Ripley TN Rotary Club

10/06/2026

🎃 Ripley Rotary: Growing Ripley Through Community & Economic Development 🎃

Today’s Ripley Rotary program highlighted our October theme: Economic & Community Development and the importance of working together to make Ripley and Lauderdale County a place where people want to live, work, visit, and invest.

We were proud to have Rotarian Norfleet Anthony III present today’s guest speaker, Mike Moore, Head of Downtown Development, who shared updates on the exciting initiatives, events, and opportunities taking place throughout our community.

🍽️ Celebrating Local Businesses
As part of Tennessee Restaurant Appreciation Week, we’re proud to recognize local restaurants including Kissel’s, Emily’s, Olympic Steakhouse, Panda Buffet, Rolo’s Mexican Kitchen, and many others. Supporting local businesses helps keep dollars in our community and strengthens our local economy.

🎃 47 Scarecrows on the Square
The courthouse square is currently featuring an incredible collection of 47 scarecrows, attracting attention from surrounding communities, including Haywood County. Creative attractions like this help bring visitors downtown and showcase Ripley’s community spirit.

🏭 Economic Growth & Opportunity
We also heard about the new Aluko plant, which is expected to seek approximately 350 employees — a tremendous opportunity for our workforce, families, and local economy.

🇺🇸 Upcoming Community Events

📅 November 7 — Downtown Cleanup
Volunteers will help keep our downtown beautiful and welcoming.

🇺🇸 November 11 — Veterans Day Celebration
The celebration will include a parade, meal, and transportation assistance for handicapped veterans.

🎄 November 21 — Christmas Tree Decorating
The community will gather at the Criner’s Building, formerly the Ben Franklin store, to begin decorating downtown for the Christmas season.

🎅 December 3 — Christmas Parade

⛸️ December 4–6 — Homestyle Christmas
Downtown will transform into a Christmas destination featuring an ice skating rink, rides, ornament decorating, s’mores, a live nativity, and activities for children and families. The courthouse square will be closed to help create a safe and festive environment.

🤝 Community Development Takes All of Us

Today’s program was a great reminder that successful community development requires volunteers, businesses, organizations, and community leaders working together.

Special thanks to the corporate and community partners who help make these initiatives possible, including Komatsu, Marvin Windows, American Greetings, CleanSpark, TCAT, and the Lauderdale County Chamber of Commerce.

As Rotarians, we believe in Service Above Self — and there is no better way to demonstrate that than by investing our time, talents, and resources into the community we call home.

Together, we can continue building a stronger, more vibrant Ripley and Lauderdale County. ❤️💙

10/04/2026

📚🧪Ripley Rotary: Education & Literacy

Ripley Rotary welcomed Michelle Blair from the Lauderdale County Health Department for an informative presentation on diabetes education, community health, and the many services available locally.

🩺 Diabetes Education
Michelle shared her experience working in diabetes care and emphasized the need for ongoing education beyond a brief doctor’s visit. She highlighted the importance of understanding the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, recognizing risk factors, making healthy dietary choices, staying active, and managing blood sugar.

She also discussed the serious complications that can result from uncontrolled diabetes, including vision loss, kidney disease, dialysis, and amputations, while encouraging individuals with prediabetes or insulin resistance to take proactive steps toward better health.

📚 Education Through Community Resources
The Lauderdale County Health Department offers much more than immunizations. Residents can access:

* Primary care services
* Immunizations
* Limited pharmaceutical assistance for uninsured individuals
* Chronic disease management
* TB-related medications and services
* WIC resources
* Qualifying mammograms and Pap smears
* Social-work assistance and educational guidance

The department has a nurse practitioner available five days a week and a physician one day a week, helping provide accessible healthcare to members of our community.

🏃🏽‍♀️ Healthy Communities Start With Education

The presentation also encouraged residents to take advantage of local opportunities to stay active, including Ripley Parks & Recreation pickleball and the Family Fitness Center.

At Ripley Rotary, we believe education is a form of service. When we connect our community with knowledge, resources, and opportunities, we help empower individuals and strengthen the community as a whole.

Thank you, Michelle Blair and the Lauderdale County Health Department, for investing in the health and education of our community!

