10/20/2026
Clovis Rotary Club Meeting Recap Report Friday, October 16, 2026
President David Hembree opened our big and well attended Friday meeting with another zinger of a Dad Joke: "Why couldn't Dracula get into art school? Because he could only draw blood!" With that bit of humor behind us, David welcomed our special guest, Rotary District 5230 Governor Susan Winey, who had just participated in a special meeting with our club's Board of Directors prior to our regular luncheon.
Club Announcements and Upcoming Events- Our club has several opportunities coming up to enjoy fellowship, support our community, and put Service Above Self into action!
October Club Social: Wednesday, October 21, at 6:00 p.m. at Sean's home. Members will enjoy an evening of pumpkin carving, decorating, and fellowship.
4th Annual Whole Vine Festival: Saturday, October 24, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on the Fresno State campus near Bullard Avenue. This wonderful event directed by Vickie showcases the gifts of our Valley and will feature live music, food trucks, w**e tasting, and a Rotary booth. https://www.thewholevine.com/
Clovis Veterans Memorial District Halloween Spooktacular is also on Saturday, October 24: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/halloween-spooktacular-2026-tickets-1992094839290?aff=oddtdtcreator
Dictionary Project: Our annual dictionary distribution is underway! Members who have not yet communicated their preferred school distribution date to Past President Danny Armenta are encouraged to contact him so the deliveries can be coordinated.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing: The annual Red Kettle Campaign begins November 16. Members can volunteer for two-hour shifts by registering through The Salvation Army's website. https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/volunteer/
Salvation Army Angel Tree Program: The Salvation Army Clovis Corps is once again requesting our support for its annual Angel Tree program. This wonderful tradition provides Christmas gifts for children and older adults who might otherwise go without. Angel Tree cards were available at our meeting, each identifying a recipient and a specific gift wish. Members were encouraged to select a card and help make someone's Christmas a little brighter.
Christmas Party – December 12: Mark your calendars! Our club Christmas party will be hosted by Vicky and Wayne on Saturday, December 12. More details will follow.
A Proud Moment for Past President Danny Armenta. Danny rang the bell to celebrate a wonderful family milestone: his son was recently sworn in as an attorney in Texas! Danny proudly shared a photograph of his son standing alongside the judge who administered the oath. Congratulations to Danny and his family on this terrific achievement!
Special Rotary Recognition - Before beginning her program, District Governor Susan Winey had several special presentations to make.
First, she recognized Hung with his very first Paul Harris Fellow pin, honoring his support of The Rotary Foundation. She then presented Erik with his Paul Harris Fellow +4 pin, recognizing his continued contributions to the Foundation.
Susan also awarded Hung and his wife, Kelly, their blue Active Member Rotary name badges, officially retiring their temporary red badges. Both enthusiastically tossed their red badges across the room, much to everyone's amusement! Hung admitted that parting with his red badge was particularly difficult because its colors were an exact match for his beloved San Francisco 49ers!
Susan and David also recognized a wonderful Clovis Rotary member as an "Unsung Hero" award. That award goes to Judy Bekhdoud for her countless efforts supporting our club not only as our Recording Secretary and also her incredible work organizing our Crab Feed Dessert Auction! Congrats Judy!
Today's Program: District Governor Susan Winey – Rotary Transforms Lives
Our featured speaker was District 5230 Governor Susan Winey of Visalia, whose Rotary journey is a remarkable story of service, perseverance, gratitude, and personal transformation.
Susan first joined Rotary in 1996 and has built an impressive record of leadership. She served as President of the Rotary Club of Visalia during the 2016–2017 Rotary year and was named Visalia Rotarian of the Year in 2018. In 2020, she began working in District 5230 training, followed by service on the District Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023. Today, she serves as our District Governor for the 2026–2027 Rotary year. A Fresno State graduate with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and an emphasis in accounting, Susan began her professional career in public accounting before taking over her family's vocational education college, which she has operated for more than 30 years.
Susan began by outlining Rotary International's ambitious goal of reaching 1.25 million Rotarians and 125,000 Rotarians by 2030, in celebration of Rotary's 125th anniversary. But as Susan emphasized, this goal is about far more than membership numbers. It's about people, creating welcoming club cultures, establishing new clubs, and opening pathways for future generations of Rotarians.
