Stories

Nearly 1,000 Rotary leaders from 15 nations gather for learning, fellowship and a celebration of “One Rotary”

It was Rotary on a truly international scale — nearly 1,000 Rotarians and Rotary leaders from 15 nations, four Rotary Zones, and diverse cultures coming together with one common purpose.

The 2026 One Rotary Cancun Summit, held September 16–19 at the Iberostar Selection Cancún in Mexico, brought together Rotary leaders from across North America, Central America, the Caribbean and beyond for several days of learning, inspiration, fellowship and celebration. For the first time, Zones 25, 28, 29 and 32 gathered together under the fitting banner “15 Nations — One Rotary.”

And for Rotary District 7230, the gathering ended on an especially proud note.

At the closing Gala Dinner, District 7230 was recognized for chartering the highest number of new Rotary clubs during the past three years across Zones 28 and 32. The award was presented by Rotary International President Olayinka “Yinka” Babalola, RI President-Elect Larry Lunsford and RI Director Marty Helman, with District Governor Dr. Maksud Chowdhury accepting the recognition on behalf of District 7230.

It was an appropriate conclusion to a summit in which membership, innovation and Rotary's future were recurring themes.

A Strong District 7230 Presence

District 7230 was well represented in Cancún by a sizable group of current and past District leaders. Joining DG Dr. Maksud Chowdhury and First Lady Dr. Shamim Begum were Vice Governor PDG Marty Schulman; District Governor-Nominee Abit Ragbeer; Immediate Past District Governor Garrett Capobianco; Deputy Governors PDG Mahbub Ahmad and PDG Syed Alirahi; District Rotary Foundation Chair PDG Eric Storberg; District Membership Chair PDG Mary Shackleton; District Executive Secretary Bina Ahmad; and Assistant Governor Shazia Alirahi.

For Sunshine NY Rotary, the gathering also had special significance. Our Club was represented by Deputy Governor PDG Mahbub Ahmad and District Executive Secretary Bina Ahmad, both of whom have been actively involved in new-club development and are founding members of Rotary's North American Club Creation Team. Sunshine Rotary has long supported the concept that expanding Rotary's reach requires not only attracting members to existing clubs, but also creating new and flexible Rotary opportunities for people whose interests, communities or schedules may not be served by traditional club models. The North American Club Creation Team has become an important part of that effort across the continent.

Learning From Rotary's Senior Leaders

The Summit provided participants with unusual access to some of Rotary's most senior leaders.

Among those participating were RI President Olayinka “Yinka” Babalola, RI President-Elect Larry Lunsford, RI Directors Marty Helman and Tom Gump, along with other Rotary International officers, Rotary Foundation leaders and senior staff. 

The program went well beyond speeches. Plenary sessions addressed some of Rotary's most important priorities, including leadership, membership and The Rotary Foundation, while breakout and learning sessions explored Public Image, Rotary's Action Plan, youth engagement, membership development and the rapidly expanding role of Artificial Intelligence for Rotary leaders.

The format reflected one of the greatest benefits of Rotary gatherings at this level: participants did not simply listen. They shared experiences, compared successful ideas from their districts and clubs, built relationships across borders and returned home with practical ideas that can be adapted locally.

In her September Video Newsletter, released on 1 September, RI Zone 28-32, Director Marty Helman has highlighted the approval in August - Rotary's Membership and New Club Development Month - of our District's first new Club this Rotary year.  This is a big boost for our District being featured by the Zone Director.  Sunshine NY Rotary is proud to be associated with the creation of this new Club through the North American Club Creation Team.  Our Charter President Bina Ahmad and our current Co-President PDG Mahbub Ahmad are Founding Members of the North American Club Creation Team which has so far created more than 80 new Clubs and refreshed more than 120 existing Clubs.

The new Satellite Club is the Rotary Satellite Club of The Cookstove Project - sponsored by the Rotary Club of Briarcliff Manor.  Our Charter President and Co-President have had a long association with the Cookstove Project having sponsored cookstoves in an entire village in Uganda several years back.  The sole focus of this new Club is to promote the construction of the clean cookstoves in more places around the world where the need is the greatest.

