DG Syed's May Newsletter
 

Dear Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors, friends of Rotary:

As May nears its end, I’m inspired by the ongoing dedication and action throughout our District. April was a month of meaningful milestones—your passion for service, community, and collaboration continues to bring Rotary’s values to life.
 
A Focus on Maternal and Child Health
April spotlighted Maternal and Child Health, one of Rotary’s core areas of focus. Across our district and around the world, Rotarians united to support healthier futures for women and children. Whether through wellness events, educational outreach, or support for global health programs - your commitment has been both heartfelt and impactful. Thank you for being champions of care and dignity.
 
District Conference 2025 – A Celebration of Service
On April 5, we came together at Terrace on the Park for a memorable District Conference. With nearly 130 attendees, we celebrated our collective achievements and honored those who’ve made a lasting difference.
Key moments included:
• A powerful keynote address from a rising young leader—already viewed over 1,400 times online!
• Club project presentations that highlighted innovation and compassion.
• Recognition of our dedicated District leaders and volunteers.
• A moving tribute to those we lost this Rotary year.
Thank you for making this gathering a true celebration of fellowship and progress.
 
Rotaract Expands – Welcome Bermuda Longtails!
April also marked an exciting first - the chartering of the Bermuda Longtails Rotaract Club, our first community-based Rotaract club in Bermuda.  I had the honor of presenting the Charter and installing President Zayne Sinclair and 12 charter members.
This historic moment was made possible by the dedication of Hamilton Rotary Club President Cathy Bassett and District New Club Advocate Bina Ahmad. We look forward to the bright future these young leaders will shape.
 
Youth Engagement Grows – 3 Interact Clubs in Progress
As part of our commitment to youth involvement, we’ve submitted applications for three new Interact Clubs to Rotary International. Once approved, these clubs will provide more young people with opportunities to lead, serve, and grow.
 
Leadership Development Reaches Bermuda – PELS Expands
Following the success of our Presidents-Elect Learning Seminar (PELS) in March with five regional districts, we brought this dynamic experience to Bermuda in April. Club leaders from all four Bermuda Rotary clubs engaged in sessions designed to build leadership capacity and align goals for the year ahead.
A big thank you to everyone who helped make this island-based PELS a success.
 
Looking Ahead – Celebrating New Leadership
Please congratulate Serkan Ceylan of the Rotary Club of Scarsdale, our District Governor Nominee Designate.  He will be your Governor for 2027–28, following Maksud Chowdhury, who will be following Garrett Capobianco. Serkan’s enthusiasm and dedication to Rotary are evident, and we are excited to walk alongside him in the years ahead.
 
Thank You for All You Do
To each of you—our Vice-Governor, Deputy Governors, District Secretary, AGs, committee chairs, club leaders, and members—you are the driving force behind every success. Your spirit of service and unity continues to uplift our communities and define what it means to be part of Rotary District 7230.
 
Onward, Together
Let’s carry this momentum into May and beyond. With shared purpose, bold vision, and continued collaboration, I know we’ll achieve even more in the months ahead. Thank you for your commitment, your heart, and your service.
With appreciation and Rotary spirit,
 

Syed Alirahi

District Governor

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District News
New Interact Club A Joyful Finale to the Rotary Year!
#Rotary7230 #Interact7230 #RotaryYouth #ServiceAboveSelf #ChinatownNYC #NewGenerations #RotaryFamily #RotaryInAction #LeadershipStartsYoung #InteractClub #YouthEmpowerment

On Thursday, June 5, we wrapped up Rotary Year 2024-25 with a proud and heartwarming moment at Hop Lee Restaurant in the heart of Chinatown, NYC — the formal chartering and induction of the Interact Club of Chinatown! 🎉

District Governor Syed Alirahi led the ceremony, officially welcoming 19 bright and passionate young leaders as members of our newest Interact Club — the third new Interact Club established in our District this year! 👏🌟