💙 Ripley Rotary — Service Above Self
📚 September: Basic Education & Literacy
🔵 A Century of Service | 100 Years Rollin’ with Ripley Rotary

09/15/2026

Ripley Rotary will be forever grateful to be invited to Somerville‘s 50th anniversary. A remarkable experience to share the historical insights & the everlasting foundation that this club has succeeded in. ⚙️ Somerville Tennessee Rotary

09/03/2026

🚑 TUESDAY’S RIPLEY ROTARY PROGRAM | SERVICE ABOVE SELF 💙

This week, Ripley Rotary was honored to hear from Adam Haynes, Director of EMS, who shared not only insights from his work in emergency services, but also a powerful story of service, family, and giving back to our community.

Adam shared his family’s incredible journey through foster care and adoption, including fostering 20 children over 14 years. His family has adopted one child and is currently in the process of adopting another. Their commitment to providing children with love, stability, and opportunity is truly inspiring.

Adam also highlighted the Carl Perkins Center and the tremendous community support behind the annual Battle of the Badges fundraiser. Last year’s event brought together 10 teams representing fire departments, EMS, and power companies and raised more than $7,000—all while bringing the community together for a little friendly competition! 🚒🚑⚡

This year, the event raised $3,300, which was generously matched dollar-for-dollar by anonymous donors, doubling the impact for the Carl Perkins Center. 👏

Plans are already underway for next year’s Battle of the Badges, which will take place in October, with hopes of growing the event even further and engaging even more of our community.

Thank you, Adam, for reminding us that service isn’t simply a position or a profession—it’s a way of life. From caring for children to responding when our community needs help, your commitment represents the very best of Rotary’s “Service Above Self.” ❤️💛

Ripley Rotary is proud to serve alongside community leaders like Adam Haynes and the many individuals who continue to make Lauderdale County a better place.

09/03/2026

⚙️Celebrating a Champion of Service: Janice Craig💛

Ripley Rotary is proud to celebrate Janice Craig as she receives her Paul Harris Fellow recognition and Ruby pin—a well-deserved honor reflecting her extraordinary commitment to Service Above Self.

Janice’s impact on Ripley Rotary and our community reaches far beyond an award. One of her most significant contributions has been pioneering the Ripley High School Interact Club, helping establish a pathway for the next generation to discover the meaning and responsibility of service.

🌟 Building Tomorrow’s Leaders

Through Rotary Interact, high school students have the opportunity to develop leadership skills while making a meaningful difference in their school and community. Amy Helton of Ripley High School coordinates Interactors to participate in community service projects, volunteer initiatives, fundraisers, and Rotary-supported activities, while learning the importance of teamwork, leadership, fellowship, and giving back.

Janice’s work with Interact is especially important because she has helped demonstrate that service isn’t something we wait until adulthood to begin—it is a value we can cultivate in young people today.

Her dedication has helped connect generations of Rotarians and young leaders, creating a lasting legacy of service in Ripley.

🏅 The Paul Harris Fellow recognizes individuals whose commitment and contributions exemplify Rotary’s mission of creating positive change. Her Ruby pin represents additional Paul Harris recognition and reflects continued support of the Rotary Foundation.

Janice, thank you for being a mentor, leader, pioneer, and servant. Your willingness to invest your time and energy into Rotary—and especially into our young people—will continue to impact our community for years to come.

Your work matters.
Your leadership matters.
Your legacy matters.

Please join Ripley Rotary in congratulating Janice Craig on this well-deserved recognition! ❤️💙

Ripley Rotary Club
Service Above Self
A Century of Service

08/31/2026

💙 FRIENDSHIP, MEMBERSHIP & SERVICE ABOVE SELF 💙

August has been a special month for Ripley Rotary, and today we’re celebrating three incredible young ladies who have answered the call to “Service Above Self.”

Please help us welcome our newest members:

🌟 Aylissa Taylor
🌟 Rena Fitts
🌟 Kawanna Lee

These three ladies are proud members of our local Ripley community and the Ripley Housing Authority, and we are excited to see the heart for service, friendship, and community they bring to our Rotary family.

Our August theme has been “Friendship & Membership,” with a goal of strengthening our club by building meaningful relationships and welcoming new people who believe in making a difference. With these three new members, we’re proud to say that goal is becoming more than a theme—it’s becoming a movement. ❤️

Rotary is more than a meeting. It’s people coming together, building friendships, serving their neighbors, investing in our youth, and making Ripley a better place for everyone.