The last time our District was featured in our director's monthly message was in July 2024, when Director Chris Etienne, in her first Director message, interviewed our Charter President Bina for her pioneering role in creating the most new Clubs in a District in our shared zones.  She is also the only Rotarian in our District to be inducted into Rotary's Membership Society at the Bronze level for having personally sponsored more than 25 active new Members.

Devastating floods have taken hundreds of lives and affected tens of thousands across Nepal. Help us turn compassion into action by supporting Rotary’s Disaster Response Fund.  Sunshine Rotary has stepped up stand beside the people of Nepal in their hour of need.  We have set up a fundraiser on the official Raise for Rotary platform, that will send all raised funds directly to the Rotary Foundation's Disaster Response Fund.  Please Donate Now!   https://raise.rotary.org/en-GB/project/together-for-nepal-rotary-responds.

They need our help.

Rotary has a long tradition of responding when disaster strikes. Through its worldwide network of clubs, districts, members and partners, Rotary helps communities meet urgent needs and supports the difficult journey from emergency relief to recovery and rebuilding.

That is why we are asking Rotarians, friends, families and members of our communities to Help Nepal Heal by supporting Rotary’s Disaster Response Fund.

Every Gift Matters

Whether you give $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or more, your contribution becomes part of Rotary’s collective response when communities face their darkest hours.

This is what Rotary does.

We respond. We serve. We rebuild. We give hope.

Please make a contribution today—and then share this appeal with your family, friends, fellow Rotarians and colleagues.

Why give through Rotary?

Rotary members live and serve in communities around the world. When disaster strikes, that local knowledge and global network help Rotary support immediate relief, short-term recovery and longer-term rebuilding. Rotary’s disaster response can help provide basic necessities including water, food, medicine and clothing.

A remarkable record of achievement for one of District 7230's younger Rotary clubs

The Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York is proud to announce that it has earned the Rotary Club Excellence Award for the 2025–26 Rotary year — continuing a remarkable record that began almost as soon as the Club itself was created.

Chartered on 22 November 2021, Sunshine Rotary has now earned Rotary's annual club excellence recognition in each of its first five Rotary years.

Five years. Five awards.

For a relatively young Rotary club, it is an achievement that makes us particularly proud — not simply because of the recognition itself, but because of what it represents: consistent service, engaged members, responsible club leadership, support for Rotary's wider mission, and a determination to make a difference both locally and internationally.

What is the Rotary Club Excellence Award?

The Club Excellence Award is one of Rotary's important annual recognitions for Rotary, Rotaract and Interact clubs. Formerly known as the Rotary Citation, the recognition was renamed the Club Excellence Award beginning with the 2024–25 Rotary year.

It recognizes clubs that do more than simply conduct meetings. Clubs work toward measurable goals designed to strengthen both their own organization and Rotary as a whole.

For 2025–26, Rotary clubs were required to be in good standing and to set, achieve and report at least half of the available goals in Rotary Club Central by the end of the Rotary year. The goals encourage clubs to strengthen areas such as membership growth and engagement, service participation, support of The Rotary Foundation, leadership development, public image, strategic planning and effective club operations.

In other words, the award recognizes a club that is not simply active, but one that is deliberately working to become stronger, more effective, more engaged and more impactful.

Receiving the award once is an accomplishment. Receiving it in every Rotary year since our Club was established is a record that speaks to the commitment of our members and successive Club leaders.

Bringing Sunshine Through Service

Awards, however, have never been the reason we serve.

From the beginning, Sunshine Rotary has sought to translate Service Above Self into projects that respond to genuine human needs — often through relatively simple initiatives capable of making a lasting difference.

Internationally, our Club has made clean water a continuing priority, providing tube wells to rural communities in Bangladesh where reliable access to safe drinking water can transform the health and daily lives of entire families. During the past year alone, the Club has provided 12 tube wells to remote communities, while our newest sanitation initiatives are providing hygienic toilets and bathing facilities to rural families.

Education and the welfare of children have also been important parts of our service. Sunshine projects have provided books and school supplies, scholarships for deserving students, computers and sewing machines for orphaned girls, educational support and winter clothing. One early project provided a computer and three electric sewing machines, together with training, to girls at an orphanage in Bangladesh so they could develop skills that could benefit them long after the project itself was completed.

