When I start visiting Clubs this month, I won’t have a PowerPoint presentation. Instead of presenting a canned speech, I want to have a conversation. I am looking forward to engaging with Club members.
Connecting with others often starts simply—with a question and a genuine interest in learning more. From those small beginnings, relationships grow, and collaboration follows.
The District 5050 Governors 2026-2027 Engagement Initiative that I am introducing is a year-long pilot project redirecting District Conference resources to increase engagement and create lasting impact.
How? By inspiring Clubs to maintain a welcoming and collaborative culture, recruit and retain members, complete meaningful projects, support personal growth, and encourage support for The Rotary Foundation from every Club member to fuel future service activities.
The Engagement Initiative isn’t simply a replacement for the traditional District Conference. It’s a reimagining of how we come together—not just once a year, but continuously. It encourages all of us to move beyond attendance and into active, meaningful participation. It’s about creating service experiences that leave a lasting impact—on our communities and on each other.
More than anything, this initiative is about moments—like gathering as a Club to spruce up a community park, fill school backpacks, paint a homeless shelter, serve a meal, host a wellness clinic or hold a book sale to fund student scholarships. Small actions that spark bigger ideas. Individual contributions that grow into collective strength.
Think about your own Rotary journey. When did you feel most connected? Which project reminded you why you joined?
Now imagine creating more of those moments—not just once a year, but again and again.
The Engagement Initiative isn’t something we simply launch. It’s something we live. By creating more moments of connection, we can create lasting impact from everyday service.
This is the opportunity in front of us. Let’s do this!
Every year, Rotary International welcomes approximately 150,000 new Rotarians. In that same year, Rotary loses approximately 150,000 members. This reminds me of a leaky bucket. When the water level starts to drop, we can keep pouring more water in, but unless we fix the leak, we are simply maintaining the status quo. Recruitment matters, but retention is what allows Rotary Clubs to truly grow and thrive.
We have all heard the saying that if every Rotarian invited one new member, our Clubs would grow exponentially. We also know that this idea rarely works because not everyone is a recruiter. The more important point is that growth becomes much easier and more natural when we retain the members we already have. People stay in organizations where they feel valued, connected, and able to make a difference. As we prepare for the start of a new Rotary year, I encourage all Clubs in District 5050 to make retention a priority. While every Club is unique, there are three practices that consistently make a difference:
Make sure every member feels valued.
Focus on onboarding and integration.
Provide opportunities for fellowship.
Making sure that every member feels valued is a critical piece of creating a positive Club culture. New members bring fresh energy and new perspectives, but long-term Rotarians provide stability, experience, and continuity. They maintain important traditions, mentor newer members, and help ensure that successful projects continue year after year. Making members feel valued does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes it is as simple as a phone call when someone has missed a few meetings. Sometimes it is a thank you to a member who has gone above and beyond. Sometimes it is simply taking the time to greet someone with a smile and ask how they are doing. Members want to know that they matter and that their contributions are appreciated. For incoming club presidents in our district, one of the simplest and most effective membership strategies is also one of the easiest: recognize your members, thank them often, and celebrate their contributions. As we embark on this new Rotary year, let's focus on making our members feel noticed and proud to be part of District 5050.
Effective onboarding should be intentional, clearly communicated, and designed to help new members become connected to the life of the Club. We know that many Rotarians who leave Rotary do so within their first one to three years of membership. In many cases, it is not because they dislike Rotary. Rather, they never become fully integrated into the life of the Club. Clubs can address this challenge through intentional onboarding practices. Structured orientation programs, mentorship opportunities, Club health checks, and regular communication can all help new members feel connected and informed. Have committee chairs been in contact with new members? In the 2022 All-Member Survey by Rotary International, respondents identified the club experience as the number one driver of member satisfaction. Is someone checking in on new members to see if they are enjoying their experience?
It is also important to seek feedback from newer members. They often see things that longer-serving members may overlook. Their perspectives can help clubs identify opportunities to improve and adapt while still maintaining the traditions that make Rotary special. Beyond onboarding, clubs must also create opportunities for members to build meaningful relationships.
According to Rotary International surveys, friendship and fellowship remain among the strongest reasons members stay engaged. I was recently speaking with a Rotarian, and she told me that even though she has been with her club for two years, it is not always easy to get to know other members. "You can have a good conversation at a meeting, but then not see that person again for six months," she explained. Her comment stuck with me. When clubs intentionally plan fellowship opportunities, they create more chances for members to connect. Service projects bring people together, but so do social events, committee meetings, coffee conversations, and shared experiences. Being connected to our fellow members is an important factor in turning new members into long-term Rotarians.
