Elkhorn Rotarians, our friends, and family all hustled around for four days to get Walworth County fairgoers into our lot provided by the Elkhorn Area School District. Final numbers are in… we set a new parking $$$ record: $6,365 was raised for our club. Congrats, everyone!!! We also had some volunteers take a last-minute bartending shift too. Wowsa!
Thanks to all of our AMAZING volunteers who gave their time to make it possible and stay tuned for more ways to help our club and community.
WEEKLY MEETING RECAP:
What To Feed Our Pets
On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Bark Market Owner Karen Conell returned to the club for a refresher on the importance of healthy eating habits to prolong the health and life of our pets. Karen made the connection between diet and a variety of medical issues that animals experience, and stressed that owners can either “pay the farmer, or pay the doctor” when going beyond the standard kibble budget. Avoid pet foods that contain wheat, corn, soy, and beans, and make sure that specifically “meat” is listed within the first five ingredients of all pet foods. She also encouraged owners to feed animals a variety of people foods, such as animal organs and eggs, for the best protein sources.
OTHER NEWS:
Wednesday will be the final morning meeting of the club. Low attendance for our guest speakers and lack of engagement with additional members were cited as the reasons. Please join us this week for our final morning meeting of the year.
Katie James has been elected as interim Treasurer while Chris Clapper is taking a Leave of Absence from Rotary. Mariann Hunter and Heather Leasure will share Secretary duties going forward. Marisol Holt volunteered to begin the club newsletter. Thanks all for your service to the club!
SAVE THE DATE: The District Foundation dinner will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at the Chandelier Ballroom in Hartford, Wisconsin.
LEADERSHIP TRAINING REGISTRATION CLOSES THIS FRIDAY:
Rotary Connect & Lead 2026
This is the final week to sign up for the district one-day professional development experience designed to help you grow as a leader, strengthen your network, and gain practical skills you can apply in Rotary, your career, and your community. Choose from interactive workshops on leadership, communication, technology, community engagement, networking, and more.
Saturday, September 26, 2026 at Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI. 8:15am-3:30pm. $15 fee.
Through engaging workshops led by experienced facilitators, you'll explore today's most relevant leadership and professional development topics while connecting with fellow Rotarians from across District 6270. The conference is designed to be interactive, practical, and immediately applicable, providing valuable takeaways you can put into action right away.
Whether you're looking to become a more effective leader, strengthen your club, expand your professional network, or discover innovative ideas to serve your community, Rotary Connect & Lead offers a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Invest in yourself, connect with fellow leaders, and leave equipped with practical tools to make an even greater impact in your club, your profession, and your community.
Early Bird Registration for the 2027 Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, Spain will open this weekend only, from September 17-21, 2026. Have you always wanted to visit Spain and further your connection to Rotary? Now is your chance!!!
A Different Kind of Registration Window
If you've registered for a Rotary convention before, you may be used to a familiar rhythm of pricing tiers stretched out over many months. This year looks different: Rather than the traditional structure, this year's registration window will be be open for a short time only - this Thursday through Monday - before prices increase. The convention itself takes place June 26–30, 2027, at the Fira de Barcelona. This gives you plenty of time to plan once you've locked in the early rate.
The Early Bird Price Difference Is Worth Planning For
For members, nonmembers, and guests age 31 and over:
September 17–21: $595
September 22 – March 31, 2027: $795
April 1 – June 30, 2027: $895
That's up to $300 in savings simply by registering during the opening week.
For those age 30 and under:
September 17–21: $250
September 22 – March 31, 2027: $350
April 1 – June 30, 2027: $400
Up to $150 in savings for our younger members and guests.
The takeaway is simple: the earlier you register, the more you keep in your pocket for the trip itself.
Bring the People Who Make It Meaningful
Registration isn't just for members – family and friends of any age are invited to attend. Guests ages 5–18 register at a reduced rate, and children under 5 attend free. If Barcelona has been on your travel list, or if you've always wanted to show the people you love what a Rotary convention feels like, this is the year to make it a trip together.
What Your Registration Includes
A full in-person registration gets you:
Admission to the opening and closing ceremonies and general sessions
Breakout sessions to build your communication, leadership, and project management skills
Access to the House of Friendship, where you can connect with projects and fellowships from around the world
Entertainment from local artists and musicians
Transportation between your hotel and the convention venue (if booked through Rotary's official housing partner).
Being a Rotarian is not simply about belonging to an organization. It is about choosing to be useful.
It means looking at the world as it is, with its injustices, its fragilities, and its challenges, and deciding not to remain a spectator.
I am proud to be a Rotarian because, wherever we are, we can turn an idea into action, an encounter into friendship, and a difficulty into hope.
I am proud to be a Rotarian because we don’t ask, “What can Rotary do for me?” but rather, “What can I do for others?”
I feel this pride every time a donation saves a life, a young person finds their path, someone regains hope, or an action brings women and men together around a common cause.
Being a Rotarian means having the opportunity to give meaning to your commitment.
And above all, it means belonging to a community that doesn’t just dream of a better world.