Rotary must continue evolving to meet the changing expectations and needs of the communities it serves. Susan reinforced this message with a quote attributed to Rotary founder Paul Harris: "This is a changing world; we must be prepared to change with it. The story of Rotary will have to be written again and again."
Susan shared about Rotary International's 2026–2027 President, Olayinka Hakeem "Yinka" Babalola of Port Harcourt, Nigeria. His presidential message, "Together, We Create Lasting Impact," reflects Rotary's mission of bringing people together across cultures, countries, and communities to make a meaningful and enduring difference in the world.
Guatemala School Project – A Desk for Just $30! Susan highlighted the Seseb de Lanquin School Project in Guatemala, an initiative to construct a new three-classroom school for children in a rural Guatemala. One particularly meaningful opportunity is that just $30 can purchase a school desk, providing a child with a place to learn and grow. It's a wonderful example of how even a modest contribution can have a lasting impact.
The project clearly resonated with our members. Following Susan's presentation, more than a dozen Clovis Rotarians rang the bell and contributed financially toward the Guatemala school project! What a terrific demonstration of Service Above Self!
The Rotary Foundation and District Opportunities - Susan reminded members of the District Governor's Paul Harris Matching Challenge, running from September 1 through October 31, 2026. Eligible donations of up to $500 will be matched, and the first 100 qualifying Rotarians will have the opportunity to advance their Paul Harris Fellow recognition. She also highlighted the upcoming Rotary Foundation luncheons in Monterey on November 10 and Fresno on November 11, as well as the October 24 End Polio Now walk over the Golden Gate Bridge supporting Rotary's worldwide efforts to eradicate polio.
Looking ahead, Susan encouraged everyone to attend the District 5230 Summit, April 30–May 2, 2027, at Tenaya Lodge near Yosemite. With the theme "Leadership. Connection. Inspiration," the Summit promises a weekend of fellowship, learning, leadership development, and celebration of Rotary's achievements throughout the district. Register for the 2027 District Summit by going to this website: https://registrations.dacdb.com/Register/index.cfm?EventID=77911278&NoCaptcha
Perhaps the most moving part of Susan's presentation came when she asked everyone a question that had once been asked of her: "Has Rotary transformed your life?"
Susan shared that her father had encouraged her to join Rotary back in the 1990s. She initially embraced the organization but eventually stepped away as life's demands and health challenges made it difficult to meet Rotary's strict attendance requirements at the time. Then came a frightening breast cancer diagnosis. Susan found herself asking the difficult questions that so often accompany a life-threatening illness: "Why me? Why am I going through this?"
As she navigated her recovery, those questions gradually gave way to something else: an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the gift of life and a desire to use that gift to help others. She came to understand that, although she had once left Rotary, Rotary had never really left her. She realized she wanted to be part of something much bigger than herself, an organization where she could channel her gratitude into meaningful service.
Eventually, Susan was asked to become president-elect of her Rotary club. But just as she was preparing for that responsibility, life delivered another devastating blow: her cancer returned. Thankfully, early detection saved her life.
Facing another difficult chapter, Susan approached her club president about stepping away from her leadership responsibilities. His answer was a firm "No!" Instead, her fellow Rotarians rallied around her. They brought meals, sent cards, offered encouragement, and stood beside her through treatment and recovery. Susan went on to serve as club president, describing that Rotary year as one of the best years of her life.
It was a powerful example of how Rotary is not simply an organization where people gather to serve others, but also a community where members support one another when life becomes difficult. Susan beautifully summarized what Rotary had come to mean to her: "The gift that Rotary gave me was a place to put my gratitude into action."
Susan encouraged all of us to engage fully, serve others, and share hope. Her challenge was simple but profound: don't just belong to Rotary. Get involved, serve with gusto, and throw yourself wholeheartedly into the opportunities before you. And perhaps her most memorable message was that, while our service certainly changes the lives of others, the greatest transformation may ultimately happen within ourselves.
Following her inspiring presentation and the enthusiastic response from members supporting the Guatemala school project, President David Hembree thanked Susan for visiting Clovis Rotary and presented her with a Stetson hat as a special gift from our club! Susan then gave David a "You Rock" gift of thanks.
District Governor Susan Winey reminded us that Rotary's greatest strength isn't simply the projects we complete or the funds we raise, but the relationships we build and the lives we transform along the way. Her personal journey demonstrated that when we serve others with gratitude, enthusiasm, and purpose, Rotary has the remarkable ability to transform our own lives as well. Service Above Self!
