Stories

Thanks to Rotary Club of Missoula, Hellgate High School freshman Bridger Goris, 15, of Missoula, will travel to Germany this fall as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. This exciting opportunity will allow him to attend school, live with host families, and experience daily life in another country while serving as a young ambassador for his community and Rotary.

Bridger has already had some different cultural experiences. He was born in Havana, Cuba, and his family then lived in Spain for seven years; thus, he is fluent in Spanish. Bridger has already visited 29 countries during his young life, but he wants to learn even more about different cultures.  

Bridger shared with attendees at the District Conference in Helena last weekend that he enjoys music (he and Kathy discussed guitar and songs they like) and reading, among other activities. Bridger also plays the tuba and trumpet and is part of jazz band at Hellgate. What better American ambassador representing the Rotary Club of Missoula in Germany than a musician? 

Rotary Youth Exchange is one of Rotary’s most meaningful investments in peace, leadership, and international understanding. Through the program, students gain confidence, independence, language skills, and a broader worldview. At the same time, host families, schools, and local communities benefit from the friendships and cultural exchange that grow from these experiences. Just ask anyone who was an exchange student or who hosted one.

As Bridger prepares for his year in Germany, we celebrate this important milestone and wish him every success on the journey ahead. He says he is learning as much German as he can prior to his departure. We look forward to hearing about his experiences and the many ways this exchange will deepen understanding, strengthen leadership, and reflect Rotary’s commitment to building goodwill across borders.

Thank you to Martha Ripley, Youth Exchange chair, for your Service Above Self, and to Cindy Fulks who has served this year as counselor for an exchange student.

UNITE FOR GOOD.

President Shari 

• Meditate in your garden on May 3rd since it is National Garden Meditation Day.
• The German Surrender: It was on May 8, 1945, that German high command unconditionally surrendered to allied forces bringing an official end to World War II.
• May 8th is now considered Victory in Europe Day, or VE Day. It is commemorated each year in countries like France, UK and Poland with remembrance ceremonies.
• “Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,” wrote Shakespeare in Sonnet 18. May is the month of growth, bloom, and warming weather, and it seems like the Bard too notice as well.
• One of the more intriguing fun facts about May: the Old English name for the fifth month of the year was primlice, which translates to “three milkings”. Due to the abundance of fresh grass in May, cows could be milked three times a day.

• Did you know that May 14th is National Dance-Like-A-Chicken Day?

  

   

• May is also National Vinegar Month, National Asparagus Month, and National Salad Month. So try an asparagus salad with vinaigrette this month!

• You can also eat a hamburger … Celebrate International Hamburger Day on May 28th.

   

  

You too can wear this stylish, asphalt orange vest to let all passers-by know you are working on behalf of Rotary Club of Missoula!

It's not too late to sign up to volunteer for the Rotary EPIC Day of Service this Saturday, May 16! Join Rotarians all over the world who will UNITE FOR GOOD on that day. Rotary Club of Missoula will partner with Missoula Parks & Recreation on Satruday to complete several improvement projects for PlayFair Park. The community service project is part of the worldwide Rotary EPIC Day of Service when Rotary clubs everywhere will be completing community projects. 

Our club's Project Chair Phyllis Green, director of Community Service on the Rotary Club board, explained that our volunteers will be divided into three teams that day. One team will become painters, painting the backstops. A second team will be gardeners, weeding the planted beds and replacing the bark. A third team will spread fresh sand underneath the swings next to the pool and tennis courts.

Phyllis assured that we will not be alone in our endeavors and that a representative from Missoula Parks & Recreation will be there to oversee each project. And there are “rewards” for your volunteer service.

“There will be a hydration station, water to be donated by a generous Rotarian," Phyllis said, "And upon completion of our projects a pizza party hosted by a famous Rotarian.”

The Rotary Clubs of Missoula Sunrise and Missoula Centennial will work together on the same day to clean up the areas along Mullan Road, a highly trafficked and growing area of town. All clubs will meet together afterward at Highlander Brewery for pizza and fellowship. Be sure to see Phyllis to sign up to volunteer! Everyone is welcome to join us!! 

Making our community more beautiful is indeed EPIC! Save the date and thanks for your support.

STORY ABOUT LAST WEEK'S SPEAKERS + PHOTOS?

Interested in Italian history, language and culture? 

The Italian Culture Worldwide Rotarian Fellowship (ICWRF) [Whew! that's a mouthful!] is managed by an International Board that runs six continental areas, including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. So it is definitely worldwide. The association's membership is open to all, Italians and non-Italians. It aims to create an International Service Network among all people interested in Italian culture, Italian cultural associations, in Italy and in the world, and all institutions and individuals who are interested in or activate dedicate themselves to the study, promotion and analysis of Italian culture and its diffusion in the world.

This Fellowship is a serious one – following Rotary's guidelines for promoting peace and understanding worldwide – it promotes studying the mechanisms for spreading Italian culture abroad and its adaptation to local society and values. In general, the organization supports “the advancement of understanding, goodwill and international peace, through an international network of friendship and collaboration between professionals and businessmen united in the ideals of service , respecting their individual nations and their own values, and in the interest of Italian culture and values of life.” That's taken straight from their website. 

Visit icwrf.org for more information about how to join.