Fifty-five people attended the Charter Nite and 30th Anniversary Celebration of The Rotary Club of Lexington Sunrise at Moody Hall, VMI on October 16, 2024. The Club was chartered on October 18, 1994. Sponsorship was by the Rotary Club of Lexington (chartered on February 1, 1922) which in turn had been sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lynchburg.

Guests were greeted by Rotarian Shannon Eskam. Lining the walls of the banquet room were 3 display tables of memorabilia, photos, news articles, past 4th of July balloon rally posters and designed t-shirts. A power-point slide show of Rotarians and community friends ran continuously. On each table were a tent card with a narrative and photos.  Narratives were written by: Rotarian David Dugan (Club Foundation), Rotarian Woody Sadler (History of Club), Jim Halasz (President's Message), Rotarian Monty Kennedy (International Services), Rotarian Clay Devening (History of Road & Relay Benefit), Rotarian Lori Sadler (Membership) and Ruth Parsons (Memories of Balloon Rally, Paul Harris Fellows, Al Hockaday, Sergeant of Arms).

Club President Jim Halasz welcomed everyone. Rotarian Steve Sanders blessed the meal. Rotarian Chuck Newhouse led the Pledge of Allegiance. Rotarian Peter Gruner led us in "God Bless America." Past President Carol Wheeler delivered a devotion sharing how the club involved high school students in Rotaract which seemed to influence some of the student's decisions to participate in Rotary Clubs after graduation and pursue careers involving helping others. One student coordinated raising money for international programs by having students donate their pennies by placing them in a wheelbarrow which resulted in approximately $1400.00 being raised.

Lexington City Mayor Frank Friedman presented the Club a proclamation. Immediate Past President, Woody Sadler said, "When Don Miller and I first sat down to organize the Club, we had no idea how successful it would become. The first 25 members grew to 63 and the club quickly became part of the fabric of our community. Our major event, the Balloon Rally, not only raised money for philanthropy, but gave the community a spectacular event drawing thousands. The Road & River Relay now 45 years in existence continues to engage many people."

Club President Jim Halasz presented Kaydance Sadler with a Paul Harris Fellow given by her grandparents Woody and Lori Sadler. District 7570 District Governor Elect Andy Van Hook was our speaker and shared how he started out in his hometown Rotary Club by promoting his club on social media. He has traveled internationally to work on Rotary service projects and Andy's love for Rotary is contagious and profound. The Club honored Woody Sadler with a matted and framed photo titled: Gift of Mobility of an Ecuadorian boy with his new wheelchair. Woody and Lori Sadler, Marc Hudson and many other Rotarians have distributed wheelchairs in Latin American countries.

Over the years, the Club Foundation has granted $227,400.00 to local non-profit organizations and given local scholarships of $30,700.00 to high school students. Current efforts are: highway trash pickup, meal delivery to shut-ins, backpack school supplies to children, purchase of wheelchairs, and much more. The evening concluded with the reciting of "The Four Way Test" by President Elect Ruth Parsons. 

Find the Rotary Club of Lexington Sunrise on Facebook (click link).




Charter Members:  l-r Woody Sadler, Lori Sadler, Carol Wheeler, Dianne Herrick, and Clay Devening


District Governor Elect Andy Van Hook cheers on current President Jim Halasz.
 

When our Johnson City Noon Rotary Club Treasurer Theresa Billings heard I was traveling to the Azores in October with my husband, she sent me abroad with our club flag featuring Daniel Boone. What an honor and privilege it was to take part in an international club flag exchange with Marie Sousa in Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. I returned with their club flag and presented it to our past president Brackton Smith. The Portuguese love to explore (we saw a statue of Vasco da Gama at the port in Angra, Terceira.) so naturally, Marie enjoyed receiving the flag featuring our frontier folk hero.


Mary Ellen “Mel” Miller of Johnson City noon Rotary Club exchanges flags with Marie Sousa in Ponta Delgado, Azores, Portugal.

After traveling across the Atlantic, Miller presented the Azores flag to Johnson City noon Rotary Club Past President Brackton Smith. It will be displayed, along with other international flags, at club meetings.