by Andrea Spessard

​San Miguel de Allende-Midday Rotary Club President Lee Carter and President Elect Andrea Spessard attended a conference in Guadalajara hosted by Rotary International Zone 25A and District 4140.  The District covers six states in Mexico and includes 107 Rotary Clubs and 39 Rotaract Clubs.  The Zone is one of 34 Rotary zones worldwide, which covers Mexico and other countries in Latin America.  

The conference in Guadalajara was attended by approximately 150 Rotarians, representing 102 Rotary Clubs.  Lee Carter gave a presentation on global and district grants and the process by which Rotary Clubs can pursue grants to fund service projects.  He shared examples of some of the Midday Rotary Club's projects which have successfully secured funding through global and district grants.  These projects included the rain harvesting water cisterns, dry composting toilets, mobile library and the Girls' Empowerment Program.

Other topics discussed at the conference included Rotary's values, goals and action plans, brand standards, training and educational resources, membership growth, The Rotary Foundation, Polio Plus and the End Polio Now campaign.  Donating to The Rotary Foundation's Annual Fund was emphasized as a way to fund clubs' future projects.

The conference offered attendees an opportunity to meet and connect with other Rotarians from within the District and the Zone and to share service project success stories, experiences and resources.  Upcoming conferences include a Rotary Institute in Guatemala in September and a District Conference in Zihuatanejo in May 2025.      

by Robin Loving

​And a good time was had by all who braved the elements Wednesday and made it to Lee’s Party Palace for the Step-Down, Step-Up party at which we roasted and toasted former Rotary Midday President Joe Ruffino before giving the same treatment to President Lee Carter.

Joe received a plaque in honor of his dedication and accomplishments, and then Lee received both a ball cap emblazoned with this year’s theme, The Magic of Rotary, and a magic wand with which he may, with the stroke of a pen, formalize his initiatives this year.
 
Special thanks to Members Alex Fautsch, Andrea Spessard, Gael Sherman, Jill Noack, Jose de Anda, Kerry Fautsch and TL Phillips for their voluntarism at this special event!

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by Robin Loving

​Rotarians from almost 20 clubs filled three ballrooms at Hotel Real de Minas Saturday night to install officers, recognize outstanding accomplishments, and toast a new Rotary year. District Governor Claudia emotionally expressed how this year’s hope had paved the way for next year’s magic, emphasizing that we are a family of joyous workers. All this on the eve of our club’s 19th birthday.

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy,” she said, quoting Khalil Gibran.
No one seemed more joyous than President-elect Lee Carter, who received resounding rounds of applause when he was featured as both president-elect of our club and the next global grants coordinator of our district.

The pomp and circumstance was first accompanied by a brass band and an all-female color guard. Then, as the second band played, all enjoyed enormous steaks in mushroom sauce accompanied by colorful veggies and wines that ensured that the camaraderie continued through the third band’s music.
 
“it’s going to be a spectacular year,” said Lee, who will be serving a third term as our president. “Please let me know what magic you want to create in joyful service to our beloved community,” he concluded.

The Rotary Paul Harris Award stands as a beacon of recognition within the global Rotary community, celebrating outstanding individuals who exemplify the organization’s ideals of service, leadership, and humanitarianism. Named after Rotary International’s founder, Paul Harris, this prestigious award is a testament to the commitment and dedication of individuals who have made significant contributions to their communities and beyond.

Established in 1957, the Paul Harris Fellowship recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the goals and values of Rotary through exceptional service. Recipients are nominated by their peers and recognized for their tangible efforts in fostering peace, promoting education, alleviating poverty, and supporting community development projects.

What sets the Paul Harris Award apart is its emphasis on Rotary’s guiding principles of "Service Above Self" and the belief in ethical leadership. Each award recipient becomes part of a distinguished group of individuals who have made a tangible impact, whether through direct humanitarian efforts, advocacy for social justice, or significant contributions to educational initiatives.

The award not only honors individual achievement but also serves as an inspiration for others to strive towards similar goals of making a positive difference in the world. It underscores Rotary’s commitment to fostering goodwill and understanding across cultures and borders, promoting a global network of leaders dedicated to service.

Furthermore, the Paul Harris Fellowship program supports the Rotary Foundation, Rotary International's charitable arm, which funds international humanitarian projects, scholarships, and grants. Contributions made by award recipients and other supporters help sustain these vital initiatives, amplifying the impact of Rotary’s work worldwide.

In essence, receiving the Rotary Paul Harris Award is more than just an accolade—it is a testament to a lifetime of service, a commitment to making the world a better place, and an invitation to continue the journey of service and leadership. As Rotary International continues to expand its reach and impact, the Paul Harris Fellowship remains a cornerstone of recognition, honoring those who embody Rotary’s motto of "Service Above Self" in their daily lives.

