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OUR ORGANIZATION

Operation

Chartered on February 15, 1989, Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach has proudly served the community for 30 years.

               

Continually growing, this lively and dynamic breakfast club in Vero Beach includes many of the area’s prominent professionals and community leaders. Today, we’re a diverse club of men and women from nearly every sector of the region.

Rotary is a leadership organization composed of local business, professional and civic leaders who are united in providing humanitarian service locally and throughout the world, embracing the highest ethical standards to build goodwill and peace.

                          

 

Sunrise Rotary's rich history of service is summed up in its motto...…”For the Young, the Elderly and the  Environment.”  Over the years, the club has  contributed both money and manpower to local non-profits through its own 501(c)(3) foundation that is funded primarily by its popular event, the Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest.  In addition, a number of our members roll up their sleeves to help the underserved and underprivileged in the Dominican Republic, India, Panama, and elsewhere around the globe.

 

                      

Organization

Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach is organized in accordance with our constitution and by-laws, which were reviewed and updated in 2021. We are governed by a president and Board of Directors, who take office on July 1, the beginning of the Rotary year.  The board consists of the President, Immediate past President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Chair and five members at large. This group meets monthly and makes decisions that govern the club's affairs.

                               

Our club is a member of Rotary District 6930, one of 535 Rotary districts around the world.  District 6930 is located on Florida's east  coast from Titusville to Boca Raton.  Each District is comprised roughly of 50 rotary Clubs and 1,500 Rotarians and is managed by a District Governor who, like club presidents, serves a one year term.

Our club is honored to have two current members - Laile Fairbairn and Arthur Hodge, - who have served as District Governor.

                              

OUR COMMITTEES

Opportunities for Service

Sunrise Rotarians have many opportunities to serve others.  Our committees are vibrant, and the lifeblood of the club.  This is where members bring their ideas, solve problems and develop projects that address a variety of challenges facing people in the community and around the world. As part of joining our club, each person is asked to join at least one committee but can join more if they so choose.  Because of the work and planning that happens in our committees, Sunrise Rotarians can experience the fulfillment that comes from serving others. Our current committees include: 

  • Community Service Committee
  • Environmental Committee
  • Health and Wellness Committee
  • International Committee
  • Literacy Committee
  • Membership Committee
  • Scholarship Committee
  • Vocational Services Committee
  • Youth Services Committee

 

 

 

OUR MISSION

Mission 

Our mission is to create continuous improvement through service to our local community and internationally.

Vision 

Our vision is to be known for our service to the members of this community and for our commitment to Service Above Self helping the disenfranchised and others throughout the local and global community.

 

                                           

 

Strategic Plan Initiatives

  • Strengthen the club by promoting membership diversity, improving consistent member communication, improve member recruitment and retention, improve mentoring opportunities, foster club innovation, flexibility and diversity.
  • Increase our focus on humanitarian service by maintaining our current level of commitment to community and international service, starting new significant projects in our community and internationally.
  • Enhance our public image and awareness through the promotion of our core values in the community, improve our image and brand awareness throughout the community, improve publication of our action-oriented service.

our rotary connection

Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach is one of 35,000+ Rotary clubs around the world who together see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change - across the globe, in our communities and in ourselves. 

See how you too can be a part of the Rotary family.  We're 1.5 million strong!

 

 

Rotary - People of Action

OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

President
Ray Hooker

President- Elect
Tina Nicholson

Vice President
Kristin Jewell 

Treasurer
Ernie Poland

Membership
Richard Geissert

Secretary
Deb Perez

Director
Chris Swan

Director
Megan Root

Director
Rob MacCallum

Immediate Past President
Justin Lefebure

 

 

 

 

OUR MEMBERSHIP

 

WHO ARE SUNRISE ROTARIANS?
Sunrise Rotarians are people of action.  We are business and professional leaders who take an active role in their communities while greatly enriching their personal and professional lives. Our Rotary club contains a diverse group of professionals from the community that the club serves. More information about Rotary International’s 35,000 clubs and the world’s 1.5 million members can be found at www.myrotary.org.

