The Rotarian of the Year 2018-19 was announced at the Awards and Installation Banquet in June. Sandra (Sandi) W Froese, was awarded the honor by President Jeff Caserotti. As Director of International Service for 2018-19, Sandi launched an ambitious plan to put a focus on service projects that match the six humanitarian areas identified by Rotary International of need throughout the world. You can read more about Sandi’s plan in the story “Putting International Into Rotary” on this website.Sandi began her association with Rotary in the year that women were first included into membership. The Grayson County Rotary Club of Sherman initiated Sandi into full membership in June of 1987 and was recognized as not only the first woman in that club, but also in District 5810 of North Texas. She is a pioneer for women into Rotary leadership having served as various club Directorships, Club President and District Chair for Youth Services, Interact. Sandi is a Paul Harris Fellow plus 3 and a Rotary Benefactor.
Always helping where needed, Sandi is currently a primary database manager for the Sunrise Flag-Lease Program. She gets daily communication on new clients and requests for service that is maintained in a coordinated database. In 2014, Sandi and her husband, Lyle, set out to develop a satellite Rotary club for Sunrise; Sunset. The hope was to find new folks in the community that were not currently Rotarians, but had hearts for service. She continues today to advise that effort and as of this new Rotary year, is now a full member of Sunset Satellite Rotary Club along with Lyle.
She received her Batchelor of Arts and Master of Arts at Kansas State Teachers College, now flagged as Emporia State University. Her first professional job was in Shawnee Mission Kansas as classroom teacher. After her move to Texas and after completing her education plan, Sandi received her Doctoral degree in Education Administration from East Texas State University, now flagged as Texas A&M Commerce. Her work in education administration was in Sherman ISD.
Sandi is a licensed professional counselor and continues to practice on a limited basis in McKinney, Texas. Her LPS-S certification allows her to serve as a supervisor for new clients who are working toward licensed counseling work. Sandi has developed training materials for the development of new licensed counselors and has conducted workshops in Texas.
Sandi is married to K. Lyle Froese and they have a daughter, Janet Nelson, who is an education counselor in Coppell ISD and a son, Steven, who is a musician in Branson, Missouri. Both of their children are Paul Harris Fellows in The Rotary Foundation.