The Tucker County Rotary Club now has a satellite group meeting at the Tucker Community Foundation conference room on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month at noon. Rotary District Governor for District 7530, covering northern West Virginia, Dave Raese welcomes new members during the first meeting Thursday. New members include, back, from left, Jonathan Hicks, Jason Myers, Patrick Darlington, Robert Burns, front, Raese, April Miller and Dr. Cynthia Kolsun.
PARSONS – Area residents who hesitated to join the Tucker County Rotary Club because they live or work in the Parsons area have a new convenient option. Tucker County Rotary Club President Keith Bishop said the club has started a satellite club that will be meeting in Parsons at the Tucker Community Foundation conference room at noon on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
The Tucker Community Foundation is located on the second floor of the Tucker County Board of Education. Bishop said the chairperson for the satellite Rotary Club is David Cooper, and on Thursday, the group had their first meeting where six new members signed on.
“Tucker County Rotary has been active for a long time. In order for us to assure we cover the entire county, David came to Parsons to generate interest in those living in the Parsons area so we can have a better reach and make sure we are serving everybody in the community,” Bishop said.
Cooper said not only will this be more convenient for those who live in Parsons, but will serve as an alternative meeting for folks who may work in Parsons or who may be conducting business in Parsons.
“Members will have a choice and can go to meetings on the mountain or in Parsons. The Tucker County Rotary meets at the Sawmill Restaurant in Davis on the first and third Wednesdays at noon. The satellite group will meet the second and fourth Thursdays at noon at the Tucker Community Foundation conference room in Parsons,” Cooper said.
New members joining the satellite Rotary Club include Jonathan Hicks, Jason Myers, Patrick Darlington, Rob Burns, April Miller and Dr. Cynthia Kolsun.
David Raese, Rotary District Governor for District 7530, told members he joined Rotary because he was asked.
“I joined Rotary and when I came back from the meeting I told my secretary I had fun,” Raese said. “She started laughing and told me I was getting old.”
Raese said there are all kinds of jokes about Rotary – going to lunch all the time and stuff like that.
“A year later I realized Rotary is so much more,” Raese said. “I joined Rotary and kind of sat there. I went back when I had to introduce someone who was speaking. I said I was going to start volunteering to do things with Rotary and when I started volunteering I found out Rotary was fun.”
Raese said the meetings are great but said when volunteering and working side-by-side with others, he enjoys getting to know the people.
“It gave me a good feeling because on weekends, I was helping others,” Raese said. “The satisfaction you get from helping other people is scientifically proven to build up endorphins and makes your brain work. I enjoy helping others and I continued.”
Raese said he is working to grow membership.
“Rotary does good for others and grows fellowship,” Raese said. “It is also a way for business to network. Rotary is not only the community, the state and this country, but it is worldwide.”
Anyone interested in joining the Tucker County Rotary Club or the satellite club in Parsons should contact Bishop, Cooper or any Rotary member.
