Pictured: Jon Gargulak (Rotary Club of Eau Claire, WI) with Dean Springer, Jason Saffert and Don Drost (Barron County Wisconsin Sunrise Rotary) hold trophy from 2025 CanAm bonspiel in Meaford, Ontario.
What fills your Rotary cup?
For four Rotarians from northwest Wisconsin, theanswer is simple: fellowship, friendship, and international understanding—foundon the curling ice through the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians.
Rotary Fellowships are international groups that bring together Rotarians, family members, and program participants who share a common passion. Whether it is cycling, wine, photography, hiking, or service projects, fellowships create meaningful connections beyond the weekly meeting.
In fact, Rotary currently offers 119 fellowships that allow members to build relationships across cultures, professions, and borders while strengthening Rotary’s mission of peace and goodwill.
I recently had the opportunity to participate in the 70th Annual Rotary Can-Am Bonspiel held in Sudbury, Ontario, January 22–24, 2026. The event featured 16 teams from Canada and the United States and demonstrated firsthand how Rotary builds goodwill, better friendships, and peace among participants.
The weekend began with an opening banquet where teams met fellow Rotarians from both nations. These gatherings are about far more than competition. They are about learning from one another—sharing ideas, hearing stories of service, and gaining new perspectives on how Rotary clubs are making an impact in their communities.
One of curling’s greatest traditions is “broom-stacking,” the time spent together after a match. During these informal conversations, participants learn more about each other, exchange service ideas, and build lasting friendships. These relationships often lead to future club collaborations, service partnerships, and even lifelong international friendships.
The event concluded with a final banquet that reinforced Rotary’s spirit of fellowship and service. This year, participants raised more than $2,500 to support Easterseals in the Sudbury area, demonstrating how fellowship and service go hand in hand.
Beyond the friendships and service, the Can-Am Bonspiel also provides a pathway to global connection. The winning team from each country qualifies for an international competition held every other year that bring together Rotarians from around the world and highlights Rotary’s role in promoting peace and cultural understanding.
Our northwest Wisconsin team experienced the power of Rotary fellowship when we became the first U.S. team in 47 years to win the Can-Am trophy in Meaford Ontario in 2025. That victory qualified us to compete in the International Bonspiel in Stranraer, Scotland in April 2026—an incredible opportunity to represent our district, build internationalfriendships, and strengthen Rotary’s global network.
We would love to see more U.S. Rotarian curlers participate in this unique experience. To learn more about the International Curling Fellowship of Rotarians, visit: https://www.curlingrotaryfellowship.com/
If you are looking for new ways to deepen your Rotary journey, consider exploring a Rotary Fellowship. You may discover a passion that strengthens your engagement in Rotary while expanding your global perspective. To learn more about Rotary Fellowships, visit: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/more-fellowships
What fills your Rotary cup? Service, fellowship, friendship, and peace—sometimes found in the most unexpected places, even on a sheet of ice.