Rotary Club of Livingston Sunrise

Livingston Sunrise Rotary was chartered on July 1, 2004 as a Centennial Rotary Club in Rotary's 100th year. It is unique to Livingston County as it meets in the morning for breakfast rather than the traditional lunch meetings. In addition, the scope of community service is county wide.

The Club chartered with 23 members, and has grown steadily to just under 70 members as of May, 2019. Livingston Sunrise Rotary Club has earned the Presidential Rotary Club Citation every year since 2005, a perfect record of excellence as defined by the Rotary International.

We are involved in a variety of community, vocational and international projects which allows us to fulfill the service "passion" of most any Rotary minded individual. Our major fundraisers also serve as a major community events in Brighton and Livingston County. If you had to define a "Club Passion" it would be Youth as we are involved in a number of projects and collaborations surrounding youth service.

Midnight in the Tropics (MITT) is a February Event that allows everyone to take a break from winter and enjoy an evening in a tropical setting with dinner, dancing, silent auction and a lively live auction that features testimonials from recipients of the event. Each year the club chooses three organizations to partner with that improve life in the community.

The annual Independence Day celebration in Brighton is coordinated by the Club.

The Hungry Duck Run kicks off the day at 7 AM and offer runners of all ages the opportunity to compete and raise both money and awareness concerning hunger in our community. This event is co sponsored by the club and Gleaners Community Food Bank. All proceeds from the Run are used in Hunger Projects throughout the County.

The kids up through 10 years old enjoy the fast paced "Duckling Dash" that takes place on Main Street at 9:30 AM Just prior to the Parade.

In conjunction with the Brighton Area Fire Authority, the Independence Day Parade steps off at 10 AM from "Old Scranton" High School and proceeds through town to the new High School. More than 75  Business, Individuals, Non Profits and Public Services participate in a parade that kids of all ages enjoy.

The Great Duck Race (really a raffle) takes place immediately after the Independence Day Parade on the Millpond in downtown Brighton. Somewhere between 3-5,000 rubber ducks are dropped in the Brighton Millpond to determine the winners of three cash prizes. Funds raised from this event underwrite the various community and international projects that the club undertakes.

Our Past Presidents include:

Jim Gilmore (2004-05)

Linda Barnwell (2005-06)

Don Pobuda (2006-07)

Brenda Ochidnicky (2007-08)

Stephen LaCommare (2008-09)

Jim Lawrence (2009-10)

Linda Basista (2010-11)

Wayne Perry (2011-12) 

Kate Lawrence (2012-13)

Wayne Perry (2013-14)

Luanne Bibbee (2014-15)

Aleia MacDonald (2015-16)

Jim Watters (2016-17)

Brenda Tipton (2017-2018)

Tim Williams (2018-2019)

James Gilmore (2019-2020)

Pattie Courtney (2020-2021)

Our Club has provided 6 Assistant Governors for RI District 6380 and one District Governor (Jim Gilmore 2013-2014). In addition our members serve as chairs and members of several District Committees. Brenda Tipton (PP 2017-2018) has been selected to serve as District Governor in 2021-2022).

Our Club and its members have contributed over $100,000 to The Rotary Foundation to help people and communities all over the world through TRF Grants. In addition, we have contributed thousands of dollars to the Rotary efforts to eradicate Polio from the planet.

Our Club Foundation, a Public Charity and 501c3, has contributed over $400,000 in grants and project funding for local projects in the past 5 years alone. In addition, 95% of our members participate as volunteers in local community projects.

If you want to be a part of changing the world and our community for the better (and have fun doing it), contact us and we'll invite you to our weekly breakfast on Friday mornings. You'll never experience a faster paced way to have breakfast with your fellow community leaders and start your weekend.