Closer to home, Club members have distributed food, clothing and essential supplies to families in need across the New York metropolitan area. Our recent District Grant-supported food project reached nearly 100 families across the Bronx, Westchester, Brooklyn and New Jersey, while other projects have provided clothing and hygiene supplies for people in shelters and families experiencing difficult circumstances.

Our service has extended even further — from environmental improvement projects and disaster assistance to international partnerships supporting children and vulnerable communities.

The projects differ in size and location, but they share one principle: find a need, bring people together, and do something meaningful about it.

A Young Club with a Proud Record

Sunshine Rotary was created as an e-club, bringing together members who may not always live or work near one another but who share the same commitment to service. That flexibility has enabled us to undertake projects across communities in the New York area while simultaneously developing partnerships and serving people thousands of miles away.

Our five consecutive annual excellence recognitions demonstrate that an e-club can be much more than an online meeting place. It can be an engaged, productive and effective Rotary club capable of turning ideas into action.

This latest 2025–26 Club Excellence Award belongs to every member of Sunshine Rotary — past and present — as well as the families, volunteers, Rotary and Rotaract partners, community organizations, donors and friends who have worked alongside us.

We are grateful to each Club President, officer, director and member who has helped build on the work of the year before. It is that continuity of purpose that has allowed a Club chartered only in November 2021 to build such a strong record in such a short period of time.

We celebrate this fifth award with pride — but also with renewed determination.

Because our greatest achievement is not the award hanging on the wall.

It is the child who has books to read.

It is the family with food on the table.

It is the girl learning a skill that can give her a better future.

It is the village drawing clean water from a well.

It is the person in need who discovers that someone, somewhere, cares.

That is the Sunshine we seek to bring into the world.

Five Rotary years. Five excellence awards. Countless opportunities to serve — and our journey is just beginning.

Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York

Service Above Self — People of Action

New member inducted as Peace Pole becomes a symbol of bringing people together through service

Sunshine NY Rotary formally welcomed the 2026-27 Rotary year with an outdoor Club Installation on Sunday, August 9, at Eisenhower Park, bringing together Club members, families and District leaders for an afternoon centered on fellowship, membership and Rotary’s commitment to peace and service.

Joining the celebration were District Governor Dr. Maksud Chowdhury; First Lady and District Conference Chair Dr. Shamim Begum; Deputy Governor for Membership PDG Syed Alirahi; and Area Governor Shazia Alirahi. Sunshine’s Charter President Bina Ahmad, who also serves as District Executive Secretary, was present along with Deputy Governor for Areas and Sunshine member PDG Mahbub Ahmad, Club Executive Secretary Ashfaque Salim, Treasurer Muhammad Yeasin Arafat, other members and their families.

In his remarks, DG Maksud outlined his vision for the year, identifying membership as a major District priority. But his message went beyond simply adding names to membership rolls. He emphasized the importance of engaging members, giving them meaningful opportunities to participate and creating a Rotary experience that encourages people to stay involved.

That emphasis reflects Rotary International’s broader approach to membership. Rotary increasingly stresses that growth begins with creating a sense of belonging, engaging members in meaningful service and giving prospective members opportunities to experience Rotary firsthand.

DG Maksud also discussed plans to make the District Conference experience more accessible across District 7230 by dividing it among three geographic areas. He said the first gathering is planned for Staten Island on November 7, followed by a Bronx or Westchester gathering in early February and a third conference experience aboard a cruise to Bermuda in April.

From Community Volunteer to Rotarian

One of the most meaningful moments of the afternoon was the induction of Sunshine’s newest member, Abina Kabir.

Abina’s journey into Rotary illustrates exactly how engagement can lead to membership. She first became involved through Sunshine’s Rotary Community Corps (RCC) and participated in Club service projects. Through those experiences, she saw Rotary not simply as an organization that holds meetings, but as a community of people working together to help others. She subsequently decided to take the next step and become a Rotarian.

An RCC is a group of non-Rotarians who work in partnership with Rotary clubs on community service. They provide an important way for people to experience service alongside Rotarians without initially becoming club members — and can help clubs broaden their community connections and develop future leaders.

