The Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise was chartered November 6, 2007.
The charter members, many still active & engaged in Rotary were:
Doc BurgessDeb CottleJohn DrewClaudette DrummondPatti Duncan |
Alex EversChristal FishStan FishburnBrian FlickRon Flick |
Nick GilletteAnn HaysJack HeardMyers KurtzDanny Leeper |
Jim MayoAshley McIntyreSuzanne McLeodJason MuddMike Mullin |
John MyersLarry OgilvieJake PoseyShandra RiffeyPat RogenskArt Shuster |
Rachel SuttonChip TownsendMelvin UseryDonna Lynne VanPuymbrouckRob Weeks |
Our Club...
was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Fernandina Beach. As part of Rotary International, we support causes around the world to bring better quality of life and lasting joy to many people. One of the most important efforts we support is the worldwide eradication of polio.
We celebrated our 10th anniversary in 2017
In 2013 our club celebrated it's 5th year.
Rotary International has helped reduce polio in the world by 97% and we are proud to have been a part of that effort with our annual financial contributions, promotional and educational efforts and in addition, we are proud to mention that past president Katey Breen was a part of a Rotary trip to India a few years ago and personally administered the polio vaccine to countless children.
Annual and Ongoing Events
Since its founding this Rotary Club has provided members the opportunity to grow personally and professionally with meaningful community activities and lively fellowship. It is a successful blending of hands-on work, strategic plans, large and small projects, and hybrid meetings filled with laughter and good cheer.
The club responds to community needs with work parties and raises funds for worthy local non-profits and international projects:
2021/2022 was an amazing year lead by iPast President Brian Flick. Here are some highlights of that year:
Barnabas Empty Bowls where the club provides funding and volunteers for the event.
The second annual Lobster Fest-To-Go. The recipient of this inaugural event was the FOAR from Home who are working to bring awareness and prevent veterans suicide.
We supported Gratitude and Grace- Sober Living, Boys and Girls Club Guardian Program, Micah's Place, Raise Against Hunger, Friends of Fernandina Aviation Scholarships ... just to mention a few.
This Club actively participated at the Barnabas Meal Pack Program, Barnabas/Post Office Food Drives, Barnabas/Feeding NE FL Food Distributions, Rotary District 6970 Food Drive, Gracie's Kitchen Meal Prep and Serve, Keep Nassau Beautiful Road Clean-ups, Beach Walkers Trash Pick-ups, MLK Day Parade and Shrimp Festival Parade, Micah's Place Garden Renovation, Rotary Oratory Competition Judging, Shrimp and Falling for Shrimp Festival T-shirt Sales, EarlyAct at Emma Love Hardee School, Humane Society Dog Walking and Puttin' for Polio Plus Par-Tee.
In the past this club helped staffing two four-hour shifts Wednesday – Friday at the Emergency Operation Call Center calling individuals of the community informing them about the status of their Covid vaccinations and help making appointments for the individuals eligible to be vaccinated.
The Club also supported a water filtration system for families in Nicaragua and the Cannaan Orphanage in Haiti. This project was a shared project with four other rotary clubs.
Our Past Signature Annual Event
The annual Wine & Food Tasting Event took place from 2013 - 2019 and it was the major fund raising activity for this club. Unfortunately due to Covid-19 this event got cancelled and was replaced with the annual Lobster-Fest-To-Go Event.
The Wine & Food Tasting Event was originally held at the Amelia Island Museum of History and has benefited a series of great organizations. In total, the club raised and donated over $200,000, receiving grants from the Rotary District to supplement the clubs' contributions.
Here is a brief look at the successes in our community:
Year | Recipient(s) | Use of Proceeds |
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2019
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Towards repaying the loan of their 14' box truck used to pick-up and deliver donated food items for the food pantry and for mobile food distribution in Nassau County, FL. |
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Funds to be applied towards the purchase of a building lot to provide safe, affordable housing for low income residents. |
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Funds for paid internships and scholarship opportunities for participating youth in Nassau County. | |
FOFA - Friends of Fernandina Aviation
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Funding several flight training scholarships for high school students to attend the National Flight Academy. |
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2018
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Boys & Girls Clubs of Nassau County
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Raised money toward a bus to transport students to the clubs after school. |
FOFA - Friends of Fernandina Aviation |
Raised money for student scholarship to attend the National Flight Academy |
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Raising money to complete the tech room to assist seniors without access to internet or computes |
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2017
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Enhancing Eagan's Creek
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Fernandina Beach
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CPR training equipment
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FOFA - Friends of Fernandina Aviation
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Sent two middle school students to the Pensacola Aviation Simulation Camp for a week.
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2016 | Friends of the Fernandina Library |
Build out of Tech room |
2015 | Arts Alive! | Annual Operating Expense |
2014 | Wolfson's Children Hospital | Purchase of two defibrillators |
2013 | Wolfson's Children Hospital | Purchased a child hospital bed |
Beneficiaries of the Wine & Food Tasting are organizations were selected because of their involvement in our community, their alignment with the Rotary areas of focus, and their willingness to participate and support this event.
District 6970
The Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise is part of District 6970 – referred to as "Florida's Crown District" where Rotary has served for more than 100 years.
The founding of the Jacksonville Rotary Club in 1912 signaled the beginning of District 6970. The District now comprises 67 clubs, 4 satellite clubs, 17 Rotaract clubs and 44 Interact clubs strong, serving 31 Northeast Florida communities in 12 counties with over 3,200 men and women. District 6970 takes pride in the Rotarians from the District who provide a tradition of leadership to the Rotary world. Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.