Dear Fellow Rotarians, Friends, and Community Partners,
Happy New Rotary Year!
As we begin a new Rotary year, we are excited to welcome you and reaffirm our commitment to serving the Highland Park and Highwood communities while strengthening the friendships and fellowship that make Rotary so special.
This year marks a unique chapter in our club's journey - As we approach our Centennial Anniversary in 2027, we look forward to celebrating 100 years of Service Above Self and impact in our community. To manage current events and preparation for our centennial celebration in 2027, we are embracing a collaborative approach through a co-presidency in 2026-27 Rotary year, with Michael Babian and Doris Xie serving together until 31 December 2026, and Michael Babian and Satish Tripathi for 1 Jan – 30 June 2027. We are grateful for the dedication and resilience of our members as always; your enthusiasm and support continue to ensure our club's success.
Rotary is built on the belief that ordinary people can accomplish extraordinary things when they come together in service. Over the past year, our members volunteered at Bernie's Book Bank, packed meals at Feed My Starving Children, supported local and international causes like December Day of Giving and MLK Day of Service, celebrated our community through fundraising golf outing, annual Gala, and international festival, and participated in numerous initiatives that improved lives both locally and globally. We are proud of these accomplishments and eager to build upon them in the year ahead.
Our focus this year will be to:
- Retain and grow our membership through meaningful engagement and fellowship
- Expand service opportunities in our community
- Build strong committee structures and future club leadership
- Continue supporting Rotary Foundation initiatives and local impact projects
- Foster partnerships that help our communities thrive
Whether you are a longtime member, a new Rotarian, or someone interested in learning more about our club, we invite you to join us to club meetings, service projects or just club social events. There is always a place for everyone who wants to make a difference. Let us continue to create hope, inspire positive change, and live out Rotary's motto of Service Above Self. We look forward to serving alongside you in the year ahead.
Recognizing that everyone has a busy schedule, we would like to share the following key dates for our club meetings, service projects, and social events to help you plan ahead. Thank you for your continued support and engagement—we look forward to another year of fellowship and service together! 🌟🤝
Yours in service,
Michael J. Babian and Doris Y. Xie
Co-Presidents, Rotary Club of Highland Park Highwood, 2026-27
Service Above Self
Highland Park or Highwood, IL 60035 or 60040
United States of America