The Rotary Club of Simcoe is marking a major milestone—its 100th anniversary. We sat down with Tom O’Neill, President of the Rotary Club of Simcoe, David Ferris the President Elect and Dave King, chairman of the 100th anniversary to learn more about this huge milestone.
Since its founding in 1925, the club has been a pillar of community service, supporting local and international initiatives. Rotary is a service organization dedicated to five key areas: club service, community service, international service, youth service, and vocational service. O’Neill, told us about Rotary’s global efforts.
Our local club has just over 30 members and the organization boasts more than 1.3 million Rotarians in more than 120 countries worldwide, making it one of the most widespread service clubs. Rotary has always made a big impact locally, O’Neill and Ferris explain the club’s first local project.
Over the decades, they have continued supporting healthcare and education. The Rotary Club of Simcoe sponsors a scholarship to each of the five high schools in the area. O’Neill highlighted two special scholarships.
They have also continued supporting youth programs including an international youth exchange program that provides students with life-changing experiences abroad.
We asked what would the community miss out on if there was no Rotary Club here? Ferris pointed out they do a great deal of sponsorships for various community events.
To celebrate its centennial, the Rotary Club is hosting several special events, including a pickleball tournament on March 1st, an anniversary dinner on April 8th, and a scholarship retrospective in June. King added they will conclude the celebration with a special event at Burning Kiln Winery on September 20th.
Additionally, the club will offer FREE pancakes at Pancakes in the Park as a token of appreciation for community support.
As they celebrate a century of service, the Rotary Club of Simcoe looks forward to continuing its mission of giving back and fostering strong community connections for years to come.
Those interested in joining or supporting the Rotary Club can find more information on their website.
Written by Jeremy Hall