08/22/2025
A few days late, but here’s a recap of the August 20th Hot Springs National Park Rotary Club meeting for those who couldn’t make it.
We had a packed house, a powerful speaker, two new members, and a challenge from our District Governor that lit the room on fire.
Announcements & Club Updates
We’ll be back upstairs next week, and we’re excited to welcome Rex Nelson as our program speaker.
Another Thursday information session is coming soon for prospective members.
District Governor Jennifer Van Houtte challenged us to exceed our goal of 15 new members this year—we’re already at 11, all through member referrals. The District Membership Chair asked us each to think of five people we could invite. Let’s rise to the challenge.
District Governor’s Address
Jennifer returned for her second term as District Governor and reminded us why Rotary is one of the most respected global service organizations.
She shared how a $65,000 toilet project in rural India transformed the lives of young girls, keeping them in school and shaping their futures. She highlighted Rotary’s global strength:
• $2 billion endowment in the Rotary Foundation
• $400 million spent annually on service
• Latest updates on polio eradication—just 20 cases this year, though work in Afghanistan remains hindered.
Rotary is asking each club to give $1,500 and each member $49 this year, with the Gates Foundation matching 2-to-1 through 2029.
Her message was clear: Rotary is about service, but more importantly, it’s about dignity, hope, and opportunity. “We all have friends around the world—we just haven’t met them yet.”
Closing
As always, the club donated a signed book—What Will We Build Today?—to a local library in honor of our speaker. Visitors and new members were welcomed once again, and everyone was encouraged to think of someone they could invite to Rotary.
The theme for this Rotary year is Unite for Good, and we’re living it every week.
See you next Wednesday—upstairs!
