CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to our President, Marty Lewis for being named President of the Year 2021-2022 for Rotary District 6930!!!
CONGRATULATIONS to Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach for being name Club of the Year 2021-2022 for Rotary District 6930!!!
Pictured above:
Marty Lewis, President of Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach with his crystal gavel
Award given for Club of the Year
Sunrise Rotary members Arthur Hodge, Bill Edelstein, Richard Giessert, Laile Fairbairn, Buck Vocelle, Jane Burton, Gene O’Donnell, Pam O’Donnell, Marty Lewis, Debbie Avery, Lisa Gehin accepting the award from District Governor Michael Walstrom
living out rotary's motto 'service above self'
sunrise rotary vero beach invites you to join us !
Welcome to Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach! Chartered in 1989, Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach is made up of nearly 100 distinguished members of our community who volunteer throughout Vero Beach, Indian River County, the state of Florida and internationally under the motto 'Service Above Self.'
We are always forming connections to improve the health of our environment, combat hunger, improve health and sanitation, provide education and job training, promote peace, eradicate polio and so much more. We are small business owners, corporate executives, non-profit leaders, government officials, as well as retired executives and professionals who meet weekly to share camaraderie, hear from speakers on important topics, and plan meaningful projects to benefit others.
We meet on Wednesday mornings at 7:00 a.m. (breakfast available at 6:30 a.m.) at the Riverhouse - 305 Acacia Road. Come meet our Rotary family!
SPEAKERS/PROGRAMS FOR OUR UPCOMING MEETINGS
June 29: Outgoing President, Marty Lewis - Wraps Up Current Rotary Year
July 6: Incoming President, Pam O'Donnell - Unwraps New Rotary Year
July 13: Wesley Davis - Indian River County Property Appraiser
July 20: Stuart Keiller - Youth Sailing Foundation
July 27: Elise Mahovlich - Cultural Council of Indian River County
Help Your Community!
Consider being a part of our dynamic club serving Vero Beach, the state of Florida, and beyond.
Contact a Sunrise Rotarian & find out how you can become a Member!
get involved
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach has been taking action to serve our local and global community since 1989.
- Enjoy Professional Networking, Friendship and Fellowship.
- Get Involved in Local Community Service
- Experience International Awareness and Service
- Share your Time and Experience with youth and seniors through our many services projects
- Stay Informed with Exciting Weekly Programs and Speakers
- Contact Us Now to Learn More.
RECENT AWARD
The Indian River County School District recently held a Community Partner Year End Dinner and Celebration. Sunrise Rotary received an award for their partnership with the district. The club has a long history of working in the schools such as the reading program at Citrus Elementary, teaching the 4-Way Test to eighth grade students, sponsoring awards programs, and awarding scholarships.
EDUCATION EMPOWERMENT 5K
Cheryl Ward, Chris Steinkrauss, Pam O'Donnell, Jane Burton, Laura Kennedy and Debie Avery participated in the Education Empowerment 5K on Saturday, May 28th. The race benefited Education Access, Seek the Lamb, Crossover Mission, and All you Need is LOVE. These non-profit organizations provide education programs to children and youth locally and internationally.
AND THE WINNERS ARE...........
Sunrise Rotarians Debbie Avery and Bob McCabe (far left) and Jane Burton (far right) award laptop computers to accelerated readers at Gifford Middle School eighth-grade students.
Jane Burton congratulates the sixth-grade laptop winner. Also attending were Linda Scott, Chris Steinkrauss, Daid Schwartz, Wilfred Hart and Bob McCabe.
DODGERTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Linda Scalco, Kathy Lindsey, and Wilfred Hart set up a display and talked with participants at Dodgertown Elementary’s “Summer Kick-Off” event.
Wendy Orthober worked the afternoon shift.
INTERACT CLUB
The Interact Club at Indian River Charter High School had an end of the year celebration this week. Gail DeRoy and Linda Scalco, Sunrise Rotary Interact Liaisons and Mike Murphy, Youth Services Chair attended. The club was very active throughout the year. The students volunteered at numerous community events and put into action Rotary's motto of Service Above Self.
