Our first week of the New Rotary Year has been exciting. Many clubs and Rotarians took part in Parades and community Fourth of July Events. Some clubs held their leadership installation/transition ceremonies, and some took time at their first meeting of the year to speak of the year to come and review the year that has passed.
As a district there are a few celebrations, specifically Awards, last year that we should honor as we move into the new year. These were presented by IPDG Susanne Holmberg at the Area Celebrations held through May and June. Let’s take this moment to celebrate Stewart Martin, Al Jubitz, and Tom Crozier.
As you read about the amazing accomplishments of these members in our district, remember that we all have the potential to make a difference as Rotarians. Every Rotary project was started by a Rotarian who saw an opportunity to help someone, their community, or others around the world.
That Rotarian collaborated with others in their club and community and together proved why we are people of action. Let’s be inspired to Create Lasting Impact.
SERVICE ABOVE SELF AWARD – Stewart Martin, Rotary Club of Lake Oswego
Awarded by Rotary International. This is one of the highest honors Rotary bestows. At most, 150 members worldwide receive this honor each year.
IPDG Susanne Holmberg said the following of Stewart Martin when he was presented the award at the May 16 Area Celebration, following an Epic Day of Service.
There are some Rotarians whose service is easy to measure. You can count the roles they’ve held, the committees they’ve chaired, the grants they’ve shepherded, the systems they’ve improved. And then there are Rotarians whose service is harder to measure — because it lives in impact, in sustainability, in quiet leadership, and in the lives of people they may never meet.
This award is not about holding a title. It is not about routine club service. And it is not about a single project or moment.
It recognizes Rotarians who have demonstrated an extraordinary, long-term commitment to humanitarian service — individuals who consistently put the needs of others, and the good of communities, ahead of themselves. It honors those who live Rotary’s motto not just in words, but through a lifetime of action.
And Stewart Martin is a powerful example of exactly that. Stewart understands something fundamental about Rotary: that service is not just about showing up — it’s about building something that lasts.
For decades, Stewart has worked at the intersection of knowledge, systems, and heart. In the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene space, he hasn’t simply participated — he has helped shape how Rotary does this work globally. From community assessments in Tanzania, to global summits, to guiding districts and clubs through complex grants, Stewart has been a steady hand and a thoughtful voice.
But what makes his service extraordinary is how he serves. Stewart brings curiosity.
He brings humility. He brings a love of learning — and a willingness to embrace new ideas, new tools, and even new technologies to help Rotary do better.
Whether advising on global grants, strengthening learning frameworks, improving access to resources, or coaching clubs and districts through complexity, Stewart doesn’t just ask, “What are we doing?” He asks, “How can we do this better — and how can we help others succeed?”
And his commitment to service doesn’t stop with Rotary.
In his community, Stewart has been a water commissioner, a nonprofit leader, a volunteer, an organizer, a mentor, and a neighbor who shows up — especially when it matters most. From disaster preparedness to cultural enrichment to healing children, his service reflects a belief that strong communities don’t happen by accident — they are built, patiently and intentionally.
What truly sets Stewart apart is his understanding of legacy. Not legacy as recognition — but legacy as systems improved, people empowered, and knowledge passed on.
Stewart’s work is designed to outlive any single project, any single role, or even any single Rotarian. He plans for continuity. He plans for learning. He plans for others to carry the work forward.
Stewart Martin embodies the very best of Rotary: vision paired with action, expertise paired with generosity, and leadership grounded in service.
That — at its core — is Service Above Self. ~IPDG Susanne Holmberg
Stewart Martin with Susanne Holmberg, District Governor 2025-26, and Renee Campbell, District Rotary Foundation Chair
2025-2026 Citation for Meritorious Service – Al Jubitz, Rotary Club of Portland
The Rotary Foundation’s Citation for Meritorious Service honors one Rotarian or Rotaractor per district who has been actively involved in service related to The Rotary Foundation.
Al Jubitz was recognized as a Rotarian who has not only been extremely financially generous, but whose lifelong commitment to Rotary’s Peace Area of Focus has touched our district, our communities, and the world.
Al Jubitz has never simply supported peace in theory—he has invested in it with vision, generosity, and sustained action. In 2017, Al issued a bold challenge to plant 125 Peace Poles across District 5100. Not only was that goal achieved, but through the Jubitz Family Foundation, Al helped make it possible by offsetting a third of the cost of every pole, ensuring that peace would be visibly rooted in our communities. For years he has offered his Paul Harris recognition points to match member contributions as incentives for donations to The Rotary Foundation.
Al has also brought people together in powerful ways. He sponsored and hosted Peacebuilder District dinners, growing from gatherings of dozens to a remarkable event in 2024 attended by more than 400 Peace Fellows, Rotarians, and Foundation donors. That evening featured inspiring voices, including Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick, and reflected Al’s belief that peace grows through connection and shared purpose.
As a speaker, Al has reached nearly every club in District 5100 and many beyond, always showing up, listening deeply, brainstorming, and encouraging action. At our International Conventions, he supports Peace Parks across the globe and co‑founded the Rotary Action Group for Peace, helping strengthen Rotary’s global peace mission.
Closer to home, Al co‑founded racial justice dialogues that create space for honest conversation, healing, and understanding. He reminds us that, as he says, “The best antidote to hatred and violence is love and understanding.”
Through his generosity, leadership, and unwavering heart for peace, Al Jubitz has shown us what it truly means to live Rotary’s highest ideals. We thank him—and we honor him with the Rotary Foundation Citation for Meritorious Service. ~IPDG Susanne Holmberg
2025-2026 Rotary Foundation District Service Award – Tom Crozier, Rotary Club of Camas-Washougal
Tom Crozier was serving as a Rotarian long before he actually joined the Camas-Washougal club. He was the recipient of the Club Rotarian of the Year award, and elected Club President in 2015-16, while serving as our district’s First Spouse, twice, when his wife, Barb Crozier, served as District Governor. He was appointed Assistant Governor to the Columbia Gorge region, while simultaneously serving as District Vision Facilitation Chair. In 2020 through 2023 he became the District Rotary Foundation Chair and is currently in his second term as our Stewardship Chair, while also co-chairing his club’s TRF committee and serving as club Executive Secretary. Those are the stats. Here are a couple of examples of the heart behind the work.
He was part of a District 5100 relationship-building and project-finding visit to Indonesia after the earthquake and tsunami. Stewart Martin recalls: We met many Rotary clubs, listened to their presentations, received project proposals, and had great friendship and cultural experiences. On their return Tom and Stewart spent an entire weekend summarizing and ranking over 70 projects … then circulating them to clubs for their adoption. It was so successful that in the next two years our district spent more funds and had more projects with Indonesia than all of Central America.
Tom and Barb served as the aides for our Rotary International President, Stephanie Urchick when she came to our Shoot for the Moon event in October 2024, which took quite a bit of driving and logistics to make her welcome.
When Tom is asked for something, the answer is always yes. He is the first to say, “How can I help?” whether it is to analyze data, follow up on club reports, or be present for setup, tear down, or answering questions. ~IPDG Susanne Holmberg
Communication is an important thread connecting Rotarians, clubs, and district activities throughout the year. Each Tuesday, you will receive the District Newsbyte with useful information that can be read in three to five minutes.
Each week will have a specific focus. This week, the first Tuesday of July shared Rotary news. Next Tuesday the District Newsbyte will highlight committees in action.