September 22, 2026

Guest Speaker – Mary Lou Steward, Mayor of Blaine

Mayor Mary Lou Steward spoke about Hands Across the Border, an initiative started by Canadian Heidi Landry, and reflected on the importance of the Canada–U.S. relationship.

Mayor Steward shared her own connection to Canada, where she grew up, before moving to the United States. She reflected on her 15 years of involvement with Blaine City Council and spoke candidly about her concerns regarding the current political climate in the United States, democracy, and changing relationships between Canada and the U.S. Her overall message emphasized maintaining connection across the border through “peace, love and a handshake.”

September 8, 2026

Our guest speaker, Marty Pease of the Rotary Club of La Conner, shared an inspiring update on the work of the International Project Alliance (IPA) in Copán, Honduras. IPA is a partnership involving 14 Rotary clubs in District 5050 and a Rotary club in Copán Ruinas, working together to support Mayan communities through education and economic development.

Through its Adopt-A-School program, IPA supports approximately 1,700 students in 40 villages, while the Adopt-a-Dream program helps students continue through middle school, high school and university, with more than 50 students currently attending college. IPA also operates a Mobile Library, rotating book boxes among communities every three to four months to give students greater access to reading materials.

IPA also supports economic development through savings and loan programs, agricultural training, micro-financing and vocational education. A satellite trade school serving the Copán and Santa Rita area has produced strong results, with 83% of its first 110 graduates finding employment or starting businesses. IPA operates with an annual budget of approximately $300,000 to $350,000, funded through Rotary club commitments, grants and private donations.