Retro theme highlights Rotary Installation

IS ELVIS IN THE HOUSE? New Rotary president Robert Woodall


HIGHLANDS – The Rotary Club couldn’t contain themselves to a normal, quiet installation of new officers and board last week. It was a “Back to the 50s and 60s” retro affair, complete with clothes, hair styles and accessories to match. And there was even an “Elvis” to help with the entertainment.

Club members gathered at the Community Center for the dinner. In the Highlands Rotary club, each new president gets to set the agenda and theme for his or her year ahead, and it was fitting that the new president, Robert Woodall, would think of this retro evening, because one of his interests is restoring old cars of that era. He is a member of the Baytown Fine Rides auto club, and has his own restored red convertible, seen around town.

In addition to club members, (and Elvis), the new president of the District 5890, Ed Charlesworth, was on hand to wish the club well and to swear in the new officers and board.

Click here for more photos of the event!

#Woodall was named the Rotarian of the Year by the club, in recognition of his very successful fundraising effort at this year’s Chili Feast, where over $50,000 was raised for the club’s community and international projects, including 12 scholarships totalling $20,000. Traditionally, the president elect each year is in charge of the Chili Feast.

Woodall presented each of his officers and board with pins, in recognition of their position and service in the coming year.

The outgoing president, Patricia Scott, reviewed the accomplishments of a very successful year. Events and projects in her year included donating over 200 dictionaries to teachers at the local schools; scholarships; food baskets at the holidays to needy families; a book drive to send books to villages and schools in Africa; clothing for children in Nicaragua; bicycles to students at the elementary school in recognition of perfect attendance; and probably the largest and most important, helping organize and staff the Hurricane Relief Center at the Community Center after Hurricane Ike hit the area.

For all these efforts, the Greater Highlands-Lynchburg Chamber of Commerce recognized the Rotary Club this year as the Outstanding Organization in the community.

The District also recognized the club for highest per capita giving to the Rotary Foundation. In fact, two years in a row the club was second in the world in this category.

One project the club is still working on is a suitable memorial for Mark Mulloy, a former member of the Highlands club, and now a member of the Northshore Rotary. He recently donated $50,000 to the Highlands club, in memory of the start he got in Rotary at our club, and a suitable scholarship in his name has been established. It is the intention of the club to use the proceeds of the money for a more permanent memorial in the future, Scott said.

Note: All photos this page contributed, courtesy of the Highlands Rotary Club and Denise Smith.