Rotary Club of Knoxville

🚨 IMPORTANT UPDATE for Saturday’s Bed Build! 🚨

Mother Nature has a rainy forecast in store for us this weekend, so we are shifting gears to stay dry.

We are STILL building beds this Saturday, May 30th, but we have a NEW LOCATION and a NEW START TIME.

📍 NEW LOCATION: The Mission of Hope
6030 Industrial Heights Dr. NW, Knoxville, TN 37909
⏰ NEW TIME: 9:30 AM *(One hour later than originally planned)*
📅 WHEN: This Saturday, May 30th

🛠️ Because we are moving indoors, space might look a little different, but the mission remains exactly the same: making sure no kid sleeps on the floor!

Thank you all for your flexibility and dedication. See you Saturday morning at **9:30 AM** at the Mission of Hope!

🌟Today we honor the brave souls who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Let’s cherish their legacy with family cookouts, parades, and heartfelt moments. 🎉🔥 Enjoy the sunshine, share stories of heroism, and make new memories! Together, we celebrate courage & unity! ❤️

🏆 The Rotary Club of Knoxville received many accolades the 112th Rotary District 6780 Conference last weekend!

From thought-provoking panels to hands-on service, our delegation—led by President Shannon M. Holland, Past-DG Frank Rothermel, ADG William T. MacGrath, and our stellar multi-day Emcee Ed Anderson—showed the district exactly how Knoxville leads the way.

We are incredibly proud to bring home a resounding sweep of major accolades, proving that our club's intellect, philanthropy, and ex*****on remain unmatched:

* 🥇 **First Place:** Community Service (East Tennessee Freedom Schools Literacy Partnership)
* 🥇 **First Place:** Most Outstanding Electronic Club Bulletin
* 🥈 **Second Place:** Most Outstanding Fundraising Project (*Destination Impact*)
* 🥉 **Third Place:** Most Outstanding International Project (*Orbit Village*)
* 🌟 **The Governor’s Citation** (For flawless ex*****on of all club requirements)
* 🌍 **The Globe Club Award** & **The YES Award** * ⭐ **The Star Club Award** (Per capita foundation contributions exceeding $100)

💬 *"We still have a critical opportunity to solidify our legacy by reaching our strategic targets in membership recruitment and PolioPlus giving. I have no doubt a club of our caliber will exceed these benchmarks."* — **President Shannon M. Holland**

Let’s carry this incredible momentum through the rest of the Rotary year. Exceptional work, Knoxville Rotarians! 🥂

🗓️ Join Us This Tuesday!

The Rotary Club of Knoxville is honored to welcome Cynthia Finch, Executive Director of New Direction Health Care Solutions, as our guest speaker this week.

Cynthia is a "USA Today Woman of the Year" honoree, recognized for her transformative work in public health. Through New Direction, she has been a driving force in East Tennessee—mobilizing vaccine clinics, bridging health equity gaps, and launching the "Health Corners" initiative in local churches. 🏥💜

Come hear about her mission to provide essential healthcare support and education to our community!

*When: Tuesday, May 12 at noon
*Where: Knoxville Crowne Plaza Hotel

We look forward to seeing you there for an afternoon of inspiration and fellowship!

# # 🌟 Making Waves at Webb School!

We are so proud of the Webb School of Knoxville Upper School Interact Club for their incredible energy and service as they wrap up the semester! These students have been busy making a real impact on their campus and beyond.

Check out what they’ve been up to:

*Finals Encouragement: Students created motivational yard signs to spread positivity and stress-relief across campus during AP exams and finals week. 📝✨
*Club Fest Success: At this year's festival, Interactors fired up the grill and offered henna art, raising over $700! 🍔🎨
*End Polio Now: In true Rotary fashion, the club raised awareness for the fight against Polio by painting pinkies purple during lunch! 💜

A huge shoutout to these young leaders for their dedication to "Service Above Self." You make the Rotary Club of Knoxville proud!

Police Week 2026

**Serve. Connect. Lead.** 🌍✨

Are you a Knoxville professional looking for a way to give back while expanding your network? The Rotary Club of Knoxville is looking for service-minded individuals like YOU to help us make a lasting impact in our community and beyond.

