Rotary Club of South Bend

06/23/2026

Join us Wednesday, June 24, as we welcome Jaime Murphy, Director of Programs for Leadership South Bend/Mishawaka. Leadership SBM’s mission is “Creating Leaders. Connecting Community. Shaping The Future,” and its programs are built around servant leadership, helping participants know themselves, understand the community, and use their gifts for lasting change.

This is a perfect Rotary conversation: leadership, service, relationships, and the kind of community-building that moves South Bend and Mishawaka forward.

Join us at noon on Wednesday, June 24 at the Century Center. Guests are always welcome, and lunch is on us!

06/22/2026

🌱 Ready to be part of something bigger than yourself and make a real difference in your community? 🌟

Join South Bend Rotary's Done-In-A-Day service project at Unity Gardens and discover the power of collective action!

Together, we'll tackle whatever tasks need attention, from harvesting to planting, weeding, and more. Unity Gardens will provide the tools, you bring the enthusiasm and a willingness to get involved.

📅 Saturday, June 27
⏰ 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
📍 Unity Gardens
3701 Prast Blvd, South Bend, IN 46628

Family members, friends, and prospective members are welcome to join us.

To volunteer, contact Dan Asleson, Club Local Service Chair, at (574) 383-9152.

Service is one of the best ways to get to know Rotary. Join us.

06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day!

Today, we celebrate the fathers, grandfathers, stepfathers, mentors, coaches, and father figures who have helped shape our lives.

Many of the values that guide Rotary are the same lessons we learned from those who raised us: keep your word, lend a hand when someone needs help, treat others with respect, and leave things better than you found them.

Every day, Rotarians put those lessons into action through service, leadership, and a commitment to strengthening our communities. In many ways, Service Above Self is simply another way of saying what so many fathers have taught for generations: care for others and do your part.

To all the dads and father figures who lead by example, thank you for the wisdom, encouragement, and steady presence you bring to your families and our community.

Happy Father's Day from the Rotary Club of South Bend.

06/20/2026

My Rotary Why: One Piece of Advice That Changed My Life

Thirty-three years ago, on my very first day as a higher education administrator, I knew exactly one person in South Bend: the gentleman who had hired me. That day, he offered a piece of advice that would shape the rest of my life: join the Rotary Club. He even connected me with a sponsor. How could I say no?

It turned out to be among the best advice I have ever received.

The weekly luncheons brought together more than 150 of the city's leaders, professionals I genuinely needed to know and people I would never have met otherwise. Through Rotary, I built friendships, expanded my perspective, and found countless opportunities to serve.

Together, we have accomplished things that still fill me with pride: renovating local schools, planting flowers on downtown street corners, preparing Thanksgiving baskets for thousands of families in need, and sponsoring a dozen Russian pharmacy business owners for a month-long educational exchange in our community. Those are only a few highlights. The service projects and community impact are simply too numerous to count.

What began as a professional networking opportunity became something far more meaningful: a lifelong commitment to service above self, lasting friendships, and the chance to help make our community stronger.

That's my Rotary why.

06/19/2026

June 19 is Juneteenth, a day that marks an important chapter in American history.

On June 19, 1865, enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, were finally informed of their freedom, more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth has long been a day of remembrance, resilience, community, and hope.

For Rotary, Juneteenth is also a reminder that service is connected to understanding. We cannot build peace, strengthen communities, or create lasting change without listening to history and honoring the dignity of every person.

Rotary’s work is rooted in fellowship, goodwill, and the belief that people can come together across differences to make life better for others. Juneteenth invites us to reflect on freedom, justice, belonging, and the ongoing work of building communities where everyone is seen, valued, and able to thrive.

Today, we remember the history. We honor the resilience. We recommit ourselves to service that brings people together.

06/18/2026

06/16/2026

This Week @ Rotary

This Wednesday, the Rotary Club of South Bend welcomes Charity Stowe and Rachel Mospan of Herstoric Development.

Herstoric Development is helping reimagine South Bend by breathing new life into historic and vacant spaces through thoughtful, community-rooted revitalization. Their work focuses on restoring what has been overlooked, preserving local history, and creating places where neighbors, businesses, and community life can flourish.

Charity and Rachel will share more about their vision for transforming vacant lots and underused spaces, including work connected to Herstoric Development and Milkweed Gardens. Their approach brings together sustainability, creativity, restoration, and deep care for the people and neighborhoods that make South Bend home.

This is exactly the kind of conversation Rotary was built for: community development, service, connection, and the shared belief that good things happen when people come together with purpose.

Join us Wednesday at Noon at Century Center. Lunch is on us!

06/15/2026

June 15 is World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, a reminder that every older adult deserves to age with dignity, safety, respect, and connection.

At Rotary, we believe communities are stronger when people are seen, heard, valued, and supported. As a club of all ages, we know the power of relationships across generations. Connection matters, and it can help protect people who may otherwise feel isolated or unseen.

One simple way we can all help is to remember the 3 R’s:

Recognize the signs: unexplained injuries, fear, isolation, sudden financial changes, neglect, or a caregiver who seems controlling.

Respond with care: listen, believe, and offer support without judgment.

Report concerns: call 911 if someone is in immediate danger, or contact Adult Protective Services if you suspect abuse, neglect, or exploitation.

Every older adult deserves dignity, safety, and respect.

06/14/2026

June 14 is Flag Day in the United States, a day to reflect on the meaning carried by a nation’s flag.

Flags are powerful. They tell stories of history, identity, sacrifice, hope, and belonging. They remind us where we come from, what we value, and the responsibilities we share.

As Rotarians, we honor the flag of our country while also recognizing that Rotary is a global organization. Across the world, Rotary members gather under many flags, speak many languages, and serve in many communities. Yet we are united by a shared commitment to peace, goodwill, friendship, and service.

That is one of Rotary’s great strengths. We can love our country, respect the stories of others, and work together across borders for a better world.

On Flag Day, we pause with gratitude for the ideals our flag represents and with respect for the many flags carried by our Rotary family around the globe.