2025-2026 Year in Review – A Year of Action and Accomplishments

The 2025-26 Rotary year at the Rotary Club of Shanghai will be remembered as a turning point – a year when the club deepened its impact and proved that unity of purpose can overcome any challenge.

Over the past twelve months, RCS transformed its culture from one of primarily dining and donating to one of active, hands-on service. The club achieved its goal of organizing at least one volunteer activity every month – delivering 15+ service activities in support of 8 community organizations. Multiple volunteer activities supported our partner organizations Shanghai Sunrise, YouDao Service Center and Heart 2 Heart. Members and friends rolled up their sleeves for projects ranging from hospital visits and family support to environmental cleanups and educational workshops.

The club’s combined financial impact reached a new high – a remarkable achievement that reflects both the generosity of members, the support of friends, and the strength of the club’s partnerships.

Key Highlights

Among the year’s most significant achievements, the club saved 91 children’s lives through the Gift of Life (GOL) Global Grant and Heart to Heart (H2H) partnerships – a record for a single year. A further corporate donation to GOL, the largest in the project’s history, will fund life-saving heart surgeries for 50 more children. The GOL team also completed a successful field visit to Urumqi, Xinjiang, where they met Child #900, a 1-year-8-month-old boy from Yengisar Township, and witnessed firsthand the impact of their service. In addition, during a day when 14 volunteers joined hands to reorganize Heart to Heart’s warehouse in the Yida Hospital in Shanghai, Rotarians also got to meet Heart to Heart child #3924, a 6-year-old girl from Guizhou who had recovered from lifesaving surgery, accompanied by her mom. The surgery cost was raised by the Rotary Club.

Youth support expanded with two new Interact Clubs (WISS and Minhang Crosspoint) and one new Rotaract Club, bringing the total to six Interact Clubs and one Rotaract Club under RCS mentorship. The club hosted two Interact Nights, bringing together all active Interact Clubs for leadership development and fellowship.

Peace initiatives included 15 Warm Parenting / Words Matter and Conflict Management workshops. Inspired by the April visit of Heidi Kuhn, member of Rotary Club of San Francisco #2, World Food Prize Laureate and founder of Roots of Peace and Pax Agricultura, and her global call to plant peace, one white rose at a time, RCS joined with Rotary Club of Suzhou to launch a digital White Rose for Peace – a series of WeChat stickers designed to spread messages of peace and goodwill. The project reflects Rotary’s enduring commitment to building bridges of understanding across communities and cultures.

In a new and original initiative, President Tomas designed the Shanghai Mystery Challenge and co-created it with a fellow RCS Rotarian, Peace Building Committee Chair, and professional Shanghai tour guide Daniela Essenpreis. They created a team-based fundraising event that brought together over 40 Rotarians, friends, and partner organizations for a day of Shanghai city history and culture discovery. The event raised significant funds for YouDao Service Center to support underprivileged migrant children’s education and demonstrated the club’s creativity and capacity for innovation.

The club also strengthened its ties with the broader Rotary family through joint meetings and initiatives with RC Shanghai West, RC Shanghai Hongqiao, RC Shanghai Elysée, RC Suzhou, and RC San Francisco #2. A standout moment was the first bilingual joint meeting with RC Shanghai West in over a decade – a powerful symbol of unity across languages and cultures.

Recognition and Awards

Recognition was given to members who demonstrated exceptional commitment. Frank Yih, the 92-year-old patriarch and founder of the modern RCS, who will celebrate his 60th year as a Rotarian next year, set the standard for engagement with the highest attendance and 91 bell rings (donations of considerable amount) – more than any other member. His unwavering support extended beyond RCS, earning him Honorary Memberships with RC Singapore and RC Shanghai West, club he helped to establish.

Additional award recipients included Kevin Gouldmann, the year’s secretary, who was highlighted in all categories including #2 in Bell Rings and tied with Frank for top attendance. Two of the club’s four District 52 Assistant Governors, Terri Lau and Tiziana Richiardi, also featured at the top of the engagement rankings when visits to other Rotary clubs were considered.

While most club members volunteered in at least one activity, Kevin Gouldmann, Anne Tan, Niclas Pueschel, Rohit Ballal, Richard Fang, Markus Wiegand, Alayna Kang, Sarah Kochling, Markus Berger, and Ali Sedighi were recognized for their exceptional support during the year and received a gold-plated framed photo of themselves at a volunteer activity.

This year’s board members and committee chairs received a specially designed mug featuring the club’s logo and the 2025-26 RI theme ‘Unite for Good’ as a token of appreciation for their unwavering support and hard work during the Rotary year. The year’s accomplishments are a result of Rotarians uniting together to live by Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self.

A Special Gift to the Club

In a gesture of deep gratitude, outgoing President Tomas Kucera presented the club with a unique and meaningful gift: a complete collection of Rotary International Presidential Theme Pins from 1960 to the present day, arranged chronologically on a white flag. The flag is both a collector’s treasure and a living timeline – a powerful tool to share Rotary’s heritage with prospective members and guests for years to come.

Passing the Torch

The Handover Ceremony itself was a moment of tradition and renewal. Outgoing President Tomas reflected on a year of extraordinary achievement, thanking the Board, Committee Chairs, and every member who contributed time, talent, and heart.

He then pinned the Presidential Pin to Markus Wiegand, who steps into the role of RCS President for 2026-27. Markus, who has served as Service Committee Chair and Admin Committee Chair, brings boundless energy and a deep commitment to youth development. His father-in-law is a longtime Rotarian in Germany, and he met his wife at a Rotary event, but it was in Shanghai that Markus finally found his own path to Rotary. Markus will lead the club under the 2026-27 RI theme: Create Lasting Impact – a call to action that RCS is already well-positioned to answer.

Looking Ahead

With a strong foundation in place, a passionate new President at the helm, and a community that believes in the power of service, the Rotary Club of Shanghai is ready to Create Lasting Impact.

Service Above Self. United for Good. Forever.