Since 1915, our club has brought together leaders from all walks of life—business, education, government, and the arts. We are a non-political orgnanization committed to the motto "Service Above Self!"

Why Join Rotary?
*Impactful Service: Lead and participate in projects that tackle local needs and global challenges like health, literacy, and peacebuilding.
*Professional Growth: Enhance your leadership skills and connect with a diverse group of established local professionals.
*Lifelong Friendships: Build genuine bonds with a community of problem-solvers who share your values.
*Global Reach: Gain access to a network of 1.4 million members in over 200 countries.

How to Get Started
Membership in Rotary is by invitation, but the first step is simple: Get to know us!
1. Visit a Meeting: Join us for one of our weekly Tuesday lunch meetings at the Crowne Plaza Knoxville to experience our fellowship and hear from world-class speakers.
2. Connect: Chat with a current member or reach out through our website to express your interest.
3. Engage: Participate in a service project or social event to see if we’re the right fit for your goals.

Ready to make a difference in Marble City?

👉 Learn more and contact us today: knoxvillerotary.org/membership/become-a-member/

The Rotary Club of Knoxville is honored to announce that Ambassador A.B. Culvahouse will be our featured lunch speaker on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.

A native of Ten Mile, Tennessee, and a proud University of Tennessee alumnus, A.B. Culvahouse has spent over five decades at the highest levels of American government and international law.

A Career of Exceptional Service:

* U.S. Ambassador to Australia: Served as the nation’s top diplomat to Australia from 2019–2021.
⚖️ White House Counsel: Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, where he guided the administration through the Iran-Contra investigations and advised on Supreme Court nominations.
🛡️ National Security Expert: Awarded the Presidential Citizens’ Medal and the Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service for his work on intelligence and nuclear command systems.
🐘 Political Advisor: Trusted by multiple presidential candidates to lead the vetting process for Vice Presidential nominees.

Beyond his time in Washington and abroad, Ambassador Culvahouse has remained deeply connected to his roots. He is the inaugural chair of the Institute of American Civics at UT’s Baker School and was recently awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters for his lifelong commitment to public service.

This is a rare opportunity to hear from a statesman who has truly been "in the room where it happened," from the White House to the modern global stage.

📅 WHEN: Tuesday, May 12 @ 12:00 PM
📍 WHERE: Crowne Plaza Hotel, Knoxville

🗓️ Tuesday: Ambassador A.B. Culvahouse, Jr.

The Rotary Club of Knoxville is honored to welcome one of Tennessee’s most distinguished public servants, Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr., to our next meeting!

From the halls of the White House to the U.S. Embassy in Australia, A.B. has spent five decades at the center of American history. Whether serving as White House Counsel to President Reagan or navigating international diplomacy as a U.S. Ambassador, his insights on governance, national security, and global policy are second to none.

# # # 📍 Meeting Details:
When: Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 12:00 PM (Noon)
Where: Crowne Plaza Knoxville

🏛️ About Our Speaker:
A Ten Mile, TN native and proud UT Vol, A.B.’s career highlights include:
*White House Counsel** to President Ronald Reagan (awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal).
*U.S. Ambassador to Australia** (2019–2021).
*Chair Emeritus** of O’Melveny & Myers LLP.
*Current Chair** of the Board of Fellows at the Institute of American Civics, University of Tennessee.

Join us for an afternoon of world-class expertise on corporate governance, geopolitical strategy, and a lifetime of service to our country.

📚✨ Join Us in Celebrating Excellence in Education! ✨📚

The Rotary Club of Knoxville is proud to honor two outstanding educators as our 2026 Teacher of the Year recipients:

🍎 Brandon O’Neill – Social Studies Teacher at Fulton High School
🍎 Claire Bintz – Kindergarten Teacher at Rocky Hill Elementary School

These exceptional teachers exemplify dedication, passion, and a commitment to shaping the future of our community through education.

📅 Tuesday, May 5th
⏰ 12:00 PM
📍 Crowne Plaza Knoxville Downtown University

We invite our members and guests to join us in recognizing Brandon and Claire for their incredible impact on students and our community.