There is a term in biology called Thigmomorphogenesis. It refers to the process by which plants alter their growth and development in response to mechanical forces such as wind, touch, rain, or bending. Put simply, trees often develop stronger roots and sturdier trunks when they are exposed to wind. I think there is a lesson here for Rotary. Just as trees develop stronger roots when exposed to wind, Rotarians often develop stronger connections when they become actively involved in the life of their Club. Through fellowship, service, committee work, leadership opportunities, and shared experiences, members become more deeply rooted in Rotary. The stronger those roots become, the more likely members are to remain engaged for years to come.
I remember hearing a former Club president in our District share that, at the end of his presidential year, his Club had experienced zero resignations. None. Their retention rate was perfect. That does not happen by accident. It is the result of a Club culture where members feel welcomed, appreciated, and connected.
This past Rotary year has been an excellent one for District 5050. As of June 1, our District has achieved 4.9% membership growth, placing us among the strongest-performing districts in Zone 28. Perhaps even more importantly, this growth represents a remarkable turnaround from the previous Rotary year, when our district experienced a net loss of 65 members. This year, we have welcomed nearly 100 new members on a net basis. At a time when many organizations are struggling to maintain membership, our District is demonstrating that growth is possible. The challenge now is to build on that momentum.
The world needs Rotary more than ever. People have their first place, their home. Most have their second place, their workplace. But people also need a third place: a community where they can build friendships, serve others, and find a sense of purpose. For many of us, Rotary is that third place. If we want our clubs to thrive, we must continue to recruit new members. But just as importantly, we must make every effort to ensure that the members already sitting beside us feel valued, connected, and needed. When we do that well, retention improves, clubs become stronger, and Rotary's future becomes brighter.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) once again concluded in May at beautiful Camp Stillwood in Lindell Beach, B.C, so we (the RYLA Committee) thought we’d share a rundown from the weekend with you all!
40 participants from across the district (and beyond!) attended RYLA this year, along with facilitators and two head facilitators. Carmen Mendonca and John Daly Crompton (our head facilitators) did a fantastic job leading their Fac team this year, and we couldn’t be more grateful for their efforts. This was the largest RYLA we’ve had in recent years, and we’d like to thank all the Rotary Clubs that sponsored and sent participants this year.
Over the course of the weekend, participants heard from a variety of speakers covering topics such as: Breaking Down Barriers, Ethics & The 4-Way Test, and Diverse and Inclusive Leadership. The speakers shared professional and personal experiences, created safe spaces, and allowed the participants to take conversations in the directions that interested them. Beyond that, the participants completed a series of “RYLANTICS” (teambuilding activities) as well as indoor and outdoor projects that allowed them to utilize newly learned collaboration and communication skills brought forth during the weekend.
Thank you again to all the Clubs that financially sponsored and sent participants to RYLA—no RYLA could ever happen without your support! As the ‘26/’27 Rotary year kicks off, we hope that your Club continues to prioritize sponsoring (and sending!) at least one participant to RYLA. The impact you all have cannot be overstated.
Governor Olson joined the Rotary Club of Tacoma in 1994 when membership by classification was still a thing. There were over 360 members of the Club. She was the third woman in the Club to serve as President (2004-2005). In 2007 she was the District 5020 District Conference Co-Chair. She and her husband, Rick, moved to Arlington, WA, in 2018 and she joined the Marysville Noon Club and then transferred to the Arlington Club. She has served a variety of roles in Clubs and at the District level including Foundation Committee Chair, Auction Committee Chair, Public Relations Chair, the District 5020 Newsletter Editor and Assistant Governor. Somewhere along the way Olson was also a facilitator at Pacific Northwest Presidents Elect Training Seminars (PETS, now known as PELS) and at District 5020 Training Assemblies.
One of the accomplishments during her year as Club President in Tacoma was a net gain of 36 new members. This happened during Rotary International's Centennial Year. She also advocates for new members to be immediately involved in one of the Club's Committees. While in Tacoma, she worked on a variety of projects including one in Lesotho on the African Continent. The Club partnered with World Vision, UNICEF, Pierce County and several church organizations to work in areas of Lesotho that had high incidents of HIV patients. They worked on keeping kids out of orphanages and supporting schools with desks.
When asked if she ever thought about being District Governor, Olson said she never thought about it. “Then PDG Dave Duskin got her involved with the District Public Relations Committee.” With her experience in District 5020 it seemed a natural progression to become Governor. She added “that this past twelve months have been hard” in part because she has been responsible for the District's training programs. She is grateful for PDG Sean Hogan and his counsel as she prepared for her Rotary Year.
Kathleen has been to five International Conventions including to the recently completed one in Taipei, Taiwan. She is looking forward to upcoming conventions in Barcelona and Dublin.
