Interview with President Ross Plourde
Interview with President Ross Plourde by Emily Stratton For a number of years I have been invited to interview our current Rotary president at the end of his or her term for an article in our Rotary newsletter. I have thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity. You will love reading below about Ross Plourde’s experiences as […]
Why Rotary?
Why Rotary? by Evan Walter As a high school junior, I applied to be a long-term Rotary Exchange Student. It was going through the outbound preparation process that I learned what Rotary is about, and why the world needs Rotary. As part of the preparation process, I began attending meetings of my sponsoring club, the […]
Relationships Are the Real Currency
Relationships Are the Real Currency by Emily Taylor In business, we tend to measure everything in dollars. Revenue. Margins. Growth rates. Valuations. Those numbers matter, but they are not the thing that actually drives them. What I have seen over time is this: the real currency is not money. It is relationships. Every meaningful opportunity […]
What We Lose If We Let Efficiency Win
What We Lose If We Let Efficiency Win A reflection on AI, creativity and protecting original thinking by Sarah Sears The pendulum is in full swing. Every significant wave of technology pulls it hard in one direction, and this one, the accelerating rise of artificial intelligence, may be the biggest swing any of us have […]
Rotary and Memorial Day: Honoring others through Action
Rotary and Memorial Day: Honoring others through Action by Sarah Spinks Memorial Day invites Americans to pause—amid backyard barbecues, the start of summer, and long weekends—to remember those who gave their lives in service to our nation. It is a day rooted in gratitude, sacrifice, and reflection. For members of Rotary, these values are not […]
Don’t Worry, Be Happy
Don’t Worry, Be Happy by Pat Rooney “I think that worrying about what might happen takes my mind off worrying about what has happened,” New Yorker cartoon. This joke struck a note with me as we have many outstanding issues and worries effecting the country’s mood these days. There are a lot of things to […]
Open Handed Rotarians
Open handed Rotarians by Jim Priest Recently, I was visiting with a man who commented on something Jesus said in Mathew 26:11. “The poor you will have with you always.” The speaker told me “Jesus wasn’t suggesting the perpetual problem of poverty is hopeless and there’s nothing to be done about it. Jesus was saying this is […]
Learning Still Matters
Learning Still Matters by Charlie Price Graduation season is coming soon. From kindergarten programs to Ph.D.s, soon we’ll gather with friends and family in stuffed gymnasiums or vast arenas to celebrate the pursuit of learning. It’s hard not to be inspired by these achievements. No matter the age, these graduates navigated a world full of […]
I Was a New Member
I Was a New Member by Paul Moore Fifty years ago was our nation’s Bicentennial and my first year as a new member of Rotary. I was 27 years old, married with a four year old son, newly moved from New York to North Carolina, and in my first line management position. My predecessor, 20 […]
Spring: A Season of Recalibration
Spring: A Season of Recalibration by Kirsten Lindsay Spring has sprung! March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb! April showers bring May flowers! Generally, the platitudes associated with spring are relentlessly positive—we are told to expect a season of renewal, rebirth, and effortless growth. The reality of spring in the Midwest […]
Celebrating the Week of the Young Child 2026: Honoring Rotary International and Advancing Oklahoma’s Commitment to Children
Celebrating the Week of the Young Child 2026: Honoring Rotary International and Advancing Oklahoma’s Commitment to Children by A.J. Griffin The Week of the Young Child, April 11-17, 2026, offers a powerful opportunity to celebrate young children, honor the people and organizations dedicated to their well‑being, and renew our collective commitment to building communities where […]
History Repeats Itself
History Repeats Itself by Rachel Hubbard In late 2025, we crossed the Rubicon in the way most Americans get their information. A study from the Pew Research Center shows 54 percent of people now get their news from social media, a platform that is being rapidly taken over by ‘good enough’ content that is cheap […]