Hot Springs National Park Rotary

03/23/2026

Hot Springs National Park Rotary member Pat McCabe introduced our student guest speaker, Jimena Pinda. Jimena is a senior at Jessieville High School. Jimena is Hispanic, and her parents came to the United States and became citizens over 20 years ago. Her family has always emphasized doing your best and pursuing your dream. They instilled in her a good work ethic and a desire to always do her best. Jimena plans to major in psychology and political science, but does not have any desire to be in politics or a politician.

She is currently undecided on which university she will attend, but has narrowed her choices to University of Arkansas or University of Central Arkansas. She has enjoyed her time with Rotary and the people in our club she has had the opportunity to meet. Like the members of this club, she wants to always find ways to give back to her community in life's endeavors. We wish Jimena great success after her graduation from high school.

Our student guest program invites selected high school seniors from area schools to visit us twice then one their third visit they get to be a featured speaker and tell all about themselves and their plans for the future.

03/23/2026

Our most recent Rotarian of the Quarter Michael Helm introduced our speaker, Dr. Kyle Parker from Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. Arkansas Colleges of Health Education is a private, not-for-profit institution located on 500+ acres in Fort Smith, Arkansas.

The ACHE campus has evolved with the development of eight crucial programs: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Doctor of Medical Science, Doctor of Executive Leadership, Doctor of Public Health, Master of Science in Biomedicine, and Master of Public Health. Adding to the institution’s impressive offerings is the ACHE Research Institute Health & Wellness Center, a 317,000-square-foot facility that offers health and wellness initiatives through exercise classes, ceramics, teaching kitchen, and art galleries. It also features a 90,000-square-foot biomedical research lab. The mission of this organization is to educate and train a diverse group of highly competent and compassionate healthcare professionals; to create health and research support facilities; and to provide healthy living environments to improve the lives of others. President & CEO Dr. Parker welcomes those who want to join in the pursuit of not only changing the direction of healthcare in Arkansas but also the quality of life for people in the surrounding regions. For more information, visit Arkansas Colleges of Health Education. Sincere thanks to Dr. Parker for his enlightening presentation.

03/23/2026

Hot Springs National Park Rotary would like to welcome our newest Rotarian Tory Lewis.

Tory is an Attorney at Law with Taylor & Taylor Law Firm, PA and was sponsored by HSNP Rotarian Libby Harrington.

We are growing and would love to have you be the next one to join us.

03/17/2026

GOT SHOES? REMEMBER TO BRING THEM TO OUR MEETING THIS WEEK OR DROP THEM OFF AT GROSS FUNERAL HOME NO LATER THAN 3/19 AT 12PM.

The Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club is participating in an areawide Shoe Drive and could use your help.

This year we are collecting pairs of shoes for SHOES FOR ORPHAN SOULS. The shoes will go to vulnerable children in the United States and around the world. The designated countries are Kenya, Peru, and Dominican Republic. Having proper shoes promotes health, prevents disease, and gives access to education where shoes are required to attend school.

The shoes are to be closed toe, male and female, NEW shoes, size 0 to size 14. A suggestion is to monitor the clearance aisles at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, Family Dollar, etc.

Shoes may be dropped off at Gross Funeral Home located at 120 Wrights Street, Hot Springs, no later than Wednesday 3/19.

Justin Nicklas and Nicole Herndon will take the donations to Ft. Smith during President Elect Training.

03/17/2026

Hot Springs National Park Rotary member Adam Webb introduced our student guest speaker, Franklin Colgrove recently. Franklin is a senior at Lakeside High School and is in the top 5% of the 2026 graduating seniors in Garland County. He serves in student government, competes in varsity athletics, volunteers in the community, and works 2 jobs — Scoops Ice Cream and Camp Winnamocka in the summer.

Franklin plans to attend the University of Arkansas in the fall as a medical student. Just as Rotary has the 4 way test centered on 4 words, Franklin has 4 words for his life.

Accumulate — he has accumulated knowledge from sources all around and knows that as a physician he will need to continuously accumulate knowledge to be able to help patients navigate decisions that are often complex and hard to understand.

Build — Franklin wants to build a life that is rooted in community.

Domino — he literally means the domino affect. How one person's actions can have a ripple effect on those around them.

And lastly, Rise — we all rise, but no one gets where they are going on their own. We all rise together. He has been lifted by the people around him and invested time in him. He plans to carry that forward to help raise those around him. Those 4 words connected by growth are exactly the kind of community connection worth making. We wish Franklin a great future in all that he does and the patients he will someday care for.

At Hot Springs National Park Rotary we love having student guests visit us. Local high school seniors visit our club twice then on their third visit we get to hear about their accomplishments as well as their plans for the future.

03/17/2026

Just a friendly reminder. Hot Springs National Park Rotary will be on the road this week and meeting at National Park College. I heard a rumor that this week's program is going to be EPIC! Tell your ma, tell your pa, and tell yourself - see you at the college this week.

03/12/2026

Thank you to the Sentinel Record for sharing this story with your readers. We always love hearing from our community leaders at Hot Springs National Park Rotary.

Hot Springs is going through “a time of change,” Visit Hot Springs CEO Steve Arrison told Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club Wed­nes­day after­noon. “Things are chan­ging, but all for the good,” the head of the city’s con­ven­tion and vis­it­ors...

03/11/2026

Check out this awesome video shared by our fellow Hot Springs National Park Rotary member Matthew Cox. By the way, it just happens that Matthew was honored with a Quite Rotarian award for all he does for our club. Please feel free to share.

03/11/2026

People join Rotary for a number of reasons. Probably the most common reason that I hear, is for the networking. But people STAY in Rotary for a different reason. If you are a Rotarian, tell us in the comments your club name, when you joined and why are you a Rotarian TODAY.

03/07/2026

HSNP Rotarian Joyce Whitfield introduced the President and CEO of the Arkansas Community Foundation (ACF), Jessica Hughes Ford. Jessica shared the definition of a community foundation. It is a tax-exempt charitable organization that provides support from funds that it maintains and administers on behalf of multiple donors. She considers their role as a multiplier and not a middle man.

ACF has 29 local community-based affiliates, which have contributed $57 million to 2,600 + charitable funds. The Hot Springs Area Community Foundation is celebrating its 35th anniversary and has over $16 million in assets.

Jessica bragged on the local leadership and support and the uniqueness of the Youth Advisory Council and how that program is shaping leaders for the future that will understand the importance of charitable giving. She is also very grateful for community partnerships, in particular the partnership with the Oaklawn Foundation. If you are interested in being a partner, you can visit their website or contact their office, Arkansas Community Foundation – You Can Create Positive Change in Your Community. We Can Help.

Charitable gifts are categorized into three categories depending on whether you wish to give now or later:

Outright Gifts are transfers of cash, real estate, securities, or other assets.
Deferred Gifts are gifts planned through your last will and testament, estate gifts, or trust. A gift by will can name a specific property, a certain cash amount, or a percentage of an estate.

Life Income Gifts are immediate gifts that provide you with a lifetime income. Life Income Gift plans, including charitable trusts and charitable gift annuities, can provide attractive tax advantages and increase your retirement income.

Community Foundations are the catalyst for improving communities.

03/07/2026

It was a pleasure to have you visit us.