At a recent meeting, President Karen Hobson recognized Rotarians with over 40 years of service to the organization. She presented each member with a certificate hand-lettered by local calligrapher Carol Simmons.

Hobson announced that three Rotarians, who joined the club after a longstanding membership elsewhere, were Henry Brown, 33 years; Stephen Hubbard, 46 years; and Milton Iossi, 41 years. Together, they have 120 years of membership.

The Salisbury Rotary Club is 104 years old, and members have provided community service in many ways. One of the club’s first major projects in 1925 was to raise funds to construct Boyden High School, now Salisbury High School. Before the pandemic, the club raised $50,000, matched by F&M Bank, totaling $100,000 for Bell Tower Green.

Most recently, the club raised over $45,000 with the support of community members in recognition of Reid Leonard, who died in 2023, to construct the Arch of Freedom at the Patriots Flag Concourse at Salisbury City Park. Club members also participated in “Blockwork,” cleaning, painting and landscaping of homes in the West End.

As part of international service efforts, the club purchased educational materials for Graces’ School in Guatemala to support their efforts to teach English.

Eleven members who began their membership in the Salisbury Rotary Club have over 40 years of service. President Hobson presented everyone with a certificate. Six men have between 40 and 48 years of service: Pete Teague, 40; Ed Rusher, 46; Donny Clement, 47; Charles Taylor, 47; Jim Mitchell, 47; Bill Wagoner 47; and Randy Reamer, 48.

Two men, Tommy Carlton and Joel Goodwin, retired physicians, have 53 and 55 years of membership, respectively. As the final two members were announced, the club rose to give them a standing ovation.

President Hobson asked Edward Clement, with 60 years of service, and Fred Stanback, with 66 years of service, to come forward and receive their certificates. These 11 club members represent 556 years of membership.

In total, all members recognized have 676 years of Rotary membership. The Salisbury Rotary Club continues to grow in membership. Rotary began accepting women members in 1989. Today, the Salisbury Club has 122 members and is the second largest club in District 7680, which covers 14 counties and has 53 clubs. The club membership has changed dramatically over 104 years. Currently, 30 percent are women, 12 percent are under 39 years old, and 14 percent have an ethnicity or race other than white. Anyone interested in Rotary membership should contact Membership Co-Chair Leigh Ellington at leighellington18@gmail.com or Rocky Cabagnot at rockycabagnot@gmail.com.