CELEBRATING WITH THE RESIDENTS OF ST. FRANCIS MANNOR
A number of Rotarians from our club celebrated Mother's Day with the residents of St. Francis Manor Saturday, May 7th. We all enjoyed delicious food, fellowship and fun.
More Violins - Less Violence - Better Tomorrows
Members of the Gifford Youth Orchestra.
Sunrise Rotary recently helped with the Gifford Youth Orchestra's Diamond and Crystals Gayla. Our Club partners with GYO often. Pictured above are Debbie and Drew Padnuk who sold raffle tickets.
MORE NEWS ...
Meet Our New Members
ALEX ALEXANDER
Alfonse Alexander, who goes by Alex, is originally from San Antonio, Texas. Alex is a veteran, having served four years in the United States Army. He is a graduate of Santa Fe Community College, and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1995 from University of Central Florida. In 2001 he moved to Vero Beach. Alex started Alexander Insurance, a local, independently owned property and casualty agency that offers auto, homeowners, recreational vehicle, and business and commercial lines. Alex is married and has one daughter.
FELICIA BROWN
Felecia was born and raised in Vero Beach and returned in 2019 after graduating from the University of Phoenix with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master's degree in education of curriculum and instruction. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in special education qualitative research at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona. She presently works with the Indian River County School District as an Exceptional Student Education Resource Specialist at Oslo Middle School. Felecia enjoys spending time with her family and values the importance of community service. To that end, she led the first Annual Unsung Heroes of Indian River County and established her own company, Bo Johnson Girls LLC, to create a safe place for homeless veteran women.
MATT ROLFES
Matt was born in Vero Beach, Florida, raised in Fort Pierce and graduated from John Carrol Catholic High School. He attended Indian River State College, the University of Florida and Nova Southeastern University where he graduated with honors from the College of Dental Medicine in 2015. Matt has recently joined the practice of Dr. Denise Pieczynski in Vero Beach. He wanted to become involved in the community where he works and chose to join our club. A true outdoorsman, Matt’s hobbies include boating, fishing, diving, golf, and above all, aviation. When not practicing dentistry, you can find Matt spending time with his wife Rachel (who is also a dentist and a Rotarian!) and their dog Arlo.
JACK BERRIGAN
Jack has been a Rotarian since the early 1980's and has recently rejoined our club. He is originally from Everett, Massachusetts. He attended Newman Prep and Boston University, then spent time in both the Marine Corps and the Army. Most of Jack's life was spent in the computer world. Jack enjoys spending time with his two children and three grandchildren as well as playing golf.
REBECCA WHITE
Rebecca grew up in Brevard County and moved to the Treasure Coast in 2007 after graduating from Stetson University College of Law. Her legal career began at the State Attorney's Office in Indian River County. She served as an Assistant State Attorney from then until Governor Ron DeSantis appointed her to the 19th Circuit Court bench in April 2021. Rebecca enjoys spending time with her husband and four children.
ROBYN STONE
Robyn is a lifelong resident of Vero Beach, graduating from Saint Edward's High School. She graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Law and began her legal career in 2006 at the State Attorney's Office. In December 2020, she was appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to the position of Indian River County Court Judge. Robyn enjoys spending time with family, playing the piano, cooking and reading historical fiction.
"President Marty accepts the DYER Difference Award Jan 2022"
UPCOMING EVENTS
♦♦♦ JUNE ♦♦♦
28
Environmental Committee
♦♦♦ JULY ♦♦♦
1
Membership Committee
7
Rotary Means Business
12
Board Meeting
Hispanic Community Resource and Job Fair
An inaugural Hispanic Community Resource and Job Fair (HRF) was held on April 2, 2022, at Operation Hope in Fellsmere, Florida. The event was led by the Center for Independent Living Options and the Indian River County Sheriff’s Office and organized by a team also including the Fellsmere Police, the Fellsmere Action Community Team (FACT), the School District of Indian River County (SDIRC), the Rotary Club of Vero Beach and Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach.
