OKC's Rotary Club to inaugurate new president
At one point in her life Ann Ackerman wanted to be a veterinarian. She became a mathematician instead, but she still loves animals.
Tuesday evening, Ackerman will be hanging out in Sanctuary Asia at the Oklahoma City Zoo, along with about 275 human friends, for her inauguration as the 109th president of the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City.
"I like the outdoors/casual setting (of the zoo) and wanted to use a nonprofit venue to set the tone for a fun, exciting year," she said.
Often referred to as the Downtown Rotary Club or Club 29, the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City — with 600 members — is the second-largest Rotary club in the world, with membership that touches just about every economic sector in the city, including nonprofits.
The former mathematics college professor is president and CEO of the Oklahoma Business Roundtable, an economic development support organization.
"As Club 29 president, I want to once again obtain the status of the world’s largest Rotary Club," Ackerman said. "In addition, I would like to increase members' participation in our many service projects. In the last five years, our club has contributed to 103 projects and causes locally and internationally totaling $1.5 million."
The Oklahoma City club, arguably, has been dethroned by a club in Birmingham, Alabama.
Tom Phillips, whose presidential term with the club ends today, recalled how his introduction to Rotary at an international convention in Atlanta solidified his views on how people can work together.
"The diversity of people was obvious by the diversity of dress — Japanese in their kimonos, Africans in their native dress. I hadn’t quite expected that," he said. "It was very humbling — seeing people from so many countries, all walks of life, united behind our premise. It had enormous impact. Rotary International is all friendship and support. There is no conflict."
Club 29 is known in the Rotary world for its partnerships with clubs around the globe. The club lives up to the Rotary model of "Service Above Self," coordinating and contributing to projects that benefit pediatric hospitals, disaster victims and disease eradication in countries like Latvia, Romania, Montenegro, Panama and on the African continent. And the club this year joined Rotarian partners in an effort to eliminate malaria.
Local projects have included service to youths, literacy and education, and partnerships with nonprofit organizations serving the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. This past year, the club sponsored a new kitchen at the Jesus House, including appliances.
Rotary club presidents serve a one-year term, preceded by a year as president-elect observing the local club and learning how Rotary International works.
Rotary officers
Club officers for 2019-20:
• David Walters, president-elect.
• Lisa Synar, secretary.
• Ross Plourde, treasurer.
• David Battles, sergeant-at-Arms.
• Nick Harroz III, assistant treasurer.
• Tom Phillips, past president.
Directors are:
Cheryl Borelli, Matthew Bown, Betsy Brunsteter, Suzanne Mitchell, Blair Naifeh, Kermit Frank, Joe Kernke, Wes Milbourn, Richard Parry and Karen Youngblood.
New office leadership
Megan Law, co-founder and past president for OKC Midtown Rotary and past treasurer for Oklahoma City Exchange Rotary Club, has been hired executive director for the Rotary Club of Oklahoma City.
A Rotarian for more than 10 years, Law has served Rotary International District 5750 in multiple roles, including district secretary. She was selected to serve as Rotary district governor in 2016-2017 where she led and collaborated with 36 Rotary clubs in Northwest Oklahoma.
Law joins the club after a 17-year background in commercial property management and administration management. She succeeds Shirley Kirschner, who held the role of executive administrator for 45 years, the longest serving administrator in Rotary.
“We welcome Megan and her diverse experience, which will make her a valuable asset to our Rotary family,” said Ackerman, the club's president-elect.