Amplifying impact

Rotary and our sister magazines are a key player in rallying Rotary clubs globally, helping raise awareness and funds to support our causes.

Mykola Stebljanko publishes Rotariets, the Ukrainian magazine for Rotary news, from his home in Odesa, a port city on the Black Sea. In February three years ago, when Russia began an all-out war against his country, Stebljanko, a member of the Rotary E-Club of Ukraine, kicked into high gear. Amid the barrage of missile attacks against his city, he coordinated relief efforts with his fellow Rotary members in Ukraine through video calls. At the same time, he reached out to me and other editors of the Rotary Global Media Network, which consists of the flagship Rotary magazine and 33 independent regional publications, briefing us weekly on the situation and the extensive relief efforts launched by The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs around the world.

The members of the Rotary Global Media Network responded vigorously with in-depth coverage of the devastating humanitarian crisis brought on by the war and the importance of Rotary’s assistance. The stories we published reached Rotary members worldwide, galvanizing them into action. By the end of 2024, The Rotary Foundation and Rotary clubs had raised tens of millions of dollars in contributions that helped provide essential support to people in Ukraine. This is one of many examples of the effectiveness of Rotary and our sister magazines in rallying Rotary clubs globally.

In the spring of 2022, an article in this magazine about a Rotary-supported program in California called Music Mends Minds caught the attention of the Rotary community. The initiative promotes the use of music as a viable therapy to delay the symptoms of neurodegenerative dementia. Soon after publication, similar projects cropped up in other parts of the United States and the world. Similarly, after flooding struck Brazil in April 2024, the reporting by the Rotary regional magazines in Brazil as well as in Great Britain and Ireland helped spur an outpouring of support.

The list goes on. Each story is meticulously researched, written, and produced. We are a network of professional writers, photographers, and graphic designers who are passionate about telling your stories — to amplify the positive change you are creating in the world. For me and my fellow editors, it’s been rewarding to see that our high-quality publications help strengthen our organization by fostering a sense of belonging for our members, increasing our membership, and offering a window into the Rotary world for the general public.

Surveys show that a majority of readers feel the flagship and regional magazines strengthen their connection with Rotary, allowing them to better understand the organization. “The magazine is a primer for Rotary members, keeping us informed on the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the world,” says Sylvia Whitlock, a trailblazer who was the first woman to serve as president of a Rotary club. “Without the magazine, everything is just happenstance. Any good primer is beside you all the time.”

WEN HUANG
Editor in chief, Rotary magazine

This story originally appeared in the March 2025 issue of Rotary magazine.