Sharpening the Saw: A New Year Reset
Sharpening the Saw: A New Year Reset By Salvador Ontiveros Welcome back from holiday break. I hope you had a restful, meaningful time with family and friends. I often tell my staff: the best thing we can do for our families—and for the clients we serve—is to first take care of ourselves. Physically, mentally, […]
Reflections on Education and Rotary
Reflections on Education and Rotary by Mautra Staley Jones Rotary has always recognized that learning is a lifelong pursuit. Service projects, international initiatives, youth leadership programs, and vocational exchanges all embody Rotary’s belief that education—formal or informal—builds stronger communities. In higher education, we share that same conviction. We know that when individuals learn, families grow stronger, businesses […]
Reflections on Change and Continuity in Rotary
Reflections on Change and Continuity in Rotary by Karen Wicker It is funny how the new year prompts us to take stock of our lives—like watching an old movie in slow motion. Most characters are friendly and familiar, while others are a little fuzzy. Still, it is worth reviewing the past to appreciate how we […]
The Wonderful Business of Oz
The Wonderful Business of Oz by Lance McDaniel The Wizard of Oz is currently generating $2 million dollars a day at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The Sphere is a massive, high-tech, immersive venue initially used for concerts. The production, which launched on August 28, has grossed more than $150 million and is predicted […]
Values-Led Growth in a Changing City
Values-Led Growth in a Changing City By Emily Taylor In Oklahoma City’s fast-moving landscape, it’s not enough to ask what we can build next — we must ask who we want to become. For organizations like our club, the question of identity is essential. Anchored by “Service Above Self” and the Four‑Way Test (“Is it […]
Why I Keep Upping My Ante
Why I Keep Upping My Ante by Ted Streuli Every December, I sit down with my checkbook—yes, I still use checks, and no, I’m not taking questions about it—and write out my annual donation to the Rotary Club 29 Foundation. And every year, without fail, I add a little more than I did the year […]
Gratitude IS beneficial for all concerned…
Gratitude IS beneficial for all concerned… by Sarah Spinks As we approach Thanksgiving, I thought the topic of gratitude was timely. In a world often focused on achievement, speed, and self-improvement, gratitude is sometimes overlooked as a quiet virtue. Yet, being thankful isn’t just a personal mindset—it’s a powerful force that shapes relationships, communities, and […]
Returning to Our Roots: How Values Guide Progress in an Accelerating World
Returning to Our Roots: How Values Guide Progress in an Accelerating World By Sarah Mason Sears This weekend, I was listening to Ken Burns discuss his new documentary on the American Revolution, and I was captivated. What stood out wasn’t just the history but how he described the Revolution’s leaders as building something bigger than […]
A Peculiar Institution
A Peculiar Institution by Pat Rooney “The Federal Reserve is a pretty queer duck,” Wright Patman, member of Congress 1930. This quote was part of a discussion on the U.S. House floor by Congressman Patman (D-TX) who tried to make the case that the new Federal Reserve building on Constitutional Avenue, completed in 1937, was […]
Choose Kindness
Choose Kindness by Alex Kaiser It’s no secret that America feels more divided than ever. Politics today often seems less about ideas and more about winning—about proving someone else wrong instead of seeking what’s right for everyone. Turn on the news, scroll through social media, or even glance at your group chats, and you’ll see […]
Is Civility Dead?
Is Civility Dead? by Charlie Price Online trolls. Road rage incidents. Public figures trading barbs. Wherever you turn, there’s another reminder of how fragile civility has become. Defined by Merriam-Webster as “a polite act or expression,” civility is about treating others with respect, courtesy and kindness. Sound quaint? Many agree: 85% of those polled in […]
ARE WE FAILING THE FOUR-WAY TEST?
ARE WE FAILING THE FOUR-WAY TEST? by Paul Moore Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned? The Rotary Four-Way Test was written in 1932 by Herbert J. Taylor as he was tasked with saving the Club Aluminum Company, […]