Kathleen was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from Williams S. Hart High School and attended Los Angeles Valley College. She is a Certified Animal Welfare Administrator and has earned Certificates in Fundraising and Public Relations. She has been in nonprofit leadership positions since 1990 in social services and animal welfare. She was previously an advertising agency executive, journalist and airline flight attendant. Since 2017 she has been the Executive Director of Purrfect Pals Cat Sanctuary and Adoption Center in Arlington, WA.
Kathleen met Rick in 1994 when they were both volunteers at the Emergency Food Network in Tacoma. They married six months later, blending a family with two sons each. Rick joined Rotary in 1996 and has served as Sgt. of Arms three times, currently at the Rotary Club of Arlington.
They had moved to Arlington in 2018 when Kathleen accepted the Director Position at Purrfect Pals, and to be closer to family in Bellingham, where Kathleen’s brother-in-law Robert is also a Rotarian.
Community volunteerism for Kathleen has included serving as an officer on several local, regional and statewide nonprofit boards in social services, the arts and animal welfare. She was President of the Washington State Federation of Animal Care & Control Agencies in 2022-2023 and is a Senior Fellow with the American Leadership Forum.
Kathleen and Rick enjoy volunteering at community events, cruises, golf, cheering for the Seahawks, Kraken and Mariners sports teams and spending time with family and friends. They are dog foster parents for Old Dog Haven and currently have four senior Chihuahuas and two senior cats.
Olson would like Rotarians in our District to really look at your Club's Action Plan, seek ways to collaborate not just internally within your Club but also outside of your Club and last, but not least, support The Rotary Foundation.
What she would like people to know about our District is that we “are culturally diverse and we can accomplish great things together.”
From the Editor's Desk
This edition begins the fortieth year of the Peace Arch Journal! Can you believe it? The places we've been, the things we've seen, the Rotarians we've met along the way. Much of that has been shared through these pages. This is appropos as our shared countries celebrate milestones of their own: Canada celebrates its 159th birthday and the United States celebrates its 250th birthday! There is much to be proud of in our shared heritages, cultures and way of life. Let's celebrate that and work on creating a lasting impact so that Rotarians 40 years from now, 159 years from now or even 250 years from now will read through the annals of history and see how we came together for the common good.
Another exciting milestone is the growth of District 5050. As Shane Douglas, in a special to the Journal, shares in his article how retention is the key to growth. Engage the members in supporting your Club, supporting your community and demonstrate that Service Above Self is not just a catchphrase. I can attest, Shane, that my Club has grown leaps and bounds and we are engaging the members!
Welcome Governor Kathleen Olson! Governor Kathleen has been on a multi-year journey working with the Governor line to maintain continuity in leadership. No doubt she will leave her mark--as others before her have--on our District and we are ready to roll up our sleeves! Governor Olson will hit the ground running immediately after her installation--19 July at The Farmhouse in La Conner--by visiting each Club throughout the District celebrating each Club and encouraging you to participate in the Engagement Initiative that she rolled out at this year's Conference. Register today for her installation.
Hey Port Moody, let us know when you visit a Club south of the border to hand off the Traveling Peace Arch. We might want to be there!
We invite you to share the Peace Arch Journal with your family, friends and even Rotarians in other Districts. Share the wonderful things that District 5050 Rotarians are doing!
If you want your Club's program, initiative, fundraiser and success story to be seen by the entire District (and our friends outside of the District), send us the information! With graphics or photos. And please make sure you identify everyone in the photos. Remember, the deadline is the 23rd of the month before publication. Thank you to those that are sending material. Best to use the Story Submittal forms available at the District website and photos should be separate in jpeg format with everyone identified. Word documents are the best. Make sure any graphics or images you use in your submissions are original, perhaps even created by your own members and not taken off of the internet unless you have received copyright permission.
It is a magnificent thing to be alive in a moment that matters so much.
District 5050 Clubs
Port MoodySusan Bell
The Travelling Peace Arch, beautifully displayed in an ornamental wooden box, was presented by Glen Brown (l) to our incoming President Darrell Burnham (r). This meaningful symbol represents our ongoing friendship and unity with our neighbours across the border in our Rotary District 5050.
Upcoming Club Events
STEM CAMP 27 -30 July 2026 Fildalgo Island Rotary Anacortes, WA
This monthly publication is a service to District Members and Friends. It is intended as a source of news and opinion from throughout the District.
The mission of the Peace Arch Journal is to promote communication, understanding, fellowship and fun beyond club meetings, in a manner complementary to shared efforts at placing Service Above Self.
Please send articles and news with or without pictures attached to emails. Photographs are always a plus! Note that the editor appreciates conservation of space in order to meet the sender’s needs and the editor’s time.
The deadline is the 23rd of the month.
Address any and all information to the Peace Arch Journal Editor.
After you’ve discovered a world of culture at the Rotary International Convention in Barcelona, consider staying in Spain or touring Europe for a quick and easy vacation.
