Welcome from President Lance

Lance McDaniel. President 2026-27

Hello fellow Rotarians!

Welcome to the 2026-2027 year with the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City, Club 29. I am honored and excited to serve as your 117^th President.

Thank you to my predecessor, Ross Plourde. I have shadowed Ross in dozens of meetings and gatherings for more than a year. He is smart and kind, patient and thoughtful, fun and funny. He listens to others and values their opinions. He has been an ideal role model for me as I take on this important position.

Thank you to the outstanding women and men who have served as President of Club 29 before me. It is a big commitment. Yet they have all flourished, leaving their own unique stamp on our club. The Past Presidents continue to provide a solid foundation for this club, always generous with their time, expertise, and resources.

Thank you to our Executive Director Megan Law, a club founder, past president, and past district governor who keeps us plugged into the larger world of Rotary International while managing the business of our club. And thank you to Cheryl Byrd, who keeps the details of the business on track and provides the glorious music.

Thank you to our fantastic slate of volunteer officers, board directors, presidential advisors, foundation board members, chairs of the day, committee chairs, and committee members. Every one of these people are busy with family, work, life, and other opportunities. Yet they carve out time to serve the community through Rotary. Thank you.

The Rotary Club of Oklahoma City is Oklahoma’s largest and oldest civic organization. We are the largest Rotary Club in America. Our members include governors, mayors, CEOs, state treasurers, attorney generals, doctors, lawyers, executive directors, senators, representatives, commissioners, board members, fundraisers, and city councilors. We architect and build, create and optimize, manage and finance. We teach, write, run nonprofits, and lead arts organizations.

Our size gives us the resources to make a significant impact on our community. Our diverse experiences and backgrounds ensure that the positive impact ripples across every part of our community.

As the largest club in America, we must work harder to create personal connections that become friendships and build community. Get involved. Come to the lunch meetings, go to afterhours events, volunteer to bell ring, sit by someone new.

We have amazing leaders in this club with experience from every sector. Go sit with someone you don’t know. Enrich them with your knowledge. Listen and learn something new.

Director of Programming Seth Paxton and I are planning a fantastic slate of high-profile speakers to inspire you and get you thinking. Olympian Bart Conner, Chickasaw Nation Governor Chris Anoatubby, and Paycom CEO Chad Richeson will be joined by leaders of Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City Chamber, Wildcatters Pro Bull Riding, OETA, the Jones Assembly, and the co-creator of TED Talks. That’s just in the first quarter.

Come to lunch on Tuesday. Listen to a great speaker. Discover new ways to get involved. Meet fellow Rotarians. Together, we can change the world.

Thank you for this wonderful opportunity. It’s going to be an awesome year.

Thanks,

Lance

Lance McDaniel

President, Club 29