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Ponca City Rotary may have far fewer members now than in its height of membership, but you would never know that by their passion and impact. Rotary itself began in Chicago in 1905 with only four people and the idea of serving others. By 1922 the organization had grown worldwide, and the name was changed to Rotary International. Ponca City Rotary was chartered April 1, 1922, and has been going strong for over a hundred years. Although its height of membership was a hundred members and now there are closer to 30-some, those in District 5750 make up for the difference with a great passion and intensity for the idea of service to others.
Ponca City Rotary meets on Mondays at noon at Pioneer Technology Center; however, the partnership with PTC goes further than just a meeting space. On Sept. 9, they unveiled “Edison,” the newest Ponca City fox. The artist is Melinda Littlecook, and some of the students at PTC also contributed design ideas for the fox. Edison includes the gear logo of Rotary and the colors blue and gold, which are the colors of both Rotary and PTC. Edison is a magnificent representation of this partnership, and it is an example of the way that Rotary and Rotarians pull together with partnerships in this community.
When visiting with T.L. Walker, immediate past president, she notes that 15-17 of the current members are part of the Quarter Century Club, being members for 25 years or more. She notes this allows the organization to maintain their history and experience as well as the club’s culture. Walker adds, “Newer members bring fresh ideas, new excitement and new energy. They are individuals usually already on a leadership track.”
Walker has a long history with the organization. She played the piano for the Rotary for 10 years when they met at the Marland Mansion before they asked her to officially join the club. Even though she’s been a member for 25 years, Walker remembers what she was told by an older Rotarian when she first joined: “Rotary is not a club you join, it is a lifestyle you choose.” She has always kept that in mind as she and others strive toward the “Service Above Self” motto of the organization. Walker received the “Service Above Self” award in 2022-23 and twice received the Rotarian of the Year award. She speaks with great pride about the projects of the organization.
This past June, Walker passed the gavel to a newer Rotarian Darrell Mendiola, who joined about three years ago because he wanted to be part of an organization that helps the community. As his reason for joining, Mendiola says, “I guess the most important is the fellowship of likeminded people. One common thing I have seen with Rotarians across the board is a desire to help others and truly put ‘Service Above Self.’”
A few of these projects mentioned by more than one Rotarian as significant to their service are the ongoing dictionary project which donates a dictionary with their name in it to every 3rd grader in both public and private schools in the area. Rotarians provide some mentoring and reading projects in schools as well. The Senator David Meyers Memorial Library at Marland Children’s Home (now Marland’s Place), which involved research for selecting the appropriate books for the library, is another project which Walker remembers with fondness. The organization also refurbished the dorms. Another major project was the Golden Villa project, which was started before COVID-19 and took several years to complete, but when finished it furnished clients of the center with an outside space which they had desired for quite some time. As you can tell, they look out into the community to see needs and build partnerships.
Some of these projects were completed with grants which can be obtained through Rotary District 5750 grants, such as Golden Villa, a computer lab at Pioneer Tech, a computer lab at the Aviation Academy and a special needs playground at Union Elementary School. You’ll find Rotarians like Michael Trewitt active locally and at the district level.
Trewitt has been in the local Rotary organization for 32 years, being named Rotarian of the Year once and serving his time as president for a term as well. However, his service doesn’t end in Ponca City. He is the District Governor Nominee and will serve as District Governor for the year 2026-27. Trewitt says this nomination is his most special memory yet: “I was both honored and humbled that the district believed that I would be a good leader for our district and its 34 Rotary and Rotaract clubs and nearly 1800 members.” Rotarians like Trewitt relish the chance to lead.
Another member who has taken on a role that takes him outside of Ponca City is Kelly Johnson, who was honored to be invited to join the organization after his father, who was a lifelong Rotarian, passed. Johnson serves as the treasurer for the Wings of Rotary (WOR) program for District 5750, which is a short-term youth exchange program between the district here in Oklahoma and District 2520 in NE Japan that started in 1977 when two individuals from the districts met at an international conference. Johnson explains that their desire to bridge a relationship of international understanding has now lasted over 45 years and hundreds of youth and Rotarian leaders “have spent two weeks in each other’s Rotary District learning about their culture, language, customs and history. It is a homestay program which is truly the best part of the exchange. To live the life of your Rotarian host families is life changing in so many ways.” Johnson knows the difference it can make because he and his wife Cheryl have hosted students through the years, and Kelly served as a co-team leader on one of the trips to Japan. He has experienced the program firsthand from both sides. It is his passion project.
Passion projects within Rotary help heal worldwide as well. When asked about the most important aspect of the organization, many point to the global aspect and how by pulling together they can have an effect that could not be had otherwise. Walker says, “What other way could I have this opportunity to have this effect on the world?” From here, she went on to explain how Rotary International partners with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio worldwide. And, yes, I do mean eradicate.
Since October is Rotary End Polio Month, with World Polio Day being Oct. 24, it’s fitting for us to understand just exactly how far they’ve come with this cause and cure. Walker explains, “Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 35 years and has helped to reduce cases by more than 99.9%.” This seems incredible. As of October 2023, only two countries are endemic for wild poliovirus: Afghanistan and Pakistan, which have never stopped transmitting the virus. The problem is that this leaves other countries at risk of importing the virus.
This month Rotarians will take action to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio, and all donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling the impact. You can see why Walker views her work with Rotary as so crucial, and why Trewitt, besides the work he does, is also currently Chair of the District PolioPlus Society Subcommittee. There is much work to be done, but there is so much to be gained from the work they do.
We can all join in the cause if we choose to donate by mailing a check made out to Ponca City Rotary Foundation, with END POLIO in the memo line, to P.O. Box 1061, Ponca City OK 74602.
So, join in on one of their many causes or activities, including eradicating a worldwide disease, swing by and visit the newest fox in town “Edison,” and thank one of your local Rotarian friends for doing fine work around our city and world!
Suggested Sidebar/Info Box:
“Success is not measured by wealth, but by the positive impact you have on others. “~Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary International
On Sept. 9, they unveiled “Edison,” the newest Ponca City fox. The artist is Melinda Littlecook, and some of the students at PTC also contributed design ideas for the fox.
Walker remembers what she was told by an older Rotarian when she first joined: “Rotary is not a club you join, it is a lifestyle you choose.”
Walker explains, “Rotary has been working to eradicate polio for over 35 years and has helped to reduce cases by more than 99.9%.”
This month Rotarians will take action to raise awareness, funds and support to end polio, and all donations are matched 2:1 by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, tripling the impact.
We can all join in the cause if we choose to donate by mailing a check made out to Ponca City Rotary Foundation, with END POLIO in the memo line, to P.O. Box 1061, Ponca City OK 74602.
Photographs:
1 Rotary Symbol
2 Rotary Citation Award for 2023-24 (mentioned in article) Photo used with permission from Club
3 T.L. Walker leading last meeting for this term as President June 2024 – Photo used with permission from Club
4 Walker turning over gavel to incoming president Darrell Mendiola at June meeting – Photo used with permission from Club
5-8 Photos of Edison, the Rotary Fox. THESE PHOTOS CANNOT BE SHOWN UNTIL AFTER THE UNVEILING ON SEPTEMBER 9! Used with permission of artist and club, as long as not disclosed to others until after that time.
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