Committees

Our Club Committees: Where Service Begins

Committees are the heart of Ada Sunrise Rotary, where ideas become action and "Service Above Self" goes from motto to reality. Whether you're a longtime member or just exploring Rotary for the first time, there's a place for you here.

You do not need to be on the Board to serve on a committee. Several sub-committees are looking for members right now, and every one of them is a real opportunity to shape our club and our community. If something below catches your eye, talk to any board member or committee chair at our next Friday meeting. We'd love to have you.

Membership Committee

Chair: Mason Martinez

The Membership Committee is the front door to Ada Sunrise Rotary. We focus on welcoming guests, guiding prospective members through the process of joining, and making sure every member feels valued and connected.

What this committee does:

  • Reviews membership applications and evaluates candidates
  • Creates a welcoming atmosphere for guests at Friday meetings
  • Guides prospective members through the application and induction process
  • Tracks attendance and encourages participation across all club activities
  • Develops strategies to bring in new members who share our passion for service

📣 Volunteers Needed — Membership Development This sub-committee identifies and proposes potential new members, keeping our membership pipeline active and healthy. A great fit for someone who loves connecting people to community.

Club Service Committee

Chair: Shirley Mixon

Club Service keeps the internal life of our club running smoothly — our meetings, communications, budget, fellowship, and how we present ourselves to the world.

What this committee does:

  • Coordinates programs, finances, public relations, and member education
  • Ensures our Friday meetings are engaging and well-organized
  • Oversees internal communications and our digital presence

Active sub-committees and their members:

  • Finance — Paul Crocker: Annual budget, financial reporting, and expense oversight
  • Program — Susan Sexton: Plans speakers and programs for our weekly Friday meetings
  • Public Relations — Kevin Butler: Social media, press releases, and community awareness

📣 Volunteers Needed:

  • Club Bulletin — Help publish weekly meeting highlights, announcements, and fellowship news
  • Fellowship Activities — Help plan social events and friendship-building experiences for members
  • Rotary Information — Help with new member orientation and educating members on Rotary's history and values

Community Service Committee

Chair: Christen Smith

Community Service guides and supports our members in their relationships with the broader Ada community — identifying needs and coordinating our response across four mission areas.

What this committee does:

  • Human Development — Providing assistance and support to community members in need
  • Community Development — Working to improve the physical condition of our community and its facilities
  • Environmental Protection — Monitoring and improving the quality of our community's environment
  • Partners in Service — Building relationships with other Rotary-sponsored organizations in Ada

📣 Volunteers Needed — all four sub-committees above are actively welcoming new members. Current members include Yvonne Bedford and Kevin Butler.

Vocational Service Committee

Chair: Ty Butler

Vocational Service connects our professional lives to our Rotary values. This committee celebrates the diverse careers of our members and promotes ethical standards in the workplace.

What this committee does:

  • Organizes "Vocational Meetings" held at members' places of business so we can learn about each other's work firsthand
  • Encourages members to share their professional stories with the club
  • Promotes Rotary's core commitment to ethical vocational practice

📣 Volunteers Needed — Vocational Awareness This sub-committee schedules club meetings at members' business locations. A great fit for someone proud of their work and curious about others'.

International Service Committee

Chair: Lawrence Adegbule

International Service connects Ada Sunrise Rotary to the global Rotary family and to Rotary's worldwide mission of promoting peace, health, and opportunity — including right here at East Central University.

What this committee does:

  • Champions Rotary's global End Polio Now campaign
  • Promotes Rotary Foundation giving and encourages members to become Paul Harris Fellows
  • Extends hospitality to international students at ECU and area exchange students
  • Administers the Elizabeth Schmelling International Student Award, a $250 annual scholarship for an ECU international student (applications due March 31)

Active sub-committee members:

  • Rotary Foundation & Polio Plus — Bob Greenstreet and David Crisp: Foundation giving, Paul Harris Fellow participation, and polio eradication awareness

📣 Volunteers Needed:

  • International Youth Projects — Help coordinate hospitality and support for international students at ECU and in area schools
  • Elizabeth Schmelling Award — Help administer the annual scholarship; applications reviewed each spring, winner announced at ECU's Awards Convocation in May

New Generations Committee

Chair: Christine Pappas

The New Generations Committee invests in the next generation of leaders in Ada — through mentorship, leadership programs, and sponsorship of youth clubs at area schools and East Central University.

What this committee does:

  • Co-sponsors and supports the ECU Rotaract Club
  • Sponsors Interact Clubs at area schools
  • Recruits and financially sponsors campers for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
  • Supports the 4-Way Test Speech Contest for area students

📣 Volunteers Needed — all four sub-committees are actively welcoming new members:

  • RYLA — Help recruit applicants and coordinate financial sponsorship for RYLA camp
  • Interact — Help sponsor and support Interact Clubs at area schools
  • Rotaract — Help co-sponsor and support the Rotaract Club at East Central University
  • 4-Way Test Speech Contest — Help recruit students for this values-centered competition

Ready to Get Involved?

Every committee above is a genuine opportunity to make a difference. Sub-committee members are appointed by the President with board approval, and new and prospective members are just as welcome as veterans.

Talk to Christen Smith, Christine Pappas, or any committee chair at our next Friday meeting and tell us where you'd like to plug in. 

Every role, every committee, every contribution matters.