Sunrise Rotary became involved as a result of ideas generated over several meetings of the community diversity group, and from Sunrise Rotarians Pam O’Donnell, Cheryl Ward, and Tarik Kawi participating at monthly FACT meetings. The Resource Job Fair helped raise awareness of, and shared information about, available local community resources and employment opportunities.
Rotarians (L-R) Jose Conrado, Chris Steinkrauss, Mike Murphy, Pam O'Donnell, Cheryl Ward and Tarik Kawi
More than 200 members of the Fellsmere community attended and enjoyed live entertainment, refreshments, and visited the more than two dozen Indian River and Florida community organizations represented at the event.
SAVE THE DATE!!!!!!
SAVE THE DATE!!!
Craft Brew and Wingfest
February 18th, 2023
Vero’s Royal Palm Point
SUNRISE ROTARY COMMITTEES
Community Service & Partnerships
Chair - Jane Burton
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion
Chair - Richard Giessert
Environmental
Chair - Sue Flak
Health & Welfare
Chair - Linda Scott
Literacy
Chair - Cheryl Ward
Membership
Chair - Tarik Kawi
Rotary Means Business
Chair - Joanne Liakos
Scholarships
Chair - Ed Massey
Vocational
Chair - Aaron Kester
World Community
Chair - Rick Root
Youth
Chair - Mike Murphy
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach Helps Our Environment
Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge was the site of the latest cleanup organized by Coastal Connections along with the Friends of the Carr Refuge at 8am on Saturday April 9, 2022. Sunrise Rotarian Pam O’Donnell recruited members Rex Taylor, Mike Murphy and wife Kristy, Kevin Rollin, his children Michael and Grace, and Tarik Kawi to recover over 44 pounds of plastic, metal, foam and miscellaneous trash.
Our Rotarians worked with a group of more than 25 volunteers who helped prevent over 130 total pounds of trash from entering the ecosystem and ending up harming wildlife, including the nesting sea turtles.
Archie Carr Refuge, running 20 miles from Melbourne Beach south to Wabasso Beach, is reported by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service as the most significant area for loggerhead sea turtle nesting in the world, and the most significant area for green turtle nesting in North America. https://www.fws.gov/refuge/archie-carr
LATEST NEWS
SUNRISE ROTARIANS RAISED $1700 FOR THE RELAY FOR LIFE IN MEMORY OF STU GOLDMAN A LONG TIME ROTARIAN IN OUR CLUB.
STU AND HIS WIFE, CINDY WERE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE RELAY FOR LIFE AND ORGANIZED IT FOR OUR CLUB FOR MANY YEARS.
SUNRISE ROTARIANS PARTNERED WITH DODGERTOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TO COLLECT ITEMS FOR THEIR FOOD PANTRY.
SUNRISE ROTARIANS ATTENDED A RECENT BRUNCH TO SUPPORT TYKES AND TEENS
SUNRISE ROTARY HELPS MAKE THE FELLSMERE COMMUNITY FRIDGE A REALITY
The Rotary Foundation
The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world. Since it was founded more than 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.
Our mission
The mission of The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International is to enable Rotarians to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the improvement of health, the support of education, and the alleviation of poverty.
What impact can one donation have?
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For as little as 60 cents, a child can be protected from polio.
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$50 can provide clean water to help fight waterborne illness.
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$500 can launch an antibullying campaign and create a safe environment for children.
Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach Scholarship Awards
Dr. Ed Massey presented three George C. Schroeder Service Above Self awards at Vero Beach High School.
He also presented the Interact Scholarship award at the Indian River Charter High School.
ROTARY MEANS BUSINESS
Rotary Means Business meets the first Thursday of each month
7:30 - 8:30am
Baci Trattoria - 1918 14TH Avenue
Contact a Sunrise Rotarian for your invitation
Rotarians are welcome!
Rotary Means Business encourages Rotarians to support the success of their fellow Rotarians by doing business with them, and by referring others to them.
♦♦NEXT MEETING IS THURSDAY, JULY 7th♦♦
SUNRISE ROTARY CITIZEN SCIENTISTS ARE AT IT AGAIN!
Sunrise Rotarians involved with ORCA’s Pollution Mapping project collect samples and analyze them at ORCA’s Center for Citizen Science in Vero Beach.
