Club events
18 January | Rotary Club of League City, Texas
Polar Plunge for PolioPlus
With average January temperatures in the Houston area reaching the 60s Fahrenheit, this winter swim should have a milder chill than similar events held in more northerly climes. The annual event takes place at a YMCA swimming pool and has raised tens of thousands of dollars over the years to support the effort to eradicate polio.
25 January | District 5870 (Texas)
Central Texas Foundation Gala
Since 1997, the district has organized a gala dinner to honor members for their contributions to The Rotary Foundation throughout the past year, including those who became Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, and members of the Arch Klumph and Legacy societies. The top giving clubs in the district will also be recognized. This year’s event will be held at a hotel in the Austin suburb of Pflugerville, with dinner preceded by a cocktail hour.
Tell us about your club’s upcoming event: Write to magazine@rotary.org and put “calendar” in the subject line.
25 January | Rotary Club of Redmond, Washington
Stinky Spoke
This annual mountain bike ride is so named because organizers schedule it on a day they hope will bring the crummiest weather of the year. Participants pedal a 20-mile course of rugged, muddy terrain, starting on a trail along the Sammamish River, cresting a summit nicknamed Heart Attack Hill, and winding through the Redmond Watershed Preserve. Hot food and cold drinks await riders past the finish line.
25 January | Rotary Club of Brighton, Australia
Kieser Great Bayside Swim
For over a decade, swimmers have swarmed to the Melbourne suburb of Brighton around Australia Day for a series of races in Port Phillip Bay. Courses of 650, 1,400, and 2,500 meters plunge competitors into the waters around Middle Brighton Pier. There is also a shorter course for children ages 7 to 12. Prizes are awarded in each event.
2 February | Rotary Club of Niles (Fremont), California
Richard D. King Tribute Dinner
Held at the Blackhawk Museum in Danville, this gala event honors the legacy of Rotary’s 2001-02 president, who died in 2023, with proceeds benefiting the Richard D. King Endowed Fund for Rotary Peace Centers. Tickets include dinner, silent and live auctions, music from a high school jazz band, and speeches from Rotary leaders including President Stephanie Urchick and Rotary Foundation Trustee Chair Mark Maloney.
7 February | Rotary Club of Port Huron, Michigan
Three Grand Slam
Traditionally held the first Friday of February, 150 tickets are sold for this annual lottery-style event. Each ticket entitles two attendees to dinner and entries for cash prizes drawn throughout the evening at the Port Huron Golf Club. The grand prize is $3,000. A silent and live auction are also included as part of the fundraising and entertainment. Past organizations supported by this fundraiser include the annual Rotary International Day Parade to kick off Port Huron's Boat Week, the Blue Water Area Rescue Mission, and a fund that helps provide water safety skills to children at the YMCA.
14 February | Rotary Club of Fredericksburg, Texas
Cupid’s Bow Bash
The club’s 11th annual Valentine’s Day party features a multicourse catered dinner with live music performed by Bob Appel, a traditional country singer based in Austin, and his band. There is also a door prize and a silent auction. With this year’s bash doubling as a celebration of the club’s 75th anniversary (it was chartered 8 February 1950), organizers expect over 200 people to attend. Proceeds benefit local and international projects and scholarships.
15 February | Rotary Club of The Woodlands, Texas
Evening of Elegance and 50th Anniversary Gala
For nearly two decades, this annual dinner celebration has been a popular club fundraiser. This year’s theme is “Night of Stars: 50 Years of Illuminating Our Community,” and the guest of honor is Julie Martineau, a longtime club member who helped lead a project that provides temporary housing to medical patients from out of town and their families. The program includes auctions and video highlights from the club’s history.
22 February | Rotary Club of Port Arthur, Texas
Taste of Gumbo and More
Port Arthur is considered the Cajun capital of Texas, and the club’s annual gumbo cook-off celebrates one of the best-known culinary traditions of that culture. This year, the food fest will include even more dishes to try, as local restaurants have been invited to participate alongside the teams of gumbo chefs. The event has raised nearly half a million dollars since it began in 1986.
22 February | Rotary Club of Vero Beach Sunrise, Florida
Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest
This festival features more than 250 craft beers from Florida and beyond, plus chicken wings prepared in a variety of ways, from smoked to fried to grilled. Other food for sale includes pizza, burgers, and pretzels. The family-friendly event even offers a root beer tasting contest for kids. Four bands will entertain the crowd.
22 February | Rotary Club of Globe, Arizona
Dominion Royale
The club’s signature fundraiser is a lively casino night at the Cobre Valley Center for the Arts. Attendees can try their hand at classic casino games including blackjack and roulette while they enjoy catered appetizers and tunes played by a DJ. Raffles will be held throughout the night. This year’s theme is steampunk, with a costume contest for those who dress accordingly.