Community Service
Since 1924, the Rotary Club of St. Clair Michigan has been dedicated to "service above self" in all that we do.
As a Rotary club, we stay active in serving our community in many ways. We operate a Flag Program, placing U.S. flags around St. Clair and nearby townships, and we run our annual Great Lakes Freighter Raffle, which helps us raise funds for local initiatives. We partner with the Friends of the St. Clair River on environmental projects, such as restoring eroded shoreline and planting native species, and we support local parks including Rotary Centennial Park and its Wildlife Landing. We help organize community events like the Pine River Turtle Race, and we invest in youth through scholarships, leadership programs, and RYLA. We contribute regularly to the Ecumenical Food Pantry, ring bells for the Salvation Army during the holidays, and host an annual Senior Citizen’s Night. Over the years, we’ve also supported important recreation spaces like Little League fields and the Imagination Station playground. We’ve established a permanent endowment fund to ensure our service work continues for generations. Most recently, we installed a storybook walk at Klecha Park and dedicated a Peace Pole in Centennial Park to mark the International Day of Peace.
ACADEMIC STRIVE SCHOLARSHIPS
Each year, our club awards scholarships to high school seniors. The STRIVE scholarship is a special award given to the student whose GPA has most improved over time. Scholarship recipients are evaluated not just on academics, but also based on community involvement, leadership, and alignment with Rotary’s civic ideals.
Through this fund, we aim to expand their student scholarship support and leadership development opportunities.
RYLA
Ages 19-25
RYLA is an acronym for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. RYLA is leadership training for young adults (19-25 years) led by a professional facilitator experienced in youth leadership development and supported by RYLA graduates and Rotarians;
One week residential program on a college/university campus consisting of lectures, simulation games, discussion groups, committee work, public speaking, social activities;
An opportunity to learn, grow, share ideas, have fun and make new friends.
JR RYLA
Ages 15-18
Jr RYLA (Junior Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a Rotary-sponsored leadership development program for younger students, typically ages 15–18, designed to build confidence, communication skills, teamwork, and a commitment to service through workshops, team-building activities, and retreat-style experiences. It is a youth-focused extension of Rotary’s broader RYLA program, varies by Rotary district in format and age range, and is often offered as a multi-day in-person camp with optional virtual follow-ups, with participants usually sponsored by local Rotary clubs.