DG Syed administered the oath to the Club’s Charter President and warmly inducted the new Interactors. Co-Presidents Evelyn Isaacs and Esther Yip, along with their fellow officers and members, proudly represented their new Club, full of energy, ideas, and a deep commitment to serving their community. 💫

Rotary’s youth programs like Interact are more than just clubs — they’re incubators for compassion, leadership, and global citizenship. Sponsored by Rotary Clubs, Interact Clubs are for students ages 12-18, empowering them to connect with leaders in their communities and beyond, while organizing service projects, building friendships, and learning the value of "Service Above Self." 🌍🤝

Our Rotary District 7230 team was there in full support — including Deputy Governor & District Membership Chair PDG Mahbub Ahmad, District Executive Secretary & New Club Development Chair Bina Ahmad, and Area Governors Hugh Maynard-Reid and Abit Ragbeer.

In his welcome remarks, DG Syed inspired the new Interactors by saying: “Today, you take your first step into a global family of service-minded individuals. Your passion for making a difference will now be matched with purpose, guidance, and opportunity. You are not just the leaders of tomorrow — you are leaders starting today.”

🌟 Interactors across our District are already making meaningful impact — from community clean-ups and food drives to mental health campaigns and global initiatives. We are incredibly excited to see what the Interact Club of Chinatown will accomplish next!

Welcome to the Rotary family, Interactors of Chinatown — we are so proud of you! 💙

  
     
 
New Rotary District Governor Garrett Capobianco Installed with Tradition, Heart—and a Heavy Necklace
 
At a ceremony equal parts tradition, emotion, and Rotary pageantry, Garrett Capobianco of the Scarsdale Rotary Club was officially installed as District Governor for Rotary District 7230 for the 2025-2026 year. The event took place at the elegant Scarsdale Woman’s Club, a fitting venue for a moment both ceremonious and personal.
 
Though his term officially begins on July 1, Garret Capobianco’s journey to District Governor kicked off two and half years ago.  His installation ceremony began with a heartfelt moment: reciting the oath of office, administered not by a random dignitary but by his daughter and fellow Rotarian, Victoria Capobianco. The incoming Governor, visibly moved, called her “the most important person in my life,” setting the tone for an evening filled with warmth and a palpable sense of community.
 
Following the oath came Rotary’s symbolic handover rituals. Outgoing Governor Syed Alirahi of the Westchester Rotary Club placed the storied District Governor necklace—a weighty chain bearing the engraved names of all past DGs—around the newly-minted Governor’s neck. “It’s like wearing the history of Rotary 7230 around your neck—and maybe a few pounds of stainless steel,” one attendee quipped.
 
Then came the passing of the ceremonial Rotary gavel inscribed with the words, “The best is yet to come.” It’s more than just a tool for calling meetings to order—it’s a baton in a relay of service and leadership.
 
The new DG’s remarks, however, were less about pomp and more about purpose. “Membership will be our North Star this year,” he declared, echoing Rotary International’s global focus. “But more than that, I want to ensure that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion remain the bedrock of our district.”
 
True to Rotary spirit, Garrett Capobianco wasn’t shy about asking for help. “I've asked members across the District to tell me if they want to serve—and 30 have already raised their hands,” he said. “And unless someone’s told me otherwise, the incredible team from DG Syed’s year will continue. Why mess with a good thing?”
 
In a moment of gratitude and continuity, Garrett thanked outgoing DG Syed Alirahi and the long line of Past District Governors (PDGs) who came before him. And they were present in force, too—offering brief, sage words from the podium. Among the veterans of service were PDG Mahbub Ahmad, PDG George McKinnis, PDG Marty Schulman, and PDG J. Loren Russell. Each welcomed the incoming Governor and praised Syed Alirahi for his dedication, leadership, and diplomacy during his term.
 
