We had the honor of hosting District Governor Michael Kloss at our Thursday, March 12, Marshfield Rotary Club meeting. DG Kloss shared his inspiring journey and vision for the 2025-26 theme, “Unite for Good.” He was born on an Air Force base in Wyoming, and then spent his early childhood in Morocco at the edge of the desert, where he was temporarily trilingual in English, Arabic, and French before his family moved to the Midwest. A lifelong advocate for service, he spent years as a Scout Master in Eau Claire, awarding 11 Eagle Scouts and teaching young leaders about the impact of organizations like Rotary. He officially joined Rotary in 2014 after attending a meeting as a guest and being moved by the club's active and enthusiastic members. He served as the Eau Claire club president for two years and while attending President Elect Training, he was deeply inspired by the presentations given by the first female Rotary club president, Dr. Sylvia Whitlock, and the humanitarian and activist, Razia Jan.
During his visit, DG Kloss provided exciting updates on District 6250’s growth and upcoming initiatives. He has visited 35 clubs so far during his term, witnessing the diverse ways Rotarians show up, from intimate three-person meetings to large gatherings of 200 members in Madison. He announced that Wisconsin will soon feature official Rotary license plates, and he encouraged everyone to register for the upcoming TriCon at the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells. Members should note that the registration discount cutoff is March 17. The event will host representatives from 12 Nations, including a tribal chief, to discuss how Rotary can better support indigenous communities and address local struggles.
The power of collective giving was a major highlight, specifically regarding the Polio Plus drive. DG Kloss explained how a $500 donation from a club can be transformed into $3,000 through a two-to-one match from a Wisconsin Rapids family combined with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation match. Marshfield Rotary has already participated in this initiative, turning our $500 contribution into a significant $3,000 impact. Looking ahead, he noted that our district will provide support for the 2028 Rotary International Convention in Minneapolis, and he highlighted that ClubRunner now features an easier digital application process for district grants to help move local projects forward.
DG Kloss concluded by challenging the club to think creatively about growth through social media, public image, and the potential for satellite clubs. By staying active and simply inviting others to join our mission, we can continue to expand our reach. He invited members to look for his article on women in Rotary in the District Dispatch and put out a call for anyone interested in serving as an Rotary Assistant Governor. We thank DG Kloss for his visit and his motivating words that remind us all of the global impact we make when we choose to unite for good.