Stories

Lakeland’s Rotary Clubs are working together with the City of Lakeland Parks & Recreation to create an exciting new experiential playground at Lake Parker around the historic expedition of Hernando de Soto. The Rotary Playground in Hernando’s Landing on the shores of Lake Parker will be designed around the history of Florida and the joy of discovery. From a replica of a 16th century ship to a tree house to a zip line, the new park promises an experience unlike any other in our community.

HONOR FLIGHT RETURNS TO LAKELAND LINDER
REGIONAL AIRPORT ON SEPT 30

Plan to attend the return of Honor Flight #19 and join the Welcome Home Festivities for our area WWII Veterans and their Guardians. The flight is due to arrive back in Lakeland around 8:00 PM.

Make plans to be part of the crowd welcoming home these heroes.

Welcome President 

Michelle Ledford

Quote From President Michelle:

“The members of The Lakeland Rotary Club have done tremendous work over the last 96 years to build a vibrant club focused on making a difference in our community.   I consider it an enormous honor to be asked to lead such a dynamic group of individuals.  I am very grateful for the opportunity and am looking forward to another exciting year for our Club.”

Kindergarten Learn To Swim Program

WE DID IT!

Because of YOU we were able to reach our goal of $70,000!

8 NEW Kindergarten classes get the Learn to Swim

(includes funds to sustain the new classes for several years)

Sara Elizabeth Breed told us of her work as a missionary and a teacher of young students in Palistine.

The Public Service Awards this year reminded us that there is can be a very real human cost to keeping us safe.

Doug Ackerman from the Florida Department

of Citrus give us an assessment of the

greening disease that is current attacking

our citrus industry.  Most of us were

stunned by the seriousness of the problem.

Hoyt Mason, Bob Eckenroth, and Jarvis Kendrick gave

their Member Profiles, always a great program.

Our High School Speech Contestants

Alice Hunt introduced Publix Aprons Cooking School Chef, Scott Hill, who is from, of all places, Alabama.  He told us that his father wanted him to have a real job so he became a chef.  He brought along Terry Gracie, an Aprons sous chef, and Melissa, the Aprons Event Planner.  For more, just click more...

Scott Franklin, our adventurer and extreme athlete, told us he wants to climb most of the Seven Summits a/k/a the tallest mountains on seven continents!  And we learned about Mt. Elbrus (18,510 feet high) and it's Russian neighborhood.

Mike Evans, Dick Mason, Bill Vollmar, and Dick Wills all gave their New Member Profiles.  Find out more information about each.

Pat Steed discussed a vision of what our region's growth might mean to all of us.  It's a good thing that someone is considering the future when making the decisions of today. 

 Veterans Day – Lt. Col. Darin Blatt, Speaker

Lt. Col. Blatt told us that Soldiers are Soldiers for life.  They carry that training and character into their private lives and occupations. And today a much smaller part of our citizens are Veterans.  He said that by 2014 our latest Wars will have created 517,000 veterans. To put that in perspective, 57 million returned from WWII resulting in the creation of the GI Bill that helped them re-enter society.

Claire, one of our fellow club members, told us of the museum's important and continuing outreach programs, and about some of the great exhibits currently in the museum and those expected soon.

Save the date!!

Saturday April 5, 2014

WHO:            The Lakeland Rotary Club –

            providing service above self to the city of Lakeland for more than 95 years!

WHAT:          Check Presentation to the City of Lakeland

WHERE:        Lakeland City Hall – Commission Chamber

                        228 S. Massachusetts Avenue

WHEN:          Monday, May 6, 2013 at 9:00 a.m.

WHY:             The Lakeland Rotary Club raised $122,500 to purchase

                       100 Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). 

Enough to equip every Lakeland Police Department patrol car!

Did you know when in cardiac arrest, if the heart is defibrillated within the first minute of collapse, the victim's chances for survival are close to 90 percent?  

RLI is a multi-district, grassroots leadership development program of member districts organized into regional divisions in various parts of the world.