Outgoing DG Syed Alirahi, never one to shy away from humility, lavished praise on his team and pledged unwavering support to the new leadership, which includes incoming DG Garrett, incoming District Governor-Elect (DGE) Maksud, and incoming District Governor-Nominee (DGN) Serkan. “It’s a relay,” he said, “and I’m proud to have passed the baton to Garrett.”
 
Garrett returned the favor by presenting Syed with the official Past District Governor pin—Rotary’s version of a gold watch—and a bouquet of flowers to First Lady Shazia Alirahi, whose behind-the-scenes support had clearly not gone unnoticed.
 
Before dinner was served, Syed reciprocated with recognition medals for all PDGs, his  District Executive Secretary, Bina Ahmad and incoming members of the so-called “DG Chain,” proving that in Rotary, gratitude is never in short supply.
 
The evening wrapped up with dinner and fellowship, a tradition perhaps as sacred as the necklace itself. Over clinking glasses and shared laughter, the Rotary District 7230 family toasted to service, leadership—and yes, to the best that is yet to come.
Rotary District 7230 Celebrates Generosity and Global Impact at Annual Paul Harris Dinner
 
On Thursday evening May 29, Rotary District 7230 hosted its annual Paul Harris Dinner, honoring the district’s most committed supporters of The Rotary Foundation. The event, at J.C. Fogarty’s in Bronxville, attended by 45 distinguished donors, celebrated Paul Harris Fellows, Major Donors, Benefactors, and Arch Klumph Society members whose contributions continue to transform lives globally.
 
Opening the evening was District Rotary Foundation Committee Chair (DRFC) and Past District Governor (PDG) Eric Storberg, who welcomed guests and emphasized the Foundation’s role in Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self.
 
The highlight of the evening was the keynote address by PDG Mahbub Ahmad, Chair of the District Grants Sub-Committee. With passion and humor, PDG Mahbub praised attendees as “heroes with checkbooks” and shared powerful stories that illustrated the real-world impact of their generosity.
 
“Every dollar you give creates a story,” he said. “Sometimes it’s a comeback story, sometimes a love story, but always—always—a story of hope.”  PDG Mahbub said donors to The Rotary Foundation, which has been awarded the highest 4-star rating by Charity Navigator for 16 consecutive years, are helping rewrite the futures of many lives around the world.
 
PDG Mahbub cited several life-changing projects made possible by donor support, including a clean water initiative in Kenya, an education project for young children in the Dominican Republic, training for primary school teachers in Bangladesh, and the revitalization of a basketball court in Yonkers. He highlighted that donations not only impact communities abroad, but also return to the district through Global Grants and District Designated Funds.
 
The District’s accomplishments include 3,209 Paul Harris Fellows, 68 Major Donors, 57 Benefactors, and 17 Bequest Society Members. This year saw a record-breaking $422,735 raised for the Polio Plus Fund, $400,000 of which came from a single anonymous donor.
 
Despite the success, PDG Mahbub also called for increased participation, noting that only a quarter of the district’s 1,249 members currently donate, and 17 clubs have given nothing this year.
 
“Our per capita giving is at a five-year low,” he cautioned, “but the opportunity to turn donations into action has never been greater.”
 
DG Syed Alirahi asked every new donor to step forward and be recognized.  In his remarks, he said, without donors like those present, there will be no Rotary projects anywhere, and the world will be a darker place.
 
As the evening concluded, guests left inspired by the stories of transformation and the call to continue building a brighter future—one donation, one project, one life at a time.
 
  
     
Highly Successful 2025 District Conference.
Our much-anticipated District Conference on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at the beautiful Terrace-on-the-Park, was a huge success.  Nearly 130 District Rotarians joined us on the day when we celebrated our shared successes, honored our clubs, and strengthened our vision for the future.
 
