DG Maksud's Message - August 2026
A Busy and Inspiring Start to the Rotary Year.
July was an exciting and productive month for Rotary District 7230. As we began the 2026–2027 Rotary year, clubs across the district welcomed District Governor Dr. Maksud Chowdhury through in-person and virtual visits. These club visits provided valuable opportunities to listen, learn, exchange ideas, discuss club plans, and strengthen connections between clubs and district leadership. Together, they fostered collaboration, encouraged membership growth, and reinforced our shared commitment to building stronger clubs through meaningful service.
July was Maternal and Child Health Month, one of Rotary's areas of focus. Many of our discussions and planned service activities reflected our commitment to improving the health and well-being of mothers, children, and families.
Rotary International Director Marty Helman Visits District 7230
On July 16, Rotary International Director Marty Helman met with senior District 7230 leaders, including senior district officers and Past District Governors, for a productive discussion on priorities for the 2026–2027 Rotary year.
A major focus of the meeting was sustainable membership growth and retention, including strategies to attract new members, develop new clubs, engage younger generations, and provide stronger support to existing clubs.
Director Helman encouraged the district leadership team to focus on long-term membership growth and building strong, healthy clubs that can create lasting impact in their communities.
Participants joined both in person and remotely, included:
DG Dr. Maksud Chowdhury; IPDG Garrett Capobianco; PDG Martin Shulman, Vice Governor; PDG Syed Alirahi, Deputy District Governor; PDG Lora Archer, Deputy District Governor; PDG Eric Storberg, District Rotary Foundation Chair; PDG Mary Shackleton, District Membership Chair; Serkan Ceylan, District Governor-Elect; Abit Ragbeer, District Governor-Nominee; Shazia Alirahi, Assistant Governor; Cecily Smith, Membership Attraction Committee; Dr. Shamim Begum, District Conference Chair.
CLUB VISIT HIGHLIGHTS:
Blooming Rose Rotary Club – July 19
DG Maksud visited the Blooming Rose Rotary Club on its Charter Anniversary. The meeting included fellowship, cultural activities, and meaningful discussions about the year ahead.
Assistant Governor (AG) Nasrin Khan led an important discussion about women's mental health and abuse awareness. Membership growth and retention were also major topics. PDG Syed Alirahi, Deputy District Governor, shared ideas and plans for 2026–2027. The meeting was conducted by Treasurer Tasnia Huq-Barua and the cultural presentation created a wonderful atmosphere of fellowship and friendship.
Resilient Spirit Rotary Club – July 21
DG Maksud met virtually with the Resilient Spirit Rotary Club. Following introductions, the club discussed its plans for 2026–2027, with a special focus on Maternal and Child Health. He shared his vision of bringing clubs and communities closer together through collaboration, fellowship, membership development, and meaningful service.
He also discussed opportunities for Global Grant projects, including school health initiatives in developing countries.
Rotary E-Club of Heritage – July 21
DG Maksud joined an interactive virtual meeting with the Rotary E-Club of Heritage, led by Dr. Waseem Hafeez, club president & District Public Image chair. Dr. Rummanu Yeasin, District Rotaract chair, shared plans for upcoming community service, on Sunday, August 16 including the Community Health & Wellness Fair, blood donation drive, educational workshop, CPR training, and new member induction.
Past President, Shamim Begum shared updates on the District Conference; Nadia Saedi, RYLA chair highlighted her community wellness app project; and Rahat Hossain, Paul Harris Society coordinator, presented ideas to promote Paul Harris Fellow fundraising.
DG Maksud presented his strategic plan and vision for 2026–2027 and thanked the club for its continued commitment to service.
North Shore Rotary Club, Staten Island – July 23
DG Maksud visited the North Shore Rotary Club in Staten Island for a well-attended and highly interactive meeting. Club President, Cristine DeHart and AG Frank Wilkinson discussed the club's plans for 2026–2027. The club also welcomed and inducted three new members.
District Fundraising Chair Diana Arneth shared her fundraising plans, while members discussed their ideas, concerns, and proposed service projects. The club proudly donated $100,000 to the Richmond University Medical Center(RMSU) Newborn ICU Unit, supporting an important cause in newborn health. Truly an outstanding effort!
One particularly inspiring moment came from a 10-year-old girl who expressed that she wants to become a future Rotarian after seeing her parents participate in Rotary activities. She wants to help her community and make a difference, a wonderful example of how Rotary can inspire the next generation.
DG Maksud shared the District Strategic Plan and thanked the club for its generous donation and commitment to making a difference.
Larchmont Rotary Club – July 31
District Governor Maksud visited the Larchmont Rotary Club, where members celebrated the induction of a new Rotarian. Led by Lester Nathan, club president & District Public Image co-chair with Assistant Governor Sandy Wolstein and guests from neighboring clubs in attendance, the meeting featured an engaging discussion on Why People Belong to Rotary and how to connect with individuals who share Rotary's values of service, fellowship, and leadership.
Members highlighted several reasons people join Rotary:
Community and friendship
Service and giving back
Personal and professional growth
Sharing skills and experience
Building a legacy for future generations
Being part of a respected global organization
The discussion emphasized that Rotary is more than a service organization, it is a family where members find friendship, belonging, personal growth, and the satisfaction of making a meaningful difference.
