Amelia Island Rotary

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Fernandina Beach, FL
Amelia Island Rotary

Building Friendships + Community Connections

WEEKLY MEETINGS
- Friday mornings, 7:30 to 8:30 am at the Fernandina Beach Golf Club
(2800 Bill Melton Road - Fernandina Beach)
- Breakfast buffet
- Unique fellowship with lots of laughter and interaction
- Interesting, thought-provoking speakers and presentations. SERVICE PROJECTS
- Throughout the year
- Mostly nights and weekends
- Focused on applying time, talent and fundraising to better the

quality of life in our community and around the world

SOCIAL EVENTS
- Throughout the year
- Holidays, relaxed gatherings and special occasions
- Offering members and guests time to share memories and build relationships

Building Friendships + Community Connections

08/28/2026

Fridays are for Rotary- and apparently birthdays as well! Happy Birthday to all of our August babies!

08/19/2026

Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Callahan ❤️

The Amelia Island Sunrise Rotary Club and Barnabas Center teamed up again last weekend for another food drive—and once again, our community showed what happens when neighbors help neighbors.

Our Rotarians came together to collect much-needed food donations for local families facing food insecurity. Every bag of groceries, every donation, and every volunteer hour makes a difference.

We’re proud to partner with Barnabas in supporting our friends and neighbors right here in Nassau County. Because helping our community doesn’t always require something big. Sometimes it’s simply looking around, seeing a need, and asking, “How can I help?”

Thank you to everyone who donated, volunteered, and helped make the food drive a success. Together, we’re making sure our neighbors know they’re not alone. 💙

Neighbors helping neighbors. That’s Rotary in action.

08/16/2026

💧 Walking for Water—and Making a Difference Around the World

We were especially inspired by our recent presentation from Lauren Heritage and Elizabeth Ambrose of Summer House Realty, who shared the story behind Amelia Island’s Walk for Water.

But the real credit belongs to Summer House Realty owners James and Jenny Schaffer, whose commitment to giving back brought this important event to Fernandina Beach. After visiting Water Mission’s headquarters in Charleston, James and Jenny were inspired to bring the Walk for Water to our community. Summer House Realty takes that commitment even further, donating 10% of every home sale to support this important cause.

The Walk for Water gives participants a glimpse into the daily reality faced by women and children around the world who must walk long distances to collect water for their families. This year’s 3rd Annual Amelia Island Walk for Water will take participants from downtown Fernandina Beach to the beach and back.

As Rotarians, clean water and sanitation is one of Rotary’s areas of focus, so it was particularly meaningful to hear from people who are dedicating their time, resources and business to helping bring safe drinking water to those who need it most.

Thank you to James and Jenny Schaffer, Lauren and Elizabeth, and the entire Summer House Realty team for turning compassion into action—and for reminding us that a local walk can make a global difference. 💙🌎

08/08/2026

⚓️ From a 17-Year-Old Navy Recruit to a Life Around the World! 🌎

We were treated to an incredible journey this week as our own Scott Brubacker shared “The Odyssey and Oddities of a Sailor.”

Scott took us through his remarkable 23-year Navy career—from joining at just 17 to becoming a Fleet Petroleum Officer, responsible for managing millions of barrels of fuel. Along the way, his career took him to some pretty amazing places, including London, Hawaii, and Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. And, of course, there were plenty of adventures and a few sea stories along the way! ⚓️

Scott’s story was a wonderful reminder that membership in Rotary isn’t just about what we do in our community—it’s also about the fascinating people sitting around the table with us.

Join us on Friday mornings at the Fernandina Beach Golf Clubhouse.

07/29/2026

Over 15 members of the Amelia Island Sunrise Rotary Club spent time at Barnabas this week painting bowls for Empty Bowls, Barnabas’ signature fundraiser coming up in November.

Our Rotarians showcased their creativity, shared plenty of laughs, and most importantly, worked together to support an organization that makes such a meaningful difference in our community. Every hand-painted bowl will help raise awareness and support for neighbors in need.

Thank you, Barnabas, for giving us the opportunity to serve in such a fun and colorful way. We can’t wait to see these beautiful bowls at Empty Bowls this November! 🎨🥣💙

07/17/2026

Rotary International
Our club was honored to hear from Fernandina Beach City Manager and fellow Rotarian Sarah Campbell, who shared highlights from this summer’s Rotary International Convention in Taipei, Taiwan.

