Bulletin Template (May 29, 2026)

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

Service Above Self — those three words have taken on a living, breathing meaning for me this year. As we close in on eleven remarkable months of club visits, district events, and shared Rotary fellowship across the Greater Kansas City region, I find myself deeply grateful to each and every one of you. You are the reason District 6040 continues to shine.

Reflecting on Eleven Months

From the rolling hills of eastern Kansas to the vibrant neighborhoods of Kansas City, Missouri, I have had the privilege of visiting clubs large and small, new and long-established. Each visit has reinforced what I already believed: the heart of Rotary beats strongest at the local club level.

I have witnessed Interact and Rotaract clubs igniting a passion for service in the next generation. I have seen vocational service projects that transformed lives, and community grants that turned ideas into action. I have broken bread with members who have worn the Rotary pin for 40 years, and shaken hands with members who joined just this season — and I have seen the same fire of purpose in every set of eyes.

Our district events this year — from the Foundation Dinner to PELS to the District Conference to our fellowship gatherings and Friendship Exchange — have woven our clubs into a stronger, more connected community. Thank you to the club presidents, secretaries, committee chairs, and every member who showed up, stepped up, and gave back. You have made this year extraordinary.

And now the World Stage Comes to Kansas City: World Cup 2026

Fellow Rotarians, the world is coming to us.

Beginning in mid-June and extending through mid-July 2026, Kansas City will serve as one of the premier host cities for the World Cup 2026 — the largest sporting event in human history. Kansas City Stadium will welcome teams and fans from across the globe, and our metropolitan area will be transformed into a vibrant international stage that the entire world will be watching.

District 6040 sits at the very center of this historic moment. Fans, families, journalists, dignitaries, volunteers, and visitors from dozens of nations will walk our streets, dine in our restaurants, and experience the warmth and spirit of Kansas City. This is not just a sporting event — it is an invitation for us to demonstrate, on a world stage, what Rotarians mean when we say "Service Above Self."

To view the complete Rotary Event Guide, click here.

Kansas City Rotarian Hospitality: Our Call to Action

This is our moment, District 6040. The Rotary motto of “Service Above Self” is not merely a banner we hang on a wall — it is a way of life. And there is no better time to live it than right now, as the world arrives at our doorstep.

I am calling on every club in our district to embrace the World Cup experience and to extend genuine, heartfelt Kansas City Rotarian Hospitality to our international guests. Rotary International own motto of “People of Action” reminds us that we don't just talk about goodwill — we demonstrate it. Here is how each of us can make a difference:

Welcome Visitors Warmly
Whether at a match, on the streetcar, at the River Market, or in your neighborhood — greet our international guests with the warmth Kansas City is known for. A smile, a helping hand, or a simple welcome in any language goes a world of miles.

Open Your Club Meetings
Invite visiting Rotarians from around the globe to attend your club meetings as guests. Use Rotary Club Central and MyRotary to connect with visiting members and extend a personal welcome. Our clubs are chapters of one great global fellowship — let's act like it.

Be a KC Ambassador
Share the best of our city. Point visitors toward the Nelson-Atkins, the Jazz District, the world-famous barbecue, the riverfront, and the neighborhoods that make KC extraordinary. Be the reason a visitor leaves with a story about the kindness and character of Kansas Citians.

Volunteer Your Time
Opportunities to volunteer in connection with World Cup activities abound. Encourage your club members to seek out official and community volunteer programs. Rotarians in action — visible, helpful, and proud — is one of the most powerful statements our organization can make.

Wear Your Pin
Wear your Rotary pin with pride. To a visiting Rotarian from another country, that little blue pin is a sign of home. Be ready for the handshake, the smile of recognition, and the instant bond that comes with it. There is no passport required in the world of Rotary.

"Rotary opens doors. Kansas City opens hearts."

Let us show the world that our city and our District are among the finest expressions of the Rotary ideal.

Looking Forward

As we enter the final weeks of this Rotary year and welcome in the new one, I carry with me a full heart and a deep sense of gratitude. Eleven months of travel, fellowship, and service have given me a profound appreciation for the incredible diversity and dedication of our District 6040 family.

The World Cup is not a distraction from our Rotary work — it is an extension of it. It is a chance to live out our values in front of the entire world. Let us embrace it with the enthusiasm, generosity, and grace that Rotarians are known for.