District 7230 Grants Certification Seminar – July 25 & 29
District 7230 hosted a well-attended two-day Grants Certification Seminar on July 25 and 29, equipping club leaders with the knowledge to apply for and manage district and global grants.
District Governor Dr. Maksud Chowdhury welcomed participants and encouraged clubs to leverage Rotary Foundation resources to develop impactful sustainable service projects. Presentations by PDG Eric Stolberg, District Rotary Foundation Chair, Nazrul Islam, District Grants subcommittee chair and Taylor Eskew, District Stewardship chair covered grant requirements, stewardship, and best practices.
Members participated actively and showed strong interest in developing district and global grant projects, particularly projects that can address important community needs and make a sustainable difference.
DG Maksud thanked all the presenters, district leaders, and participants for their time, enthusiasm, and commitment to strengthening Rotary service through the Foundation.
Together, we can turn Rotary ideas into meaningful action and Create Lasting Impact.
Assistant Governor Meetings – July 29 & 30
First monthly virtual AG meeting on discussed about Our club visits provided an opportunity to listen, learn, share ideas, discuss club plans, and strengthen relationships among our clubs and district leadership.
District Governor Visits District 7255 – July 3
District Governor Maksud Chowdhury attended the installation of District Governor Rose Quaranta of Rotary District 7255.
During the event, the two District Governors discussed opportunities for future collaboration between Districts 7230 and 7255, neighboring districts that serve adjacent New York City boroughs and Long Island. Their conversation focused on strengthening partnerships and expanding joint service initiatives.
Membership: Our Shared Priority
Across the July club visits, one message was clear: membership growth must be sustainable, meaningful, and member focused.
We need to:
Attract active professionals and community leaders
Engage young adults and Rotaractors
Strengthen relationships with Interact and youth programs
Create meaningful service opportunities
Increase fellowship and cross-club collaboration
Improve Rotary's visibility in our communities
Connect community service participants with Rotary
Make every member feel valued and included
Rotary membership should provide friendship, service, personal growth, professional connections, and a sense of belonging.
Three District Events – Three Geographic Areas
DG Maksud proposed organizing three major District 7230 events in three different geographic areas during 2026–2027.
These events will focus on:
Club collaboration
Fellowship and friendship
Community engagement
Membership attraction and development
Meaningful and impactful service projects
The goal is to bring Rotary closer to our communities and create opportunities for clubs to work together.
Together, we are stronger.
Building Membership Through Service:
One of the strongest themes that emerged during July was the idea that service is our best invitation to Rotary.
Many people in our communities are unfamiliar with the impact Rotary makes. By making our service projects visible, engaging, and welcoming, we create natural opportunities for others to experience our mission firsthand.
Health fairs, CPR training, blood donation drives, youth programs, scholarships, community festivals, environmental initiatives, and other hands-on service projects not only address community needs, they also inspire prospective members to become part of Rotary's work.
Membership growth is about more than increasing numbers. It is about attracting dedicated individuals who share our commitment to service, fellowship, and creating lasting impact. Every successful service project has the potential to strengthen our communities while inspiring the next generation of Rotarians.
Public Image District Video
The Public Image team has created a new video, “Rotary District 7230 – Who We Are.” Several clubs have already used it successfully to attract and engage prospective members. We encourage all clubs to watch the video and share it at meetings and events. It is available on the district website for your use. Click on link below to view the video:
Looking Ahead: High-Impact Service Projects
Several exciting ideas emerged for the coming year.
Community Health Fairs
Expand health fairs that include screenings, CPR training, blood drives, health education, and community resources.
School Health Global Grants
Explore global grant opportunities supporting school health programs in developing countries, including vision, hearing, nutrition, dental health, immunization, and growth monitoring.
Support for Vulnerable Families
Explore partnerships that support families experiencing homelessness or domestic violence through financial literacy, job training, transportation, and other services.
More Joint Club Activities
Encourage clubs to work together on service projects, educational meetings, fellowship events, and community programs.
Youth as Future Rotarians
Continue recognizing and engaging young people through scholarships, awards, Interact, Rotaract, and community service.
A Message from the District Governor
As we begin this Rotary year, I am deeply grateful for the warm welcome and hospitality I have received from clubs across District 7230. My visits throughout July reaffirmed what makes our district so special—the passion, creativity, and unwavering commitment of our members to Service Above Self.
Together, we can build vibrant clubs by embracing new ideas, strengthening fellowship, developing future leaders, and creating service projects that address the needs of our communities. Every member has a role to play in expanding Rotary's reach and ensuring our clubs remain welcoming, dynamic, and impactful.
I encourage each club to continue working together, supporting one another, and sharing your stories so that others can see the difference Rotary makes every day.
My vision for this year is simple: Stronger clubs. Engaged members. Sustainable growth. Meaningful service.
Together, let us Create Lasting Impact - for our clubs, our communities, and the world.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Dr. Maksud Chowdhury
District Governor 2026–2027
Rotary District 7230