Sarah joined more than 37,000 Rotarians from around the world for an unforgettable experience. She described the opening and closing ceremonies as being on the scale of the Olympics, featuring world-class entertainment and inspiring speakers, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai.

One of the most meaningful experiences she shared was participating in Rotary’s Day of Service in Taipei. Alongside Rotarians from around the world, Sarah spent the morning helping clean the city—collecting litter that consisted almost entirely of discarded cigarette butts. Pictured here with her litter collection kit, Sarah demonstrated that Rotary’s commitment to service extends far beyond the convention halls.

Sarah also shared this year’s Rotary International Presidential Message: Create Lasting Impact. It’s a fitting reminder that whether we’re serving our hometown or partnering with Rotarians across the globe, every act of service leaves a lasting mark.

Thank you, Sarah, for bringing the inspiration of Rotary International back to our club and for reminding us that service truly knows no borders.

07/14/2026

🏈 A Winning Program On and Off the Field! 🏈

Friday’s Rotary meeting featured a special brother-and-sister team who gave us a fascinating look behind the scenes of college football recruiting.

Molly Jacoby, Director of Football Recruiting at the University of Oklahoma, and Jack Jacoby, Director of Player Personnel for the University of Memphis football program, shared the inside scoop on everything from scouting prospective athletes to the on-campus recruiting process. Their unique perspectives provided a rare glimpse into the work that happens long before kickoff.

Their presentation was so engaging that we ran out of time before all the questions could be be answered! Many members stayed after the meeting to continue the conversation and learn even more.

A huge thank you to Molly and Jack for sharing their expertise and giving us such an informative and entertaining program. We hope to welcome them back again soon!

07/12/2026

🍦🎸 Fun Friday with America’s Youth! 🎸🍦
Six Rotarians had the joy of surprising the campers at America’s Youth with a special summer treat! We rolled in an ice cream truck, sang a few favorite camp songs, and then local celebrity and fellow Rotarian Hupp Huppman treated the kids to a private performance.

The highlight of the day? Watching the smiles as each child had the chance to touch and strum Hupp’s guitar. Throughout the school year, Sunsrise Rotary volunteers tutor these amazing students, so it was especially meaningful to reconnect with them for this Fun Friday celebration. Building relationships, encouraging young learners, and creating joyful memories are just a few of the ways Rotary serves our community.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this day so special. We can’t wait to see these wonderful kids again soon! 💙💛

06/19/2026

🎉 What a year… and what a celebration! 🎉

On Thursday, June 18, the Rotary Club of Amelia Island Sunrise proudly installed its 2026-2027 Officers and Directors. As is tradition, we looked back on the past year with a video highlighting the incredible impact and fellowship that make our club so special.

A huge thank you to Past President Mary Valenta and her outstanding team for leading such an amazing year. What a journey! ❤️💙💛

🎥 Watch this video (created by Bob Eberle) and see the difference we've made, the lives we've touched, and the fun we've had together.

Want to be part of something bigger? We'd love to have you! Join us for breakfast any Friday and experience the fellowship, service, and friendships that make Rotary so rewarding.

☕ Fridays • 7:15 AM
📍 Amelia River Golf Club, Fernandina Beach, FL

Service Above Self. Fun Along the Way. Come see what Rotary is all about!

06/09/2026

We were delighted to welcome local author Beth Brubaker as our recent Rotary speaker!

Beth shared the fascinating story behind her third novel in a historical fiction series inspired by her own family history. Her presentation brought the past to life and gave us a glimpse into the research, memories, and personal connections that shaped her latest book.

If you missed her talk, you have another opportunity to meet Beth and learn more about her work at her Book Launch Event:

📍 Holy Grounds Coffee Shop
📅 June 12
⏰ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Even better, Beth is generously donating 10% of all book sales from the event to Barnabas, helping support neighbors in need right here in our community.

Please join us in supporting a talented local author and a wonderful local cause. We hope to see you there!

Address

P. O. Box 15608
Fernandina Beach, FL
32035

Website

http://ameliaislandrotary.com/

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