As we approach Thanksgiving, I am thankful for all of you and the time, talent and energy you direct to our work as Rotarians! Together, we change lives and create a legacy for the future.

There's no doubt that The Rotary Foundation drives that legacy - enabling the good we do in our communities and around the world. This is Rotary Foundation Month - the Rotary Foundation is our charity of choice. You will find great stories here and on Rotary Showcase about the projects made possible through the Foundation. We're also featuring one of our Global Grant Scholars and some of the great events that took place in support of PolioPlus on World Polio Day last month. All that we can accomplish starts with each of you and your generous contributions. We have just come off our second highest year of giving to the TRF Annual Fund and we're off to a good start for 2021-22. I encourage each of you to consider your contributions and for clubs to strive for Every Rotarian Every Year (EREY) status. Read Foundation Chair Cheryl Greenway's article here - and let's work toward 100% participation - as individuals and EREY clubs this year.

We're also focused on membership as a top priority in 2021-22. RI President Shekhar Mehta just posted his congratulations to the Rotary world - saying that our membership has topped 1.4 million - a new high for the organization! In this newsletter, you will see a list of new District 6900 Rotarians since early October - drawn from our district database. We particularly salute the clubs with the highest membership growth so far this year:

Our work is far from over; President Mehta has challenged Each One to Bring One to help us double the size of Rotary! Your district team is ready to help with your goals for growing and engaging your membership!

Another way to measure our legacy lies in our investment in our youth. I'm excited that we have 57 youth organizations participating in Youth & Peace in Action. Students and educators have an amazing opportunity to learn about peace-building and turn their creativity to projects that can make a difference. Rotarians can join in too - read here about a special training course for those who would like to provide guidance to our youth. Sponsoring clubs please connect with your school activator to ensure they are responding to Danielle Burley’s calls and emails. She is our contact and valuable resource for help expanding the engagement of students throughout the whole school.

Keep acting to Change Lives. I am grateful for all that you do, and wish each of you and your families a happy Thanksgiving!