Kansas City is ready. District 6040 is ready. Let's welcome the world.

Yours in Rotary Service,
Jodi Sundaram
District Governor, Rotary District 6040
Rotary Year 2025–2026

Chiwonetsero's Story

CHIWONETSERO'S STORY

Rotary Club of Lilongwe Lingadzi | Rotary Club of St Joseph, D6040 USA | The Rotary Foundation | Fistula Care Center

FROM NINE YEARS OF SUFFERING TO A THRIVING BUSINESS

— CHIWONETSERO’S STORY

Meet Chiwonetsero Positani, 39, from Kambedza, Salima. This is her story — and it is one we are incredibly proud to be part of.

Chiwonetsero was just 16 years old when she got married. Her first pregnancy, in 2002, was complicated and prolonged. After 23 days in labour, she was rushed to hospital — but by then, the damage had been done. She had developed an obstetric fistula.

For nine years, she carried this condition — one that isolates, that silences, that strips women of their dignity and their place in the community. She visited hospital after hospital in search of help. Nothing. She lost hope.

Then, in 2012, she heard about the Fistula Care Centre on the radio. She came. Her first two operations were unsuccessful — but she did not give up, and neither did the team caring for her. Her third operation was successful. After years of being alone, she found love again and remarried in 2017.

Welcome our Rotary Friends from Argentina

Join us for a memorable evening of fellowship, food, music, and fun as we welcome our Rotary friends from Argentina to Kansas City!

Hosted by the Rotary Clubs of NKC, Gladstone, Liberty & KCI

Date: June 11
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 PM
Location: Life Unlimited Rooftop Patio, 320 Armour Rd., North Kansas City, MO 64116

Enjoy beautiful downtown Kansas City views while connecting with Rotarians from around the world in the spirit of international friendship and cultural exchange.

Step Up and Stand Up

What happens when Rotarians teach 9-year-olds how to respond to conflict with confidence, leadership, and empathy?

Step Up and Stand Up programs are helping students build healthier relationships, stronger self-confidence, and safer responses to bullying situations.

RYLA Help Needed

First, a huge THANK YOU to everyone who responded to our initial call for help with Missouri RYLA 2026!

Because of your support, we are excited to share that our videographer position has officially been filled for both sessions. We are incredibly grateful and cannot wait to continue the tradition of the nightly recap videos our students love so much.

Now, we are asking for one final push as we enter the home stretch with just over a month until Session 1 begins.

6040 Friendship Exchange Featured by KSHB Channel 41

We’re excited to share that Ben Martin of the Lee's Summit club completed an interview with Braden Bates from KSHB Channel 41on Friday about the upcoming Rotary Friendship Exchange with Argentina in June!

They were joined on a Zoom call with our Rotary friends Roberto and Augusto Diez in Argentina. It was a wonderful conversation, and Braden expressed great enthusiasm about following this story throughout the exchange.

Rotarians Wear Orange

Rotary Clubs throughout District 6040 are proud to support the Wear Orange for National Gun Violence Awareness campaign, June 5-7.

Rotarians from the Kansas City Plaza, Independence, Harrisonville, Lee’s Summit, Thousand Hills, Liberty, Waldo-Brookside, Chillicothe, Lee’s Summit Sunrise, and Unionville clubs will wear orange clothing, light homes and offices orange, and promote gun safety as part of the campaign. These clubs founded a districtwide Committee on Gun Safety, which encourages other Rotary clubs to take action to prevent gun accidents and violence, in partnership with Grandparents for Gun Safety.

Rotary Leadership Seminars

As we move through May, many clubs are preparing for leadership transitions and the start of a new Rotary year on July 1. It’s an exciting time filled with fresh ideas, new goals, and opportunities to grow.

As the new Rotary District 6040 Learning Facilitator, I wanted to share a great summer learning opportunity that can help club leaders stay connected, informed, and inspired beyond the transition season.

End of the Year Reminders

The current Rotary year (2025-2026) is coming to an end soon. As such, there are a few important deadlines that pertain to Rotary Foundation grants, giving, and goal-setting that we would like to share with everyone.

Rotary District 6040 is please to be part of the Candlelight Vigil to recognize survivors of Human Trafficking on Sunday, July 5th at 8:00 p.m. at Loose Park.

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