DG Maksud formally inducted Abina into the Club, after which First Lady Shamim presented and pinned her Rotary membership pin.

Deputy Governor for Membership PDG Syed Alirahi congratulated Abina and spoke about the importance of engaging new members early in their Rotary journey. He encouraged her to take advantage of District 7230’s New Member Grant, which provides $250 toward a small service project conceived and led by a new member with the support of the Club. The program is designed to give new Rotarians an immediate opportunity to turn their ideas into service.

A Peace Pole — and a Place to Gather

The afternoon’s membership message was given an additional dimension when PDG Mahbub displayed a Peace Pole bearing the simple but powerful words:

“May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

The Peace Pole movement grew from the vision of Japanese peace advocate Masahisa Goi. Today, the Peace Pole Project estimates that more than 200,000 Peace Poles stand on every continent, carrying the same universal message of peace, often displayed in several languages.

For Rotary, the symbolism is especially appropriate. Peacebuilding and conflict prevention is one of Rotary’s principal areas of focus, and Rotary emphasizes that peace is built when people come together locally, develop understanding and take action to address the conditions that divide communities.

But PDG Mahbub suggested that a Peace Pole can represent something more for Rotary.

A Peace Pole is not merely something to look at. It is something around which people can gather.

And when Rotary gathers people around something they care about — peace, clean water, children, hunger, health, education or simply improving their neighborhood — we have an opportunity to show them what Rotary really is.

They first discover a cause.

Then they participate in service.

Through service they develop relationships.

Those relationships create engagement and belonging.

And, as Abina’s own Rotary journey demonstrated that afternoon, engagement can ultimately lead to membership.

Perhaps there could have been no more appropriate way to conclude the installation.

Under the shade of a tree in Eisenhower Park, Rotarians, family members and friends gathered for fellowship and refreshments — around a Peace Pole.

A simple monument carrying a message to the world had become a gathering place for a Rotary club.

And perhaps that is the larger message for the year ahead: when Rotary gives people a meaningful reason to gather, opportunities for service, friendship — and membership — naturally follow.

When Rotary talks about "Service Above Self," it usually conjures images of seasoned members who have spent decades giving back. This month, Sunshine NY Rotary got a beautiful reminder that service has no age limit — it was our youngest member who led the way.

Sunshine NY Rotary has successfully completed a food distribution project at Oasis, the homeless center in New Rochelle, delivering essential groceries to individuals and families navigating hardship. It's a simple mission with a powerful outcome: no one should have to face an empty pantry alone, and no one should have to face it without their community standing beside them.

Ryan Steps Up

The project was planned, shopped for, and delivered under the leadership of Ryan, the youngest member of our Club. From selecting the right items to fit real household needs, to coordinating delivery logistics, to documenting the day for our records, Ryan handled every piece of the project with a level of care and follow-through that impressed everyone who worked alongside him.

“I wanted this to be more than just dropping off boxes. I wanted to make sure every bag actually had what a family would need to get through the week.”      — Ryan Ehtesham, on what this project meant to him

It's the kind of leadership Rotary hopes to cultivate in every generation of members: hands-on, thoughtful, and rooted in genuine care for the people being served.

A Mentor by His Side

None of it would have come together as smoothly without Dr. Nadira Islam, a Sunshine NY Rotary member, and Charter President Bina Ahmad who together guided Ryan through the shopping and planning process from start to finish. Their steady mentorship gave Ryan the confidence to take the lead while ensuring the project stayed organized and on track.

"Watching Ryan take ownership of this project was one of the most rewarding parts of my Rotary year. He didn't need much guidance — he needed the opportunity, and he ran with it."     — Dr. Nadira Islam, on mentoring Ryan

Welcomed with Open Arms

The team at Oasis welcomed the donation warmly, and staff on-site helped the group understand exactly what their guests needed most that week — from shelf-stable staples to items that let them prepare a real meal together.

"Donations like this make a real difference for the those who walk through our doors. It means a lot to know Rotary sees us and shows up."

     — OASIS staff member, on the partnership 

By the end of the day, shelves that had been running low were restocked, and a group of neighbors in need had one less thing to worry about — thanks to the dedication of one young Rotarian and the mentor who believed in him.

