District 5470 Foundation Celebration honors generosity, service and the power of Rotary together

There is something powerful about a room filled with people who believe generosity can become action.

On Saturday, Oct. 17, Rotarians from across District 5470 will gather at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs for A Night to Remember, an evening celebrating service, honoring generosity and recognizing the clubs and individuals whose work made an impact during the 2025–2026 Rotary year.

The District 5470 Foundation Celebration will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. and will bring together Rotarians around one of the ideas at the heart of Rotary: when people combine their talents, resources and commitment to service, they can accomplish far more together than they ever could alone.

A child returns to school after surgery. A premature newborn has access to lifesaving equipment. A family turns on a tap and drinks safe water. A rural student opens a computer for the first time. Behind every Global Grant is a need, a partnership and Rotarians who decided they could do something about it.

Last year, Rotary District 5470 helped support 14 Global Grants with $60,095 in District Designated Funds.

That is an impressive number.

But it is not really the story.

A child in Eagle County will carry a bright red bag of books home to read with her family.

A family escaping domestic violence in Pueblo will walk into a freshly cleaned and furnished place to stay.

On a bitter winter night in Durango, someone without shelter will have a ride from the transit center to a warm, safe place to sleep.

Students in Fruita will help raise endangered fish and eventually release them into the Colorado River.

And in Pagosa Springs, Rotarians, Interactors and community volunteers will stand shoulder to shoulder packing 20,000 meals for their neighbors.

Different communities. Different needs. Different projects.

Rotary District 5470 is offering two opportunities to attend Rotary Leadership Institute (RLI) Session 1 this fall in Southwest Colorado—and the District is covering the registration cost.

Eli Hauber Turns Eight Years of Rotary into Global Service

Eight years ago, a young man from Colorado Springs went to RYLA.

He could hardly have known then that the experience would help chart a course that would take him from a high school Interact club to Rotaract leadership, from Colorado to North Carolina, and now toward a hospital in Lviv, Ukraine.

For Eli Hauber, Rotary did not become simply an organization he joined. It became part of the way he sees the world.

By Rosanne Gain
District 5470 Public Image Committee

Once upon a time there were no women in Rotary, but that changed on May 4, 1987, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that clubs could not exclude members based on gender, forcing Rotary to drop its men-only policy in the U.S. 

Friday, October 9 • The Sebastian, Vail • Rotary Breakfast begins at 8 a.m.

Rotarians from across the region are invited to gather in Vail on Friday, October 9, for Ripple Effect: A Regional Rotary Meetup, a special breakfast opening the second day of the Ethical Leadership Forum at The Sebastian in Vail.

How one Rotarian’s encounter with obstetric fistula grew into an educational lifeline for students in Ethiopia

The plan was to help five women. 

Then Rebekah “Becky” Kiser would return home to Colorado and get back to her normal life.

There is no menu, no dress code and no need to leave home.

Just pour a cup of coffee, tea or your favorite Saturday-morning beverage, settle in and open Zoom.

Nick Adams
Rotary 5470 District Membership Chair

Last month, we looked at the importance of creating opportunities for our members to become more involved, develop their talents, and discover what Rotary has to offer. This month, I want to turn our attention outward and consider how we share those experiences with others.

For Becky Smith, Rotary has always been about opening doors.

Doors to leadership. Doors to education. Doors to service. And, perhaps most importantly, doors that help people recognize their own value and potential.

That philosophy has guided Becky through 20 years as a Rotarian, a term as District 5470 Governor, years of district leadership and service, and now her roles as District Vice Chair and president of the District 5470 Educational Group.

But her Rotary story actually began long before she joined.

Celebrating Barbara Bowman’s completion of Governor Line Education are, from left, Wayne Bowman, Past District Governor Whittney Smythe-Smith, District Governor Donna Hood, District Governor Nominee Dave Frank, District Governor-Elect Barbara Bowman, Past District Governor Maile Foster, Montana Past District Governor Shawna Kazanow and Ralph Hood.

District 5470 was well represented at Camp Big West, the Rotary Zones 26 & 27 Institute held at The Wigwam in Arizona, where Rotary leaders from across the West gathered for several days of education, leadership development, fellowship and connection.

The week offered plenty to celebrate for District 5470, with several district leaders reaching important milestones in their Rotary journeys.

On World Polio Day, Rotary remembers how far we have come, why we cannot stop now and the promise we made to children everywhere: a world free from polio.

There are some promises that become more important with time.

Decades ago, Rotary made an extraordinary promise to the children of the world: we would not stop until polio was gone.

Wet Mountain Valley Rotary Club: For five years, Wet Mountain Valley Rotarians have turned creativity into action through their annual Paint and Sip fundraiser for PolioPlus at A Painted View Ranch. The colorful tradition brings people together for an evening of fun while supporting Rotary’s commitment to a world free from polio.

Ready to help your club make World Polio Day meaningful?

Telling Rotary’s story does not have to be complicated—or something club leaders tackle alone.

The Zone 26/27 Rotary Public Image Coordinator team is offering a series of monthly virtual discussions to help Rotary clubs and districts strengthen their communications, use Rotary’s brand effectively and share stories that inspire people to get involved.

Zone Institute isn’t just for governors. It’s an opportunity for any Rotarian who wants to learn more, meet people from across the West and discover what Rotary looks like beyond the club level.

Rotarians from across Zones 26 and 27 will gather Nov. 11-13, 2027, at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada, for the Big West Institute 2027, built around the theme “Gratitude in Action.”

On New Year’s Day, Rotary will once again carry its message of service before millions of viewers as its 2027 float travels through Pasadena’s Rose Parade.

This year’s float, “Where Communities Bloom,” features a thriving village carried on the back of a giant tortoise. The design symbolizes the connection between a healthy planet and strong, sustainable communities.

Glenwood Springs Rotarians take time out to pose and admire their work.

Glenwood Springs Rotary Noon Club

The gardens and greenhouses at Mountain Valley Developmental Services got a “service call” from Glenwood Springs Rotarians on Friday, September 11— A National Day of Service and remembrance. It was a beautiful day; cool sunshine and terrific temperatures for working outside. Maura Masters, Mountain Valley Developmental Services Development Director, asked for help to dismantle some raised beds to make way for new plantings and the team obliged. 

District 5470 has a lot to celebrate, and even more to look forward to.