August is Membership and New Club Development Month — a time to reflect on how we grow Rotary, but more importantly, how we make it magnetic.
This year, Hunger Strike 2025 is helping clubs do just that.
What started as a simple fundraiser has evolved into a community engagement platform — designed to attract new members, re-energize existing ones, and connect Rotary clubs directly to their neighborhoods. With 50% of net funds raised going to each club’s selected hunger-relief partner, the impact is real, local, and personal.
But we’ve taken things further this year.
🔥 Club-to-club challenges are lighting a fire under participation, building excitement and camaraderie across our District.
🤖 We’ve launched a powerful new AI Assistant called COACH — an always-on virtual teammate who not only answers questions, but helps clubs, teams, and individuals create customized promotional content — from flyers to social posts, talking points to press releases.
💳 And for the first time, every participating club has its own Impact Marketplace — a year-round fundraising tool that turns everyday shopping into direct support. Featuring over 400 national gift card brands, supporters can purchase gift cards for their favorite stores and restaurants, and a portion of each purchase becomes a direct contribution to the club’s Hunger Strike total — not a donation, but real dollars raised toward your fundraising goal.
This means that even those who don’t attend an event or form a team can still contribute — just by doing what they already do: shop.
Hunger Strike isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a movement.
It’s a reason to invite people in, give them something to believe in, and show them the kind of innovation, purpose, and heart that define Rotary at its best.
Let’s use this August to highlight the Rotary experience — not just with words, but with action. Invite a friend to join your team. Promote your club’s Impact Marketplace. Let someone see what Rotary really looks like.
That’s how we grow. That’s how we serve. That’s how we inspire.
In service,
Christopher D. Nakea
Editor, District 5030 Newsletter
5030