Generations, Working Together

This is Rotary at its best: a Club where longtime members and a young leader can work side by side, each bringing something the other needed, both leaving better for it.

As we step into August — Membership and New Club Development Month, this project is a timely reminder of a simple truth:

Service is what attracts people to Rotary.

When we serve with purpose and kindness, others feel inspired to join our mission. Every act of service — no matter how small it may seem — strengthens our Rotary family and brightens the community we call home.

Together, let's continue building a stronger, more united Rotary.

Join us. Serve with us. Let Service Lead the Way.

New sanitation facilities will improve health, safety, and dignity for families.

The Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York, has launched its first international service project of the new Rotary year—an initiative providing sanitary toilets to families in rural Bangladesh.

The project, titled “Toilets for Health,” supports Rotary’s area of focus of Maternal and Child Health, which the Club is highlighting during July. When completed, the project will provide five hygienic toilets for five families living in villages where safe and private sanitation facilities are extremely limited.

The first two toilets have already been completed and formally handed over to the recipient families. Construction of the remaining three facilities is expected to be completed soon. Altogether, at least 35 women, men, and children will directly benefit from the project.

For families in these communities, the new toilets represent far more than a physical structure. They provide privacy, personal safety, improved hygiene, and protection from illnesses associated with inadequate sanitation.

Before the project began, women and girls often had no private place to use a toilet. Many were forced to wait until after dark and walk to secluded outdoor areas, exposing them to discomfort, health risks, insects, snakes, and potential personal danger.

Bathing and washing were also difficult. Families frequently depended on a nearby pond that had become polluted through heavy use.

“Before the toilet was built, the women and girls in our family had to wait until it was dark to go outside,” Monika, a local mother said. “Now we have privacy and feel much safer. This has brought dignity and peace of mind to our entire family.”

Each toilet has been constructed on a raised platform and includes a sanitary toilet pan connected to a covered containment well. The facility also includes a separated space for bathing and washing and is designed to follow accepted standards for rural sanitation. 

Locally available corrugated iron sheets have been used to enclose the sides and roof, making the structures private, durable, and appropriate for village conditions. Purchasing materials locally also reduces transportation costs while supporting businesses and workers in the surrounding community.

Because the villages do not have household running water, each recipient family has also received durable hygiene supplies, including a water bucket and mug. Water can be collected from nearby public tubewells previously installed through another service project supported by the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine.

“We used to depend on the pond for bathing and washing, even when the water was not clean,” another resident, Samiya, explained. “Having a private place where we can use clean tubewell water will help protect our children and keep the family healthier.”

The cost of constructing each toilet is approximately $250 in local currency, making the project a practical and cost-effective investment in community health. Funding was raised by Club members and supporters in several locations, with an additional subsidy provided by the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine.

As an e-Club, Sunshine Rotary brings together members living in different parts of the United States and other countries. The project demonstrates how members separated by geography can still unite resources, expertise, and compassion to address urgent needs in communities around the world.

“Access to a safe and sanitary toilet should not be considered a luxury,” said Club Charter President Bina. “It is essential to health, dignity, and personal safety, especially for women and children. Through this project, our members are helping five families achieve a lasting improvement in their daily lives.”

The construction work was supervised by a group of local volunteers associated with the government village health establishment. Their involvement helped ensure that the facilities were properly located, constructed safely, and suited to the needs of each household.

The project also reflects Sunshine Rotary’s commitment to sustainable service. The toilets have been designed using materials that can be maintained locally, while access to the Club-supported tubewells provides families with a nearby source of cleaner water.

“This project builds upon our earlier work providing community tubewells,” the Club Charter President added. “By connecting access to water with sanitation and hygiene, we are creating a more complete and sustainable approach to improving family health.”

With two toilets already in use and three more nearing completion, “Toilets for Health” is already transforming daily life for participating families. The project illustrates how a relatively modest investment can produce long-term benefits—reducing health risks, improving safety, and restoring privacy and dignity.

Through initiatives such as this, the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York, continues to demonstrate Rotary’s commitment to Service Above Self and its belief that meaningful change begins by addressing the fundamental needs of individuals, families, and communities.