Whether through local community projects or global initiatives, recipients of the Paul Harris Award inspire others to join in Rotary’s mission of creating positive, lasting change. Their stories serve as reminders of the power of individuals to transform communities and uplift humanity, embodying the spirit of Rotary’s enduring legacy of service and compassion.

​Mother's Day celebrations in Mexico started just over a century ago. Unlike the U.S.A., Mother's Day in Mexico is celebrated on May 10, rather than the second Sunday in May.  "El Dia de la Madre” is a moment to show appreciation to moms, come together with family, and acknowledge the significant role mothers play in everyone's lives. 

Midday Rotarians took part in two Mother's Day activities this year. The club organized a Mother's Day flower giveaway near Plaza Civica, with 5 members distributing 200 roses to mothers on the street. Simultaneously, Escuela de Educación Especial de San Miguel de Allende hosted its annual Mother's Day celebration, honoring mothers who began queuing up at the school's doors 30 minutes before opening. The event featured tributes, performances by deaf students, interactive games for the moms to join in and, of course, food.

by Ron Felton

​The Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende - Midday is part of Rotary District 4140 which covers Nayarit, Jalisco, Querétaro, Colima, Michoacán, and Guanajuato. The district has 158 Rotary and Rotaract Clubs with 1,666 Rotary members and 428 Rotaract members. 

The 8th annual District Conference took place on May 2-4 in Morelia, Michoacán. Four of our club members, along with visitors from California Rotary District 5240, attended this informative event for networking, learning, and socializing. Meeting topics covered a wide range of topics that included: ongoing projects in the district, including ones with partner districts in the US; strategic planning; alternative energy; and leadership skills enhancement. Simultaneous translation was provided in English. 

Participants had the opportunity to enjoy parts of the beautiful city of Morelia, enjoyed musical performances, partook in a gala dinner and attended a lovely awards breakfast overlooking the historic center of the city. One memorable music performance was by a youth ​orchestra made up of at-risk young people from age 7 to 17 from communities troubled by poverty and violence. 

On the final morning, there was a lovely awards breakfast overlooking the historic center of the city where our club was recognized for its contributions to the Rotary Foundation. We were number one in the district for 2022-23.

Before the conference, California Rotarians visited many of our club's ongoing projects here in San Miguel de Allende.

Please leave a message for Bill below.

Two San Miguel de Allende Rotary Clubs have joined forces to create a permanent program to provide free LN4 prosthetic hands to people in Mexico who need them. Applicants need only sign up and provide proof that they need a hand. 

The LN4 prosthetic hand is low-cost, lightweight, durable, and functional. Ernie Meadows, Michael Mendonca and Maurice LeBlanc, an award-winning mechanical engineer specializing in assistive technology with a special interest in upper limb prosthetics, worked to develop this hand that can be manufactured cheaply while maintaining a high level of quality.

To apply for it, those interested must register at https://linktr.ee/Rotaract.SMA or call 415-108-2941. if the application is approved, follow-up will be by phone. As soon as there are 25 approved applicants, they will be invited to an event for receiving, fitting, training and maintenance.

After years of testing, the resulting hand was named the LN4 prosthetic hand in honor of Meadow’s deceased daughter Ellen. In 2006, Meadows donated this prosthetic hand to Rotary friends through the Ellen Meadows Prosthetic Hand Foundation specifying that no one could profit from production or distribution and that recipients would not be charged.
 
For this device to be successful, recipients must have 14 cm. of residual limb below the elbow as measured from the tip of the elbow to the tip of the remaining arm. In addition, there can be no fingers, thumb, or wrist left. Finally, the arm should be flexible and fully healed.
 
LN4 ambassadors have worn these prostheses in almost every corner of the world, in more than 90 countries, including Colombia, Ecuador, Vietnam, India, Jordan, Uganda, Tanzania and others.
 
The LN4 Foundation announced, "We want all people who require a prosthetic hand to have it regardless of their socioeconomic level or ability to pay. We manufacture a durable rudimentary prosthetic hand without electrical parts and, with the help of our partners, distribute it worldwide."

The program will seek to synergize with NGOs for constant promotion of the program, in addition to the Felipe G. Dobarganes General Hospital in SMA, CAISES, secretariats, physiotherapy clinics and doctors.

With this project, the Midday Rotary of SMA is celebrating 18 years of internationally acclaimed service in conjunction with Rotaract SMA, the club for younger Rotarians. Together they are looking for beneficiaries for the prosthetic hands.
 
"It is very gratifying to have people from all over the world visit us and express their amazement at what this small club has accomplished," said Midday Rotary Club President Joe Ruffino, who shared that this has brought growth to the club and the satisfaction of what multicultural membership is bringing to Mexico.
 
He announced that the LN4 team includes psychologists and therapists who will provide any additional support required. Additionally, he concluded, "We want many people and families to benefit from this program as possible, and we will always be there to help our community in San Miguel de Allende and beyond."

For more information, please complete the form on the right and you will be contacted.