What is Rotary?

Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change.

Our History

Rotary started with the vision of one man — Paul Harris. The Chicago attorney formed the Rotary Club of Chicago on 23 February 1905, so professionals with diverse backgrounds could exchange ideas and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.

Our Present

Rotary today is made up of three parts: individual Rotary clubs, Rotary International, and The Rotary Foundation. With 1.2 million members in 45,000 clubs worldwide, Rotary International works together to: 1) Promote peace, 2) Fight disease, 3) Provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene, 4) Save mothers and children, 5) Support education, 6) Grow local economies, and 7) Protect the environment.

Since it was founded over 100 years ago, the Foundation has spent more than $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. With your help, we can make lives better in your community and around the world.


About the Rotary Club of
Lynchburg-Morning

The Rotary Club of Lynchburg - Morning was chartered in June of 1987 with help from members of the Lynchburg Noon Club. Since inception we have sought to bring together business & professional leaders in Lynchburg to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and advance goodwill & peace around the world by reflecting the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self".

The Rotary Foundation transforms your gifts into service projects that change lives both close to home and around the world.

For the past 40 years, the Rotary Club of Lynchburg-Morning has partnered with numerous organizations around downtown Lynchburg, the city of Lynchburg, and surrounding counties. The Rotary Club of Lynchburg-Morning is proud to be one of five partners in the local area alongside the Rotary Clubs of Amherst, Bedford, Forest, and Lynchburg (“Lynchburg Noon Club”).

The Four-Way Test

The cornerstone of Rotary is the commitment of its members to ethical behavior in both their personal and professional lives. This commitment is encapsulated in the Four-Way test, which is recited at the beginning of every meeting.

Of the things we think, say or do:

  1. Is it the TRUTH?

  2. Is it FAIR to all concerned?

  3. Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?

  4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?

Past Presidents

Roger Ingram - 1987-1988

Knight Smiley - 1988-1989

Rich Stallings - 1989-1990

Carl Dewitt - 1990-1991

Joe DeMato - 1991-1992

David Shields - 1992-1993

Meg Hibbert - 1993-1994

Paul Rogosienski - 1994-1995

Bruce Royer - 1995-1996

Dan Grabeel - 1996-1997

Ford Mays - 1997-1998

Paul Feinman - 1998-1999

Jim Hunter - 1999-2000

Tom Jennings - 2000-2001

Jim Hines - 2001-2002

John Cook - 2002-2003

Billy Flint - 2003-2004

Ron Jefferson - 2004-2005

Kathy Graves - 2005-2006

Karl Biesemier - 2006-2007

Bill Bodine - 2007-2008

John Stone - 2008-2009

Robert Brooks - 2009-2010

Mark Varah - 2010-2011

Mike Lewis - 2011-2012

Randy Blake - 2012-2013

James LaPrade - 2013-2014

Chad Mooney - 2014-2015

Tracey Dixon - 2015-2016

Paul Rothfuss - 2016-2017

Aaron Van Allen - 2017-2018

LaShonda Delivuk - 2018-2019

Jessica Clarkson - 2019-2020

Jessica Arrington - 2020-2021

Bethany Harrison - 2021 -2022

Megan Lucas - 2022 -2023

Abe Loper (Immediate Past President) - 2023 -2024

Kimberly Soerensen (Current President) - 2025-2026

Burt Duren (President Elect) - 2026-2027