our club
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
- Diversity Equity Inclusion 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!
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Justin Lefebure
President- Elect
Ray Hooker
Vice President
Tarik Kawi
Treasurer
Ernie Poland
Membership
Robyn Stone
Secretary
Chris Steinkrauss
Director
Barbara duPont
Director
Kevin Anderson
Director
Chris Swan
Immediate Past President
Pam O'Donnell
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:
84 Members
32% Female, 68% 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
Jane Burton
Environmental
Sue Flak
Health & Wellness
Linda Scott
International
Rick Root
Literacy
Wendy Osgatharp
Membership
Robyn Stone
Scholarships
Ed Massey
Vocational
Linda Scalco
Youth Services
Mike Murphy
THE ROTARY FOUR WAY TEST
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
Club Service & Logistics
Rob MacCallum
Communications
Debbie Avery
Correspondence Secretary
Terry Routh
Executive Secretary
Debbie Avery
Fellowship & Special Events
Tina Nicholson
Lisa Gehin
Hospitality
Judith Lennox
Rotary Community Corps
Debbie Avery
Gene O'Donnell
Rotary International Foundation
Arthur Hodge
Sergeant at Arms
Tommy Lowther
Speakers & Programs
Clare Meshot
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 ...