OUR CLUB DEMOGRAPHICS:  

98  Members
33% Female, 67% Male
Our club is made up of local business owners, executives, education professionals, civic leaders and retirees in Indian River County

 

WHY ARE WE ROTARIANS?
Friendship
Rotary was founded on fellowship, a cornerstone that continues to attract members today. Rotarians enjoy camaraderie with like-minded professionals at our weekly meetings, and club projects and community service events provide opportunities to develop enduring friendships. Club happy hour parties, family picnics, manning a booth at a local festival and bringing the kids out to ride in local parades all bring the members together. Traveling members are welcomed by new friends at 33,000 Rotary Club meetings in
almost every city and country, world-wide!
Leadership
Rotary is an organization of successful professionals. Team-building, fundraising,
public speaking, planning and organization are just some of the leadership skills that club members can exercise and enhance. Becoming a Rotary leader provides further experience in motivating, inspiring, and guiding others. Many members serve in leadership roles yearly as committee chairs or on the Board of Directors, and training sessions are available both locally and around the state on topics of interest. Young professionals utilize Rotary leadership training as an effective career and promotion strategy.

Networking
An original goal of Rotary over 100 years ago was to allow club members to add to their circle of business and professional acquaintances. As members of the oldest service club in the world, Rotarians represent a cross-section of their community’s business owners, executives, managers, political leaders, and professionals – people who make decisions and influence policy. Weekly speakers provide up-to-date knowledge of issues and needs affecting communities locally and worldwide.

SERVICE CHAIRS & COORDINATORS 

Community Service
Deb Avery

District Grants
Jane Burton

Environmental
Sue Flak

Health & Wellness
Colby Bechtold

International
Rick Root

Literacy 
Wendy Orthober

Membership 
Richard Gissert

Scholarships
Ed Massey

Vocational
Linda Scalco

Youth Services
Bill Stapleton


 

THE ROTARY FOUR WAY TEST

THE ROTARY FOUR WAY TEST

One of the most widely printed and quoted statements of business ethics in the world is the Rotary "4-Way Test." It was created by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor in 1932 when he was asked to take charge of the Chicago based Club Aluminum Company, which was facing bankruptcy. Taylor looked for a way to save the struggling company mired in depression-caused financial difficulties. He drew up a 24-word code of ethics for all employees to follow in their business and professional lives. The 4-Way Test became the guide for sales, production, advertising and all relations with dealers and customers, and the survival of the company was credited to this simple philosophy.

Herb Taylor became president of Rotary International during 1954-55. The 4-Way Test was adopted by Rotary in 1943 and has been translated into more than 100 languages and published in thousands of ways. The message should be known and followed by all Rotarians.

 

CLUB SERVICE

Brew Fest Co-Chairs
Marty Lewis & Rob MacCallum

Christmas Parade
Kristin Jewell

Club Service & Logistics
Rob MacCallum

Communications
Debbie Avery

Correspondence Secretary 
Terry Routh

Executive Secretary
Debbie Avery

Fellowship & Special Events
Tina Nicholson
Lisa Gehin

Home Stay
Pam O'Donnell

Hospitality
Judith Lennox

Rotary Community Corps
Debbie Avery
Gene O'Donnell

Rotary International Foundation
Arthur Hodge

Rotary Means Business  
Darrell Horn

Sergeant at Arms  
Tommy Lowther

Speakers & Programs
Colby Bechtold

Spirits Fest
Marty Klein

Sunrise Rotary Foundation
Jack Berrigan

 

 

OUR HISTORY

 

In 1925, Vero Beach was a small “boom town” of 2,300 hardy folks who settled here to seek their fortune despite oppressive heat and even more oppressive mosquitos.  A rickety wooden bridge had opened 5 years earlier connecting the mainland with the barrier island, and 20 or so Florida East Coast Railroad trains rumbled through town each day.  But dreams of progress – and a dispute over the showing of Sunday movies in the newly opened Vero Beach Theater - led community leaders to push through legislation that resulted in the creation of Indian River County from the northern portion of St. Lucie County by Governor John W. Martin that year.  Most of the community leaders propelling that effort would soon become Rotarians.  Read More ...