Rotary Club of Springfield

What happens when Springfield's Rotary Club presidents get together with the area's emerging leaders? Great conversations, valuable advice, and a shared passion for service!

Yesterday, our club president joined fellow Rotary leaders at the Rotaract Club of Springfield's Presidents Panel to discuss what makes each Rotary club unique and help Rotaractors explore opportunities to stay involved as they transition into the next phase of their professional and service journeys.

Rotaract continues to play an important role in developing leaders, building connections, and inspiring service throughout our community. We're proud to partner with such an outstanding group of young professionals and look forward to seeing where their Rotary journeys take them.

Thank you to Steve Belden, Operating Partner of AMP Recreation LLC, for joining the Rotary Club of Springfield today!

Steve shared exciting updates on the ongoing transformation of the Plaza Towers District, including the recent opening of Scratch & Co. and continued growth of Sunshine Event Center. He spoke about the vision behind the area's redevelopment and the efforts to reestablish Plaza Towers as a premier destination for dining, entertainment, events, and tourism in Springfield.

Members also learned about future plans for the district, including the potential addition of a comedy club and other attractions designed to create new opportunities for community gathering and economic growth.

We appreciate Steve taking the time to share how strategic investment, hospitality, and placemaking are helping shape the future of Springfield.

Throughout the year, our club has the privilege of learning from incredible speakers who challenge us and help us see our community in new ways.

To honor those contributions, the Rotary Club of Springfield makes an annual donation selected by our club president. This year, that gift takes the form of something powerful: books.

Today we were proud to present a $500 donation to Weaver Elementary School to help grow their library collection. Because every child deserves the chance to discover a favorite story, explore a new idea, or find themselves reflected in the pages of a book.

It's a small investment with the potential to make a lifelong impact - one reader at a time. 💙📚

What happens when schools, colleges, universities, healthcare systems, and community partners stop working parallel and start building together? According to Shallina Goodnight the answer is The Alliance for Healthcare Education.

Rather than asking students to navigate a complicated path into healthcare careers on their own, The Alliance creates a connected system that helps them move from classroom to career with greater clarity, support, and opportunity. Students can begin their healthcare journey while still in high school, earning valuable credentials and gaining hands-on experience before graduation.

As our region faces growing healthcare workforce needs, innovative partnerships like this are helping create solutions that benefit students, employers, patients, and the entire community!

Thank you, Shallina, for sharing your vision and the incredible work being done to strengthen healthcare education in Southwest Missouri!

The Alliance is for everyone, and it's never too late to start something new! If you're interested in the work being done by The Alliance for Healthcare Education, please visit their website to learn more: https://www.alliancehce.org/

Today the Rotary Club of Springfield welcomed former Missouri Governor and U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft as our guest speaker. He reflected on his time in public service, shared stories from his career, and spoke about the impact Rotary has had throughout his life.

Thank you for spending time with us and sharing your perspective on leadership, service, and community! 👏

A big thank you to Travis Rubelee for joining us today and giving us a closer look at the incredible work happening through Scouting America in the Ozark Trails Council.

We loved hearing more about how Scouting is evolving to meet families where they are-while still staying rooted in its mission of building character, leadership, and strong values in young people.

It's always inspiring to see organizations in our community working toward the same goal: creating a better future for the next generation. 💙

Today marks 100 years since Route 66 was officially named!

On April 30, 1926, during a Rotary gathering in Springfield, Missouri, civic and highway leaders advanced the proposal that would give America its most iconic highway its enduring identity.

One hundred years later, Springfield remains proud of its role as the Birthplace of Route 66 - and Rotary continues its commitment to leadership, partnership, and service above self.

We celebrate this historic milestone with gratitude for the past and enthusiasm for the road ahead.

Happy 100th Anniversary, Route 66! 🎉

Today's Rotary District 6080 Annual Citywide Meeting was one to remember. 🎉👏

We had the honor of hearing from Spanish sculptor Juan Garaizabal, the artist behind the Ghost of the Colonial Hotel sculpture at the Birthplace of Route 66 Plaza.

Juan shared a powerful perspective: sometimes what we cannot see holds the most meaning. By honoring the memories of places and stories that once were, we create space for connection, reflection, and unity.

His message was a beautiful reminder that remembering-intentionally and together-is an ongoing process. One that invites us all to pause, reflect, and find common ground through shared emotion and experience.

Let's give a round of applause to our Rotary anniversaries this month! 👏

Your dedication to service, leadership, and community impact helps make the Rotary Club of Springfield what it is today and we're so grateful for each of you.

Thanks for continuing to show up, give back, and make a difference. 💙

Drop a 👏 in the comments to celebrate these milestones!

Today we celebrate our shared home - this beautiful planet we're all called to care for. 🌎💚

From local service projects to global initiatives, Rotary is committed to protecting the environment and creating a healthier, more sustainable future for generations to come. Here in Springfield, we're proud to do our part - because small actions, when done together, create lasting impact.

Happy Earth Day! 🌱