Books do more than tell stories. They awaken curiosity, broaden horizons, preserve knowledge, and help people of every age imagine new possibilities. Recognizing the lasting power of reading, the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, New York, recently joined the Westchester Rotary Club in supporting a community book drive organized by the Shining Stars Rotaract Club.

Held outside the Early Bird Cafe in East Meadow, the collection brought together Rotarians, Rotaractors, community leaders, and local residents around a shared commitment to literacy and learning.

Members and supporters of the Rotary E-Club of Sunshine collected and donated more than 200 new and gently used books to the initiative. All books gathered during the drive were donated to Book Fairies. This organization distributes books to children, schools, libraries, senior centers, hospitals, and other community organizations where access to reading materials may be limited.

Young Leaders Organizing for Literacy

Shining Stars Rotaract Club President Aleena Ahmed led the initiative with members of her club. The Rotaractors set up collection tables, banners, and informational flyers immediately outside the cafe, which generously made its space available for the event.  “Books are an important part of everyone’s growth,” Aleena said. “They help us learn about ourselves, understand other people, and see opportunities beyond our immediate surroundings. Through this drive, we wanted to make sure that more people have access to that experience.”

The event demonstrated how Rotaractors can identify a community need, organize volunteers, build partnerships, and mobilize the public around a meaningful cause.

Rotary Leadership in Support

Several Rotary District 7230 leaders attended the collection drive to support the Rotaractors and encourage stronger collaboration among Rotary and Rotaract clubs.

In attendance were Past District Governor Mahbub Ahmad and Past District Governor Syed Alirahi, both serving as Deputy Governors of District 7230 during the current Rotary year. They were joined by District Executive Secretary Bina Ahmad and Area Governor Shazia Alirahi.

PDG Mahbub Ahmad emphasized the importance of collaboration among Rotary clubs, Rotaract clubs, businesses, and community organizations. “This project represents Rotary at its best—different generations and organizations working together to address a real community need,” he said. “Every donated book carries knowledge, encouragement, and hope. It also tells the public who we are: people who turn compassion into action.”

PDG Syed Alirahi noted that service projects provide opportunities to strengthen both community relationships and Rotary fellowship. “When Rotary and Rotaract collaborate, we multiply our ability to serve,” he said. “The success of this drive demonstrates what can be achieved when young leaders receive encouragement, guidance, and the freedom to lead.”

District Executive Secretary Bina Ahmad described the donation as an investment in people and their futures. “A book placed in the right hands can influence a child’s education, comfort a patient, engage a senior, or introduce someone to an entirely new world,” she said. “Collecting more than 200 books is a meaningful accomplishment, and we are grateful to everyone who contributed.”

Area Governor Shazia Alirahi highlighted the value of conducting visible service projects in community spaces. “When people see Rotary and Rotaract members actively serving, they begin to understand that Rotary is much more than meetings,” she said. “Public projects such as this invite conversations, build trust, and encourage others to become involved.”

Rotaract Club Advisor Dr. Farjana Khan praised the young leaders for translating an idea into measurable community action. “Our Rotaractors showed initiative, compassion, and excellent teamwork,” Dr. Khan said. “They did not simply collect books; they created an opportunity for the community to participate in improving literacy. Projects like this develop confident young leaders while directly benefiting people in need.”

We are proud to share a milestone that reflects the true spirit of Rotary service. Monika’s dream — a dream she carried quietly for years — is slowly but surely becoming a reality. 

This July, as Rotary highlights Maternal & Child Health, we are reminded that health begins with dignity, safety, and access. In many villages in far-flung developing countries, something as simple as a hygienic toilet and shower stall can transform a mother’s life. It means privacy. It means safety. It means health. It means hope. 

For the first time, Monika and her children will use a clean, hygienic toilet and a proper shower stall — something every family deserves, yet millions still live without. Monika and her little family had been bathing in local ponds and lakes in waters that are polluted with undesirable chemicals, and other contaminants. - unsafe for both mothers and especially their young children, and far from providing real cleanliness.  These ponds and lakes are under the open sky, so there is no privacy.

This is not just infrastructure. 

This is empowerment. 

