July 13, 2023 - The Rotary Club of Center celebrated the completion of their 2022-2023 year on June 26. During the year, the club’s President was Cancee Lester and her service project for her term included utilizing a District grant to install ADA Playground equipment at Portacool Park. Over the year, she built new relationships with Rotary District 5910 helping the club to stay knowledgeable concerning Rotary as a whole.
Rotary and Interact members offering hands on service to install ADA Playground Equipment at Portacool Park.
At the District 5910 Conference held at the Fredonia in Nacogdoches, Cancee Lester was honored for her presidency and club secretary J.J. Ford was awarded a District 5910 ‘Roll of Fame’ plaque in recognition of her loyal dedication to service and devotion to the ideals of Rotary.
From left: J.J. Ford and Cancee Lester
During the year the club finalized the chartering of a new Interact Club of Center High School. CHS Principal Otis Amy, who is also a Rotarian, gave his blessing for the organization's formation and on November 2, 2022, the first meeting of the Interact Club of CHS was held with the new club’s advisor being teacher Dean Lester. The Interact Club was officially chartered through Rotary International on March 28, 2023 with charter officers being Ethan McElroy, President; John Ford, President-Elect; Trevor Lester, Treasurer; and Hope Gorkhali, Secretary. Charter members were Trace Lester, Committee Chairperson; Ryker Tomlin; Eric Allen; and Connor McCauley.
First Meeting of the Interact Club of Center High School. From left: Cam McElroy (Rotarian, Youth Advisor), John Ford, Ethan McElroy, Trace Lester, Trevor Lester, Dean Lester (School Advisor), and Cancee Lester (Rotary President)
A second service project was Operation Pollination Pledge which was a District 5910 challenge by District Governor Demetress Harrell. President Lester organized the distribution of flower pots and seeds to summer camp participants at Panola College’s Center campus.
In total for the year, the club donated over $17,000. Donations included $6,000 for ADA Playground Equipment at Portacool Park and $11,000 to local organizations including the Center Tennis Association, Center PD Ladies Auxiliary, Operation Blue Santa, Shelby County Outreach Ministries, Shelby County Cookers, Center F.L. Moffett, AgriLife Extension, Center Youth Sports, and Project Graduation.
The club welcomed seven new members: Amber Dodd (Tyson Foods); Hollie Adams (returning Rotarian, Focused Care of Center), Otis Amy (Center HS); Meg Camp (Edward Jones); Cindy Eubank (Shelby County Today); Tammie Luman (Shelby County Chamber of Commerce); and Kristi Stone (Paradise Villa Apartments).
Serving on the Rotary board with Cancee was Steve Waters, President-Elect; Lawrence Davis, Treasurer; J.J. Ford, Secretary; and board members David Chadwick, Cam McElroy, and Bridgette Liem. Club members not previously mentioned: Chandra Atholi, Jason Balkcom, John Black, Kyle Bridges, Kyle Coffin, Abbey Cooper, Rayford Copelin, Jim Donnan, Aaron Gilchrist, Yogesh Gorkhali, John Grigsby, Pam Hall, Howell Howard, Mack Hughes, Robert Hughes, Ed Johnson, Will Lucas, Collin Mathews, Keith Miller, Chad Nehring, Reid Nichols, Camille Stanfield, Emily Teske, and Joe West.
Attendance awards were presented to Rotarians for their dedication to the club during 2022-2023 year: J.J. Ford, 100%; Robert Hughes, 94%; Joe West, 91%; Steve Waters and Meg Camp, 89%; Mack Hughes 87%; Cam McElroy 83%; Cancee Lester and Lawrence Davis, 81%; Bridgette Liem and David Chadwick, 79%; Rayford Copelin, 77%; and Chad Nehring, 70%.
All the members of the Rotary Club of Center said yes to “Service Above Self” which is the motto of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Center meets on Tuesdays at noon at the John D. Windham Civic Center. The club is a civic organization which has locally contributed over $1 million to the Catherine Pinkston Roughrider Scholarship Foundation; $15,000 to the Shelby College Center; $15,000 to the pavilion at the Center Baseball Park (2003 Rotary International Centennial Project); $50,000 to the John D. Windham Civic Center; $50,000 to the Center Softball Field; and $20,000 to the Center Soccer Association for equipment and stands. Additionally, the club makes annual contributions to local nonprofit organizations. It is part of Rotary International (RI) which has a membership of 1.4 million. The club is located within Rotary District 5910 of RI.
