Imperial Rotary Club sparks new energy

    An influx of young blood to the Imperial Rotary Club has brought on a positive sense of revival.
    Last year found four active leaders moving from the community with others choosing to leave the club. The few active members remaining realized membership would need to increase to continue.  
    The concern took care of itself when Melisa and Clay Owens attended a meeting in April. Having established a realty business in town, Hayden Outdoors, they were interested in getting involved in a service organization so visited the local club. The program that day convinced them they were in the right place.
    Lore Beckius from the Ogallala Rotary Club presented a water project they were supporting in Ecuador to help provide clean water. Rotary International connections made for high success by working directly with an Ecuador Rotary Club. In fact, Beckius, an Ecuador native, has a very personal connection with one of its members, her father.
    Beckius had also served as a Rotary exchange student to Germany so could share about that program and the Owenses heard about Rotary’s local programs carrying out the Service Above Self commitment goal.
    That week, Melisa was contacted to see if she would consider being secretary of the club and she accepted. Cheryl Bryan had been secretary for years and she and her husband, Bill, a past president, were moving. Both of the Bryans were also active at the Rotary district level. Tom and Laura Gaschler also moved, both having served as local president.

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