Would you and your Rotary club like to impact the lives of high school students in your community? You can do just that by sponsoring local high school students to attend the Missouri Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Academy. The deadline to register for the 2026 RYLA Academy is quickly approaching. Sign up and registration for both the June and July sessions closes on April 30th.
Registrations for District Conference are climbing — and the excitement is building. Thank you to those who have already registered!
The question is… will you be there, or will you miss out?
This is more than a conference. It’s a weekend filled with energy, connection, and celebration across our entire district.
Here’s what’s waiting for you:
• Serving together at Rotary Youth Camp • Friday Night BBQ and fellowship • A Live Rock Concert to keep the energy going • District Awards Celebration honoring incredible leaders • The 25th Anniversary Shoes for Orphan Souls Shoe Roll Call — a powerful and unforgettable moment
We’re also honored to welcome Larry Lunsford, Rotary International President Nominee.
Don’t wait. This is the weekend you’ll want to be part of.
Taipei is calling… and you don’t want to miss this! 🌏✈️
Imagine building connections with Rotarians from around the world, exploring a city where tradition and modern culture blend beautifully, and coming home with new ideas, new friends, and unforgettable memories. That’s what the 2026 Rotary International Convention is all about.
From inspiring speakers and breakout sessions to exciting host events and cultural experiences, this convention is more than a trip — it’s an experience that will re-energize your Rotary passion and remind you why we do what we do.
Join us June 13–17, 2026 in Taipei and be part of something bigger than yourself. Unite for good… and have an amazing time doing it.
We’re excited to share that Rotary Districts 6040 and 5710 have teamed up to offer soccer jersey pre-orders in celebration of the World Cup coming to Kansas City this summer!
Orders will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis, with a combined limit of 100 jerseys, in accordance with Rotary International regulations.
Important Details:
Order Deadline: April 20
Order Confirmation: Placing your order does not guarantee it will be fulfilled. You will be notified by April 20 whether your order has been accepted, and an invoice will be emailed to you at that time.
Pricing: S/M/L/XL $36.49, 2XL $41.49, 3XL $52.49
Delivery: Pick Up - FREE, Shipped - $10.00
We encourage you to submit your order as soon as possible to secure your jersey. Our goal is to have all jerseys delivered ahead of the activities kicking off in June.
Please click the link below to secure your spot in line!
Spring has arrived across District 6040, and with it comes a moment to pause and reflect on something that sets us apart: we don’t just talk about making the world better — we do it, together, with our hands and our hearts. That is the spirit behind this year’s theme, Unite for Good, and I have never seen it more beautifully expressed than in what our clubs accomplish every single day.
“Service is not a season. It is who we are — every day, in every community we call home.”
This month, I want to celebrate one of the most powerful examples of that spirit: the 25th Anniversary of Shoes for Orphan Souls. For a quarter century, Rotarians across our district have gathered — sorting, counting, and packing shoes for children around the world who would otherwise go without. Twenty-five years. That is not a project. That is a calling. And it is a testament to what happens when Rotarians show up, year after year, united in purpose.
I invite every club in District 6040 to participate in this year’s shoe roll call in honor of this milestone anniversary. Let’s make this the biggest collection we have ever mounted. Every pair of shoes we send is a child who walks to school with dignity, who plays without pain, who knows that somewhere, someone cared enough to act. That is Rotary at its finest.
While our service efforts are in full swing, so is our push to grow the family of Rotary right here in District 6040. We are in the final stretch of our 8-in-8 Membership Drive — a district-wide challenge to bring in 8 new members in 8 weeks, running from March 1st through April 30th. We are almost there, and every club has a role to play.
DISTRICT CHALLENGE·FINAL WEEKS
8-in-8 Membership Drive
8 new members·8 weeks·March 1 – April 30, 2026
Think of one person in your community who is already living the Rotary spirit — and invite them in.
Think about the people in your life who show up for others without being asked — the neighbor who organizes the food drive, the colleague who volunteers every weekend, the business owner who quietly sponsors the youth baseball team. Those people are Rotarians who just haven’t found us yet. This is the moment to extend the invitation.
Membership is not just about numbers. Every new member is a new set of hands, a new perspective, a new connection to our communities. Growing our clubs means growing our impact — and that is exactly what Unite for Good calls us to do.
As we serve and grow, let us also come together in fellowship. Our District Conference is just weeks away, and I cannot wait to see you all there. This is our time — to share stories from the field, to honor the clubs and members doing extraordinary work, and to recommit to the values that bring us into this organization year after year. Come ready to be inspired, and come ready to inspire others.
SAVE THE DATE
District 6040 Conference
April 24–25, 2026·Rotary Youth Camp·Lee’s Summit, MO
Register today and join us at the camp- https://rotary6040.org/events/2026-district-conference/
As District Governor, I travel from club to club and I am continually moved by what I see: members who give their time, their expertise, their resources, and their passion — not because they have to, but because they believe in something bigger than themselves. That belief is what it means to Unite for Good.
This April, let’s lace up a few thousand more pairs of shoes. Let’s welcome new faces into our clubs before April 30th. And let’s fill the camp in Lee’s Summit with the energy and commitment that defines this district. Rotary is not just an organization — it is a promise we renew every time we serve.
We are now in the first days of spring, but it’s time to start thinking about summer . . . and particularly Rotary Zones 30 & 31’s Summer Leadership Seminars!
A tradition for many years, the Summer Leadership Seminars provide an opportunity for Rotarians at all levels to connect with each other, exchange ideas, and plan for the new Rotary year. As District Governor-Elect, we encourage you to reach out to your District officers, committee members, PEs, and any and all other Rotarians in your district and get them excited about attending. We will have something for everyone at the Summer Leadership Seminars.
Have you served as your club's President? Do you feel like you have more to offer to bigger Rotary?
District 6040 is searching for the ideal candidate to serve as our District Governor for the 2029-2030 Rotary year (July 1, 2029 - June 30, 2030). The role of District Governor is the experience of a lifetime, like no other.
The window to submit an application will remain open through Wednesday, April 15.
Did you miss it? KCTV5 Heart of KC segment featured RIPN Larry Lunsford (our very own District 6040 Shoes Cheerleader) and DG Jodi Sundaram. It’s a wonderful feature highlighting the incredible impact of the Shoes for Orphan Souls shoe drive and how it benefits children around the world. We’re so proud to see this work getting such great visibility.
So don’t miss Rotary Club 13’s Native Plant Sale, 4 to 6 p.m., Friday, April 17, at the Rotary Youth Camp, 22310 NE Colbern Rd., Lee’s Summit, Mo.
A portion of the proceeds will help support Club 13’s free summer camp for disabled and disadvantaged kids. It is a camp that has drawn wide support from Rotary Clubs throughout the area.
Missouri has some of the highest rates of gun deaths, injuries, and household firearm ownership in the United States. (Source: Everytown for Gun Safety.)
Rotarians for Gun Safety was formed out of concern for the high number of accidental deaths and suicides involving guns in our communities. The group works to make our communities safer by partnering with local law enforcement, hospitals, behavioral health centers, and organizations that promote gun safety and secure storage. We are committed to a non-partisan approach to family and community safety.
Rotary Club members from the Kirksville-Thousand Hills Club were featured in the Kirksville Daily Express for their opportunity to learn about one of the initiatives of the Rotary District 6040 Peace and Conflict Resolution Committee. This group is working with seven Rotary Clubs in north Missouri and the Kansas City area to improve gun safety in homes.
