Mid-Bay Bridge Rotary Club

09/03/2026

We had a great "around the room" comments from our Oktoberfest leadership updating everyone on readiness for the BIG event! We're running on all cylinders, and it's full speed ahead for another great Mid-Bay Bridge Oktoberfest Sept. 25-26 in the Winn Dixie parking lot in Bluewater Bay. Thank you to the community for supporting our event that supports charities, non-profits and scholarships.

08/31/2026

08/27/2026

On Wednesday, Aug. 27, Ground Up Project CEO Lisa Pitell and COO Brittany Lynch discussed the mission of the organization to provide safe, meaningful programs and lifelong support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Through this, they empower them to live with dignity, purpose, and connection. They host 18 plus participants in their Resting Tree Facility. They showed a video of participants and their parents thanking them for what they do. Mid-Bay donated $500 to the Ground Up Project. Rory introduced them.

Also, at the meeting, Rotarians honored Jess Parnell who passed away this week. We heard the five-minute life story of Tom Johnson as a part of our new meet the Rotarian feature.

Photo: Past President John Sallman presented check to Lisa (center) and Brittany. Jess Parnell at his Quilts of Valor ceremony, and Tom Johnson five-minute presentation about his childhood, career and hobbies.

08/17/2026

Mid-Bay Bridge Rotarians enjoyed an evening on the water followed by dinner on Wednesday, Aug. 12, for the club’s monthly social.

08/06/2026

Mid-Bay Bridge's Rotary Foundation Chair Art Rosenbaum provided insights into the Rotary Foundation. Over $3 billion has been donated to date. The Foundation has a four-star rating from Charity Navigator. The Foundation’s three main funds are Annual Fund (shared account with dollars given back to districts and clubs), Endowment Fund (where earnings are used for grants) and Polio Plus Fund (matched $2 for each $1 by the Gates Foundation). He then pointed out ways to give, as well as Rotary Foundation recognitions of donors. Mid-Bay has achieved its goal of donating about $14,000 each year. These donations come from the individual members. The club also donates more than $3,000 every year to help eradicate polio. Most of this money comes from proceeds from the club's fundraisers, such as Oktoberfest (Sept. 25-26).

07/29/2026

Our Wednesday, July 29, guest speaker CHELCO Senior VP and Chief Operating Officer Matt Avery discussed the cooperative’s hurricane preparation, including contingencies for food and lodging for outside crews. There are also plans and agreements should base camps be needed for centralized coordination, housing, support and rapid response. A base camp is like a small tent city that can be set up within 48 hours, which comes at a high cost.

Matt was introduced by Steve Rhodes, CHELCO CEO and Mid-Bay Bridge Rotarian. CHELCO Senior VP for Member Services and External Affairs Emily Cowan accompanied Matt. Picture left to right are President Valerie Holmes, Matt and Steve Rhodes during the presentation of a certificate noting that $50 was donated to Polio Plus in Matt’s honor.

07/25/2026

07/25/2026

We love ringing the bell at Christmas for the Army!