This is Rotary in action. 

From 12,000 miles away, Sunshine NY Rotary continues to serve — changing one life at a time, village by village, and building a future where every mother and child can live with dignity. 

Monika’s story is a reminder that dreams do come true when compassion meets action. And we are committed to continuing this journey — expanding health, sanitation, and education across communities that need it most.

In a heartfelt continuation of its longstanding international service efforts, the Sunshine NY Rotary Club recently provided winter fleece hoodies to 40 young orphan girls at a partner orphanage in Chandpur, Bangladesh—an institution the Club has supported for nearly a decade.

As winter temperatures dropped sharply across Bangladesh in late December and early January, vulnerable communities faced unusually intense cold conditions. Responding swiftly, the Club arranged for the distribution of thick, high-quality red fleece hoodies, each proudly displaying the Sunshine NY Rotary Club logo on the back. The hoodies not only provided essential warmth but also served as a symbol of care and connection from across the globe.

To maximize impact and cost efficiency, the hoodies were procured locally in Bangladesh at a fraction of the cost compared to sourcing them from the United States. This approach allowed the Club to extend the project’s reach beyond the orphanage. In addition to the 40 girls, many more hoodies were distributed to individuals in surrounding communities who were in urgent need of protection from the cold.

This initiative was made possible through the generosity of Sunshine NY Rotary Club members and the efforts of Syed Mahfuz, who coordinated the production and distribution of the hoodies.

Since its establishment in 2021, the Sunshine NY Rotary Club has been providing winter clothing both locally in the NY/NJ area and in parts of Bangladesh, continuing its commitment to service above self.

Our Club has been very active in implementing projects to bring clean water to various communities where there is a great need.  During the last year, Sunshine NY Rotary has provided 12 tube wells to remote communities in Bangladesh.  Today, Sunshine Rotary continues its mission to bring clean, safe water to the people of our villages — one tube well at a time.  Sunshine Rotary’s flagship project, Gift of Water, is bringing clean, safe water to remote villages through our international service efforts. By reaching communities that need it most, we are improving health, education, and opportunity — one drop at a time.

This is more than a tube well — it is love turned into action.

It is remembrance transformed into service.

It is humanity at its best.

Your kindness today becomes someone’s blessing tomorrow and the days after..

Syed Mahfuz is our Club's newest Paul Harris Fellow - our 10th PH Fellow.  The Club honored Syed with this award in recognition of his worldwide humanitarian activities, the latest of which included his donation of a second school bus to a children's school in Tanzania.  The bus is being painted with our Club Logo.  

Earlier, Syed Mahfuz, a dedicated humanitarian based in Japan, recently embarked on a heartwarming journey to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with a mission to brighten the lives of children at the Atlas School. Representing the Rotary Club of Sunshine New York in D7230,  Syed generously donated 400 handkerchiefs and a much-needed children’s school bus to the school.

The children of Atlas School welcomed Syed with overwhelming joy, expressing their gratitude by waving the handkerchiefs he provided and singing songs in his honor. This gesture of kindness left a lasting impression on both Syed and the entire community.

Originally from Bangladesh and a former Rotaractor, Syed now resides in Japan where he manages his own business alongside his family. As a charter member and International Service Director of the Rotary Club of Sunshine, Syed continues to champion educational initiatives worldwide. He also serves as a Director at the Monu Mia & Sultana Orphanage in Sreepur, Bangladesh, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes.

Syed's philanthropic endeavors extend beyond Tanzania. In late 2021, he donated a minivan to the Hamilton Rotary Club in Bermuda, aiding an organization dedicated to supporting children affected by gun violence. In 2022, Syed furthered his support by donating three school buses to the same school in Tanzania, marking the Rotary Club of Sunshine's inaugural international project of the year 2024

Among their diverse international efforts, the Rotary Club of Sunshine has facilitated access to safe drinking water for rural communities in Bangladesh, provided educational resources such as children's books to underprivileged girls, and offered crucial infrastructure support to a girls' orphanage. Closer to home, the club has made significant contributions, including providing food support to immigrant families in the Bronx, donating laptops to autistic children, and collaborating with the sister Rotary Club of Hope, NY, to supply men’s clothing and hygiene items to "The Living Room," a local homeless shelter.

