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:
Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Will it build GOOD WILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS?
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 - 2023 -2024
Kimberly Soerensen - 2025-2026
Burt Duren - 2026-2027