It was a conference to remember.   One of our District's young leaders - Raaid Ahmad, Membership Chair of the Sunshine Rotary Club - successfully delivered an outstanding keynote address that was appreciated by all and has so far garnered over 11 hundred views.  12 Clubs presented their projects, the presenters being recognized by a Magic of Rotary medal.  Plaques were also given out to District Officers and Board members, recognizing them for their service.  Tributes were paid to those of us we lost during the year.  
 
DG Syed Alirahi spoke about the accomplishments of the district, including bringing in 139 new members, but we also lost over a hundred members.  One new Club was chartered. Charter applications for 1 new Rotaract Club and 3 Interact Clubs are pending.
 
A colorful printed District directory was distributed among the attendees after 3 years.  It is a comprehensive publication, containing a pictorial depiction of the year's activities, contact information of all District Officers.  Contact information of officers of all Clubs, along with pictures of their respective Presidents, is also part of the Directory. The Directory was printed at no cost to the District.  
Presidents-Elect join Learning Seminar
Presidents-Elect from the six Districts of the Mid-North-East Rotary alliance joined a two-day Learning Seminar from the evening of 20 March to the afternoon of 22 March.  This year the traditional PETS was renamed the Mid North East Presidents-Elect Learning Seminar (MNE PELS).
 
Mid-Northeast Presidents-Elect Learning Seminar (PELS) is a premier learning event for Rotary President-Elects and Assistant Governors.  Mid-Northeast PELS provides the required knowledge to serve as Club President or Assistant Governor, as well as inspiration and motivation.  Mid-Northeast PELS is a 6-District, 300+ clubs learning event, with the atmosphere of a mini-Rotary International convention.  The 2025 PELS continued to be the in-person event it was in 2022, 2023, and 2024. The speakers, District Governors-Elect, educators, committee, and discussion leaders all had one thought in mind:  equip and excite Club Presidents-Elect and Assistant Governors for their year of service.
 
The highlight this year was the presence of  RI President Nominee Sangkoo Yun as a Keynote Speaker and Director Chris Etienne.  Also present and speaking at a Plenary session was Past Rotary Director and Treasurer Drew Kessler.  The Presidents-Elect had small group sessions on Planning the year ahead, Conducting effective meetings, Engaging club members, attracting new members, Preparing to lead, Public Image, Service in the community and Fundraising for the Rotary Foundation.  The Assistant Governors has separate sessions on strategy, addressing challenges, and knowing the resources available.  There were two panel discussions on membership and Public Image.
 
On Saturday, at the District meeting, the District budget for 2025-26 was unanimously approved.  The budget held the line on per capita dues with no major changes.  District Governor-Elect Garrett Capobianco spoke about continuing the successful strategies of the past years emphasizing the importance of membership growth.
 
On both days, each District had a decade-themed hospitality suite.  The theme for D7230 was the 50s.  All in all the 2-days were filled with learning, fellowship and fun.
Serkan Ceylan selected as District Governor 2027-28 
Serkan Ceylan, President of the Rotary Club of Scarsdale, has been selected as the District Governor for 2027-28.  DG Syed Alirahi made the official announcement in an email sent to all District members.
 
President Serkan has assumed the role of District-Governor Nominee Designee (DGND) for the balance of the Rotary Year.  On July 1 2025, he will transition to District Governor Nominee (DGN).  The following year, he will become the District Governor Elect (DGE) and on 1 July 2027 he will take over as District Governor.
 
DGND Serkan's Rotary life began in July 2006 when he joined the Rotary Club of Bodrum-Karia in Turkey, serving as Club Secretary, and then President in 2013-14.  He moved to the Rotary Club of Scarsdale in 2022, serving as the President for the current Rotary year.  He is also the Chair of the RYLA Committee this year.
 
Welcoming DGND Serkan to the District Leadership Team, DG Syed asked District Rotarians to join him "in congratulating DGND Serkan and offering him your support as he steps into this important leadership role. We look forward to his vision and dedication in guiding District 7230 in the years ahead."
 
 
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