Syed Mahfuz's inspiring journey exemplifies the transformative impact of community service and international cooperation, showcasing how small gestures of kindness can make a world of difference. His dedication to improving lives across continents is a testament to the power of compassion and the enduring spirit of Rotary's mission.

Our Club has sponsored a new caused-based Rotary Club in our District - the Rotary Club of Gentle Light which was granted its charter by Rotary International on 20 January 2026.  The new Club with 15 members will focus on working with children with special needs and their care-givers.  It's charter President is from our own Club Rotarian Mohammed Tofayel Ahmed.

The club will formally begin its activities following a short period of organization.  Charter  President Tofayel forming this Club has been his dream for quite a while.  He is looking forward to collaborating with New York City agencies and knowledgeable individuals and intends to undertake meaningful projects in the short and long-run aimed at addressing the particular needs of the Special children and their care-givers particularly those of the South Asian diaspora living in the New York City area.

This club is one of clubs formed through the newly-created North American Club creation Team.  PDG Mahbub Ahmad has been assigned to be the Advisor for this new Club, and will soon be assigned to one of Area of the District with an Assistant Governor.  

The seeds of the Club were sown at the Thanksgiving gathering in November where our Club sponsored a lunch get-together for Special Needs Children and their care-givers.  About 55 people attended the event and most of the charter members signed up at the event attended by the District-Governor Elect Dr. Maksud Chowdhury, PDG Mahbub Ahmad, North American Club Creation Team Founding Member Bina Ahmad, as well as representatives of te Rotary Clubs of Promise, Sunshine, Heritage.

The Rotary E-Club of Sunshine, NY, has responded to an urgent appeal to assist those affected by the catastrophic floods in South Central Texas. Entire communities—particularly in and around Kerrville—have been devastated, with lives upended, homes destroyed, and families in desperate need of support.

In true Rotary spirit, we are joining forces with Rotary District 5840 in Texas, where local Rotarians are already hard at work on the ground, delivering essential aid and coordinating long-term recovery efforts. Their 501(c)(3) Foundation is actively collecting tax-deductible donations to fund food, shelter, clothing, clean-up efforts, and ongoing rebuilding in the hardest-hit areas.

Despite the rain - the Multi-District Rotary Day of Service saw a great project put together by our Sunshine NY Rotary Club with the collaboration of the Boy Scouts of America Troop 101 and the Township of Marlboro.  DG Martin Schulman visited the project.  Club President Aziz Ahmad with his family, Charter President Bina Ahmad, Marlboro Township Council President Juned Qazi, and the Chair of the Council's Open Space Committee, Captain Rajan joined the project along with 10 of our Sunshine members.  The Eagle Scouts and our members together moved mulch, planted trees, and installed benches along the trail.  Also there, were PDG Mahbub Ahmad and President Rownak, and President-Elect Kazi of Hope NY Rotary.  A marvelous show of Rotary working with the community to preserve our natural environment.  Hats off to the volunteers.  Without them, the project could not have been done.

These groups came forward as a joint effort to give back to the township and community. They among many others, participated in the project to improve upon the Antisell Nature Trail in Morganville, NJ, - comprising 14 acres of a natural preserve - cleaning, building, and planting just out of the kindness of their hearts. The Antisell Trail Project was originally organized by Rayan Rehman, an Eagle Scout, where he and the Scout Troop created a pathway at the trail and installed various wooden benches as well as a trailhead kiosk. With it being our role to give back, our Rotary Club initiated a new enhancement project for the trail, that became part of the “Multi-District Rotary Day Of Service.” A number of improvements were completed through the installation of more durable benches, and picnic tables as well as a number of evergreen trees being planted along the border of the trail. The benches, picnic tables and the kiosk have plaques indicating our Club's collaboration and participation in the overall beautification of the Trail which will be used by local residents and visitors for many years to come.   The scouts also enjoyed a night of camping in nature within the Antisell trail.

Special thanks to District Governor Martin Schulman, PDG Mahbub Ahmad, Charter President Bina Ahmad, and Rotarians from many areas for taking the time to make the trip and joining us in the difficult weather to help the community.

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