Bartow Rotary Club

06/03/2026

The Bartow Rotary Club was honored to recognize two outstanding individuals whose service and leadership have made a lasting impact on our community.

Gerald Tucker was presented with the Medal of Honor Award in recognition of his exceptional community service beyond his professional responsibilities. Gerald’s unwavering dedication to our community and his tireless efforts in the fight against cancer have touched countless lives and exemplify Rotary’s motto, Service Above Self.

Jason Hargrove was presented with the Medal of Merit Award in recognition of his exemplary community service through his profession. As Director of Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Arts for the City of Bartow, Jason has demonstrated a strong commitment to enhancing the quality of life for our residents through his leadership and service.

Please join us in congratulating Gerald and Jason on these well-deserved honors. Their service, leadership, and commitment to Bartow make our community stronger and inspire others to serve.

05/21/2026

Bartow Rotary Club gave out its High School Scholarships today to 5 students. Included was the Gibson-Helmick-Vetter Scholarship to Richa Patel who is the Bartow IB Valedictorian. Scholarship checks also went to Niayanna Thigpen, Cameron Kesler, Emily Byers and Isabelle Witmer.

Congratulations to these students! We wish them the very best in all of their future endeavors. May the next chapter be filled with success, happiness, and endless opportunities.

05/08/2026

Our speaker this week was Tara Davis from Main Street Bartow. Tara will be taking over the position of Executive Director as Linda Holcomb retires. Prior to Linda being the ED, Laura Simpson was in that position. Thank you for giving us an update on what’s going on in Bartow. Bartow Rotary is a proud sponsor of the Friday Fest - Bartow Idol.

05/08/2026

At the Rotary District Conference Bartow Rotary received awards for their Service Project of Dictionaries and an Epic Award for its Public Image. Thank you Steve Githens and Sherry Kirkland for your time and dedication. Clarice Roth received a Spirit of Rotary Award and also a Unite for Good Award. It’s always a great day to be a Rotarian! Join us on Wednesdays at noon at the Bartow Civic Center.

04/03/2026

President Steve Githens presented Barry Gray with a Paul Bunyan award for his time and dedication to clearing land in preparation for the bridge connecting Mary Holland Park to Mosaic Park.

04/01/2026

Bartow Rotary Club is the proud sponsor of Bartow Rotary Little League team. Rotarians went to the baseball game to show their support and cheer them on!

03/22/2026

Thank you for a successful Wild Game Dinner!

The Bartow Rotary Club would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and contributed to our Wild Game Dinner.

Because of your support, we were able to raise funds that will help our club continue making a positive impact in the Bartow community. Your generosity and spirit made the evening truly unforgettable.

03/20/2026

Today Bartow Rotary Club and Winter Haven Rotary held a joint meeting at the Polk County History Center. Guest speakers were Polk Commission Chair Martha Santiago Ed. D and Myrtice Young, Historic Preservation Manager for the History Center. We had a guest appearance from Mary Jewett (Amanda Jackson) who spoke about her character.

A proclamation of historical merriment was read and signed by Presidents Steve Githens and Jon Lane. After the closing, a guided tour was provided by staff members at the History Center. It was a wonderful afternoon of fellowship and making new connections.

03/16/2026

Wild Game Dinner - 2026 is THIS WEEKEND (March 21st, at 6PM)

Tickets include Wild Game Appetizers & Dinner, Open Bar, Live Music from George Morris & The Lariat Band, and prizes -- Annual Fundraiser for Bartow Rotary.

Buy tickets online here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bartow-rotary-wild-game-dinner-2026-tickets-1983827943783?aff=oddtdtcreator

or message us for a Bartow Rotarian near you.

Wild Game Dinner, Open Bar, Live Music, and prizes -- Annual Fundraiser for Bartow Rotary Club

03/08/2026

Bartow Rotary will be having a joint meeting on March 19 with Winter Haven Rotary Club. We will be meeting at the Polk County History Museum, and having a guided tour, box lunch, and fellowship. There will be a few other surprises thrown in there, so don’t miss it. Please let Clarice know if you can join us by Friday, March 13.