So, does anyone know these special young ladies? 👀

If you do, drop them some ❤️ in the comments and help us give Aylissa, Rena, and Kawanna a warm Ripley Rotary welcome!

Welcome to the Rotary family, ladies! We’re grateful you chose to serve alongside us. 🫶

🔵 Friendship. Membership. Service.
🔵 Together, we continue to build a stronger Ripley.

08/31/2026

⚙️Ripley Rotary: Investing in the Next Generation! 📖💙

This past week, Ripley Rotary was grateful to welcome Ashley Wilkinson of First Baptist Church as she shared the incredible impact of Kids Beach Club at Ripley Elementary School.

For the past three years, Kids Beach Club has created a safe, fun, and encouraging environment where children can learn about courage, character, faith, and the importance of God’s Word through singing, Bible lessons, games, and meaningful relationships.

The impact is already remarkable:

📚 106+ children have participated
🙋‍♀️ 35 volunteers have served
🙏 28 professions of faith
📖 78+ Bibles distributed
👕 Every participating child receives a Bible and T-shirt at no cost to their family
🎯 45 children are already enrolled for this school year

One of the highlights is “Great Treasure Day,” when children receive their very own Bible—wrapped like a treasure—and are taught to value and respect God’s Word. ❤️

But this program isn’t just about numbers. It’s about planting seeds in the lives of children that can grow for a lifetime.

🏫 Now, We Have an Opportunity to Expand!

First Baptist Church would love to see Kids Beach Club reach Halls Elementary School and potentially other elementary schools throughout Lauderdale County. The need isn’t for another program—the need is for a church or group of churches willing to sponsor and help lead a Beach Club at Halls Elementary.

Ripley Rotary wants to help make that connection happen.

If your church has been looking for a meaningful way to serve local children and families, this could be an incredible opportunity to get involved.

👉 Churches interested in sponsoring a Kids Beach Club at Halls Elementary:
Reach out to Ripley Rotary or First Baptist Church. Ashley and the Beach Club team can help you understand the program, get started, and walk alongside you through the process.

Additionally, volunteers and donations are welcomed. Small toys, snacks, and candy are used as positive rewards for children’s participation and accomplishments.

📍 Donations can be dropped off at First Baptist Church.

At Ripley Rotary, we believe “Service Above Self” means investing in the people who will shape the future of our community. Programs like Kids Beach Club remind us that sometimes the greatest impact we can make begins with something as simple as one child, one Bible, one volunteer, and one opportunity.

💙 Let’s work together to expand the impact from Ripley to Halls and beyond!

08/12/2026

08/12/2026

🇺🇸 FROM LAUDERDALE COUNTY TO THE OLYMPIC STAGE 🏅

Yesterday, Ripley Rotary was honored to welcome home one of our own—2026 Team USA Winter Olympian and World Champion Mystique Ro! 🇺🇸

At our meeting at Ripley Country Club, Mystique shared an incredible story of family, perseverance, opportunity and resilience.

Her roots run deep right here in Lauderdale County. Her family is from Henning, her mother attended Ripley High School, her grandmother still lives in Henning, and her great-grandmother—her beloved “Granny Poo”—resides in Ripley.

She reminded us that she didn’t simply become an Olympian—she stands on the shoulders of generations who came before her.

Mystique was the first in her family to earn a four-year college degree and initially pursued track and field. An unexpected opportunity introduced her to winter sports. After being told she was too small for bobsled, she said yes to trying skeleton—a sport she had never even experienced growing up in West Tennessee.

That “yes” changed everything.

She went from learning a sport completely foreign to her, to competing internationally, breaking records, winning World Championship medals, and ultimately representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics. 🏆

Her message to our community was simple but powerful:

Say YES to opportunities. Learn something new. Don’t wait for someone to hand you your opportunity—go find it.

And perhaps most importantly:

Remember where you came from.

During the meeting, Mayor and fellow Rotarian Craig Fitzhugh presented Mystique with the Key to the City of Ripley. 🔑❤️

What a fitting recognition for a young woman who has taken the strength, toughness and determination she developed right here in West Tennessee and carried it all the way to the world’s biggest stage.

Mystique is already looking toward 2030 in France, but she also wants to come back home, connect with our students and introduce more young people to Olympic sports.

From the grass of West Tennessee to the ice of the Olympic stage—Lauderdale County is proud to call you one of our own, Mystique! 🇺🇸❤️

08/06/2026

Hometown Mission