rotary-in-northeast-florida

10/15/2026

How is your club recognizing October as Community Economic Development Month?

Let the district know by submitting your story and photos. We will feature it on our social media channels, newsletter, and website: https://www.rotarydistrict6970.org/event-and-news-submission/

Pictured: Palatka Sunrise Rotary Club

10/13/2026

On September 26, 2026, the Santa Fe College Rotaract Club partnered with Keep Alachua County Beautiful to clean up Northwest 23rd Street in Gainesville as our first service project of the year.

Keep Alachua County Beautiful works to put on events for volunteers including litter abatement and beautification events around the community.

Follow on Instagram to learn more about the club and upcoming service projects!

10/12/2026

Are you serving as Club President for the 2027–2028 Rotary year? 🌟

This is your LAST CHANCE to attend Pre-PETS!

📅 Saturday, October 17, 2026
⏰ 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Daytona Beach International Airport
700 Catalina Drive, Suite 300
Daytona Beach, FL 32114
(McGee Room, 2nd Floor)

Get ready to lead your club with confidence!

Register now through DACdb!

10/11/2026

October is a busy month for us! From Community Economic Development and World Polio Day to Halloween festivities and more, there's plenty happening across our district. Submit your stories and catch up on this week's message from District Governor Bo Norton! https://conta.cc/4jWPVmW

Email from Rotary District 6970 Weekly newsletter from Governor Bo Norton The Minutarian October 11, 2026 | Issue 8 Bo Norton District Governor 2026-2027 Rotary District 6970 Hello Rotarians, This m

10/10/2026

The 14th Annual W2W/Wes Skiles Water Stewardship Awards will honor the legacy of Wes Skiles, a pioneering underwater explorer and passionate advocate for Florida’s freshwater springs. The evening at the Cade Museum will include recognition of this year’s award winners, each of whom will share a brief presentation about their work in water stewardship. Mark your calendar for Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Celebrating a Legacy of Exploration and Conservation

Florida is home to the largest concentration of freshwater springs on Earth, and among its most awe-inspiring natural wonders are its intricate underwater cave systems. Alachua County’s own Wes C. Skiles began diving at the age of eight and quickly rose to international prominence for his groundbreaking underwater cinematography and tireless efforts to raise awareness about springs conservation.

Tragically, Skiles passed away during a dive off Boynton Beach in 2010. In 2011, he was posthumously named “Explorer of the Year” by National Geographic, which had featured his work in several issues, including the award-winning August 2010 cover photo. Wes was also a beloved and engaging speaker at the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville, inspiring the club to make clean water one of its core focus areas.

Honoring Water Stewardship in North Florida

Since 2012, the Wes Skiles Water Stewardship Awards have recognized outstanding contributions to water quality and conservation across North Florida. Nominations are accepted from Rotarians and past award recipients in three categories: individual, nonprofit organization, and for-profit business. Winners receive a commemorative plaque and a cash prize in recognition of their exceptional achievements.

Come celebrate the people and projects making a difference in our region’s water future and honor the life of a man who helped us see the world beneath the surface.

Tickets are available through the Rotary Club of Downtown Gainesville website, page, or Square link: https://shorturl.at/0XkY1

10/09/2026

What a great throwback of our Rotary International Director, Marshall Butler, participating in a World Polio Day march a few years ago! About 500 Rotarians and friends gathered in Pittsburgh, the hometown of Dr. Jonas Salk, developer of the first successful polio vaccine.

As we recognize World Polio Day this month, how is your club spreading awareness, promoting Rotary, and supporting the fight to end polio?

Submit here: https://www.rotarydistrict6970.org/event-and-news-submission/

10/08/2026

Get ready for an unforgettable night of cards, community, and impact!

Join the Rotary Club of Downtown Ormond Beach, presented in partnership with Seacoast Bank, for our 2nd Annual Texas Hold ’Em Charity Poker Tournament on Friday, October 23, 2026, at Oceanside Country Club.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. and cards fly at 7:00 p.m. Enjoy friendly competition, heavy appetizers, raffles, fellowship, and a fun evening supporting a powerful cause.

This year’s tournament benefits No Longer Fatherless and other community initiatives supported by our Rotary club. No Longer Fatherless mentors and equips boys and young men growing up without consistent father figures, helping them build confidence, leadership, responsibility, and hope for the future.

Every seat, ticket, raffle, and sponsorship helps strengthen lives and support meaningful local impact.

Player Seats:
$75 before October 10
$100 after October 10
Includes chips, drink tickets, raffle tickets, heavy appetizers, and final table non-cash prizes.

Spectator Tickets: $50
Includes event entry, raffle tickets, and heavy appetizers.
Limited seating is available — reserve your spot today: http://www.rcdob.com/poker