The Rotary Club of Abilene continues to thrive and be a recognized force in the community due to the commitment and dedication of seasoned members and the new ideas and hard work of our younger members.  It was because of these members, the club was able to overcome and continue its forward progress when faced with a couple of unforeseen circumstances this Rotary year.  And, the Taste of Abilene remains the club’s major fundraiser which provides grants to Abilene non-profits.  
 
Club President Mary Beth Kilgore welcomes new member Jim McNiece
                Plans for this year’s Taste of Abilene, chaired by former president, Kayla Christianson, are well under way with 42 restaurants, caterers and drink venders already signed up and many more awaiting finalizations. The event will again be held in the Abilene Civic Center and because the event has grown each year, the club has reserved the entire center for the fundraiser. There will be 100 tables set up for the guests with local non-profits furnishing the centerpieces. Each year the event nets around $40,000. Our club along with the Abilene Restaurant Association hosts the TOA and the proceeds divided between the two organizations. Our club just recently presented 23 non-profits with $20,000 worth of grants from the 2014 event. Former club president, Jennifer Kent, chair of the grant’s committee, had received 34 letters from non-profits requesting more than $68,000. Of that, she and her committee had to decide who the most was worthy. The ARA uses their money for scholarships.
                Camp RYLA remains a high priority with the membership. We strive each year to send at least two students to this life changing leadership camp. Last year was no exception. 
                Members of the club volunteer at Jane Long Elementary helping with the Rotary Reads program. Also, instead of presenting our guest speakers with a gift each Friday, the guests are asked to sign a book which is then donated to the school. 
Jennifer Kent, back left, rings the Salvation Army bells with her daughters prior to Christmas.

                Other activities members were involved in this past year include Christmas Bell Ringers, FundSpell, Halloween Carnival and the flag program.  Working in one to two hour shifts, members volunteer to be Salvation Army Christmas Bell Ringers at a couple of locations prior to Christmas. Three members volunteered to team up to participate in the Taylor County Adult Literacy Council’s annual FundSpell. Several members worked our club’s booth at the Abilene State Supported Living Center and former club President Turner Cariker headed up the flag project. Cariker and his team placed flags at numerous locations on six holidays throughout the year. Cariker also chaired the club’s annual Chuck Moser Day. This media event honors a boy and girl coach and awards a scholarship to an outstanding high school athletic. Moser was a winning coach whose Abilene High teams won three straight state championships.
                Another example of our involvement with the community…A teacher at the local St. John’s Episcopal elementary school asked if she could bring a few students at a time from her leadership class to observe our meetings. Not only do they observe, but they participate by saying the prayer, and leading the singing of the National Anthem and the pledge of allegiance.
                We were surprised late last summer when we were asked on short notice to move out of our long time office space as the building had changed owners. Hearing of the situation, several of our members offered spaces to house our office and fortunately one of those was right next door. On a hot Saturday morning, several dedicated members packed up and moved the entire office contents in just over three hours. In addition to the members, the daughter of one of them, a seven year old, helped the entire time.
                The second surprise came when the country club where we had been meeting for years changed general managers and we needed to find another meeting place. Again, several members went into action and found a new location and moved the materials that had been stored at the country club. We are so fortunate to have members that when told of a situation jump in and help resolve the issue.
                 Since the move of our meetings to the downtown location, attendance has continued to improve. Membership stands at 81. We have three new members in the pipeline with more yet to come.  
 
Peter Agnell, right, receives the Rotary Builder Award from DG Larry Petrash and Betty Hukill, chair of club's Valentine's program, crowns our 2015 Valentine Sweetheart Ruth Tate, club pianist.